Tips for School Leavers

So it’s getting to that time. You’ve hit the third term of year 11 and your parents, teachers, and what seems like the entire world is pressuring you with that one big question – so what are you going to do when you leave school? It’s a year away right? So who cares! But you should, the subjects you excel in over the next twelve months and in your exams are really going to dictate to you what your options are, so best to have a goal so you know what you’re aiming for.

If, like most of us, you’re wracking your brain and you’re coming up with nothing, don’t fear, you are normal. So many people are just completely overwhelmed by the prospect of having to choose a ‘career’, a ‘direction’ that they throw their hands up in the air and start snapping whenever anyone poses the question to them. But the important thing to remember is, what you choose isn’t forever. It is not the only direction you will take, the only area within which you will have jobs, and hey, likely not even the degree you will finish at uni. The beauty of today is, you can change your mind a million times, have a million careers and directions in your life. So release the pressure, you only now need to decide what you’d like to do for the start of your career! If you’re still coming up with blanks – electrical services or plumber, scientist or teacher, have a think about some of the below.

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    *The physical

Trades are respectable, physical and mental fields that can earn you good dollars. You know your local electricians Sydney? While they may not have competed for big marks in year 12, they have put in the hard yards after, with at least a four year apprenticeship and a lot of man hours learning how electricity works and how we harness it! Not electrical services material? What about a plumber or builder?

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    *The academic

If you consider yourself a bit of an intellect, and want a career that will really stretch your brain, both in study and later years, there are a lot of options out there. How about one of these?

-Doctors, lawyers and vets

Being a doc takes a lot of work – but there are big rewards – good dollars and saving people’s lives. It is a diverse field, so don’t just think of your GP who looks after your colds and vaccinations. You could specialise in any number of areas, from feet, to stomachs to blood!

Like medicine, if you want to study to be lawyer, you are going to need to knuckle down and get excellent results. If you succeed, you can specialise in different types of law, and perhaps even make it to the top of your field or become a barrister against war crimes in The Hague.

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         *The commercial

Finally, if you’re looking for something corporate, but not quite requiring the academic dedication of the first group, something more commercial, competitive and creative, why not try advertising. It’s a dog eat dog world, but incredibly rewarding. Not into bells and whistles? How about IT or banking?

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