2019/20 Edition | $15.00
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The essential guide to life after school
Welcome
Education & Training
2 What is success? 3 What are your options? 4 What is your personality type? 6 Match your personality type to a career
24 26 27 28 29
ITP, ITO, PTE, wānanga or uni: which should you choose?
30 31
The lowdown on apprenticeships
Jobs
8 10 11 12 12 14 16 17 20 21 22
Tips for finding a job CVs 101: the basics Revamp your CV: get noticed! How to prepare for an interview The 10 most commonly asked interview questions How do I nail a video interview? Fast facts about tax Who earns what? The robots are coming: the AI revolution Ramping up your side job How to choose the right career path for you
WELCOME
The essential guide to life after school
Loans and allowances: what can you get? Bridging and foundation courses How to snag a scholarship Work backwards! Choosing the degree course that’s right for you Fees-free: easing financial burdens for students since last year
32 34
Is a gap year really a good idea?
36 38
What do employers really want?
Why earning and learning is better for the bank account Why you should have a job while studying
Life 40 41 42 43 44 44
Financial advice for flatters Getting your licence How to get off the ‘stress’ wheel All the colours of the rainbow… Take charge of your sexuality Time management tips
Profiles
Commercial manager Nikki Verbeet Phone 027 712 1413 Email nikki.verbeet@nzme.co.nz
Creative industries Primary industries Service industries Social and community services Manufacturing and technology Construction and infrastructure
Published by
190 Taranaki Street, Wellington 6141, New Zealand. www.nzme-ed.co.nz
Advertising Jill Parker Phone 04 915 9798 Email jill.parker@nzme.co.nz
© 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Production and design Aaron Morey and Callum Foxall
ISSN 1179-0377
/jetmagnz
JETmag.co.nz
Errors and omissions Whilst the publisher has attempted to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information, no responsibility can be accepted by the publishers for any errors or omissions.
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WELCOME
What is success? Young New Zealander of the Year Kendall Flutey, founder of international company Banqer, explains that the more successful she has become, the more her definition of success has changed.
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or a long time, I had a pretty narrow view of what success was. Back then, success was getting an excellence in an exam, or making the national rep team, or getting a leading role in the school production. I could pretty much fit what I considered success to be in a small, neat, tidy box. And this included what it meant to be successful after high school. I followed in the footsteps of many, many confused eighteenyear-olds before me and went to university to study something I wasn’t that passionate about. Why? Well, because that’s what I thought successful people did – went to university. Fast forward a few years and I had finished uni and still had no idea what I really wanted to do with my life. That’s a pretty scary thing, especially when others around you are settling into careers they’re passionate about. This lead me to picking something that I thought could pass as successful, and my first job as an accountant.
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It didn’t take long for this to unravel. I was miserable at work. I quit my shiny new job within six months and felt like I was back to square one. But something really good came out of this. I finally had the time I needed to consider what I should have considered during high school... what did I really want to do with my life? And probably most crucially, along with this, I started to extend my definition of success. For me, success was now centred strongly on happiness and impact. How could I be happy making a difference in the world? Before long I landed on tech; I’d always loved computers and the
Suddenly, for what felt like the first time, life was falling into place.” idea of crafting something to life through code. Using my new lens of success, I didn’t go back to university to learn software engineering; instead I look a 12- week course at Enspiral Dev Academy in Wellington.
Business Leader in 2018 and Young New Zealander of the Year this year.
And suddenly, for what felt like the first time, life was falling into place. It was smooth, it was enjoyable, it was almost… easy.
What I’ve come to realise is that success isn’t the destination; it’s not something you can strive for. Success is a by-product of other things, so now instead I focus on those other things. I focus on being happy and making a difference in the world.
I landed my dream job as a web developer and started tinkering with an idea on the side. That idea, Banqer, has since become my full-time job as an international company that has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of kids and teachers who use our software. It’s seen me be named Young Māori
And this all happened because I didn’t follow someone else’s definition of success but shaped my own.
And the best part is that everyone can be successful, because success is yours to define.
WELCOME
What are your options? You’ve spent many years in the school system… now what?
I want to go to uni, but what should I study?
Will my course lead to a job?
It’s a bit more challenging if you have no idea what you want to study, right? JETmag has some questions to ask yourself to help you narrow your search. How can my hobbies help me decide what to study? This is how a lot of people decide what they want to study after secondary school. You might think you want to be a scientist, but if you’ve always been good at art and love drawing pictures of buildings and funky designs, then should you maybe consider studying as an architect or draftsperson?
Sometimes it doesn’t need to be a school subject. Do you love hanging with your friends and defusing their dramas? What about studying youth or social work, or counselling? How does knowing my personality type help me to choose a study area?
When deciding on a qualification, you should look at how well recognised it is in the workforce: ask your teachers, parents, parents’ friends, whānau and careers counsellors which institutions and courses are well regarded within your chosen study area.
I just want to get a job – but what job? Don’t stress. You are at the beginning of the path to your future – not many people are certain of what they want to do at this point. It takes time.
For some, the passion is more personal. If you’ve lost a family member to cancer, for example, you might be motivated to become a cancer researcher.
The personality-type quiz on page 4 will guide you to study areas that harmonise with your personality type. These could change subtly in the future, but for now it’s a quick and useful tool to focus you on relevant subject areas.
What made you feel happiest or what do you feel came to you most naturally? Did you love geography? Biology? Art? Think of your favourite school subjects, your hobbies, even the sports you play.
What subjects have I most enjoyed at school?
How can the web help me find a tertiary provider?
If you are a maths god, why not consider studying to be a mathematician or statistician? Is English awesome? Consider an arts degree. Enjoy history, te reo Māori, or cultural studies? Continue your study in the social sciences or anthropology at uni.
The very best way to find information about study and the specifics of courses is to go directly to the websites of the various universities, ITPs (polytechnics), wānanga, and private training establishments.
From there, find out which companies have jobs in the area of your choice and scour the web for information about these companies. In New Zealand, there is high demand for people to take up apprenticeships across a range of different industries. Perhaps you could be one of them?
JETmag has the answers to all your questions about university study and job-hunting – and everything in between. Sign up for updates and tips on Jobs, Education and Training!
www.jetmag.co.nz/subscribe
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Your choice of subject area will influence the choice of institution at which you want to enrol.
WELCOME
What is your
personality type? 1: At a party do you A: Interact with many, including strangers B: Interact with a few, known to you 2: Are you more A: Realistic than speculative B: Speculative than realistic 3: Is it worse to A: Have your head in the clouds B: Be in a rut 4: Are you more impressed by A: Principles B: Emotions 5: Are you more drawn towards the A: Convincing B: Touching 6: Do you prefer to work A: To deadlines B: Just whenever 7: Do you tend to choose A: Rather carefully B: Somewhat impulsively 8: At parties do you A: Stay late, with increasing energy B: Leave early, with decreased energy
15: In your social groups, do you A: Keep abreast of others’ happenings B: Get behind on the news
29: In company do you A: Initiate conversation B: Wait to be approached
16: In doing ordinary things, are you more likely to do it A: The usual way B: Your own way
30: Common sense is A: Rarely questionable B: Frequently questionable
17: Writers should A: Say what they mean and mean what they say B: Express things more by the use of analogies 18: Which appeals to you more A: Consistency of thought B: Harmonious human relationships 19: Are you more comfortable making A: Logical judgments B: Value judgments 20: Do you want things A: Settled and decided B: Unsettled and undecided 21: Would you say you are more A: Serious and determined B: Easy-going
31: Children often do not A: Make themselves useful enough B: Exercise their fantasy enough 32: In making decisions, do you feel more comfortable with A: Standards B: Feelings 33: Are you more A: Firm than gentle B: Gentle than firm 34: Which is more admirable A: The ability to organise and be methodical B: The ability to adapt and make do 35: Do you put more value on A: Infinite B: Open-minded
22: In phoning, do you A: Rarely question that it will all be said B: Rehearse what you’ll say
36: Does new and non-routine interaction with others A: Stimulate and energise you B: Tax your reserves
23: Facts A: Speak for themselves B: Illustrate principles
37: Are you more frequently a A: Practical sort of person B: Fanciful sort of person
24: Are visionaries A: Somewhat annoying B: Rather fascinating
38: Are you more likely to A: See how others are useful B: See how others see
25: Are you more often a A: Cool-headed person B: Warm-hearted person
39: Which is more satisfying A: To discuss an issue thoroughly B: To arrive at agreement on an issue
26: Is it worse to be A: Unjust B: Merciless
40: Which rules you more A: Your head B: Your heart
13: Are you more A: Punctual B: Leisurely
27: Should one usually let events occur A: By careful selection and choice B: Randomly and by chance
14: Does it bother you more having things A: Incomplete B: Completed
28: Do you feel better about A: Having purchased B: Having the option to buy
41: Are you more comfortable with work that is A: Contracted B: Done on a casual basis
9: Are you more attracted to A: Sensible people B: Imaginative people 10: Are you more interested in A: What is actual B: What is possible 11: In judging others, are you more swayed by A: Laws than circumstances B: Circumstances than laws
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12: In approaching others, is your inclination to be A: Objective B: Personal
42: Do you tend to look for A: The orderly B: Whatever turns up
61: Do you see yourself as basically A: Hard-headed B: Soft-hearted
44: Do you go more by A: Facts B: Principles
53: Which attribute is to be complimented more A: Clear reason B: Strong feeling
62: Which situation appeals to you more A: The structured and scheduled B: The unstructured and unscheduled
45: Are you more interested in A: Production and distribution B: Design and research
54: Are you inclined more to be A: Fair-minded B: Sympathetic
46: Which is more of a compliment A: “There is a very logical person.” B: “There is a very sentimental person.”
55: Is it preferable mostly to A: Make sure things are arranged B: Just let things happen
47: Do you value in yourself more that more that you are A: Unwavering B: Devoted
56: In relationships, should most things be A: Negotiable B: Random and circumstantial
48: Do you more often prefer the A: Final and unalterable statement B: Tentative and preliminary statement
57: When your phone rings, do you A: Answer it immediately B: Return the call when you feel like it
49: Are you more comfortable A: After a decision B: Before a decision
58: Do you prize more in yourself A: A strong sense of reality B: A vivid imagination
50: Do you A: Speak easily and at length with strangers B: Find little to say to strangers
59: Are you drawn more to A: Fundamentals B: Overtones
63: Are you a person that is more A: Routinised than whimsical B: Whimsical than routinised 64: Are you more inclined to be A: Easy to approach B: Somewhat reserved
69: Do you prefer A: Planned events B: Unplanned events 70: Do you tend to be more A: Deliberate than spontaneous B: Spontaneous than deliberate
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Copy your answers to this answer key carefully Count the number of checks in each of the A and B columns, and total at the bottom. Copy the totals for Column 2 to the spaces below the totals for Column 3. Do the same for Columns 4 and 6. Add totals downwards to calculate your totals. Circle the letters with this highest score. This is your type.
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66: Is it harder for you to A: Identify with others B: Utilise others
68: Which is the greater fault A: Being indiscriminate B: Being critical
Col 1 B
65: In writing, do you prefer A: The more literal B: The more figurative
67: Which do you wish more for yourself A: Clarity of reason B: Strength of compassion
60: Which seems the greater A: To be too passionate B: To be too objective
51: Are you more likely to trust your A: Experience B: Hunch
WELCOME
52: Do you feel A: More practical than ingenious B: More ingenious than practical
43: Do you prefer A: Many friends with brief contact B: A few friends with more lengthy contact
WELCOME
Match your
personality type to a career
ISTJ – The duty fulfillers
ESFP – The performers
ENFJ – The givers
Business executives, administrators and managers, accountants and financial officers, police and detectives, judges, lawyers, medical doctors, dentists, computer programmers or systems analysts, military officers, income tax officers, audit officers, information officers, human resource managers, biologists, pharmacists, real estate agents.
Artists, performers and actors, sales representatives, counsellors/social work, child care, fashion designers, interior decorators, consultants, photographers, musicians, public relations officers, stockbrokers, real estate agents.
Facilitators, consultants, psychologists, social workers/counsellors, teachers, clergy, sales representatives, human resources, managers, events coordinators, politicians, diplomats, writers, comedians, artists, journalists, librarians, program designers, translators, small business executives, sales managers.
ESTJ – The guardians Military leaders, business administrators and managers, police/detective work, judges, financial officers, teachers, sales representatives, accounts officers, audit officers, project managers, public administrators, information officers, electrical engineering, database administrators.
ISFJ – The nurturers Interior decorators, designers, nurses, administrators and managers, child care/early childhood development, social work/counsellors, paralegals, clergy/religious workers, shopkeepers, bookkeepers, secretarial groups, librarians, curators, physical therapists, artists, real estate agents, musicians, teachers, computer operators.
ESFJ – The caregivers Nursing, teaching, administrators, child care, family practice physicians, clergy or other religious work, office managers, counsellors/social work, bookkeeping/ accounting, public relations officers, public administration, commerce officers, business administrators, home economics, insurance agents and sales representatives.
ISTP – The mechanics
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Police and detective work, forensic pathologists, computer programmers, systems analysts, engineers, carpenters, mechanics, pilots, drivers, motorcyclists, athletes, entrepreneurs, pilots, fire fighters, circus artists, race car drivers, radiologists, private detectives.
ESTP – The doers Sales representatives, marketing personnel, police/detective work, paramedic/emergency medical technicians, PC technicians or network cablers, computer technical support, entrepreneurs, athletes, politicians, diplomats, fire fighters, pilots, news reporters, insurance agents, public administrators, aircraft engineers, budget analysts.
ISFP – The artists Artists, musicians/composers, designers, child care/early childhood development, social workers/counsellors, teachers, psychologists, veterinarians, forest rangers, paediatricians, fashion designers, psychologists, physical therapists, radiologists, surveyors, consultants, teachers, supervisors.
ENTJ – The executives Corporate executive officers, organisation builders, entrepreneurs, computer consultants, lawyers, judges, business administrators/managers, university professors, administrators, bankers, program designers, sales managers, chemical engineers, business team trainers, business consultants, financial advisers, media planners.
INTJ – The scientists Scientists, engineers, professors and teachers, medical doctors, dentists, corporate strategists and organisation builders, business administrators/ managers, lawyers/attorneys, judges, computer programmers or systems analysts, inventors, military officers, economists, environmental planners, function planners, new business developers, psychologists, neurologists, writers, news editors, financial planners.
ENTP – The visionaries Lawyers, psychologists, entrepreneurs, photographers, consultants, engineers, scientists, actors, sales representatives, marketing personnel, computer programmers or systems analysts, foreign services, judiciary, computer experts, journalists, real estate agents, technical trainers, directors, advertisers.
INTP – The thinkers Scientists (especially physics, chemistry), photographers, strategic planners, mathematicians, university professors, computer programmers or systems analysts, technical writers, engineers, lawyers/attorneys, judges, forensic research, forestry and park rangers, astrologists, genealogists, neurologists, strategic planners, writers, architects, software designers, artists, database administrators.
INFJ – The protectors Clergy/religious work, teachers, medical doctors, dentists, alternative health care practitioners (e.g. chiropractor, reflexologist), psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors and social workers, musicians and artists, photographers, child care/early childhood development, scientists, playwrights, poets, novelists, editors, actors, entertainers, education consultants, librarians, human resource developers, lawyers, job analysts, translators.
ENFP – The inspirers Consultants, psychologists, entrepreneurs, actors, teachers, counsellors, politicians, diplomats, writers, journalists, television reporters, computer programmers/systems analysts, scientists, engineers, artists, engineers, religious leaders, musicians, human resource managers, editors.
INFP – The idealists Writers, counsellors/social workers, teachers/professors, psychologists, psychiatrists, musicians, clergy/religious workers, writers, human resource managers, poets, novelists, journalists, editors, art directors.
Now you’re armed with your personality type and this list of interesting areas to study or work in (each linked to the government’s Vocational Pathways), go to page 46 for profiles within six industry sectors. These are: Creative; Manufacturing & Technology; Social & Community Services; Construction & Infrastructure; Primary; and Services. These pages will help you better understand what it’s like to work, study, or train in these sectors.
learn fly and earn Representing aero clubs throughout New Zealand Aviation is an exciting, technologically advanced and innovative industry, which is growing exponentially. The demand for pilots, engineers, and other qualified support people is massive. In fact, the latest estimates from Boeing indicate that an additional 637,000 pilots will be required globally over the next 20 years – 40% of those in our Asia Pacific region. Those who embark on a career as a pilot find it to be an exhilarating, challenging and rewarding experience! In New Zealand hundreds of pilots graduate every year – and a large proportion of these come from their local Aero Club. Aero Clubs offer some of the best all-round pilot training afforded in the aviation industry. In most cases there are no official academic prerequisites to undertake flight training. There is a common misconception that top results in certain subjects, eg mathematics and physics, is a requirement. Although a good grounding in science subjects and mental arithmetic is desirable, it is certainly not necessary. In quite a few instances it has been noted that once someone has started their journey towards their Commercial Pilots Licence, and in particular has
reached their first solo flight, the study they have completed has flowed into their everyday schooling subjects. Medical standards do apply, and to enrol in some training programmes, other criteria such as pre-screening interviews and aptitude tests must also be met. A number of Aero Clubs around New Zealand now run the Young Eagles program. This program is specially designed for students between the ages of 12-18 years old. It gives the students a basic understanding and introduction to the world of aviation. This allows the student time to work out if an aviation career is for them. As well as Young Eagles, some of these Aero Clubs work with Gateway to offer aviation trade subjects which can earn NCEA credits. All in all, pilot training and ancillary aviation vocations are accessible to nearly all students who display a real interest or passion in any aspect of aviation. Your local Aero Club will be able to inform students of exactly what’s involved and help them make the best decisions about their flight training and future aviation career.
DEMAND for PILOTS is MASSIVE Learn as you Earn
If you’d rather train part time after work hours or just at your own pace, an Aero Club is the perfect place to learn to fly. Full time courses available too.
Where there’s a Passion for Aviation
Thousands of professional pilots learned to fly at their local Aero Club. Recreational flyers welcome too.
Train to the Highest Level
From a first introductory flight, to private, commercial, multi-engine professional licences and instructor ratings. The choice is yours.
“An additional 637,000 pilots will be required globally over the next 20 years – 40% of those in our Asia Pacific region” Nationwide Locations
There’s an Aero Club located near you. Visit the Flying NZ website to find your nearest location. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Share the Benefits As a club member, you’re also an owner of the aircraft. Aero Club profits are put back into facilities and equipment and towards keeping costs to a minimum.
Become a Young Eagle Flying NZ operates the Young Eagles programme giving young people aged 12-17 the chance to experience flying and learn about aviation through organised events and activities. Costs are minimal and every year scholarships are awarded to help fund flying lessons.
Nationwide locations. There’s an Aero Club located near you... Visit www.flyingnz.co.nz Email execsec@flyingnz.co.nz Phone 0800 422 635
JOBS
T ps for finding a Whether it’s a part-time job to help while you study or a full-time job to help you work your way up the career ladder, these Q&As will help you snap up that first job. How soon can you leave school? You can leave school if you’re under 16, but you need a job or training position lined up and an early leaving exemption from the Ministry of Education. The Ministry declines about 90 per cent of all early leaving exemptions as they’d rather you left with qualifications. If you want to go down this path, talk to your school’s career advisor or year dean – otherwise your best option is to get some NCEA credits.
What do you need before you start looking? Do you need NCEA credits to get a job? Not always, but NCEA Level 2 credits can certainly make a difference – you may have the foundation skills needed for many jobs, but this is one of the first things a prospective employer will check.
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Many apprenticeships don’t have any NCEA requirements. However, some industry training organisations (ITOs) recommend studying NCEA maths and English to at least Level 1 or 2 and any subject relevant to the particular apprenticeship you have your eye on. Your next step should be writing a curriculum vitae (CV). This is a summary of your work experience, education, and skills. JETmag has everything you need to get this up and running, including an example to get you started (go to page 10).
Summarise your NCEA results on your CV. Be smart about this by putting the results an employer would most like to see at the top of your CV and including any credits towards NCEA, even if you haven’t completed a full NCEA. Once your CV is in order, write a cover letter. This is just a couple of paragraphs about why you want to work at the company and what you can offer. Make sure you adjust each cover letter to suit the job you’re going for, e.g. for a pet shop you would say “I’m great with animals!” or for a contact centre, “I’m great with people!” Google ‘cover letter writing’ for some examples of simple cover letters. Before you contact anyone, make sure your social media presence is sorted. Delete any dodgy photos or rants that your potential new employers might find offensive. Work preparation checklist Life as an adult requires paperwork! To ease your transition into the workforce, you’ll need to get these things sorted: oo An IRD (tax) number. oo A driver’s licence. oo A bank account. oo A birth certificate. oo Interview and work clothes. oo Transport.
Your parents, guardians or whānau should be able to help you with most of these things. Most jobs require a combination or all of the items on the list above.
What sort of job do you want? You know you want money, but do you know the field you want to work in? If you haven’t already completed the personality-type quiz on page 4, jump back there now and give it a crack. There are heaps of career suggestions in JETmag. Take your time to read through each one, then narrow your choices to a field you think you’d do well in. Want a second opinion? Try the trusty Careers New Zealand career checker at www.careers.govt.nz/ tools/career-checker. There are hundreds of occupations listed on the Careers New Zealand website, and this five-minute quiz is the key to unlocking them. Go on, check it out, we can wait. Think about all the stuff that makes you tick. There has to be a good job that will be a good match for you. What is your passion? What are your hobbies?
JOBS Now you’re all set, here we go! The best way to find work these days is online. Here are the most popular websites: YUDU New Zealand’s newest dedicated career platform. Just as you are about more than your job, YUDU is about more than just job hunting. YUDU connects you to the right talent for your role, or to the right role for your talent, plus all the happenings, personalities, advice and tools that are relevant to you. Careers New Zealand A comprehensive resource that is now part of the Tertiary Education Commission, Careers New Zealand has advice covering all situations for school leavers. Of particular interest is the jobs database, which details all aspects of many common jobs, including the current employment prospects in that sector. Go to www.careers.govt.nz. SEEK The most comprehensive jobs database in New Zealand (and
Australia), SEEK arranges jobs in easy-to-understand sections and by location. If you want to find work as a retail shop assistant in New Plymouth, then look under ‘Retail & Consumer Products’, then ‘Retail Assistants’ in Taranaki. Sorted! Go to www.seek.co.nz. Trade Me Good old Trade Me… why not buy a second-hand car and look for a job at the same time? This long-running website has thousands of jobs to choose from, arranged in similar categories to SEEK. Go to www.trademe.co.nz. Other methods Talk to family, friends and neighbours – word of mouth is a very powerful way to find a job. Check your community newspaper (you’d be surprised how many local jobs are in these). Sign up to job vacancy websites. Contact employers directly (known as ‘cold calling’). Sign up with a recruitment company – there is no charge for this and it’s in their best interests to find you a job.
What are good jobs to go for straight out of school? Retail sales: If you love shopping, you might be a natural in retail. A sales or customer service position requires a sunny personality and lots of enthusiasm, but also means you’re standing on your feet all day. Retail can mean anything from clothes (a private boutique or a department store), sporting goods, or hardware (for example, Bunnings or Mitre 10). Hospitality: This has a high turnover (where job openings frequently appear) in jobs such as a waiter, kitchen hand, and bar person (if you’re old enough to drink alcohol, you’re old enough to serve it). Work in hospitality is often casual, but any job, even a casual job, will boost your CV. Fast food restaurants like McDonald’s or Burger King are big employers in this sector. The New Zealand Defence Force (Army, Navy, and Air Force): If you have a sense of adventure or duty to your country, this might be a great option. The New Zealand Defence Force accepts school leavers for many different types of jobs and it’s a great way to get paid while learning a trade that could set you up for life. To enter the Army and the Navy you need at least eight NCEA credits in English and eight credits in maths at Level 1 (some roles require at least 12 credits per subject). To enter the Air Force, you need at least 12 credits in English and maths at Level 1 and some roles require at least 12 credits at Level 2. Although finding a job can be a pretty brutal prospect at times, if you do your homework, approach the search with a positive outlook, and don’t get discouraged if it takes longer than you expected, you’ll soon be up and running – and earning money!
9 JETmag 2019/20
Where should you go to look for work?
JOBS
CVs 101: the basics Wondering how to put your first CV together? While many templates are available on the web, this example gives you a good idea of the basics.
I
f you lack job experience, focus on the skills you may have gained through study and volunteer work, as our example, ‘Jaycie’, has done. Remember, volunteer work is an excellent way to gain experience, and it shows how keen you are.
son p m o h T ie c y Ja ils Contact deta Street 1234 Riddiford n w Newto Wellington 222 Mobile: 021 111
ail.com thompson@em Email: jaycie
ilities
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and have pes of people ation mix with all ty I ick thinking. 1. Communic k, qu or d w t an ke d supermar a calm head an ire r qu ee re nt lu at vo th In my situations to deal with learned how al, n Boat Festiv ion sed the Drago d ni an ga s or I am , 2. Organisat te ol l g severa s at my scho ired marshallin s. st three year le qu la re e du is th he Th g sc in k. ur ce or D kw and ra e ran like cloc d resources, which each tim tice times, equipment an ac pr coordinating ity s give 100% to g and I alway and punctual in y do lit bi am lia I d always r Re 3. never late an n to whateve below), I am r my dedicatio ee 13 dean fo (s n k ar or Ye ow w y t kn m I am y supermarke ented on by m m m In . co nd so ha al the task at dication was y shifts. This de turn up for m interview. g in s’) in my leav ee er ef ‘R ee (s
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JETmag 2019/20 10
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Revamp your CV:
get noticed!
So you know the basics of how to put together a CV, but will your CV make you stand out in a very crowded crowd? Today’s employers will likely scope you out on social media before hiring you, so dedicate some time to your social media activity. You don’t need to be an advanced professional to join online forums, blogs and groups – you just need an opinion and an interest. For example, if you want a career in fashion, a Pinterest or Instagram account with your own designs and inspirations could show your commitment. Put your blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Google+ addresses on your CV in your ‘contact details’ area under something along the lines of ‘Industry profile’. This is where you can mention the groups or industry blogs in which you are active, plus your membership of professional bodies, and show that you're up to date with current trends and debates.
Only include Facebook, personal Twitter or Instagram if they show you in a good light. If there’s a lot of social chatter and pics, don’t bother putting these on your CV. But at the same time, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through – add your hobbies and sporting and leisure interests away from social media as well. It’s all about establishing you as someone with an opinion in the sector where you want to make your mark.
It’s all about establishing you as someone with an opinion in the sector where you want to make your mark.
CV glamour is in! JETmag and other guides can suggest what you put in your CV, but there’s not a lot of guidance around on what your CV should look like. Check out the awesome CVs/ resumés on http://loftresumes. com/collections/loft-resumes to see what’s available for a very reasonable price. There are also lots of websites out there that will help you create a do-it-yourself CV for free. Making yourself memorable with a gorgeous CV is a good way to get yourself in front of an employer.
And NO typos! The number one reason employers say they bin CVs without even finishing them is when they come across typos. Check, check and recheck your text, then get someone else to check it for you.
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The social side
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How to prepare for an interview If you’ve ever had an interview, you’ll know it can be a pretty daunting prospect. Picture sweaty palms, cold air conditioning, and more questions than an NCEA statistics exam.
10
The most commonly asked interview questions Tell me about yourself
Why should we hire you?
Why do you want to work for us?
What do you know about us?
Describe a time you were in a difficult situation and how you overcame it?
JETmag 2019/20 12
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Five top tips: Dress right
Don’t lie
Have some questions
This honestly isn’t hard! It all depends on the kind of job you’re going for. Generally all you need is a tidy shirt or blouse and black trousers, and you’re good to go.
CV fraud is actually a big thing, believe it or not, and around 43 per cent of people have admitted to lying on their CV about their skills or experience – and they’re almost always found out.
Asking the interviewer questions will show you’re keen.
Don’t be late This is the absolute number one rule if you want to make a good and lasting impression. Rule of thumb: if you’re 20 minutes early, you’re early; if you’re 10 minutes early, you’re on time, and if you’re on time, you’re late.
If you haven’t got all the ‘essential’ skills and experience, apply anyway! Pre-empt the employer’s concerns in your cover letter by saying something like: “Although I have not had a paid job as a manager, I was president of my school’s Toastmasters’ Club for two years.”
BE PREPARED. Duh! Along with practising all your questions and answers, looking awesome and being on time, it’s important to show your preparation too. Research the company and its values; bring all the appropriate documents; focus on your body language and act confident!
Interviews can be terrifying. One thing that eases the stress is to know you are prepared. Use the questions below as a guide to plan your responses to the questions an interviewer will most likely ask you. Remember, these are not tailored to specific jobs – it helps to think of your own too! Where do you see yourself in five years?
What is your biggest strength?
Do you have any questions about us or the job?
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What is your biggest weakness?
What is your biggest accomplishment?
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How do I nail a video interview? The secret to successful video interviews is preparation and practice. This will send a strong signal that you’re organised and prepared – which will help your chances of getting hired. Before a video interview Find out what sort of computer program or application will be used and download it if necessary. Make sure you have a professional-sounding online name. Test out the program and organise another place for the interview if you find your home internet connection isn’t strong enough. If possible, use a cable to connect to the internet instead of wifi, especially if others are using the wifi. Make sure your battery is charged. Exchange phone numbers with your interviewer in case the video link fails during the interview and you need to switch to a phone.
Make sure that your webcam is adjusted so that you show up clearly and in focus. If you have a headset and microphone, use them for better sound. Remember it’s still an interview, even if it’s in your bedroom. Position the webcam so that your background looks professional, or at least neutral. Dress smartly in neutral coloured clothing. Remove photos, posters or mirrors that show up in the background. Practise using the program, ideally with a friend. Have your CV and your interview notes on your desk.
During a video interview
JETmag 2019/20 14
Remove any distractions from around you. Close other computer programs, which could distract you or reduce your internet connection. Keep your door shut and ask people who live with you to keep their noise levels down, and not to enter your room while the interview is on. Talk a little more slowly than usual. There may be a lag in the connection, so wait a little longer than usual when the interviewer stops speaking, to make sure that they have finished. Politely let your interviewer know if you can’t hear them clearly.
To give the impression that you are looking the interviewer in the eye, look at the webcam, not the person on the screen.
What if it’s a one-way video interview? The one-way video interview is a new technique to make life easier for recruiters and interviewers. Preformulated questions are given to the job-seeker, who then records them in a ‘one-way’ video, allowing the interviewer(s) to assess the candidate’s response at their leisure. For the candidate of course, this is just another way to add pressure to an already stressful process. However, follow these keys to ensure you really nail your one-way video interview.
Prepare yourself properly This can be a complex process. Different software has to be running on your PC, tricky instructions need to be followed and login details need to be prepopulated – all before you even start your one-way interview. Read all the instructions a couple of times to ensure you are familiar with each aspect before starting. Have the interview link and login details ready, including interview code, employer’s or interviewer’s name, and password if required.
JOBS Remember that the better you prepare, the better the interview will go. Nothing will throw you off your game quicker than only having 22 minutes left to complete an hour interview, because you didn’t read key information that was plainly communicated to you earlier. Understand also that many people won’t prepare well as it is not a ‘traditional’ type of interview, and in turn will present themselves as unprofessional to prospective employers.
Be on time One key point you must not miss is the ‘complete interview by’ date and time. If you miss this window, it’s as if you didn’t turn up to a real interview. As you can imagine, the earlier you complete this process, the less stressful it will be.
Create a great space
Look at the camera
One great benefit of this type of interview is that it allows you to be comfortable in your space while answering the questions. Ensure your area is clutter free, with either a blank wall or something professional in the background. Make sure your zone is also noise and distraction free, with no children asking, “what’s for dinner?” or cats jumping on the desk. Although you may be doing your interview at 8pm in your own house, you still want to make it professional.
Watching vlogs on YouTube will help you distinguish the pros from the amateurs. Amateurs look at themselves while the video is rolling, while pros look at the camera, providing a genuine and personalised touch. You want to give the interviewer a feeling of connection and trust, and the best way to do this is to make them feel you are talking directly to them, not to the bottom of their screen.
Prepare your answers On occasion you may receive your questions prior. This allows you a golden opportunity to research and script out great responses, then rehearse these answers with a family member or friend before your interview recording.
You all ready? Awesome, now hit ‘Record’. Source: YUDU
Are you currently Year 13 and thinking of studying a degree in 2020? Scholarships for the Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts (Te Toi o Ngā Rangi), the Bachelor of Viticulture, the Bachelor of Wine Science and the Viticulture/ Wine Science concurrent degree are open to students NATION-WIDE. You could have your first year paid for under the government fees-free policy and the Year 13 Degree Scholarship will cover the second year of your undergraduate degree.*
* Conditions apply for scholarships and students must meet the programme entry criteria.
Government fees free sche me + Year 13 Scholarship = 2 years free !
THE EXPERIENCE YOU NEED & THE SUPPORT TO SUCCEED eit.ac.nz | 0800 22 55 348 |
15 JETmag 2019/20
EIT offers Year 13 Degree Scholarships, which cover one year of full-time study.
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Fast facts about tax
T
ax is a compulsory contribution of money to your country’s/state’s overall revenue, taken from income and sales profits (added to majority transactions, goods and services). It may seem unfair, but the New Zealand Government has done an excellent job at making tax as fair as possible. The amount of tax that is deducted from your income depends on your individual tax code.Your code primarily depends on how many jobs/sources of income you have, how much you earn, also whether or not you have a student loan, so listen up! New Zealand’s tax rate is 33% for an income over NZ$70,000. At the other end of the scale, the tax rate is 10.5% on income up to $14,000. See the above table from the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (IRD). The minimum wage for those aged 16 or older increased to $17.70 an hour on 1 April 2019 – an increase of $1.20 per hour. This means if you are being paid $17.70 an hour, effectively $1.73 is taken off as tax. However, your tax code can differ from someone else’s, depending on your circumstances, which may or may not change the amount of tax deducted from your pay.
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If you have a student loan, you’re required to use a main tax code that includes ‘SL’ unless you have a repayment deduction exemption. You’ll need a separate code for any income you receive from a second job or another source.
Taxable income
Tax rate
Up to $14,000
10.5%
Over $14,000 and up to $48,000
17.5%
Over $48,000 and up to $70,000
30%
Remaining income over $70,000
33%
Visit
Same again, if you hold a student loan, you are required to use a secondary tax code that includes ‘SL’ Employers are required to make student loan deductions from your pay at the standard deduction rate of 12%. You can ask them to deduct more if you want to pay off your loan faster. For help working out your tax code, head to www.ird.govt.nz/ how-to/taxrates-codes/workout.
A word about KiwiSaver No one has to join KiwiSaver. But if you’re 18 or over and start a new job you’ll be automatically enrolled in KiwiSaver (with some exceptions). And that’s usually a good thing – you’ll be amazed how quickly the money accumulates KiwiSaver contributions come out of your pay before you see it. This makes saving easy. If you are employed, your employer has to contribute at least 3% of your gross wage or salary into your KiwiSaver account. That’s on top of your own contributions. The government pays into your KiwiSaver account as well – an annual ‘member tax credit’
(if you are a contributing member aged 18 or over) of up to $521.
https://sorted .org. nz/guides/k iwisaver/ kiwisaver-ho w-it-works
for more information
As well as saving for retirement, you can also use KiwiSaver for buying your first home through a KiwiSaver HomeStart grant and home purchase withdrawal. If you change jobs or leave the workforce your KiwiSaver account moves with you. If you experience hardship it is possible to access the funds in your account. Your funds are invested on your behalf by the KiwiSaver provider of your choice. If you don’t choose a provider, IRD will assign you to one of the nine default KiwiSaver schemes.
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Who earns what? Check out the salary ranges of roles advertised in late 2018. Accounting
Government and council
Retail
Agriculture, fishing and forestry
$40–$145,000
Sales
$37,000–$85,000
Architecture
Healthcare $40,000–$85,000
$45,000–$125,000
Hospitality and tourism
Automotive
$35,000–$63,000
$35,000–$65,000 $37,000–$105,000
Science and technology
$37,000–$105,000
Trades and services
$37,000–85,000
HR and recruitment
Banking, finance and insurance
$45,000–$125,000
$37,000–$85,000
IT
Transport and logistics
$42,000–$125,000
$45,000–$207,000
Construction and roading
Legal
Customer service
Manufacturing and operations
$37,000–$145,000 $37,000–$65,000
Education
$37,000–$85,000
Engineering
$42,000–$125,000
Executive and general management $45,000– $207,000
$40,000–$115,000
$35,000–$85,000
Marketing, media and communications $42,000–$125,000
Office and administration $37,000–$75,000
Property
Find out more
www.careers. govt.nz/ job-hunting /whatshappening-i n-the-jobmarket/sala ry-guide.
$37,000–$80,000 Source: Careers New Zealand
What impact does education level have on earnings?
Your level of education has been proven to have a big effect on how much you can earn. Generally, the higher your qualification, the more you will earn.
$42,000–$155,000
Note: This data is a guide only. These pay rates don’t include overtime or bonuses, or parts of salary packages such as cars. The survey doesn’t cover people who are self-employed or own a business. Some jobs, such as specialist health jobs, are not included.
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$42,000–$125,000
DO YOU LOVE ART & DESIGN? PASSIONATE ABOUT FASHION? INTERESTED IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY? OVER 20 PROGRAMMES TO CHOOSE FROM - GET YOUR CERTIFICATE, DIPLOMA OR DEGREE!
ART & DESIGN
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FASHION & SUSTAINABILITY
Apparel & Fashion Technology (L3) | Apparel & Fashion Technology - Pattern Making (L4) Apparel & Fashion Technology (L5)
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
Information Technology (L5) | Web Development & Design (L5) Systems Administration (L6) Information Technology Technical Support (L5) Networking (L6) | Software Development (L6)
REQUEST A PROSPECTUS:
INFO.WHITECLIFFE.AC.NZ ENROL NOW FOR 2019! CALL 09 309 5970
info@whitecliffe.ac.nz | 09 309 5970 | Auckland • Manukau • Wellington • Christchurch
NZ Fashion Tech Graduate Claudia Osner On
Sustainable Fashion
Claudia Osner always knew she wanted to be in the Fashion industry, by the age of 10 she was copying her older sister’s fashion drawings and adapting them into her own style. This was the conception of her love for the art and fashion worlds. Designing is Osner’s true passion, she says “one of my favourite things is when I am lying in bed at night and an outfit materializes in my head from a string of different thoughts and I can picture the detail and texture in the fabric.” After “wiping away the fear” to do what she truly loved, Claudia decided to study at NZ Fashion Tech and start her career in the industry she’d always dreamt of working in. Fastforward three years and the natural-born creative has just completed her Diploma in Apparel and Fashion Technology. To finish off her final year of study, Osner completed three full looks for her graduate collection titled “Shibui”, after the Japanese word for the type of aesthetic that portrays simplicity and subtle beauty. Her collection embodies every sense of the word, while also staying true to her core values surrounding the importance of sustainable and ethical fashion. “My fabric choice was the most important part for me because I knew the only way I could produce my collection was consciously and responsibly. I carefully researched and sought out all of the organic fabrics used, while also being able to work with the colour palette I wanted.” Studying with NZ Fashion Tech exposed Osner to internships with some of New Zealand’s leading fashion houses including
Lonely Hearts, Deadly Ponies and Taylor Boutique. These invaluable internships offered Osner a real insight into the industry, which combined with the technical learnings from NZ Fashion Tech, set her up to land another amazing internship with Process Studios in Ponsonby, Auckland, late last year. With big dreams of launching her own eponymous brand, CLAUD, this recent NZ Fashion Tech graduate is one to watch. Recently, NZ Fashion Tech and Whitecliffe College have joined forces to continue to expand and improve their fashion design programme offerings to become one of New Zealand’s leading providers of fashion training. They have campuses in Auckland and Wellington; for more information visit info.nzfashiontech.ac.nz or call 0800 800 300.
For more information on Whitecliffe College visit www.whitecliffe.ac.nz or call 09 309 5970
Opening a world of opportunities through Information Technology at
Computer Power Plus
The world is changing at an unprecedented pace but one thing isn’t going away which is the need for Qualified IT professionals who are ready to put their stamp on the industry. The urgent need for IT graduates has seen the NZ Digital Skills forum sound a warning bell indicating that the industry is growing much faster than the rate of new talent, supplied by graduating students and new immigrants. Computer Power Plus (CPP) is one provider who is tackling the task of filling the growing list of employment opportunities with graduates who have the skills and knowledge to jump straight in. Furthermore, Computer Power Plus and Whitecliffe College have joined forces to continue to expand and improve their IT programme offerings to become one of New Zealand’s leading providers of IT and professional skills training. Andrei Averianov a recent graduate of CPP who is now working at Datacom as a Graduate Network Engineer says of the experience he had at CPP “Valuable experience provided from amazing real world opportunities through to helpful meetings with professionals” Regional Manager Kelly Cairns adds that “the real world opportunities are a crucial element to a student’s journey which is why CPP students are given opportunities to hear from industry experts as well as having practical, hands on experiences”
One such graduate Dafir Jacob who after studying at CPP gained employment as a Project Manager before working his way up to being the Managing Director at Divers Group which is an end to end IT logistics company. Dafir says “I had a great experience with CPP, they provided great support during my study. CPP is well connected in the IT Industry and that puts them in a good position to provide students with practical experience”
With campuses in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch CPP supports students throughout the country to complete qualifications in areas such as Web Development, Technical Support, Networking, Systems Administration and Software Development.
Are you ready to enter a world of opportunities? Computer Power Plus and Whitecliffe College consistently strives to see our students and graduates excel in the ICT industry by applying the latest learning techniques and industry relevant courses. Applications are open now!
For more information on CPP visit www.computerpowerplus.ac.nz or call 0508 48 48 84
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The robots are coming
In the age of automation and with the changing nature of the workplace, Jude Barback asks: how are young people supposed to prepare for future employment?
A
photograph of Times Square in New York City taken in 1905 shows countless horses either carting people around or tethered. The horses provided employment for some 10,000 people. A second photo also of Times Square, but taken 20 years later, shows not a single horse in sight, thanks to the introduction of cars.
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The world of work is changing in the same way due to new and emerging technology. There are countless examples to prove it. A Chatbot lawyer saved 160,000 parking fines in London and New York. A 30-storey hotel in China was assembled in 360 hours, thanks to advances in prefabrication technology. Nike can make and tweak shoe prototypes in hours, thanks to 3D printing. McDonald’s is using cognitive technology to convert drive-through orders to text that can be fed directly into the outlet’s point-of-sale system. But all these efficiencies beg questions about what is beginning to happen to the jobs of people making shoes, or taking orders, or fighting legal cases. According to futurist Thomas Frey, two billion jobs will disappear by 2030. Among those on the doomed list are
teachers, along with those working in the power and transportation industries. Thomas says we’re standing on the brink of an artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. He talks about a world where we could see teacherbots applied with AI that have the ability to learn each student’s interests, preferred tools and ways of learning. The AI will let the bot know when a skill is deficient, what’s needed to address the deficiency and when we’ve addressed it. Brad McBean argues in Aurecon’s Just Imagine blog that while our jobs may be at risk of being automated, humans will remain an essential ingredient in the future workplace equation. The role of human creativity and ingenuity will keep rising to the top. Creative thinking will always remain gold. “Although almost every occupation has partial automation potential, humans will remain an essential ingredient in the future workplace equation. Even those jobs that can be easily automated, such as nursing or teaching, rely heavily on interactions between people and expertise that
stretches beyond the knowledge of facts.” 21C Skill’s Lab founders Justine Munro and Faye Langdon want to enable business and education to work together to ensure young people have the right 21st-century skills to survive and thrive in the new world of work. “The future of work is going to look very different, and we must be ready,” says Justine. “We are heading into a world where many New Zealanders will have outdated skills, susceptible to automation and offshoring, and are not well matched to new and emerging jobs. “We are working to change this and encourage our education system to recognise the new 21C skill set that has been widely and globally identified as being needed to thrive in the new world of work – and to teach young New Zealanders those skills as core.” The key for young people is to approach the workplace armed with skills associated with collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving and communication. There will always be a job waiting for people with these skills, even if it hasn’t been invented yet.
your side job
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Ramping up
Do you write a blog, take photos, do a bit of modelling, or dabble with programming code in your spare time? Well then, you have a side job. f you’re aspiring to a day job, having another interest can boost your chances of success. Sometimes, your side job can become your full-time job. This is how many young entrepreneurs got their start. The advantages to having a hobby include building or honing job-relevant skills, giving an outlet to your passion and, in many cases, generating a bit of sweet cash. Stuck for ideas on what you can do for a side job? Try out some of these gems.
Coding computer
Sometimes programming your side job Are you the next Zuckerberg? Coding is the money skill you can become want to know in your 20s. Coding is how start-ups turn your fullinto billion-dollar powerhouses. time job. Guys like Facebook’s Mark Twitter’s Jack This is how Zuckerberg, Dorsey, and Tumblr’s David Karp many young all started as programmers. You could too. entrepreneurs Making an app got their Mobile devices (phones and start. tablets) now outsell desktop PCs and laptops. The mobile app market is huge and growing by the day. If you don’t have the technical skills, just find a developer and pitch them your awesome idea(s).
Photography If you’ve taken selfies to the next level, maybe it’s time to invest in a good digital SLR camera and become a parttime photographer. Create a Flickr account or a website, then begin shooting weddings and parties. Once you get enough practice, you can start licensing your photos. If you’re a legend, your work could end up in magazines or on websites.
Blogging Everyone has something to say. The key thing is make your opinion highly sought after. Anyone can create a blog, but the hard part is monetising it. Even so, there are plenty of people who bring in an income (even a modest one) through broadcasting their opinions. Be sure to find a niche!
Modelling Unless you’re Miranda Kerr, part-time modelling isn’t going to make you rich, but you get to rub shoulders with creative types and fashionistas. Modelling isn’t just about the catwalk. You could be a hand or foot model, do Farmers catalogues, or be a hairstyle model for hairdressers.
Social media influencer You ever see those random Facebook pages dedicated to funny videos, pictures, and memes with millions of likes? Well, regular people run those and often, they get paid to post. It’s all a matter of accumulating users and getting people to sponsor you.
Voicework All those hours in drama could pay off – especially if you’re shy about putting your face on stage or on TV. There are plenty of amateur opportunities for voice actors. If you have a wide vocal range, over time, you might ride this skill into radio, TV, or movie work.
Personal training If you already keep it tight, then why not get paid to help other people do the same? Personal training not only puts some extra cash in your pocket, but it keeps you fit, and it’s a great way to meet new hot guys or girls looking to do the same.
Graphic design Graphic design is a really versatile skill. Depending on your skill, you can work your way to designing for major corporations and websites. Visual media is one of the most important assets in business today, and companies crave slick PR imagery.
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I
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How to choose the right career p Choosing a career doesn’t have to be confusing and nerve-wracking. Here is some advice from an indecisive student who managed to pick a career path she likes. By Sarah Bisacre-Peters.
A
re you a Year 13 (or younger – or perhaps older) student with no idea what to do, careerwise? Feeling a little panicked? Never fear, for a student with some relevant, hopefully helpful advice is here.
Make use of available resources: 1. Careers websites: Careers New Zealand and of course, JETmag. You’ll find all sorts of quizzes and information that will help you to narrow down your interests until you find a career. I find that these websites really helped me to identify the things that I absolutely did not want to do – you can work backwards if you need to.
2. Job websites like ‘SEEK’ or ‘indeed’: Search vague key words like ‘writing’ or ‘science’ and see what comes up. The results show you not only the availability of jobs in certain fields, but also many career ideas you would have never considered. 3. Your school’s careers advisor: They’re more helpful than you think. 4. Universities’ websites: Have a look to see what they offer. I recommend searching faculty by faculty. Universities also hold open days and information evenings, where you can ask questions and explore degree/career options.
JETmag 2019/20 22
5. Your connections: Maybe your friend’s brother is a builder, and you want to be one too. Ask to find out more, from a real-life example. What better way to determine whether you’ll like a career than to ask someone who’s in it? Take your time – but don’t put it off. The dreaded career decision is one that’s vaguely expected of students from about Year 9/10 onwards. ‘Do you know what you’re doing when you leave school?’. Then Year 13 hits, and it becomes the topic of every discussion. ‘Have you applied yet?’. It is an important
matter and people will definitely express their concern if you haven’t made a choice in the later years of school. To quieten these people, as well as your own worries, it’s wise to not put the decision off, avoiding it in the hope it will disappear. Set some time aside, have a ‘career choosing day’, and do your research then. It’s best to do this early on, so you are ready to apply for things, so you can give people an answer when they ask you that wretched question, and so you can feel a little more prepared about your future. Don’t be too picky. Understand that there will never be a ‘perfect’ job for you – there will be aspects that force you out of your comfort zone, or parts you simply don’t look forward to. There is no point searching for that ‘perfect’ career, because it doesn’t exist! Be wary of advice. Everybody you ask for career advice will give you a different opinion. They might direct you onto the right path, but, alternatively, they could confuse you beyond belief. Advice is tricky because you’ll be bombarded with a storm of ‘I think you should…’ and get a whole host of jumbled opinions. Be careful of what you take into account.
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path for you Once you have a career idea, ensure it ticks the boxes:
Don’t set concrete plans. Sure, it’s wonderful to be prepared, but concrete plans, calculated to the last minute, rarely come into actuality. Life throws too many obstacles or twists at you. Be flexible, instead of having tunnel vision and pretending that nothing will happen differently than anticipated. If you acknowledge that you might change your mind or be unable to fulfil your childhood career dream now, it won’t come as a shock in a few years if it does happen.
4. Are you/will you excel at it?
Explore other options. Don’t want to/can’t making a career decision right now? Explore the possibility of a gap year or full/part-time work. I think that as long as you have plans to do something following school, you will be okay.
1. Does it have good employability/is it in high demand? 2. Does it offer sufficient pay? 3. Are you passionate about it? 5. Can you attain the required qualifications? Ideally, every answer to these five main questions should be ‘Yes!’ Unfortunately, not every career allows for this. This is where compromise and sacrifice come into play, and where my belief that a ‘perfect’ job does not exist originates. How did I choose my career? After years of being indecisive and trying to fulfil other people’s expectations, I researched by faculty at a few universities. Teaching? Medicine? Nah. I stumbled upon ‘Arts’, and scanned through a list of about 40 offered majors, until I found a few that sparked my interest – the literature and media
ones. Then, it all made sense. I had been ignoring my strengths in school (writing and creative stuff) and pretending that I was interested in science and tourism. From there, I googled careers that an arts degree with those majors could earn me. Next, I picked a few of these example careers: editing, technical writing, journalism, etc. I narrowed it down, but still left room for adjustment, which is what I recommend you do. All in all, after spending a little time researching, you’ll likely find something that sounds all right. Once you find this (you will, don’t worry), identify how to get yourself into that career path. Gain the qualifications, get the job. This is a rather crude summary, but it is essentially the way it works. The most important thing to remember is to never give up. There is a career out there for you, and you will find it. Author: Sarah Bisacre-Peters is a Year 13 student who loves writing and the subject of English. She hopes to one day become an editor or technical writer.
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Choose for you and you only. Don’t choose in terms of status, or for acceptance from your family/peers. Disregard any expectations or judgement from them. You shouldn’t do something for the acceptance of others because, in the end, it’s your life. Stand your ground.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
ITP, ITO, PTE, wānanga or uni: which should you choose? Most people know what universities are. But where do polytechnics (ITPs), industry training organisations (ITOs), private training establishments (PTEs) and wānanga fit into the picture?
Q
ualifications can sometimes be similar across unis, ITPs and private providers, but they each have a different emphasis. Take the time to do your research. The institutions’ websites always have course information – be careful to note any special advantages they offer, such as links to industry.
New Zealand ITPs oo Ara Institute of Canterbury (ARA)
oo The University of Otago
oo Eastern Institute of Technology (Hawkes Bay) (EIT)
oo The University of Waikato
oo Manukau Institute of Technology oo Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) oo Northland Polytechnic (NorthTec)
Don't associate a university degree with being the most likely way to get you the job you want, because sector requirements are constantly changing and a polytech or PTE may be the tertiary education provider that has evolved the fastest in your chosen sector.
oo Otago Polytechnic
Institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs)
oo Universal College of Learning (UCOL)
Polytechnics pride themselves on being based on the practical pursuit of learning; their courses are focused on getting you a job.
oo Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec)
The range of subjects at ITPs is wide and varied – you can study anything from nursing to interior design. Polytechnics offer qualifications to suit students of all ages, backgrounds, and experience.
JETmag 2019/20 24
Each institution has a range of degrees, diplomas, and certificates you can study, all in specific fields. Like most tertiary education providers, ITPs have areas of speciality. For example, Whitireia specialises in the arts and communication (e.g. creative writing, publishing, and journalism), whereas Otago Polytechnic and Unitec have strong veterinary nursing programmes.
oo The University of Canterbury
oo Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) oo Tai Poutini Polytechnic oo The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand oo Unitec New Zealand
oo Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology
oo Wellington Institute of Technology (Weltec) oo Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) oo Whitireia Community Polytechnic
Universities
oo Victoria University of Wellington As with ITPs, universities have learning areas in which they are internationally renowned. For example, Lincoln University has a focus on agriculture and farming, Victoria University excels in law and the humanities, and the University of Waikato has a great business school. Some research will help you to decide the best university for you.
Industry training organisations (ITOs) Industry training organisations (ITOs) develop training programmes and qualifications for industries and the government across all industries. If you want an apprenticeship in the trades, the ITOs are the place to go. They organise on-the-job training, offthe-job learning, ongoing assessment, and provide up-to-date information to employees and employers.
New Zealand ITOs BCITO
Universities offer the highest and most challenging level of education. You go to university to get a degree (and after that, an honours degree, a postgraduate diploma, a master’s degree or a doctorate). You study hard and learn how to rationalise, argue, test, research, and think laterally.
Building, construction, flooring, masonry, glass and glazing, joinery, interior systems, and painting and decorating.
New Zealand universities
Engineering, manufacturing, forestry, communications and media, maritime and rail transport, and other trades (locksmithing, fire protection, refrigeration, heating and air conditioning).
oo Auckland University of Technology (AUT) oo Lincoln University oo Massey University oo The University of Auckland
Careerforce Health and disability support, social and community support, cleaning, caretaking and pest management. Competenz
EDUCATION & TRAINING Find out more
www.nzqagov
Wānanga
Civil construction, electricity supply and transmission, water and telecommunications. Hairdressing, barbering and beauty.
Wānanga are New Zealand tertiary education institutions that focus on practical learning and embrace a teaching and learning philosophy that centres on Māori culture and knowledge.
MITO
At wānanga, you can study for:
HITO
Automotive, commercial road transport and logistics, stevedoring and ports, freight forwarding and distribution, industrial textile fabrication, extractives and drilling, gas and petrochemical, protective coating and resource recovery. NZ Marine and Composites (MAC) ITO Boat building design and manufacturing, composite manufacturing, marine support services and sail making. Primary ITO Agriculture, horticulture, sports turf, equine, dairy manufacturing, meat processing and seafood. ServiceIQ Tourism, travel, retail, hospitality, museums, aviation and wholesale goods operations. Skills Active Aotearoa Sports, fitness and recreation, snowsport and performing arts. The Skills Organisation Plumbing, gasfitting, drainlaying, roofing, electrotechnology, real estate, financial services, local government, public sector (with some exclusions), security, contact centre, offender management, cranes and scaffolding, ambulance, emergency management and fire services.
oo bridging certificates oo diplomas oo bachelor's degrees oo postgraduate qualifications, such as master’s degrees and PhDs. Many of these programmes can be studied part-time during weekdays, in the evening, at the weekend, or from home.
New Zealand wānanga Each of New Zealand’s wānanga has campuses throughout the country. The three wānanga are: oo Te Wānanga o Aotearoa oo Open Wānanga (distance education) oo Te Wānanga o Raukawa oo Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Private training establishments (PTEs) For-profit doesn’t necessarily mean a compromise in training quality. Private training establishments (PTEs) take a niche and specialise in it, which can often lead to industry-specific programmes that lead to better employment prospects after you graduate. Great examples include Servilles Academy, which trains hairdressers and hospitality workers; Computer Power Plus, which specialises in IT training; and L3 Airline Academy (previously CTC
Aviation), which trains pilots. PTEs generally provide education at the certificate and diploma level, and although the sting in the tail can be high course fees, the likelihood of subsequent employment for students is high. With around 200 training providers across the country, do some online research to uncover the PTE that is right for you.
Quality qualifications The cost of industry training is subsidised and you will be guided through the whole process – but you need to know a few things. Industry training usually means you do not need a student loan. However, you may have to pay for course-related costs for NZQA registration, training materials, and the support from the ITO. The best way to find out about your fees is to talk to your employer, modern apprenticeship coordinator, or ITO. The qualification you get at the end of the apprenticeship depends on your industry. It will usually be a national certificate at Levels 3 and 4. NZQA qualifications are recognised throughout New Zealand and can even be transferred overseas. There are also special trade and business qualifications administered by the NZQA.
25 JETmag 2019/20
Connexis
t.nz.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Loans and allowances:
what can you get? StudyLink is an essential resource for any student about to embark on their tertiary course for the first time.
I
f it’s anything to do with financial support while studying, StudyLink can help. Here are some of their services:
Student allowances A student allowance is a weekly payment to help with your living expenses while you study full-time. You don’t have to pay this back. (See also ‘Next steps: How do I…?’ on page xxx.)
student allowance could be reduced or not paid at all. These include if you move overseas, leave your course, or exceed 200 weeks of student allowance for tertiary study. Check with StudyLink if your circumstances change. You can do this online using MyStudyLink. You don’t want to unintentionally rack up a debt!
Student loans
oo at least 18 years old (some 16–17-year-olds can also get it)
A student loan is the money that pays for your course. It’s made up of three parts – course fees, course-related costs, and living costs. You must pay back a student loan.
oo under 65 on the start date of your course
You may be able to get a student loan if you:
You may be able to get a student allowance if you are:
oo studying full-time oo studying an approved course
oo are studying an approved course which is:
oo a New Zealand citizen or meet the residence requirements.
oo full-time; or
You can use the ‘What you can get’ tool on the StudyLink website to check your eligibility.
JETmag 2019/20 26
Depending on your circumstances, such as your age, your living situation, your income, your parents’ income or whether you are considered to be independent from your parents, you can receive a student allowance of up to $230 (after tax) per week. If you qualify for a student allowance, you may also be able to get an accommodation benefit of up to $60 per week, depending on where you live. Go to the StudyLink student allowance online rate calculator to find out how much you might be able to get. There are circumstances where your
oo part-time and 32 weeks or longer; or oo part-time and less than 32 weeks with an EFTS value of 0.25 or more. oo are a New Zealand citizen or meet the residence requirements oo sign a contract with the Government oo nominate a New Zealand-based contact person (someone who resides in New Zealand). Use the ‘What you can get’ tool on the StudyLink website to check your eligibility. You can borrow up to two EFTS (equivalent full-time student) worth of study each year (see box for what this means), and you can generally only get a student loan for seven EFTS of study in your lifetime, so it pays to choose your course wisely.
Can you afford to study? Visit StudyLink’s ‘Can you afford to study’ page at www.studylink.govt.nz/ starting-study/thinking-about-study/ index.html to work out how much your study will cost, see how you can pay for it, and then decide if you can afford it. It’s the perfect way to look at your financial options as a freshly minted adult and plan your living budget. How much will you set aside for transport, groceries, and those unexpected expenses every week? The results – how much money you may need to support yourself – could surprise you.
When is the best time to apply? Many students wait for their NCEA results in January before they apply for their student loan or student allowance (or both). Don’t! StudyLink will set a date in December that you will need to have your applications in by if you want everything sorted ready for the start of your study. You can always change your mind or withdraw your application if you don’t get into the course you want. Just be sure to get your application in as StudyLink needs time to process your application (along with the other 180,000 or so people applying for a loan or allowance at the same time).
The application process You can apply for all your student financial support on StudyLink’s website www.StudyLink.govt.nz. Getting your application in before the December deadline will eliminate the need to rush.
1. Apply at www.StudyLink.govt.nz for your financial assistance remember to get your application in before the December deadline!
status, view and update your personal details, get your mail, and apply for your course-related costs (once you’ve returned your contact).
2. StudyLink begins processing your application
5. StudyLink checks your details with your education provider
They will check the information you give them and get things underway. You don’t need to do anything at this point unless you hear from them.
You need to make sure you’re fully enrolled before this can happen.
3. StudyLink will contact you You’ll receive a letter telling you what they need next. Make sure you read, sign, and return it (if required) and send in any documents StudyLink asks for.
4. Use MyStudyLink to track your application You can check to see if your documents have been received, check your student allowance and student loan
6. StudyLink will finish processing your application
EDUCATION & TRAINING
7 steps to your student finances
StudyLink will send you a letter letting you know what you qualify for and when your payments will start.
7. Your payments can start The earliest your payments can start is in the second week of your course. This is because StudyLink makes payments in arrears.
Bridging and foundation courses If you are thinking about doing a polytechnic or university course but don’t have enough NCEA credits, you could consider doing a bridging or foundation course.
Bridging and foundation courses can help prepare you for tertiary study if you: oo don't meet the minimum entry requirements for a tertiary course oo don't have enough NCEA credits for university entrance or for the course oo are unsure of your ability to cope with tertiary study oo haven't studied for some time oo want to see what tertiary study is like before you make a financial commitment. Bridging or foundation courses are held in maths, English, science subjects and health sciences. They can help build up your skills and meet the minimum entry requirements for a degree course. Many training providers offer foundation courses in essay writing and study and time management skills, which can also give you a feel for a subject. Some tertiary institutes have foundation year scholarships available, so find out if you are eligible.
Foundation courses are usually a full year of study and are an excellent way to develop good study habits before you start your degree course, even though they don't count towards your degree.
Preparatory courses Some tertiary institutes provide short introductory courses to help students prepare for academic study. Preparatory course subjects include English for speakers of other languages, law, chemistry and physics. Preparatory courses do not count towards degrees or other qualifications but are sometimes available over summer.
Special admission and discretionary entrance to courses
You can find out if you are eligible by contacting the polytechnic or university you want to attend before applying. Evidence of other study or work skills is often required with your application. Discretionary entrance If you don't meet the entry criteria but are under 20 years of age, you may be eligible for discretionary entrance to polytechnic or university courses. However, you will need evidence of academic achievement. To gain discretionary entrance you are likely to need a letter of application and a recommendation from your school.
Additional entry requirements Some tertiary courses have additional entry requirements, especially where admission is competitive or restricted – for example, engineering and medicine.
Special admission to courses
Find out more
If you are over 20 years of age you may be eligible for special admission to polytechnic or university courses. Special admission means you are exempt from certain entry criteria.
For all enquiries about eligibility, contact the university or training provider. Visit www.careers.govt.nz/courses/studyand-training-options/bridging-andfoundation-courses for more information.
27 JETmag 2019/20
What are bridging and foundation courses?
EDUCATION & TRAINING
How to snag a
scholarship
There are literally hundreds of scholarships, grants and awards out there to help you financially.
A
dam Goldwater knows all about scholarships. A careers evening at school opened his eyes to the number of scholarships out there for the taking. An aspiring horticulture student, he discovered a cluster of horticulture scholarships available on Massey University’s website. He applied, and was successful in securing the Zespri and Horticulture New Zealand scholarships in his first year at university. The following year he won three more scholarships, each helping to relieve some of the financial burden of university study. “I didn’t have a part-time job during my degree, only during the summer,” says Adam. “When going to uni, you have to pay quite high fees, but it means you can come out pretty much debtfree if you work hard and keep getting scholarships.”
Many and varied To get a scholarship, you generally need to meet certain criteria. According to Careers New Zealand this is typically based on things like your area of study, your chosen industry or trade, academic merit, community service or involvement, ethnicity, financial hardship, leadership, the region you grew up in, or where you plan to study. Seldom are two scholarships the same – they can vary hugely in what they cover. Some scholarships may cover tuition fees only, while others cover all course costs and some of your living expenses.
JETmag 2019/20 28
Many universities, polytechnics and other education providers offer their own scholarships, grants and awards, and usually list these on their websites, along with eligibility criteria and application
A surprising number of the scholarships available don’t have any applicants, because a lot of people think they haven’t got a chance.” forms. Most providers have a scholarships officer or career advisor on hand who can answer questions about eligibility and help with the process. Government agencies offer and administer a large number of scholarships, grants and awards as well, and the New Zealand Government website covers all government departments and agencies. For students interested in training in a specific industry area, the relevant industry training organisation (ITO) is worth checking. Some also offer scholarships, or have information about where you can get scholarships related to that area of work. There are a large number of scholarships available to Māori and Pasifika students. Scholarship recipient Hautahi Kingi urges people to “give it a go”. “A surprising number of the scholarships available don’t have any applicants, because a lot of people think they haven’t got a chance,” he says. Haytahi recommends the givME database as a first port of call for scholarship seekers. givME is a free searchable database provided by Generosity New Zealand with information on more than 4,000 funding schemes covering study, professional development, research,
travel, arts, sport, and community projects. Completing scholarship applications can be time-consuming. Tertiary student Ani Ross-Hoskins says it took her at least five hours to complete an application, but the hard work paid off as she landed a Lincoln University Scholarship for Excellence, which paid for her yearly academic fees as well as a living allowance of $4,000 a year. Most scholarships will ask for references. Referees’ statements are usually required by the closing date of the scholarship application. Victoria University of Wellington’s scholarships office advises applicants to ensure that referees are the appropriate people to provide the kind of information about you that the selection panel will need to know. “Always make sure that your referees know of every scholarship you have applied for in which they are listed as a referee. If they are aware of the particular requirements of each scholarship, they will be more able to provide the appropriate information to each scholarship selection panel.” Adapted from Careers New Zealand. Case studies and information published with the permission of Careers New Zealand (careers.govt.nz).
Choosing the degree course that’s right for you
Y
ou don’t have to have made up your mind to spend the rest of your life in a particular field by the time you leave school. The reality of the modern workforce is that it’s quite likely that you’ll change career direction at least a couple of times before you retire, and that means it’s probably more important to practise being a good learner while you’re still not sure. Not that there’s anything wrong with dedicating yourself wholeheartedly to something. How can you know if you love something if you don’t try it? Particularly in the first year of university, it’s relatively easy to keep your degree fairly general, and there’s no shortage of people who got to the end of first year and jumped ship into a completely subject area. The important thing is not to be afraid to make decisions based on what’s best for you. Finding out what you don’t want to do is never a waste of time!
Ask questions Knowing yourself is the key to making good decisions. When it comes to study, start with the big picture, and work backwards to fill in the details. Figuring out what you want to do is going to require a lot of thought and honesty. CareersNZ has some fantastic tools that can help you take a good look in the mirror – go to: https://goo. gl/yUZv8y for a look. CareersNZ recommends asking yourself a series of questions as a starting point. At the top level, you could start with: Who am I? oo What am I good at? oo What do I like to do in my spare time? oo What have I achieved? oo What am I passionate about?
What are my interests? CareerQuest is a great tool that can suggest career pathways based on your interests. Subject Matcher is a good tool that can help you arrive at a career option based on what you liked about school. What are my values? Finding a career that matches what’s important to you can help you feel more fulfilled in your work. What are my skills? Think about what you’re good at and go from there. Where am I? CareersNZ recommends taking stock of your current situation. What are your commitments? How ready are you to step into the workforce? What challenges do you face? Where do I want to be? Ask yourself what you want out of your job. What’s important to you? Do you want a job that earns heaps of money? Is career satisfaction or making a difference more important to you than money? Do you like to be in charge of things? Do you want a job that gives you lots of free time so you can do other stuff?
interests. And for a design-based course, attend the end-of-year graduation show. You’ll be able to see students’ work, talk to them and get a real understanding of what the pros and cons are of the university.” “Pick something you won’t mind getting up on a hangover to learn about!” “Everyone wants to have an amazing time at university, but when the going gets tough it’s important to have a strong support network around you. I’ve found when you are on a course such as nursing, which is emotionally, mentally and physically draining, you need people around you who you can turn to.”
Browse, browse, and browse more! Get out there and talk to people. Browse university websites, and contact their career advisors: you’re not putting them out, or asking stupid questions! Well, you probably are, but that’s what career advisors do: they reassure noobs that they’re not the first and won’t be the last to ask that particular silly question! Source: Careers New Zealand.
Words of wisdom The UK’s Guardian publishes a guide to universities every year. A couple of years ago they surveyed students for their tips on choosing the right university course. Here’s a bit of the resulting wisdom: (you can go here to read the full article: https://goo.gl/ v08AZo) “The advice I would give would be to go to the open days and ask plenty of questions about university life, the course and support services. Chat to students for some honest firsthand experience of studying there.” “Whatever you want to study, it’s worthwhile researching the lecturers and unit modules to find out their research
29 JETmag 2019/20
Choosing a course of study keeps many of us up at night, but it’s not as scary as you think.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Work backwards!
EDUCATION & TRAINING
For more information a bout apprenticesh ips visit www.c
areers.govt.nz / courses/work place-trainin gand-apprent iceships/ new-zealand apprentices hips.
Apprenticeships are offered in a much wider range of areas than people think.”
The lowdown on apprenticeships Apprenticeships are a great way to earn while you learn, says Annie Graham-Riley.
A
n apprenticeship is a system of training that allows for a new generation of practitioners. On-the-job training is often accompanied by some study, which allows the practitioner to gain a licence to practise in their chosen profession. As an apprentice you can earn money as you learn, gain professional and practical skills and gain a national certificate, depending on the programme and industry.
JETmag 2019/20 30
In New Zealand, there is high demand for people to take up apprenticeships across a range of different industries. The Industry Training Federation recently profiled over 150 occupations in New Zealand as part of the ‘Got a trade? Got it made!’ campaign. Chief executive Josh Williams says that apprenticeships are no longer limited to traditional labour-intensive jobs such as building and carpentry. “Apprenticeships are offered in a much wider range of areas than people think
– it extends into areas like cheffing, social work, printing and graphic design, aged care and hair and beauty,” says Josh. Government initiatives are also making it easier for employers, on small and large scales, to employ apprentices. Josh agrees that the schemes will both provide a much-needed boost to the number of people taking up apprenticeships. ‘Dole for apprenticeships’ is a great idea because you are taking on someone who would otherwise be on a jobseeker’s benefit and you are taking that money to support the employer. ‘Fees-free’ is for school leavers, [they] will get two years free under the plan the Government has announced. It’s great that the Government is reducing the cost of education post-school,” he says. The main benefit of apprenticeships is that you can complete your study while also earning a living.
Apprentice tiler Robbie Ferrick, who is employed by Wynands Masonry in Hawke’s Bay, agrees that there are many benefits to taking up an apprenticeship and believes that they offer a wide range of possibilities, especially when comparing them to other tertiary study. “I studied before going into the workforce and that wasn’t for me. I’m a hands-on learner, which an apprenticeship is absolutely perfect for. Getting paid to learn is also a huge bonus as I will come out with little or no student loan,” he says. Josh agrees that the benefits of apprenticeships make it a good career option for both school leavers and those wishing to retrain. “For young people, right now, there is low unemployment and the economy is going strongly. There are lots and lots of industries screaming out for keen, bright young people so apprenticeships are a really good option to go and get stuck in.”
easing financial burdens for students since last year
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Fees-free:
Now in its second year, the fees-free policy is beginning to feel like part of the furniture for tertiary education.
T
he somewhat controversial feesfree tertiary education policy is in its second year, allowing New Zealanders the opportunity to pursue their first year of tertiary education or two years of industry training with no fees attached.
“As an association we are happy other fees outside of tuition fees are also covered by the policy. We are glad that these more hidden and unexpected costs like the CSSF (Compulsory Student Services Fee) are also covered.”
The policy was the first step in the Government’s plan to provide a full programme of three years’ fees-free tertiary education and training for New Zealanders by 2024.
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) was responsible for the initial rollout of fees-free and was pleased with how implementation went.
Last year, Marcia Spanswick from Tauranga was one of the first to benefit from the new policy, as she began her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Waikato’s Tauranga campus. The new policy meant not having to pay just under $8,000 in fees for her first year, reducing significant financial pressure. “It’s less I have to borrow now and means I’ll owe that much less by the end of my study.” The policy is particularly appealing to high school graduates, but adults who have previously studied for less than half a full-time year of tertiary education or industry training also qualify for fees-free. The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) says the feesfree policy eases pressure on those students who have had to work parttime jobs on top of their full time study. “Previously, they’ve been focused much more on economic survival rather than academic success,” said former president Jonathan Gee.
However, Universities New Zealand chief executive Chris Whelan said the policy doesn’t target those who find it hardest to access study such as Māori and Pasifika students. He says on average students leave university with a relatively small debt of on average $27,000 to $28,000, which takes students around three years to pay back. Other industry experts agreed that while it was too early to draw conclusions on the success of the fees-free scheme, the Government needed to do more to improve equity and address the barriers to tertiary education for Māori and Pasifika learners. Is Whelan worried that when universities lose fees from students, income to the university per student will fall overall? “In theory, no. The Government (also known as the taxpayer) is covering the full difference in the short term. We are, however, worried as to whether the Government will increase this funding in the middle to longer term. If they don’t, then we will face challenges maintaining quality if funding per student declines.”
Universities had also warned of an increase in administrative costs and that fees free could push students to choose a subject they wouldn’t have previously just because they could get more funding. Chief executive of the Industry Training Federation (ITF) Josh Williams has been an advocate for the fees-free policy since its beginnings, but wishes more was being done to support its members. “We’re pleased by the entitlements that apply to trainees and apprentices, particularly that the fee support would cover both employer and trainee fees for the first two years of a traineeship or apprenticeship. “But as more than half of new trainees are already tertiary Potential qualified, the st u dents can Government has find out whe estimated that ther they are elig only 6,000 of the ible at 80,000 fees-free www.feesfree .govt.nz. eligible students were industrybased learners.” The ITF has been disappointed by restrictions that suggest few trainees and apprentices will still be eligible for support by the time they become a trainee or apprentice. “The Government saves enormously every time it invests in an industry trainee. Fees are lower, subsidies are much lower, the skills are matched to industry needs, and the students are economically active, paying tax rather than drawing on student support.”
31 JETmag 2019/20
s
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Is a gap year really
a good idea
Taking a gap year between high school and university enables us to take time off from our education for 12 months to explore our life options. However, is it really a good idea? By Will Cole.
N
ationwide, NCEA students are approaching the halfway mark on the year and whilst many people, especially those in year 13, are excited to finish the year – it can come with great stress and a new sense of responsibility. This is because, for those finishing school this year, we are unsure of what life will hold for us on the other end and what truly is the right decision for us.
JETmag 2019/20 32
This can be one of the most difficult decisions of our lives and it is only made harder by the increasing pressures from the stakeholders around us: our parents, university advertisements and our schools continuously telling us we need to decide. Whilst, any of us will inevitably decide to go to university or join apprenticeships to avoid the risk of failure, there is a third option that is often portrayed to us as controversial. This is taking a gap year between high school and university, that enables us to take time off from our education for 12 months to explore our life options. However, is it really a good idea? In my opinion, taking a gap year seems like one of the best things a person can do, but this is from a bias perspective due to myself being in year 13 and making the decision to spend a year abroad. However, I did choose
this decision based on a plethora of reasons. To me, it seemed like an opportunity to escape as quickly as possible, as I have spent 13 years in the education system of New Zealand and I am ready to find out more about the world. While it is possible to wait till after university – a gap year will provide me with a way to clear my head and truly be able to breath nature again without the stress of exams or internals. I feel as if it will allow me to start again and get away from the life I have now because although I do love the country, there are many things that I could find better when backpacking across the globe. Despite, myself seeing a gap year as a purely positive decision, it is also important to look at this from the elder’s perspective of whom will inject us with a sense of reality. This is obvious but with a gap year comes costs. I have been lucky in taking the opportunity to create a business in school that has allowed me to bring the funds together; however, I understand that not everyone has had my opportunities and so it is sometimes difficult or even impossible for some people to take a gap year. Nonetheless, I am only talking in regards to a travelling gap year and for all people it is still possible to take
a working gap year, taking on range of local jobs for full time. This is still a great way of releasing the mind’s stress and building up our character to become a changed person when we do enter our education again. Overall, looking at both the positives and negatives of a gap year, I have found that the advantages appear to outweigh the disadvantages. I have shared how it will help me clear my mind and I believe it will help me take on a better understanding of the world around me that will also help me when university season comes around. At the same time, this is not always possible to travel for some people and I recognise that not all of us can afford this. However, this does not have to be a set back and for some, you could even work in your local Pak ‘n’ Save. Even this would help you take a break from schooling systems and help you to find who you are and what exactly you want in the upcoming future without being rushed into it! Author: Will Cole is pursuing a career in journalism. He runs the communications for his healthcare business www.clearfree. co.nz with two friends. Read his weekly blogs where he talks about the journey of a young entrepreneur and New Zealand’s current affairs.
careers expo 2019
CAREERS EXPO 2019
Take a close look at your options Plan your next move
NZ’s No 1 career expo for over 28 years
Let’s bust some myths about careers. See page 3 How do I find out about careers? See page 5
1 JETmag 2019/20
Make the most of your visit to the 2019 Careers Expo. Check out the student passport inside
CAREERS EXPO 2019
A way with words JETmag talks to Soumya Bhamidipati about her pathway into journalism. JETmag: What attracted you to journalism as a career choice? Soumya: I’ve always enjoyed different forms of writing and the thought of getting paid to write was just a dream come true! I also love meeting and connecting with new people, so journalism seemed to fit because it requires me to do both.
JETmag: Did you consider other career options? Soumya: Definitely! I studied design and then worked as a banker and deputy registrar before landing on journalism. JETmag: Did you visit Career Expo as a student when you were making this decision? What was it like? Soumya: I did. When I visited the Career Expo I was deciding between studying classics and design. Talking to people who worked in design and being able to see a clear pathway to work is what helped me choose it over my other option. JETmag: Did you receive any careers guidance or advice from school or other avenues? Soumya: Yes, we had a careers adviser at school and I asked just about every adult I met about what they did, what it involved and why they liked it. JETmag: What training and qualifications did you take to become a journalist? Soumya: I did a post-graduate diploma in journalism after my undergrad design degree.
JETmag 2019/20 2
JETmag: Did your qualification equip you for working as a ‘real life journalist’? Soumya: Absolutely, my course was very focused on making sure we had real-world experience. We were getting published in mainstream media and doing internships in newsrooms while studying, which meant at the end of the course we had content to put into our portfolios. JETmag: Tell us about getting your first job. How easy or difficult was this? Soumya: It was easier than I expected to be honest. People talk about the decline in journalism jobs, but I think media companies are still keen on hiring young journos who have fresh perspectives
JETmag: What advice would you give to someone looking to follow your footsteps into journalism? Soumya: It really helped me I think being to think of my time at uni as a aware of chance to get my foot in the what drives door and network with everyone you and what I could, instead of focusing on you’re good at JETmag: Have you grades. I did a lot of extra unpaid will help you undertaken professional work which helped me build a to become development or would you robust portfolio and gave me better, like to? a reputation as a willing and regardless of Soumya: I haven’t done reliable worker, which meant what you do.” any official professional people were contacting me with development but I’ve had work and passing on my name to opportunities to try new things and learn others who were looking for employees. new skills on the go. I think it’s the nature I once read a long-time journo’s of the job in many ways. reflection on his career and one JETmag: What are the best parts about thing he said struck a chord with being a journalist? me; he believed people became Soumya: Seeing your byline never gets journalists either because they were old! Also the immense trust people put in predominantly driven to write, or you when they share a personal or tough because they had a need to find stories story is really such an honour. and tell truths. and digital skills. It also helped to have made some connections while doing internships, as I had a couple of offers for shortterm work before I started my full-time role.
JETmag: And the most challenging? Soumya: Sometimes it can be hard to remove yourself from your work, especially if the content is relevant to your life. It can also be hard to please everybody because your work is out there for everyone to see - editors, colleagues, friends, family, interviewees and your audience.
I always thought of myself as one of the former, so I concentrated on trying to upskill in interviewing and keeping my nose to the ground. I think being aware of what drives you and what you’re good at will help you to become better, regardless of what you do.
about careers!
CAREERS EXPO 2019
Let’s bust some myths
True or False? Myth 1. Myth 2. Individuals will have six or seven careers or more in their lifetime.
Myth 3. If you follow your passion you can’t go wrong.
Myth 4. A career professional might be the best person to help you.
Find answers from The Career Development Company professionals, page 13 Ma whero ma pango ka oti ai te mahi
Find us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/thecdc.nz
3 JETmag 2019/20
By the time you leave school you should know what you want to do for a career.
CAREERS EXPO 2019
CHART WITH CAM WEEKNIGHTS 7PM-12AM
Text “NORTH” or “SOUTH” to 9696 to find your frequency
JETmag 2019/20 4
CAREERS EXPO 2019
?
How do I find out about careers
F
eeling bombarded with career, job, and course information through school, providers, media, social media, and concerned adults?
Actions you take, such as researching widely, making careful subject choices, and visualising and planning your pathway beyond school all help towards making the best career decision for you. Go to www.careers.govt.nz for tools and information to identify your strengths, and get more career ideas there. Ask other people to help make sense of what you’re finding to fill any gaps.
At the Careers Expo get ready to talk to tertiary and work-based training providers about what might suit you. The good news is that there are lots of people who will enjoy supporting you on your career journey. So, who knows about careers? Your teachers and careers advisors.
Older siblings and peers.
Parents and caregivers.
Career professionals.
Find a contact and ask for 10 minutes of their time. What do they love about their work/find most challenging, and what advice can they give you?
Do you have favourite subjects, teachers you admire, careers staff you can talk to? Explore what you enjoy doing and discuss career ideas.
Do you personally know people who have already gone into study or work? Ask them for tips on what to do and not do.
Ask your parents to support your exploration and decision-making. Do they know people you can talk to?
There are qualified professionals around NZ who provide career services for a fee. Check out: www.cdanz. org.nz/what-is-careerdevelopment/find-acareer-professional
Ma whero ma pango ka oti ai te mahi
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5  JETmag 2019/20
People doing interesting work.
CAREERS EXPO 2019
Supercharge your future Power up your career by investing in your future — and the world’s.
As industry leaders powering Canterbury’s electricity network, Orion and Connetics offer genuine opportunities for apprentices to develop new skills, gain new experiences and develop a career in a future technology. Visit Orion and Connetics at our stand at the New Zealand Careers Expo to find out how a career in electricity will supercharge your future.
OPEN YOUR MIND TO A QUALIFICATION WITHOUT A STUDENT LOAN Want to study a Bachelor degree but the idea of a huge student loan is putting you off? With our range of scholarships available you could study a threeyear bachelor programme without worrying about tuition fees.
JETmag 2019/20 6
AIS offer Bachelor programmes in Business, Tourism Management, Hospitality Management or Information Technology.
TALK TO US ABOUT OUR AIS SCHOLARSHIPS* Contact Philip; P: 09 815 3767 | E: philipb@ais.ac.nz Or visit our campus at 28a Linwood Ave, Mt Albert, Auckland www.AIS.ac.nz/scholarships
CAREERS EXPO 2019
Student Passport Which path are you taking? Use your pull-out Student Passport to help you navigate your options and get the most out of your time at Expo.
Email Which pathway are you leaning towards at the moment? (Tick one) Tertiary education Earn and learn Join the workforce Take a gap year
Get your Expo Stamp from the JETmag stand here
7 JETmag 2019/20
Name
CAREERS EXPO 2019
Tertiary education Get qualified at a university, polytech or other tertiary education organization What course/qualification are you interested in? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... Which institutions offer the qualification you want to do? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... What are the entry requirements? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... What are the institution’s student and career support services like? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... What are the accommodation options like if you intend to move out of home? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... What job opportunities are there with this qualification? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... Are there any scholarships that you could apply for? ............................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................
Earn and learn Get learning on the job with industry training and apprenticeships Which industry are you interested in entering? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... What industry training or apprenticeship programmes are on offer? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... What is the career progression like in this industry? ............................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................
JETmag 2019/20  8
What qualification pathway can you pursue with industry training? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... What mentoring and support is available? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... Are there any scholarships that you could apply for? ............................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................
Remember Vocational education is currently under review and industry training could be structured differently next year. Keep an eye on the reforms and policy changes in this area!
Dive straight into employment What workforce do you intend to join?
............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... What learning opportunities are available? ............................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................
CAREERS EXPO 2019
Join the workforce
What is the career progression like in this workforce? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... Do you have an up-to-date CV? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... Do you have any references? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... Do you need a Police Check? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... Do you have an IRD number and a bank account? ............................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................
Take a gap year
Take some time out to figure out your next step What do you intend to do during your gap year? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... Have you investigated deferred placements at tertiary institutions or other options for your return? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... How will you support yourself financially during your gap year? ............................................................................................................................................... Have you thought about volunteering as a way of gaining experience and references? ............................................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... Do you intend to explore various workforces or industries to see if they are a good fit? ............................................................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................................................
9  JETmag 2019/20
...............................................................................................................................................
CAREERS EXPO 2019
Next steps Now that you’ve found out a bit more about your options, are there any gaps in your plan? What’s on your to-do list? ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... Do you have a Plan B? ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... Do you have people to help and advise you as you make the next steps? ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................... ...............................................................................................................
JETmag 2019/20 10
CAREERS EXPO 2019
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JETmag 2019/20 12
N
ever before has a generation had to adapt so quickly. Industries, jobs and skills are disappearing and new ones created. You can help your teen learn to be agile and resilient. Be their advocate, encourage them, walk alongside them. Not only will you help them make good decisions for themselves, but you will be fostering a relationship built on trust, communication and belief. Here are some tips to help:
CAREERS EXPO 2019
Helping your teen
Know that their choices are not for life. A ‘job for life’, ‘get a qualification and you’ll be set’, and ‘continually changing jobs looks bad’, are no longer valid. Whatever they choose now will not be their last. Widen the support network. Think about who can be a wise supporter of your teen to talk to about their future. Encourage choosing subjects that are of interest. If your teen does not enjoy a subject they may disengage from school and learning. Notice where their interest, spark and energy are drawn from and nurture those.
Expand your teen’s thinking of possibilities. So they can make decisions on a wide range of information. Ask questions, challenge beliefs but don’t criticise. Clear up misunderstandings about work so your teen can make decisions for themselves based on accurate information.
Encourage work experience. The more they are exposed to, the more they will understand if this is right for them or not. Paid or volunteer work develops a positive work ethic, and builds confidence and competence.
True/False answers from page 3
Busting career myths Career decision-making is lifelong. You may need more time to build your career identity. Expect and embrace changes along the way.
Myth 2. False Everybody has one career. Career is a combination of work and life roles including paid/unpaid work and activities you enjoy.
Think about who you are becoming now and ask yourself: oo Is this who I want to become? oo What do I truly value, what interests me and what are my strengths; what drives, excites and inspires me, what frustrates me? What do I admire in others? Your answers will hint at the person you want to become.
oo What are the things I need to do to understand myself better, and become the person I want to be? oo Whom can I ask if I am unsure?
Myth 4. True Talk to your school careers advisor or contact us: connect@thecdc.nz. Also, find useful tips on page 5.
Myth 3. False It depends what your passion is! Two important questions about your career are: “Who am I becoming now?” and “Who do I want to become?”
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13 JETmag 2019/20
Myth 1. False
THERE’S MORE IN THE FUTURE OF GOUGH GROUP THAN YOU’D THINK
THERE’S MORE IN THE FUTURE OF GOUGH GROUP THAN YOU’D THINK When you think of a job with us you may think grease, spanners, dirt and pulling machinery apart. And while that is still part of it, today’s reality is that working with us presents opportunities you might not expect. Our industries are quickly evolving, ever changing, offer flexible working options and are fuelled by technological advances. Here are four of our team members whose careers with Gough have led to experiences and opportunities they’d never imagined.
Hi Marty
This is Natarsha
Marty won the 2017 International Caterpillar Apprentice of the Year, a huge achievement. Relocating from New Plymouth to Tauranga with Gough Cat, Marty now runs a field service truck working with customers across the Bay of Plenty. He often hears “Mate — you’re a legend” when his expertise gets our customers’ machines running in record time.
Natarsha’s love of mechanics initially led her to the marine industry, but she quickly realised she was looking for more from a career. She is now a first year apprentice with GMH and looking forward to a future filled with endless opportunities.
When you think of a job with us Meet you may Tess think grease, spanners, dirt and pulling machinery apart. AndAndwhilhere’s e that is stiPatrick l part of it, today’s reality is that working with us presents opportunities you might not expect. Our industries are quickly evolving, ever changing, offer flexible working options and are fuelled by technological advances. Tess’ career in customer facing roles won her first role with us as a Telesales Rep. Learning about the industry and delivering exceptional customer service every day earnt Tess a recent promotion to Product Manager, where she manages a product range and provides the best solutions to our customers.
An apprenticeship as a Hose Doctor gave Patrick the foundation skills to follow his passion into sales in the Heavy Transport industry. Now a Regional Sales Manager with TWL, Patrick gets his kicks from mentoring team members and seeing them also achieve rewarding careers.
Here are four of our team members whose careers with Gough have led to experiences and opportunities they’d never imagined. IF YOU WANT A CAREER WITH A FUTURE VISIT THE CAREERS PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE AT: www.goughgroup/careers and sign up for job alerts.
OR
Hi Marty
Like us on Facebook/ goughgroupcareers
Marty won the 2017 International Caterpil ar Apprentice of the Year,
OR
OUR COMMITMENT - YOUR SUCCESS
0800 GOUGH JOBS (0800 468 445) OR 0800 CAT JOBS (0800 228 5627)
This is Natarsha
Natarsha’s love of mechanics initial y led her to the marine
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JETmag 2019/20 16
Match your passion at mypurpose.mil.nz, search NZDF Defence Careers on Facebook or call 0800 1 FORCE now.
“Just explore the trades!”– advice from an apprentice joiner Joinery apprentice Jess Leslie hasn’t looked back since embarking on a career in the timber joinery industry. The only regret she has about her job is that she didn’t start sooner. The 22-year-old is three years into her four-year joinery apprenticeship with the Building & Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO). After leaving school Jess toyed with a job in hospitality but she knew it wasn’t for her. She craved doing something more practical. “I’ve always wanted to build something with my hands,” says Jess. She decided to follow a similar pathway to her mum, who worked as a kitchen designer, and before entering into her apprenticeship with BCITO. And she hasn’t looked back. Jess now works for Andrew Bellamy at Wood Solutions in Dunedin. A typical day might see Jess building cabinets for a kitchen, or perhaps windows and doors, and it’s changing all the time. With new technology emerging, Jess gets opportunities to learn how to use new wood-cutting machines through on-the-job training. “Every day you’re learning something new in this industry,” says Jess, “I love the variety.” But it hasn’t been without a few challenges along the way. She says it was initially difficult to find work and credits the BCITO with helping her get a job. And “As a female, entering a maledominated industry it can be daunting”, says Jess. However, she says other women have helped pave the way for her already.
She loves the friendly “family vibe” at Wood Solutions. Jess just wishes that more young women would see the potential of working in the trades and join the industry. She recently visited a girls’ school with BCITO to talk about being a joiner, and discovered that most of the students didn’t know that her job existed. Jess thinks young people, particularly girls, have a pre-determined idea about what a trade is. “When people hear ‘trade’, they think of a builder, plumber and electrician. There are so many more options out there,” she says. “If you’re interested in doing something practical, give it a go, “Just explore the trades. It doesn’t hurt to have a look at what’s out there and while you’re at it check out wood joinery.”
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EDUCATION & TRAINING
Why earning and learning is better for the bank account
Earning and learning career options mean people can avoid debt, start earning earlier, contribute to KiwiSaver earlier, buy a home earlier and pay off their mortgage earlier.
R
esearch has shown that those who go through apprenticeships and trades training tend to earn more than university graduates.
Researchers at Scarlatti combed through tax records of a group of 19-year olds who left school between 2003 and 2007 right up until 2016, when they were 32, tracking their average yearly income.
JETmag 2019/20 34
Examining the earnings of law, arts and medicine graduates, and those that trained on-the-job with apprenticeships and trades training, the research team found that, by age 30, a mechanical engineer earns $185,998 more than an accountant; a plumber earns $21,299 more than a medical graduate; and a flooring installer earns $116,118 more than a lawyer. Josh Williams, Industry Training Federation CEO, says that the figures back the Federation’s view that young people need more encouragement to consider earn and learn, career options. “Industry training is the best way to respond to New Zealand’s
skills shortages. It deserves more financial support from Government,” Williams says. The Industry Training Federation also commissioned research from BERL last year into the lifetime financial position of apprentices and university graduates, which backed up the Scarlatti research. “BERL found ‘earning and learning’ helps apprentices avoid debt, earn earlier, contribute to KiwiSaver earlier, buy a home earlier and pay off their mortgage earlier,” says Williams. “Trainees and apprentices avoid having to take out a student loan – which averages $24,000 for all tertiary students, and just under $30,000 for university graduates. Avoiding student debt and earning while studying gives apprentices a financial head start. Being employed in the industry in which they are training also gives them a career head start.” “Young people should follow the career path that’s right for them. University is a great option for some school leavers. But vocational training is an equally
valid choice, especially during a time of rampant skills shortages and very low unemployment. Last year, over half (55 percent) of new industry trainees and apprentices already had a tertiary qualification, 24 percent already had degrees,” says Williams. All New Zealand’s 145,000 trainees and apprentices have been given the chance to “earn and learn” by the 25,000 willing employers who hired them. “Changing career structures and new technology means people must continue to upskill throughout their working lives. Industry training opens the way for thousands of people, who are already part of the workforce, to upskill or change direction without having to stop earning. “The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has called apprenticeships a ‘no-brainer’. We agree! Workbased education and training, where employers and ITOs work together to develop skills for the existing workforce, is the best way to boost productivity and respond to changing industry demands,” says Williams.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Trainees and apprentices avoid having to take out a student loan – which averages $24,000 for all tertiary students, and just under $30,000 for university graduates.”
The beauty of earning while you’re learning
The building industry continues to buzz, with the actual number of new dwellings consented at 32,783, in the year ended November 2018, up 5.3 percent from the November 2017 year. With all this activity, leaders in the industry are crying out for new talent, particularly in light of the Government’s KiwiBuild programme. With this demand for new entrants, it is a great time to pick up a trade and earn while you learn. Rhys Gwyther, 20, of Masterton, agrees. He is doing an apprenticeship in the building industry. He left high school a term early to start it. “I got into the building industry by doing work experience at school and by putting my names out to different companies in the area,” Rhys says. “Also talking to the tech teachers at school were good because they have contacts in the building industry
and some companies like to hire from schools.” The job takes him all around the Wairarapa, from his home in Masterton to Martinborough in the southern part of the region. “The main benefit for me doing an apprenticeship is not having a massive student loan and having a job where at the end every day you can feel like you accomplished something and that your work is going to be there for years and years for people to see.” Apprentices also have the chance to pick up real, practical skills from established practitioners in the industry. It normally takes three and a half to four years to finish an apprenticeship. Rhys has been in his apprenticeship for the last two years. While he admits to having been “pretty green” when he started his apprenticeship, in the time he has been an apprentice he has picked up a most of the ins and outs of the building trade, from setting out the house to hanging internal doors. Apprenticeships not only give you a chance to earning while you learn,
they give you a head start on saving for a house. Apprentices are also able to stay out of debt, as they do not require a student loan for their vocation. As well as the houses he is helping to build around the Wairarapa, Rhys believes being free of student debt and earning while he learns will help put him in his first home. Apprentices are also able to build up their KiwiSaver investments while they earn and learn. “It’s definitely a lot easier to save up for a house,” Rhys says. “That is one of the main goals now and hopefully I will in the next couple of years. “I do think it’s quicker and KiwiSaver definitely helps and will be the same case for many others.” He says those over sixteen should not hesitate to get involved if you are mulling over your career options. “If you have an interest in the trade or this article and think an apprenticeship is the thing for you get into it get into while the industry is booming you won’t regret it.”
35 JETmag 2019/20
Thomas Croskery talks to an apprentice who is relishing the opportunity to earn and learn at the same time.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
What do employers really want? Three Kiwi employers speak to Jody Hopkinson about their top requirements of the young people they employ fresh out of school, training or tertiary study.
D
o corporate bosses want lots of qualifications? Not necessarily. Many corporates are looking more for flexibility and a ‘go get ’em’ attitude in an applicant rather than a master’s degree in business management or suchlike.
Diversity and inclusion BP New Zealand employs more than 2,000 people across New Zealand. Managing director Debi Boffa says they’re involved in everything from fuel distribution and airport operations to retail and corporate functions.
JETmag 2019/20 36
“Diversity and inclusion are central to our staff culture,” she says. “Close to half of our executive leadership team is female and in our national office we have many mothers on our full-time staff who have stay-athome partners. BP has an agile working policy that offers parttime hours and remote working, as well as flexible start and finish times.” BP New Zealand’s operations offer career opportunities in corporate and retail roles. “Employees are involved in developing strategies for our
business, growing and designing our network, enhancing our latest app or enhancing the way we supply and distribute fuel. With us, staff could be working for BP, Castrol or Air BP,” says Boffa. BP looks for a number of skills from new employees: a customer service focus; a can-do attitude; great time management skills; and the ability to multitask in a busy setting. They should also be team players, keen problem solvers, adaptable, and able to look at things creatively.
Attitude and aptitude Neale Overend has owned and run Computer Recyclers in Tauranga since 1996. He and his staff recycle old laptops and computers and resell them. He employs several staff at a time. “They need to know the basics of computers, as in how a computer works, how the CPU talks to the RAM, and how the CPU talks to the hard drive. They need to know the basic stuff that they have learnt at a polytechnic. “They need to have a great deal of aptitude and be able to learn quickly and figure things out for themselves.”
He says he wants new employees to have “a good attitude” to working. “I take them on and take three weeks to figure out if they’re happy to be here and if they can do it. One lad I’d been told was a computer genius; after three weeks of training we gave him a basic box to diagnose and fix, and not for the life of him could he do it. “On the other hand, one of my best employees, who has worked for me for five years, has Asperger’s and has incredible attention to detail. He’s the kind of kid who since he was three was taking machinery apart and learning how to putting it back together. He can figure nearly any machine out – he’s amazing.” New employees need only basic training via a diploma in computing, he says. “I don’t want them to have trained too much, because then I have to retrain them. I’d rather train them myself so then I know they’re doing it how I want it to be done. How you diagnose the problem is actually the time saver; anyone can fix the things.”
EDUCATION & TRAINING
My three top requirements are motivation, reliability, and using their initiative.”
“In 2007 I did the computer course that many of my employees have done. There was always a small number of kids who wagged a lot or yapped in class … the reality is that there are students there wasting other people’s time.” Overend says training on the job should be a constant. “We all need to be keeping our knowledge up to date.”
Motivation and reliability Glen Fitzjohn is the owner of a business that paints new builds in Papamoa. He has employed up to 10 painters at a time and currently employs two. “My three top requirements are motivation, reliability, and using their initiative. I’ve been really fortunate that I haven’t had many bad employees. “Skills-wise, they need to be able to prepare everything for
painting, keep the job site clean, and do the painting. Some of my best workers haven’t had any qualifications. And sometimes employees with qualifications have been so far up their own arse they don’t think they have to toe the line.” The first eight weeks on the job are an intensive training period, he says. “You’re teaching them the basics of ‘what paint where, how, and when’. My best worker ever had his first job with me and came to me with no experience whatsoever. He was able to communicate with clients, was always reliable and eager to learn. I trained him and within eight weeks he was getting to the stage of doing it solo.” The ability to communicate well with clients is key, he says. “Most of our clients are great, but some can be picky and negative and have very high expectations. So staff have to be able to converse with a range of people and be professional at all times. Some clients have worked and saved for 20, maybe 50, years to buy these new homes. We need
and want to do a good job for them.” Fitzjohn says he notices that those employees who have responsibilities as part of a strong family unit often work harder. “My top employee had a hard upbringing; he just had this incredible self-motivation – he didn’t let anything faze him.” Ongoing, on-the-job training is essential, he says. However, he adds, tighter margins are affecting his ability to expand the business and further develop his staff. “Passing on knowledge from older painters to those starting out is so important. It’s just hard to do that when there are so many more rules and regulations to be followed, and more costs than there used to be in terms of health and safety and insurance, for example. “It’s changed how we do things. The money’s not flowing down from the top, which means the pay rate hasn’t increased but costs have. That means we’re tired.”
37 JETmag 2019/20
Overend says that the education system “provides the goods”, but the key to success for students doing the study and/or training is that they actually want to be doing that particular course.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Why you should have a job while studying School leavers preparing for tertiary study next year should also start looking for part-time work or volunteer opportunities to boost their employment prospects after graduation.
L
ucy Dinnison-Mitchell, a consultant with recruitment firm Hender Consulting, says the benefits of gaining work experience are well documented but many people still fail to heed the advice. “Employers want people who show initiative and can be proactive in getting experience outside the school environment.” Starting part-time work or volunteering while studying provides the most benefit, as it demonstrates important commitment and time management skills, Dinnison-Mitchell says.
But it is not too late for those partway through their studies to also gain work experience, as even having a little experience is better than nothing, she says. “Ideally, you should look for work experience that’s as relevant as possible to what you are studying – if you’re studying to be a teacher you could look for tutoring opportunities or if you’re studying nursing look at [working] in an aged care facility,” Dinnison-Mitchell says. “But it could be as simple as [volunteering] in a sporting team to show you are doing something
outside of your studies and that you can work in a team environment. Dinnison-Mitchell advises students to take advantage of their tertiary provider’s links to employers and industry and find out about vocational and graduate programmes on offer. “Appropriate qualifications will naturally give you a competitive edge to get whatever career you are going for but all these [work and volunteer] experiences build up your employability skills, which is what employers are looking for,” she says.
Our motto here at Bethlehem Tertiary Institute (BTI) is
‘Great Hearts + Minds’
Driven by our desire for your holistic success, BTI fosters a strong sense of community that is enjoyed by students and staff alike. This approach makes our graduates stand out from the crowd, be different and, most importantly, make a difference in the lives of others. Academically, we stretch our students towards excellence so they are able to translate knowledge and skills into professional practice. Every year since 2014, an average of 85% of our graduates have been employed by the date of their graduations.
We are rated as a Category 1 provider of tertiary education (the highest grade possible) by NZQA, so you can be assured you are getting the very best that New Zealand has to offer.
Here’s what BTI graduates had to say:
JETmag 2019/20 38
“I feel as though I have received much more than a teaching degree at BTI. I have been supported and mentored through a journey of personal growth. BTI has helped me to develop confidence in who I am as a teacher and person. I now have a clear vision of the passion that drives my desire to teach and will carry this with me throughout my teaching journey.”
“To any person who is considering completing a B.Ed., run towards it and don’t look back. Doors will open for you and life will lead you down paths you never expected. ” “I really loved their passion and willingness to support their students. It was great if you are ready to ask for any help and their humility in their expertise as well as their empathising with their students’ struggles are great elements of BTI too.”
“It’s a welcoming and friendly environment. The staff are incredibly supportive and approachable. I’d say that you are able to bring your faith into the classroom and into your assignments. I’d say that because of small numbers you get great 1:1 with educators; they know your name and they are interested in you as a person (not just a number) and they are interested in your personal life and future practice.”
For more information on Bethlehem Tertiary Institute visit www.bti.ac.nz or call 0800 BETHLEHEM
Transform Lives! Study in a caring, supportive environment where your learning will be informed by values, inspired by hope and motivated by love. Study onsite or from anywhere in New Zealand. Biblically-Based NZQA Accredited Qualifications
GREAT PLACE, GREAT PEOPLE, GREAT HEARTS
www.bti.ac.nz 0800 BETHLEHEM
MINDS
• NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation • Bachelor of Education (Teaching) ECE • Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Primary • Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) • Bachelor of Counselling • Bachelor of Social Work • Master of Professional Practice
LIFE
Financial advice
for flatters
Time to fly the coop! With a little planning, flatting finances don’t have to be a big deal. Your biggest cost will be rent, paid weekly or fortnightly.
T
he Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment’s Flatting 101 website (https://goo.gl/7mty4u) gives an idea of typical rents in different areas. Before you move in it’s usual to pay a bond of up to four weeks’ rent as well as two weeks’ rent in advance. For phone, internet and, sometimes, water payments (and supermarket shopping if your flatmates don’t insist on their own food), a good idea is to have a ‘kitty’ – a special fund to which everyone contributes the same amount. A bank account for the kitty can be set up, from which automatic payments are made.
Any number of things can be paid for from the kitty, from party supplies to the purchase or hire of appliances (a landlord is only required to supply an oven). The tricky bit is who gets what when the flat disbands, so common sense must prevail. Read the meters regularly so you’re not hit with a big bill for which you haven’t budgeted. An unpaid bill can affect your credit history. Whatever way you choose to pay for things, it’s a good idea to keep written records of kitty payments and bills. You may be tempted not to have insurance, but consider if your landlord’s property is damaged. If you caused a fire you could be charged for the
repair. You may want to be covered for personal liability. If you’re struggling financially, call Family Budgeting Services on 0508 BUDGET for free advice. If your problem is with your landlord, call the Department of Building and Money Housing’s helpline planner 0800 83 62 62 for www.sorted.o advice, or 0800 rg. nz/calculato 737 666 for bond rs/ money-plann information. er
JETmag 2019/20 40
Here’s the correct and most assured way to be a safe driver once you are allowed to hit the roads. With thanks to VTNZ.
See more information o n the validity perio d of licence class es at www.nzta.gov
e Stage one
Stage two
Stage three
Getting your learner licence
Getting your restricted licence
Getting your full licence
You must be at least 16 years old before you can apply for your learner licence. You have to pass a road rules theory test to get this licence. While on a learner licence: oo you must only drive with a supervisor sitting beside you at all times. Your supervisor must hold a current, full New Zealand car licence, which does not have a supervisor condition. They must have held their full New Zealand licence (or an equivalent overseas licence) for at least two years oo your car must display learner (L) plates front and rear oo you may carry passengers but your supervisor has to agree to this oo you face severe penalties if you drive outside the licence conditions. See details on the process for getting your car learner licence and the conditions that will apply to you. Your learner licence will be issued for five years.
LIFE
It seems like driving is one of those things you’re either great at to start with, or you need… just a little practice.
To apply for your restricted licence, you must: oo be at least 16½ years old oo have held your learner licence for at least six months. You can apply for this licence after six months on your learner licence. To progress to this step, you’ll have to pass a practical test of your driving skills. While on a restricted licence: oo you can drive on your own, but not between 10pm and 5am oo generally, you cannot carry passengers without the supervision of a licensed car driver. Your supervisor must hold a current full New Zealand car licence that does not have a supervisor condition. They must have held their full New Zealand licence (or an equivalent overseas licence) for at least two years. Your restricted licence will be issued for five years.
t.nz.
You must be at least 18 years of age before you can apply for your full licence. If you have completed an approved advanced driving skills course, this is reduced to 17½. If you are under 25 years of age, you can apply after you’ve held your restricted licence for: oo at least 18 months; or oo at least 12 months if you have completed an approved advanced driving skill course. If you are 25 years of age or older, you can apply after you have held your restricted licence for: oo at least six months, or oo at least three months if you have completed an approved advanced driving skills course. To progress to a full licence you have to pass a practical test by demonstrating safe driving behaviour across a wide range of traffic situations and road conditions. Don’t be afraid to tweet or Facebook us photos of you and your licence on the special day! We’d love to hear about how great your test went, or didn’t!
41 JETmag 2019/20
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LIFE
How to get off the
‘stress’ wheel
JETmag blogger Sarah explains why stress arises and how it can be prevented.
I
think we can agree that high school is a stressful time. Ultimately, it’s because us students are given so much to worry about. Along with trying to understand who we are, there are internals, exams, career choices, part-time jobs, driver’s licences and relationships to keep our minds occupied, along with the matter of balancing sleep, a social life, and homework. The list of stress sources goes on, and it gets progressively more ridiculous.
Humanity has split atoms, cured diseases, created art, languages, religions, societies – yet here we are, fixating on everything that doesn’t matter.
My approach is always to remove the unnecessary worry, rather than attempt to manage it. How might you do this? It begins with focusing on what is important to you in relation to school, and ignoring the rest. If you don’t acknowledge the meaningless rubbish as a problem, then you can’t stress over it. Choose wisely what you focus on. It differs with each individual, but personally, I would say that getting the most out of your education is important. Doing your best to get good grades, whilst allocating time for fun. Keeping a balanced lifestyle. Maintaining relationships with family and friends. Staying healthy, safe and motivated. Setting yourself up for a fruitful future. It’s natural to feel stressed over important things like these. If you weren’t worried, you would be taking the easy route, and that never reaps reward. We’ve covered what matters. So… what doesn’t? Pretty much everything else that might potentially stress you out, for example: what your hair looked like yesterday; the atrocious grade you earned on that first physics internal; your friendship drama with Jennifer (who, by the way, you’ll forget about after the end of Year 13).
JETmag 2019/20 42
All the superficial stuff you would roll your eyes as if it was someone else panicking over it. In the grand scheme of the entire universe, the majority of high school is insignificant. Humanity has split atoms, cured diseases, created art, languages, religions, societies – yet here we are, fixating on everything that doesn’t matter and letting our school lives be impacted by stressing over what will leave a lasting impression on… no-one! Keep that in mind the next time you find yourself feeling stressed. Author: Sarah Bisacre-Peters loves writing and the subject of English. She hopes one day to become an editor or a technical writer.
rainbow…
LIFE
All the colours of the
JETmag talks to RainbowYOUTH, which has been supporting queer and gender-diverse young people in New Zealand for nearly 30 years.
RainbowYOUTH was started in 1989 by a group of young people who wanted to create a safe space for LGBTIQ youth to meet socially away from the bar and alcohol scene.
What support programmes does RainbowYOUTH offer? Our staff team in Auckland provides referral pathways for queer and gender diverse young people to seek counselling, health care etc. and a safe space for them to talk through issues. We also provide drop-in centres in Auckland and Tauranga that are open on weekdays for queer and gender diverse youth to come in, look at our resources, check out our library and community wardrobe, and even volunteer to help out at the centre.
What advice would you give to a young person who is confused about their gender or sexual identity? Being confused is okay, you don’t need to have all the answers right away. The internet is full of helpful info about sexuality and gender identity, and you can head to RY’s website too. If you’d like to chat more (via email, phone or face-to-face) don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team at info@ry.org.nz.
What about those who are nervous about coming out to friends and family? Don’t feel pressured to come out to anyone you don’t want to. If you are thinking about coming out, make sure to keep the following things in mind:
We also run peer support groups where young people can connect to others the same age and experiencing similar things.
Tell someone you trust first, who can act as a support person as you tell others in your life.
Our I’m Local project aims to connect and create support networks for queer and gender-diverse youth in regional areas. Find a region-by-region directory of LGBTIQ support groups at www.imlocal.co.nz/#yourlocal.
Organise a contingency plan. If you’re worried that whānau or those you live with might have a negative reaction, organise beforehand a safe place to stay for a couple of days while things settle.
How does RainbowYOUTH work with schools to support students? RainbowYOUTH’s door (or email inbox!) is always open to any students who are having issues with their schools and would like extra support. Our teaching resource Inside Out is a seven-part video series to help teachers in classrooms teach students about challenging norms, what homophobia, biphobia and transphobia looks like and how to stop it, as well as gender and sexuality 101 information. We also have resources for young people who want to start up a Queer Straight Alliance in their schools.
Remember, someone’s first reaction might not be their final reaction. You’ve probably been processing your gender/sexuality for a while, so you need to let people who might be shocked have some space to process it, and then approach them again. How can friends and family support a young person who is struggling with their gender or sexual identity? The same things apply to any problem you would help them with: listen to them, don’t judge them, check in on them, offer to come along to any appointments they might be making, or to visit RainbowYOUTH. You can find heaps more info in our resource ‘Growing Up Takatāpui: Whānau
Journeys’: https://takatapui.nz/growingup-takatapui. If you feel like the person close to you could potentially harm themselves or others make sure you get in touch with an organisation like Lifeline Aotearoa, or in extreme cases call 111.
How should young people deal with ‘haters’ when it comes to their sexuality? Best case scenario is that you remove them from your life – either by keeping your distance or unfriending them on social media. Focus on the people who show you love and support. If that’s not possible, RainbowYOUTH can help work through other steps with you – just get in touch.
What’s next for RainbowYOUTH? Any new campaigns or projects on the horizon? We’re continuing to expand our services regionally, and we’re also working on some exciting projects to help create mental health awareness and knowledge of the legal rights for queer and gender diverse youth. Our first line of merchandise will be released in May. We invite anyone who is interested in supporting RainbowYOUTH and our mahi to get in touch. We’re a charity, so donations are a key way that we keep our services running. You can donate via our website: www.ry.org.nz/donate.
43 JETmag 2019/20
Tell us a bit about the origins of RainbowYOUTH. When was it established and why?
LIFE
Take charge of y Rose Stewart, nursing advisor for Family Planning New Zealand, talks to JETmag about taking charge, staying safe and getting informed.
F
or many other young people, their local Family Planning clinic is where they’ll likely go for advice about staying safe – and most likely their first prescription for contraception and condoms. Most clinics have drop-in times where no appointment is needed and sometimes it might be possible to have your appointment over the phone. “Don’t worry,” says Rose, “we’ve heard it all before! You don’t need to be worried about sharing whatever’s on your mind”. Family Planning staff are trained to know the confidentiality rights
of young people and their parents inside out. The only time that Family Planning would consider involving parents without the consent of a young person would be if they thought there was danger to the client, or the client was a danger to others. Rose and her staff are well aware that sexual health is something that some people find tough to talk about. Rose says that some young people find it easier to visit as a group, which is fine. The main things that young people who are just discovering sexuality tend to be curious or anxious about are STIs (sexually transmissible infections) and pregnancy, says Rose. There are a lot of urban myths out there that people might have heard, but the Family Planning experts are there to dispel the half-truths.
years. That’s just life, and people at that time in their lives are trying to work out who they are, and what life’s all about. A big part of our job is just reassuring people that what they’re experiencing is normal. “What we’re saying to teenagers is that it’s okay to take charge of themselves and their sexual health, and that they should be thinking about making active decisions. Otherwise life has a habit of making decisions for us!”
Nothing new under the sun (except some things) Not much has changed in the past 30 years, says Rose. STIs like
We’re all normal There’s one word that Rose keeps coming back to: normal. “It’s very normal, of course, to become sexual during the teenage
Time manageme Don’t take on too much
JETmag 2019/20 44
This way you’ll be able to spend more time on things you care about more/that are more important. It’s okay to say no sometimes!
Keep a to-do list This way you always know what you need to do. It’s a relief to check tasks off as you complete them.
Set personal goals A great way to remind you exactly why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Prioritise This can be marked on your to-do list; it helps you know where to start.
One thing that’s different is vaccination for human papillomavirus, or HPV. The virus itself isn’t new, but we now know that HPV plays a role in a number of cancers. Initially, only
girls could receive the inoculation for HPV, but now boys can protect themselves as well. And as for the media furore about the impact of pornography on young people, it would seem that young people can’t tell the difference between what they see on a screen and what they expect sex to be like in real life. Everybody needs to relax a bit, says Rose: it turns out young people are smarter than the media give them credit for. “Kids can tell the difference between reality and fantasy. I don’t buy into the idea that pornography is warping the behaviour and expectations of young people. I think social media
ment tips Minimise distractions Sometimes it’s good to separate yourself from things like Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram each day in order to get stuff done – even for a few hours!
encourages people to show off, and of course that showing off is now much more visible than if somebody was just saying something inappropriate at lunchtime. When Rose is asked, “If you were only allowed 30 seconds to talk to young people about sex and sexual health, what would you say?” her answer is unequivocal. “The message is, ‘Take charge of yourself’. Don’t do anything you don’t want to do, and listen to yourself. Try not to be too much of a follower, if that goes against what you’re happy doing, and just keep yourself safe! “The other thing I would say is, and I know this is tough, but try to remember that your parents are your main supporters, so maybe cut them some slack! They’re not really trying to ruin your life; in fact, they’re trying to do the exact opposite!”
You’re not likely to be assigned a personal assistant while working or studying, so here are some tips on how to make the most of each day.
Forget multi-tasking It’s a myth – you will not get things done more efficiently! Pick one thing to work on at a time and stick to it, then move on.
Plan your day ahead Think about what you need to get done tomorrow and prepare yourself for the next day.
Take breaks Don’t procrastinate You can’t be bothered doing something? Completion will be worth it. Reward yourself after a boring or hard task.
A refreshed mind works much better! Leave the room you’re working in and take a short break. This will help you to stay focused when you are ready to work again.
Get a good night’s sleep This is so important. Running on no sleep makes everything harder; tasks seem more difficult and a lot more boring.
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gonorrhea, herpes, and chlamydia have been around forever, and so have people’s anxieties about them. Sexual behaviour hasn’t changed much in that time either, which is probably something the average young person doesn’t want to think about too much!
LIFE
f your sexuality
S
tudents, tune out while your parents take over for this bit … the Youth Guarantee is the Government’s promise to provide young people with more choices, ways and places to achieve NCEA Level 2 or equivalent.
Page 47
Achieving NCEA Level 2 allows young people the option to take on further education or get a good foothold in the workforce. This is where the Vocational Pathways can help, by offering access to a wider range of learning opportunities to achieve qualifications at Levels 1–3 on the National Qualifications Framework, with a focus on achieving NCEA Level 2.
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What are the Vocational Pathways? Ok, anyone under 20 can dive back in … the Vocational Pathways are a way of looking at career options and support available for jobs. These are divided into six broad areas. The pathways represent new ways to structure and achieve NCEA Level 2 and provide a more understandable framework for vocational education and training. They aim to help you develop your own individual education plan, so you can be better informed and can make better choices to meet your career goals. The Vocational Pathways are:
JETmag 2019/20 46
oo Creative Industries oo Primary Industries oo Service Industries oo Social and Community Services oo Manufacturing and Technology oo Construction and Infrastructure. Here at JETmag, we have our area overviews arranged under these six headings. Each overview has several profiles of young professionals and professionals-in-training doing awesome things.
Social and Community Services
us tri
Pa ge 53
nd
Level 3
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59 ge Pa
A range of Youth Guarantee initiatives such as secondary-tertiary programmes (including trades academies), service academies, and fees-free places provide students with new opportunities to engage in higher education and vocational training for free.
Level 2
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oo applied learning opportunities
ing tur gy fac olo nu hn Ma d Tec an
oo choices about what and where to learn
es
NCEA Level 1
oo relevant learning contexts
oo relevant learning programmes.
r ma Pri
There are a range of Youth Guarantee Networks around the country that consist of education providers, employers and community interests. Using the Vocational Pathways, the networks are developing learning opportunities across the networks to ensure students have more:
Creative Industries
Se
JOB PROFILES
Youth Guarantee and Vocational Pathways
Page 56 Got your vocational profile? Everyone in senior school should have received their vocational profile (on www.nzqa.govt.nz). If you didn’t, ask your careers advisor or year dean. Your vocational profile shows your achievement against the five current Vocational Pathways. This should give you a sense of the progress you are making to achieve NCEA Level 2 or equivalent. Achieving a Vocational Pathway on your profile means you are developing the skills and knowledge in areas that employers value. Employers will be able to see your strengths, abilities, interests and achievements using the Vocational Pathways. Your vocational profile can show how your achievement relates to the learning or skills training employers are seeking. If you’re an especially creative type, you’ll have to wait until that pathway is developed before you can measure your progress in related NCEA subjects.
JOB PROFILES
Creative industries C
reative jobs are all about expression. They includes industries such as media (film, TV, radio, and print), performing arts, advertising, and visual arts and design. These are the jobs in which individual brilliance shines and there may be fewer constraints (and less stability) than in other jobs. More than 11,000 New Zealanders work in the media industry. Advertising employs around 6,000 people, and the visual arts and design fields employ about 12,000 people. Competition for entry-level jobs in all these fields is very high so freelancing, volunteering, or internships may be your foot in the door to this type of work.
Careers include: oo Actor oo Advertising sales oo Animator oo Architect oo Copywriter
Cre ativ e In
dus trie s
oo Fashion designer oo Graphic designer oo Journalist oo Make-up artist oo Model oo Photographer oo Singer oo Website developer
47  JETmag 2019/20
oo Stunt person
JOB PROFILES
Double act Name: Riley Phillips-Harris Age: 24 City/town: Auckland What’s your job? I’m a film and television stunt performer. How did you get into this line of work? I grew up very rural in Kawakawa, Northland, and I have a background in martial arts (Taekwon-Do and kickboxing), dance (ballet), sailing, diving and horse-riding. There was a TV series being filmed in Auckland that required young-looking stunt performers. I was 18 at the time and a friend who worked in the industry put my name forward. That is what started my journey and I haven’t looked back. The stunt industry is just as much about your skills as a performer as it is about your interpersonal skills and ability to carry yourself in a professional and safe manner on set. It is a small industry and your reputation matters a lot. What does a typical working day look like for you? A typical day involves working closely with the rest
Stuntperson
of the stunt team – doubling an actor, choreographing a scene, rigging (creating the actual mechanisms which are required to do the stunt), providing safety on set or acting yourself. What qualifications or training did you need? The Stunt Guild of New Zealand has certain minimum criteria – you should have a high level of competency in some of the following: body control (martial arts, dance and gymnastics etc), working at heights (climbing, high fall and parachuting etc), vehicles (driver’s licence and a stunt driving course), animal handling and water (swimming, surfing and diving etc).
Age: 29 City/town: London What’s your job? In New Zealand I am a stand-up comedian and comedy writer. In London I am a comedy writer, creative, and stand-up comedian.
JETmag 2019/20 48
How did you get into this line of work? I went to university and got a degree in film. I went down to an open mic night, did a set, and suddenly for the first time ever I just felt like I was home. I got good at it, worked really, hard. I had no life outside of comedy and every dollar I earnt went towards growing as a comedian. Now I come up with funny videos all day. I’m starting to do stand up again in London, which is bloody good fun. What does a typical working day look like for you? Get to work, start writing. I wander around and start thinking up ideas. Then we start planning the shoot, hire a venue, the talent comes along, I direct the talent and tell them what to do. Finish late. And then once a month I do a big stand-up comedy show.
What are the worst bits? The inevitable injuries that occur in training or during a performance.
What are the best bits about your job? The best part of the job is getting to work alongside an incredibly skilled and diverse group of
Funny business Name: Alice Brine
performers, riggers, choreographers and coordinators. Kiwi stunties are highly respected, and get to work worldwide. Working with these men and women inspires me to constantly keep honing my craft in order to be a better performer.
Comedian
What qualifications or training did you need? Big old degree at Victoria University that I probably didn’t need but it’s still important to get that education. What are the best bits about your job? Making people laugh. Constantly being creative and learning what creativity is. Getting to work with other like-minded people. Also I get paid really well, which a lot of people don’t realise. What are the worst bits? Being funny is hard sometimes. It can feel like I’m being used as a joke machine and that sucks. What’s your biggest career goal? Sell out Madison Square Garden. After that I’ll publish a book that generates enough money for me to retire on so I can move back to New Zealand and live by the beach. If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? Stripping. Absolutely. There’s a ton of money in that.
Age: 24 City/town: Wellington What is your job? RadioActive Breakfast Show host How did you get into this line of work? I began volunteering in 2015 at RadioActive. I completed a Bachelor of Communications in journalism at Massey University. In between several internships I got commercial experience volunteering at Radio Hauraki and shadowed people at Radio New Zealand for public broadcasting experience. What does a typical working day look like for you? Arrive at 6.15am. Begin to research stories for the news at 7am – it’s a live broadcast from that time – and I then read the news. There’s music and at least one to two interviews in each hour until 10am. We have features every day, including a book and a film review, mindfulness and mental health, a segment with Wellington community lawyers and
local politics with our mayor. Plus current affairs interviews, from scientists to policy advisors.
to a misinformed comment. But when you’re on your game, it can be amazing.
What qualifications or training did you need? I have a Bachelor of Communications from Massey University in Wellington. The rest I learnt through years of volunteering.
What is your biggest career goal? To continue broadcasting and be able to live comfortably financially.
What are the best bits of the job? Broadcasting on a powerful platform means I get to connect with our diverse community and offer a voice for them. I’m really passionate about music and unlike most other stations, at RadioActive I and our other DJs get to choose the music we play. What are the worst bits? I’m entirely self-produced, meaning I push all my own buttons literally and figuratively. It’s quite a public platform to humiliate yourself on; you can lose your confidence in seconds from a sloppy voice break
Work of art Name: Kauri Hawkins Age: 23 City/town: Wellington What’s your job? My occupation is an artist but my job is working on reception at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre in Wellington’s CBD. How did you get into this line of work? I went to Massey University to study fine arts. I wanted to create social change with my artwork; I took that goal and put myself into the Wellington art scene during my studies What does a typical working day look like for you? I reply to emails that involve projects coming up. I also like to have to time to draw my ideas or create works depending on upcoming deadlines. Within my actual job, I create bookings for the spaces for hire at Toi Pōneke and look after the spaces within Toi Pōneke. What qualifications or training did you need? To be an artist, you don’t need to have any qualification. For me, however, I went to Massey University
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? I’m not sure I want to show all my cards just yet!
Artist
to learn about what being an artist is about. I learnt about theory around concepts and also was introduced to great tutors and people who have helped me create my networks within the art world What are the best bits about your job? The best thing is the freedom to create the life I want to have and also having time to create artwork. Also, through my travels as an artist I get to meet different people. What are the worst bits? The worst bit for me is the lack of consistent money coming in. It also makes me work on marketing my work so that many people can see it to create a bigger audience and hopefully get more exposure to the right people in the industry.
What’s your biggest career goal? To represent New Zealand at the Venice Biennale before the age of 40. If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? If I wasn’t in my position at Toi Pōneke, I would become a full-time artist and go all in on creating the lifestyle I want.
49 JETmag 2019/20
Name: Maggie Tweedy
Radio host
JOB PROFILES
Hitting the airwaves
JOB PROFILES
Primary industries W
ant to work outdoors or with the natural environment? Then primary industries are for you! Primary industries are best for people who enjoy physical work, working with animals, growing things, and have respect for the environment. These include farming, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, marine science, seafood, and the seed industry. The primary sector is always changing as new technology develops. You can earn good money, work outdoors or indoors, alone or with others, and contribute to the country’s economy. This sector makes up a considerable part of New Zealand’s workforce, with about 11 per cent of jobs in the agriculture area alone.
Careers include: oo Aquaculture diver oo Beekeeper (apiarist) oo Farmer oo Fisherman oo Food technologist oo Forestry worker oo Horticulturalist oo Marine scientist oo Shearer oo Winemaker oo Zoologist
Prim
ary
Ind
ustr ies
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Name: Becky Edgar Age: 31 City/town: Wellington What’s your job? Microbiologist in the Biotechnologies group at Callaghan Innovation. How did you get into this line of work? I developed an interest in science during intermediate and this continued through high school. Once I reached university in Dunedin the world of microbiology was truly opened up to me. I loved all the fascinating things that bacteria, fungi and viruses get up to and we are completely unaware of it happening all around us.
fertilisers, and better ways to clean up our environment. What does a typical working day look like for you? At Callaghan Innovation we provide research and development services for businesses to help them make an impact on a global scale. In a typical day I may be coming to grips with a client’s problem in the biotech space, performing critical research to improve their product or develop their ideas, or providing advice that they can apply to their processes. What qualifications or training did you need? I started with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the
Microbiologist
University of Otago. To really go far in the world of biotechnology it is key to do further study, either a master’s or a PhD. What are the best bits about your job? The best bit is the variety, I never know what interesting project will turn up. I can be working on a new drink one day and an pharmaceutical the next. The feedback you get when you’ve successfully helped clients overcome a hurdle is awesome!
JOB PROFILES
Miraculous microbes
What are the worst bits? Being able to quickly come to grips with a new biotech field and chopping and changing between these projects throughout the day.
Following on from my BSc, I did a PhD at VUW and postdoctoral research over in the US at Kentucky University. During these years I discovered what incredible tools bacteria could be, they don’t just make us sick. I knew that I wanted to focus on harnessing the weird and wonderful things that bacteria do to help develop new medicines, nutritional supplements, food and drink, smarter
Name: Allen Gregory Age: 25 City/town: Lumsden, Southland What’s your job? Stock manager at Stag Valley for the past two years. How did you get into this line of work? I grew up on a lifestyle block and when I was at school my great-aunt and uncle had a farm and I used to help them at the weekends. I always knew that farming was what I was going to do. What does a typical working day look like for you? Today I started with a couple of shifts selecting a group of lambs to go to Chicory which is a finishing farm where they eat different feed. And selecting another group of lambs to go to the freezing works next week. This afternoon I’ll move ewes from one block to another. Then I’ll pull in some cows close to the yard so we can get their calves weaned. What qualifications or training did you need? I did a four-year Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours at
Stock manager
Lincoln University. After that I worked shepherding at Mt Linton a big station in the South Island. I’ve always had an interest in genetics work so that was one of the drawcards of going to Mt Linton, where they have two sheep studs and an Angus stud. Genetics work involves getting DNA samples and working out which rams should go with which ewes, for example.
What are the worst bits? Probably not being able to control the weather. You might work really hard to get something achieved but the weather changes and it’s ruined.
What are the best bits about your job? The variation, no two days are ever the same. Working outdoors and with the animals. It’s definitely better than doing office work.
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? Farm consultancy work so I’d still be in agribusiness but not hands-on on a farm.
What’s your biggest career goal? I want to go on to an equity manager’s role and get into farm ownership that way.
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Taking stock
JOB PROFILES
Testing the waters Name: Katharina (Kati) Doehring Age: 36 City/town: Nelson What’s your job? Freshwater ecologist and science communicator with Cawthron Institute. How did you get into this line of work? My parents owned a small piece of land by the Inn River, near Munich. This is where my interest in nature started and from a very young age, I collected plants and animals and studied their behaviour. I was intrigued by the flooding of the river during spring when the snow melted, and the trout we released in the waterways for anglers. What does a typical working day look like for you? Depending on the projects I am currently working on, I try and focus on a particular project for a good amount of time to get some quality work done. My work tasks include spatial mapping of fish distribution, writing of glossary and factsheets for LAWA [Land, Air,
Water Aotearoa], freshwater community sampling (e.g. fish) to assess the impact of dams/culverts on fish passage, State and Trend analysis of water quality parameters (i.e. assessing whether E. coli levels have reduced over the past 10 years at a particular site). What qualifications or training did you need? University qualifications: I have a Master of Science degree with First Class Honours.
Age: 32 City/town: Wellington What’s your job? I work as a gardener. How did you get into this line of work? Solo parenting a toddler! Being broke and having a child who was happiest outside led to learning how to grow my own food.
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What does a typical working day look like for you? Emails, printing out the daily schedule for my staff and writing notes, sending texts while my daughter eats breakfast. Most of our jobs are monthly maintenance of houses we’ve already landscaped, and we do between four and eight properties – pruning, weeding, digging, planting. I invoice on the job with Xero. At the end of the day we take green waste to our own composting site and I race home to pick my daughter up again from her friend’s house, then when she’s in bed I stay up drawing landscaping plans and answering the trickier emails.
What’s your biggest career goal? A career highlight for me was being one of the key players in setting up the LAWA webtool and helping to launch the New Zealand Fish Passage Guidelines. My goal is to be a recognised science communicator in the international Freshwater Science and Management arena.
What are the best bits about your job? I enjoy working with people and the fact that we are all working towards the same goal: to improve New Zealand’s waterways. Some of the work I do has immediate effect. What are the worst bits? The same as in every job: there is never enough funding and time to do everything you want to do.
The good earth Name: Zoe Reid
Freshwater ecologist
Gardener
What qualifications or training did you need? I was trained on the job by my first boss – how to weed, prune, take cuttings, why gardens have been planned the way they have, etc. My real education came from little old ladies who were entrusting me with gardens they’ve had for 20-plus years – their anxiety made me very a conscientious student. What are the best bits about your job? As long as my hands are on a tool or in the dirt, I’m having the time of my life. What are the worst bits? Realising I left something at home again. Explaining why I don’t use herbicides and pesticides then spending the rest of the day worrying for our poor ecosystem.
What’s your biggest career goal? I want to be contributing to the sustainability of New Zealand, consulting on the world stage. If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? Wishing I was doing this job!
JOB PROFILES
Service industries S
ervice industries are about interacting with and helping people. Think of any time you have been served by someone – at a restaurant or café, in a hotel, on a plane, over the phone, at the gym, or at the hairdresser. That person who helped you works in this sector.
Ser
vice
Ind
ustr ies
Service jobs are almost too numerous to mention, employing about a quarter of all working New Zealanders, and the largest percentage of casual and parttime workers. Odds are, if you’re looking for casual work while studying, it will be in services, which rocks because everyone loves someone who helps! oo Accountant
oo Flight attendant
oo Ski instructor
oo Barista
oo Hotel manager
oo Tour guide
oo Beauty therapist
oo Marketer
oo Politician
oo Hairdresser
oo Personal trainer
oo Waiter
oo Chef/caterer
oo Retail assistant
oo Customer service
oo Receptionist
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JOB PROFILES
A good bet Name: Brittany Wills Age: 24 City/town: Epsom, just out of Auckland CBD What’s your job? I am a legal secretary at SKYCITY Entertainment Group in Auckland. How did you get into this line of work? I came across a temporary position as a receptionist at law firm in West Auckland. Within six months they trained me up as a legal secretary and here I am. What does a typical working day look like for you? The days at SKYCITY are extremely varied. I report to our general counsel and company secretary and support the wider Legal team, so there is always plenty to do. This can include non-stop filing all day to editing documents, coffee/ lunch runs, attending meetings, and organising events and corporate boxes, but generally assisting with any matters our team have. I also support our Regulatory team.
Legal secretary
What qualifications or training did you need? I have a New Zealand Diploma in Legal Executive Studies but having the right personality for the team and an eye for detail is essential. What are the best bits about your job? I love that every day something different is going on so I’m constantly learning.. What are the worst bits? The times when a million things need to be done at once and multiple people are calling, talking to you and running around – it’s highly stressful juggling everything but is a great feeling when you can manage yourself and the situation well. Also filing, but it’s the best way to learn the ins and outs of every contract so it never gets too bad.
Hang together Name: Bronya Rae Age: 32 City/town: Mt Maunganui What’s your job? AntiGravity Fitness instructor and Ubound instructor
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How did you get into this line of work? A family friend recommended I give this new aerial yoga technique a go while I was looking for something to stimulate me, improve my fitness and help with weight loss and mindful wellbeing. I went to the first class, fell in love with it and then about a year later was asked if I wanted to join the Float Fitness team and boom, the rest is history.
What’s your biggest career goal? I’d love to move up into a legal executive position soon and start travelling – legal execs are always needed around the world. It wouldn’t be bad having my own conveyancing firm one day too. If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? I would probably be in the water as a dive instructor, or an events manager.
AntiGravity Fitness instructor
the human anatomy and the drive and passion for the technique. But after becoming an instructor it is really important to make sure you keep your fitness levels up and continue to stay on top of your skill base and knowledge. (I’m continually revising and researching things to help me to become a better teacher). What are the best bits about your job? Definitely the people! Co-workers, clients etc but also having the ability to be able to support people and guide them into techniques and positions they probably thought they could never accomplish. Oh and it’s super fun!
What does a typical working day look like for you? I don’t really have a typical working day, I just get rostered on for a class and show up, although I do a lot of revision and study every day to maintain my knowledge and continue building my skill base.
What are the worst bits? No worse bits (unless it’s trying to get up for a super early morning class).
What qualifications or training did you need? No qualifications needed to start, just some knowledge about
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? Hmm can’t actually think of what I
What’s your biggest career goal? To be able to travel around the world and teach/support others in AntiGravity Fitness.
would be doing but most probably a position where I engage with people and offer them support.
Age: 38 Job: City/town: Lower Hutt, Wellington What’s your job? Occupational therapist. How did you get into this line of work? I wanted a job helping people but wasn’t sure how. Occupational therapy was the perfect job as it is so diverse and challenging. I could work in different settings with people of all ages. What does a typical working day look like for you? My days are varied but usually it is being on the ward working with patients to help them get back to doing functional tasks. This can be anything from getting in/ out of bed or being able to use their arm after having a stroke so they dress themselves. Treatment involves education and working with families, practicing techniques and using equipment.
What qualifications or training did you need? Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. This was a three-year degree.
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? I can’t imagine doing anything else, maybe something working with dogs.
What are the best bits about the job? Helping others and having a real impact on improving someone’s quality of life. Being creative and thinking outside the box to help people achieve their goals based on those activities they want to or need to be able to complete on a daily basis. That is why I use Ollie, my dog, in a form of therapy called animalassisted therapy. Working with other professionals to get people home. What are the worst bits? It can be difficult working with people who have suffered e.g a stroke, and are at a low point, but it’s so rewarding to help them work towards accomplishing an activity or task they couldn’t do. What’s your biggest career goal? Developing animal-assisted therapy in stroke rehabilitation.
Pharmaceutical flair Name: Laura Skidmore Age: 24: City/town: Mount Maunganui What’s your job? Pharmacist at Life Pharmacy, Te Puke. How did you get into this line of work? Chemistry was always my favourite subject at school. I knew I wanted to get into healthcare but not be hands-on. I also liked figuring out how medicine affects the body and what to do through that mechanism. What does a typical working day look like for you? We open up the shop and check everything from yesterday is completed. Then our day is full of dispensing people’s prescriptions, doing consultations for things like the emergency contraceptive pill, Viagra, vaccinations, swabs for rheumatic fever, and checking people’s warfarin levels via a finger blood test. We also do compliance packing for patients who need help with taking their medications. What qualifications or training did you need? In Year 13 I did an interview
with the University of Auckland’s School of Pharmacy. I was accepted and then I did a four-year pharmacy degree. You have a choice of working in hospital industry or community pharmacy. After the degree I chose community pharmacy, where I did a graduate internship at a pharmacy for one year and then I was qualified. What are the best bits about your job? Working with other health professionals, and actually being an advocate for patients; talking to doctors, optometrists and being there to get the best outcomes for people, and helping them manage their healthcare. What are the worst bits? Some people’s situations are more complex than others and require more tim, which puts pressure on our time to dispense medicine, so you need to be able to time manage quite a lot. What’s your biggest career goal? Community pharmacy is definitely changing. My biggest goal is being a part of that evolution. I’d love to see
Pharmacist
pharmacists working even more with doctors and having more consults in the pharmacy to lessen pressure on GPs. If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? Business or law.
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Name: Kerry Mckiernan
Occupational therapist
JOB PROFILES
A helping hand
JOB PROFILES
Social and community services T
hese jobs include careers within areas essential for the wellbeing and safety of all those in our communities, including our defence forces, security personnel and police. This is an increasingly important pathway because New Zealand’s ageing population needs to be housed and cared for; there’s a constant demand for more police, corrections and security officers; and the need for immigration, customs, and quarantine officers is also increasing as more people and goods (legal and illegal) move in and out of the country. Social and community services are the lifeblood and heart of our society, and careers in these industries can be hugely rewarding.
Careers include: oo Ambulance officer oo Animal control officer oo Border protection officer oo Community worker oo Corrections officer oo Counsellor oo Doctor oo Midwife oo Nurse oo Parking warden oo Police officer oo Social worker oo Soldier oo Taxi driver
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oo Teacher
Com Socia mun l and ity S erv ices
Age: 25 City/town: Auckland What’s your job? Senior Practitioner Probation Officer at the Department of Corrections. How did you get into this line of work? I came across an advertisement for a Probation Officer role when I was still at university. What does a typical working day look like for you? I ensure community-based offenders (people who are serving their sentences in the community, rather than in prison) meet the requirements imposed by the court. This can include referring offenders onto practical programmes like getting a driver’s licence, or programmes that help them to lead crime-free lives. I also prepare reports and recommendations for the courts and the New Zealand Parole Board. What qualifications or training did you need? I have a Bachelor of Criminology and Education. However,
whilst I was studying I felt it was important to get some hands-on experience, so I volunteered with MATES and Genesis Youth Trust mentoring atrisk youth. What are the best bits about your job? Working with my team, who are all great – we lean on each other and work well together. I enjoy guiding offenders through their sentences, seeing them succeed, and helping them reconnect with family. While it’s only a small thing, getting a driver’s licence can be a big deal for offenders. Sharing in their success can be really moving because sometimes you’re the first person in their life to ever say ‘I’m proud of you’.
Age: 28 City/town: Henderson, West Auckland What’s your job? I’m a kaiārahi for Te Waipareira Trust. Kaiārahi means to pathway someone, to be their social navigator. How did you get into this line of work? I’ve worked lots of different jobs. I was a youth worker, worked at Coca Cola, and at a call centre before I was offered this role. What does a typical working day look like for you? It can be anything from going to WINZ with whānau – we don’t call our people clients, we call them whānau – to sort their entitlements, or helping our whānau with Oranga Tamariki to help them go to programmes they need to attend to get their children back. It can be getting whānau into emergency housing and getting someone financially stable. Helping people navigate the system, support them in the court, access legal aid and if they
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? I have no idea, because I love this job so much!
What are the worst bits? I don’t have anything bad to say about the job. The first year in the role involves a 26-week training programme, which is hard work. You then learn on the job. The job can be stressful, so it’s important you take time to reflect on your day and always talk through any problems with your team.
Guiding light Name: Tere Jodean Tuta’i
What’s your biggest career goal? I’d definitely love to get into management. I’m currently studying a Postgraduate Certificate in Management in the Social Sector via Victoria University, sponsored by Corrections.
Kaiārahi (social navigator)
need to go to programmes like anger management and budgeting.
with really heavy issues like abuse and homelessness.
What qualifications or training did you need? Before this I was supporting ACC clients to get back into work. As a kaiārahi you don’t need a qualification.
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? I’m a musician so one day I’d like to be doing that.
What are the best bits about the job? When our whānau learn to navigate themselves when they no longer need us. They may not have reached their goal that they wanted, but they’ve learnt enough and know the system enough that they can find their own way. It’s when whānau who have been homeless get keys to a privately owned rental or to a Housing NZ home, or when Oranga Tamariki closes the file because the whānau have worked so hard to get off their books. Those are good moments. What are the worst bits? When all the support is there for whānau and they don’t take it. When they have strong whānau support to help them change their attitudes and behaviour and they don’t take it. To me it’s quite sad and disheartening. And dealing
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Name: Aida Ibrahimbegov
Probation officer
JOB PROFILES
Caring connections
Registered nurse
JOB PROFILES
In sickness and in health Name: Kieran Nicholson Age: 22 City/town: Hastings, Hawke’s Bay What’s your job? Registered nurse in orthopaedics How did you get into this line of work? Through placements at The Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and the Nurse Entry to Practice (NETP) programme. What does a typical working day look like for you? A typical day would depend on what shift I’m doing: am’s, pm’s, or nights. All fall back on the fundamentals of nursing care, vital signs, patient care, and pressure area/ wound management. Also paperwork – lots of paperwork! What qualifications or training did you need? To enter into the Bachelor of Nursing programme I needed to do a six-month bridging course (Certificate in Health Science). With NCEA Level 3, this wouldn’t have been needed, but EIT helped to bridge the gap caused by a messy and fragmented high school
education and gave me a foundation to excel in nursing education and practical hands-on nursing care. What are the best bits about your job? Being a part of a person’s journey to health. Knowing that every shift is a stepping stone to something greater. Also, seeing yourself grow in maturity and experience is an awesome part of the job! What are the worst bits? Nursing is a weird career where a bowel movement is celebrated. The yucky stuff is something you get used to very quickly. It’s knowing that a patient is deteriorating and not being able to leave the job at the door, that’s the worst part. What’s your biggest career goal? Nursing is so transferable and vast that my career could go in any direction. From Intensive Care to primary Maōri health provider, these are all cards on the table for me at this point. As well as possibilities of nursing overseas anywhere from Singapore to Manhattan.
The growing years Name: Laura Farr Age: 35 City/town: Tauranga What’s your job? Programme tutor for PORSE [in-home childcare services].
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How did you get into this line of work? I was working in ECE centres and I was really enjoying that but I was always way too busy looking after kids and I thought there must be better ways to look after little ones. So I did some research around how I think and feel children should learn, found PORSE and now I work here. What does a typical working day look like for you? Every day is really different for me. Most days I spend visiting home educators and helping them with their programmes, helping them meet their Health and Safety requirements, running play schools and music groups, being out in the community meeting mums and helping them find educators who are the best fit for them and their children.
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? Honestly, my second choice is filmmaking/screenwriting. I think that highlights amazing part of the nursing workforce, everyone comes from a different walk of life and the skills and hobbies from nurse to nurse differ dramatically, making the working environment diverse and interesting every day.
What qualifications or training did you need? I have a Bachelor of Primary School Teaching and a graduate diploma in Early Childhood Education. I also have a Level 5 in Coaching Adult Learns, although that’s not a requirement for my job. What are the best bits about your job? I love supporting women and helping women grow their businesses, and helping them support their families too. I love working with little people and watching them grow and develop. A lot of the time I will meet children when they are babies and see them grow right up to when they go to school. It’s lovely being a part of their early learning years. What are the worst bits? Most teachers would say they’d prefer to spend more time with the children and a little less time on paperwork. Other than that it’s a really cool job. What’s your biggest career goal? I love the role that I’m in. I hope to continue working alongside my educators and tamariki. I’m currently
Childcare programme tutor working towards supporting all of my educators to gain their Level Four Certificates in Early Childhood Education. If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? I’d be a primary school teacher.
T
his area covers diverse industries such as baking, boatbuilding, marine products, clothing and textiles, footwear, concrete, dairy, electronics, food and beverages technology, glass, machinery and equipment, mechanical engineering, metal, paint, chemicals and plastics, pharmaceutical, jewellery, furniture, and transport. Manufacturing is where our raw materials are turned into valuable products. Given that manufacturing is such a big earner for the New Zealand economy, the Government has identified it as a priority area for growth (as part of the focus on STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing).
JOB PROFILES
Manufacturing and technology Ma and nufact Tec uring hno log y
Technology industries are experiencing a shortage of skilled workers, so a career in this high-paying sector could be rewarding and lucrative. oo Baker oo Biotechnologist
oo Recycler/dismantler
oo Butcher
oo Cabinet maker
oo Collision repair technician (panelbeater)
oo Fabrication engineer
oo Electrician
oo Water/waste water treatment operator
oo Food technologist
oo Dairy products maker
oo Medical technologist
oo Tyre technician
oo Production planner
oo Jeweller
oo Chemical production operator
oo Clothing marker/cutter
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JOB PROFILES
A cut above Name: Jenny Lines Age: 38 City/town: Nelson What’s your job? I am a freelance pattern-maker. How did you get into this line of work? After working in fashion for many years, I soon discovered that patternmaking was my favourite part of the industry and decided to steer my business down that path. What does a typical working day look like for you? I freelance my pattern-making services to many different designers around the country. Each designer will email me the sketches of their designs and I make their production patterns (using CAD) and spec sheets ready for them to send on to their manufacturer. What qualifications or training did you need? I studied a three-year Diploma of Fashion and Textiles, which gave me a great starting point, but I feel my most valuable skills came from the industry experience I gained afterwards.
I have run my own businesses since I was 21, so trial and error taught me a lot. I also spent four years working for an apparel importing company, where I learnt so much from other talented pattern-makers and got my first taste of working with Chinese factories. What are the best bits about your job? Because I run my business using CAD software, I can work from home in a small town, Wakefield, near Nelson, while raising a young family.
Age: 21 City/town: Tokoroa What’s your job? Manufacturing aluminium joinery i.e. aluminium windows and doors. I’ve been doing it for over two years now How did you get into this line of work? I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life then an opening came up for an apprenticeship. I applied and I got it.
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What qualifications or training did you need? After a three-month trial, I started my apprenticeship for BCITO. I completed the 24-month programme in 18 months. What are the best bits of your job? It’s hands on and I learn something new every day. My training advisor from BCITO pushed me the hardest to learn and to apply for scholarships and awards [Shevonne was runnerup in the 2017 Architectural Aluminium Joinery Apprentice of the Year]. He got me to enter the local adult learner
into shop leases etc. Since specialising, I decided to choose a slow, steady growth path. I’m not interested in being the biggest, I just want to love what I do every day. If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? I cannot actually imagine doing anything else!
What are the worst bits? I’ve had to try really hard to keep my boundaries around work time/family time clear to customers expecting ‘quick’ jobs over weekends. What’s your biggest career goal? There have been times where I have tried to grow too quickly and regretted being tied
Joining forces Name: Shevonne Evans
Pattern-maker
Architectural aluminium joiner
awards, which I won, and because of him I also applied and sat as one of two apprentices on the BCITO Summit Panel.
they’d underestimate what I could do and what I knew. When they come in now, they say ‘can you give us a hand, Shevonne?’ I’ve earned their respect.
And what are the worst bits? Initially it was frustrating because I couldn’t lift as much as the others. I’m stronger now and I’ve learnt it’s about getting the right techniques to lift. Also when contractors and builders came in,
What’s your biggest career goal? Alongside BCITO I want to encourage more women into trades. I want to own and operate a business within the construction industry.
Age: 28 City/town: Wellington What’s your job? Studio and creative director of Starcolt, a game development studio. How did you get into this line of work? I’d been making games since I was young. After university I moved to Germany, where there are far more game studios, and realised it was a viable career. I started working at Ubisoft soon after, and the rest is history. What does a typical working day look like for you? I catch up on emails and any things I need to address to keep the company moving. We have a team meeting at 10am and after that I work on game design and user interface documentation for the current game title we’re developing, while helping guide my other employees in their own tasks. What qualifications or training did you need? I taught myself all the skills required for my job through exploration
and creating my own projects, but there are also formal study programmes emerging for game development these days. It’s not a ‘typical’ industry where degrees and qualifications are prioritised – experience and portfolios are far more highly valued. What are the best bits about your job? The best bit is your power to create interactive worlds out of nothing! Being able to see your creations come to life is a feeling that’s second to none. What are the worst bits? Games are by nature quite complex to create – ‘fun’ is hard to quantify. Game design requires a lot of trial and error and a lot of tenacity to get from an idea to completion. What’s your biggest career goal? I’ve actually already achieved it – it was to run my own studio making interesting, diverse games and we’re already doing that! If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? I’m still super keen on becoming a paramedic actually!
Sharp as a tech Name: Michael Kenney
IT technician
City/town: Hamilton
I’m doing up, I’ve mostly been fixing laptops and PCs, setting up people’s office suites, backups and upgrading their networks.
What’s your job? I run my own IT business – called ITvirtue because I can do virtually anything with IT.
What qualifications or training did you need? A diploma and degree in IT.
How did you get into this line of work? I was a tradie – a tiler – but my knees and back were wrecked from it as well as from skateboarding so I went to study information and communications technology at polytech – was offered a job as a systems engineer at tech, did that for a bit, then went on my OE. I then came back and finished my degree in applied information technology at Wintec in Hamilton. After that I decided to go out on my own.
What are the best bits about the job? Being able to learn all the new technology.
Age: 32
What does a typical working day look like for you? I’m still in the startup stages working from home here in Dinsdale, and will move HQ to a building after I go to Europe in May. I may go to Auckland and start up there. In between working on my two Valiants
JOB PROFILES
Name: Lucy Morris
Game developer
What are the worst bits about the job? Probably how dirty computers are – inside of them is always filthy. It’s how they work, they suck in the dust and get really dirty. What is your biggest career goal? I’d like to be able to work remotely from anywhere in the world. So I can be in Egypt and if my client has a problem they call me, I connect via a hotspot remotely to their computer and they can see me on there fixing things.
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? Laying tiles. I’ve always got my trade to fall back on.
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Game on
JOB PROFILES
Construction and infrastructure P
ut simply, construction is building. That can include erecting, installing, or maintaining parts of buildings such as plumbing, air-conditioning or electrical systems, and interior work such as joinery, painting and decorating. Infrastructure covers planning, designing, repairing, and building for people and services such as roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, telecommunications, and drains. Much of the work in this area is learned by doing, so it’s best to get on-the-job experience through an apprenticeship or landing an entry-level position. For many roles in this area, the work is based outside and involves the use of tools and, more often than not, teamwork. More than 170,000 people work in the construction and infrastructure sector in New Zealand and demand is high.
Careers include: oo Aluminium joiner
oo Glazier
oo Roofer
oo Bricklayer
oo Quantity surveyor
oo Scaffolder
oo Building control officer
oo Labourer
oo Tiler
oo Drainlayer
oo Painter
oo Gasfitter
oo Plasterer
Con st Infr ructio astr n uct and ure
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Age: 21 City/town: Sunny Hawke’s Bay What’s your job? I am an electrician training towards my instrumentation measurement and control trade certification. My job involves verification and automation of control systems in the food production industry. How did you get into this line of work? Right out of high school I wanted to continue learning and striving towards a higher qualification. However, I didn’t want to sit with a massive PhD and not be able to find a job. My careers advisor talked me into meeting an ETCO representative and before I knew it I was signed up and I had a job. What does a typical working day look like for you? We start the day with a morning meeting to determine how it will unfold. Starting with the most critical tasks on the monthly schedule we attack the jobs as a team. The last part of the day will involve completing
Electrician
the required certification. We will also attend any critical breakdowns during the day as required. What qualifications or training did you need? You need electrical registration and licensing that entitles you to carry out electrical work according to the class of registration you hold. What are the best bits about your job? Constantly getting opportunities to learn and add new skills to my belt. Being stretched out of my comfort zone on a daily basis. What are the worst bits? The heat around cookers some days is definitely the worst. What’s your biggest career goal? To own my own business and invest the time and resources into causes I feel passionate about. If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? I would love to dabble in neon signwriting.
From the ground up Name: Julian Thom Age: 32 City/town: Mount Maunganui What’s your job? Surveyor / Project Manager at S&L Consultants. How did you get into this line of work? I went to the careers advisor at school, who suggested surveying based on my interests in art, sports and maths. The skill sets I developed at school have helped me in my career. Graphics, for example, helped me develop really good spatial literacy, a key ingredient for surveying! What does a typical working day look like for you? Currently I design stormwater, wastewater and road networks for a large-scale residential subdivision. It is a really cool seeing the things that you design being built. When I worked as a cadastral surveyor, my day would consist of searching old survey plans, calculating boundary information, carrying out field measurements, and helping my clients through the subdivision process. I love the variety in this job.
Surveyor
What qualifications or training did you need? I recently graduated from Otago University with a Bachelor of Surveying with Honours, having previously completed a National Diploma in Surveying at Unitech, Auckland.
Week conference in Vietnam, where I will be working with surveyors from across the world to develop ways to solve complex surveying problems. I am also working towards obtaining licensing accreditation so I will be able to sign survey plans.
What are the best bits about your job? I love the outdoors, I love helping people and that’s why I love my job. To me, surveying is the perfect marriage of land and people. It’s a career that makes a difference to the way we understand, use and administer land.
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? I nearly went to art school so I imagine it would be something with art.
What are the worst bits? I enjoy all the challenges that surveying presents. What’s your biggest career goal? Recently winning a Survey and Spatial NZ Young Professional’s competition, I will be attending a Working
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Name: Desiré Notley
JOB PROFILES
Bright spark
JOB PROFILES
Built to order Name: Peter Ravn Age: 26 City/town: Christchurch What’s your job? Carpenter. How did you get into this line of work? I’ve always enjoyed building things. I did a degree in fine arts majoring in sculpture at Canterbury University. When I’d finished I couldn’t find work and my brother is also a carpenter he said how much he enjoyed it. When he began building in Christchurch there was a need for skilled labour and building apprentices. He influenced my decision and it’s great because you get paid to study. So I started a BCITO building apprenticeship with Armitage Williams Construction. What does a typical working day look like for you? At the moment I’m managing an EQC repair of a set of storage units. So my average day involves talking to a lot of people on the phone getting sub-contractors on site and liaising with the project manager and the engineers.
What qualifications or training did you need? An apprenticeship. While studying as an apprentice I won Registered Master Builders Carters Apprentice of the Year 2018. I was really shocked that I won. What are the best bits about your job? The people that you meet within the industry; the guys on site are really great. And getting paid is pretty cool. When I was on the tools it was great to be working with your hands. What are the worst bits? Getting up really early. I need to be on site before 7am, sometimes well before 7am. And the weather. Working in the rain is not so pleasant. What’s your biggest career goal? I’d like to own my own company be my own boss and make decisions and plan the direction of what I want to do. If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? When I was at university I worked at Mitre 10 so something like that. I don’t really know.
Going places Name: Miriam Williams Age: 32 City/town: Avondale, Auckland What’s your job? I’m a planner at Panuku Development Auckland, the city’s urban regeneration agency.
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How did you get into this line of work? I realised that planning matched with my interests in cities and places and geography and languages. I was a teacher but went back to university to study a Master of Urban Planning (Professional), which led to a job at Auckland Council and eventually, at Panuku. What does a typical working day look like for you? When I’m not in the office I’m on a site visit to one of the three locations I work on, which are the waterfront, Henderson and Onehunga. Most of my work involves collaborating with other specialists within Panuku and the council family, such as urban designers and place makers, so I’m constantly learning about other disciplines.
Carpenter
Town planner
What qualifications or training did you need? A Master of Urban Planning, which is a New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI) accredited degree. A full driver’s licence is also needed for site visits. The rest is on-the-job training. What are the best bits about your job? The core work is great. This involves obtaining resource consents or working on plan changes to progress our projects under the city’s planning rulebook – the Auckland Unitary Plan. It’s great getting to work on challenging and tangible projects with lots of variety. I also enjoy going out on site visits and seeing something I’ve worked on come to life. What are the worst bits? I knew I would have to learn to drive for work, but I don’t do it often and don’t enjoy it! What’s your biggest career goal? I try to pick up projects where I’m working
on things that are new to me, so I can continue learning and gain a wide range of experience. If you weren’t doing this job, what would you most likely be doing? I’d love to run a board game café somewhere or do more teaching overseas.
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