22 ] September 13-14, 2014 The Weekend Australian

WANT A NEW LIFE?

It’s just a matter of degrees

Planning to take your career in a new or different direction? If you’d like to move from one field or industry to another, completing a postgraduate degree could get you there.

MARY Goldsmith, director of career coaching consultancy, Career Sheila, sees many people who want to change careers, particularly mid-life.

“Maybe they’ve been made redundant or maybe they simply want a break from the rat race to pursue something they’re really passionate about,” says Goldsmith. “Doing further study can help you to redefine and reinvent yourself and leave your former life behind.”

She says people with no tertiary qualification, including many Baby Boomers, may find they need a degr

ee to show employers they have what it takes. “A CV with no post-school qualification can look odd to Gen Y recruiters. Having the piece of paper can also give you the confidence to forge ahead with a new direction.”

Former private equity lawyer, David Kinnane made the bold leap to life as a speech pathologist following a two-year master of speech language pathology at the University of Sydney. He says anyone considering such a career switch should be committed and prepared to work hard.

“When you’ve been a professional for many years, leaving your comfort zone (continued on page 23)

FAST FACTS

• The number of people completing a postgraduate course rose 127 per cent between 1999 and 2011.
• One in two members of Generation Z are expected to complete a university qualification, against one in five Baby Boomers.

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER WITH A WORLD-CLASS UQ DEGREE

THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

youruq.com/postgrad