FSKLRG007

Use strategies to identify job opportunities This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify job pathways and strategies to seek suitable employment. An individual performing these tasks may work with an expert or mentor where support is available if requested. This unit applies to individuals who use, or are preparing to use, learning skills to complete workplace activities.

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CONTENTS Elements and performance criteria.........................................................................................................................................3 Plan to identify job opportunities..............................................................................................................................................5 Employment options....................................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Australian industries ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Job clusters ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Setting goals.................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 SMART goals..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11 Values and interests................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Strategies for seeking employment...................................................................................................................................... 14 Obtaining information..............................................................................................................................................................................................................14 Careers counsellors....................................................................................................................................................................................................................14 Networking............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15 Job search websites...................................................................................................................................................................................................................15 Recruitment and employment agencies.............................................................................................................................................................16 Action plans.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................16 Identify job and training options............................................................................................................................................. 19 Identify employment opportunities............................................................................................................................................................................19 Job vacancies...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................19 Assess own suitability for jobs.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Identify training options .........................................................................................................................................................................................................31 Review opportunities................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Review employment seeking strategies.............................................................................................................................................................. 39 Identify progression opportunities...............................................................................................................................................................................41

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Elements and performance criteria

FSKLRG007 Use strategies to identify job opportunities ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. P  lan to identify job opportunities

1.1 Identify employment and training options suitable for own goals 1.2 Identify own skills relevant to need of specific job or training pathway 1.3 Identify a range of strategies for seeking employment

2.1 Identify a range of employment opportunities 2. U  se strategies to identify job

and training options

2.2 Identify roles, responsibilities, requirements and environment of identified opportunities 2.3 Match own skills and capacity to requirements of preferred job 2.4 Identify skills gaps and training options for preferred job

3. Review opportunities

3.1 Make selection from identified employment choosing preferred role 3.2 Review employment seeking strategies 3.3 Identify options to progress identified job pathway

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Performance evidence The candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including evidence of the ability to: y

identify at least one job opportunity

y

assess own suitability for selected job

y

identify job and training pathway to apply for a selected job.

Knowledge evidence The candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including knowledge of: y

common strategies and sources of information relevant to seeking employment

y

typical roles, responsibilities and requirements for employment in jobs one particular sector or enterprise

y

own skills and skills needs

y

relationship between skills/capabilities and job opportunities

y

job pathways.

For more information on this unit of competency visit: https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/FSKLRG007

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Plan to identify job opportunities All jobs require skills and knowledge to perform tasks safely to industry standards. You will have developed many skills through your schooling, work experience and personal life. Further skills and knowledge can be developed through training and different job roles. This resource explores ways to identify job opportunities, assess your skills and knowledge, and develop potential career pathways. This section discusses how to plan to identify job opportunities.

Employment options The world is rapidly changing and so are the career pathways and employment options available. The job market and available positions have changed drastically in the past decade, and are projected to continue changing. To identify job and training options, you need to know about the industries you could potentially work within.

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Australian industries An industry is a group of businesses that are all based on a particular thing. The businesses may carry out different activities, but these activities are all related in some way. For example, the financial industry includes banking, insurance, superannuation funds and brokering services, which are all related to money. Within each industry, there are many different organisations. Organisations may be: y

Government or private

y

For profit or non-profit

y

A company or corporation

y

A small, medium or large business

Within each industry and organisation, there are many different jobs. For example, in the financial industry jobs may include, but not be limited to: y

Bank tellers

y

Accountants

y

Brokers

y

Receptionists

y

Clerks

y

Mathematicians

y

Sales and marketing managers

y

Contact centre workers

You might already know the specific type of job you would like, or you may know you are interested in a particular industry or organisation. It is a good idea to think about the types of industries or businesses where you would like to work.

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Research/written task/group discussion – Australian industries and occupation profiles

The government website Labour Market Insights explores Australian industries, job profiles, employment trends and projected future growth. 1.

Access the link below. https://labourmarketinsights.gov.au/

2. Click on the Occupations tab. Think of a job role you might be interested in. Enter a specific job into the search or browse Occupations A to Z. 3. Explore the occupation profile and answer the questions below. 4. Discuss your findings with other students.

Occupation name:

How many people are employed in this occupation? What future growth is projected for this occupation?

Are formal qualifications required?

What is the skill level?

What industry includes this occupation profile? Note: one occupational profile may be included in several industries. What are the pathways into this occupation? What personal values and interests are relevant to this occupation?

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Job clusters When you do training or gain work experience in one job role, you are potentially developing the skills for 13 other jobs on average. Job Clusters are areas of employment within the Australian economy that are based on a collection of similar skills required by employers. The seven clusters and their respective industries and example occupations are listed below: Cluster The Generators

Industries y Accommodation & food services

y Airline ground crew

y Interpreters

y Arts & recreation services

y Bank managers

y Retail supervisors

y Café managers

y Sales representatives

y Retail & wholesale trade y Tourism The

Artisans

Occupations

y Hotel managers

y Agriculture

y Carpenters

y Landscape gardeners

y Construction

y Crop & livestock farm workers

y Machinery operators

y Manufacturing y Mining

y Electricians

y Utilities and Logistics

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y Plumbers

Cluster The Carers

The Coordinators

The Designers

Industries y Health care & social assistance

Occupations y Beauty therapists

y GPs

y Childcare workers

y Social workers

y Counsellors

y Nurses

y Fitness instructors

y Surgeons

y Bookkeepers

y Furniture removalists

y Bus drivers

y Law clerks

y Car park attendants

y Printers

y Fast food cooks

y Receptionists

y Architectural

y Architects

y Food technologists

y Engineering

y Building inspectors

y Geologists

y Technical services

y Clothing patternmakers

y Industrial engineers

y Administrative services & logistics

y Draftspersons

y Product testers

y Electrical engineers The Informers

y Education & training

y Accountants

y Policy analysts

y Professional, scientific & technical services

y Economists

y Primary & Secondary school teachers

y HR advisers y Intelligence officers

y Solicitors

y Museum curators y Organisational psychologists The Technologists

y Computer System Design & Related Services

y Programmers

y Web designers

y Information Media and Telecommunication Services

y Software engineers

y ICT business analysts

y Database administrators

Identifying job clusters can allow you to more easily upskill or transfer existing skills across to another role. For example, instead of looking at jobs that start at the bottom with a set pathway and career progression, you could develop a portfolio of skills suited to a cluster of jobs. Access the link for more information about job clusters: https://prod-media.coolaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/06191116/JIGSAW-Job-Clustersfactsheet.pdf

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Setting goals A goal is something you want to achieve. Goals may be short-term (in the next 6-12 months) or long-term (in two or more years). In an employment context, a goal may be a: y

Job you want to get

y

Career path you wish to follow

y

Task you want to be able to do

Your goals will change depending on where you are in life. You may end up having many different career pathways in your lifetime, with one career giving you the skills and experience that allow you to springboard in other directions. To identify your employment and training goals, think about where you want your work skills to lead you. This could mean learning about a different industry, or you might want to get a promotion in your current workplace.

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SMART goals Think about what you want to achieve, then write down ideas about what you want to do and set these as your goals. When setting goals, it is important to make SMART them SMART. GOALS

S

SPECIFIC

Specific What do you want to do?

Measurable How will you know when you’ve done it?

Achievable Is it in your power to accomplish it?

Relevant Is your goal worthwhile and meaningful to you?

Time-bound When exactly do you want to accomplish it?

M

MEASURABLE

A

ACHIEVABLE

R

RELEVANT

T

TIME-BOUND

For goals to be successful, they must be clearly stated. Write your goals down. Make sure you answer the following questions: y

What do I want to achieve?

y

Where will I complete the steps to reach my goal?

y

Who will I need to consult with to reach my goal?

If you can’t measure your goals, you won’t know when you have done them. You must monitor and measure your progress so you can manage goals toward desired outcomes. This may be as simple as ticking off completed items in a todo list, or as complex as measuring academic achievements and grades. This answers the how much, how many, etc. of your goals. There is no point in setting a goal that can’t be achieved. Goals should be ambitious, but not outrageous. This means working towards a goal that is challenging but can realistically be achieved. This answers the how of your goals. To stay motivated to achieve your goals, they need to mean something to you. You need to really want to achieve them. By ensuring your goals are aligned with your values and are a priority for you, you are more likely to stay on track to accomplish them. This answers the why of your goals. Goals need a target date for completion. Some people spend a lot of time talking about what they want to do; but, without an end date, there is no sense of urgency and no reason to put actions into place. Having a definite date to work toward and a realistic timeframe to work within keeps you motivated and stops you getting discouraged. This answers the when of your goals.

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Values and interests Aligning your goals with your values and interests can help you to build a satisfying career. You may already have an idea of your career goals, based on what you enjoy doing. For example If you like…

You might enjoy a career in…

Working with computers .................................................................................. information and communications technology Making videos for YouTube ........................................................................... the creative industries To cook ............................................................................................................................... hospitality Taking things apart and seeing how they ..................................... engineering or auto-mechanics Working with your hands and being in the outdoors .......... horticulture

People place different levels of importance on the various aspects of life. How you measure success may be different to how your friends do. When planning an employment pathway, you should be very honest about the things: y

you like and dislike

y

you place value on

y

that will keep you happy and motivated.

You will not find satisfaction in a job that goes against your values. For example, if learning new things is important to you, you will likely feel dissatisfied working in a job that never changes or for a business that doesn’t offer professional development opportunities.

Identify your values One way you can identify your values and priorities is to brainstorm and write down all the things you’re passionate about, then rearrange them in order of importance to you. This is called mind mapping. There is no set template or format for a mind map. You can follow whatever format makes sense to you. There are many examples available online - just enter ‘mind map’ into a search. There are also many different worksheets available online to help in identifying your core values. These worksheets may have lists of words and phrases you can circle, as at the link below. https://thehappinessplanner.co.uk/pages/list-of-core-values Or, they may have questions you can answer, such as shown on slide 2 at the link below. https://www.slideshare.net/sarahmcdugal/giveaway-values-discovery-worksheet

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Written task – making goals SMART

Think of a career goal you have. This may be a job you want to get or a qualification you want to achieve and it may a short or long-term goal. Write your goal down following the SMART principle.

Specific What do you want to do?

Measurable How will you know when you’ve done it?

Achievable How do you know it is in your power to accomplish it?

Relevant Why is this goal worthwhile and meaningful to you?

Time-bound When exactly do you want to accomplish it?

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Strategies for seeking employment There are various strategies you can use to seek employment. The key to every strategy is obtaining information and using it effectively.

Obtaining information There are many places you can get information and many people you can ask for help. Examples include: y

Internet

y

Job search or recruitment agency

y

Library

y

TAFEs, universities and training organisations

y

Careers advisor

y

Work supervisor

y

Teacher

y

Workmates

y

Friends, family and/or the people they know

y

Centrelink

y

Social or sports club members

The information you can get from these sources includes: y

Industries, businesses and types of job roles that exist and what activities they involve

y

Jobs currently available or that may become available in the future

y

Job search techniques

y

Interview techniques

y

Skills, knowledge, and qualifications needed for various roles

y

Places where skills, knowledge and qualifications can be obtained, how long it will take, and the costs involved

Careers counsellors A careers counsellor or advisor can assist you in seeking meaningful employment. They may: y

Help you to define your goals

y

Identify your skills and attributes

y

Identify suitable job roles (some you may never have considered!)

y

Provide guidance on learning and job pathways

Depending on availability in your area, career counsellors may be contacted through: y

Your school

y

Centrelink

y

Job search or recruitment agencies

There are also many careers counsellors who work independently or for private organisations. You could go online and search for careers counsellors in your area. Depending on the services they offer, they may refer to themselves as a consultant, coach, advisor or counsellor. 14

Networking Networking is a very effective strategy for finding employment and building a career. When you network, you are building a relationship with another person to enable you both to benefit by exchanging ideas and information, promoting each other’s interests and gaining further contacts. Networks include: y

Informal networks, i.e. Connections with individuals or groups that are not formalised through documentation, official memberships etc.

y

Formal networks, i.e. Connection with individuals or groups that have been made official through documentation, registration, membership approval etc.

y

Internal, i.e. Networks within your organisation

y

External, i.e. Networks outside of your organisation

y

Established structures (most often seen in formal networks) or unstructured arrangements (more likely to be an informal network)

y

Professional associations

y

Social connections

y

Online networks, e.g. LinkedIn

Networking should not be confined to only those moments when you want something from someone, but continually developed to share information and widen your knowledge base. Some ways to develop your networking skills include: y

Ask your colleagues and supervisors to share their contacts/networks

y

Make a determined effort to remember people’s names and details when you meet them

y

Collect business cards and write key information on the back of the cards, such as where you met them and who they are connected to

y

Talk to people wherever and whenever you go out. Every time you meet someone, you are provided with a networking opportunity.

Job search websites Employers place advertisements on job search websites such as Seek, Career One, Indeed etc. There are also job ads tab within many government and company websites. These sites can be used to find: y Current positions available y Contact details of employers y Employment agencies y Skills, knowledge and qualifications required for jobs

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Research – seek career advice

A good source of general information is the Career Advice tab on the Seek website. 1.

Access the link:

https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/

2. Choose a job to explore. You can enter a specific job to search, e.g. ‘nurse’, or you can browse careers by industry and then select jobs that sound interesting. 3. Find out the following information: y

Tasks and duties

y

Whether formal qualifications are needed

y

Jobs currently available on seek

y

y

Projected job growth

Courses and qualifications relevant to the role

y

Common salary

y

Common working hours

y

Job satisfaction ratings and reviews from people who work in the job roles

y

Similar or related careers

Recruitment and employment agencies Recruitment and employment agencies aim to match people to jobs. An employment agency may be known as a ‘temp agency’. If you get a job through a recruitment agency, you become directly employed by the employer. If you get a job through an employment agency, you become an employee of that agency. There are varying services that may be provided by these agencies. Some may simply hold your resume on file and send it to relevant prospective employers. Others provide services such as: y

Aptitude testing

y

Skills development, which might include interview skills, employability skills or task skills

y

Cold calling potential employers on your behalf

y

Assisting to improve your resume and write cover letters

Action plans Writing down your employment and training goals helps you to plan and organise how to achieve them. It involves identifying the steps and sub-steps you need to take and the resources you need. Follow the steps below to construct an action plan. 1.

Write down your work goal. Make sure it is as specific as possible (see SMART goals).

2. List each step you need to do to achieve the goal (put these in order of priority and dependence). You may need to break steps down further into sub-steps.

3. List the people and resources you need for each step. 4. Describe how you will measure your success. 5. Specify the dates or times to complete each step. 16

For example WORK GOAL:

Become a car mechanic People and resources needed

Steps

Sub-steps

1. C  omplete a preapprenticeship

a) Enrol with a training organisation offering Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology

y RTO or TAFE application form

y Acceptance into course

b) C  omplete Certificate II course

y Pens, paper, folder

y Statement of attainment for completed units

2. C  omplete an apprenticeship

Measures of success

y Personal identification documents

y Course trainer

y Certificate for completed course

a) F ind a qualified mechanic who is hiring apprentices

y Internet, job search website

y List of prospective employers to apply to

b) Apply for position

y Resume, cover letter

y Professional looking resume and error-free cover letter

y Referees

y Someone to help proofread and edit my application c) S  ecure position

y Transport to job interview

y Successfully employed as an apprentice

y Pen

y Acceptance into course and registration with network provider

y Neat clothes d) E  nrol with training organisation and apprenticeship network provider

y Personal identification documents

y Network advisor

Deadline

Late February 2023

August 2023

June-July 2023

July-August 2023

September 2023

September 2023

y Training organisation

3. O  btain car mechanic position

e) Complete Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology

y Pens, paper, folder, PPE

y Course trainer

y Statement of attainment for completed units

y Workplace supervisor

y Certificate for completed course

a) F ind current positions available

y Up-to-date resume

y Gainful employment

b) Apply for positions

y Prospective employers

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Written task – employment action plan

Think of the goal you described in Learning Activity 2. What are the steps and sub-steps to achieve the goal? Complete the action plan below. Add more rows as required. WORK GOAL: Steps

Sub-steps

People and resources needed

Measures of success

Deadline

Learning Checkpoint 1 1.

What are Job Clusters? How can they help you to identify employment options?

2. Why is it important for goals to be SMART? 3. Where can you get information to help you identify employment options? Give 3 examples. 4. What strategies you can use to seek employment? Give 3 examples.

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Identify job and training options After exploring the industries you might like to work in, you must identify current employment opportunities. This section looks at identifying job opportunities; investigating job roles, responsibilities and environments; choosing your preferred roles; assessing your current skills and knowledge; and determining how to close any skills gaps.

Identify employment opportunities Employment opportunities may be found in: y

Job search websites

y

Job or career sections of government and private organisation websites (including intranet for internally advertised positions)

y

Online or in-person networks

y

Newspapers

y

Industry newsletters

Job vacancies You can casually browse or subscribe to online job vacancy listings such as Seek. Job vacancy ads may include: y

A general overview of the role

y

Required skills, qualifications, key selection criteria etc.

y

Salary or wage range

y

Description of the organisation or work environment

y

Instructions for applying for the position

y

A position description

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Online job vacancy listings are really useful because you can easily find vacant positions and explore the requirements of, and pathways to, those positions.

FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Position descriptions A position or job description outlines the tasks and responsibilities for the job. Depending on the role, it may include: Position summary

Work and organisation environment

A brief statement about the overall and broad objective of the job. A brief description of the broader context the position operates within and the work of the unit/division. This section may also include challenges and constraints.

Key duties and responsibilities (or key performance areas, KPAs)

The major responsibilities of the position, including the expected outcomes, standard and timeframes.

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

How the position outcomes will be assessed against the position duties and responsibilities.

Reporting lines

Who you would report to and who would report to you, where relevant.

Selection criteria

How applicants will be assessed, including qualifications, experience, and skills essential for competent performance in the job.

Work environments A work environment that does not align with your values and interests can be a source of stress. Work environments vary depending on factors such as: y

Where work is performed, e.g. indoors, outdoors, in a vehicle, in an office etc.

y

Nature of the work, e.g. Hazards that may require isolation as a risk control, level of stress in the job etc.

y

Work pace and work load, e.g. Some workplaces are very fast-paced while others have less urgency

There are many things you can find out about the work environment before applying for or taking on a new job role. Strategies may include: y

Going to see the workplace (for example, acting as a potential customer)

y

Contacting the person in charge of recruitment and asking questions

y

Reading reviews and testimonials from customers and employees

y

Asking relevant people in your network about their workplaces

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Research – explore employment opportunities

For this activity, you must investigate train driver roles. You can then follow the same processes to explore a job of your choosing. 1.

Access the link below.

2. Type train driver into the What field and then click the SEEK button. How many train driver jobs are available in Australia? 3. Refine your search by entering your city or state in the Where field. How many train driver jobs are available in your city or state? 4. Click on the title of one of the listed jobs. Read the description and find out the requirements of the job. Explore the following: y

What work experience is needed?

y

What hard and soft skills are needed?

y

What qualification is needed or desirable?

y

What will the work environment be like?

y

What skills do you need to bring to the job and what skills will you be able to learn on the job?

5. Investigate ways to gain the hard and soft skills required. For example, enter the required/ desired qualification (Certificate IV in Train Driving) into www.training.gov.au and locate training providers in your state.

Assess own suitability for jobs As well as your personal values, interests and preferences, your suitability for a job will be based on your current skills and knowledge and your ability to develop further skills and knowledge.

Job role preferences It’s important that you think about the things you want and don’t want in a job. Preferences include the things that you like to do and the things you would prefer not to do. For example, a job might require you to: y

Do many years of training

y

Work nights or weekends or do shift work

y

Work outdoors or during certain days or times

y

Move to another town or do a lot of travelling

y

Work by yourself or in a team.

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Examples of questions to ask yourself include: y

Do I enjoy working with others and sharing ideas?

y

Would I prefer to work on my own or in a team?

y

How do I learn new tasks best?

y

Do I want to help people?

FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Required skills Job vacancy advertisements and position descriptions list the skill requirements of the job. These skills may be generic, known as employability skills; or, they may be specific to certain tasks or activities.

Employability skills Employability skills are related to personal qualities and are often closely linked to your values. These may be referred to as: y

Generic skills

y

Soft skills

y

Enterprise skills

y

Personal skills and attributes.

No matter what sort of job you are going for, there are personal skills that all employers like you to have. Some of these are described below. Communication

Employers like workers who can speak and write clearly and, most importantly, listen carefully.

Initiative and enterprise

Initiative involves looking for things that you can do and resolve, without having to be asked. It can also include creative problem-solving and making suggestions for things that can be improved in your workflow. These sorts of skills are beneficial in the workplace because they mean that you can be self-sufficient and apply yourself to things without having to be told to.

Learning

Learning is about being proactive and responsive to gaining knowledge and applying that information. It involves taking on new tasks and having the ability to adapt to change. Learning is a lifelong process; it pushes you beyond your comfort zone so you can tackle new challenges. Learning can be daunting, but also extremely rewarding.

Problem-solving

People face all sorts of problems in every day work, some problems are routine, and others are not. Employers like workers who can take the initiative to solve problems on their own, or to identify and report problems to appropriate people.

Teamwork

While some jobs are carried out by individuals, most jobs require some interaction with others. Employers like workers who can adapt to working with a team, share workloads fairly and respect and communicate well with others.

Punctuality

Your employer will expect you to get to work on time, work the required number of hours and hand your work in by the deadline.

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Honesty

Being honest is very important, especially if you are responsible for money. If you make a mistake, you should admit it. You can learn from your mistakes if you think about what went wrong and change the way you do things.

Enthusiasm

Employers like people who are keen to learn and take on responsibility. People like to work with someone who brings positive energy into the workplace. Ensuring your job aligns with your values and interests will help to maintain enthusiasm.

Reliability

Good workers do what they say they will do. They work steadily and according to plans and procedures. Your employer wants to know that you will complete the tasks they ask you to do.

Discretion

In the workplace you will often have access to sensitive information, such as customer details, company financial details and more. Your employer needs to know that this information is safe. There are also privacy laws that you need to comply with. Knowing how to be discrete and not give out information to other people without permission is very important.

Access the link below for more information on soft skills and how to include them in a resume and cover letter. https://au.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/transferable-skills

Task specific skills Task specific skills are more tangible, hands-on skills that help you to complete work tasks and activities. These may be referred to as: y

Hard skills

y

Technical skills

y

Practical skills

These are skills that are specific to the requirements of a particular role or position, for example: y

Computer skills

y

Customer service skills

y

Operating machinery and equipment

y

Cooking

y

Typing

y

Reading instructions

y

Drawing and design skills

y

Scheduling

Some jobs also require formal qualifications such as certificates, diplomas and degrees, or industry accreditation such as a heavy rigid licence for driving a truck or a high-risk work permit for working at heights.

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Identify skills gaps You need to identify the skills and knowledge you have now and compare them to the skills and knowledge required to do the job you want. This is known as a skills gap. Methods to identify skills gaps may include: As a new worker, you may y Self-assessment checklists feel that you don’t have many y Asking teachers, supervisors etc. what they feel are skills; however, it is likely that your strengths and weaknesses your values, interests and life experiences have already led you y Consulting a careers counsellor or recruitment agent to develop certain skills. y Online assessments

Work, life and study experiences You may have already developed a lot of skills that can assist you in finding jobs and being successful in work. Sometimes it is difficult to identify these skills; however, by

WORK SOCIAL MEDIA

analysing the different areas in your life, you can build a list of the skills and knowledge you have. This list then enables you to better match your skills to jobs, and gives you a base from which to write your resume and cover letters.

MUSIC, ART OR DRAMA

Skills and experience can be gained from many different activities, not just from paid work. In your life you may have interacted in the following areas (see right):

STUDY

EXPERIENCES HOBBIES

SPORT

By looking closely at each of these areas, you can find different skills and knowledge that you have developed. For example, if you look at Family, you may be able to identify the following skills (see right):

FAMILY

Communication

Planning Activities

Cleaning

FAMILY Conflict Resolution

Cooking

Budgeting

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Think about the hobbies or other things that interest you. What skills have you developed from these activities? For example: Creativity skills Do you like to draw or sew? Are you good at photography, collage or decorating your room? Number skills Do you like number puzzles? Are you good at saving money or helping your friends draw up a budget for their party? Hands on skills Do you like to build things? Are you good at fixing broken equipment or cars? Caring skills Do you like to look after people? Are you good at babysitting? Are you concerned about the welfare of other people? Leadership skills Do you like to make plans and inspire people? Are you good at identifying the strengths of others and providing support to help others improve? School projects may have given you a wealth of skills and knowledge you can draw on. For these projects you may have needed to: y

Collaborate with others

y

Monitor work against plans

y

Seek advice and information from subject matter experts

y

Solve problems

y

Conduct research or carry out experiments

y

Use technology

y

Review scientific or journal articles

y

Write reports

y

Plan and schedule tasks

y

Give oral presentations

y

Maintain a budget

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

6 1.

Reflection/written task – identify work, life and study experiences

In the diagram below, list some of the areas of experience in your life.

EXPERIENCES

2. Choose one area of experience. Identify the personal skills (soft skills) and task skills (hard skills) you have gained from this experience. Area: Personal skills

Task skills

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Self-assessment checklists You can use Key Selection Criteria listed in a position description or job advertisement, or the competencies described in Units of Competency within qualifications and nationally recognised skill sets, to identify the skills, knowledge, and attributes you need. You can then assess if you have them or need to develop them. You may do this self-assessment using a checklist. Checklists may be a simple format where you tick yes or no against listed skills and qualities. Yes

No

Practical Skills Typing Searching the internet Answering the telephone Scheduling Personal Skills Can solve problems Good communication skills Teamwork Attributes Honest Reliable Organised

They may also involve giving yourself a rating (e.g. 1 = low level of skill; 5 = highly skilled) and then identifying any skill gaps. SELF-ASSESSMENT FOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICER POSITION Tasks to be completed in job role

Skills required to be competent

Required skill level

Current skill level

Maintaining and updating company databases

x Typing with speed and accuracy x Using Excel spreadsheets

5

3

Formatting documents, reports and presentations

x Using Microsoft Word x Reading and following style guide

4

4

Booking meeting rooms, printing and photocopying

x Using business technology x Reading and transferring company schedules

5

2

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Skill gaps identified Have only limited experience with Excel

Have only used a home printer and paper-based diary

FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

If you are assessing your skills against a job description, you could create your own checklist or simply print out the job description and use a highlighter to mark off the skills you need. If you are assessing your abilities against a unit of competency or qualification, you could print the unit and highlight skills; or, you could search training organisation websites for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) self-assessments for the relevant unit. Note: some organisations may refer to Recognition of Current Competency. The following link provides an RPL kit for the Certificate III in Business Administration qualification. See pages 18 to 42 for examples of self-assessments for units of competency. https://tlctrainingsolutions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/RPL-Candidate-Kit-CertificateIII-in-Business-Administration-V1.0-13-01-2017.pdf

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SWOT analysis Another way to assess your skills and identify skills gaps is through a SWOT analysis. This stands for:

y y y y

Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

A SWOT analysis not only helps you to identify the skills you have and the skills you need to gain, but also helps you work out what things in your life could impact on your goals.

The SWOT technique allows you to examine both your internal (strengths and weaknesses) and external (opportunities and threats) environments. To complete a SWOT, brainstorm your current situation (strengths and weaknesses) and the external opportunities and threats of your preferred job role. Some prompting questions are used to assist you with brainstorming as many aspects of your life and chosen role as possible, as shown below. STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

y

What do you do well?

y

What do you need to improve on?

y

What would other people say your strengths are?

y

What don’t you do well?

y

What are others likely to see as your weaknesses?

y

What can you do better than anyone else?

y

What are your advantages?

y

What are your negative traits?

y

What actions do you do well?

y

y

What positive traits to you have?

y

What sets you apart from others?

What negative feedback about you (work ethic, abilities etc) have you received in the past?

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

y

What opportunities are open/available to you?

y

What threats could affect you and stop you from reaching your goals?

y

How could you turn your strengths into an opportunity?

y

What threats do your weaknesses expose you to?

y

What opportunities are there today?

y

Who/what could cause you problems?

y

Who can support/assist you?

y

What obstacles do you or will you face?

y

Is there a demand for the abilities that you possess?

y

Are there any obligations or circumstances that may affect your ability to succeed?

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7

Reflection/written task – complete a SWOT analysis

Think about your employment goal from previous Learning Activities. Follow the SWOT technique and relevant prompting questions listed above to analyse your current situation and the opportunities and threats that will impact on your goal. Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

Discuss results of self-assessment Once you have completed a self-assessment, it is a good idea to discuss the results with a trainer, assessor, coach or mentor. Their feedback can help you to identify where you may not have been fully aware of your strengths and weaknesses or where you may have omitted key skills from your assessment. Your trainer or assessor can also help you to plan further skills development.

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Identify training options You need to work out how you can close any skills gaps you have identified. There are different training options you can use to develop hard and soft skills, including: y

Personal study

y

Formal learning

y

Informal learning

y

Work experience opportunities

y

Coaches and mentors

y

Volunteer work

You may need to develop your soft skills to better manage your job search, work performance and workplace relationships.

Personal study This is a self-paced, self-directed way of learning new things. You may do this by reading books or journals, watching videos or demonstrations (e.g. on YouTube) or seeking guidance from experienced people.

Formal and informal learning TAFEs, universities and registered training organisations (RTOs) provide many different training courses that will lead to a qualification or formal statement of attainment upon successful completion. They may also provide short courses to help you develop a specific skill. The link below is the national training information website. It provides information about apprenticeships, traineeships, courses and training providers. https://training.gov.au/Home/Tga/ Local adult education centres provide informal short courses or workshops and demonstrations. These organisations may include your local library, or organisations such as the Centre for Adult Education which offers courses in a wide range of areas, including: y

Art

y

Workforce training

y

Business

y

Computer software applications

y

Languages

y

Communication

y

Personal development

Visit the Centre for Adult Education at the link below. https://www.cae.edu.au/

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Work experience and exchange opportunities Work experience programs may be accessed through your school or you may approach businesses directly. Many organisations and businesses find internal exchange programs to be very valuable and an excellent way for employees to gain on-the-job professional development. These are an excellent way to explore various occupations and learn a great deal from being in a new environment. If you are already in a job, you can ask your employer to give you additional training, extra duties or a chance to job-shadow other workers. This helps you to experience other areas of the business and shows you are enthusiastic about your industry.

Coaches and mentors Coaching and mentoring involve using the skills of one employee to teach or educate another employee. It is about transferring knowledge from one individual to another through explanation and demonstration in the workplace. An employee being mentored or coached benefits through learning new skills, developing confidence and enhancing their opportunity for further career development. The coach or mentor also benefits from the experience, through developing their leadership and instructional skills.

You may also be able to find a coach or mentor outside of a workplace. Coaches are people who can teach you a specific skill or task, while a mentor can provide guidance and role-modelling on behaviour, attitude and career direction.

Volunteer work Sometimes there is no way of knowing if you’d like to do a job until you’ve actually done it. Volunteering can give you real world experience in many different roles. As well as giving you first-hand knowledge of a job, volunteering can: y

give you experience to add to your resume or job applications

y

allow you to build relationships and networks and obtain references

y

improve your employability skills.

The link below provides more information about volunteering and work experience in Australia, including links to volunteer agencies and other helpful organisations in each state and territory. https://whatsnext.dese.gov.au/try-something-new/work-experience-andvolunteering#:~:text=Work%20experience%20and%20volunteering%20means,on%20experience%20 yourself%2C%20or%20both

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Learning and job pathways Learning and job pathways are the routes taken to develop skills, achieve qualifications and gain employment.

Learning pathways A learning or training pathway refers to the learning activities and experiences used to develop the competencies needed to achieve career goals. Some learning pathways are fairly straight, and others will be winding. This is because people learn in different ways and different skills and attributes can be taught in many different ways. The Australian Government Department of Education and Training provides a factsheet on learning pathways at the link below. https://www.myskills.gov.au/media/1768/back-to-basics-learning-pathways.pdf

Australian Qualifications Framework Many formal training pathways can lead to certification through the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF is a national system that regulates qualifications in Australian education and training. It is a policy that integrates learning outcomes for AQF levels and qualifications with the quality and compliance processes of training organisations. In this way, outcomes can be standardised and qualifications can be nationally recognised. There are 10 levels in the framework: AQF Level 1

Certificate I

AQF Level 2

Certificate II

AQF Level 3

Certificate III

AQF Level 4

Certificate IV

AQF Level 5

Diploma

AQF Level 6

Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree

AQF Level 7

Bachelor Degree

AQF Level 8

Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma

AQF Level 9

Masters Degree

AQF Level 10

Doctoral Degree

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Job pathways A job pathway refers to the processes that lead from unemployment to employment, and from one position to a more advanced position. Job pathways include apprenticeships and traineeships which combine formal training and paid employment / on-the-job training for qualifications in many industries. In general: y

an apprenticeship provides training in a skilled trade.

y

a traineeship provides training in a vocational area.

As well as differences in the qualifications available, there are administrative and regulatory differences between apprenticeships and traineeships in different states and territories, for example, traineeships are two years or less in duration while apprenticeships usually take around four years to complete.

The term Australian Apprenticeships covers both apprenticeships and traineeships. States and territory governments decide which qualifications to fund as an apprenticeship or traineeship, based on the skills needed in the state/territory.

Access the link for more information about Australian Apprenticeships. https://www.aapathways.com.au/about/australian-apprenticeships

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The following example shows the qualifications and employment outcomes at AQF Levels 1 to 6 in the Business Administration Pathway. Certificate I in Workplace Skills y

employment as an apprentice or trainee

y

further training

Certificate II in Workplace Skills y

y

entry level positions working under direct supervision in business services industries administrative assistant

y

clerical assistant

y

data entry operator

y

office junior

Certificate III in Business y

administrative assistant

y

data entry operator

y

office administrator

y

receptionist

y

personal assistant

y

customer service advisor

Certificate IV in Business y

administrator

y

customer service advisor

y

project officer

y

office manager

y

specialist receptionist (e.g. medical, legal etc.)

Diploma of Business y

administrator

y

executive officer

y

business development manager

y

program consultant

y

corporate services manager

y

program coordinator

Advanced Diploma of Business y

senior administrator

y

administrative consultant

y

business manager

y

general manager

y

financial manager

For more examples, explore the career pathways at the link below. https://www.aapathways.com.au/career-research/job-pathways

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

8

Research/written task – identifying pathways and training options

1.

Imagine you want to get into accounting. You don’t want to become a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), and you’d rather be able to work at the same time as training towards a qualification. So, you decide a vocational training pathway would be your best option.



Go the following link:



Read the information provided on the webpage. Click on links to different qualifications to learn more. Answer the questions below.



a) What is the highest qualification level available for an accounting qualification?



b) Does the lowest qualification level have industry employment outcomes?



c) If you want to complete a Diploma of Accounting, what qualifications or skill sets do you need to do first?

https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/FNS.

2. You know you should consider other employment options in the industry of your interest, so you decide to look at the requirements for a Bank Teller. Go to the following link and read the information provided about Bank Teller positions. Answer the questions below.

https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/role/bank-teller a) In the table below, list the main tasks and duties performed by a Bank Teller in the lefthand column. In the right-hand column, list the skills needed for each task. Tasks and duties

Required skills

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CONTINUED...

8

b) How can a Bank Teller progress in their career? Give 2 examples.



c) What formal qualifications are relevant to a Bank Teller?

3. Go to the following link:

https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/FNS30122



a) Read the Qualification Description. Does this qualification relate to an entry level or senior/advanced position?



b) How many units make up the qualification?



c) What is the core unit?



d) Click on Find RTOs approved to deliver this qualification, then Modify search. Tick your state or territory.



Name a training organisation that delivers this qualification in your state or territory.



37

FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Learning Checkpoint 2 1.

Where can you find job vacancy ads? Give 3 examples.

2. How can you find out about the work environment before applying for a job? Give 2 examples. 3. Why is it important to identify your personal values and interests, and your current skills and knowledge? 4. How can you find out what skills are required for a particular job? Give 3 examples. 5. What are some ways to assess your own skills and qualities? Give 3 examples. 6. Where might you have gained relevant skills and knowledge? Give 4 examples. 7. List 4 ways you can acquire new skills. 8. What does job pathway mean?

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Review opportunities Employment and career building are not ‘set and forget’ activities. To be successful in getting a job and maintaining a satisfying career, you must regularly review your goals and strategies. This section looks at ways to review your employment seeking strategies and identify job progression opportunities.

Review employment seeking strategies Like all skills and knowledge, employment seeking strategies should be continually improved and adapted. As you put strategies into practice, take note of your successes, achievements and challenges. Review your outcomes against your goals and make improvements to your strategies. Considerations may include: Are your goals still aligned to your values?

y

Are your goals too easy or too ambitious?

y

Has the learning pathway helped you to develop skills? Do you need to do further training?

y

Have you approached the right recruitment agents? Have they been helpful?

y

Have you been successful in gaining employment?

y

Are you still enjoying your selected industry and job role?

y

Are there any personal barriers that have prevented you achieving your work or training goals? NG ACT NI

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y

9

Reflection/written task/group discussion – review employment seeking strategies

Consider the following questions and discuss your experiences with other students. y

How successful have your employment seeking strategies been?

y

What tools and techniques have you tried? Which of these have been the most useful?

y

What information sources have you used?

y

What have you found challenging?

y

What work experience have you gained? What was enjoyable about the work?

y

What training have you done and how has it helped you in finding employment?

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

Personal barriers There may be barriers that prevent you from achieving work or training goals. Many personal barriers are psychological, such as the fear of failure or sense of pressure to do everything right. It can be helpful to discuss these barriers with a close friend or mentor. It is very important to understand that making mistakes and reaching plateaus is part of learning. Try not to put unnecessary pressure on yourself.

There is often a very simple strategy to overcome barriers, but sometimes it is hard to see it when you are the one dealing with it. So, talk to other people; they can often identify solutions to problems that seem unsolvable to you.

NG ACT NI

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Other barriers are situational and require time management and communication with the people around you. For example, you may find you are struggling to find time to study or practise new skills. You must look at your schedule and see what tasks you can rearrange, delegate to someone else, ask for assistance with etc.

10

Reflection/written task – employment and training barriers

What barriers are there to you achieving your career goal described in previous Learning Activities? Using the Threats identified in your SWOT analysis, as well as further brainstorming and discussion with your teacher, identify potential barriers and strategies to address them. Record your ideas below. Barrier

Strategy

40

Identify progression opportunities When you get a new job, you will receive some basic training during an orientation or induction period. Some jobs have a pre-set learning pathway where you receive training on the job and advance through various stages of experience and authority. For many jobs, however, there is no set pathway. It is up to you to work out what roles you would like to take on, what skills you already have, what skills you need, and how to close that gap. It is a good idea to discuss advancement and progression with your supervisor, human resources or learning and development manager. There may be opportunities for: y

Work exchange

y

Secondment

y

Coaching and mentoring

y

Taking on more or different responsibilities

y

Applying for supervisory and management positions

Professional development plan From your research into your preferred career paths, job descriptions, self-assessment and feedback, you should now have a good idea of what skills and knowledge you need to develop. It can be helpful at this stage to document a personal development plan. This is a way to bring together all the work you have done in setting goals, identifying required skills and assessing your skill gaps, and seeking advice from mentors or other experienced people. Creating a development plan has benefits such as: y

It gives you clearer ideas about the life you want to live

y

It gives you greater confidence in your own choices

y

It will place you in a better position to compete for jobs

y

You will be more able to discuss your personal and professional qualities

y

It will help you develop positive attitudes and approaches

The plan should include: y

Your goals

y

A timeline

y

Potential resources you can use

y

Your skills

y

Areas you want to improve on

y

Strategies to help your learning process

You can also include future estimations of where you would like your progress to be, up to completion, and then follow this development plan throughout your learning process, adapting it and adding to it as you progress.

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FSKLRG007 - Use strategies to identify job opportunities

A development plan template may look like the example below. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Job goal/s

Gap/s in knowledge/skills

Development plan

Development objectives

What training will I do to bridge the gap/s?

What will I be able to do as a result of completing the training?

Who will I ask to be my coach/mentor?

What support do I want from them?

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Learning Checkpoint 3 1.

Why is it important to regularly review your employment seeking strategies?

2. It is important to identify and overcome personal barriers to achieving your employment goals. In the table below, list possible solutions to overcome each barrier. Personal barriers

Possible solutions

Lack of relevant skills and knowledge Lack of time to study or practise skills Fear of failure Language and literacy issues 3. How can you identify progression opportunities? Give 2 examples. 4. What is a professional development plan?

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www.ivet.edu.au