CAREERS

Career Action Plans – Year 7 & 8

On Monday 2nd December all year 7 & 8 students gathered in the Library to complete their Career Action Plan (CAPs). Prior to completing their plans, students participated in a Q&A centred on the meaning of various career terminology. I was very impressed with the answers students provided especially to the question, what difference is the difference between a career and a job?

The Career Action Plan exercise is one that WHSC regards highly and every student at every level has completed one. CAPs stay with students as they progress through their year levels. The CAP is a planning document owned and managed by students and helps with -

· Goal setting – study, career & personal

· Clarifying actions that need to be taken to achieve the goals

· Committing to participating in planned activities

Student’s CAPs are fluid, that is, they can be updated at any time anywhere. To ensure that student CAPs hold the most recent information WHSC has committed to providing each student with at least one session throughout the year where they solely focus on updating their CAP.

Why do students need a CAP I hear you ask? This document is a great tool which helps students document what they like, where their strengths, interests and skills lie. It also helps them list careers that they are interested in and want to start exploring. It is never too early to start thinking about careers. The earlier that career conversations can take place the better equipped students will be when they are faced with making decisions about choosing a work experience placement, electives/VCE subjects, senior school pathways or finding out who they can talk to about a career they are interested to see what it’s really like? Having time to reflect on the above not only assists students with ‘creating’ their own future but also provides invaluable information to WHSC staff so that they can provide effective support during career conversations.

I have encouraged all year 7 & 8 students to keep updating their CAP after any career exploration that they take part in. Next year both year levels will be taking part in additional career activities and students will be encouraged to update their CAPs with the outcomes of these activities.

I have asked students to log into their CAP to show their parents the work they have done. I am sure it will be a great conversation starter!

Voula Jakubicki

Careers Coordinator