You could be a Generator!
Generator– sounds important, right? But what on earth does it mean, who are these ‘Generators’, and what do they do?
Well, there’s a new way of thinking about what jobs we’re suited to, and its focus is on skills rather than job titles. This approach is called ‘Job Clusters’ and one of the clusters is called ‘The Generators’.
What’s a job cluster?
Research from the Foundation for Young Australians has shown that when you train in one job, you actually gain skills that can be used in an average of 13 other jobs. This is great news as it means you’re probably skilled for more jobs that you realise, or at least you will be. Clusters are several jobs grouped together by skill set. There are seven job clusters in total;
- Generators (which we’ll talk about here)
- Artisans
- Carers
- Coordinators
- Designers
- Informers and
- Technologists
So, how does knowing my job cluster help me?
Firstly, knowing which job cluster your interests and skills fit with will help you decide what job suits you best. Plus, because the job clusters group together jobs by skill set, if you want to transfer to a different job you can see which ones might work best.
For example, if you worked as a sales assistant you’d be a Generator, and you could look at other Generator roles, like a café assistant or hotel worker.
What skills does a Generator have?
Generators are sometimes described as ‘sellers and servers’. Generators need to be good with people as this job cluster requires a lot of interaction with others. Generators should pride themselves on good service and enjoy working with others.
What jobs are in the Generator cluster?
Industries that employ lots of Generators include tourism, retail and wholesale, accommodation and food services and arts and recreation.
If you’re a Generator, and starting out in the workforce, you might like to think about jobs in shops or restaurants, like sales assistant, shelf filler, kitchen hand or café assistant. Generators can also make good telemarketers, entertainers or even airline ground crew.
How can jobs in the Generator cluster accommodate disability?
In all jobs employers are required to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate any needs you may have resulting from disability. People with certain disabilities often enjoy the flexibility some Generator roles can offer.
If you’re interested in a Generator role, CoAct can certainly help make it happen for you.
I think I’d make a good Generator, where do I start?
Your first stop should be our fun, quick ‘Find a job as unique as you’ quiz which will help figure out which job cluster is the best fit for you. You may find you’re not a Generator after all, perhaps you’re an Artisan or a Carer.
Whatever job cluster you fit in, CoAct will be able to help you with next steps to finding your perfect fit.
What do I need to do to get a ‘Generator’ job?
1) Think of examples of how well you get on with people. Jobs as Generators require good interpersonal skills so you’ll need to show you have them. Examples don’t need to be from work, they could be from school or just family life.
2) Check any past work experience against the Generator job cluster list. You may find you have experience as a Generator you hadn’t thought of. You can then use this to prove to employers what a great Generator you are.
3) Don’t be afraid to try a Generator job that isn’t your dream one. Remember, you’re looking to develop a skill set which you can later transfer across if you want to.
4) Get support! Importantly, contact CoAct. You may be a Generator, but there is only one *you*, and CoAct will take the time to get to know the *you* behind the Generator – what your interests, skills, passions and any barriers are – to find a job that’s your perfect match.