A four-year university degree is seen as the natural progressive path to follow for thousands of high school graduates. But with university degrees becoming increasingly difficult to afford, many international students have turned to trade schools.
Trade schools, also known as technical or vocational schools, offer a more affordable and straightforward path to professional development. Students do not have to accrue student debt and can graduate in less time than it takes to graduate from a 4-year traditional university course. Trade schools focus on specialised job training for careers that are in high demand. This allows students to find purpose and profitable employment as soon as they graduate. Trade schools also offer full immersion, with less emphasis placed on classroom activities and more on-the-job training.
If a trade school sounds like just the right thing for you, these are the top 4 high demand job opportunities for trade school graduates.
COMMERCIAL COOKERY
Chefs in Australia are paid incredibly well and are sought after. Commercial cookery courses will teach you the practical culinary skills needed to start a career in the hospitality industry. You will learn how to use discretion to solve non-routine problems, manage and run a kitchen, create a menu and so much more.
In Australia, the hospitality industry is projected to reach $108 billion by 2023. This is great news because it means thousands of new jobs for Chefs and professional cooks. There is currently a high demand for professional cooks that can manage a kitchen, and ensure that the high standards of food hygiene and health are being adhered to.
The average salary of an experienced and qualified Chef in Australia is about $1200 weekly.
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS
Automotive technicians are very popular and very much-needed today. Automotive technicians are in charge of inspecting, diagnosing, servicing and repairing the mechanical, electrical and electronic systems of an automotive vehicle. They identify solutions to hard-to-repair problems in cars, buses, and light automotive vehicles.
Automotive technicians perform essential checks on vital components of your car, to ensure that everything works properly and you’re not left stranded. This makes them very important. On the job training for an automotive technician is very common because the best way to learn is through practice. Job outcomes for students who study this course include:
- Automotive Master Technician
- Automotive Mechanical Overhaul Technician
- Performance Vehicle Technician
- Motor Mechanic
- Light Vehicle Mechanical Repair Technician
The average salary for an experienced and qualified automotive technician in Australia is $1400 weekly.
IT TECHNICIANS
IT technicians are different from web developers. IT technicians deal with the installation and maintenance of WANs, LANs, and other internet networks. They manage ICT projects using software management tools, design and configure desktop virtualisation, develop complex web page layouts and identify and resolve network problems.
They can also perform security functions by protecting your network against cybercriminals. And in some cases, IT technicians work as customer support agents. They assist customers by teaching them how to fix and troubleshoot tech problems.
International students however need to study Bachelor's courses in IT in order to be able to work in any IT field in Australia. One pathway to getting this done is by getting your trade school credits transferred to higher education. And studying trade courses gives students strong theoretical and practical knowledge and enough time to adapt to Australian culture and education system before they move on to university.
Upon completion of this course, students can work as:
- Information systems office manager
- Office systems administrator
- IT systems and security administrator
- Systems and software manager
- Manager, IT infrastructure solutions
The average salary for an experienced and qualified IT Technician in Australia is $1400 weekly.
ACCOUNTANTS
Accountants are important in every single business on Earth. Learning an Accounting course will teach you how to keep and interpret the financial records of a business. You will be in charge of managing budgets, preparing financial reports, providing management accounting information, developing and using complex spreadsheets and much more.
Accountants are very important because they help businesses track income and expenditures, fill out taxes, ensure statutory compliance and more. Without accountants, organisations can’t make smart business decisions. Just like IT technicians, international students are required to complete a Bachelors’ degree in Accounting in order to work as certified accountants in Australia.
Students who complete a diploma in Accounting can work as accounts managers, senior financial clerks, and office managers. And the importance of this role is reflected in how much Accountants are paid in Australia. Experienced accountants with the right qualifications earn about $1600 weekly.
One huge advantage of learning a trade course is that no matter where you are in the world, these skills will still be valuable. And if you decide to continue your degree at a University, your SIC trade course units may be credited and you won’t need to start from scratch. This will save international students 1-2 years in tuition fees.
Are you ready to find out what trade course is suitable for you? Our education consultants can guide you on what course is the best fit for your skills and interests. Enquire Now.
*Salary information is updated as of 1st June 2022. For the latest info, please refer to www.joboutlook.gov.au.