Careers @MMCRC

Soft Skills: The Secret Superpower Employers Want

Grades matter, but it is your soft skills - like teamwork, communication, and adaptability- which can really set you apart. You are building these skills all the time, often without noticing it: group assignments and sports strengthen teamwork, class debates or even making TikToks boost communication, and dealing with last-minute changes at school develops your adaptability.

Employers see these qualities as just as valuable as technical ability because they show you are dependable, creative, and great to collaborate with.

How to Build Soft Skills at School (Without Even Realising It):

• Volunteering to be the group spokesperson in class = boosts confidence and communication.
• Joining a sports team or music group = sharpens teamwork and collaboration.
• Taking on a casual job or a school leadership role helps develop reliability and responsibility.
• Try something new (like coding, debating or drama) = builds adaptability and resilience.

To see the full edition of the Career Tools Bi-Termly Newsletter Term 3, September 2025, including the above article, please visit:  Career Tools Bi-Termly Newsletter Term 3, September 2025.

Parents can also sign up to the Mary MacKillop Careers website to receive newsfeed articles by scanning the QR code. To subscribe, scroll down to the bottom of the page. 

Careers in Demand in South Gippsland

Current trends show strong demand for the following industries and job pathways in our region:

• Health and Aged Care
• Trades (Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical)
• Agriculture and Farming
• Community Services and Childcare 

• Tourism and Hospitality

   

Contact a member of our Careers Team to learn more about apprenticeships, traineeships, and other opportunities that are available in these and other industries.

Mary MacKillop College has excellent resources available in the Career Tools section of our Careers website: Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College. Here you will find information on pretty much every post-school job, education, or training option you can imagine.

See: For Students/Career Targets/Start Exploring Career Pathways to learn more. 

Hospitality, for example, this will take you to a selection of jobs that are related to the required learning level for each topic. Clicking on a job will take you to the Good Universities Guid,e where you can learn more about related courses, what the job involves, and the skills required. 

Appointments with one of our Careers Team are available through SIMON if you would like to learn more about careers pathways or if you need help to familiarise yourself with using Career Tools. 

Options, options, options - you have so many!

Important Reminder – VTAC Applications 

There are VTAC deadlines for university, TAFE, SEAS, and scholarship applications.

Your VTAC fee of $80 is due on 29 September. If you miss this date, the cost increases to $120, so to avoid unnecessary costs, please address this as a matter of urgency…

Equity Schemes and scholarships application close on 10 October.

Remember, you must submit a course application before you can complete your equity schemes and scholarship application. 

Download the VTAC digital guide that has essential information, including key dates:

VTAC Caregivers Guide 

Are you currently supporting a person who is considering tertiary education? This guide helps parents and carers strengthen their knowledge of the application process through VTAC by sharing resources and key advice: https://vtac.edu.au/guides/caregivers-guide