As early as year 9, you can move from thinking about your future career to taking active steps to make that a reality. This might look like:

• understanding what you're interested in and what you're good at.

• thinking about what types of industries and jobs you are interested in

• thinking about if you want to do a VET program

• attending career immersion activities such as open days and expos 

• building some skills and experience through work experience or volunteering

• applying for casual or part-time jobs - and having the right tools like a CV (resumé)

• applying for a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship

• preparing for interviews

• planning your next steps after school finishes ('your transition to adulthood').

Planning doesn't need to be complicated.

Starting with a proactive mindset will get you ahead. Focus on the things you can do to create the future you what. This might be going to:

• industry events where you can meet employers and make connections that could lead to a job

• career expos, open days, and industry talks - these are usually free, all across the state and welcoming to students

• connecting with employers - you can do this even before you think you're ready.

These important steps are in your power to achieve right now. Meeting people in industries you're interested in will help to understand what's out there. It also builds relationships that can lead to opportunities later.

Find career awareness activities such as open days, expos, work placements

Find volunteering roles for people under 18 years old

Find casual and part-time entry level jobs

Find other events of interest

Work Experience

Doing work experience means spending time in a workplace learning:

• what type of work people do

• what types of jobs there are

• how to do some tasks in a workplace

• how to follow instructions from the employer (the boss or your supervisor)

• what they expect from you - like being on time, listening and paying attention, and staying safe.

Work experience is also called workplace learning, or a work placement or a work trial.

By doing work experience you'll learn about the world of work, your responsibilities and your rights - things like taking breaks, working safely, working the right hours and being paid correctly.

Doing work experience will help you get a job or start out in your career of choice.

Your school will tell you and your parents or caregivers what needs to be done to be legally protected, so that your placement is properly arranged.

Watch these videos about Flexible Industry Programs (FIPs) in schools.

How to find a placement

Finding opportunities for a work experience placement involves:

• talking to your teacher or VET coordinator or your parent to get you started. Make a list of opportunities in your local area - business that do the kind of work you're interested in. This could be a store, an office, a manufacturing business, a food production business or a trade

• narrowing down your interests. Choose 3 or 4 local organisations to approach. Make a phone call or send an email with all the information you need - your name, school, when you'd like the work experience and for how many days, your school contact and your contact details. Allow plenty of time to arrange work experience - it might take weeks.

• confirming your placement. Your school's teacher or VET coordinator will let you know the correct process, which forms need to be signed and anything official that needs to happen. They may be able to help you achieve this.

There is more detailed information for parents and schools here.

Being safe in a workplace

Before you start workplace learning, you must complete safe work (WHS) training.

Safety comes first, always - and you have the right to receive an induction.

An induction is a guided tour of the workplace and explanation of what you'll be doing, the equipment you'll use and where to find what you need, including bathrooms and break areas.

You must take care of your own safety and the safety of others. This includes reporting hazards and using personal protective equipment (PPE) when directed.

WorkStart is WHS training so you can be ready to work in a safe, professional way. Follow the instructions from your school for accessing plink to complete WorkStart.

Aboriginal students can contact the Workabout program if they need help with getting personal protective equipment (PPE) through education.workaboutcentre@sa.gov.au.

You may need immunisations (vaccinations) for some placements in healthcare. The workplace will give you more information on what's needed.

If you’re not sure about any special requirements of your work placement, talk to your teacher or VET leader.

Volunteering is a great way to build skills, get experience, meet new people, and help the community. It can be a one-off event or something you do for a bit longer. It's a great way to help you explore your interests, develop workplace skills and make a positive difference. 

There are lots of volunteering roles for people aged under 18 years old. 

Visit Volunteering SA to find something that interests you.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) is mainly for practical, job-focused skills.

You'll do a mix of classroom and hands-on practice.

VET in Schools (VETiS) – start your career while you’re still at school as part of your SACE by doing some VET units.

School-based apprenticeships or Traineeship (SBATs) - For students aged 15 and over still at school, start an apprenticeship or traineeship while completing Year 11 or 12. Earn paid part-time work experience, build skills, and gain a nationally recognised qualification.

Talk to your school's VET Coordinator to find out more.

Getting a job - including casual or part-time jobs, or an apprenticeship or traineeship - means presenting yourself well on paper and in person.

There are some basic life skills that will help you find and keep a job. These cover attitude, behaviour, working hard and being good at what you do.

Here are some hints to help you succeed in all these aspects:

• Attitude and behaviour - be punctual, be polite, listen carefully to your boss, supervisor or work mates, be ready to help out, be useful, try to be part of the team. Speak up if you need help or if you have better ideas.

• Productivity - be a hard worker, do what you're asked to do (or ask questions if you need help), remember that you're being paid to do a task. Do your best.

• Being good at what you do - be reliable, be trustworthy, don't over-promise, get the details right, do your best with the skills or qualifications you have. If you need further study, be proactive. Ask your employer what skills you need to learn or get better at, or which course you could do.

To find a job you need a few basic skills:

• Knowing how to find jobs online, through the media or directly through a business

• Preparing a short, effective CV (resumé)

• Writing a brief, clear and polite cover letter or responding to a job/position description criteria

• Talking on the phone, face to face or sending an email application

• During an interview, talking about yourself and what you will bring to a role

• Understanding workplace skills, behaviour and expectations.

Help with preparing a CV (resumé)

Templates and guides will help you create a professional CV and cover letter. You can download these documents and customise them for each application. Have someone else check them for spelling mistakes - a second pair of eyes will help you make the best impression.

Find out more about getting job ready at:

• MyCareer Portal (SA public schools students only)

• MyFuture job seeker resources.

Your CV is your first impression - keep it to one page, focus on skills and any experience - including volunteer work, school projects, sporting and community clubs, and part-time jobs.

Your cover letter should be short and specific to the role. See the links above for templates.

Search online for helpful advice from people like you who've done some job or training interviews. Applying for an apprenticeship or traineeship also means you're applying for a job.

Practice common interview questions - you can google those. To build confidence it's important to understand what employers are looking for.

Interviews feel nerve-racking, but preparation makes all the difference:

• Research the employer - learn the basics before you meet them

• Prepare answers to common questions - these might be:

  • tell me about yourself or what's your experience in the role?

  • why do you want this role or what skills can you bring to the job?

• Have a question ready to ask them

• Dress one level above what you'd expect to wear on the job. Ask the adults around you about clothing expectations in their jobs.