the career book
influence of others
People around us influence our career decisions.
Let’s look at how we can use this to our advantage.
USQ
1.21 Career Tree
1.22 Access your allies through networking
Our friends, the teachers at our school, the family we have
and the people our parents know are all influences in our lives.
The jobs those people around us have also influence us. Do
the people I meet go into trades? Do the people I meet go to
university? Do the people I meet work in unqualified jobs?
If you want to be a physiotherapist or a plumber and you
don’t know someone who is, maybe your family friends might
know someone? Accessing our allies, or ‘networking’, is very
important in both career planning and job hunting.
1.23 Mentoring
1.24 Volunteering
Volunteering experiences are a great addition to your resumé.
Volunteering can also be a very helpful way to gain a ‘foot
in the door’, particularly in some industries and occupations.
National park rangers and marine biologists are some of these.
Mentors are experienced people who can help you as you begin
on your career journey. People you meet along the way can
then be mentors as you travel on your future career path.
1.25 Work experience
USQ
8
If you need help with mathematics
you ASK your mathematics teacher,
or if you need to know about
sports training you ASK the PE
teacher. ASK questions. ASK those
who know. Recognise that if you
don’t know about a career path,
a particular job or going to Uni.,
someone around you may know.
Informational interviewing and work
experience can be very valuable.
1.26 Student’s guide to
work experience
Sitting on the couch won’t be
the best place to find out about
or experience what it is like in
different careers. What if you
want to find out what it’s like
to be a vet or an engineer and
you don’t know any? Work
experience is an essential part of
finding out about occupations
and possible career paths.