Tips for Year 12 Students completing the HSC

Completing the HSC is a very stressful time. 

Although we could sit here and tell you that ‘you’ll get through it’ and ‘there’s life after school’, we’d rather just be on the same page and not pretend that this isn’t the most pressure you’ve probably ever felt. 

Feeling overwhelmed is common too. The exams are coming up, and you’re probably feeling like the doors are closing on you to know what you’re going to do with your life the minute the last bell rings.  

Deciding what to do after school is poop your pants scary. You’ve probably never had to make a decision this big in your life and unless you know exactly what you destined for, you’re in the bathroom changing your undies every time someone mentions it.  

To do a trade? To take a gap year? To move away/out of home? To go to uni? To travel? To work in the fruit shop? The possibilities are endless. But all of them are great. 

Although you might feel like to have to choose what to do before you finish the school year, let us tell you that, you don’t. 

Uni will always be there, other job opportunities will always come up, and the Eiffel tower isn’t going anywhere. You might be feeling the pressure. But we recommend holding off rushing into making a decision if there is an inch of doubt in the back of mind as the likelihood of you getting 8 months into your journey and then wanting to change your entire plan is high. 

*Cue changing degrees 3 times*

However, if dipping your toes into a few different plans and changing your mind multiple times before you land where you think you’ll be happy is what you want, well then go for it. 

Your experiences through testing out a few different career paths are what will help shape where you will find yourself most happy. Maybe you need to do that first year of an apprenticeship to help you realise it’s not for you. Maybe the first 3 months of working in the local chemist will awaken your desire to travel. 

What we’re really trying to say is, there should be no pressure to make your decision right away and if your first choice doesn’t work out, it’s probably for the better. You will learn more about yourself than if you hadn’t given it a go, and at least you’ll know that maybe being a hairdresser isn’t for you. 

But if you have known that you’ve wanted to be a mechanical engineer since you were 7, you’re a lucky squid and the rest of us are jealous. 

Unless applications for TAFE or Uni are closing, putting off making the decision until you have finished the final exams is also a good option. This will allow you to wholly focus on the exams while eliminating the stress of worrying about life after.

If there’s an ounce of doubt in the back of your mind, stop, try to recognise why your gut is feeling this way, and then reassess. They say trust your gut for a reason. 

In case you are still flipping the cards between 2 options, we’ve bought in backup. 

SEEK Career Advice. These guys live and breathe jobs, and there is no one else better equipped to give advice - except for maybe your older sister. With clear pathways, key skills and occupation reviews on the cards, every career question you have will be answered, and then a little bit more.

10/10.

https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/ 

TripAdvisor. Don’t know where to travel? These guys have got your back. And they will also help put your parents mind at ease if they know you’re going somewhere tried and trusted. 

10/10. 

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ 

Kate Cruickshank. Finishing school only in 2019, the HSC is still fresh in her mind, and she is one of the few that understands TikTok. Knowing how hard it is to navigate life after school, she can be a great soundboard and knows her way around how to craft a snazzy resume. Kate can help you navigate this tricky time and also throws in a few HSC and study tips. 

12/10. 

Reach Kato at kate@eightrecruitment.com.au.

Ps. If you flunk your HSC exams ALL IS NOT LOST. There are so many pathways around getting into uni if that is what you wish to do, and not getting the marks you wished for does not define who you are. 

You will probably hear 999 people say that life goes on after you get your HSC marks back. And at this you will roll your eyes the 999 times. But know that what you’re feeling (the stress and the overwhelm) is completely valid and it’s normal to feel like you don’t have your life sorted out. 

Good Luck.