When we talk about business, admin and entrepreneurship, we’re talking about a whole range of jobs in a whole range of sectors. There are so many different pathways to these jobs, including through VET, university and on-the-job training. So let’s talk about the VET options.
What is VET?
VET stands for Vocational Education and Training, which is an education pathway that’s focused on gaining practical skills and providing you with a nationally-recognised qualification, ranging from a Certificate I to Certificate IV, to a Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate.
A VET course is similar to a university degree in that you spend a chunk of your time getting qualified for a real-world career, but it’s generally shorter, less theoretical and more hands-on, and more work-focused. You can complete a VET course at TAFE or another registered training organisation (RTO). Statistically, those who complete a VET course, have higher rates of employment and, on average, get paid slightly better than university graduates.
Why is VET relevant to the industry?
VET courses offer a whole bunch of very specific training for those with career aspirations in the wide range of jobs associated with business, admin and entrepreneurship. Whether you want to start your own business, work in the accounts department of a company or work on business strategy with the big wigs, there’s definitely a VET course to get you started.
Roles in business are super flexible and there are plenty of pathways that can be pursued as a long term, stable career. The cool thing about this sector is that you can enter it from any direction and the career progression is pretty much limitless.
Universities offer bachelor’s degrees in business management but VET courses tend to be more specified to a particular job title. VET courses also tend to have more variety in length, taking anywhere from a couple of weeks to four years for an apprenticeship. In considering VET, you want to ask yourself how long it will take, how much it will cost, how practical it is and the employment outcomes afterwards.
What are some courses that I can do?
One of the most appealing parts of VET is that the courses are generally shorter and cheaper than a bachelor’s degree. Rather than doing a 3-year degree, the tendency is to do a short course in order to get qualified and then learn more while on the job. As you progress through your career, you can then upskill with more VET training. Alternatively, many people turn to a VET course before or after they’ve completed a university degree in order to enhance their skills and gain more practical experience. Here are a few examples of training courses, from entry-level to advanced:
- Certificate III in Accounts Administration (Entry Level)
This course is designed to equip you with the skills and qualifications to become a payroll and accounts clerk, an admin officer or a bookkeeper. It’s a year-long, entry-level program with a focus on keeping tight numbers and applying them to the relevant aspects of business. Over 80% of those who complete the course are satisfied with it and there are between 25,000 and 50,000 job openings in the next 5 years, so job security is awesome.
See stats and outcomes.
- Certificate IV in New Small Business (Trade Level)
This course is all about equipping students with the skills to take that leap and start your own business. It’s an 11-month program that covers leadership, team management and problem solving for the business world. More than 86% of graduates are satisfied with this course and 61% receive job-related benefits from training.
See stats and outcomes.
- Diploma of International Business (Advanced Level)
This course is suited to those who’ve already got some business experience or training under their belt and want to be able to take their business game to an international level. In a nutshell, you’ll be learning what it takes to manage and organise businesses that operate internationally in all different kinds of industries. You’ll learn the leadership skills it takes to manage staff across borders, and a job with these qualifications will likely give you the opportunity to travel for work.
See stats and outcomes.
What are the career outcomes?
The job titles associated with business, admin and entrepreneurship are many and far reaching. Here are a couple of examples to kick start your imagination:
Account executive, administrative assistant, administrative manager, business analyst, financial analyst, investment advisor, investment banker, investor relations officer, loan officer, mortgage banker, portfolio manager, ratings analyst, stockbroker, compensation analyst, employee relations specialist, HR coordinator, staffing consultant, business systems analyst, content manager, content strategist, database administrator, digital marketing manager, full stack developer, information architect, marketing technologist, mobile developer, project manager, social media manager, software engineer, systems engineer, software developer, systems administrator, web analytics developer, web developer, office manager, operations manager, risk manager, assessor, auditor, bookkeeper, budget analyst, chief financial officer, tax specialist, treasurer.
For more info on courses and career paths, check out the My Skills website.
If you’re keen on getting into Business, Admin or or Entrepreneurship through VET, then you should check out Foster’s story here. Foster got a super high ATAR, but decided uni wasn’t for him and went down the VET path instead. Head here to find out a bit more about him.
Best wishes
Frederic Adhitama
Head of Learning - Integrated Curriculum
