Careers advisors provide information, guidance and advice to help students explore their education and career options, create a resume, search for jobs, apply for jobs and/or apply for further study. Careers advisors liaise with parents, teachers, employers, community agencies and training providers.

Attributes of great careers advisors

Careers advisors are excellent communicators who liaise with a wide range of people and organisations. They can quickly and easily develop rapport with students, which helps them talk to students and explore students' career goals and aspirations.

Careers advisors are also very resourceful. They provide students with relevant resources to help them make informed decisions about what to do after they leave school. They also support students in creating resumes, finding employment and applying for employment, further study and financial assistance such as scholarships. Great careers advisors are extremely knowledgeable about the entry requirements for tertiary study and are also well connected with local employers, community agencies and training providers.

How to decide if you should be a careers advisor

If you think you could give secondary students inspiration, insight, encouragement and confidence to help them make life choices and build a successful career, consider becoming a careers advisor in NSW public schools. If you have excellent interpersonal skills and think you will be able to establish strong connections with a wide range of people and organisations on behalf of your students, you could become a great careers advisor.

How to become a careers advisor

To become a careers advisor in NSW public schools, you will need to complete approved courses in secondary teaching and careers education. The become a teacher page outlines the steps you will need to take to become a teacher in a NSW public school. Studies in careers education may be undertaken through undergraduate study or as a combination of undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Sponsored retraining for teachers

NSW public school teachers who have been recommended for a career advisor position following merit selection or permanently appointed as a career advisor, and are currently undertaking an approved postgraduate qualification in career advising, may be eligible to apply for the department's Teach and Learn Scholarship (Specialist Teaching Areas).