Leaving School? Here’s What You Can Do Next

Coming to the end of your school career is a major milestone. It comes with lots of changes, including deciding whether to find employment, continue studying or undertake an apprenticeship. The choice you make can have a major impact on your life and help you establish a secure future for yourself. If you aren’t sure what you want to do, that’s okay! It’s normal to not have your entire life planned by this point. There’s still time to figure out what you really want to do with your time, and the choices you make now can always be changed at a later date. With that said, we’re going to look at the 4 major options that are available to school leavers in Australia.

1. Find Full Time Employment

We now live in a world where skills and qualifications are a common requirement for most jobs. But, if further study and training isn’t for you, there are plenty of opportunities available for full-time work! Coming out of school and entering into full-time work is one of the best ways to build a financially secure future. With the ability to earn a full-time salary as soon as your feet hit the pavement, you’ll be able to save, take holidays and buy assets like property.

The only caution that comes with this option is that you need to pay attention to how future-proof your job is. Your full-time role might pay well, but it also needs to provide you with skills, education or training that can support you in the long term. If you can find a job that helps you build skills in areas that are in demand, you’ll be set for life, and you’ll be embarking on your career much sooner than some of your counterparts!

2. Undertake an Apprenticeship or Traineeship

If you don’t have a full-time job lined up then there’s no need to worry. Many of Australia’s most rewarding careers can only be accessed through programs like apprenticeships and traineeships. There are dozens of options when finding an apprenticeship. If you started a school-based apprenticeship then you’ll be able to continue your training after you graduate. If you’re freshly graduated then you can begin your apprenticeship with TAFE courses, find a local business that’s willing to take on an apprentice or work with an organisation that sponsors and places apprentices. Any of these options can help you get a leg up in rewarding, lucrative industries.

Undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship can help you gain entrance to a range of industries, including:

  • Electrical engineering
  • Mechanical engineering and fabrication
  • Automotive engineering and fitting
  • Construction and carpentry
  • Business administration

Not only are these roles highly sought after, they’re some of the most in-demand and future-proof industries in the world. If you’re looking to learn a skill that you can turn into a lifelong career, an apprenticeship can get you started.

3. Enrol in University

Finally, one of the most popular options for school leavers is to continue their education through university, TAFE or a tertiary college. If you’ve just left school then continuing your study may not be the most appealing option, but a bachelor’s degree is now a minimum requirement for many skilled industries. The options are endless when it comes to university enrolment. Australia is host to some of the world’s highest rated tertiary institutions where you’ll have the option to study in fields like engineering, medicine, business, science and more.

Years of study won’t appeal to everyone, but obtaining a tertiary education is one of the best things you can do to build your future career. Many of Australia’s most lucrative and in-demand roles now focus on relevant qualifications rather than on-the-job training. If you’re hoping to find work in a skilled industry, it’s likely that you’ll need to put some time into further study.

4. Combining Employment and Training

One of the best things about our modern world is the flexibility that the internet provides. While it has always been possible to combine full-time employment with part-time study, online universities have made it easier than ever to obtain tertiary qualifications while working. In some cases the best option for school leavers is to spend some time in full-time employment, and then pursue further education once they have a better idea of what they want to do. If you can find secure employment after leaving school, you’ll have plenty of time to make a decision about further study or apprenticeship opportunities and build a life-long career!

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