NEWS
EMBRACING CHANGE ON A LIFELONG JOURNEY
UNDERSTANDING OUR OWN VALUES IS KEY TO BUILDING OUR LIVES AND CAREERS
CAREERS STAFF MEMBER OPHELIA
HOPKINS WITH SENIOR SHOOL BOYS
Careers Education is a lifelong journey and one that requires boys to be prepared to embrace change and lifelong learning ; to lean into and continue to build their skillsets .
For many of us , the idea of change can be daunting , so understanding yourself and your values is key to building the life and career that gives you a strong sense of purpose . COVID has impacted our understanding of adaptability and the youth labour market significantly , creating greater volatility and opportunity simultaneously .
Accessing family networks and seeking to explore job types ( outside of those boys may already be familiar with ) through shadowing and internship opportunities is an important part of building an understanding of the world of work .
Recent employment figures and the Australian Jobs Report from 2022 indicate
that boys have a bright future ahead of them if they can embrace change and recognise their own skills , wants , needs and values . In particular , service industries that rely on relationships and people , such as health , are predicted to grow in demand .
Giving boys the opportunity to articulate these issues and prompting careers conversations about their inspirations , strengths and values at home , have been found to be vital in building selfknowledge and a sense of optimism for the future . The Course and Careers Service at Scotch is here to assist boys as they seek to make choices about their futures .
A number of great resources can be found on our website : https :// www . scotch . vic . edu . au / my-scotch-students / course-and-careers-services . aspx .
Questions to initiate a career conversation at any age :
Skills and strengths
• What have you always been naturally good at ?
• What are you known for ?
Values
• Looking back , what ’ s always been most important to you ?
• What issues or problems do you feel most strongly about ?
• What are your top three values or things you hold most dear ?
Interests
• What do you enjoy learning about most ?
• How would you spend your time if you didn ’ t have to work / go to school ?
• How do you like to work and learn best ?
For more information about current labour market predictions and career change see : www . yourcareer . gov . au
OPHELIA HOPKINS – CAREERS STAFF
38 Great Scot Issue 169 – September 2023