1. They Care More 

No other teacher cares as much about what you are going to do when you leave school.

Well, that isn’t strictly true. Teaching isn’t just a job. Mainstream teachers care about what their students plan to do…  but their main responsibility is to get students to learn maths, or physics or geography.

The role of a careers teacher is much more important than that!!!

It is the role of the careers teacher to guide students as they unearth their best possible pathway to follow as they leave school. That is their passion. That is what they care about more than any other teacher.

They have a toolbox of aptitude tests and quizzes and exercises and exploration tasks that will help to guide you to your best possible future.

Check this Coggle Map to start your own exploring.

2. They know about university degrees

Not only has your career teacher got first hand experience of being a university student, they have kept up their knowledge.

Every year all of the West Australian universities run professional development programs for careers teachers.

These are wonderful relaxing days where careers teachers are pampered, indulged and spoilt as they are given all of the information they could need to recommend THAT PARTICULAR university to hundreds of prospective students.

These days out are organised by university careers staff who form a close relationship with school based careers teachers. If ever your teacher doesn’t know something about a course, they just ring their friendly uni based career advisor and get the answer for you.

3. They know about apprenticeships and traineeships

This pathway has sometimes been a bit tricky for careers teachers. While many teachers have vocational qualifications they often do these courses part time so don’t have experience as a full time TAFE student.

Once the mining boom came along employers needed trade and technical skills quickly so TAFE courses came into high demand from school leavers. As the digital economy has pushed up the demand for rapid skills acquisition, long theoretical degree programs have been challenged by short, just in time vocational courses.

Careers teachers struggle to keep up with the massive changes that are taking place across all industries so they hook up students who want an apprenticeship or traineeship with experts in the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network .

This Coggle map gives an overview of how to get an apprenticeship or traineeship. Get more information at This is How You Get an Apprenticeship in WA.

For students wondering about technical or health para professional careers they now hook them up with careers staff or expert lecturers via the Jobs and Skills Centres which started up last year.

Your careers teachers are the kings and queens of networking. They will know who will know the answer to your question.

4. They know about job application and interview skills

There was a woman at the Skills Expo last year telling everyone they were doing their job applications all wrong. They should buy her special  job application course if they ever wanted to get a job.

That just isn’t true.

Careers teachers know what employers are looking for and give you at least ONE good way of writing a job application and cover letter.

They set up mock interview and do their best to make you anxious so that you know what it is like to go for a real job interview.

This is a career teachers fundamental toolkit. They know this stuff and they teach it.

Despite all of that hard work preparing students to go for jobs, employers complain about bad spelling, poor sentences, lack of care, not answering the questions…… yadda yadda.

Career teachers are able to give you all the knowledge and skills you need to write a good job application and do a fair interview. Learn from your school based careers teacher. You don’t have to pay a fortune.

If you would like to do a job application and interview course check out your local Jobs and Skills Centre. They run free courses and will give you one on one support. You don’t have to be thinking of a TAFE course to go to these Centres.

Go to your careers teacher for free advice as soon as possible

Give your careers teacher every chance to help you to unearth what is possible. Go to see them early and follow their advice.

If you have a strong bond with  a year or VET coordinator, or student services teacher you can go to them. Having great rapport with a wise teacher you trust is important. They can consult the professional careers teacher for information and support as you work towards your goal.

Poor career choices can cost you time and money, but more than that. Poor career choices can leave you feeling lost and depressed.

Take your career exploration and discovery seriously while you are in the familiar, supportive school environment with teachers who care about you.

Discovering your dream career could be your reward.

In Focus Careers Newsletter

Get career information from a network of insanely great West Australian career professionals:

Testimonial:

Thanks for the latest e-mail Bev, and for all the information and inspiring ideas over the year. Since I have become a part of  the(In Focus Careers) network I have grown in knowledge and motivation to really make a difference for our young people. 

(South West Regional Government High School.)

My Commitment to West Australian Careers Education

For In Focus Careers to be the conduit to Insanely Great Careers Information for West Australian students I undertake to:

• Write 10 insanely great issues of In Focus Careers newsletter each year that focus on the needs of West Australian students and careers teachers.
• Search for local, national and international information that could impact on the careers of West Australian students.
• Connect you with insanely great careers teachers across the In Focus Careers network.
• Listen to and support West Australian careers teachers

M: 0434 056 412

Email: Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au