Making the decision to settle outside of a major metropolitan area is usually associated with lifestyle benefits or being closer to family. There’s something wonderful about not having to battle it out on a freeway or overcrowded bus to get to work. Many regional workers also love the lower cost of living and spending weekends exploring the local area. And despite the fact that most head offices tend to be in a capital city, it’s still possible to build a rewarding career in a regional area. Below are three industries for you to consider pursuing work in if you’re planning to move to a regional town or city.
1. Public Service
There is nearly always some sort of government opportunities available in most regional cities and towns. From local councils through to state or federal departments, working for the public sector usually means that you will have good pay and conditions, relative job security and opportunity to advance. Government jobs are notoriously difficult to apply for as they tend to have very specific selection criteria requirements, so it can help to apply via a specialist recruitment agency like Chandler Macleod Group that is experienced in placing people in government roles.
2. Minerals & Mining
Depending on where you are based, it may be possible to have a ‘residential’ role in the heavy industry sector where you work in the same town you live in and are home every night. Fly In Fly Out (or FIFO) work is also an option. While it may seem daunting to spend up to a month a time away from your loved ones, the industry is continually moving towards more family friendly rosters – for example, two weeks at work followed by a week off. FIFO isn’t for everyone, but the wages and career progression opportunities are usually good and some people find that they actually prefer this way of working because they’d rather have a whole week or more off at a time over just a weekend every week.
3. Education
Everywhere needs teachers, so if you have a passion for working with young people you may find education to be a rewarding – and portable – career choice. There are also the benefits of job security and the ability to transfer within the education department. Even small towns tend to have at least one state and private campus for both primary and secondary students. If the classroom isn’t for you, there are often numerous professional and technical vacancies at local branches of vocational and tertiary education providers like universities.
Of course there are often many other work options that offer career progression and development opportunities in a regional area – in fact, for some career choices it is better to be based outside of a capital city. For example, the reefs or water systems a marine biologist works in may be far away from a major metropolitan area. If you want to move regional, then keep your eye out – there are often thriving private sectors set up to support whatever the region’s core industry is.
What advice would you give to people looking to forge careers in regional areas?
