Finding a job in today’s reality is not an easy feat. The fact of the matter is that people all across the country, are entering into university degrees, obtaining their undergraduate, and realising they are just as unemployable as they were, to begin with. It’s a devastating blow for many people, particularly as the idea is “education equals success and financial stability” which has been thrust upon us all from a young age. The truth is though, that it takes a little more than just education. Employers today want you to have all the certificates, plus the added benefit of industry experience that proves you’re not only intelligent enough to do the job, in theory, you can carry it out in practice too. So, what is the answer? Not everyone has the funds or the time to work two jobs while they’re at university and hold down an unpaid internship, that will ultimately make the difference between gaining employment and lining up at Centrelink with everyone else.

What can you do to get your foot in the door????? First off you need to look at Industry and who is employing now and who will be employing in the future.

The most obvious field to get work in is Health.  This is not just an industry for doctors and nurses. Hospitals are commercial entities, they require good solid accounting staff, HR, Marketing, engineering and IT to name a few. The good thing about health is that there is so many different fields you can go into – the possibilities are endless.

It is also said that if you want to be employed in the next 20 years the field of IT is where it is all

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happening. You will be well compensated in this field, it is an industry that offers challenges and rewards along with diversity. IT touches every part of the world now and is just an endless field. Perhaps the biggest reason to work in the technology sector is the work itself. If you’re interested in being on the cutting edge of research, development and innovation, there is likely no better industry to be in.

Another intelligent idea is to go into business on your own. This may require a business or administrative course through university or TAFE. Either way, it can be an incredibly liberating feeling to own your own company and have genuine control of your day to day life. It takes discipline to run your own business, but so does every other line of work. The important thing to note, if you go into this line of work, is to plan ahead. It’s important to know your overheads, that is how much it is all going to cost you and if you can afford it. This will include bills, rent, payroll, ABN registration and any goods and services you may need to run your company.

However, running a business isn’t for everyone. Another industry that the experts suggest is Education. Again, this does not just mean teaching. Education institutions are like mini communities and require all walks of staff from blue collar right through to white collar.

Not too far along from education, is language. It’s a rare skill in today’s society – particularly in Western countries such as Australia. It may not seem like there are a lot of jobs out there that require a second language, but that’s not true. Charities, schools, social workers and government agencies are always looking for people who are able to speak multiple languages. It is the rarity of people who can do this, and that is what makes them so valuable and so highly sort after. Part of finding and maintaining a job, is determining what skill set you have that few others do, and using it to make yourself indispensable. If you can speak another language, you are already indispensable to a large percentage of employers.

Finally, if you are not looking to go through university, and are in need of a steady full time job, you can’t go past the Trades or Armed Forces. With a variety of roles, from admin to combat, to engineering, you’re bound to find something that suits. In the armed forces, you can guarantee you’ll never have to worry about job stability so long as you uphold your job to the best of your abilities. The armed forces will not only make you be a constructive member of society, you’ll be among people who will look out for you. It’s one of the most stable career moves a person can make, without first going to university. The trick is getting your foot in the door though, be constant and don’t give up.

At the end of the day, finding a stable job is not an easy task. If you put the effort in you will reap the rewards. You need to show that you are reliable and a constructive member of the team. Someone who works hard, and constantly achieves a high standard of results no matter what the field you choose. If you can do that, you will be an integral cog in the machine that is your work place, and no one will want to let you go. In fact, once you are on the employment wheel you will probably be “head hunted” for your next opportunity.

They say in the next 20 years if you are working in Health, IT, Education or the Trades you will just about be guaranteed a job. So if you are looking for a career change then I would be looking at these industries.

Alicia Sumich – Group Manager; Business Development

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