STEP 1: KNOWING YOURSELF

• BEGINBY THINKING ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE NOW, WHERE

YOU WANT TO BE AND HOW YOU’RE GOING TO GET THERE.
• ONCEYOU HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE AT NOW
AND WHERE YOU WANT TO BE, YOU CAN WORK ON GETTING
TO KNOW YOUR SKILLS, INTERESTS AND VALUES.
Begin by asking yourself the following questions:

 Where do I start? Think about where you are at, where you want to go and how you are going to get there.
https://www2.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/career-exploration/toolsandresources/Pages/WhereDoIStart.aspx

 What are my interests? Explore your work interests.

https://www2.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/career-
exploration/toolsandresources/toolsandresourcestohelpyouplanyourcareer/findingouttoolsandresources/Pages
/Interests.aspx

 What are my skills? Explore your abilities.

https://www2.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/career-
exploration/toolsandresources/toolsandresourcestohelpyouplanyourcareer/findingouttoolsandresources/Pages
/SkillsCardSort.aspx
 What is important now? Clarify what is important to you in your work and your life.
https://www2.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/career-
exploration/toolsandresources/toolsandresourcestohelpyouplanyourcareer/findingouttoolsandresources/Page
s/ValuesCardSort.aspx

 What else do I need to think about? Think about the other factors that will affect your work and learning
decisions.
https://www2.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/career-
exploration/toolsandresources/toolsandresourcestohelpyouplanyourcareer/gettingtoknowyourselftools/Pages/
MyWorkLifeSnapshot.aspx

At the end of this step you will have a clearer idea of your work or learning goal and your individual preferences.
STEP 2: FINDING OUT
• THISSTEP IS ABOUT EXPLORING THE OCCUPATIONS AND
LEARNING AREAS THAT INTEREST YOU.
• ONCEYOU HAVE SOME IDEA OF YOUR OCCUPATIONAL
PREFERENCES YOU CAN RESEARCH THE SPECIFIC SKILLS
AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THOSE OCCUPATIONS.
• How do I find out more about my preferred occupations?
• How do my skills and interests match up with these occupations?
• What skills do i need?
• What options do i have to gain these skills or qualify for these occupations?
• Where is the work?
• What are the working conditions?
• What are the daily tasks and duties?
• It is important that you try not to make any decisions at this point and keep an open mind. Use the tools
below to help you.
• Try these suggested activities:
• Put time aside to explore and research.
• Explore the occupation profiles in occupations a—z and occupation videos.
Https://www2.Jobsandskills.Wa.Gov.Au/career-exploration/occupations/pages/occupationsa-z.Aspx
• Note the occupations that appeal to you the most. Check out which of the personal requirements match your
skills, interests and values.
• Use researching occupations to research specific details about the occupations that appeal to you most.
Https://www2.Jobsandskills.Wa.Gov.Au/career-exploration/occupations/pages/occupationexplorer.Aspx
or
Https://www2.Jobsandskills.Wa.Gov.Au/career-exploration/occupations/pages/careerpossibilitygenerator.Aspx
• Talk to a range of people working in the occupations that interest you.

At the end of this step you will have a list of preferred occupations and/or learning options.
STEP 3: MAKING DECISIONS
• THISSTEP INVOLVES COMPARING YOUR OPTIONS,
NARROWING DOWN YOUR CHOICES AND THINKING ABOUT
WHAT SUITS YOU BEST AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
Ask yourself:
• What are my best work/training options?
• How do they match with my skills, interests and values?
• How do they fit with the current labour market?
• How do they fit with my current situation and responsibilities?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option?
• What will help and what will hinder me?
• What can I do about it?

At the end of this step you will have narrowed down your options and have more of
an idea of what you need to do next to help you achieve your goals.
STEP 4: TAKING ACTION
• HEREYOU PLAN THE STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE TO PUT
YOUR PLAN INTO ACTION.
• USEALL YOU HAVE LEARNT ABOUT YOUR SKILLS,
INTERESTS AND VALUES TOGETHER WITH THE INFORMATION
YOU HAVE GATHERED ABOUT THE WORLD OF WORK TO
CREATE YOUR PLAN.
You can plan:
• for a specific occupation;
• your general career direction;
• to achieve a specific qualification;
• to do more research; and
• to explore a range of career and study options.
The most effective action plans are:
• based on up-to-date information;
• specific and detailed;
• tied to timelines with specific completion dates;
• challenging but achievable; and
• aligned with your goals and values.
Try these suggestions:
• Try basing your plan on a specific occupation. If you are not ready to commit then use the experience to help
you learn more about the planning process and about the occupation. Sometimes just trying out the process
of planning can help you to clarify your options.

You could make a plan that included steps, which helped you to:
• Research the occupation in detail;
• Identify a key occupation;
• Set yourself a key task like arranging work experience or speaking to someone that works in the field; and
• Find out about study or training pathways that would help you to achieve a specific qualification for a
preferred occupation.