Career's Corner

So how do you find the career that’s right for you?  For some people it starts with a passion.

This is one young man’s journey to find his pathway:

A passion for motorsports leads to a rewarding trade.

Mitchell Croke, Signwriter

As a teenager, 2013 Australian Training AwardsThis link will open in a new window Australian Apprentice of the Year finalist, Mitchell Croke would hang out in V8 Supercar workshops where his two older brothers worked.

He remembers admiring the promotional signage and stickers on the cars.

Mitchell's interest in signage and stickers spilled over into his hobby of go kart racing, where he applied his creative talents to his own kart, ensuring it had the best stickers and stood out from the competition.

At the completion of secondary school, Mitchell had two options – start an Australian Apprenticeship in signage or accept a university placement in sports journalism.

He says, 'I chose the apprenticeship because I didn't want to have a massive HECS debt, and I wanted to be learning a course and making an income at the same time'.

Gaining hands-on experience while completing a nationally recognised qualification was a competitive advantage that has been most valuable to Mitchell.

'I chose the apprenticeship because I didn't want to have a massive HECS debt, and I wanted to be learning a course and making an income at the same time.'

'As a young person, it can be hard to find a good full-time job as employers are usually seeking experienced workers, which is exactly what you get during an apprenticeship or traineeship.'

'In my trade I get great satisfaction out of seeing other people's business boom or be noticed because of the signage we have created for them. I consider myself a very innovative individual and developing the outward-facing image for businesses is definitely a way to express my creativity.'

Undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship has led to many opportunities Mitchell never imagined could be possible.

'I have had some amazing experiences throughout the last four years – travelling the world, making great friends, and improving my trade.'

Mitchell won a gold medal at the 2012 WorldSkills Australia National Competition in Sydney and was awarded a BBM Skilled Futures Scholarship, which acknowledges and rewards excellence in skills by funding travel to the United Kingdom to enhance leadership skills.

Mitchell recently achieved his goal of securing a sign-writing position in motorsport – with V8 Supercars team Nissan Motorsport in Melbourne.

Talk soon,

Carol Woodman