Talk  to your parents or guardians or career counsellor at your school about the Trade Schools for the Future program that will lead to your career.

Check out these websites:

JobGuide 

Myfuture

Australian Apprenticeship Pathways

Career Choices

Job Outlook

• TIP: Each qualification is different, and has compulsory and elective options, so the SACE credits you gain will vary from subject to subject. Your VET coordinator at your school will be able to help you work this out.

There are 2 stages to the SACE: stage 1 is usually done in Year 11, apart from the Personal Learning Plan (PLP), which is completed in Year 10. Stage 2 is studied throughout Year 12.

Each VET subject or course you complete will earn you credit towards the SACE.
Recent changes mean that from 2011, students will be able to include more VET subjects in their SACE studies – up to 180 SACE credits at Stage 1 and/or 2 for successfully completed VET subjects!

Once you have chosen your VET options, you can work out how many SACE credits that counts for. You don’t have to complete every subject within a VET qualification to earn SACE credits – the courses you do complete will go towards this.

It’s as easy as that - you can study trades and industries to gain real qualifications, ones that will start you on your career path. Plus, the best bit is that you can do all this while at school! So what are you waiting for?

The SACE Planner may assist you to plan your SACE program, including your chosen VET program or see how other students planned their SACE with a school-based apprenticeship.

SACE Planner

If you’re keen to try a school-based apprenticeship you could do some work experience in that area.  There are people at school who can assist you.

See your school’s career counsellor or VET Coordinator for more information.

Now is the time to unashamedly ask your friends, relatives, parents and all of your parents’ friends to put in a good word for you and ask around about placements.  Just like with jobs, you’re more likely to get a foot in the door from someone who is already in the room.
 

Send out a letter

(not just an email but a typed letter posted through the mail)

Include in your letter:

• Your name and address
• The company name and address
• Work experience availability
• What your interests and relevant skills are
• Why you would like to do work experience at that particular company and how it will benefit your future
• What you think you could bring to their organisation

Go online

Use social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to connect with employers offering work experience.

Volunteer

Volunteer with a community or charity organisation.
 

Go door to door

Try going about it the old fashioned way and get dressed up and front up to the main reception and ask to speak to whoever organisers Work Experience Placements.  Have your CV with you.

Contact the Human Resources Department of the companies you are interested in and ask them about available work placements.

You can do some VET courses while you are still at school.

The VET course may include work placements as a component so you can get work experience.

Prevocational and pre-apprenticeship courses help you develop job skills and prepare you to become an apprentice or trainee.

Completing a relevant pre-vocational or pre-apprenticeship course not only allows you to see what working in a particular job is like, but it may also reduce the term of an apprenticeship or traineeship if you decided to continue your training. See your school's career counsellor or VET Coordinator for more information.

A resume is used to market yourself to an employer when you apply for an apprenticeship / traineeship.  It is a summary of what you have achieved and who you are and focuses on what you want the employer to know.

Work History
List any work you have done while at school, such as work experience and structured workplace learning and any part-time work outside school.  Start with the most recent experience.  Include the job title, business name and location, dates of experience / employment and a brief description of your responsibilities, duties and achievements.

Education
Include the name(s) of your school(s), the dates you attended and the subjects you have completed or are undertaking.

Other qualifications
List units of competency you have completed as part of your training in school or outside of school.

Awards
List awards, certificates and statements of attainment you have received from your school and registered training organisations.

Interest / Hobbies
List particularly those where you are required to work in a team or where they are relevant to the apprenticeship / traineeship

Referees
Include the name and address of the organisation and contact details (telephone numbers and email addresses).

Resume Templates
For a step by step guide on how to build a resume visit Job Guide or visit .
our tips for work section where you can find videos, student resume examples and much more.

At some stage, you will want to send your resume to new employers.

• No spelling or word processing mistakes
• Address it to the person who hires the apprentices/trainees in the company
• Write it in your own words so it sounds like you.
• Including something about the company and the industry.
• Use terms and phrases that are meaningful to the employer.
• Have someone read it to check for grammar, spelling, content and style.
• Ask relatives or teachers for editing help

• Short and to the point.
• Show that you’ve done some research on the business.
• Make it clear that you’ve written the letter specially for this business.
• Focus on your personal strengths (your resume will cover your work skills).
• Be formal: don’t use slang.
• Check your spelling and grammar.

For further information go to the tips for work section

Yes.  A casual job, even if it’s not in the industry you want to pursue a career with, will demonstrate your work ethic to potential employers and show you are ready to work.

Complete the on-line registration and your local Apprenticeship Broker will contact you.