Career

Introduction

The biggest challenges when building a career that can support you and your loved ones is competition from others and an employer’s expectations when looking for the best candidate. So how do you make yourself stand out from the crowd and become the best of the best? The qualities and competencies that are described in this inquiry will help me, and anyone else, to stand out and become the best in their chosen career.

Description

There are multiple aspects to a career as a Diver. One of the most interesting things to me is teaching people how to dive and enjoy their time underwater. This involves delivering practical and theory classes, explaining all the different equipment and exploring the underwater environment. As well as teaching people to become a certified Diver, you can also branch out into other sectors such as salvage, underwater ship repairs and deep-sea diving in the oil and gas industry. The reason this career captured my interest is due to the Diverse range of opportunities available, the enjoyment of working outside a normal office environment and the reward of teaching someone something that they will remember for a long time to come. As local dive business owner and instructor Tony Plank, a PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) Certified Dive Instructor, put it when I contacted him: “I love the fact that our customers are doing something they are passionate about and therefore almost all of the time our interactions with them are fun and positive (I have worked in other industries where customers are buying product and services just to get a job done and this creates a totally different dynamic). And if I get sick of being in the shop or behind a computer I can go for a dive and call it ‘work’!”.

Where it can lead

Although the average salary of a staff member working at a dive shop in New Zealand is not considered the greatest, it can lead to some exciting opportunities and jobs such as a Navy Diver, Deep sea saturation diving, Wreck Removal, Underwater Repairs, Resort or Superyacht Dive Master and a Dive Shop Owner such as Tony Plank. When talking to Tony Plank I asked him about a career as a Diver, Tony responded: “People are not attracted to Dive Instructing because of the money, it is more about the lifestyle and opportunities”. These dive opportunities can lead to travelling to new countries with amazing dive sites such as Fiji, Bali, Bermuda and many other tropical islands. It can also mean meeting new and interesting people of all cultures.

Requirements

Each job requires a different set of qualifications, skill sets and credentials to certify that you have had the necessary training and can do your job safely and effectively. Different sectors of the Diving Industry require different qualifications but they all have three in common. In order to become a PADI dive instructor the qualifications you need to obtain are a PADI Open Water Diving Certificate, PADI Advanced Open Water Certificate and PADI Dive Instructor Certificate. You can obtain these by taking all dive courses with a local dive shop or operator. You also need a first-aid certificate which can be obtained at any local St John’s and needs to be renewed every two years and a CPR qualification that needs to be renewed every twelve months, it can also be obtained at any local St John’s. After that, it is all about getting experience, which could include volunteering, getting a job at a dive shop, and completing as many dives as possible. According to dive shop owner Tony Plank, he looks for staff that know what they’re doing and are friendly towards customers.

Career Plan

You need to make the most of your education and maximise to ensure I have the best chance of standing out amongst all other candidates. I have to make sure I have a plan for each year of my time at school, building up to leaving school and seeking a career in the Diving Industry. For this year (Year 10) I aim to get CL5E in all subjects and obtain my PADI Open Water Diving certificate and first-aid certificate. Next year (Year 11), I aim to get as much first-hand experience as I can by going on dives and as many of those dives at locally renowned dive sites, as well as working or volunteering at a local dive shop and aiming for level two excellence endorsed in my NCEAs. In Year 12 and 13 I aim to get a job at a local dive shop, achieve level three excellence endorsement on my NCEAs and complete my Advanced Open Water Certificate. I will also need to maintain my first aid certificate as it needs to be renewed every two years. To develop the qualities and skills that will help me in my career I am planning to join and participate in as many team events as possible and tutor friends, siblings and others to develop my teaching skills. I plan to work on my personal development by going on adventure camps such as Outward Bound, Spirit Of Adventure and Hillary Outdoors. It is also my goal to go to University to study Marine Science. This plan will help guide me toward the career I want to pursue and help me stand out as a skilled and driven candidate.

Pay vs Training

One of the biggest factors to consider when choosing a career is a salary that will support your lifestyle. Certain careers do ultimately provide high salaries however they take years of studying and training which comes at a corresponding cost. Other careers may not pay as generously initially but don’t take as long to become qualified. It can sometimes be hard to find the middle ground between salary goals and investing in education, and when you add extra factors, such as promotions and job changes, it can be difficult to decide which career will be the best for you. Many jobs, such as Architects and Web Designers, require multiple years of training and practical experience, and for good reason. Website Designers and Architects have an average salary of $88,000. But putting in years of study and work may not deliver the same return on investment. For example, becoming a Boat Builder requires the same years of training as a Website Designer and yet the salary is almost half. From my research the best immediate return on investment (in terms of years of training to salary) is a career in the security industry. With only one year of training required and paying on average $120,000 per year, it is easy to create a stable life. However, a job in the security industry offers limited pathways. Other careers such as a Sales Representative ($50,000 p/y after 1 year of training) and a Diver ($45,000 p/y after 10 months of training) may not initially earn as much but can ultimately lead to more rewarding opportunities in terms of lifestyle and then there is the opportunity to branch out and train in a dive area which comes with a larger salary, for example, Deep Sea Saturation Diving.

Qualities

We use dozens of different qualities every day, from kindness and understanding to thoughtfulness and problem-solving. Every different job requires a different quality and this includes Diving. There are two qualities that I believe are used regularly and are very important in a career in Diving and they are Perseverance and Integrity. Although it only takes around one year to become a PADI Diver it can take a long time and some serious perseverance to become a fully certified Instructor and more time than that to become involved in the Navy or Wreck Removal. As well as teaching new Divers, you also have to take care of and service equipment, and maintain your qualifications. All of this requires a lot of integrity. If you forget to service equipment or don’t keep up to date with the newest first-aid methods it is all on you if something goes wrong. This is why these two qualities can make or break your career.

Competencies

In short, competencies means the skill or ability to do something, and they are vital in any job. In a career in the Diving Industry, there are dozens of competencies that are useful and required. I have chosen the two that I think are the most important not only to me but to any Diver. The first competency is communication. It might seem a bit ironic that communication is vital when you are working underwater and cannot hear anything, but that just makes it all the more important. A lack of communication between two Divers can cause accidents and problems that could have easily been avoided. You can develop your communication skills by becoming involved in the outdoor adventure programs previously mentioned and by using the second I believe is important, teamwork. Teamwork can not only improve your communication skills, but it can also help you become a more practical and inclusive thinker. You can improve your teamwork skills by participating in group activities and joining team competitions. If you master these competencies they will not only help you in diving but in any job.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you have a plan and develop your qualities and skills, you can make sure you stand out. When aiming to become a Diver, you need to persevere to ensure you do the best you can. You need to have the integrity to make sure you keep other people safe and are a good team player when it comes to working with other people. Last but not least, you need to communicate. Communication can help develop dozens of other qualities and competencies, but only if you put in the effort and work. If I stick to my plan and continue doing the best I can, I will ensure that I have the best possible chance to create a stable life for myself and others.