Claire Pech – Careers Advisor

Career Avenues follow up

Last week I attended a Career Avenues review day for schools using Career Avenues profiling systems. We learnt a lot about the current job market, how other schools are using the system and the benefits attached. In 2019, Year 10 students will have access to the career profiling process and then a one-on-one debriefing afterwards with a Careers Avenues’ representative to discuss the relevant career options. I am looking forward to the many benefits this will bring for our Year 10s.

What do employers want?

The Business Council of Australia report on future proofing students at school found that:

• Too many students were choosing courses that do not lead to work in the field
• Workers found that they were paid a lot less than they expected
• Workers didn’t have the correct access to this information.

What courses are employers looking for?

STEM and STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering Arts (Humanities/Creative Areas – but only with STEM), Maths

Courses to recommend

What skills do employers want 

Message for students:

• Do the highest Maths level you can
• Add Science, Maths or Business to an Arts, Media or Design course
• Research university and tertiary courses
• Get the best grades you can
• Take a part-time job to apply your transferrable skills
• Get summer work – if you can
• Use the university careers service.

Career notices, dates, events

Medicine: UMAT changing to UCAT

The UMAT test is now changing to the UCAT test in line with international and UK standards. Students interested in Medicine, Clinical Science and Dentistry need to apply and research through the official UCAT site at www.ucatofficial.com/ . Applications open up in March next year for testing that runs through July 2019 with results delivered in September to universities.

For all of those students who are daunted by the prospect of undergraduate medicine and how competitive it is, alternative pathways can be found at pathways to medicine here.

New South Wales Police – Recruitment information session

Sessions providing information for students on how to enter the police force and a future career with the Police are generally run at Police Headquarters (3 November and 1 December in Parramatta).

www.police.nsw.gov.au/recruitment/news/information_sessions

Calling all astronauts

An Australian company is planning on launching their own commercial rockets in the next few years, meaning more space jobs for students!

www.createdigital.org.au/space-startup-australias-first-commercial-rocket-launches/

(Source: MHSCareers October 2018)