Finishing Year 12? Considered a Traineeship?

So you’ve finished Year 12. A Traineeship may be just what you’re looking for. Harvest Administration Trainee Nici Raimondo shares her experience. 

Taking a gap year was one of the best decisions I made for myself. I completed Year 12 in 2020 – the year of nonstop ups and downs. My initial plans were to travel after school and then eventually complete a Bachelor of either Psychology or Teaching at University. I knew I would get there in time, but everything escaped me when the year turned on itself.

After spending majority of the year online, like everyone else, and then completing exams, I could see in myself that I didn’t have the motivation to continue on to undertake tertiary studies. But I also felt a lot of pressure. University was always a focal point in school, get the atar you need, to get into the course you want. To be honest I had always thought it was the only logical option because that was what other people around me were doing as well.

I quickly figured out that I wasn’t going to be able to get through studying this year, after starting a course I initially enrolled in. To say I didn’t enjoy it would be an understatement, but again I didn’t want to leave university if 1. I didn’t have anything to leave it for and 2. Because of the pressure to take the traditional path.

I applied to Harvest, after my parents looked at alternative options. I had heard of traineeships, but I never thought it would be a path I would take. But after applying and learning more about how it combines learning and on the job training, I decided to move forward.

It took a lot for me to leave something I felt comfortable doing and for a while I didn’t know if doing a traineeship was the right choice for me. But here I am loving every moment at Harvest working as an Administration Assistant. I work at Harvest full time, meaning 9 – 5 every weekday. At first it was a big change for me, a huge leap from high school and so different to university, but I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else.

There is not one day that is usually the same as the other. I help support the team doing background work – researching information for projects, looking at job ads all while doing other admin work. We have our daily morning meetings where we share the news of what has happened in the last 24 hours and then set goals for our day to action. And of a Tuesday afternoon I am off to study my Business Certificate. These are just some of the reasons why I love my job. It is the constant variety that I didn’t get to experience in school.

This year I have learnt so much. I’m learning and enhancing my skills everyday with the support of the team around me. I’m lucky to work at Harvest because everyone is willing to help me learn. I have the space to develop my knowledge by asking questions, making a few mistakes here and there but learning from them but most of all learning by training on the job as well as studying.

That is why the traineeship system ultimately works for me, it is because I can constantly connect the two, I can apply my knowledge that I have learnt in the Business Certificate and vice versa.

My biggest take away from this year, however, would be my individual growth. I have grown to become more independent, I have found the motivation to apply myself to different situations, my organisational skills have grown tremendously. But most importantly the year has been a catalyst for me to discover my passion and purpose and be confident to forge a career path of my choice. Wherever that takes me.

Post year 12 options. Let’s chat.

Contact Harvest Careers, Geelong. tel: 1300 363 128 to chat about your future career options.

We can deliver a range of careers and transition solutions aimed at helping you plan for the future.