In this blog post, we’ll be discussing:
- The influence of parents, carers and allies on career decision making
- Strength-based careers exploration – what, why and how
- Choosing the right pathway (and noting that career changes are normal!)
- How to test out and validate career decisions
The influence of parents, carers and allies
The influence of parents, carers and allies is crucial when a child or individual decides to enter the workforce and start their career. It is important to be informed on career and education options for when that time comes.
When your child or young person becomes interested in starting their career, it is important to show your support and enthusiasm. Even if you have hesitations to them entering the workforce, you should try to address these issues in a sensitive and constructive way. Sometimes our opinions can make people feel restricted and unable without us knowing.
There is a lot of material available for people entering the work force which you can direct your child or supported individual to, especially if they feel overwhelmed by the workplace. You can visit the Career Research and Pathways section of the AA Pathways website for more information.
If your young person is offered a mentor for their apprenticeship or traineeship, we would strongly suggest that they take up the offer as this will ensure they have someone within the apprenticeship sector who understands and support challenges that may arise throughout the apprenticeship.
Choosing the right pathway
When deciding what career pathways to look into, it is a great idea to look at things like hobbies, skills, strengths and development needs. Choosing a career that aligns with hobbies and interests can give individuals more enjoyment and motivation when at work. Make sure you look at sustainable hobbies though… just because someone likes puppies, doesn’t necessarily mean they should be a vet nurse.
There are a lot of career options available, so deciding on a pathway can take time and effort. You can spend some time investigating industries, work types and occupations to better understand your child’s areas of interest. Exploring a variety of career options can help them make a more informed decision. Below are some resources we recommend using during this process:
Doing an apprenticeship or traineeship doesn't mean you are committed to that career for life. It can be a good first step into an industry, a taster of a job while you decide your next step. Many of the skills you develop doing Australian Apprenticeships will stay with your child or supported person for life, even if they make big career changes. For example, the teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills they will develop, as well as behaviours including showing a positive attitude, are important to display when applying for future jobs.
Trialling potential careers
If your child or young person isn’t 100% sure on what Australian Apprenticeship or career pathway they would like to complete, there are a few different ways of doing a ‘trial’, which we suggest participating in first.
A Pre-Apprenticeship
A pre-apprenticeship is a short course that can be completed prior to undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship. Students will learn the industry basics and have a chance to figure out if this is an industry/qualification they would like to continue in. Generally, they are offered in the traditional trades industries, such as Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing and Automotive. Pre-traineeships and pre-employment courses can support people looking to start a career in a non-trade industry.
A pre-apprenticeship takes anywhere from 10 weeks to 6 months, depending on the chosen course. Pre-apprenticeships can be offered in a range of different courses and structures. We recommend talking to your local Registered Training Organisation (TAFE, or private provider) for more information.
For more information about pre-apprenticeships, visit our About Pre-apprenticeships information: aapathways.com.au/about/pre-apprenticeships
Work Experience
Doing work experience is a great way to determine if an Australian Apprenticeship is the right path for your child or supported person. Working in one’s ideal occupation for a short amount of time is a great way to get an idea of what the role entails and help to decide if they would like to go ahead with the apprenticeship or traineeship.
Please note that these roles are often unpaid.
Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASbA)
If your child or person of interest is attending high school and interested in doing an Australian Apprenticeship, there is the option of doing an ASbA. An ASbA is completed part-time. Students will earn a wage, train with an employer and work towards an accredited qualification whilst still attending high school. This could be a great way for your child or young person to get some industry experience without making the decision to leave high school.
Student Information
https://mybigtomorrow.com.au/
School Leavers Information Kit (SLIK) 2022 (yourcareer.gov.au)
Unpaid work - Fair Work Ombudsman\