Career choices that will shape the rest of your life

With 2017’s Matriculants awaiting their final results, many have made the difficult decisions about their future while others are still considering their next steps.

For those Grade 11s who will be transitioning into the Matric “Class of 2018”, now’s the time for them to plan their life after school. Monash South Africa has put together a guide for students who need some advice on planning their career choices for the future.

Don’t waste time

It’s never too early to start thinking about your future as well as the career you would like to have in the future. While a gap year can help you determine your interests and give you time to gain some valuable working or volunteering experience, you must ensure you’re planning your future learning. A degree or tertiary qualification will affect your earning power, with the average wage increasing with each level of education.

Do your research

Research the various career paths that are of interest to you and the higher education institutions that offer the programme or degree. If you are struggling with making a decision and what it is you would like to study or your strengths, it is important to consider career counselling or an aptitude test. Monash South Africa offers an online aptitude for the students to assist them with their decisions.

The Monash South Africa Online Aptitude Test asks a few targeted questions to help define your personality. Certain personalities perform better in an office environment, while others are more suited to working on their own or in a small group.

Things to consider

There are various things that you need to consider before making your final decision about the university you would like to attend, as you will be attending the institution for the remainder of your student life.

The quality of lecturers, class size and learning support is very high up on the things to think about, because personal attention can greatly affect the quality and depth of your learning.

Whether the campus has global links or networks that offer opportunities to learn from a global viewpoint and become an active global citizen is important if you would like to study abroad during part of your degree or in future.

If a campus offers an entrepreneurial viewpoint and teaches you to be adaptable and entrepreneurially-minded in your future career is key, if you want to be prepared for a working environment once you start your first job.

Beyond the academic programme, whether or not the institute will assist you to gain the appropriate knowledge and work readiness skills that can be applied in a variety of organisational settings including the corporate, government and non-profit sectors.

Apply!

Some institutions allow registration throughout the year and late registrations, and this is something to consider when choosing the right campus or university.  You may not have to wait a whole year before applying.

Check the various application methods for the institutions and if it gives you an online application option, opt for that instead of sending your application via the post, to ensure it doesn’t get lost or delayed along the way.

Ultimately, a tertiary education will always benefit your career and personal growth. While it may appear a daunting prospect, if you are passionate and driven, you will find the time and support to succeed.