Pondering Careers - Edition 2

Hey there,

I sent off the first edition of this little newsletter last week and it had a blast roaring around the LinkedIn world, so here we are at Week 2 with almost 650 subscribers, which makes me very happy and also confirms that I have to come back and publish Edition 2.

It's National Careers Week here in Australia, and it's been so fantastic to see everyone sharing ideas and resources, and generally celebrating all the fantastic things we do in the world of careers. The Career Industry Council of Australia (Inc) have done a great job of pulling together this nationwide event, and we've seen groups like the Australian Cricketers' Association announce career upskilling programs with BECOME Education , 澳洲国民银行 shared career stories from their employees, and the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) are getting involved with us, and we're co-hosting a webinar this afternoon on careers in STEM.

CICA also shared a series of lunchtime Research Snapshots and while we've already heard from some amazing people (including Dr Jennifer Luke ) there are still two sessions to go today and tomorrow so check them out if you have time over lunch.

This week...

ODiCY is live

If, like me, you're a fan of the work the OECD is doing in the career readiness space then you'll be pleased to know that they've just launched their new?Observatory on Digital Technologies in Career Guidance for Youth .?

It's an open access database of research, reports, and case studies (including one on the?Ponder Program ) and is great resource for those of us working in this space.?

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Work Experience

This week we started a pretty cool conversation about Work Experience, and I was invited to speak on?ABC Radio National about my views on the topic on Monday.?

The conversation was also picked up in a few other places, including on?The Drum ?(starts 51:30), and it was great to hear so many amazing stories about work experience.

I also loved hearing from quite a few employers about their side of the story, and, of course, pushed more support for our school-based Career Advisors at every opportunity.?

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In Sydney?Next Week?

If you're in Sydney and attending the Career Advisers Association ?New Careers Advisors Day ?next week then please look out for Rob - he'll be there with lots of lanyards and other goodies to give away and would love to say hi.?

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Widening our definition of 'smart'

This afternoon I'll be talking to the team from the National Youth Science Forum about what makes someone suited for a career in STEM - here are the details:

Online - Thursday 18 May 4.30pm AEST

Register here

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Subject Selection

It's that time of year again (for Australian schools anyway) where we get to talk about senior subject selection. This year, we've revamped our?resources for member schools , and also released a pretty cool guide that puts each subject into perspective and links it to a range of jobs across all six Career Clusters.?

The?Subject Selection Calculator ?is as popular as ever, and we've had over 8000 students use the calculator to help with their planning. There's no cost to use the calculator, and we often see whole cohorts of Year 10's go through at once.

If you're at a?member school ?you should have seen the email with the resources come through earlier this week, but please reach out if you haven't seen it or would like to get access.?

Featured Article

Exploring local industries and opportunities

As an educator, I’ve found that one of the most effective ways to help students envision their future careers is by connecting those aspirations to their local community. By focusing on local industries and opportunities, we can provide our students with a tangible and relatable context for their career exploration. So, let me share some fun and practical strategies to help you incorporate local context into your career education in a friendly and engaging way.

The benefits

First, let’s discuss the benefits of localising career conversations. When we tie career exploration to the local area, we help students understand the job market that they are most likely to enter upon graduation. This approach can make career planning feel more relevant and attainable, as students can see the direct impact of their choices within their own community.

Involve local experts

One fantastic way to identify key industries in your local area is to involve local business leaders and experts in your career education efforts. Invite guest speakers from different industries to share their experiences and insights with your students. This not only exposes students to a wide range of potential careers but also helps them build connections with potential mentors and employers.

Get hands-on

Another strategy to help students learn about local job opportunities is to organise field trips to local businesses, organisations, or industry events. This hands-on approach can spark curiosity and excitement, as students witness the inner workings of various industries and interact with professionals in their field of interest.

Build connections

Building connections with local businesses and organisations can also provide invaluable resources for your students. Consider partnering with these entities to create internship or job shadowing opportunities, giving students a chance to gain real-world experience and further explore their career interests.

Quick tips

Finally, here are some tips for incorporating local context into your career education:

• Research local industries: Familiarise yourself with the key industries and employers in your area so you can guide students towards relevant opportunities.
• Create a local career resource library: Collect brochures, articles, and other resources related to local industries and opportunities for your students to explore.
• Encourage students to network: Teach your students the value of networking and provide opportunities for them to practice their networking skills with local professionals.
• Organise career fairs: Host a career fair at your school, inviting local businesses and organisations to showcase their industries and opportunities to your students.
• Collaborate with other educators: Work with fellow teachers to create interdisciplinary projects that connect local industries to various subjects, making career exploration a school-wide effort.

Resource Giveaway

Career Conversation Cards

In case you missed them last week, you can still access the pack of Career Conversation Cards we created to celebrate National Careers Week here .

What we love this week

How teachers can bring careers into the curriculum

Check out this fantastic article on the role of the teacher in bringing career related learning into the classroom from the Career Development Institute 's David Morgan .

Read the article here

New Green Career Advisory Service - Ideam

There's a new force in green career planning - Ideam has been created by Anna Sidoti RPCDP to help those who are keen to move into a green career find the right path.

Anna has been sharing a whole range of infographics and resources that could be useful for anyone supporting clients who want to move towards a green career. I've certainly been challenged to rethink what I previously thought made a career 'green', and technically Anna has made her own move to a green career with this new service.

Case Study

The Power of Print

We live in a digital age, and up until a few years ago were entirely digital, but we've found that there's just nothing like printed resources. Our schools often share their innovative ways of using the posters and guides we print, and we've put together an article with a few suggestions from our schools that might spark some ideas for your own context.

I think the posters and guides work because students can engage with the content on their own terms. Often, students will pick up a Job Spotlight or scan over a poster then bring that information with them into a conversation with the Careers Advisor.

Thanks so much to all our incredible Careers Advisors who've shared their insights, including Joelle M. , Lenna Waters , Katrina Judge , and Richelle Staley RPCDP .

Career Resources

Careers in Surveying

The Surveyors' Trust have just released the Surveying Careers Pathways Paper and a stack of accompanying resources which are well worth a look.?

There are a suite of posters, graphics, and other resources which could help you have positive conversations with young people about how these pathways work.?Thanks Danika Bakalich for sharing these resources with us.

#WeAreCareers

Chris Webb and MeetSabiha . are back for another series of #WeAreCareers and there are some seriously awesome topics in here. The first session is back next Wednesday and you can catch all the sessions at this link .

What's happening

Disrupted Futures - OECD Conference

May 31st - June 2nd, 2023

International lessons on how schools can best equip students for their working lives.

Register here ?

Careers In Space

August 1, 2023

Looks like a great session all about careers in the space industry with the Australian Space Centre, hosted by CEAV.?Register here .?

Earth Science Week

October 9 to 15, 2023

Find?out more here

That's it!

Thanks for joining me again for the second edition of Pondering Careers. I've had some great feedback so far, but would love to hear your ideas and thoughts so if there's anything you think I should be including in next week's edition please shout out. I'm always on the hunt for fantastic resources to share :)

See you next week.