May 30, 2025 • 16 mins
This podcast will support listeners to:
- Plan for life after school, including community participation, employment, and career development.
- Explain an approach to organising an entry-level role (paid or unpaid) in a workplace.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:03):
Welcome to Vision Australia's podcast series, designed to help children
and young people develop the skills they'll need to open
their future.
Natalie (00:14):
Hi, my name is Natalie and I'm an occupational therapist.
Thanks for joining me today. Are you thinking about getting
a job or do you already have one? Working towards
getting a job is one of the key activities in
career placement. The career education stage you're in. The placement
stage begins in mid to late high school and is
(00:36):
about making decisions and planning for life and career development
after school. This can include choosing an option for further
education or training. And as I just mentioned, getting an
entry level work role in a workplace. You could be
doing things like creating a resume and competing for roles
through the interview process. Hopefully you've already had some experiences
(00:59):
of working either informally for family or in your neighborhood,
or through school work experience placements or volunteering, or maybe
even paid work. Whether you're still looking for work experience
or are ready to look for an entry level paid role,
this podcast will help you understand the job seeking process
and make you feel more confident about giving it a go.
(01:22):
You'll be pleased to know that we'll also be hearing
tips and stories from a young person who has already
been successful in getting a job. So you might be wondering,
why should I think about this stuff now when I
have so much going on at school? Why not just
wait until after year 12, when I'll have more time
(01:43):
to focus on, looking for, and applying for a job?
We asked Mira these questions and here's what she said.
Mira (01:52):
Um, the benefit of getting a job or work experience
before leaving school is generally to not be stuck in
that crowd once you leave. So being able to um,
basically by standing out your getting experience before you start.
And with school, it's even if you don't work full
(02:12):
time or all the time, at least you're getting something
to even just put on your resume or, you know,
present in an interview.
Natalie (02:22):
Thanks, Mira. Great points. There are quite a few good
reasons to get as much real life work experience as
you can before leaving high school. In a nutshell, you
have to be in it to win it. Young people
who've had a few experiences of work before leaving school
are much more likely to gain paid employment as adults.
(02:43):
And work experience polishes your workplace skills. That builds your confidence,
and it gives you a competitive edge. Because potential employers
often prefer to hire someone who has worked before. Another
good reason to aim for a job now is that
each position, paid or unpaid, is a stepping stone towards
(03:03):
your long term career or work goals. For example, if
your long term goal is to be a data analyst,
then experiencing a junior level data entry role will give
you skills to move to the next role in your
career journey. It will also give you the opportunity to
learn more about the industry you're interested in. Speaking of
(03:25):
long and short term goals, it's great to spend some
time thinking about these. So what do you want in life?
Do you daydream about the kind of life you'll have,
or the things you'll do when you're an adult? Can
you bring one thing to mind now? Great. Hold that thought.
We'll call that one thing you just thought of as
(03:47):
a goal. Depending on how big or far into the
future it is, it could be a long term goal
or a short term goal In general, long term goals
will take five years or more. While short term goals
are things you can aim to achieve this month, this
year or next year. And the key thing is you
(04:07):
can achieve those big long term goals simply by setting
and working towards a series of short term goals that
will lead you there. For example, a short term goal
could be getting work experience or an entry level job,
or to research and apply for further training or tertiary study.
Each of these short term goals can also be broken
(04:29):
down into even smaller goals to help you achieve them.
Let's hear Meera share her thoughts on setting long term
and short term life and career goals.
Mira (04:42):
A long term goal I have is to become a
psychologist and some short term goals in ways that I've
needed to achieve. This goal was through completing my high
School certificate, and after achieving this I had to go
through all the application process for uni. Um, so I
(05:03):
had to go through UAC and which is the main
application process here in New South Wales. Um, for applying
to uni and checking out the courses. I also did
a lot of research on all the different unis and
the psychology courses that would be best suited to what
I specifically wanted to do. Um, I also looked at,
(05:27):
when applying through uni all the documents and files that
I had to collect and pre-requisites for that. Um, a
lot of that goal also achieved. Doing community services at
TAFE helped me to achieve this, because I'd already previously
worked in a social setting with people and getting experience
in that. Um, and also now I'm completing my Bachelor
(05:50):
of Psychological Science, and after we'll complete my honors to
go on to become a psychologist.
Natalie (05:58):
Thanks for sharing, Mira. Okay, so we've talked about the
benefits of seeking real life work experiences, and we've suggested
being strategic with achieving your long term life and career
goals by working bit by bit towards those short term goals,
such as work experience and further training or tertiary qualifications.
(06:20):
So let's now get to the main topic working towards
getting a paid job. We'll start with the first step
finding one or more jobs that you'd like to apply for.
In this step, you can try a few different methods
to research jobs, and we'd recommend trying them all, not
just choosing one approach. You want multiple access points because
(06:43):
jobs won't come looking for you. You need to find them.
So the more options, the better. The first method is
to think about who you know that might be able
to connect you with an opportunity. Talking to people in
your network can be a very effective way to find
out about job opportunities. People in your network could be
(07:03):
anyone family, friends, teachers, and people you know in the
community through social events, clubs or sport. Maybe they know
someone who knows someone who has an entry level role
that would be perfect for you. The next method you
can try is to approach an organization or business directly.
Some organizations have positions vacant sections on their website. Try
(07:28):
searching for companies and organizations in an industry you're interested in.
If they don't have paid roles on offer, check if
they recruit volunteers. If you start as a volunteer, they
can see how great a worker you could be and
tell you about the paid roles that you could apply for.
It happens all the time. The third method is to
(07:49):
search on job listing websites like Seek and Student Edge.
Seek is the largest job listing website in Australia, while
Student Edge is an Australian member based organisation that lists
student jobs. Let's hear Mira talk about her job search
methods and what worked for her.
Mira (08:09):
When applying for my job at Event Cinemas, I had
to go through the whole process of applying for a job.
I did use seek as my main outlet for finding jobs.
At the beginning, I did find it was the easiest.
There are some other sites like indeed that you can
also use. Um, but sometimes it's you can either go
(08:31):
through friends or family, sometimes a lot of Vision Australia, and
a lot of other companies like that do help you
and have a lot of resources for you to help
you apply for jobs. Um, you can also look on
the specific jobs website because that will usually tell you
whether they are applying or needing volunteers or anything like that.
(08:56):
You can also go through um, just Google sometimes just
works like that too. If you go through that and
even just search up like who was who was in
need of stuff or jobs that I can apply for
near me, that usually comes up with a lot of
things and a lot of other job sites that won't
give you that specific information unless you really go filter
(09:19):
into that. Um, you can also go into places like
if you just walk into some shops or places that
you want to apply for, and just hand in your
resume and cover letter and just ask them, you know,
ask for the manager and see if you can set
up an interview then and there and see if sometimes
that works because it shows your initiative, um, that you
(09:40):
really want the job and that you're keen to apply.
Natalie (09:44):
Awesome tips. Thanks, Mira. So let's say you've found a
few jobs that you'd like to apply for. What next?
Let's discuss the job application process, including putting together a
resume and cover letter. Once you've found one or more
opportunities you're interested in, there are four key steps involved
in applying for the job. First, make sure you understand
(10:08):
the job requirements. Take your time to read the position
description closely, as you'll need to address the requirements in
your resume and cover letter. Second, create or update your resume.
If you need help with this, check out the resources
on the Digital Heart or speak to your Vision Australia
service provider. Third, write a cover letter to go with
(10:29):
your application. A cover letter provides extra information about your
skills and experience relevant to the job you're applying for.
And fourth, submit your job application. This might simply be
an email with your resume and cover letter attached, or
it might also involve an online application form, just make
sure you check your spelling. If the employer likes your application,
(10:54):
you'll hopefully be invited to a job interview. Have you
ever had to attend an interview for a role? Well,
it's normal to feel a little anxious about making a
good impression in a job interview. It can be helpful
to think of the interview as an opportunity for you
and key people in that organization or business to meet
and find out more about each other. Some interviews are
(11:15):
just like a relaxed conversation, others are more formal, and
you'll need to answer questions about your ability to fulfill
the position requirements and deal with the on the job challenges.
No matter what kind of interview. Take time to prepare
and even practice. It'll make you feel a lot more confident.
Let's hear Mira talk about her experiences applying for jobs
(11:39):
and her top tips.
Mira (11:42):
When applying for my job working at Event Cinemas that
I'm still currently in possession of. I had to go
through the job application process, which wasn't fun, but you know,
you have to do it to apply for a job. Um,
I went through seek for mine and heard back about
two weeks after I applied, so it was still a
(12:03):
little bit of a while. Um, I then got an
interview to go in about a week later. Um, so
when I went for my interview, they gave you in
a lot of jobs, they give you a list of
things they want. So obviously, you know, they have your
resume and cover letter and things like that, but sometimes
(12:24):
it's good to just bring it in just in case they,
you know, don't have it on hand or anything like that.
So that if you do get stuck, you can always
just take a glimpse at your resume and start with
more information like that. I definitely had mine with me. Um,
just in my bag, just in case I needed it. Um,
But again, a lot of employers are quite good in interviews.
(12:47):
If you're still in school, they're going to ask you
about school or uni and stuff like that. So they'll
just say, you know, what subjects are you doing? How
could this help you in this role and things like that?
So it's a pretty casual conversation most of the time. Um, with,
I think dressing in that just go business casual because
they're not looking for a whole lot of like, you know,
(13:09):
suit and tie or anything like that. Again, that just
depends on the job that you're applying for. Um, but
a lot just want business casual just to show that you,
you know, understand the job and understand what the role
entails for that. Um, sometimes I with my interview, I
got interviewed by two people, so sometimes it can be
(13:30):
a little bit intimidating, but most of the time they're
just corresponding with each other to make sure that they're
hearing the right information. Or, you know, if someone has
something wrong or an address or something, just to make
sure that it's all correct when applying, because sometimes online
can mess up those kinds of things. Um, but once
(13:50):
you get the job, they're pretty reliant, especially if you have, um,
a blind or low vision. I would definitely specify that
in the interview. If you don't on your application or
in your resume, because they will ask you, um, or
not even ask you, sometimes they'll just imply it and
try and put it into a conversation just so that
(14:13):
they know and that they're like, you're able to or
suited for the role. Um, but I definitely specify that
in my interview because in the role that I'm doing,
you have I still have to get larger sheets printed
for specific things or like work in the back with food,
you know, just for caution. Um, work health and safety.
(14:35):
But otherwise a lot of employers are pretty lenient and
aren't going to discriminate you from the rest if you
have low vision or are blind.
Natalie (14:44):
Thanks, Mira, so great to get your insights. Meera shared
some great tips about the job application and interview process.
You might also decide to prepare a vision disclosure statement
prior to the interview. A vision disclosure statement can help
you clearly explain your vision and describe the strategies and
technologies you use to complete tasks. You could write notes
(15:07):
to say aloud or include in something written. You don't
have to disclose your vision, although you are legally required to.
If by not doing so, you put yourself and or
other people in the workplace at risk. Lots to think about,
I hope listening to Meera has shown you it's all
doable though. Start with considering your long term goals. What
(15:30):
do you want in life? Working backwards from your long
term life goals? Create some short term goals that will
lead you there. Young people who've had experiences of working
before leaving school are much more likely to get a
job and progress in their career, so it's really worth
making the effort now. Well, that's it from me today.
(15:52):
I hope you enjoyed hearing some tips and stories about
getting a job, and why you should give it a try.
My question for you is what's your dream job? Or
if you're not sure, how would you like to contribute
to your community as an adult? Take some time to
think about these questions and write your thoughts down in
your notebook, journal, or your digital heart. E-portfolio. Thanks so
(16:17):
much for listening. See you next time.
S4 (16:22):
Vision Australia. Blindness. Low vision. Opportunity.
Natalie (16:27):
The content in this podcast is based in part on
the research and ideas of Doctor Karen Wolf, the Foundation
for Young Australians and Resources, published by the American Printing
House for the blind.
Welcome to Vision Australia's podcast series, designed to help children
and young people develop the skills they'll need to open
their future.
Natalie (00:14):
Hi, my name is Natalie and I'm an occupational therapist.
Thanks for joining me today. Are you thinking about getting
a job or do you already have one? Working towards
getting a job is one of the key activities in
career placement. The career education stage you're in. The placement
stage begins in mid to late high school and is
(00:36):
about making decisions and planning for life and career development
after school. This can include choosing an option for further
education or training. And as I just mentioned, getting an
entry level work role in a workplace. You could be
doing things like creating a resume and competing for roles
through the interview process. Hopefully you've already had some experiences
(00:59):
of working either informally for family or in your neighborhood,
or through school work experience placements or volunteering, or maybe
even paid work. Whether you're still looking for work experience
or are ready to look for an entry level paid role,
this podcast will help you understand the job seeking process
and make you feel more confident about giving it a go.
(01:22):
You'll be pleased to know that we'll also be hearing
tips and stories from a young person who has already
been successful in getting a job. So you might be wondering,
why should I think about this stuff now when I
have so much going on at school? Why not just
wait until after year 12, when I'll have more time
(01:43):
to focus on, looking for, and applying for a job?
We asked Mira these questions and here's what she said.
Mira (01:52):
Um, the benefit of getting a job or work experience
before leaving school is generally to not be stuck in
that crowd once you leave. So being able to um,
basically by standing out your getting experience before you start.
And with school, it's even if you don't work full
(02:12):
time or all the time, at least you're getting something
to even just put on your resume or, you know,
present in an interview.
Natalie (02:22):
Thanks, Mira. Great points. There are quite a few good
reasons to get as much real life work experience as
you can before leaving high school. In a nutshell, you
have to be in it to win it. Young people
who've had a few experiences of work before leaving school
are much more likely to gain paid employment as adults.
(02:43):
And work experience polishes your workplace skills. That builds your confidence,
and it gives you a competitive edge. Because potential employers
often prefer to hire someone who has worked before. Another
good reason to aim for a job now is that
each position, paid or unpaid, is a stepping stone towards
(03:03):
your long term career or work goals. For example, if
your long term goal is to be a data analyst,
then experiencing a junior level data entry role will give
you skills to move to the next role in your
career journey. It will also give you the opportunity to
learn more about the industry you're interested in. Speaking of
(03:25):
long and short term goals, it's great to spend some
time thinking about these. So what do you want in life?
Do you daydream about the kind of life you'll have,
or the things you'll do when you're an adult? Can
you bring one thing to mind now? Great. Hold that thought.
We'll call that one thing you just thought of as
(03:47):
a goal. Depending on how big or far into the
future it is, it could be a long term goal
or a short term goal In general, long term goals
will take five years or more. While short term goals
are things you can aim to achieve this month, this
year or next year. And the key thing is you
(04:07):
can achieve those big long term goals simply by setting
and working towards a series of short term goals that
will lead you there. For example, a short term goal
could be getting work experience or an entry level job,
or to research and apply for further training or tertiary study.
Each of these short term goals can also be broken
(04:29):
down into even smaller goals to help you achieve them.
Let's hear Meera share her thoughts on setting long term
and short term life and career goals.
Mira (04:42):
A long term goal I have is to become a
psychologist and some short term goals in ways that I've
needed to achieve. This goal was through completing my high
School certificate, and after achieving this I had to go
through all the application process for uni. Um, so I
(05:03):
had to go through UAC and which is the main
application process here in New South Wales. Um, for applying
to uni and checking out the courses. I also did
a lot of research on all the different unis and
the psychology courses that would be best suited to what
I specifically wanted to do. Um, I also looked at,
(05:27):
when applying through uni all the documents and files that
I had to collect and pre-requisites for that. Um, a
lot of that goal also achieved. Doing community services at
TAFE helped me to achieve this, because I'd already previously
worked in a social setting with people and getting experience
in that. Um, and also now I'm completing my Bachelor
(05:50):
of Psychological Science, and after we'll complete my honors to
go on to become a psychologist.
Natalie (05:58):
Thanks for sharing, Mira. Okay, so we've talked about the
benefits of seeking real life work experiences, and we've suggested
being strategic with achieving your long term life and career
goals by working bit by bit towards those short term goals,
such as work experience and further training or tertiary qualifications.
(06:20):
So let's now get to the main topic working towards
getting a paid job. We'll start with the first step
finding one or more jobs that you'd like to apply for.
In this step, you can try a few different methods
to research jobs, and we'd recommend trying them all, not
just choosing one approach. You want multiple access points because
(06:43):
jobs won't come looking for you. You need to find them.
So the more options, the better. The first method is
to think about who you know that might be able
to connect you with an opportunity. Talking to people in
your network can be a very effective way to find
out about job opportunities. People in your network could be
(07:03):
anyone family, friends, teachers, and people you know in the
community through social events, clubs or sport. Maybe they know
someone who knows someone who has an entry level role
that would be perfect for you. The next method you
can try is to approach an organization or business directly.
Some organizations have positions vacant sections on their website. Try
(07:28):
searching for companies and organizations in an industry you're interested in.
If they don't have paid roles on offer, check if
they recruit volunteers. If you start as a volunteer, they
can see how great a worker you could be and
tell you about the paid roles that you could apply for.
It happens all the time. The third method is to
(07:49):
search on job listing websites like Seek and Student Edge.
Seek is the largest job listing website in Australia, while
Student Edge is an Australian member based organisation that lists
student jobs. Let's hear Mira talk about her job search
methods and what worked for her.
Mira (08:09):
When applying for my job at Event Cinemas, I had
to go through the whole process of applying for a job.
I did use seek as my main outlet for finding jobs.
At the beginning, I did find it was the easiest.
There are some other sites like indeed that you can
also use. Um, but sometimes it's you can either go
(08:31):
through friends or family, sometimes a lot of Vision Australia, and
a lot of other companies like that do help you
and have a lot of resources for you to help
you apply for jobs. Um, you can also look on
the specific jobs website because that will usually tell you
whether they are applying or needing volunteers or anything like that.
(08:56):
You can also go through um, just Google sometimes just
works like that too. If you go through that and
even just search up like who was who was in
need of stuff or jobs that I can apply for
near me, that usually comes up with a lot of
things and a lot of other job sites that won't
give you that specific information unless you really go filter
(09:19):
into that. Um, you can also go into places like
if you just walk into some shops or places that
you want to apply for, and just hand in your
resume and cover letter and just ask them, you know,
ask for the manager and see if you can set
up an interview then and there and see if sometimes
that works because it shows your initiative, um, that you
(09:40):
really want the job and that you're keen to apply.
Natalie (09:44):
Awesome tips. Thanks, Mira. So let's say you've found a
few jobs that you'd like to apply for. What next?
Let's discuss the job application process, including putting together a
resume and cover letter. Once you've found one or more
opportunities you're interested in, there are four key steps involved
in applying for the job. First, make sure you understand
(10:08):
the job requirements. Take your time to read the position
description closely, as you'll need to address the requirements in
your resume and cover letter. Second, create or update your resume.
If you need help with this, check out the resources
on the Digital Heart or speak to your Vision Australia
service provider. Third, write a cover letter to go with
(10:29):
your application. A cover letter provides extra information about your
skills and experience relevant to the job you're applying for.
And fourth, submit your job application. This might simply be
an email with your resume and cover letter attached, or
it might also involve an online application form, just make
sure you check your spelling. If the employer likes your application,
(10:54):
you'll hopefully be invited to a job interview. Have you
ever had to attend an interview for a role? Well,
it's normal to feel a little anxious about making a
good impression in a job interview. It can be helpful
to think of the interview as an opportunity for you
and key people in that organization or business to meet
and find out more about each other. Some interviews are
(11:15):
just like a relaxed conversation, others are more formal, and
you'll need to answer questions about your ability to fulfill
the position requirements and deal with the on the job challenges.
No matter what kind of interview. Take time to prepare
and even practice. It'll make you feel a lot more confident.
Let's hear Mira talk about her experiences applying for jobs
(11:39):
and her top tips.
Mira (11:42):
When applying for my job working at Event Cinemas that
I'm still currently in possession of. I had to go
through the job application process, which wasn't fun, but you know,
you have to do it to apply for a job. Um,
I went through seek for mine and heard back about
two weeks after I applied, so it was still a
(12:03):
little bit of a while. Um, I then got an
interview to go in about a week later. Um, so
when I went for my interview, they gave you in
a lot of jobs, they give you a list of
things they want. So obviously, you know, they have your
resume and cover letter and things like that, but sometimes
(12:24):
it's good to just bring it in just in case they,
you know, don't have it on hand or anything like that.
So that if you do get stuck, you can always
just take a glimpse at your resume and start with
more information like that. I definitely had mine with me. Um,
just in my bag, just in case I needed it. Um,
But again, a lot of employers are quite good in interviews.
(12:47):
If you're still in school, they're going to ask you
about school or uni and stuff like that. So they'll
just say, you know, what subjects are you doing? How
could this help you in this role and things like that?
So it's a pretty casual conversation most of the time. Um, with,
I think dressing in that just go business casual because
they're not looking for a whole lot of like, you know,
(13:09):
suit and tie or anything like that. Again, that just
depends on the job that you're applying for. Um, but
a lot just want business casual just to show that you,
you know, understand the job and understand what the role
entails for that. Um, sometimes I with my interview, I
got interviewed by two people, so sometimes it can be
(13:30):
a little bit intimidating, but most of the time they're
just corresponding with each other to make sure that they're
hearing the right information. Or, you know, if someone has
something wrong or an address or something, just to make
sure that it's all correct when applying, because sometimes online
can mess up those kinds of things. Um, but once
(13:50):
you get the job, they're pretty reliant, especially if you have, um,
a blind or low vision. I would definitely specify that
in the interview. If you don't on your application or
in your resume, because they will ask you, um, or
not even ask you, sometimes they'll just imply it and
try and put it into a conversation just so that
(14:13):
they know and that they're like, you're able to or
suited for the role. Um, but I definitely specify that
in my interview because in the role that I'm doing,
you have I still have to get larger sheets printed
for specific things or like work in the back with food,
you know, just for caution. Um, work health and safety.
(14:35):
But otherwise a lot of employers are pretty lenient and
aren't going to discriminate you from the rest if you
have low vision or are blind.
Natalie (14:44):
Thanks, Mira, so great to get your insights. Meera shared
some great tips about the job application and interview process.
You might also decide to prepare a vision disclosure statement
prior to the interview. A vision disclosure statement can help
you clearly explain your vision and describe the strategies and
technologies you use to complete tasks. You could write notes
(15:07):
to say aloud or include in something written. You don't
have to disclose your vision, although you are legally required to.
If by not doing so, you put yourself and or
other people in the workplace at risk. Lots to think about,
I hope listening to Meera has shown you it's all
doable though. Start with considering your long term goals. What
(15:30):
do you want in life? Working backwards from your long
term life goals? Create some short term goals that will
lead you there. Young people who've had experiences of working
before leaving school are much more likely to get a
job and progress in their career, so it's really worth
making the effort now. Well, that's it from me today.
(15:52):
I hope you enjoyed hearing some tips and stories about
getting a job, and why you should give it a try.
My question for you is what's your dream job? Or
if you're not sure, how would you like to contribute
to your community as an adult? Take some time to
think about these questions and write your thoughts down in
your notebook, journal, or your digital heart. E-portfolio. Thanks so
(16:17):
much for listening. See you next time.
S4 (16:22):
Vision Australia. Blindness. Low vision. Opportunity.
Natalie (16:27):
The content in this podcast is based in part on
the research and ideas of Doctor Karen Wolf, the Foundation
for Young Australians and Resources, published by the American Printing
House for the blind.
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