The following steps are designed to assist you decide on a course or program that is right for you!
Refer to the following worksheets to assist you decide on a course or program:
Most people have general but not specific career and/or employment goals.
Identifying your these goals involves a process of looking inward through self
assessment and looking outward by investigating relevant and current information
about the workplace. Factors such as values, interests and personality
preferences can impact upon the identification of these goals and your ability
to achieve them.
Outlining your career and employment short and long term goals will get you
thinking about the future and what area you would like to work in. Think
carefully about the demands that each of these goals will make on you.
Successfully completing a university course and
undertaking work in that field are two separate things and there will be a range
of issues that you will need to consider. Once you have made a list of these
goals identify the appropriate courses.
Refer to Matching Goals,
Courses and Programs.
It is important to select a course or program that matches your own personal
and career goals in addition to your personal circumstances. The processes of
identifying and weighing all the different course options offered by tertiary
institutions may take time but it is important to identify the different career
options that each course may lead.
To find out about the different courses offered by tertiary institutions log
onto their websites and search under the heading 'courses'. Most universities
produce a course handbook that lists all the courses and subjects that are
offered by that education provider. University and TAFE handbooks are available
to purchase from university and TAFE bookshops and through most large
newsagencies.
Course Guides
The tertiary admissions centre in each State and Territory also produces a course guide that
lists all the courses available at TAFE and university and all the
course codes that are needed for filling out an application. These guides can
also be purchased from large newsagencies and are available for loan from your
local library. You can also purchase copies from the offices of the tertiary
admission body/centre directly or contact them to send you a copy in the
post.
Career Information Centres
Commonwealth funded career information centres are an excellent source of
information about jobs and courses. These centres provide a wide range of
resources to assist clients make informed course decisions including access to
career counselling services and related workshops. See career weblinks for
access to career planning websites.
Open days
Universites and TAFE also hold a number of open
days where course and faculty staff are on hand to answer direct questions about
the courses they run and the different career pathways that graduates from that
course have taken.
Once you have identified the courses that match your employment and career
goals ask yourself the following questions:
- what are the requirements of that course that I will have to meet?
- are there any reasonable adjustments that need to be made so that I can
study that course?
- will the course open up the career options that I am seeking?
- should I obtain some experience in this field? or is it included in the
course?
- if there are industrial placements will reasonable adjustments need to be
made?
- is there professional registration involved? If so, will these requirements
affect my career options?
- what might the barriers be?
It is important to find out exactly what each course involves. This includes
the practical aspects of the course in addition to the academic components so
that you don't run into any surprises.
Talk to people who can advise you on the different career options that may
stem from the courses that interest you such as friends, relatives or career
counsellors. Career counsellors are trained to assist clients identify their
strengths and to make right decisions about courses. Most universities and TAFE offer the services of career
counsellors and advisers. This process will ensure that you make informed
decisions regarding your course and where it will lead.
If you have an idea of the particular course that you wish to study speak to
the course coordinators at the different tertiary institutions to identify the
aspects of the courses offered. This will assist you decide on a course that
best meets your needs.
See career services at
tertiary institutions for further information on course advice and career
paths.
Once you have short listed the courses that you are interested in studying you need to research the prerequisites for that course. If you do not have the assumed knowledge or meet the pre requirements you need to make an honest assessment whether you are ready for that particular course. To determine this discuss any weaknesses in your preparation with a course coordinator or career counsellor. It could be that you need to spend some time preparing yourself before you start rather than risk a negative experience or a failure. TAFE, universities and private RTOs run
bridging, introductory and foundation courses to provide students with the assumed knowledge they require to apply for certain tertiary courses.
For further information see preparation and bridging courses.
Even though it is helpful to be clear about your study goals before your
start it is not unusual for people to be unsure or to have changed their mind
once they have begun their course or program. If you are uncertain about what
you want to achieve test your interest and abilities by looking at a course or
program that will give you a range of subject choices and career options before
committing yourself in one direction. However you need to be aware that changing
courses or programs once you have started studying may delay the start of your
final career choice and add to your study expenses.