The following is written by Nigel Phillips and taken from the careerlifecollege blog. A link is provided at the bottom of the page:
Recently I had a client whose first degree was in nursing because they really liked helping people - but they dropped out because they didn't like the shift work.
Their second degree was in psychology, a natural progression from nursing, however, they couldn't handle statistics and so they never finished.
A third degree was in graphic design, the opportunity to be creative was always a strong motivator but finding a job proved difficult.
Then something unusual happened - they blinked, and eight years flew by and they found themselves still working in records administration a job they started just to pay their way through nursing.
Many people think that they don’t need a career plan because they already know what they want to do, don’t see it as a priority or don’t want to spend the money.
However, in the above example, how much is eight years of your life worth?
At this time of the year, especially, don’t let your Final Year result decide what you will do in life and don’t be too busy doing urgent things to avoid doing ‘important’ things – like career planning.
Have a look at the statistics:
• 34% of first year university students drop out;
• 17% of TAFE students drop out;
• 39% of traineeship students drop out;
• 28% of apprentices drop out; and
• up to 20% of persons don’t want to work in the area they’re qualified.
“Career by accident” is experienced by up to 80% of Australians.
This message is particularly important for parents, where their influence alone accounts for up to 70% of the career choice of their children.
The fact is that with all the good intentions of parents throughout Australia unacceptably high numbers of students are still dropping out of courses and career pathways.
The tragedy is that the biggest cost is the loss of self-esteem and motivation that often accompanies dropping out.
The good news is that there are some excellent career programs and support available both through the school and through private providers.
The antidote for career by accident is to learn how to self-manage your own career and it is a good time to start now as you consider your VTAC preferences.
Applying for the right course the first time could save you a lot of time, money and anxiety.
8 Tips to Avoid Career by Accident
1. PAUSE – for a minute. Don’t just choose a particular course or career path now because you have to. Take the time to plan your career.
2. EXPLORE – your career options. Find at least 3 ways that you can explore your career options now. These may include using the web, meeting with your career teacher or visiting an industry association. Remember there is no point choosing a course you want to do if it doesn’t lead to a career that you want to do.
3. EXAMINE – your career path options in terms of how closely they align with your needs, values and what you want for your future. Clarify what is important to you, the lifestyle you want, the location and other conditions that your ideal career will provide. This process will help you to identify your career path priorities.
4. DEFINE – your education and training options. There are many ways to enter just about every career so it is important that you consider your options carefully. Don’t just look at Uni, consider TAFE, traineeships, apprenticeships, interstate courses and courses offered by private providers.
5. CONSIDER - part time versus full time study options, your personal learning preferences, preferred study locations, cost and living expenses and the environment where you are most likely to succeed.
6. FEEL GOOD – use as many strategies as you can to really know what your preferred course and career options feel like. Go to open days to research the campus and course. Try to talk with ex-students you know who are studying the courses you’re interested in. Ask yourself, “What will it feel like to study here?” and “Will it optimise my chances of being successful?”
7. ACTION – don’t just plan it, do it. So many people just think about what they’re going to do but never get around to actually doing it. Ensure that you write down step by step what you need to do and by when. Just do it.
8. ASK FOR HELP – seek assistance if you find the process a bit scary. Make an appointment to see your career teacher with your parents or see a professional career advisor.
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