Career Coaching
Exploring Career Options: A Strategic Guide to New Roles and Industries.
Sep
Whether you’re navigating a career pivot, planning a return to work, or helping others do the same, this guide offers a modular, evidence-based framework for exploring new roles and industries. It blends psychometric tools, labour market data, and real-world interviews to help individuals make informed, values-aligned decisions.
Prefer to watch the video
🧠 Part 1: Know Yourself: Interests, Values, and Strengths
Career exploration begins with clarity. Before scanning job boards, individuals should reflect on what drives them. One way to undertake this is by using self-discovery tools.
🔎 Self-Discovery Tools
| Tool | Purpose | Link |
| Morrisby Profile | Psychometric assessment of aptitudes, interests, and personality | Morrisby |
| Explore Careers Quiz | Australian career quiz linking interests to real employers | Explore Careers |
| MyFuture Profile Builder | Create a career profile based on interests, values, and skills | MyFuture |
🧩 Coaching Tip: Use Morrisby results to map interest clusters to viable industries. For example, a high spatial reasoning score + interest in sustainability might point toward roles in urban planning or environmental design.
📊 Part 2: Understand the Labour Market
Once interests are mapped, the next step is to explore viable pathways using Australian labour market data.
📈 Data-Driven Career Mapping
| Platform | Features | Link |
| YourCareer.gov.au | Career pathways, training requirements, salary ranges | YourCareer |
| Jobs and Skills Australia | National skills forecasts, emerging industries, VET pricing | Jobs and Skills |
| SEEK Career Advice | Role descriptions, salary benchmarks, industry trends | SEEK |
🧠 Strategic Tip: Use YourCareer’s “Compare Occupations” feature to evaluate adjacent roles. For example, someone in admin support might explore transitions into project coordination or compliance.
🗣 Part 3: Informational Interviews: Real Voices, Real Insights
Informational interviews offer qualitative data that complements psychometric and labour market tools. In other words, it helps you to see the person’s perspective who is working in that industry and provides you with insight into whether this is what you really want to do.
🧭 Interview Framework
| Question Type | Examples |
| Role Clarity | What does a typical day look like in your role? |
| Industry Fit | What trends are shaping your industry right now? |
| Skill Signals | What skills or traits are most valued in your field? |
| Entry Pathways | How did you get started, and what would you do differently? |
🎤 Australian Case Study: UWA’s career-switch stories include Sandy Anghie, who pivoted from law to architecture, and Karishma Mehta, who transitioned from podiatry to accounting, both using postgraduate study as a bridge.
✅ Career Exploration Checklist
Here’s a modular checklist to evaluate options with strategic clarity and find out how you best align:
| Dimension | Evaluation Questions |
| Interest Alignment | Does this role energise me? Can I see myself thriving in its tasks? |
| Skill Fit | Do I have transferable skills, or is upskilling required? |
| Values Match | Does the industry reflect my core values (e.g. equity, innovation)? |
| Growth Potential | What’s the projected demand in Australia? Is it recession-resilient? |
| Lifestyle Fit | Does it support my preferred work style, location, and flexibility? |
| Entry Pathways | Are there accessible training options (TAFE, RTOs, microcredentials)? |
| Networking Access | Can I build connections through LinkedIn, alumni, or events? |
| Transition Stories | Are there examples of successful pivots into this space? |
🧠 Coach’s Note: Score each option from 1–5 across these dimensions and visualise the results in a radar chart or dashboard.
🧩 Putting It All Together: A Modular Career Map
Use the following structure as a guide through your exploration:
- Profile Building – Interests, values, aptitudes (Morrisby, MyFuture)
- Market Scanning – Labour trends, salary data, growth forecasts
- Role Mapping – Adjacent roles, transferable skills, training pathways
- Qualitative Validation – Informational interviews, case studies
- Decision Matrix – Checklist scoring, radar chart visualisation
- Action Plan – Shortlist roles, identify training, set networking goals
🧠 Final Thought
Career exploration isn’t a one-off decision; it’s a strategic, iterative process. By combining psychometric insights, labour market data, and real-world conversations, individuals such as yourself can navigate transitions with confidence and clarity.
What to do next if this resonated
If you want structured support and are prepared to take action, you can request a Career Clarity Session below. Applications are reviewed before any session is booked.
🔹 Request a Career Clarity Session →
https://ewbaustralia.com.au/contact/
If you prefer to work through things independently first:
🔹 Career Clarity Toolkit →
https://ewbaustralia.com.au/career-clarity-toolkit/
🔹 Career Profile Assessment (Morrisby) →
https://ewbaustralia.com.au/career-fit-with-morrisby/
If you want to explore coaching options before applying:
🔹 Coaching Programs (group & private) →
https://ewbaustralia.com.au/career-coaching/
📚 Reference List (APA Style)
Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. (2025). YourCareer.gov.au: Explore career pathways. https://www.yourcareer.gov.au/
Explore Careers. (2025). Career quiz and employer profiles. https://explorecareers.com.au/career-quiz/
Jobs and Skills Australia. (2025). Labour market insights and national skills forecasts. https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/
Morrisby Ltd. (2025). Morrisby career assessment and psychometric profiling. https://www.morrisby.com/
MyFuture. (2025). Career profile builder and industry insights. https://myfuture.edu.au/
SEEK. (2025). Career advice, salary benchmarks and industry trends. https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice
University of Western Australia. (2023). Career switch stories and alumni pathways. https://www.uwa.edu.au/study/student-life/career-planning
