Not sure what to say in your first career session? Prepare a few questions, your background and the goals on your mind. Use the ideas below to focus your efforts, ask better questions and decide what to do next.
Clarify what you want to explore
Write down the main questions you want your consultation to answer, even if your career direction is uncertain.
- Career direction
- Education and qualifications
- Job-search challenges
Summarise your background
Bring an up-to-date summary of your learning, roles, achievements and interests so your adviser can understand your starting point.
- Education history
- Work experience
- Key strengths
Set practical constraints
Consider how much time, money and flexibility you have to invest in training, applications or a career change.
- Budget
- Preferred location
- Target timeline
Agree on next actions
End the conversation with a small number of research or preparation steps you can realistically complete.
- Useful resources
- Priority actions
- Review date
Important:Use this as general career information, not a guarantee of an outcome. Check current requirements with the employer, institution or relevant official organisation before making an important decision.