From School Leaver To Job Seeker – Support for School Leavers
When you’re just finishing school and about to embark on the journey of landing your first job, it can sometimes be hard to know where to start. The world is full of opportunity just waiting for you to grab your share, but at the same time, the options can seem confusing.
The good news is, you don’t have to embark on this journey by yourself. Seek support from those around you and also take advantage of any professional job seeker assistance programs that are there for you to avail of. Let’s look at some tips on job search, as well as help that you can utilize in your hunt for a job.
Plan Before the School Year Finishes
Don’t wait until the end of school to try and figure out what your next move is or what you might want to do with your life. Think about it well in advance and make some plans for when that final school bell rings.
You may discover that your chosen career path doesn’t involve leaving school and finding a job, but rather going to university to get a degree or certificate. In this case, to help support yourself, you may only be seeking some temporary part-time work that fits in with your hours of study.
Part of your planning could be seeking out the types of assistance that might be available to help you get a job when the time comes. This way, once school is over, you already know what your next move is going to be.
Seek Help from a Job Agency or Jobactive provider
There are loads of private employment agencies in all locations around Australia. You can team up with one of these agencies and they’ll help match you up with employers on their books that have job vacancies.
Alternatively, government-funded Jobactive providers can also help you find work. To be eligible for this type of assistance, generally, you need to have been unemployed for 6 months and have been receiving a Centrelink payment during that time. Having said that, Jobactive companies are still employment services and may be able to offer you assistance the moment you leave school. Just get in touch with some in your local area and ask questions to know for sure. Likely you’ll find that they can still help you out on some levels.
What About School Leavers Who Have a Disability?
Some school leavers will face added job search challenges, such as school leavers who have a disability. Is there any official assistance available for school leavers in this situation?
The answer is, yes. Disabled school leavers can avail of the SLES School Leaver Employment Supports scheme.
This assistance program comes under the NDIS: National Disability Insurance Scheme. It’s a support scheme that commences during Grade 12, to enable students with a disability to be prepared for finding work once they finish school. The scheme doesn’t just focus on job hunting when school’s over but also support when it comes to choosing a field of further study, such as attending university.
It’s all about support and guidance in choosing your direction in life after school and help to make your goals a reality. You can avail of this scheme either through a Jobactive provider or other approved organizations.
Support for school leavers: Career Counselling
Sometimes young people have little or no idea what they want to do when they finish school or what type of job or career they would be suited to. If this is the case, then some career counseling can be a huge benefit.
A counselor will be able to guide you on discovering what you’re good at, where your interests lie, what skills you’ll bring to the table in certain job roles, and more. You can even undergo a variety of tests to determine these things, which will give you a much clearer picture of where you should be targeting your energies. Many schools even offer career counseling, so check with your school to see if this service is available.
Support for School Leavers: The Takeaway
It can be both exciting and daunting for school leavers who are about to embark on the employment journey. There is assistance available to help you make the right choices though, so take advantage of any help you can get.
