NDCO Tasmania

Career Information from others

There are many places where you can find information about career matching and industry details, trends and requirements. The internet is a great place to find this type of information. You'll also need to speak face to face to experts and others to collect other details and advice. Talking to those already working in the fields you are considering, other graduates with disability, family and/or friends might get you some useful information too.

Careers advisers or Pathway Planners

If you are still at school you can talk with the careers adviser or pathway planner. Here are some tips for talking with a careers adviser:

• Give your careers adviser as much information as possible about your interests, skills and thoughts of potential careers.
• Describe to your careers adviser how your disability affects you, especially in relation to future work options.
• Be brave and asks lots of questions. You may find it hard to think of questions for the careers adviser on the spot during your allocated time with him/her. If so, jot down questions you may think of earlier. Ask how you can get in contact if/when you have further questions.
• Ask for specific details and advice about what steps you should take next to get ready for leaving school. Note these down.

Those already in the field

When talking with people who have already worked in the career you are interested in, consider these questions:

• What is an average day at work like? 
• What are the most important skills and attributes I will need to succeed in this field? 
• What are the benefits of this area of work? 
• What are the biggest stressors of this area of work? 
• Would you choose this career path if you were leaving school now? 
• What would you change about your career in this area?

Other graduates with disability

When talking with other graduates with disability you may like to ask:

• How did you decide on a career direction?
• What are the most important lessons you've learned about career planning with a disability? 
• How did you determine whether your chosen career could be adjusted to your disability-related needs?

Family and friends

When talking with friends and family it may be useful to ask:

• What career do you think would suit me and why?
• What do you think I should look for in a career and why? 
• When planning your career development, what things do you take into account? 
• What are the most important lessons you've learnt about selecting a career?

Centrelink's Career Information Centre

Career Information Centres provide a library of resources about most occupations, information about TAFE, uni and other tertiary courses and details of employment trends and pathways. It also has a computer-based career planning tool you can use.  The Career Information Centre can also provide personalised information over the phone or by email or letter. This is a free service.  
There is one Tasmanian Career Information Centre.

Career Information Centre Hobart
Level 1, Block 3
188 Collins St
Hobart Tas 7001 GPO Box 1507 Hobart TAS 7001 Freecall™1800 133 133
Ph: (03) 6222 3711
Email: cic.hobart@centrelink.gov.au