Completing Year 12 marks the next phase and chapter of your life. A world of experiences is waiting for you. All you have to do is choose the path you want to take, and for many students, the challenge lies herein.
After Year 12, you have some big decisions to make, the biggest one of them being what to do with your future career. If you find yourself in this exact scenario, this guide should help better guide you on what to do in the next chapter of your life.
Why Should You Decide on a Career Path After Year 12?
Most students will start thinking about the careers they want to pursue even before they finish high school. The sooner you start, the better you can analyse the different options and plan. After high school, you have enough time to look into the different options and carefully weigh the opportunities.
Some high school graduates opt to take a gap year. Some go straight into the workforce, and others may pursue further studies. However, having an idea of the career you want to pursue in mind can help you determine the next steps for you.
Making the decision early can also help you set goals for how you will advance your career a few years down the line. This allows you to do ample research on details such as salary, job satisfaction, and security before committing to studies or work in this career line.
Some of the Mistakes to Avoid When Deciding on a Career Path
Choosing a career path is an exciting opportunity that comes with a lot of pressure, not just from yourself but also from those around you, like your family. It is easy to make mistakes when choosing a career path, considering that most students are still young and the experience is new to them.
Some of the mistakes that other graduates make and that you should avoid when planning out your career include the following:
Rushing in without adequate research
This is a mistake that commonly happens when students have a career they are passionate about and commit to it without enough research. It is important for students to take time to conduct research that may help them discover other job opportunities they might be interested in.
Many graduates succumb to pressure and pick a career at random when they aren’t sure what they want to do. This approach often leads to many career changes, and you might end up being dissatisfied with your job once you have some experience with it.
Family and Social Pressure
Families have a lot to say when picking a career. Sometimes, they offer invaluable advice, especially if you have a family member who is already in the career you are interested in. However, you should follow your gut and have the final say on the career path you want to take if they are pressuring you in a different direction.
Even though you had made plans to study the same thing as your high school friends or go to the same university, it’s important to ask yourself if that is the right path for you. If not, you should reconsider as much as the idea of being with your friends is appealing.
Focusing too much on salary
In the modern world, success is equated to how much money you make. As a result, most graduates will prefer to go for job opportunities that pay the most. However, focusing on the salary alone can lead you to pick careers that you are dissatisfied with. You should also consider other factors such as a work-life balance, satisfaction, passion and job growth opportunities.
Underestimating your abilities
This mistake is more common among students who didn’t get the ATAR they were hoping for in Year 12. Just because you didn’t achieve your goal doesn’t mean that you can’t pursue your dream career. There are many ways you can start your career journey. You can use avenues like studying VET courses or even apprenticeships to get you started.
How to Decide on What You Should Do After Year 12
Now that you know the mistakes that you should avoid, you can shift your focus on what you should do and how to determine what you should do after Year 12.
Make a career mind map
To start determining your career options, create sections for what you’re interested in or what you’re good at. Consider your aspirations and personality. Be sure to add notes in each section and connect them with a job that may suit you.
The mind map will provide you with a broader overview of what you want out of a career and help you land a job. It will also help prepare you for a job interview and guide you in making professional goals for yourself.
Make a list of careers that interest you.
Write down any jobs that you are interested in. You can research different industries to see what they offer and what fits in with your goals, personality, and interests.
From here, you can narrow down your options based on various factors, including which options better suit your lifestyle and preferences.
Talk to people who are working in the job you want
Before settling on any specific career, it might help to talk to people who are already in that field and industry. It will help you understand the tasks they do, their qualifications and what they love about their job. If you don’t have any leads, social media platforms like LinkedIn are a great place to look.
Figure out the qualifications
Some jobs may require formal schooling or online courses, and you may need a certificate, diploma, or degree to get qualified. You should consider these qualifications so you can match your studies to a job or internship.
Conclusion
Choosing a career path isn’t something you should take lightly. But also, it’s not something you should leave hanging for too long after completing high school. The more time you have to consider your changes, the better the chances that you have of settling on a career path that suits you and you can flourish.
