Careers

Careers Update 

This week Year 10 students are out on Work Experience, day three and so far the feedback is really positive from students, visiting teachers and employers, congratulations Year 10 students.

 Not only is work experience a great opportunity for students to experience the work place, future career’s and begin thinking about pathways.

It is an opportunity to represent our school in the wider community. These positive experiences lead to future employment opportunities and relationships that grow are vital and beneficial to all our students’ futures.

This is a great time for current year 9 students to start thinking about what you would like to do for Work Experience in 2019. Many opportunities with big companies, health care, local council, hospitals, police, and government institutes have an online application process that requires completion before the end of this year, 2018. If you have any ideas or are  interested in specific areas , go online do some research and come and see Mrs Haines to be sure you meet all the deadlines, you don’t want to leave it too late and miss out because you didn’t prepare properly.

If you have no idea, also come and see me. I am available any recess or lunch time’s and am happy to meet with students and parents after school. We will run a Work Experience information session, possibly in conjunction with our year level subject selection nights and I will speak to students individually during MIPS sessions.

During the school holidays there are many sessions at Universities or TAFE's that provide fantastic opportunities to experience and explore these institutions. So check the careers news or come and ask me what is on offer.

Open Days at universities, TAFE institutions and private tertiary providers take place during term 3, and are an opportunity for these institutions to open their doors, and showcase themselves to prospective students and their parents.  The Open Days are usually held on a Saturday or Sunday, so students need not take time off from school.  Attending a few Open Days is extremely important in making informed choices about tertiary study.  For the majority of students, they can anticipate studying at that institution for at least three years, so seeing the facilities, meeting with lecturers and current students, and getting a general ‘feel’ for the campus is very important.  Students are encouraged to attend more than one Open Day, and make sensible comparisons between the different institutions.  Many similar courses are offered at different institutions, and going to have a look at a couple, comparing the courses, the facilities, the opportunities offered, etc. 

This allows students to really get an idea of which course and institution offers the type of program they are interested in and looking for. 

It is important that students visit different Tertiary providers to see what is on offer but also to see what the campus is like, you need to carefully consider your choice of Course at Tafe or University. Like any major purchase or decision in life, you need to consider all the features and make an informed decision. 

As Year 12 students begin to finalise their tertiary plans over the next weeks, and Year 10 & 11 students begin investigation in their careers meetings and work experience follow up, attending a couple of Open Days and speaking to representatives of those institutions is going to help the process enormously.  Below is a compiled list of a number of Open Days taking place over the next few weeks, as well as a useful hand out on how to get the best out of attending an Open Day.  This resource has been emailed to every Year 10 to 12 student, is on the notice board in careers room and senior school hub, also included in the Career News and on the Careers website http://www.scoresbysccareers.com

Getting the most out of an Open Day

Most institutional Open Days are held in late July and August (see over the page for Open Day dates). However, you are more than welcome to contact an institution to arrange a visit any time.

What happens on an Open Day?

On Open Day you can visit an institution when it’s at its best. Everyone is there – academics, lecturers, current students and information officers. More importantly, you can talk with academics, lecturers and current students about what certain courses are actually like, and what is required to get into them.

Who should attend an Open Day?

Anyone who is considering studying at a tertiary level in the next few years should attend.

Why should you attend an Open Day?

Apart from the opportunity to obtain course information there are many other reasons why attending an Open Day is a good idea:

• You are going to feel more comfortable arriving at a university or TAFE institute on the first day of classes if you have been there before.
• What is really involved in the course or courses you are interested in?
• If you have to move away from home, where are you going to live?
• Will you be happier studying in a large metropolitan institution or a smaller, perhaps rural institution?
• What does the place ‘feel’ like? Is it a bustling environment with lots of activity or a quieter, more relaxed campus set in landscaped grounds?
• How are you going to get there? Is it close to public transport or should you start saving now for a car?

If you don’t know the answers to any of these questions, then you should attend an Open Day!

How to make the best of Open Days

To make your Open Day visits fun and informative, here are some pointers:

• Write down a list of questions you would like to ask about particular courses
• Be there early. Crowds tend to develop as the day progresses
• On arrival, get a map from a central point and ask for directions to the relevant faculties or schools
• Ask questions!
• Don’t spend the day collecting printed information only. Use the opportunity to speak directly with academics before applications close
• Introduce yourself to selection officers if you feel it is appropriate, but don’t be pushy
• Check out the residential colleges, if available. After all, it is you that will be living there.
• Walk around the campus. Have a good look! See what sporting facilities and other services are available.

Not everyone can attend every Open Day and various Institutions hold their Open Days on the same date!  If you can’t attend an Open Day and you are interested in a particular institution, you may visit at other times. If you wish to speak to a particular person, it is essential to make an appointment first.

Bronwyn Haines

Careers