Sarah Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 My Mum wants me to ask if anyone knows what career options exist for me, having such an interest in fish etc. The only thing she can think of is marine biology…and she is not sure of how to find out what TAFE courses or Uni studies are available. She wants to have some idea of what paths we can follow because I really don’t know what I want to do in the future. Does anybody have any ideas? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kertaz Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Aquaculture course? Though the ones that I found mostly deals with fishes for human consumption or saltwater ornamental fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neffy Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 I remember i wanted to be a marine biologist because dolphins where coolzor, but my course adviser told me that was a bad idea because i did no science or biology courses, do you have an interest in science & biology? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadoh Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Here are a few different courses/degrees relating to Aquaculture. I guess it all depends how "hands on" you want to be Sarah... http://www.myfuture.edu.au/Search/Results.aspx?keywords=Aquaculture&category=all PS: Love the new signature :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackworm Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 (edited) Hi Sarah, I've just completed a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering. Which is good if you're okay with maths and the various sciences. There's some specific ways you can (like myself) specialise in what's called water sensitive urban design. A factor of which is designing all those lovely creeks you see meandering through cities. Funnily enough they're used to treat the water before it hits actual (natural) rivers. Naturally I'm trying to leverage this as a way to work with giant endangered parrots in New Zealand. Although I'd just as happily work protecting one of the species of galaxis galaxias they have here. Otherwise you could do a bach. of Ecology or Environmental science. Both are obviously pretty sciency. Back before I went Veggo I wanted to move into Aquaculture like Kertaz suggested. It's acutally a pretty interesting industry and I'm of the understanding they're still trying to figure everything out. At any rate, now I'm done yarning, best of luck, Blackworm. Edited August 8, 2011 by Blackworm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little_troppo Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Fish store (Job I would like) Wholesale Fish (Dream Job) Cairns Marine (I say that because I just came back from work exp and it was awesome!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Sarah.... go to google and do a search for "bullseye posters" ...... they are listed like school subjects and have listed on them careers that relate to that subject area.... have been using them for years as a career adviser.... each ring around the bullseye represents a different level of education required - you can then search the careers on the current Job Guide for your state - there is an Australian version on the My Future website previously quoted..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted August 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Mum says thank-you all for the fabulous ideas and helpful links. She is really grateful and will follow them up. I just wanted to say, I don't I like maths - but science is OK. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 (edited) Sarah, I'll Post my books down I have on Carrer options if you'll send them back. There isn't much money in the aquarium industry as far as I can tell. LFS are closing down left right and centre. What about environmental science? Or ecology. Are you going to do the QCS? What subjects do you enjoy most or are best at? I started a thread like this on AL i'll go through my books for you tomorrow Shawty. Just realised you don't have QCS (Queensland core skills) are you going to get an OP? Edited August 8, 2011 by Matt_95 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournebetta Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 Personally, if I had half a science brain I'd be a vet nurse - I'd avoid moves towards aquarium/retail industry... You're looking to build a career based on demand... my boss'es words ring in my ears "Make yourself invaluable" IMO You'd be better off looking at serving a need with demand, not one that is subject to economic fluctuation (such as the hobby of fish keeping) I've watched too many of the LFS and retail stores shut down, as they don't serve need, but want (big difference) You'll charm the pants off any industry you choose missy. -Ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 You could allways try the myers briggs type indicater. It works by you ansering a questioner and it works out your psycological type this then can help you move in a direction for a carer it is used in a number of employment agencies like KPMG your ATAR will also be a governing factor for UNI you should also have a carer adviser conected with your scholl so they can work out your subjects and the marks you are getting to the vocation you will take. WOW Cheers Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 lol Les.... MB type indicator test is so "horoscope' like..... have proven its inability to be useful many times..... over used and over interpreted by people generally with no labour market knowledge or narrow experience in recruitment, etc.... Sarah - be very very careful of school career advisors who have never had a real job (in other words they've only ever been teachers and read about careers in a book themselves).... There are many career advisors (or claim to be) who use 'tests' to tell you what to do ..... most of them will take your time or your money under false pretences.... (can cite many examples of how inaccurate and inappropriate their results have been like the 17yo who was told by his guidance officer he could be a freelance journalist by staying at his home 150km from the nearest city and submitting articles by email to magazines and papers about places and incidents he's never seen or experienced!)..... before you accept anyone as a career advisor - ask them what their claims to the title are and if they say a degree or they can give you a test or that they have some other qualification - find someone else who actually has plenty of experience in the field..... By all means read about different careers (the Job Guide is great info) and talk to people about their careers.... but ultimately the choice is going to be yours.... choose something that interests you.... something that is needed in our community now or possibly in the future..... something that has elements that you could enjoy doing..... and something that you are / will be good at..... and then take your first step towards whatever that career is either through study, training or employment..... if you go to uni, choose a degree that is useful and versatile (not much call for philosophers these days!).... consider careers that will fit with whatever lifestyle you want to lead in the future (eg: do you want to travel, live in certain locations, be in the public light or prefer to be hidden from the limelight, do you want to be self employed or work for someone else, etc) Be prepared to take several 'steps' to get where you are going - most careers these days are the result of several changes of direction, each one building on the previous to get where you want to be.... work on becoming excellent at communication, negotiation, problem solving and other personal and interpersonal skills and you will have the world at your feet..... Whatever you do though ..... ask many questions to a lot of people, sift the answers to find what's interesting and then make your choice.... :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackworm Posted August 8, 2011 Report Share Posted August 8, 2011 I'm horrified Sarah, everyone likes maths! :cheer:Go maths! ... Anyway. Good luck sorting out what you want to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted August 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2011 Thank you for the replies, everyone. Mum is super impressed with the advise, especially Wayne's. I homeschool, so things are a little bit different - no career advisers, etc. Blackworm - not everyone can like maths! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackworm Posted August 9, 2011 Report Share Posted August 9, 2011 Yeah, Waynes advice is pretty good. My girlfriend is homeschooled too (and hates maths ) so I know what you mean. I might suggest the bullsies to her too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted August 9, 2011 Report Share Posted August 9, 2011 No career advisors isn't a bad thing Sarah.... but then you have all of us to guide you on the right path As for maths - the only number you need to know is zero .... that's the number you never want to see in your bank account unless theres lots of them between another number and the decimal point! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul Posted August 9, 2011 Report Share Posted August 9, 2011 Try think outside the square for a little while Sarah. Just because you love fish doesn't mean you gave to have a career with them. They can remain a significant part of your life without making them your life's work. Think about the following things in very general terms ( study, academics, reading, writing, if you enjoy ongoing study/education, people skills, manual skills, time management, communication etc) What you're good at What you could be good at What you definitely wouldn't be good at How much effort do you want to put in to reaching and maintaining a career goal. Think about the level of education you want to achieve and realistically could achieve. (might be important to ask someone else about the second part of that question seeing as we can over or under estimate our own potential... I severely underestimated my potential while at high school and believed that I wouldn't be smart enough to get into TAFE let alone uni!!). Then think about the various work fields that exist in general terms, business, accounts, management, mathematics and the sciences, research, health care and allied health care, law, trades, crafts, customer service/retail and various business, IT and computing, multimedia/design/arts. The general idea is think about each field as it can offer you some interest and you can offer your skills/qualities. Then if you can fit it all together you'll come to a short list of your options. Don't forget that a career path is not a final decision and could be changed at any time if you choose. Make a list. It might help. Hope this helps. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les Posted August 10, 2011 Report Share Posted August 10, 2011 sound advice Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhong89 Posted August 10, 2011 Report Share Posted August 10, 2011 have you thought to volunteer or get a part-time job at somewhere? Coz to rally make the right choice you need to experience it rather than have someone describe it to you. I wanted to be a vet when I was younger and I volunteered at a vet clinic for a week and it was great! the only reason I didn't get it is coz my score wasn't high enough (who would of thought to get into vet is higher than getting into medicine). Another thing is once you've choose your career you don't really have to stick with it all the way (maybe it's a gen y thing) I'm currently a civil engineer (just started) and I'm not planning to have it being my life long career. It might if I still have the same level of enjoyment as I do right now but I want to experience other things than just the same thing over over again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KillieOrCory Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 Hi Sarah, A lot of great advice here already! I thought I'd give you an interesting career path example (mine) so that you can see a career/job will change and morph over time. As long as you have your ultimate goals in mind it will continue to evolve in the direction you want. I don't know anybody personally who got their dream job/career straight away. It is a process. A long time ago I read a quote that said something like: "Don't get a job for what you can earn! Instead, get a job for what you can learn!" That statement stayed with me. I always had an interest in the natural world and living things. So I studied science and managed to get into uni doing a bachelor degree in science with zoology major. I also wanted to have a secure financial future and not be depended on anybody and have funds to do what I am interested in. So my working life evolved like this: My job history chronologically: *waiter (while studying; improved my interpersonal skills) *head waiter (introduced me to people management) *restaurant manager (learned skills running a business, and a motivator of staff) *working on a fungal biopesticide project (pure scientific research, loved it, acquired many hands on scientific skills) *working at a bank (learned all about money and loans) *working with insects at a scientific institution (Wow! That was great! Due to my developed interpersonal skills I was personally involved in press releases and radio programs as well! Who would have thought waiting tables could have led to that!!!) *working as a real estate agent (learned all about the housing market and improved my negotiation skills) *currently work at a scientific institution with plants (I love it!) Also, I managed to turn one of my hobbies into a hobby business that I run part time. All of this allows me to have 70+ fish tanks at home! And happy to turn upto work everyday! It wasn't always easy, it wasn't always fun, it wasn't instantaneous! You keep your goals in mind and there isn't anything you cannot achieve with a bit of hard work and time. Also don't be afraid to modify your goals over time. As you gain more life experience, inevitably what you want to do/be/have will change. Be flexible! And don't forget to smile! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted August 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 Sarah's mum here: Im really so very grateful for all your replies, advice and ideas. Ive asked Sarah to copy & paste them into a Word document so we can read them over and think further. My thoughts have been for Sarah to think of a 1st career path and work towards that, whilst keeping her avid interest in fish as an enjoyable hobby, si Im glad that has been suggested! When asked, what Sarah tells my husband and I, is that she wants to be a farmer! thankyou all once again. I appreciate your advice very much.. Have a nice day. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little_troppo Posted August 14, 2011 Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 If Sarah becomes a fish farmer, I will be the manager of the floor staff :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted August 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2011 Thanks Harry... mum said I'm much too bossy and organized to have a manager. Was kinda going for this sort of farm.. but less 'fantasy' - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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