Stephen Spielberg made his first feature move at 16, yet even he advised to listen for a whisper rather than wait for your dream to shout to you. You would expect the creator of the BFG, Indiana Jonesand Jurassic Parkto know he wanted to be a movie maker.
Perhaps even Speilberg had doubts about his career choice, or wondered if there was something better for him.
Charles Kingley said:
It is tricky to find a job you are enthusiastic about. Those jobs don’t shout out to you.
As career professionals it is our role to help people to:
Become Aware of opportunities for enthusiasm
Explore career pathways to happiness
Help them to engage in work they find interesting
Repeat 1 – 3 until they find something to become enthusiastic about.
Using the Model
When working with people, ask them where they want to start on this career model:
Are they looking for something totally new?
Do they know what they want, but not know how to get there?
Are they interested in their work but want to refine their target for the future?
Download this copy of the Career Influence Model to use with your clients
If you would like a job during the holidays but have never applied for a job, there is help available to get you on the right track and it’s free from the Jobs and Skills Centres, which are located throughout the State.
Go to a Jobs and Skills Centre for job application skills.
Text books for schools
Text book sellers have their peak time during the summer holidays as schools and students get their text books for the next year.
If you are interested in working with friends and making some money over summer, this could be a good option for you.
Every year Campion Education hires up to 1700 casual staff across Australia for our busy back-to-school period.There are stores in Canning Vale and Malaga
Casual jobs at Campion are typically from late October / November to February. The roles are in either customer support, warehouse & operations, or retail stores.
Once you register, we will let you know in August when applications open, so you can apply ahead of the crowd.
CBH Summer Jobs
Each year usually in about October, Western Australian (WA) grain growers start harvesting their grain such as canola, wheat, barley and oats.
It only pays $33/hour but there is opportunity for overtime and many uni students save enough to pay for their academic year by working for CBH.
There are three main jobs on a CBH receival site:
Samplers are responsible for ensuring the quality of grain by sampling a truck load of grain and performing an unbiased and accurate assessment of the load.
A Weighbridge Officer is responsible for controlling the site weighbridges, recording grower deliveries and ensuring the correct and accurate weighing of the trucks.
RPOs are responsible for ensuring that the grain flows smoothly from the trucks to the storage areas.
You don’t require any experience as CBH provides all of the necessary training!
Swimming Instructor – Education Department
If you’re a friendly, outgoing person who loves the water, help us run the Education Department’s popular swimming programs across the state.
Leaving school is one of the biggest changes you will ever face. Change is scary and exciting.
When you leave school you can go to uni or TAFE, or you can explore your world by taking a Gap Year.
This post identifies Gap Year opportunities in:
Agriculture
Defence
Volunteering overseas
Studying overseas
Working in the outback.
AgCareerStart / Agriculture Gap Year Program
If you’re 17-25, this unique gap-year program provides you with a paid job, training and development, not to mention the opportunity to build your networks within the agriculture industry.
You can indicate which farm type you’d prefer and where in Australia you would ideally like to go. Find details HERE.
Summer School Harvest Jobs with CBH
Summer jobs with CBH are a tradition in the West Australian wheatbelt. Students work hard through the heat and dust to earn good money to travel, buy a car or fund their study.
The pay is only $33/hour but there is a load of overtime, there is training, free accommodation and a range of roles. Check details HERE.
Vacation Swimming Instructor Jobs
If you are 17 you can be a qualified swimming instructor. Check the qualifications you need HERE.
The horticulture industry relies on people to pick their fruit and veggies. If you take on this work you will probably meet backpackers who are traveling around Australia.
You can apply for a Defence Force Gap Year in the Airforce, Navy and Army.
There is a range of different job opportunities that you can apply for.
To be eligible to apply, you’ll need to be an Australian citizen aged between 18 and 24 on COMPLETION of military training. You’ll also need to have completed Year 12 (subject passes required vary by job) and have passed in Year 10 English and maths.
Applications for all roles are now open – and will close as positions are filled. Learn more HERE.
Army Reserves – part time defence jobs
If you want to do something different on a part time basis, you can apply to join the navy, army or air force reserves. There is a range of jobs you can do.
Because of skills shortages, resorts and roadhouses are importing workers from the Pacific Islands… and everywhere else!
Look for these jobs on sites like Seekor phone/email the local tourist bureau and ask where to find a job in the area.
If you are 18 you can earn more money serving alcohol than cleaning or serving in a cafe. You will need your Responsible Service of Alcohol certificateto be able to work serving alcohol.
Work on a Station
Can’t ride a motor bike or muster cattle? Maybe you can make scones or serve coffee.
Ellenbrae Station Scones
Many stations supplement their incomes through tourism.
If you can clean and make a bed, you can probably find a job supporting the station tourism industry. Look for jobs on sites like Seek.
VolunteerOpportunitiesfor school leavers
Cahoots provides camps and programs for young people with disabilities. They are looking for Year 12 school leaver volunteers who are willing to support young people to engage with recreational activities.
With projects based on the edge of the world’s best safari and close to Mount Kilimanjaro, it’s no wonder that Tanzania is one of our most popular destinations.
In Tanzania, you’ll help support Maasai communities. Consider the following options:
If you would like to study overseas, you can check out your options at hotcoursesabroad.
Crimson is a company which links Australians to university courses in the UK and US. You can get the latest information HERE.
Need Experience? Volunteer at Home
Once you leave school it is tricky getting work experience as employers aren’t insured to cover unpaid volunteers.
In Western Australia you can apply for volunteer work through Volunteering WA. People put in requests for volunteers to them and they place people and cover them through the Volunteering WA insurance.
The Volunteering WA people said that when you first start with them they are careful of the sort of work they let you do until you have proven yourself.
Youth Central provides trusted government advice on gap year opportunities
Youth Central isn’t trying to sell you anything. They don’t want anything from you. They are just trying to help.
Check out Youth Central. It’s a Victorian Government site that has clear, unbiased tips on taking a gap year.
At a recent university seminar for career practitioners, one speaker complained about West Australian school leavers not going to uni.
No wonder they aren’t going
There is such a critical skills shortage happening that employers are ringing schools asking if there are any suitable students for great jobs with career prospects. Students can walk out of school and straight into a job with an okay salary.
The State Government has been pouring money into vocational education and training. There is a bigger variety of courses, they are cheap or free and many give credits to uni degrees.
Uni courses are expensive.
Why would you go to uni?
Those who are not sure what uni to go to, or what they want to study, still get onto the uni bus because:
Their friends are going to uni and they don’t want to be left behind.
The uni bus came for them while they were at school so they bought a ticket.
Their parents told them to get on the bus.
Teachers knew about the uni bus and talked about their experiences in a positive way.
Just because the university bus is ready to pick you up from school, doesn’t mean that you have to get on.
Very few students are 100% sure of the university course that they want to take. About 30% realize that the course they are studying is not the right one for them, and they change direction. Others drop out altogether and end up feeling like they have failed.
If you are not sure what to do at uni, DON’T GET ON THE BUS.
The uni bus fare is expensive
Buying a uni course is not like buying a car. You can’t sell your used course to the next buyer who comes along.
If you get off the bus before you get to the destination YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY.
If you fail, YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY.
If you change courses, YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY for the part of the course you used before you changed direction.
You can estimate how much your degree is going to cost you by using the UWA fees calculator
Defer uni for a year
If you are not sure what course you want to do, you can still apply for a place at uni and, once you get offered a place, defer taking it up for a year.
After working for a year you will have a clearer idea about which units to enrol in.
Vocational Courses
Vocational Education and Training has been the winner in the post-school revolution in Western Australia.
The West Australian government has introduced Fee Free TAFE, it has been introducing short courses, skills sets, and employer subsidies. Industry has been partnering with training providers to deliver skills on the worksite. There are hundreds of courses available.
If you are unsure what course you might like to do or how to enrol find a Jobs and Skills Centre near you for careers guidance. It’s free. They can tell you what courses will give you credits at uni.
You HAVE to do post-school learning
You can’t just leave school and never study again. Okay, you can, but poverty could be your lifelong friend.
People who have post-school qualifications earn more money and have more life choices.
The world isn’t going to stop changing just because you aren’t learning new skills.
You need to keep up with changes in the world of work either by learning on the job, or online or in a classroom. Getting tickets, qualifications, and recognition for your learning will help you to have choices and steer your career in different directions. The skills you gain may even get you credits in some units at uni.
Take Your Time
More haste less speed is an old saying.
It means, don’t rush into things.
If you are not sure what direction to take, slow down and look around. There are many directions to take as you leave school. Uni is just one of them.
Find more choices and guidance on how to make a decision. Subscribe to In Focus Careers Western Australia
Country Education Foundation (CEF) helps rural and regional youth access education, training and jobs through grants, scholarships, support services and resources.
The purpose of this scholarship is to support regional students from low socioeconomic backgrounds who are experiencing financial hardship and have contributed to their local community.
Check the Curtin Alumni Regional Scholarship HERE.
Curtin Home Away From Home Scholarship is for first-year Health Sciences students from a rural background, providing $15,000 annually towards on-campus accommodation, along with pastoral care and support services These scholarships may be accessed through theCurtin Alumni & Friendsprogram or by checking specific scholarship details on the Curtin University website.
For students who need to relocate from a regional or remote area to commence an undergraduate degree at Curtin University, who are from a low socioeconomic background and are experiencing financial hardship. Find more at Harry Perkins Memorial Scholarship.
The Convocation of UWA Graduates and The University of Western Australia (‘the University’) are providing a scholarship to assist an eligible regional or remote student with the cost of accommodation at University Hall or other college affiliated with the University.
The UWA Harry Leaver Scholarship assists eligible regional or remote students, preferably from Moora or the Mid West region, with the cost of accommodation while they commence and pursue a Bachelor of Science at UWA.
The UWA Harry Leaver Scholarship provides $15,000 per annum to support accommodation fees at University Hall, and is administered and awarded by the University of Western Australia.
ECU provide scholarships which have been established specifically to assist students who normally live in a rural, regional or remote area of Western Australia, or in some cases Australia wide, who are having to relocate in order to study at University.
These include the following scholarships for undergraduate students:
High achieving regional students are encouraged to apply for a scholarship that will help them with their living costs when they move to the city to study at Murdoch University.
The George Alexander Foundation (GAF) is offering six scholarships to the value of $24,000 which successful applicants can use towards the cost of their living and accommodation expenses while in Perth.
They all offer scholarships to attract the most academically gifted students to their university.
These sites identify key academic scholarships at West Australian universities. There are many scholarships for you to apply for.
This is your place to shine
Apply for lots of scholarships. This is your place to shine. This is where you find the resources to support yourself while you are studying at university.
ECU Excellence Scholarships are open to Western Australian year 12 school leavers displaying outstanding academic excellence. You will be considered for this scholarship when you select Edith Cowan University as your first preference on your TISC Application. The scholarship offers a payment of $2,500 per semester (or pro rata for part time study) for a total of $5,000 per year for the duration of your course.
With over $2.5 million in scholarships awarded every year, students from all walks of life are enjoying the benefits a scholarship can bring. Murdoch provides support for applicants.
Apprentice Connect Australia Providers are the organisations that support employers, help find apprentices and trainees, undertake the Training Contract signup and registration, and administer any Australian Government Employer Incentive payments.
Your school newsletter will identify revision programs or additional support that your school will be offering.
You can often find semi retired teachers, who have been expert advisors on exam content and style, who are available as tutors. Ask at your front office if they have a list of available tutors.
Some of the best revision programs are offered by subject specialists who advise on the style and subjects of the exams. Ask your specialist ATAR teachers if there will be an official ATAR Exam Information session on their subject.
ECU Free ATAR Revision – September
ECU’s free ATAR revision sessions are on during end of third term holidays.They are available online and on campus.
Each ATAR revision session comprises a four-hour seminar covering:
Several organizations specialize in tutoring students in preparation for ATAR exams. This is a comprehensive list of those available in WA.
Academic Task Force Academic Group Academic Associates
Academic Task Force Holiday Revision Courses are designed specifically for students looking to revise ATAR course content and practice exam-style questions in preparation for exams.
Students will increase their understanding, receive fresh insights and gain intensive revision of their subject during this short course. Each subject is taught by a highly qualified and vaccinated ATAR teacher with a strong background in marking and writing exams to increase their performance.
All Saints’ College School
Churchlands Senior High School
Perth Modern School
Online
MasterMind
Master Classes are one hour sessions conducted once a week in term time. Each week they reteach, revise and reinforce the topics and areas of study that the students are dealing with in their classes at school.
ReviseOnline offers specifically designed multiple choice, short answer and extended response questions in a range of Year 11 and 12 courses which match the format of ATAR exams.
Once you submit a completed test or exam you’re provided with ATAR-standard sample responses and can evaluate your answers against a fully-worked marking key. All our courses are up to date and WACE specific, so each question you complete is improving your exam skills and ultimately boosting your ATAR!
Nailing the ATAR and getting the results you are hoping for isn’t necessarily about being the smartest kid in the class. It’s about being well-prepared, knowing what to focus on and understanding what questions are most likely to come up in the exams and how to answer them.
With the help of T.E.E. Consultants’ July holiday intensive exam revision program, Year 12 students can access ten hours of additional teaching per subject, to truly understand the course curriculum and perform better in exam conditions.
Students are invited to enrol in up to five subjects in Week One of the July holiday period. Country students can access heavily discounted, full board accommodation packages which offer safe, secure, supervised accommodation on-site for regional students who enrol in at least three subjects.
At InTuition, each student undertakes an assessment and programs are customized to meet their needs. Tutors are qualified teachers or experts in their fields.
People from the Department of Education will chase you up to find what’s going on.
You will cut ties with your friends and your support network of teachers, student services, VET coordinators, career advisors at school.
You could end up alone and feeling lost.
BETTER WAY: Do this preparation.
Leave School Early
Step 1: Talk with family and friends
Don’t shock your family and friends by just dropping out of school. They will get upset and add to your stress.
Talk with them, flag the idea of leaving school early. Ask what they think. Get their ideas and support.
Step 2: Get expert information
Your Mum’s best friend or your maths teacher is not the expert that you need right now. There’s a lot to know about leaving school. Talk to an expert whose full time job it is to know about career pathways.
This mind map provides links to expert information about leaving school in WA. Play with different links to see what’s available. Write down questions to ask your career advisor.
Meet with your school career advisor
Take a list of questions.
If you don’t know what you want to do, they will explore different opportunities with you.
They can help you to get a job application ready.
They can link you with an apprenticeship/traineeship company that employs lots of apprentices.
Jobs and Skills Center free information and advice
Jobs and Skills Centres are co-located at TAFE colleges. There are 19 across WA and they provide free information, advice and support.
Private Career Practitioners
Look up “career practitioners” in your “suburb”. There will be career practitioners who can be employed to guide you through the process from school into a job or further study.
Step 3: How to leave school
Get your career advisor and family to help you to arrange a full-time job, enrol in a full-time course or a combination of both.
It needs to go to the Minister for Education. They won’t come back with a flat “no” but you may be asked to add some more information to your application.
Once you have permission you can leave:
Get a copy of your latest report.
Get references from supportive teachers.
Check with the front office to see if you have forgotten anything.
Say goodbye to your life as a school student
MORE INFORMATION
Common pathways from school
1. Nursing
2. Computing pathway – leave the pretty stuff for later
There are so many computing jobs. Learn the hard, foundation, boring stuff. It will put you way ahead of others who focus on pretty, creative computing.
In Focus Careers News is the ultimate solution for high school career news and advice. Over 150 West Australian high schools already subscribing, our newsletter provides unbiased and up-to-date information on a wide range of career options. Don’t miss out on this valuable resource – subscribe now and give your students the career guidance they need to take action.
Stephen Spielberg made his first feature move at 16, yet even he advised to listen for a whisper rather than wait for your dream to shout to you. You would expect the creator of the BFG, Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park to know he wanted to be a movie maker.
