Choosing the best option when leaving school

The options your son or daughter will pursue after school are likely to be based on what jobs and careers they are considering, which in turn should be guided by the things they are interested in and good at.

For example, if your son or daughter is interested in chemistry and likes to help people, pharmacy might be a good career option. They may consider doing work experience in the local pharmacy, a TAFE Certificate III in Hospital/Health Services Pharmacy, and/or a degree in Pharmacology or Pharmacy.

Students do not need to have a career in mind when they finish school. Many people switch between different fields of study, different jobs and even a range of careers throughout life.

Here are some ways you can help your son or daughter to choose:

• Encourage them to keep an open mind – particularly when they are looking at jobs which may once have been considered suitable only for men, or only for women. Today, there are plenty of male nurses, and plenty of female engineers!
• Encourage them to talk to you and other people about what they might like to do, and support them in the choices they make.
• Suggest that they make a list of the study areas and activities they are interested in and good at, both at school and outside school.
• Encourage them to explore what jobs and careers connect with their interests and abilities.
• Encourage them to seek work experience or undertake volunteer work in areas they are interested in. You can help by contacting friends and family about work experience their employers might offer.
• Suggest they discuss the jobs and careers they are interested in with the school Careers Adviser and with friends or relatives in those careers or jobs.
• Suggest they look at the job ads in newspapers to see what qualifications are required for the jobs that they are interested in.
• Suggest that they look at the courses offered in the study areas they are interested in.