Four ways to find great career advice

It doesn’t matter if you are fresh out of high school or a stalwart of the workforce – career advice is a valuable resource to engage with at any stage of your career. Whether you are exploring your study options, debating a career change or simply looking to re-enter the workforce, quality career counselling can help shape your future. 

Knowing where to find useful career advice can be tricky to ascertain, so we’ve done the work for you! Read on to discover where you can go to receive advice on your work, study and training options. 

Career advisors and counsellors 

Career specialists have expertise in all things education, work and training, so they are a great resource to utilise if you’re after some genuine advice. By analysing your interests, skills and experience, career advisors can guide you towards work and study options that match up with your credentials. You may even be exposed to study or career choices that you hadn’t previously considered, opening up a world of possibilities. 

Careers advice doesn’t discriminate – counsellors can assist students and workers in several different scenarios. These include people searching for work experience, people who have left their job or are considering a career change, and students who are deciding where and what to study in their final years of high school and beyond. Secondary schools often have a careers teacher or specialist available for consultations, while higher education students can make use of the career counselling services provided by their institution’s student union. If you are not currently studying, a number of organisations offer group and individual counselling services that are run by experienced and qualified practitioners – do keep in mind that private counsellors often charge a fee for their services. 

If you’d like more information on career counselling services, head to the Australian Centre for Career Education or Career Development Association of Australia websites. 

Online resources 

The internet is one of your greatest assets when it comes to finding meaningful career advice. A quick search of the web can link you up to a range of resources – think career quizzes, aptitude tests, job search engines and blogs detailing the latest trends in the careers sector. You can match your skills to relevant career pathways, explore careers and industries in demand, and even get some valuable tips on everything from landing your first job to upskilling in your current career. 

Some useful careers websites include myfuture, Job Outlook, CEAV Career Counselling Australia and SkillsRoad.  

Your school, university or TAFE

Education providers tend to have a range of career advice services on offer to students, allowing you to access quality help when you need it. Your school careers teacher can assist you in creating a senior school subject plan and provide advice on potential university, vocational education and career pathways. Universities and TAFEs have careers hubs that equip students with a number of different services – these include career advice centres, careers consultations, drop-in ‘job shops’ and mentoring programs. 

Family and friends 

Sometimes word of mouth is a great way to explore your career possibilities and help decide what jobs or study areas you might like to pursue. Your family and friends can act as a sounding board for you to bounce ideas and concerns off, or even share their own career pathways with you to provide personal insight into certain jobs or industries. 

If you find that the people in your life are directing you towards a career path that you are not interested in, inviting them to attend a career counselling session with you could be helpful. This could be a great way for you to express, and them to better understand, the goals, skills and opportunities available in your desired career.