While you may be tempted to let loose and party throughout the summer break, you could benefit from being proactive about planning your future earlier to get ahead of your peers. Think about what motivates you – you can break it down into long-term goals and immediate short-term goals. Be realistic and think about the important things to you. Whatever your goals are, it can be helpful to have a bit of guidance along the way.

 

Want to enter into further study?

If you’re thinking about entering into tertiary education, by this point you may have already attended an open day. If you haven’t put any thought into what qualification you want to study, you should talk to the uni, TAFE or college’s faculty members. Student counselling services, advisors/coaches and course coordinators can guide you through the program structure, what jobs it can lead to, and help you determine whether it is a career path you want to follow.

 

I want to kickstart my career

If you’re looking to jump right into work, you might be at a loss for where to even begin. It might be downright daunting to think about: how you’re going to approach employers, how you will write an exceptional resume and cover letter that will put you ahead of the curve, or what jobs are even out there that you have a suitable skillset for. To help you find your footing, employment service providers (such as CoAct) can provide you with guidance, resources and networks to help you jump-start your career.

To help you get started, we’ve created a handy toolkit which provides you with:

• Cover letter and resume templates
• Tips on dressing for an interview
• Daily planner
• And more!

Click here to download our Youth Job Seeker Starter Kit.

 

Are there other options?

Rather than rushing right into a career, you might want to consider sparing some time doing volunteer work or community work. Volunteering can provide you with invaluable skills, experience and help to build your confidence, all while feeling great about all the good you’re doing towards your community. It will also help you get to know what you like and don’t like in a job, as well as widen your networks – you never know what could come of it in the future!

 

How can employment services help me?

The most difficult part about finishing up with school is that you might be unsure how to navigate what you want to do with your future. An employment services provider, like CoAct and our local Service Partners, can set you up with a variety of support and resources, including:

• Tailored career advice
• The know-how to navigate the job hunting process
• Practical help and training like resume building and cover letter writing, interview practise and support, and networking advice and connections
• Work-ready skills and training including short courses, work placements and apprenticeships and traineeships
• Plus much more other job search support.

We can even help expand your horizon by showing you the possibilities of other job options you may be interested in or have the skillset for. To get a sneak peek, check out our job cluster quiz!

 

It’s okay to take a breather

While it’s important to think about all of these things, try not to overwhelm yourself and remember to give yourself a bit of a breather before making any major decisions. Take the opportunity of the summer break to look after yourself and get some well-deserved rest. The holiday season can be hectic but be sure to not overcommit and spend a bit of me-time along with the we-time. After all, it’s important to have a healthy mind and a healthy body.

 

Ready to roll!

No matter where you are in your journey to the world of work, CoAct is here to help you find a job sooner. The team at CoAct is dedicated to helping people from all walks of life gain experience and find the right job. If you’d like some personalised support while you look for work or you need help with further training and education, we can help. When you’re ready, get in touch with CoAct here.