your dream job
ACTU worksite competition results
As part of the huge career feature in issue 7, lip magazine is proud to bring you the winning entries from the ACTU Worksite for Schools competition: “Your Dream Job”.
The winning entry went to Laura Allen from Runcorn State High School in QLD. The two runner-up prizes went to Nicole McFaul from James Nash State High School in QLD and Tracy June Yuen from Southport State High School in QLD.
Winner – Laura Allen – Runcorn State High School, QLD
Taking up a career in Journalism requires determination, skill, creativity, drive, desire and the ability to withstand early mornings, long hours, and cut throat deadlines. Although this may sound like the worst and most difficult job in the world… I want it.
There are several different types of careers within the journalism world and the one that I find to be the most interesting and most cut throat is investigative reporting. This includes digging up the stories that everyone else has put aside, finding answers to unanswerable questions and meting almost impossible deadlines. It sounds extremely hard and it is one of the fastest paced and most cut throat businesses there is.
To become a journalist you must attend university, receive good grades in high school and have all the skill the journalism world thrives on. This includes determination, drive, street smarts, creativity and the ability to weave your way into stories that you can only dream of.
As a young adult you are able to get a leg up on all the other wannabe journalists by doing extra activities to let the world see just how great you really are. This means studying hard at high school. Good grades mean better opportunities. Take advantage of exchange trips, field trips, learning other languages and public service programs.
It is not necessary to receive a journalism degree to become a journalist, but today many places love to see a fresh bright kid in there working for them who has a good degree. Get an internship or a mentor; these are both great ways to help heighten your career and to make yourself stand out. But most importantly, read, read and read.
As an investigative reporter you must love working long hours and meeting new people. You also have to thrive on meeting extremely short deadlines and make sure you’re willing to travel, because this is a sure possibility for all journalists. If you love meeting new people, a career in journalism will be just right for you, because more than likely your colleagues are the subject of your latest story. As a newspaper reporter you will usually be flying solo, but as a television journalist you will be working with a team. Working conditions are extremely diverse and often change. Today you could be on a basketball court, tomorrow flying to New York.
Journalists need to meet health requirements and must be able to run around a lot. As a journalist you must limit your drink intake and in today’s journalism world you’ll have an advantage if you’re smoke free.
Being a journalist requires a number of skills. Although these are reinforced they are not necessary. These include a college degree or university degree and studies in a diverse range of subjects. Some professionals believe that English, band, music, speech/theatre, art and journalism are necessary to become a good journalist, but as long as you have a wide range of knowledge in several areas, you’ll be fine.
Working in the journalism world requires a lot of talent and hope, because in many circumstances you will not make it to the top in this world. For me this is not an issue, because even if I don’t make it to the top, I’ll continue learning, meeting new people, working hard and of course meeting deadlines.
Runner-up – Tracy June Yuen, Southport State High School, QLD
Being able to travel, constantly learn and above all, help people are three important aspects of my dream job. Suitably, as I love and perform best in the sciences, my chosen career as a microbiologist would follow after graduating from a course in biomedical or health science.
I have always thought to myself, “What better way to help large populations of people then to study the micro organisms at the source of various life threatening diseases?”
Furthermore, by specialising in foreign-based diseases such as Malaria or Dengue Fever, I could alternate between working overseas in the field or in a laboratory close to home.
During the time working in a laboratory, I would have a stable 9am to 5pm job. Working together with a team of scientists, we would devote ourselves to investigating a particular disease. Ideally I’d like to study AIDS as a large number of people in third world nations, as well as a minority of Australians suffer from it.
Due to the severity of dealing with such dangerous diseases, strict health and safety guidelines would have to be followed to protect both the scientists and the public from infection. All work surfaces would be sterile and I would have to wear a lab coat, gloves and perhaps goggles for safety. As microbiology involves the study of microscopic pathogens I would regularly be working around technical equipment requiring good eyesight, logic and attention to detail. Hopefully, with perseverance, we will reach a cure or vaccine treatment that can be tested. As I can’t bear the thought of hurting animals, another section of the research team can handle the first phase of testing on animals.
Once deemed appropriate for human trials we will have the opportunity to travel to countries most affected by the disease studied, so that we can begin human trials. This part of a microbiologists’ job is the most demanding both physically and emotionally, yet also the most rewarding. I will have to work long and irregular hours, often in third world conditions close to the people and local doctors. During this time I will experience the innermost aspects to their cultures and people, which I believe is the whole purpose of travelling.
If I have performed my job well, I will be able to see the fruits of my labour by witnessing the ill becoming well and cured. I will see the people I strived to help being helped. This is why I dream to be a microbiologist. Not to be rewarded by fame or fortune but to be appreciated through the lives I could save.
Runner-up – Nicole McFaul, James Nash State High School, QLD
These days a person’s career plays a major role in their life. It is therefore important to choose something appealing and enjoyable. Numerous fields of work appeal to me however my dream job would be working in education as a secondary school teacher specialising in history.
Secondary school teachers have friendly working conditions, which is especially appealing to me and an incentive to those considering becoming a teacher. Unlike in many other occupations teachers have fixed working hours with Australian high schools generally operating from 9.00A.M. to 3.10P.M. Additionally, school teachers have numerous school holidays throughout the year which are also at fixed times. These holidays accumulate to 12 weeks in total, a benefit seen in few professions. Secondary school teachers also have salaries above average. Furthermore, the demand for teachers generally exceeds supply. This combined with other beneficial working conditions makes teaching an appealing occupation.
As well as undertaking general teaching tasks teachers may also perform tasks such as preparing daily lessons and long-term teaching programs, maintain good working habits and discipline in classrooms and throughout the school, setting tests and exams, projects, assignments and homework, mark and correct these, and collate the results and establish and teach through such means as formal lessons, discussions, practical activities, assignments and excursions.
In addition to teenage children, secondary school teachers work with a range of people including parents and members of the staff. Teachers consult and work with parents in maximising the students learning. Teachers also help students achieve their goals.
Secondary schools have a major focus on health and safety. This is reflected in a number of things including the emergency evacuation drills conducted regularly in accordance with the Work Place Health and Safety Act. The prohibition of drugs and alcohol in the schools grounds for all persons and the existence of dress code policies also indicate that health and safety is of major importance. Schools also impose government regulations on smoking which promotes a healthy and safe environment.
To become a secondary school teacher specialising in History requires the completion of a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) – English or Social Science degree. In addition to formal qualifications there are a number of personal requirements which are essential in teaching. These include enthusiasm for, and ability in, History and teaching, high-level organisational skills and acceptance of the rights and needs of all individuals. But above all teachers should possess an enjoyment in working with teenage children.
Today teachers play a huge role in defining students’ lives and education is essential in almost all workplaces. This is why teaching is my dream job.
