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Got a career dilemma? Stuck in a work rut? Jealous and jobless?
Captain Career is here to rescue you from your confusions! He can answer your
FAQs (frequently asked questions) and IAQs (infrequently asked questions) about
work.
His bitter sidekick, Jemima Jobbs, can answer your questions too, but be
warned: she may put her own twisted view of the world in her response … you may
have your question answered, but it may be bittersweet!
Click here to ask Captain Career or Jemima Jobbs your career question.
We answer all questions but not all answers will be displayed on the site.
 | I am currently doing my HSC and would like to become a nurse. I enquired at Wollongong Uni about the UAI needed to get into nursing and it’s 72. I do not think I will get this. I probably will get about 50 something, or maybe early 60s. I also applied to do Enrolled Nursing, but due to the large numbers of applicants, I was not successful. I don’t know whether to just take a risk and put my name down at Wollongong Uni, and if I miss out, I will lose $200, or enrol in an aged care course and start from there. Please I need your advice. | |
| Jared, 18, Wollongong | ||
 | Hi Jared It’s great that you have set your sights on becoming a nurse. It’s a very noble and rewarding profession. The next step is staying positive. Don’t sell yourself short before you’ve given yourself a chance and exhausted all the options! Don’t just try one or two options – if you think of a few alternatives you will have more chance of coming up with the goods. Are you prepared to move to a different area if that’s where you are accepted to do the course? I would definitely advise enrolling for university. It’s a glass half empty, glass half full situation. If you don’t get in you will lose $200, but if you don’t apply you could lose the chance of pursuing that career. UAI requirements vary from year to year so don’t rule yourself out just yet (especially before you even have your marks back – you might surprise yourself!) There are also a number of rounds, so you while may not be successful in round one you could sneak in by round three. Contact some universities and ask whether there are any other ways you could be accepted. Sometimes factors other than HSC marks are also taken into consideration. Nursing is facing a skills shortage at the moment so, now more than ever, they are looking for enthusiastic beginners. Put yourself down for quite a few universities and TAFEs in a range of related courses to widen your chances. You might not start out in a straight nursing course but it will be a good stepping-stone to move into one next year, or the year after. Don’t forget to look at Career FAQs Nursing for heaps more handy advice on different paths you can take to end up in your dream nursing career. Good luck! CC |
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| | Hi... I have been living in Aus. for 3 and half years. I completed my psychology degree in the uk - I have had it approved by the Australian Psychological Association - it equivalent to the Aus. 4 year psych degree. I completed it in 2002. I am trying to decide between going into primary school teaching, which I believe I can qualify with one more year of studying.is this correct? Or entering the Human resource industry - maybe try include organisational/occupational psychology. I have tried to find courses on either of these but found it difficult to find anything?? I am also not sure if there is a demand for occupational psychologists?? If you could help me with any advice I would really appreaciate it!!!! Thank you, Vicki :) | |
| Vicki, 26, Melboure | ||
 | Hello Vicki. With the equivalent of a four-year psychology degree under your belt, or up your sleeves, or wherever, you’re well on your way. You’re so close to a career in primary school teaching I can practically see the bite-marks on your forearms. What you’ll need is a one-year graduate diploma of education (GradDipEd), during which you’ll learn all those tricky skills like developing the curriculum, teaching literacy and fielding annoying questions like ‘Why does time go forwards?’ No doubt your training in psychology will also be put to good use in the classroom. I’m thinking Pavlovian tests, the Stanford Prison Experiment, things like that. As for organisational/occupational psychology, it might be easier for you to find some courses if you remember that we tend to call it ‘organisational psychology’ in Australia. There is definitely a big call for organisational psychologists here, and the financial rewards are nothing to sneeze at, with the average income hovering at around 90K. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. In the meantime, take a gander round some university websites, because you’ll need postgraduate study in a recognised organisational psychology training program. For more detailed information, you’ll want to check out the Australian Psychological Society website. You seem to have whittled your choices down to two possible careers, but remember that a degree in psychology opens all sorts of doors. Have you thought about being a school counsellor? Or an educational/developmental psychologist? Or any one of the 20 or so jobs profiled in the Career FAQs Psychology book. And if you register to become a member with Career FAQs, you can buy any Career FAQs book for just $19.95, including postage and handling. Jemima Jobbs |
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| | I graduated from CPIT (NZ) after 3 years study earning a Diploma of Fashion Design Technology (Level 7) since I graduated I have been trying to get a job ideally as a pattern maker or specification technician in both NZ and Australia but because I have little industry experience in this position as I am unable to get (paid) experience I have not been able to pursue this side of my career. When I was studying I did do 2 weeks unpaid industry experience in both Australia and NZ. I would love it if you could give me advice on how best to go about pursuing this career path and ideally gain paid industry experience???? Also how can I make industry contacts in relation to fashion positions without going through employment agencies and websites???? | |
| Tania, 24, Melbourne, Australia | ||
| Dear Tania Getting a paid job in the fashion industry, as you are finding, is not easy. While writing the book, Fashion, which is about what it is like to work in the industry in Australia, we were told by the many fashion professionals that unpaid work experience seems to be the way that people work themselves into paid jobs. And while work experience without pay might be an option you need to consider, in Fashion, Dee Maidment of Scarlett Recruitment says that ‘A lot of people don’t appreciate how important it is to have pattern-making skills … Patternmakers can charge anything they want. There’s a shortage.’ So that’s the good news! In the book, we also interviewed a patternmaker, Coralie Newman, who is working in a freelance capacity. With lots of experience, there is plenty of work, but getting experience is the trick! The interview with Coralie is just one of many in the book that are designed to help people like yourself find their own career path in the fashion business. BTW, right now you can buy the book, Fashion, on our website and get a free job search tracker to help you to keep records of contacts, applications, and specialist fashion recruitment agencies for the fashion industry. For example, epoch is a fashion recruitment company based in Melbourne that often has patternmaker positions. And you might consider other positions that ‘get you into the industry’ and once in, you can work your way into the job you want. You might also want to have a look at our website. The interview with Alina Tadevosyan, fashion design assistant at David Lawrence is inspirational. And the other important message that we keep hearing is ‘networking’. It’s something that you can do that is proactive and, with a well-structured resume and cover letter, you will put yourself well ahead of the job-seeking crowd who just throw something together and hope for the best. Check out our sample resumes and cover letters on our website. While we haven’t got a patternmaker’s resume online yet, the retail fashion sample resume and sample cover letter may help you to see how each of these components of a job application can work together to give you an advantage. If your goal is to work in the fashion industry, go for it. And good luck. Jemima Jobbs |
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| | Hi, I did an Arts/Science degree at Uni a couple of years ago specialising in philosophy, history and environmental science, and have been working in the public service for about 2.5 years, but I really don't think it's for me. I'm really passionate about books, art, and design, and so have considered publishing as a career, what sort of course would best get me into this area, postgraduate or graduate? thanks | |
| Miriam, 25, Canberra | ||
| Dear Miriam Firstly, sorry about the delay responding to your enquiry. We have been busy posting lots of career information on the Career FAQs website over the past month that you might be interested in. Check it out at: www.careerfaqs.com.au/career_resources.shtml Philosophy, history and environmental science is a very interesting mix that could all contribute to a career in publishing. Books on environmental sustainability and general nature books are very popular at the moment and publishers need people with passion, knowledge and commitment to get them to print (and online). Many young people interested in publishing as a career start by applying for generalist publishing positions where they can learn all the basics of publishing. You won’t need postgraduate qualifications but you’ll need to prove that you are passionate about working in the industry as it is highly competitive. Working towards a postgraduate qualification always helps as it does prove that you are genuinely committed. There are quite a few postgraduate courses at universities around Australia and at TAFEs that lead to editorial roles. If you have a passion and flair for art, you might consider a course that leads to a role as graphic designer or other role in the art departments of publishing companies. While you might not have direct experience in publishing, I’m sure parts of your role in the public service will be transferable to a role in publishing and it’s important that you tailor your resume to highlight these skills that you have developed. In the meantime, see if you can get involved in any activities in your current role, or in your free time, that involve producing publications of any kind – whether it’s online material, brochures, reports or flyers. The Career FAQs book, Publishing: Book yourself a brilliant career, is a good place to start. It outlines many qualifications that can lead to a publishing career, has interviews with over 25 people working in publishing as well as information on how to get a job – a sample resume and cover letter will also help you to develop a job application. Right now, you can get a FREE Job Search Tracker valued at $49.95 if you purchase the book on our website. www.careerfaqs.com.au/TitleDetail.aspx?TitID=60 Captain Career |
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| | I have recently completed my Yachtmaster Exam and am looking to work in the industry as a deck hand and hope to go to the Caribbean for the winter season. I am required to hold a B1/B2 Visa beforehand but you need to be employed first. Many people go out there and find work once over there, how is this possible without holding the visa, please help?!! | |
| Sarah, 22, UK | ||
| Hi Sarah Wow! What an exciting career choice! If I wasn’t busy keeping everyone’s career questions at bay, I would join you on the high seas. The fact that you’ve completed a Yachtmaster Exam will stand you in good stead – it’s not essential for deckhands and will give you an edge when finding a boat to board. It is also easier to get a job if you have any special skills, like a diving certificate, first aid skills, a sailing certificate or maybe just the ability to cook. A deckhand can earn up to $700 a week, but it’s hard work, with plenty of cleaning and polishing. Now let’s get down to the tricky business of Visas. The Caribbean is a US territory so you will need to apply through the US government. Have a look at www.unitedstatesvisas.gov to check out your visa options. If you get a job on a non-American yacht you will need to get a Visa Waiver which will let you work in US waters for 90 days at a time. Most yachts do prefer that you have a B1/B2 multiple entry Visa. This must be obtained outside of the US and will not allow you to work on US registered Yachts. That’s alright though, because foreign registered vessels make up 75 per cent of the boats in the United States. Have a look at www. www.crewseekers.net www. crewbay.co.uk, www. workonaboat.com to see if you can hook yourself up with a boat before you leave UK shores. Bon voyage sailor! CC |
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