Career advice in an evolving world
The role of a Careers Adviser is a little like that of a life coach. Seeking career advice is about taking stock of where you’re at and where you want to grow and develop, reviewing your skills, and exploring different job and work contexts to move in that direction.
Providing career advice in a school encompasses all of that, as well as coaching students through the process to apply for study programs that will see them take their first steps to become qualified to begin the work they envisage. But as the world of work changes, providing this advice becomes more complicated.
We know that technology, the environment, and our ageing population are key drivers of change. What happens when these issues come together, and which industries are most affected?
While the Australian Government’s Intergenerational Report (released in August, 2023) deals largely with issues for the economy to manage our ageing population, it is clear that different aspects of the data released will influence employment and lifestyle choices.
“Australians are expected to live longer and spend more years in full health.”
Considering an ageing population, there has been a focus on the need for a robust health and personal care services industry. The challenge to ensure funding models that meet the requirements to staff existing services, sits alongside the introduction of new roles in the industry, which necessitate the development of new training programs.
The above statement suggests something else, too. The notion of ‘retirement’ at age 65 already looks different. If we are living longer and enjoying full health, what is ‘retirement’?
We learnt through the pandemic that we can work differently, with many workplaces maintaining flexible options. The ‘how’ of our work is now up for consideration in a broader context. There will be no reason that older Australians and workers with accessibility challenges can’t continue to work beyond a specified age, from home.
“Digitisation will change how we work, raising productivity, improving workplace safety and providing us with the agility we need to face the challenges of the future.”
The best career advice for our students, who will be leading tomorrow’s workforce is to: be data and digitally aware. Technical skills are taught in post-school education pathways and careers will be defined by how and where technology is used.
With technology comes the production of, and access to, data. There are start-ups and established businesses who have created their service models around the interpretation, modelling, and sharing of data across all industries.
Customer-focused businesses are already using AI to gather data from prospective customers so the people powering these businesses can do what people do best – read and respond to difficult or nuanced situations, empathise and connect with customers, and understand better the needs of their clients.
The workspace of the future will be fluid, data rich and dependent on people for great ideas and human connection.
– Ms Susan Draysey
Careers and Student Pathways Co-ordinator
For more information about Trinity Careers and Student Pathways on InSite, click here.
This article originally appeared in our December 2023 Edition of Trinity News which you can view on our online digital bookshelf.
