Career Focus Information

Further Job Spotlights can be found on our Careers News > Careers Spotlights google sites page.

In this Issue:

How to become an Instructional Designer

8 jobs for people who love movies

7 ways volunteering can benefit you

At the bottom of this page is a list of careers listed in previous issues.

How to become an Instructional Designer

Instructional designers are responsible for creating a variety of instructional and learning materials, including user manuals, tutorials, online courses, and training modules. They create content for all kinds of people and organisations, including product users, universities and other learning institutions, businesses, government, and more.

If you’re an excellent communicator, are curious about how things work, and enjoy helping people solve problems, this could be a great career to consider.

What skills do I need as an instructional designer?

Excellent communicator
Inquisitive & creative
Problem-solving expert
Organised & efficient
Great with technology
Good teamwork skills
Flexible & adaptable
Great social awareness

What does the job involve?

Consulting with clients to determine their needs
Interviewing subject matter experts & conducting research
Determining learning objectives & outcomes
Creating written & graphical instructional content
Picking an appropriate medium for delivery
Developing eLearning platforms & systems
Tailoring content to specific users’ needs
Analysing usage data & feedback to make necessary changes

What industries do instructional designers typically work in?

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
Education & Training
Information Media & Telecommunications

What Career Cluster do instructional designers belong to?

Instructional designers are typically strong Innovators, using their skills and expertise to develop solutions to a variety of problems. They need to have a keen eye for design and be adept with technology.

They also have some overlap with the Informer Cluster, particularly when it comes to communicating and sharing knowledge.

What kind of lifestyle can I expect?

As an instructional designer, most of your work will likely be done during normal business hours (e.g. 9 to 5), with overtime being relatively uncommon. Part-time roles are rare, so you may have slightly less flexibility with your hours.

You will be doing most of your work indoors on computers - this means there is a high chance you could work remotely or from home. Some travel may be required to meet with clients in-person.

Most instructional designers can expect to earn an above average salary throughout their careers.

How to become an instructional designer

Although there are no formal qualifications necessary to work as an instructional designer, having one can greatly boost your skills and employability.

Instructional design courses can range from short online workshops to full Master's degrees. Many instructional designers begin their training with a certificate-level qualification, then may decide to pursue further study once they have some work experience under their belt.

Finish high school with a focus on English and Maths.
Consider completing courses or qualifications in instructional design to improve both your knowledge of theory and practical skills.
Start building a portfolio of projects you can show to potential employers.
Keep updating your skills and knowledge throughout your career.

What can I do right now to work towards this career?

If you’re in high school and you’d like to find out if becoming an instructional designer is right for you, here are a few things you could do right now:

Start building important skills by doing volunteer work or participating in extra-curricular activities.
Learn to code and hone your writing and design skills in your spare time. You might also like to start researching instructional design theories and technologies.
See if you can find work experience in an education or design-related setting. This will help you see if you might enjoy the work, and can help you start building important contacts for the future.
Talk to an instructional designer to see what a day in their life is like. If you don’t know anyone, see if you can watch videos or documentaries about a career in instructional design.

Where can I find more information?

Similar careers to instructional designer

8 jobs for people who love movies

Are you someone who loves watching movies, and might like to make that passion your career? There's a whole world of careers out there that could turn your love for film into a rewarding job. Here's a quick read of 8 exciting jobs for movie enthusiasts like you.

Movie critic

Do you love watching movies and sharing your thoughts about them? You're not just confined to posting your hot takes on Letterboxed - as a movie critic, you could get paid to review the latest releases. You'd watch films, analyse them, and write reviews that help others decide what to watch. Plus, you might even get invited to exclusive screenings and film festivals.

Makeup artist

If you're good at makeup and love movies, then the life of a movie makeup artist could be for you. In this role you could find yourself creating anything from zombies to Bridgerton royalty, and interacting with the biggest stars in the industry while you bring their characters to life.

Makeup artists work closely with directors, actors, and costume designers to create the perfect look for each character, whether it's a natural look, special effects makeup, or period-specific styles.

Screenwriter

Ever dreamed of writing your own movie? As a screenwriter, you could create the stories that captivate audiences around the world. Screenwriters write scripts for movies, TV shows, and even video games.

To become a successful screenwriter, you'll need strong writing skills, and if you're already a movie lover, we know you've got the vivid imagination that's key for a screenwriting role.

Sound designer

When you watch movies, do you ever find yourself focusing more on the way the music builds emotion, or zoning in on certain dialogue? If so, you're probably a sound designer in the making.

Sound designers create the audio landscape of a film, from dialogue and sound effects to music and ambient noise. If you have a passion for sound and a technical mind, this could be the job for you. Sound designers work with directors and editors to ensure the audio enhances the overall viewing experience.

Studying audio production and gaining experience with sound editing software are great ways to start your career as a sound designer if you think you'd like to pursue this pathway into the movie industry.

Actor

We know this one might sound obvious, but if you're someone who loves watching movies, chances are you've already picked up on what makes a good actor. If you enjoy drama classes or simply want a chance to bring characters to life, then a career as an actor could be for you.

As an actor, you’ll be the face of a film, embodying different roles and delivering performances that captivate audiences. Actors work closely with directors and other cast members to create believable and engaging characters.

Movie editor

More of a behind-the-scenes kind of person? Movie editors play a crucial role in the post-production process, by taking raw footage and piecing it together to create a cohesive and engaging story. The polished, finished product of your favourite movie is something you have the movie editor to thank for.

As a film editor, you'll work with directors and producers to ensure the final product matches their vision, and you'll be responsible for making sure the movie makes sense in all its parts.

Production designer

Do you find yourself drawn to the visual components of a movie? If you have a flair for design and a love for watching movies, becoming a production designer might be the perfect fit. Production designers are responsible for the overall look of a film, including sets, costumes, and props, and tend to work closely with directors and other department heads to create a particular visual style.

Camera operator

Without cameras, there would be no movie, so it goes without saying that the role of camera operator is one of the most important in the movie-making business. As a camera operator, you’ll be responsible for operating the camera during film shoots to capture the action as envisioned by the director. If you're fascinated by the art of capturing dynamic visuals, a job as a camera operator for the movies could be the career of your dreams.

7 ways volunteering can benefit you

Volunteering your precious free time to help worthy causes is a really noble undertaking. You won’t earn big bucks, but there are plenty of other ways that becoming a volunteer could be of value. In celebration of National Volunteer Week, we're going to take a look at some of the ways volunteering can benefit you.

Learn new skills

No matter where you decide to volunteer, there will always be an element of learning and training. While the skills may seem basic or trivial, they could be essential building blocks for future careers.

For example, if you’re collecting, organising, and distributing donations from school fundraisers, you might be learning more than you think about finances, budgeting, and inventory. These skills are useful in almost all jobs - not to mention how they can help in your day-to-day life too.

Then there are the other skills that you might not even realise you’re building, like communication, teamwork, independence, problem-solving, and customer service – the list goes on and on.

Give your resume a boost

Adding a few more lines to your resume can never hurt. Showing commitment to community efforts, or any kind of voluntary work, will speak volumes about your personality to potential employers. If you’re happy to keep showing up without getting paid, this shows you're dedicated and motivated; qualities that any employer will look favourably on.

Help you stand out in admissions

When you’re applying for further study, chances are you’ll be up against a lot of other applicants. Some might have higher grades than you, and some may have relevant work experience.

So how will you stand out? What you choose to do outside of the classroom could make all the difference.

Volunteering is a great way to show you care about others, and that you can manage your time well enough to balance your volunteer work with your other commitments.

Form connections

Volunteering is a great way to meet people you wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. Those people could become friends, mentors, or your inspiration. The more you get involved with projects outside your school, the wider you’re casting your net. You’ll end up with more contacts that could be helpful in providing you with paid work, work experience, or references.

If you already know what you want to study after school, try finding volunteer opportunities in those areas. For example, if you’re interested in politics, see if you can volunteer with your local politician. There’s every chance your volunteer experience could help you in your future endeavours.

Grow as a person

When you’re at high school, chances are you’re operating within a fairly limited social circle. You’ll be engaging with your family, school friends, teachers, and possibly a few friends outside of school.

Volunteering can introduce you to new situations and ideas - potentially really different to what you’ve known up until now. This could:

Increase your confidence
Teach you to communicate more effectively with different people
Help you become a better listener
Encourage you to explore your personal strengths and weaknesses
Make you more aware of and active about social justice issues

Improve your health

Studies have shown that volunteering could contribute to improved mental and physical health. Increasing your physical activity, providing a sense of purpose, kicking goals, achieving good things, and helping others solve problems are all ways volunteering can improve your wellbeing. You could feel happier, have higher self-esteem, and get fitter as well.

Benefit your community

When you volunteer, you’re not only benefiting yourself; you’re having a positive impact on lots of other people around you too. You might be helping an individual or organisation, giving back to your community, and even contributing to the wealth and health of a nation.

When you realise the true benefits of your actions, you might feel humbled - and you should definitely feel proud of your contribution.

Find a volunteering position that works for you

While it has lots of upsides, volunteering is a big responsibility, so it’s OK if you’re not ready to commit yourself straight away.

Before you say yes to any opportunity, make sure you know how much time and effort you'll need to put in, then decide if it’s something that you can fit around your other responsibilities (and that it's something you’d actually like to do).

Asking around at your school, local sports club, or other community organisations are all great places to start. Alternatively, you can even find opportunities to volunteer online if there's nothing suitable near you.

ISSUE 6

How to become a Scrum Master

How to become a Publisher

ISSUE 5

Discover career pathways in Sport

Discover career pathways in Writing and Editing

Discover career pathways in Communications

Discover career pathways in Network Administration

How to become an Electoral Worker

Discover career pathways in Disaster Management

Discover career pathways in Libraries and Archives

11 careers you may never have heard

ISSUE 4

Discover career pathways in Counselling

Discover career pathways in Accounting

ISSUE 3

Discover career pathways in Utilities

Discover career pathways in Translation and Interpretation

ISSUE 2

Planning for a future in medicine

Discover career pathways in Immigration

Discover career pathways in Telecommunications

Business Pathway Spotlight

Jobs for people who love puzzles