Career planning and becoming job ready
This part of Work45+ has information about career planning offered by:
There’s also a handy section with links to these and other useful websites:
Work45+ suggests both workers and employers take a life-course approach to careers.
For job seekers this means recognising that your needs and interests change throughout your life. Whether you’re a job seeker by choice or have been retrenched, it’s possible to plan the next step in your career.
A point made to us by employment service providers and recruitment agencies during our consultations for this website was that many older job seekers focus too much on where they have been in their earlier career instead of talking more about who they are and where they are going.1 If you spend some time planning your career, you’ll be able to make stronger statements in interviews about what’s important to you and why.
Career planning looks at your experience, skills, values and preferences as well as your income needs. It can help you identify transferable skills and training that could make you competitive for a new kind of role. Transferable skills are skills you already have that may be valued in other jobs or industries. You can read more about transferable skills in the section about resumes on our web pages called “Applying for jobs“.
Getting ready for your next job – sometimes called “becoming job ready” – often goes hand in hand with career planning. Other information to help you become job ready is on the Work45+ web page called “Education and training“.
Government help to plan your career and become job ready
Career Transition Assistance supports registered job seekers aged over 45 even if you’re not on income support. It can help you identify your transferable skills (see above), build your confidence and target your job search. Find out more in the section below called “Career planning resources“.
Whatever the industry you are considering, you may be eligible for financial assistance of up to $500 to help you get job-related equipment, essential clothing, or certificates such as a White Card or First Aid certificate from the Job Ready Fund.
If you’ve just lost your job (or think you might)
If you’ve recently been made redundant or feel you need help in finding direction in your current role, you can apply to Skills Checkpoint for Older Workers. This free program funded by the Australian Government is designed specifically to help people aged 40 to 70 with personalised career advice and subsidies for training. It’s only available if you’re not yet getting the JobSeeker Payment.
If you’ve lost casual, full-time or part-time work in the last 12 months due to retrenchment, downsizing or business closure, you may be eligible for Tasmania’s Rapid Response Skills Initiative. If so, you will be able to immediately access up to $3000 towards the cost of training to help you get back to work as soon as possible. This includes up to $500 for employment advice.
Employment service providers
If you get income support from the Australian Government, you probably have an employment service provider. Some providers offer programs specifically for older workers. In the video below, Mark Boonstra and Samantha Lawrence talk about what programs like this have to offer and how to access them.
Career coaches
If you can afford to pay for the services of a qualified career coach, this might be an option to consider. There are several in Tasmania, some of whom are registered with the Career Development Association of Australia.
University of Tasmania career conversations
If you’re a student at the University of Tasmania or a recent graduate, you can speak about career planning and career transitions with a career development consultant.
Apprenticeship Network providers
Apprenticeship Network providers give personalised advice and support services from pre-commencement to completion. They are the first point of contact for anyone considering an Australian Apprenticeship, including an adult apprenticeship. They can help you decide whether an apprenticeship would be suitable for you or whether another training pathway would be better.