Planning your career

You and your career are a “work in progress”. In order to make the best career choices for you it is important that you do all of the following:

Many people want to take a test to find out which job or career is perfect for them. This is not realistic as there may be many jobs and careers that will suit you.

However, it is possible to assess yourself and think about the type of work that will be compatible with your unique skills, abilities and interests. You will also need to consider how this work relates to your values and what is important to you. Think about yourself in the areas of study, work, community and sporting activities.

You will also need to consider the balance that you would like to have between your work, leisure time and relationships with family, friends and colleagues. While some jobs pay very well they may also be very stressful and may affect your relationships and social life.

It is important that you begin to research the employment market.
What occupations exist today? (Remember many of the jobs you will be applying for in 3 or 4 year’s time, have not been invented yet!)
What jobs are on offer?
What are the employment prospects for the occupations you are considering (local and global)?
What skills, experience and qualifications do employers require?
What are the latest developments in the industries you are considering?
What organisations are at the cutting edge of the industry?

Careers and Employment staff speak to many employers and there are basically three things they look for when they recruit graduates:

This is because these three areas usually provide an employer with evidence of the skills they value. The most common skills or attributes are:

Remember that in order to succeed you need to be proactive – you are in charge of your own career. It is important that you use your time at UNSW to enhance your future career options. For ways in which you can do this see Optimising Your Time at University.

Careers and Employment provides assistance in developing career management skills such as career planning, preparing cover letters and resumes and preparing for interviews. Careers and Employment has a list of services offered to UNSW students and graduates.