Article by: Adrianne Harris, Broadly Speaking
The Australian Careers Service (the publishers of the Good Careers Guide), recently held their annual Career Adviser Seminars around the country and I went along to find out more about new study and employment opportunities. This article summarises some of the more salient points from the day.
A presenter from SpotJobs indicated that young people need to be advised earlier in life to start working on their skills in order to have a smooth transition to the workforce, including:
- Attitude towards work
- Responsibility and reliability
- Presentation
- Expectations
- Work experience
- Further training
- Job search and application skills
- Awareness of employer attitudes
I would add, this list is a great list for anyone thinking about their career at any stage.
The 6 most common mistakes that SpotJobs sees in most applications are:
- Spelling and grammar mistakes
- Not customising a response to match the selection criteria
- Not attaching a resume
- Applying for roles they are not qualified for
- Not completing information request
- Having an unprofessional email
Indeed, danceallnight@gmail.com is probably not going to convey a professional image to a future employer.
The importance of a strong network was highlighted by various presenters throughout the day. A tip on building a network when starting in an industry is to take a number of lateral or sideways moves. Firstly this helps build up a broad range of skills and knowledge, and secondly it helps build a strong professional network.
The Academy of Film, Theatre and Television shared a presentation about the diversity of potential employers now compared to only a few years ago. The information shows an explosion in the opportunities for people to work in or support the creative industries. Academy of Interactive Entertainment also showed the large variety of roles available in the Australian market. The JMC music academy is another provider linking with the entertainment industry providing real opportunities for graduates to find a fulfilling career. The AIE even has an incubator grant scheme that graduates can apply for.
A key tip from all of the presenters working in the creative areas was the importance of a portfolio if you want to apply for a course. It can be quite simple, but needs to include some samples of your work and show creative potential. If you are applying for any if the performance courses you will need to audition, which might include a monologue (or three), a song (or two) and dancing. Portfolios and auditions are a fact of life in the creative industries.
Migas outlined the ten key steps in applying for an apprenticeship, they have a great set of resources for anyone considering an apprenticeship. Mature workers seeking an apprenticeship can find opportunities in horticulture.
The Endeavour College provides degree level opportunities for those wishing to study natural health, and the college even has a Wellness clinic in which students gain experience and understanding of all aspects of a career in natural health. Graduates will finish their courses with the degree and hundreds of hours of practical experience. Sage offers personal training qualifications for people seeking a career in the personal training industry. The course is a comprehensive approach to fitness training and they have a great support network when you finish your studies that will support you in finding relevant employment. Career nights are a feature where you hear from professionals sharing tips and tricks for employment and career management.
A lot of the providers also have scholarships available. The ability to pay upfront, defer fees to the Fee-help scheme or apply for a scholarship are just some of the options that you can pursue to cover the course fees, which in some cases are quite expensive.
Very informative