Monique is a recent high school graduate who is unsure of what career path she wants to pursue. She felt overwhelmed by her last year of school and exams, and that her career advisor and teachers focused more on university than other options. Monique had limited work experience and career guidance, and struggled with applying for jobs and interviews. She wants more support for students transitioning from school to work.
2. Stakeholder
Alyse is a young woman who
has completed Year 12 and
has accepted jobs to ensure
she is in paid employment.
Since leaving school, Alyse
has held a
couple of casual
jobs and is now
currently employed
full-time in an
administrative role.
Monique is still unsure of
the direction she wants her
career to take.
3. • “Didn’t know what I wanted to do or be, when I left school”
• “Knew what happened when I went to school and what I needed to do – didn’t
know what would happen when school finishes”
• “Only met the Career Advisor once and he gave me a TAFE pamphlet”
• “Teachers were focused on getting us through Year 12 & the exams”
• “Careers day was focused on people that go to Uni”
• “Was just trying to focus on passing exams”
• “Not many options to choose from to try different things”
• “Work experience was limited to the subjects I studied - IT”
• “Hated applying for jobs – didn’t know what to put in an
application letter – didn’t know how to act at interviews or what to
expect”
• “Would have been useful if we had practiced writing resume and
application letter and participated in mock interviews”
• “It was over 12 months before I got a full-time job”
• “Family members tried to be helpful but didn’t really help
– you must find a job, you can’t sit at home all day
and do nothing!”
4. • Students are overwhelmed and find it difficult to cope
with the many activities and decisions they need to
make in their last year of school.
• There needs to be more professional guidance and practical help to
support the needs of the students leaving school and looking for
work.
• Work experience programs need to cater to the needs of
the students.
• Students require access to well structured careers
information and support tools.
• Parents and family members may
not always support the student
through school to work transition in
the most appropriate way.
5. • Scared and nervous
about leaving a ‘safe and
secure’ environment • Uncertain what to
do to apply for a
job
• Uncertain what to do
after finishing school
• Overwhelmed with making
‘adult’ decisions
• Frustrated with the pressure
from family and friends about
getting a job as soon as I
finished school
• Helpless and
frustrated when
trying to find a job
• Worried about doing
well in exams
• Unsatisfied with
work experience
• Frustrated with lack of
knowledge about work
options
6. • Students are overwhelmed with the number of competing activities they need to
complete in their last year of school
• Some students are not receiving the guidance, information and support they need
to transition from school to work successfully from their teachers or their family
• Information on career choices is limited for some school students
• Some students have not developed the coping mechanisms to manage change
successfully
• Students are scared and nervous about leaving “school life” and entering “adult
life”
• Students are required to make ‘major’ decisions about their future life and do not
have the knowledge or experience to do this
• Some schools do not have the resources to provide career support and guidance
to individual students.
7. Problem statement
School to work transition
Students who are unsure of what they want to do when they leave school
need ways to
access guidance, information and support on applying for jobs and on different
work choices so they can make a good decision about the type of work they
may enjoy and also be successful in obtaining the job they want
because
students do not have the experience or access to support mechanisms to help
them make an informed decision and action that decision.
