The holidays can wait

The holidays can wait The holidays can waitPosted October 13, 2011, by Louisa Veidelis If youre in Year 9 or 10 youre probably looking forward to getting your exams out of the way and heading off for the long summer holidays. But before you start daydreaming about the beach, take a moment to think about this your future But hold on Before you write this off as a guilt-inducing lecture, dont worry, were not your parents, we wouldnt do that. We just have a few handy hints to help you work through some tricky decisions. If youre in Year 9, when you get back after the holidays (yes, we know you dont want to think about that yet) youll be starting to decide what subjects you want to do in Year 11 and 12. If youre already in Year 10, youll have made these decisions already but its still worth spending a little bit of your time off thinking about what you want to do for a career (scary, we know). So to help you, we at Career FAQs have put together some simple steps to help you figure out what career path youd like to follow. 1. Write down your top five subjects or projects at school These are the ones that you enjoy most and where you feel most proud of your work. Examples Hands-on food tech, woodwork, electronics Creative drama, art, music, dance Academic English, languages, history, geography Logical maths, science, commerce Physical PE 2. Rate these from favourite to least favourite Chances are the ones at the top of the list are what you are good at and thats a good place to start when thinking about what you might want to do when you start working. As an example, perhaps your favourite subjects are maths and electronics. There are many career paths that come from an interest in these areas, from becoming an electrician to all the different types of engineering. 3. Write down your top five hobbies and interests Examples Playing sport Going to the theatre Talking to people Helping people Using computers Drawing Writing stories Craft Music If you dont have many hobbies, write down what youd like to do. Many people turn their hobby into their career. The winner of the Beachley Classic at Manly Beach in October 2008 was Tyler Wright, who was only 14 years old and the youngest ever winner of an Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour event. Tylers love of wellenreiten and her ability to compete at a very high level set her up for a successful surfing career. 4. Look for connections between your favourite subjects and hobbies You might have an extended list that includes maths, helping people and visiting friends in the country. One career that suits this profile is teaching. You could become a maths teacher and work in the country. There is generally more demand for teachers outside capital cities so chances of getting work are high. Builders are often in demand in the bush as well so, if living in the country is something you want to prioritise, you can start from this point. 5. Start networking now Look at your list and start r esearching possible careers by talking to people working in the fields youre thinking about. Thats right, its time to start networking Tell your family, friends and teachers what youre interested in and ask if they know anyone in the industry who you could chat with. Change your MySpace headline to I want to be a designer does anyone have any contacts? Networking allows you to speak with people working in the industry or profession that you are interested in. Talking to people helps you to find out what they love, what they dont and apply it to where you see yourself down the track. If you can, organise some work experience (paid or unpaid). It all helps you to make the right career decision. A recent 2008 survey of Australians found that 47 per cent were dissatisfied with their current jobs (CareerOne, 20 February 2008) so a bit of work now can help you avoid ending up like this 6. Read everything you can about the careers you have identified The Career FAQs range of 45 care er specific books contain interviews with 25+ people in the field so you can read about what the jobs involve and how those people got started. You can get the latest information on how much you can earn, what qualifications you need and how to get a job. Whether you are interested in journalism, building and construction, information technology, teaching, nursing, medicine or one of many other industries, you can find out all you need to know in a book thats all about the job. And right now you can buy a book for just $19.95 (33% off RRP) if you sign up to become a Career FAQs member. Career FAQs also has online interviews and career resources (right here on our website) so if there is something you want to know about a career, ask a question and well do our best to find out the answer. And there are plenty of other websites with career information including government websites such as Jobsearch. Let Google do your walking for you. Once you have decided where you are headin g with your career, slap on the sunscreen, grab your cozzie and head for the surf and sand. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchestips for surviving university life11 top tips for effective time managementtips for online learnerstips for first year university studentsuni tips and tricks CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineLouisa VeidelisRelated ArticlesBrowse moreEMPLOYER RESOURCESWork/life balanceWhy Job Flexibility Is The Secret To Career WellbeingBestselling author Tim Ferriss tells us we can have a 4-hour work week but in reality, most of us feel like were working more than ever. Marni sees whether flexibility might be the next best option.Career counsellorVET/TAFEVocational Education and Training in the spotlight infographicIn 2013, nearly 2 million Australians chose to study at a VET institution. Molly casts a spotlight on this popular mode of study to learn more about the current state of play, and what we can do to keep vocational education and training fighting fit.Allied HealthHealthAllied health careers Not just doctors and nursesIf you love the idea of helping people with their health issues but dont think becoming a nurse or doctor is for you, then consider a career in allied health.