Careers and Pathways

 

 

         Levinia – Dimity -

olsen.levinia.j@edumail.vic.gov.au russell.dimity.s@edumail.vic.gov.au

Phone: 0417 441 604 Phone: 0427 506 706

It is a challenging time for our school’s students and, as career practitioners, we want to support you in any way we can. Through this newsletter, we will continue to provide you with the latest information from universities, useful websites, links to video clips, updates from VTAC and other useful tools. Please get in touch with us for any career information, support and guidance as you navigate your way through the months ahead. Speak to us or contact us by email or Book a one-to-one appointment.

In this issue:

• Job search Techniques • CAREERS – Investigating options • Careers with STEM • ACTAC (Australasian Conference of Tertiary Admissions Centres)

Updates from:

• Australian Defence Force • Monash University • Federation University • Australian Catholic University (ACU) • Collarts • JMC • RMIT

JOB SEARCH Just because you are not at school, it doesn’t mean you cant start some career investigation or get prepared for job search. There are lots of websites that will assit you in your investigation and two good ones you might like to look at are SKILLS ROAD and YOUTH CENTRAL. If you click on the links below you will find all sorts of great information. You can get career information, do a careers quiz, search occupations, build a resume, get job search tips or there is a host of other career information for you to investigate.

https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/jobs-and-careers

SKILLSROAD https://www.skillsroad.com.au/limboland

When you're in high school and haven't worked much or at all, it can be hard to find a job. In fact, teenagers have a really high unemployment rate. However, if you're a high school student looking for a job, there are things you can do to help yourself get hired and get your application noticed.

How to get yourself hired!

Just like anything in life, the key to successful job hunting is to prepare, prepare, prepare! You'll need to have a strategy you simply can't fly blind when it comes to your career.

Decide upon the job you want by researching industries, trades and professions that best suit your interests, talents and personality.

So, let's get you started:

Look good on paper (or online!)

It's the person (ie: the recruiter or hiring manager) who gets you the job, but it's your application that gets you the interview. Prepare a professional looking resume and cover letter that can be emailed, printed or mailed.

Do everything you can to help your CV stand out, from including volunteer work, a brief summary about what you're looking for, to highlighting your sporting and academic achievements. If you are concerned you don't have this information to add to your resume or cover letter, it would definitely be worth getting out there and gaining some volunteer experience or join a sporting team! It's really about standing out from the crowd and showing a potential employer what YOU can bring to their organisation!

Download our easy to use resume templates for a head start

Searching for roles

We get it, this can be a frustrating process! Many jobs are filled before they are advertised, there may be limited jobs going in your area and there are often hundreds of applicants applying for the same job roles which can make the job hunting process a little challenging! But most importantly, don't give up as perseverance is key! It is definitely worth utilising all methods of job hunting when it comes to finding your dream job. Some employers like it old school and advertise their job vacancies in the local newspaper. It is also worth talking to your personal network like family friends or working friends who may have heard of some opportunities where they work or in nearby businesses. Your connections can be very useful when it comes to finding work.

Online job platforms

There are multiple online platforms to submit your resume. This gives you a chance to search for a range of roles that suit your interest and match your strongest skills.

Face-to-face

One way to approach employers is to "cold canvass".

Basically, this means approaching an employer at their workplace about the possibility of working for them. Seems scary, we know… but on the plus side, it means you can target a business you want to work for instead of waiting for a job to become available.

Be sure to take a resume and cover letter with you. An employer may follow up at a later date if they don’t have a vacancy immediately.

What to wear when approaching an employer

It is always important to dress appropriately! This means looking clean and tidy and wearing professional attire. For example, for men this could include wearing a nice top and pants, and for women this could include a blouse with business pants or a nice dress. If you are still in school, school uniforms can be appropriate only if they are in good condition and look tidy! That is of course if they are paired with professional body language to leave a good impression with the employer.

Making a call

Trust us, it’s as simple as it sounds! Calling a business that has not advertised any vacant jobs to check in and see if there are any jobs available can prove to be very productive. But how do I make it a successful call?

• Be clear in your mind about the purpose of your call • Find out as much as you can about the business before making the call • Make note about the questions you will ask and the information you will need to give • At the start of the call, be sure to clearly state your name and who you want to talk to • Have an answer prepared if you go to the voicemail!

Things to talk about when cold calling an employer:

• Explain why you have chosen to call that particular business. This will show you've done your research and you're very keen to work there.

• It is good to take notes while the person is talking. It is all right to ask them politely to slow down or to repeat something you have missed.

• Research common interview questions and be prepared with answers. • When you have finished the discussion, it is useful to give a short summary of what

you understand has happened and been discussed. This makes sure that you and the other person are clear about what has been said.

Grow your resume while you wait

Last tip! Just because your dream job isn’t open right now, doesn't mean you shouldn’t be doing everything you can to make sure you’re a perfect match for when it is available.

• Start taking on more leadership roles in school and sport, this will look great on your resume

• Volunteer or look for work experience in your desired field. It may be for free but that experience will be INVALUABLE when you’re applying for your job

YouTube

A useful set of job-related videos

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC4jotN_tSTy0ZCt2X5LqVlmyJmfN4TLd

Click on any role & there is a video behind it featuring someone who works in that role, talking about what their role entails, what they studied etc.

myfuture has compiled lists of resources to support career exploration whilst at home. We have resources for students and parents.

View via our Career exploration at home webpage

ACS Foundation

The Interactive Career Wheel (link below) is designed to assist students with exploring careers in technology.

The Career Wheel www.careersfoundation.com.au is divided into quadrants with various roles sitting within each quadrant - Digital Design, Security, Specialities, Marketing/Consulting, Industry, Software, Hardware & Content.

HELP FOR STUDENTS TO DISCOVER THEIR CAREER PATH There's still time for students to apply for an ADF Gap Year, but they’ll need to apply soon so they don't miss out on their preference. The valuable work and life lessons gained during an ADF Gap Year are transferable and will give your students confidence in their future career paths. They can get real engineering experience, discover their leadership potential as an officer, or find passion in an administration role. While ADF Gap Year roles initially involve only a 12-month commitment, it could be the beginning of a long and stable career in the ADF. Students who take part in the ADF Gap Year program: Enjoy a great salary package plus free healthcare Gain valuable skills and work experience Have job security and stability Live a varied, active and healthy lifestyle Make friends with like-minded people Have the opportunity to see more of Australia https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/students-and-education/gap-year? INSPIRATION FROM CAREERS WITH STEM

Cassie Steel looks at the following STEM and health careers dedicated to fighting COVID-19 from the front line: • Vaccine scientist • Epidemiologist • Medial lab technician • Pharmacy technician • Biostatistician • Infectious diseases

Access the article here, https://bit.ly/3aIeptV

University investigation A good resource for year 12 students investigating university options A good resource for course options is the VTAC website. Google VTAC and navigate to the home page. From there click on CourseSearch (archived courses). Once you are in you can use the search bar and type in your interest (this could be education, nursing, criminal justice or law etc). This will bring up universities and their degrees you may be interested in. If you click on, say, nursing at Deakin University it will give you a lot of information about the course - pre-requisites, ATAR, major studies, pathways etc. You can do the same for any listing and it is good to learn what each university offers. You can try typing different options in the search bar to see what comes up. You will find that ATAR's differ from one University to the next so it is good to do research on what each offers. It is also good to learn what pathways are offered if you aren’t successful in getting in. Because you are a county kid and come from an underrepresented school, most universities will give you special consideration (called SEAS) and this could bump you ATAR up 5-10 points, depending on the university. There are lots of options out there, it's just a matter of starting your investigation. Please keep in contact with Dimity or Levinia and let us know how your investigation is going or ask any questions you may have. We will look forward to catching up in person, hopefully next term or before, but until then we can help get you started.

RMIT Speak to a course adviser Contact the team at Study@RMIT via phone, live chat or online enquiry, https://bit.ly/2UURaHr

Speak to a current RMIT student You can live chat with a current RMIT student to ask about studying at RMIT, https://bit.ly/2XYfASD

Explore 2021 undergraduate courses Download the 2021 undergraduate course guide, https://bit.ly/3dT0cwe

Remote learning at RMIT Watch how RMIT is supporting their students via remote learning, https://bit.ly/2KfdYvt

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In this current climate of remote access, and to help future science

students, parents and teachers explore everything Monash Science - we have compiled Your Essential Guide.

Find out more

This all-inclusive platform provides information on every course, including special consideration programs, the subject adjustment ‘bonus’, pathways, future events, our amazing facilities and one-on-one direct access to course advice with Science VTAC selection officers. There are interactive tools and opportunities to meet some of our current students as well!

Your Essential Guide sheds light on the many career-building opportunities - including internships, industry placements and study abroad experiences.

We are in the process of developing a series of VCE curriculum-based online lessons. We’ve started with VCE Geography and Environmental Science and hope these can be utilised in the classroom or as an additional teaching resource. These will be uploaded periodically.

Science is the ultimate career for those who want to unlock the secrets of the universe… and have a lot of fun in the process. Scientists dissect and discover, explode and explore, investigate and invent – and their work can genuinely change the world.

Actual link: https://www.monash.edu/science/future-students/your-essential-guide-to-monash-science-online

Speak to a course adviser You can connect with a course adviser via phone or email, https://bit.ly/2wdpK69

Attend an online information evening

Monash staff will be running online information evenings for prospective students and their

families. For information and to register visit, https://bit.ly/39GmmOQ

The following are dates for May:

26 May, All prospective students

27 May, All prospective students

Take a virtual tour of the Biomedical Learning and Teaching Building Follow Jeremy, a Bachelor of Biomedical Science student, as he tours the building, including

a visit to our Innovative Centre for Human Anatomy Education microbiology laboratories.

You will also get to see a physiology class in action, https://bit.ly/39DyJeJ

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COLLARTS – OPEN DAY

Collarts is a creative media college located in the Melbourne area.

Courses are offered in:

• animation and VFX

• comedy

• audio engineering

• digital and social media

• entertainment journalism

• entertainment management

• fashion marketing

• fashion sustainability

• interior design

• music production

• music performance

• screen and media.

The institute is running an online open day on Saturday 16 May. You will be able to listen to

detailed information sessions and ask teachers and student advisers

Questions via Live Chat. For information and to register visit, https://bit.ly/2JJ0XtH

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JMC ACADEMY – OPEN DAY

JMC Academy is a creative media college located in the Melbourne area.

Courses are offered in:

• animation

• audio engineering and sound production contemporary music performance

• design (visual communication)

• entertainment business management

• film and television production

• game design

• songwriting.

The institute is running an online open day on Saturday 23 May. For information and to

register visit, https://bit.ly/3dRo2s9

Speak to a course adviser You can connect with a course adviser via phone, SMS, live chat or online enquiry

form, https://bit.ly/2XMG7C7

Explore 2021 undergraduate courses

Download the 2021 undergraduate course guide here, https://bit.ly/2wQU0nH

Early entry program

Community Achiever Program (CAP) As a Year 12 student do you: demonstrate leadership in your school or workplace;

coordinate a community initiative; volunteer in a local cultural; sporting or religious group; or

provide care to someone in need? Australian Catholic University‘s Community Achiever

Program is designed to acknowledge commitment to our local communities. The

Community Achiever Program (CAP) recognises a student’s potential to achieve great

things. A successful CAP application means a student could receive a provisional university

offer as early as August to study at Australian Catholic University. Being part of this CAP

group also offers successful students unique opportunities to enhance their leadership and

volunteering skills, while they study at Australian Catholic University.

CAP applications to study in 2021 Open – Wednesday 1 May 2020

Close – Wednesday 12 August 2020 (Melbourne courses)

Wednesday 2 September 2020 (Ballarat courses)

Offers released early September to mid-September 2020

Students are encouraged to begin gathering their required documentation now to submit with

along their application. Failure to meet all the requirements for the CAP will result in not

being considered for the program. Students are encouraged to browse how the CAP is

assessed and offered so they can make sure their submission is well-written, and also find

out guidelines for minimum ATARs required.

Find out more at Community Achiever Program (CAP), Community Achiever Program (CAP)

Passion 4 Business (P4B) P4B is an early offer program for students who would like to study a business-related degree at Australian Catholic University. Seven single and combined degrees are eligible. Successful applicants will receive a conditional offer before end of year exams. Applications for the 2021 intake are now open. For information on the scheme, eligibility criteria and the courses available visit, https://bit.ly/2xJTNmP

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At Federation University, we're adapting to the changing world.

From Term 2, we will be offering a range of new online resources, providing secondary schools with access to course information, video content and virtual campus tours, to ensure continued engagement. These tools will complement our existing range of online resources, including Course Finder, Scholarships Information and details on our range of pathway programs. This includes a comprehensive webinar schedule, offering new opportunities to discover more about our programs through student insights, graduate outcomes, and industry guests. Students will have the opportunity to chat online with our presenters, while academics will provide program overviews as well as curriculum highlights. The webinar series will be available shortly from our digital resource toolkit, which you can

bookmark and access as your online portal to Federation University. The page currently includes information about:

Virtual campus tours (coming soon)

• Course Finder • Flexible study options • Free TAFE • How to apply • Pathways • Publications • Scholarships • Webinars (coming soon)

Giuseppe Marino Gippsland campus giuseppe.marino@federation.edu.au or +613 5122 6987

Joint national statement on tertiary entry for 2020 year 12 students

The Australasian Conference of Tertiary Admissions Centres (ACTAC), of which VTAC is a member, has today released the following national statement in relation to tertiary entry for year 12 students.

27 APRIL 2020

JOINT NATIONAL STATEMENT ON UNIVERSITY ENTRY FOR 2020 YEAR 12 STUDENTS

The disruption caused to 2020 Year 12 students by COVID-19 has led many to question whether entry to university will be different for them compared to previous years.

The Australasian Conference of Tertiary Admissions Centres (ACTAC), comprising admissions centres across Australia, has released the following information to help dispel any confusion for students and parents:

! All tertiary admissions centres, universities, and education authorities are working together to ensure a pathway to university for those currently studying Year 12.

! The ATAR will be calculated in all states and territories as in previous years. In Queensland, the introduction of the ATAR for the 2020 cohort will continue as planned.

! The ATAR is widely used across Australia because it is a fair and nationally consistent tool for university entrance, in terms of both allocating places and predicting readiness for university study. Any changes to a state’s examination and assessment processes in response to COVID-19 can be accommodated within the ATAR framework.

! As in previous years, other pathways that exist alongside the ATAR can be used by universities. For example:

! ! The use of other criteria such as interviews, tests and portfolios for specific

courses ! Special entry schemes for specific groups such as Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander peoples ! The consideration of Year 11 results as part of some early offer schemes in

NSW, ACT, and Tasmania ! These pathways are in addition to the ATAR; they do not replace the ATAR. ! While universities have autonomy in their admissions processes and may

adopt specific schemes in response to COVID-19, there is already a clear and nationally consistent process for Year 12 students that uses the ATAR as the primary basis of admission.

! Information about the admissions criteria for courses and universities will be available on tertiary admission centre websites by August. This will include final details of any special COVID-19 admission schemes that are offered.