Do your research to know what it takes to get and keep a job in your chosen field.

Before you dive into your job search, it's helpful to understand what’s it's really like to work in your chosen field.

This information can help you find and choose the right jobs to apply for. It can also help you impress employers with your industry knowledge when writing applications or in an interview.

You can find out about specific jobs by getting online and doing some research. You can also talk to people who work in the field or do some work experience.

When researching a role, consider the following questions

How many job opportunities are there?

• Are entry-level jobs easy to get or is there a lot of competition?
• Are new businesses opening up or are jobs in the industry slowing?
• Are there local jobs available, or would you need to move to find a job?

What’s really involved in working in this field on a daily basis?

• Have you ever visited a workplace where people do this job?
• Do you know how much time workers spend doing different types of tasks?
• Do you know how workers are expected to interact with team members, supervisors, clients and contractors?
• Do you know what the work environment and conditions are really like?

Will you need any formal qualifications, industry licences or professional accreditations to do this job?

• Some professional jobs require an industry or professional practice certification in addition to a degree. For example, chartered accountants and clinical psychologists. Lots of entry-level jobs require industry certificates. This includes things like Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) for hospitality or a Safety White Card for construction.

What sorts of work experience, skills and personality traits do employers look for when recruiting for this job?

• Different employers often want different things when recruiting. Take retail for instance. The service you'd provide to clients as a checkout operator will be different to the service you'd provide in a premium luggage store
• Are you a flexible person? Can you adapt to the needs of different employers?

Want to find out more about different jobs?

Visit the Labour Market Insights website to research occupations that interest you.

Job Jumpstart also has a range of resources to help you explore different careers. Check out the links below.