Next Step Magazine - Issue 4 by NxtStep

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ISSUE 4

From the Next Step Team

Welcome to the fourth edition of Next Step magazine. We are very proud to present you with a magazine that we are sure will yet again exceed expectations. For this edition, we have engaged various industry experts including Careers New Zealand CEO, Keith Marshall along with some of New Zealand’s top career advisors. It is with this added insight that we continue to provide students and their key influencers with relevant, valuable and up-to-date study and career related advice. Enclosed in this edition you’ll find a range of profiled careers stemming from both tertiary study and practical training. It is encouraging to see so many examples of young people on the fast track to success following the completion of their tertiary studies. Additionally, with New Zealand’s aging workforce, it’s exciting to see progressive opportunities arising for young people in more practical careers and the trades. Next Step magazine’s partnership with free online platform SchoolConnect gives us confidence that this collaboration gives all parties everything they need to initiate the “where to next” conversation. We really appreciate the high volume of feedback we receive for each issue. If you have any comments you would like to make please do not hesitate to get in touch. PUBLISHER: Green Door Design EDITOR: Maddy Gwynne GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Magdalena Stanuch and Matt Chinn SCHOOLCONNECT CONTRIBUTORS: Tim Watts and Robert Milne COPYWRITERS: Miah Dixon, Tarannum Shaikh and Maria Kim

Contents

Upskilling Today’s Youth for New Zealand’s Tomorrow - Keith Marshall, Careers NZ

Find your Next Step with SchoolConnect

Thinking Practically? Think Again - Massey University

Unlock Your Potential for Growth - Grant Thornton

Serving Up A World Class Career - Southern Institute of Technology

Opportunity That Runs Rings Around the Rest - Carter Holt Harvey

Finding your way with SchoolConnect

Revving Up for a career in the Dealer Network - Toyota

Jobs in Demand: A Force in the Food Industry - Careers NZ

Jobs in Demand: Web Developer - Careers NZ

Team Profile - Mainfreight

Working towards a bright future - Deloitte

Growing A Fruitful Career - Kiwifruit Growers

Tips to helping your child find their path - Careers NZ

Discover a career at sea - New Zealand Shipping Federation

A Picture of Employment - Talent Solutions

Next Step© 2015. Published by Green Door Design Limited. No part of this publication may be replicated, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, internet, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.

Creating Our Tomorrow - Opus

Fletchers Attract Grads with Blind Faith - Fletcher Building

‘SOFT SKILLS’ are the key to jobseekers getting a foot in the door - Outward Bound

Green Door Design Limited has put measures in place to ensure the exactness of the information in this publication; however, they accept no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or subsequent consequences. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily endorsed by the editor, publisher, Green Door Design Limited and its related parties.

Switching Gears Opens Up New Possibilities for Mountain Biker - Waiariki Institute of Technology

Get Quality out of your Quantity Career - NZIQS

Getting Students into Great Jobs with the New Zealand Maritime School - New Zealand Maritime School

NZ Fashion Tech

Interested in being in the next issue of this magazine ? Contact us! For any editorial, advertising or general queries you may have regarding Next Step Magazine please get in touch.

Maddy Gwynne 09 307 7858 maddyg@greendoordesign.co.nz www.greendoordesign.co.nz

Your Toolkit for Success

New Zealand Institute of Sport

They Change Lives Around The World Everyday - New Zealand College of Chiropractic

Animals + Science = Career Options - Massey University

Reaching New Heights with Hyundai’s Pinnacle Programme - Hyundai

Change for a brighter tomorrow - Matt Chinn, Freelance Graphic Designer

Want more info? Go to www.schoolconnect.co.nz

Upskilling Today’s Youth For New Zealand’s Tomorrow The world of work is a complex place, and as globalisation and technological advances continue it will become even tougher to navigate. Jobs exist now that weren’t even thought of just a few years ago. And it’s likely that in a few years’ time there will be more new jobs created while others will disappear or be automated.

All of which presents a young person leaving school with a challenge. How can they successfully navigate their way into the work environment? How do you prepare for something that hasn’t happened yet? Good decisions are based on good information and wise advice. And that’s where, as careers experts, Next Step Magazine and SchoolConnect website, supported by Careers New Zealand can help. It’s our collective job to help people navigate their career journey, to make information learning and work choices that will give them, and New Zealand, a better future. We do this in three main ways: we connect employers and educators to help young people get real world of work experiences and understandings; we deliver professional development services to support those people who are influencing others’ careers decisions; and we develop and provide digital tools and resources so people can find key information to help them make good choices. It is important to understand that in an environment where the world of work is rapidly changing, careers are not a one-off choice, but a process of building, adapting and consolidating by making ongoing learning and work choices.

Name Keith Marshall Role CEO of Careers New Zealand Institution

Massey University & Hong Kong Hang Tian DaXue (Beijing) High School

Papakura High School & Queen Elizabeth College

There are some things that can help answer these questions such as a meaningful experience of the world of work before you go into it. Later this year Careers New Zealand will offering a new initiative, Work Inspiration, which will sit alongside the work experience programmes already being offered by schools to help build young people’s understanding of the world of work and better connect educators and employers We also provide, through our award-winning website, a hub for independent career information and advice. Careers.govt.nz has accessible information about jobs, the labour market, training and courses to help information career decisions. Our interactive tools to help people explore possible career choices that link with their personal style and preferences. We also have tools to help people build a CV that will get them in the door, and interview skills advice and support that will help them with their job hunting. Every year our website receives around four million visits – that’s eight people every minute. The feedback we get is that people are finding useful help and advice there, so it’s a good place to start your career journey. Maddy, Rob and Tim, I congratulate you on the fourth issue of Next Step Magazine! We are proud to be supporting your efforts in the youth careers market place.

The process starts at school - achieving NCEA Level 2 will give a good base for further learning while also providing the foundation skills needed to get employment.

Students, parents and caregivers enjoy this magazine. Be sure to check out the Careers New Zealand editorials profiling celebrity chef and entrepreneur, Nadia Lim and web development guru, Ishan Jayamanne!

It costs time and money to continue studying after school, so it is important to consider the value you are getting for that investment. Will the qualification fit you for a career you will enjoy? Will it meet an employer’s needs?

Keith Marshall

NextStep//ISSUE 4

Chief Executive, Careers New Zealand

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FIND YOUR

NEXT STEP WITH Wondering what step to take next towards your dream career? Find that step with SchoolConnect You want to do one thing, your parents want you to do another and your careers advisor says you would be good at something entirely different. The idea of life after school can seem daunting, with so many different options and opportunities coming your way. With the help of SchoolConnect, it doesn’t have to be that way. The team at SchoolConnect has information on further study options, career entry pathways and employment, helping make the best choice regarding study and work opportunities. It’s more than just a website with a bunch of information. With a range of resources including discussion forums, and quizzes; there is something for everyone. There is even the chance to talk directly to employers through LiveChat forums during Careers Week.

Find out how you can continue studying your favourite subjects after high school. If further study is your thing, the study section of SchoolConnect can help find the right path for you. Check out different tertiary institutes and choose the programme that offers you the best options. You can choose an institute by location and its course offerings.

Jobs

Study doesn’t have to end with a student loan. SchoolConnect has made sure to include everything you need to know about the hundreds of scholarships available to new tertiary students.

Tertiary study isn’t for everyone and SchoolConnect understands this. We have created a job board, with job vacancies specifically for young people. This ensures that you are aware what job opportunities exist for school-leavers. Whether you’re looking for a place to kickstart your career or a summer job, SchoolConnect is the place to discover what’s on offer.

Building a career isn’t always just about studying the right courses. It’s also about knowing exactly what skills are required from you and what you need to do on the job.

Careers

Study

SchoolConnect is separated into three areas:

The Careers section of SchoolConnect provides valuable information about hundreds of different roles, the qualifications and experience needed to get there, as well as entry pathways to each job. Those who have successfully made it in their chosen field have even provided testimonials, to tell you how it really is.

Flip through Next Step and see what grabs your attention. If nothing catches your eye, don’t panic. Check out www.schoolconnect.co.nz and take our Careers Quiz to find out some of the different career options to suit your skills, interests and experience.

Want more info? Go to www.schoolconnect.co.nz

ARTS

Thinking Practically? Think Again THE ENGINE OF THE NEW NEW ZEALAND

What is it? A chocolate fish if you answered: an Arts qualification. There is a dangerous tendency in New Zealand to question the value of any degree that doesn’t sound like a job, but recent research by the British Council should help put an end to this. The Council surveyed 17,000 leaders of public and private sector organisations in 30 countries (not including New Zealand), and found that 55% of them have degrees in the social sciences or humanities. Comparable New Zealand data are not yet available, but even the small sample of leaders in politics, business, academia, sport and the arts is evidence that the pathway to leadership, contrary to the perceptions of some public commentators, often includes a Bachelor of Arts or a Master of Arts.

Bill English has one. So has Phil O’Reilly, CE of BusinessNZ (actually, he has two). The Vice Chancellor of Massey University, Steve Maharey, has one, and so do Michael Jones (the former All Black), Lisa Carrington (the Olympic gold medal winning canoeist) and Antonia Prebble (the nation’s favourite Westie).

The reasons for this are not hard to discern. We all know that the world is changing rapidly. Certain jobs have disappeared, new ones are emerging, and the notion of a career (working on one job or industry over a working life) is making way for a future in which people will have as many as 5-8 different jobs. To adapt to and succeed in that world, we will need both ‘hard’ technical skills and the sorts of ‘soft’ or transferable skills that are at the heart of an Arts qualification. These transferable skills include problem-solving, being able to think critically and independently, the ability to work in teams and having good communication skills. It is critical that we have the scientific and technical workforce required to move ahead in an economy that places a lot of emphasis on global and local understanding and the ability to adjust as employer demand changes. But every farm, factory and firm stands or falls as much on its social relationships as it does on its technical proficiency. And the best leaders are those who can recognise, value and navigate those human relationships. The University of Phoenix’s Institute for the Future has identified a series of attributes of the successful future employer. These include the ability to adapt to new ways of thinking, make sense of complex situations, think ‘around’ an issue from different points of view, and be at ease in cross-cultural contexts. Here at Massey University, we actively monitor these developments and are building the sorts of competencies associated with future leaders – the abilities to think critically, approach problems from multiple perspectives, and tackle complex issues – into the core curriculum of our BA. We find it helpful to think of the BA as the intellectual infrastructure that complements the physical infrastructure we need to move ahead as a nation – and as individuals. Just as we need ultra-fast broadband and functional roads, we also need people with the ability to cope with uncertainty, diversity, unpredictability and complexity if we are to move confidently into the future. So the next time someone tells you a BA is irrelevant and won’t get you anywhere, you might like to quietly point them towards the evidence – which suggests something quite different. Associate Professor Richard Shaw is Massey University’s Director BA (External Connections), and Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley is the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Massey University.

Visit www.massey.ac.nz

NextStep//ISSUE 4

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At Grant Thornton we unlock the potential for growth in dynamic organisations. As well as standard compliance services like preparing financial statements and tax returns, we provide advice to businesses to help them innovate and grow. In my role I provide financial, tax and business advice to kiwi businesses and individuals, and overseas companies operating in New Zealand. I also prepare financial and cash flow forecasts, business plans and provide junior staff with the training they need. The New Zealand business landscape is constantly changing and evolving and being at the heart of this is the most exciting part of my role. I deal with businesses in a variety of sectors – agri, health care,

Jack Chng

Senior Accountant, Privately Held Business Grant Thornton New Zealand Bachelor of Business and Information Management, Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting

not for profit, hospitality, retail and food and beverage to name just a few … Each industry is unique and brings new and exciting challenges. My tertiary qualifications provided the perfect foundation for my chosen career path. For example, a final assessment in my Bachelor degree involved creating a start-up business which required me to use all of the skills and knowledge I acquired throughout my degree. There were even opportunities to work on my presentation and public speaking skills which have been invaluable for training staff and working with clients. When you combine the right qualifications with the best firm to start your career, there’s no end to what you can achieve.

ACCOUNTING

“Become a part of the exciting business environment in New Zealand and abroad”

“Choose a career that can take you around the world” I’m an audit manager with Grant Thornton and next year I will be taking up a secondment with our office in Dublin which is really exciting. I’m often asked how I got to this point in my career and why I chose accounting. My answer is always the same: being an accountant doesn’t mean you’ll be chained to a desk for the rest of your working life, it’s an exciting industry that offers plenty of opportunities to develop a fun and rewarding career. My long term advice to anyone looking at a career in accounting is to start researching the firms you would like to work with now. As a uni graduate, I wanted to join Grant Thornton because it’s a dynamic global firm that ensures its trainees

hit the ground running with real client work. Grant Thornton helped me work my way from a graduate to a manager in just under five years and now I’m looking forward to the challenge of a role overseas. In the short term you need to look at which tertiary institutions will personally suit you the best. Which learning environment will deliver the best outcomes for you? One with small lecture sizes or more subject options, or a university that provides great internships? You also need to talk to people. I spoke to friends, family and lecturers about what I wanted to do because there are multiple disciplines in accounting and it’s important to find the one that inspires you the most.

www.facebook.com/GrantThorntonNewZealand www.linkedin.com/company/grant-thornton-new-zealand-limited

www.grantthornton.co.nz © 2015 Grant Thornton New Zealand Ltd. All rights reserved. Grant Thornton New Zealand Ltd is a member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. Please see www.grantthornton.co.nz for further details.

Michelle Moriarty

Manager, Audit Grant Thornton New Zealand Bachelor of Commerce, Otago University

APPLY NOW FOR FEB 2016 STUDY PATHWAYS

A Faculty of Tai Poutini Polytechnic

MAKE SOME NOISE

Bachelor of Musical Arts Bachelor of Audio Engineering Graduate Diploma in Business & Enterprise Contemporary Music Performance Live Sound and Event Production Audio Engineering DJ / Music and Event Management

www.mainz.ac.nz

0800 265 526

Who wants to be paying student debt off for the next 10-20 years? Southern Institute of Technologyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zero Fees Scheme gives you the opportunity to get a quality education WITHOUT the massive student loan*

Call today or email info@sit.ac.nz

*Direct material costs apply

0800 4 0 FEES www.sit.ac.nz

HOSPITALITY

Serving Up A World Class Career

Zero Excuses The Southern Institute of Technology is a fast growing tertiary education provider with a strong reputation, and strong links to employers and industry leaders. Its Zero Fees Scheme means more students are able to afford education and graduate stress-free. SIT also offers a broad range of distance learning programmes from certificate to postgraduate degree level so you are able to study at your own pace from anywhere in New Zealand or the world while still under the Zero Fees Scheme. With the financial support of corporate bodies in the Southland region, SIT is able to offer zero programme fees to all SIT domestic students who are citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand or Australia. This means students only have to pay the cost of the material they use for their programme. This can save students tens of thousands of dollars and set them in good stead for their future. SIT has recently built multimillion dollar apartments for students living in both Queenstown and Invercargill regions which are in close proximity to the campus and a very warm and safe environment for students to relax and stay while undertaking their studies with SIT. Also closely located to the Invercargill campus is the Invercargill Apartment Hotel at a very affordable rate. SIT has a strong advisory committee for each of its programmes. The committee hosts employers and key industry members have an input and relationships with the programme so that our graduates meet the needs of employers and their relevant industry. Students graduate with work-ready skills and are immediately productive within their field. If you are wanting a quality education that employers recognise and value, without a large student loan then contact SIT today to kick start your future. Students are able to undertake a range of high quality certificates to postgraduate degree programmes at campuses in Invercargill, Queenstown, Christchurch and Gore.

Contact SIT today on information@sit.ac.nz, 0800 40 3337 or visit our website www.sit.ac.nz

Meet Stacey Burrell-James Serving up world class service SIT Bachelor of Hotel Management graduate Stacey BurrellJames was drawn to SIT for the famous Zero Fees scheme and the benefits of graduating without a large student debt. Stacey says that in addition to the Zero Fees Scheme, “the Bachelor of Hotel Management provided me with a comprehensive knowledge of the hospitality industry while also providing an understanding of general business.” Stacey believes the strong knowledge and skills she learnt from SIT helped her to gain her current employment as the Meeting and Event Coordinator at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland. In this role she assists clients with all their event needs including putting together the daily run sheets, liaising with chefs for menus and ensuring all aspects of the event are carried out in the way the client wants on the day. The events range from small business meetings to large multi-day conferences, gala dinners, school balls and weddings. Sven Mattiesson, Rooms Operations Manager at the Pullman Hotel Auckland says, “Stacey is a problem solver and solution provider and does so in a thoughtful and considerate way. She has a creative approach with a keen eye to detail and is always looking for a logical solution with practicality and realistic perceptions.” Stacey would recommend to any prospective student wanting to get into the hospitality and hotel management industry to choose SIT as it enables you to get ahead in your career and plan your future without the burden of a large student loan.

Want more info? Go to www.schoolconnect.co.nz

Out of the ordinary Build a bright future with a career in accounting

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

ENTREPRENEUR

BUSINESS ANALYST

An exciting and influential career, global opportunities and top pay. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more to working in accounting than you might imagine. Choose the path that suits you, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earning while you learn or completing post graduate studies. Find out how to be a Chartered Accountant, Associate Chartered Accountant or Accounting Technician at charteredaccountantsanz.com/brightfuture 10

Name: Johnny Ellis Role: Apprentice Electrician School: Whangarei Boys High Qualification: Electrical Apprenticeship Talented in electrical engineering and recognised as one of our up and coming performers in our Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts business, Johnny Ellis is keen to share his thoughts and experiences about his role and development throughout his first two years with us and encourage other technically minded people who are considering their career options. Why did you choose an electrical apprenticeship? I chose electrical engineering because I wanted a practical job; I also wanted it to be reasonably technical because at school I enjoyed physics, maths and PE. The combination of both the practical and technical side of work like programming, calibrating machinery and equipment and different project work really appealed. My Dad is a sparkie and I worked with him after school and its always interested me. Tell us about your career journey after leaving school? I completed year 13 and my NCEA and was thinking about doing engineering at Uni, but wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do. What really appealed about working for CHH Woodproducts is I could get stuck in to a practical role, work with a team of experienced engineers and receive on the job training whilst they have supported me through the Apprenticeship Programme. What does the Apprentice Programme involve? You have to really put in the hard yards and be selfmotivated to study, whilst also working. Competenz, an external training provider, manage the structured programme which takes around three years to complete and combines practical skills and technical training. Each year I attend up to 15 days of external training and also work on various practical assignments at home. I’ll be a fully qualified electrician at the

MILLS

1000+

MANUFACTURING

Recognised as a progressive and renowned manufacturer of wood products to the Australasian market, plus the additional advantage of a global reach, a position with CHH Woodproducts offers the ultimate in career achievement. Leading the market across Australia and New Zealand in the major wood products categories is a clear indication that our Timber, Plywood and Laminated Veneer Lumber come from an organisation that values quality and rewards commitment.

beginning of next year and this will allow me to do both domestic and industrial electrical work. Industrial is a really cool environment to work in with so much exposure to a wide variety of machinery, manufacturing processes and technical challenges. How would you best describe your role? It’s a great team and coaching environment as I’m always working with other tradespeople and qualified sparkies. At the beginning I spent a lot of time watching, listening and seeing how they do things; now they supervise me and give me tips whilst I do the work. I’ve always got people around me willing to teach me. It’s all hands on practical work. The sort of stuff I do is a combination of electrical lighting, domestic wiring on site, wiring motors, work with PLC’s and general maintenance and repairs. I also get the opportunity to work on a wide range of other technical equipment like installing and programming variable speed drives (VSD’s) with all the information for how to run the motor and what speeds to run the machines at to ensure they accurately cut the timber products. The work is really varied and every day is different. The goal is to achieve a high level of plant reliability. I get involved in various machine upgrades and special projects as well. What sort of projects? Last year I was part of a team that worked with specialists from Italy installing a scanning system called The Golden Eye. We had to change machinery, install motors and VSD’s, change the set up and wire up the new scanners. Other things I’ve done is changes where the business want to install more monitoring equipment including electromagnetic proxies, photocells, lasers, cameras, thermal couples and encoders which are used to monitor and position machinery and timber as it goes through the production process. What is the culture like at CHH WP? I really like it. The team are really easy to get along with and everyone is willing to help each other out. This goes both ways. I find people are easy to talk to, I get lots of coaching and it’s a collaborative team environment so I get to share my ideas and try new things. What’s next for you and your career progression? I’m hoping to do some PLC programming courses and also an instrumentation course as this will help me broaden my knowledge in the industrial programming of machinery. I definitely like the type of work I’m doing and my main focus is definitely the practical side of installations, I find it really interesting. What sort of people would really enjoy this? At school, people are trying to work out what they want to do and this job is a bonus to get a qualification whilst being paid and doing something that involves so much learning. You get to actually be hands on and understand it practically at the same time whereas for some people going to uni, you get taught about lots but it can be hard sometimes to understand this without seeing it in action.

Whangarei Marsden Point Tokoroa Kawerau Nelson

PEOPLE

Opportunity that runs rings around the rest

CHH WoodpRoduCtS Phone: 0800 746 399 www.chhwoodproducts.co.nz 11

Finding your way with

Having a cat, rabbit and many other pets throughout her life, Maggie knows she would love to look after animals for a living. Being in Year 11, she still has a while to decide what to do, but Maggie likes being prepared. She turns to SchoolConnect to see what options allow her to explore the world of animal care.

A step-by-step guide

STUDY

Step 1:

Maggie wants to find out how to best equip herself for getting into the animal care profession. She clicks on the “Study” section of the website and finds “Animal Care” on the list. Looking at the summary of what animal care is she clicks on “Learn More” and finds detailed descriptions of what the studying involves including possible courses she may learn. On the bottom right, Maggie sees that she should take Biology while in high school as a prerequisite. She then clicks on “Where to Study” and sees which institutes offer studies in animal care.

CAREERS Step 2:

Maggie wants to know what sort of career options and occupations are out there for her. She goes to the “Careers” section of SchoolConnect and selects “Agriculture and Animal Care” on the left hand side. Going through the list, the occupation of “Animal Attendant” appeals most to Maggie. By clicking “Entry Pathway” on the right hand side she realises she made the right decision to study Animal Care first.

Step 3:

JOBS

Maggie is happy with what she finds out about Animal Care on the website and is excited to begin her studies. First, however, she wants to do something alongside school to bring in some extra pocket money. Plus, her careers advisor said it would look great on her CV!

Maggie still has a few questions so she clicks on “Ask a Question” leading her to a discussion forum where she can put her questions out to experts.

She clicks on to the “Jobs” section, which takes her to SchoolConnect’s Job Board – specifically made for students, where she finds many jobs that she could take up this summer.

Maggie also takes SchoolConnect’s Careers Quiz online to see if there is anything else that might interest her, so that she can keep her options wide open.

Maggie is so relieved to see an abundance of options, right at her fingertips! She saves schoolconnect.co.nz as a bookmark on her browser and happily logs off.

NextStep//ISSUE 4

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LEADERSHIP

Revving Up For A Career In The Dealer Network Toyota’s exciting three year programme provides young graduates with a complete view of Toyota’s operations and equips them with leadership skills for a career in the dealer network. Graduates Scott Latham and Susannah Cowan share their perspectives on Toyota’s new dealer graduate programme.

Scott Latham and Susannah Cowan both finished their university studies last year, eager to enter the business world and put into practice the years of theory they’d learned through their tertiary studies. Scott graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours, and Susannah completed dual Bachelors of Commerce and Science (Chemistry) degrees. Both qualifications would help them to think further about the industry and equip them to later launch into a leadership career in a Toyota dealership. Susannah applied after hearing about the programme through an evening at Auckland University. She’d never contemplated entering the motor industry, but further research into Toyota New Zealand revealed her personal alignment with the eight core beliefs and made her dig deeper. Scott heard about the programme through the Auckland University intranet. It was a perfect fit for a bright motorsport enthusiast wanting to dive into a career within an exciting industry. “The four week initial induction provided us with a complete overview of the various departments, presented in their own styles,” says Susannah. “For some, it was a lecture-style presentation, and for others, it was more of a hands-on approach: driving a Hilux through rivers, sitting alongside the Customer Dialogue Centre Reps and listening in on customer issues, and then going into the service area and watching them work through the resolution.”

“The role so far has great diversity. One day I’m crunching numbers on a spreadsheet, the next I’m working with designers to develop some marketing tools. I love the varied nature of what I’m doing.” SCOTT LATHAM

Degree: Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)

After the intense induction process, each of the graduates have been spending the past six months in an operational department within Toyota’s head office facility. For Susannah, it’s the Parts Department, where she’s been striving to understand the processes behind the operation and observing the staff to see what they do and how they do it. She says that her passion for logistics and the chain of events, from finding parts to getting them to our dealers, has been fuelled by her love of science and understanding how everything pieces together. She’s also been working on some meaty projects of her own. Scott spent several of his schooling years in Dubai where he got into the karting scene, then worked as a high performance driving instructor afterwards. Scott’s been placed in the Service Department. With his technical talent and previous experience, he definitely has an interest in the workings of a vehicle. “The role so far has great diversity,” he says. “One day I’m crunching numbers on a spreadsheet, the next I’m working with designers to develop marketing tools. I love the varied nature of what I’m doing.” So far they’re busy learning the workings of a corporate environment. After the six month secondment to a dealership, they’ll be returning to Toyota for more operational experience before heading out again for another dealership posting six months later. It’s a journey they’ve only just started.

h Cowan

Meet Susanna

Degree: Conjoint Bachelors of Commerce and Science (Chemistry)

Want more info? Go to www.schoolconnect.co.nz

HOSPITALITY

JOBS IN DEMAND:

A FORCE IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY From dietician to My Food Bag founder, with a MasterChef win in between, Nadia Lim has proved that you can turn a high school passion into a spectacular career.

“I found that from quite a young age I could cook very well and that was the best way I could make people happy and really excel.” NADIA LIM

At first, Nadia channelled her love of making good food into science. She studied a BSc in Human Nutrition and a post graduate diploma in Dietetics at the University of Otago. This study has set her apart from other chefs as she has been able to “combine the art of cooking with the strong science of nutrition” – a skill sought after in a world concerned with healthy eating. It was Jamie Oliver, the Naked Chef himself who first sparked Nadia Lim’s passion for cooking at the age of 12. “I saw him on TV and I thought, ‘I want to be like you.’ Then I came up with this brilliant idea: one day I’ll write a cookbook and have a cooking show called ‘Food in the Nude’.” Nadia had always done well at school, but there wasn’t a specific subject she was best at. That is, until, inspired by Jamie Oliver, she took food technology. “I found that from quite a young age, I could cook very well and that it was the best way I could make people happy and really excel.”

SNAPSHOT OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY

Job Opportunities

Chefs usually earn

AVERAGE

OD GO

PO OR

Pay

$16–$25

If you’re a budding chef, Nadia’s advice to you is to “go get some experience to see if it’s actually what you really want to do. Know that there are many ways you can work as a chef – there is working on super yachts, as a consulting chef, or even as a chef behind the scenes of TV shows or cookbooks. Definitely travel, as that’s where you get a lot of your inspiration. And practice, practice, practice.”

Source: Hospitality NZ

Visit careers.govt.nz for all job related information.

NextStep//ISSUE 4

Branching out into business with My Food Bag has enabled Nadia to use all the skills she learned in nutrition, cooking and food writing, and has also enabled her to perfect her passion for health education and tasty food. “I want to change the way people eat and improve their health by encouraging them to cook more at home, eat a wider variety, improve their health, and learn where their food comes from.”

PER HOUR

Chances of getting work as a chef are good due to a shortage of workers.

Throughout her high school years, Nadia worked part time in cafes and restaurants. She believes training was very helpful, but it’s not all you need to be a good cook. “You need to have good taste buds. Unfortunately, it’s not a natural talent everyone has, but it’s essential. It’s also really important to have a grounded understanding of food and a respect for it and where it comes from.”

Find out more about Nadia and listen to her wise words at oompher.com/wise-words/cuisine/interview-with-nadia-lim Oompher is brought to you by Careers New Zealand.

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JOBS IN DEMAND:

WEB DEVELOPER – ISHAN JAYAMANNE With the demand for new and innovative websites growing every day, the job prospects for web developers are at an all-time high. For creative young people who love to plan, produce and maintain websites, a career in web development is a great start. Web Developers use web programming languages, software applications and databases to create websites that are visual, mobile responsive and interactive. Ishan Jayamanne gives us the lowdown on what it’s like to build websites that make people take notice. What attracted you to web development? It’s one of the most exciting fields in the world, where you’re pretty much guaranteed a good salary, job security, and advancement opportunities.

Tips for anyone interested in becoming a web developer? Firstly, get experience outside of the education system. Find projects to help with, start your own, read up, and apply as much as you can. Even after you get a tertiary qualification, keep reading, learning, and using online tutorials – and experiment!

What do you do on a day-to-day basis? It depends on the employer, but it will usually involve project planning, researching and development, in one way or another. This ranges from adding a new feature to an existing system to starting a whole new development project.

What is your favourite part of the job? Research and development, definitely. The web development industry changes every day because of new technologies, so there’s always something new to learn.

And the most challenging aspect? The hardest part can be finishing a task before the deadline, especially when we are dealing with big projects involving other teams as well.

yamanne

Meet Ishan Ja HOW TO GET THERE Web developer A tertiary qualification in computer science, information systems or web development is useful (but not compulsory) Subjects at school that are helpful include maths, art, graphics and computer studies

Useful experience includes work with computers, computer programming, client or project management, graphic design and desktop publishing.

Check out everything you need to know about the job, how to enter the job and the prospects for employment at careers.govt.nz/web-developer

SNAPSHOT OF THE IT INDUSTRY

12% GROWTH IN JOBS IN THE IT INDUSTRY BETWEEN 2013-2014

80%

OF IT EMPLOYERS PLAN TO HIRE MORE STAFF IN 2015

$49,000 TO $85,000 IS THE

$96,000 TO $140,000 IS THE

SALARY RANGE FOR WEB DEVELOPERS

SALARY RANGE FOR IT MANAGEMENT ROLES

80%

OF IN 2014, TECH PROFESSIONALS RECEIVED A PAY INCREASE

91%

SAY THEIR WORK/LIFE BALANCE IS AVERAGE OR ABOVE AVERAGE

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#NZcareersatsea Imagine yourself cooking on a ferry, catching big snapper as a trawler deckhand, crewing in the Bahamas on a super yacht or being the Captain on the bridge of a 100,000 tonne oil tanker. There’s also careers onshore – maritime officers focus on safety, naval architects design big ships and small whose membership of Ship Owners and Agents, and there’s logistics, support and stevedoring.

support World Maritime Day and encourage all young people to look at career opportunities within the Maritime sector.

Whatever you choose, you won’t be bored. Find subjects you will need to train for your exciting ca

Discover a career at sea… maritimenz.govt.nz/wmd careers.govt.nz

Overseas-based shipping companies operating here in New Zealand need many people with a very wide range of skills. Their jobs are to run the businesses here. That includes business and financial management, sales and marketing, operational and logistical skills to organise ships coming in and out of ports and all the servicing they require.

9/09/15 1:19 pm

Start your career at sea

Fishing Industry > Careers as a Deckhand through to Skipper > Careers as an Engineering Officer through to Chief Engineering Officer • Training towards internationally recognised maritime licences • The latest maritime training resources including navigation and marine engineering simulators, fire-fighting facilities and lifeboats

ENROL NOW 16

iminz.ac.nz (03) 546 2477

Merchant Navy > Careers as a Navigating Officer through to Captain > Careers as an Engineering Officer through to Chief Engineering Officer

IT NAME:

Lucille Matthews

CURRENT ROLE:

IT client software team – product manager SUBJECTS: Economics, Accounting, Maths, Geography, Design and PE

d out which areer at sea.

Description of role and day to day activities: My day to day role can change between product managing, co-ordinating project work and liaising with our national and global Mainfreight Team and customers. As a product manager I am responsible for designing, testing and implementing changes to our software systems. How did you end up in this role and what do you enjoy most about it? I moved from Mainfreight logistics to IT by chance (I have no background studies or knowledge in IT). The opportunity presented itself and I decided to take myself out of my comfort zone and give it a go, since that day I haven’t looked back. I get to use my creative side on a regular basis as well as interact with customers and team from all over the world. It is very rewarding and satisfying to know that I have played a part in developing and improving the software our global and national customers are using. Why do you enjoy working for Mainfreight? Mainfreight as a company, and as a family have always exceeded expectation when it comes to looking after the team. The opportunity from a growth point of view is fair and realistic and you are rewarded for the work you put in. They are very understanding and take a balanced approach to your commitment at Mainfreight by taking into consideration your outside commitments and encourage you to take part in a number of events that they offer to you.

It’s very rare that you can work for such a big company and still feel a sense of belonging. Aspirations for the future: In the future I would love to be a team leader in Mainfreight, to be able to manage a team and get the best out of people would be very rewarding for me. I thrive in a team environment and after learning everything I have to date and now being able to apply it confidently I now have aspirations to help others do the same. I am familiar with the daily challenges of working in IT but I also recognise the sense of fulfilment when you realise you have played a major part in a product launch or successful software going live. I want to be able to create and manage a team environment where this sense of satisfaction can be achieved by everyone.

“

I decided to take myself out of my comfort zone and give it a go, since that day I haven’t looked back.

”

ACCOUNTING

Working towards a bright future Josh Law tells us how an “average day” at Deloitte is anything but that. Working in tax doesn’t mean looking at long, mundane bills; it involves talking to different people all day, every day. Read on to see what else he has to say about working as a Tax Consultant for Deloitte. NAME Josh

Law

ROLE Consultant

in Tax & Private DELOITTE OFFICE Auckland INSTITUTION

University of Auckland

What did you study? A Bachelor of Law and Arts - majored in Commercial Law & Ancient History at Auckland University.

What helped you to successfully complete your course? Having a job to keep my mind off university. I can’t stress enough how important having a part-time job is when studying. I was lucky enough to work at a place with a great team. It really made my five years at law school go a lot faster.

What advice do you have for future students? Think about work experience as early as possible. Get a job as early as possible and be consistent. Work experience shows that you are able to juggle commitments.

DEGREE

Bachelor of Law and Arts - majored in Commercial Law & Ancient History HIGH SCHOOL

Macleans College

Our team often deals with high growth companies. We not only discuss tax issues, but get involved in other areas of their businesses. Many clients are excited about what they do and it’s great to learn about these industries from them.

What opportunities does your job offer?

We asked Josh some questions What is your role at Deloitte? I’m a Tax Consultant in Deloitte Tax and Private at the Auckland office.

To work with the best of the best, secondments to other Deloitte offices in the world, a chance to get involved in events outside of work with awesome people, to work with clients that are changing the world.

What do you do on an average day?

Where do you see yourself heading in the future within this industry?

I look after our client’s day to day tax needs, discuss consulting solutions such as restructures, research unclear areas of tax law, organise Deloitte events (whether they are team or firm-wide) and have a solid amount of banter with my team!

Ideally, I would like to be out managing a team and a client portfolio of my own. This would include going out to meet clients that are driving New Zealand.

What helped you get the role with Deloitte?

What are two pieces of advice you have for anyone wanting to work in the professional services industry?

Part time work is so important. I worked part-time at ASB Bank for five years during university. Over the 2014 - 2015 summer I interned at Deloitte in the Tax Team before being offered a graduate role for the following year.

1 Communication skills are the most important. Working in the

The ability to relate to people is invaluable. You’re constantly communicating with clients, colleagues, managers and partners. You need experience that reflects this before you apply.

2 Get involved with everything. No one likes the person that never

www.twitter.com/deloittegradsnz 18

What is the most exciting thing about your job?

NextStep//ISSUE 4

professional services industry is often a high pressure environment. How you deal and communicate with other people in that environment is incredibly important. joins in, so if you have spare time, whatever opportunities become available, say yes and follow through.

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The kiwifruit industry is full of variety and challenges, so if you enjoy working outdoors, are good at communicating with people and thrive in an ever changing work environment then maybe this is the career path for you!

NAME Samantha

Mansell ROLE Quality Manager at Seeka Industries QUALIFICATIONS Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Level 3 Certificate in Orchard Skills & Level 4 Certificate in Advanced Horticulture. INSTITUTION Bay of Plenty Polytechnic HIGH SCHOOL Te Puke High School

NAME Courtenay ROLE

McBride

Staff Supervisor for Baygold Kiwifruit

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture QUALIFICATIONS

INSTITUTION

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic

HIGH SCHOOL

Homeschooled

When asked how she got into the kiwifruit industry, Samantha laughs and says, “I needed quick money!” But what started off as a simple job of packaging kiwifruit after school soon became an interest she didn’t want to give up on.

With the horticulture industry booming, there is a great range of roles available to young people wanting to get a head start in this career. We spoke to Courtenay McBride, a young lady who grew up within the kiwifruit industry and is now making a career within it!

She studied Orchard Skills and Advanced Horticulture at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic. Her employer, who really believed in her and supported her, rewarded her with a cadetship in 2012. She was paid to study! “I stayed for the variety – it’s not a one direction industry. I did everything on the floor, I’ve worked at the orchard and I’ve worked in auditing and office work. I’m never bored.” All her hard work paid off with a 2012 award as Zespri Top Cadet – an award recognising the go-getters with potential to succeed.

“I was home schooled on a kiwifruit orchard with lots of practical learning,” says Courtenay, who found the practical experience better suited to her learning style. “I started working full time in kiwifruit orchards when I was 15 years old. My uncle, Keiran, graciously employed me and became my teacher.”

Now, Samantha sits as Quality Manager of Bay of Plenty’s Seeka Kiwifruit Industries, overseeing staff and providing support. As one of the youngest (and few) women in the industry, Samantha saw that there needed to be a push to encourage women into this field. She began by being the first woman to partake in the Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower Competition last year. “It was extremely exciting. I was nervous, but I had a lot of support from my workplace.” When the competition came around again this year, Samantha saw that she was no longer the only woman in the competition as she was competing with Courtenay. While the variety and excitement of Samantha’s job has kept her in the industry, she insists it’s not a piece of cake. Samantha’s firm belief is that if you put your head down and make a real effort in work or study, you can really get somewhere.

www.nzkgi.org.nz/careers

HORTICULTURE

Growing a Fruitful career

Fast forward a few years, and Courtenay is now a Staff Supervisor for Baygold Kiwifruit based in Te Puke. “I get the privilege of supervising all the work being done by the Baygold team. This consists of hiring people and training them across a variety of jobs.” The horticulture industry holds an array of available roles, from working outdoors on orchards right through to roles for rural professionals. When asked what it’s like to be a supervisor at such a young age, Courtenay says it has been a great opportunity for her and a lot of learning along the way. Her next challenge will be working her way to an Orchard Manager position. Courtenay’s tips for starting out in the horticulture industry. 1. Learn to work well, because learning to work is just as important as studying. 2. Trial the job if you can. 3. If you enjoy your time on trial, then see if there are ways for you to expand on this, whether it be through promotions, study or both!

Want more info? Go to www.schoolconnect.co.nz

TIPS

to helping your

Pat from Careers New Zealand spoke to Next Step about the best way to support your child through the study to work transition. He insists that starting early is the key to helping your child make the best career choice. Read on to see New Zealand’s best advice for parents with teenagers.

How do you help a child decide between further study and going into the workforce? When discussing career options, it’s best to remember that there’s no “either or” decision to be made. There is a great variety of study and work opportunities available to young people, so any initial decisions can be adapted. Ideally, young people should start to consider their career journey from around Year 10. As a parent, you can encourage this by listening to their ideas and acknowledging any anxieties they may have about their future. There is often great pressure placed on young people when it comes to making decisions about their future, and at a time when they’re only just beginning to transition into adulthood. Therefore, having an open and willing person that they can test out their ideas with can be of great value. Remember that leaving school is a great shift for any young person, and they are very aware of the impact that their decisions at this time could have. Careers conversations should not be singular, but more of an ongoing process. You can begin by asking questions like: “What do you see yourself doing after you’ve finished school?” “What are you really passionate about?” “What are your hobbies/interests?” “Are there any goals that you would like to set?” These questions can help determine which path would be more appropriate and get them starting to think long term about the future and what they are good at. It is once you have answers to these questions that you can begin to work into the “Why” and “How” of the next step. Your own life experiences (with regard to how you transitioned from school to work or further study) offer an alternative perspective for your child to consider. Use your experiences and learning and reflect on how you might have done things differently.

NextStep//ISSUE 4

If they do choose a long-running pathway, help them find as much information as possible to best prepare them for that path. Discussing the perceived versus actual pros and cons of the different options is a good way to get a better idea of whether each option would suit. Remind them that yes, Plan A is great, but there are 25 other letters in the alphabet!

If further study is what my child decides, how do we figure out which learning environment is best? When choosing an institution for further studies there are plenty of things to consider. • Cost – take into consideration the cost of the course and any additional costs for field trips and resources. • Accommodation – will your child live in a hostel, go flatting or live at home? • Learning style – does the institution teach in big lecture theatres or smaller groups? Is there a greater emphasis on practical experience or theoretical/academic work? In 2013, a research study found that around one in five students left university in the first year. One of the best ways to look at it is to regard further education as a “purchase”. At the end of the day it is an expense; so you and your child need to be clear on the outcome that you want. Attending open days together, having work experiences that relate to your child’s career choice, asking people about their jobs and talking to other students about their training experience can all be really helpful activities when you’re thinking about a course.

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What resources are available for students on entry-level roles after high school? There is a mountain of information out there. The SchoolConnect & Careers New Zealand websites provide plenty of information to help you find entry level roles. Gateway coordinators at schools also know much about entry level jobs. Other places to look are TradeMe and community newspapers and magazines. There are also recruitment agencies that are located in a lot of towns and cities. Work and Income is also a good place to look as they cater to a wide range of jobs. You don’t need to register – it’s as simple as going on to the website and looking at vacancies. Also, as mentioned before, some of the best advice comes from employers, so having a chat with them can provide insight into the employment world. Young people do take in advice offered to them by their parents and caregivers. So it comes as no surprise that many recent studies show that parents and caregivers are the biggest influencers on a young person’s decision. This illustrates why it is so important that the influence parents have on their children comes in the form of unfailing support.

Meet Pat C od Careers Ne y from w Zealand What is the best way to equip a child who decides to go straight into work instead of study? One of the best and often successful tools is having a young person working part-time in their area of interest. Even if the role isn’t in their chosen area or is a summer or voluntary job, it teaches young people invaluable experience about work etiquette. Gaining that valuable work experience helps to build a solid work ethic, get good work references and develop networks through friends and family. This in turn opens up their prospects through increased support and opportunities. Home is the best place to start to build up the skills that will help a young person transition into work. Consider giving your children practice with added responsibility, i.e. more chores or having to pay towards their expenses. Having the support of a trusted adult while they transition to this independence means they are not shocked into a completely different way of living, and all the often unspoken rules of work. Encouraging them to go out and get skills such as a driver’s license and first aid certificate is also a good idea as these skills appeal to employers. Talking to an employer you know (such as a family friend) is useful as often information from a secondary source is more likely to stick with your child. Once they do make a decision to go into work, getting their professional outlook and documentation in order is the next step. Checking their CV and cover letters, advising them to “clean up” their social media and texting more professionally are great ways to get started.

Another method you can use to help your child make the right career decision is to use three simple steps: thinking, researching and mapping. Help your child think about what they like/dislike and why, what they are good at and so on. Together, research the options that are available for study and work. Finally, map out the steps your child can take to help them on their way to a career. Another thing to remember is that times have changed significantly since you were their age – so the same rules can’t apply. There are many differences in career options that have risen between then and now. Your child’s career decision should be a joint discussion of sharing thoughts and ideas around aspirations and abilities, not what you think they should be doing. Understandably, it can be just as tough for parents/caregivers, as it is for young people, to help them make these decisions. Overall you should be: • Starting off early to avoid pressure • Doing lots of research using a broad range of information sources • Keeping communication open between you and your child •K nowing the tools and resources that are available online and in your community. As long as you follow these primary guidelines the study to work transition doesn’t have to be so hard.

Bear in mind however, that all of this does not mean that there is no room for further study. Often people will mature through work and return to study later in life.

Check out careers.govt.nz for more information.

Great Webs

ite !

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MARITIME

Discover a Career at Sea Crewing in the Mediterranean, working in New Zealand hospitality and tourism, fishing, earning up to $165,000 per year as a Marine Engineer, managing a ship and its crew as the “Master”, being a trades person or technician, and using business skills – these are just some of the diverse range of maritime careers that offer a variety of lifestyles and career paths.

For those entering the Maritime industry, salaries are competitive and there are opportunities for promotion for men and women to the top of their career. Whether you want to go to sea or work on shore, professional training is available and will continue even while you are working. The qualifications you gain in New Zealand are internationally recognised and well-regarded by employers all over the world. That, combined with a world-wide shortage of staff and the fact that 90 percent of the world’s goods are still carried by sea, means that there are endless reasons to start a maritime career. “For too long, maritime careers have flown under the radar,” says Maritime NZ Director, Keith Manch. “We want to direct more young people to look at the exciting opportunities offered by a maritime career.”

Ceilhe Halpin Maritime Off icer From café duty on Auckland ferries to running a $76m super yacht in the Caribbean, Maritime NZ Maritime Officer, Ceilhe Halpin’s career has taken a winding route to be where he is today. Currently he’s in Tauranga, working with ships’ officers and shipping companies. He is qualified as a Ships Master, and Marine Engineer. “I worked on a 47m sailing yacht travelling between Italy and Cuba, and on a newly-built super yacht in Holland, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. My advice: start as a cadet, it’s easier to go from a big boat to a smaller boat,and don’t wait for an ad – go to companies directly.”

Common roles in the maritime industry include officers, seafarers, deck hands, technical crew (e.g. electricians, engineers, naval architects), hospitality and restaurant staff, stevedores, and people with business skills like logistics, operations, sales and marketing, law, and compliance. New Zealand Shipping Federation Executive Director, Annabel Young says there are great careers in a whole range of different directions – locally, nationally and internationally. “Work in New Zealand includes coastal shipping, Cook Strait ferries, fishing boats, tourist operators and much more. Lifestyles range from being on a very large crude carrier and literally never having to go ashore if you do not want to, to working on a cross-harbour ferry and going home every day. You can travel the world, live at home or have jobs that are a week living onboard and then a week off-duty at home. And, let’s not forget working on luxury yachts in the Mediterranean using an internationally recognised qualification earned in New Zealand. “There is also a whole career stream on shore. There are many land-based jobs at shipping companies for which experience and knowledge gained at sea is a prerequisite.” Shipping New Zealand Vice-President Bryce Fleming says overseas-based shipping companies operating in New Zealand need many people with a wide range of skills. Their jobs are to run the businesses here. That includes business and financial management, sales and marketing, and operational and logistical skills to organise ships coming in and out of port as well as all the servicing they need. To help you learn about these opportunities, the maritime industry is organising a week of activities for career advisors from September 21-27. This will include Careers NZ promoting maritime careers and also working with careers advisors.

NextStep//ISSUE 4

SALARIES AND TRAINING Ships Officers usually earn $60K to $130K per year. Masters on large vessels usually earn $125K to $250K per year. NCEA Level 2 English, Maths, Physics and other sciences are useful, though Level 3 is preferred. Get in early and find out what you need to start training. There is a list of approved training providers at www.maritimenz.govt.nz On the homepage, enter “approved training providers” in the search field.

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Jazzy Yusuf Cabin Attendant

Jazzy Yusuf is a New Zealander who came from Ethiopia. Now she works on the Interislander ferry Kaitaki and loves to showcase New Zealand. Jazzy earned travel and tourism qualifications in New Zealand, and had on the job training in firefighting, water drills, crowd control and first aid. “For many people, especially from overseas, this crossing is a once in a lifetime experience. I have the privilege of doing it every day. I have been trained, I am paid well, and I have good career opportunities. “If you like travel, and meeting people, then this is a great career.”

MARITIME

#NZcareersatsea

Cate Heil Foreign Going Ship’s Master

Ollie Muller Engineer

With a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering under his belt, Ollie Muller went to sea. Today, he is Second Engineer and relief Chief Engineer on the Bluebridge ferry, Strait Feronia. His job is to keep the ship going and the freight and passengers moving, working all around the ship. “I am a yachtie - the sea is my hobby and passion. My job gives me the best of home and sea. I live on board for two weeks, then I am home for two weeks.” “I do an engineering job I really enjoy and have a fantastic view! What could be better than that?”

Maritime NZ’s Cate Heil always planned on working at sea. “It never occurred to me that I would do anything else, or that being a woman would have any bearing on my plans.” Cate completed an engineering qualification, then became a cadet: “Maths and physics are fundamental. Many learn algebra – in navigation you use it.” She has worked on North Sea supply vessels and English Channel ferries, sailed the world on container ships and in the Royal Navy, become a Foreign Going Ship’s Master, taught as a nautical lecturer, and is now at Maritime NZ.

Whatever you choose, you won’t be bored. Find out which subjects you will need to train for your exciting career at sea.

Discover a career at sea… maritimenz.govt.nz/wmd careers.govt.nz

Want more info? Go to www.schoolconnect.co.nz

A Picture of Employment A Snapshot of New Zealand Graduates Approximately one third of New Zealand secondary school leavers continue on to university. Aside from the debate around the purpose of continued education, academic enrichment versus employment outcomes, this survey aims to paint a picture of what successful graduates recently employed into some of New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest businesses look like.

With over 500 successful graduates surveyed a number of interesting trends become very clear, while other trends disprove common myths about obtaining graduate employment.

UNIVERSITY SPLIT FOR EMPLOYMENT A common point of discussion is the success of graduates from different universities in the employment market. It is often perceived that the university you attend will have a significant impact on your ability to find a graduate job. While there is an element of truth in this, all statistics must be taken in context.

Survey respondents are graduates predominantly employed in the business world or central government, with limited exposure to the education, health, design and hospitality and tourism sectors.

TABLE OF DISTRIBUTION OF NZ STUDENTS BY UNIVERSITY % University of Auckland

25%

AUT University

15%

The University of Auckland will logically have a higher representation of successful graduates employed based on having the highest student enrolment numbers of all tertiaries in New Zealand.

Massey University

14%

University of Otago

14%

However as the graph shows the University of Auckland still outperforms their competitors with the largest amount of successful graduates. This 6% difference is primarily made up by the large proportion of successful engineering graduates (42%) and commerce graduates (53%) from the University of Auckland.

Victoria University

13%

University of Canterbury

University of Waikato

Lincoln University

Also interesting was that Otago University law graduates represented 41% of those law graduates in graduate positions who completed the survey.

UNIVERSITY GRADUATED FROM WHERE DID THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS STUDY? 3% 2%

DEGREE BREAKDOWN

Once a secondary student has made the decision to pursue further study and enrol at university, their area of study has generally been decided for one of two reasons. Either a student will have their heart set on particular vocation from a young age, or they will have chosen based on their interests during high school. Very seldom are these new students considering how their chosen path will directly affect their employment opportunities. This is beginning to change, however more focus still needs to be placed on the skills that are being learnt from a students degree choice, as well as the employment opportunities open to them on the completion of their degree.

31% 8%

11%

19%

Other

Lincoln

17%

AUT

University of Canterbury

University of Waikato University of Otago

Massey University Victoria University

Universtiy of Auckland

NextStep//ISSUE 4

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Accounting firms are New Zealands largest graduate employers taking on

over 500

graduates every year.

DEGREE BREAKDOWN

WHAT DEGREE THE GRADUATES STUDIED Bachelor of Commerce/Business 54%

Bachelor of Laws 15%

Bachelor of Arts 15%

Bachelor of Engineering 14%

Bachelor of Science 14%

Bachelor of Information Technology/Computer Science

Other 17%

Percentage

While 54% of this group of successful graduates completed a commerce degree, the employers represented in this survey are some of New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest businesses. These businesses operate in the commercial world where they generally have roles and jobs for those with business knowledge and qualifications.

TOP COMMERCE MAJORS

The other key driver supporting commerce degrees is that large accounting professional services firms are New Zealandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest graduate employers, collectively taking on over 500 graduates and interns every year. A further point of interest is the numbers who have completed double degrees. 92% of those completing a law degree also completed another Bachelors degree. 46% of law graduates second degree was an arts degree and 35% a commerce degree. Interestingly, 93% of all those who had completed a Bachelor of arts also had another degree, while only 28% of commerce graduates had a double degree.

TOP COMMERCE MAJORS With commerce/business degrees making up over 50% of respondents, a closer look at their specific majors indicates 55% have an accounting major, 26% finance, 23% commercial law, 16% economics and to round off the top five 15% a management major.

Accounting

Finance

Information Systems

Economics Tax

Management

International Business

Human Resources

Marketing e-commerce

Property

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WHAT CITY ARE GRADUATES IN AUCKLAND

50%

WELLINGTON

24%

CHRISTCHURCH HAMILTON

MANAWATU OTHER

11%

LOCATION Given the centre of Government is in Wellington and the majority of New Zealand’s largest companies with head office’s are in Auckland it is not surprising that 74% of graduates are located in these two cities. This is one area that is significantly influenced by the base of survey respondents. With limited education, health and hospitality & tourism graduates captured in this survey there are a number of regions that are missed. Looking specifically at the two largest groups of respondent’s law and commerce are above average in their representation into New Zealand’s two centres. 89% of law graduates and 78% of commerce graduates are based in either Auckland or Wellington. Not surprisingly when looking at engineering graduates, Christchurch makes an appearance, with 30% of engineering graduates based down South. However Auckland still dominates as the location of employed engineering graduates, with 60% of them based there.

What A Graduate Looks Like GRADES Grades are a much-discussed aspect of tertiary study. Everyone asks students about their grades, from their friends to their grandparents. However, for many graduates the question on their minds is “How much influence do my grades have on the success of my application and employment prospects?” The snapshot of these successful graduates shows that grades matter, but employers do not just hire A-grade students. 53% of the students surveyed, representing graduates at many of New Zealand’s top businesses, had a grade average of B+ (generally a B+ is 75-79%) or lower. This is consistent across both law and commerce graduates with over 50% having a B+ average or lower. Engineering is slightly more competitive with only 44% having a grade average of B+ or lower. The number of students successfully securing graduate jobs without having A+ grades is consistent with the message that employers are trying to convey to students – it is about your all round ability and participation in conjunction with your academic achievement that matters. All in all, C’s may get degrees but they very rarely get you a graduate job in today’s employment market!

NextStep//ISSUE 4

GRADES

GRADES ACHIEVED BY GRADUATES 4%

2% 13%

16%

30%

32%

A+

A-

B+

B-

C+

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POST GRADUATE STUDY POST GRADUATE STUDY

POSTGRADUATE STUDY

POSTGRADUATE STUDY?

Whether or not to do post graduate study will be beneficial in a graduates job hunt is a common question asked in today’s graduate employment market. Overall it is quite clear to see that the majority of those in this survey have not completed any form of post-graduate study. The undertaking of post-graduate study often falls into the debate around academic enrichment versus employment outcomes.

36% 36%

INTERNSHIP/CLERKSHIP YES YES

For law, engineering and commerce graduates in this survey each group had a lower representation of post-graduate study than the average. Law was the lowest with on 25% having completed post-graduate study. Science and arts graduates significantly drag up the average, with 50% of science graduates and 47% of arts graduates having completed postgraduate study.

DID GRADUATES COMPLETE AN INTERNSHIP/CLERKSHIP INTERNSHIP/CLERKSHIP?

Overall, the common perception that you need to have completed post-graduate study in order to obtain a graduate job is a myth.

OTHER THAN STUDY

INTERNSHIPS/CLERKSHIPS

39%

61%61% Yes Yes

WHATOTHER THAN STUDY THE GRADUATES DID OTHER THAN STUDY

60 80

70 60

Part-time work Part-time work

One of the most interesting pieces of information to come out of this survey is the number of successful students who participated in co-curricular activities whilst studying. The standout is the 83% of respondents that worked part-time throughout, or at some point, during their studies. Travel, participating in social sports and volunteering/ charity work were the three further standouts, all of which paint a great picture of the graduates coming out of our universities. These results add significant weight to employers’ stance that being a successful graduate isn’t all about grades. The majority of employers look for well-rounded young people who have shown the ability to juggle multiple activities while studying.

Played competitive sport

14%

14% 14%

29% 14%

38%

Played Social Sport Played Social Sport

Voluntary or charity work Voluntary or charity work

OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

38%

48% 48%

57%

55%

10 0

57%

Percentage

83%

When looking closer at the different degree bases, 90% of engineering graduates completed an internship. This is not unexpected given the approximate 800 hours of work experience required to complete an engineering degree. 78% of law graduates completed a summer clerkship (the legal version of an internship), while only 55% of commerce graduate completed an internship.

83%

Percentage

Internships are the practice of bringing in students at the end of their penultimate year for a three-month period of work over the summer. It is a great way for students to get an understanding of not only an organisation but also the type of work they would be doing in a graduate role. The two major benefits of undertaking an internships lay in the ability to go through the recruitment process a year earlier, as well as gaining valuable practice both in terms of work experience and experiencing working life. Those participating in internships have a great advantage over a large portion of the graduate market, considering approximately 50% of students do not begin their employment search until their final year of study. For many interns, proving their worth over summer can result in a fast-tracked position in a graduate programme.

NoNo

29%

One of the lesser known aspects of the graduate employment market is summer internships and clerkships. In New Zealand, all of the of the large professional services firms, as well as a lot of the large corporate businesses run internship programmes.

Travelled Travelled

Member of s student society Member of s student society International exchange

International exchange

Office holder of a student society

While only a snapshot, this data paints an interesting picture of a group of graduates who have found graduate jobs in their desired fields. It is clear that when looking at the graduates hired by New Zealand’s largest graduate employers, the majority are based in Auckland or Wellington. They are from a variety of degree backgrounds but with a significant representation by commerce degrees. Finally, these results show that it is a well rounded student, rather than a A+ student that are making their way into New Zealand graduate jobs.

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ENGINEERING

CCRREREAEATTING NG OUR TO OU T MORR RRO RR ROW OW ALEX OOSTHUIZEN

Role: Civil Engineering Cadet Study: Diploma in Engineering (Civil) What attracted you to a cadetship with Opus?

“While at high school I was initially attracted to the idea of a Cadetship with Opus because it enabled me to study while earning a full-time salary and be debt-free on completion of my studies. The Opus Cadetship was a brilliant opportunity to supplement my education with on-the-job experience, giving my studies depth and a fuller meaning. This experience would put me in a better position than if I had studied full-time.” Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

What attracted to a cadetship with “The Opusyou Cadetship has allowed me Opus? to become

immersed in various disciplines, to be While at high school I was initially attracted to thehelping idea of ame Cadetship with Opusabecause it enabledEngineer me to study while earning a full-time well-rounded who understands the salary andchallenges be debt-free faced on completion of myfistudies. The Opus in different elds. This has also Cadetshipenabled was a brilliant opportunity supplement my education me to make an to informed decision aboutwith the on-the-job experience, giving my studies depth and a fuller meaning. area that I will specialise in. Now that I have nearly This experience would put me in a better position than if I had studied full-time. completed the Diploma in Civil Engineering, Opus is willing to continue to sponsor me as I plan to

Where return do youtosee yourself in 5 years? university to complete the remainder of the The OpusBachelor Cadetship has allowed me to become immersed various of Engineering. Although I will in never stop disciplines,learning, helping me to be a5well-rounded Engineer who fi understands within years I expect to have nished my the challenges faced in differentand fields. This has also enabledbecoming me to formal education be working towards make an informed decision about the area that I will specialising specialise in. Now a Chartered Professional Engineer, as a that I have nearly completed the Diploma in Civil Engineering, Opus is Structural Engineer.” willing to continue to sponsor me as I plan to return to university to complete the remainder of the Bachelor of Engineering. Although I will What advice could you offer students considering never stop learning, within 5 years I expect to have finished my formal a career in Engineering? educationpursuing and be working towards becoming a Chartered Professional Engineer, specialising Structural Engineer. “Choosingas aa career while at high school can be a

challenging inoffer itself. students Any Engineer would tell What advice couldtask you considering you to take physics and calculus at high school and pursuing a career in Engineering? you should definitely take this advice, but I also

Choosing suggest a career while at high school can be a challenging task in getting involved somehow in the industry itself. Any Engineer would tell you to take physics and calculus at high to see if it’s right for you. For me, a week of work school and you should definitely take this advice, but I also suggest experience in my holidays I was getting involved somehow in the industry was to seeallif it it’stook right and for you. convinced. areinsomy many diffwas erent of I For me, a week of work There experience holidays all ittypes took and engineering engineering related disciplines was convinced. There areand so many different types of engineering and that it’s easy to get overwhelmed a bit confused. engineering related disciplines that it’s easy to get and overwhelmed and a bit confused. worry if you’renot notentirely entirely sure yet, butbut try to Don’tDon’t worry if you’re sure yet, try to become immersed a range of disciplines find something you become inimmersed in a rangetoof disciplines to fireally nd love. No matter what stage of learning you arematter at, makewhat sure there’s something you really love. No stage always an aspect of fun, and something to keep your mind engaged when the calculus gets tedious.

of learning you are at, make sure there’s always an aspect of fun, and something to keep your mind engaged when the calculus gets tedious.”

Role: Civil Engineering Cadet

What is a usual day at the “office” for you?

Study: Diploma in Engineering (Civil)

“Wow this is a tough question, every day is so different! I generally try to get out on site on the days when the weather is good. A typical site day for me usually consists of several site inspections, water sampling and analysis, although sometimes I spend the day carrying out bridge inspections with a colleague. Days on site always go quickly, although What is athey’re usuallonger day atthan thea“office” for you? often day in the offi ce. When on site, I’m usually processing dataI generally and WowI’m this not is a tough question, every day is so different! try reports on laboratory the site to getwriting out on site on thebased days when the weather results is good. and A typical ” information collected fromsite site. day for me usually consists of several inspections, water sampling and analysis, although sometimes I spend the day carrying out bridge Whatwith is italike managing working full and inspections colleague. Days on site always gotime quickly, although oftenstudying? they’re longer than a day in the office. When I’m not on site, I’m usually processing data and writing reports based on laboratory results “Being motivated and having good time management and the information collected from site.

are both key to studying while working full-time.

What is semester it like managing working full time Last I was able to do four papers (theand studying? equivalent of full-time study) while still holding

all of my responsibilities at work.are I’llboth be the Beingdown motivated and having good time management key to fi rst to admit it was a challenge and I didn’t studying while working full-time. Last semester I was able have to do four papers (the equivalent of life, full-time while stillsatisfaction holding downofall of much of a social but study) I’ll have the my responsibilities work. I’lldebt-free, be the first with to admit it was a of challenge finishing myatstudies a wealth work and I experience, didn’t have much a social life, but of I’ll years have the satisfaction andofonly a couple later than of finishing my studies debt-free, with a wealth of work experience, most of my peers who went to university. Having and only a couple of years later than most of my peers who went to colleagues who are also studying is definitely a big university. Having colleagues who are also studying is definitely a big help as we able toideas bounce ideas offand each other help as we are ableare to bounce off each other study together together after professionals work. We also have industry after and work.study We also have industry around us who are around us are happy tostudies. answerAtany happyprofessionals to answer any questions we who have relating to our the end of the day though, it’s up to each to student to decideAt how much questions we have relating our studies. the endthey take on semester. of each the day though, it’s up to each student to decide how much they take on each semester.”

JOIN US TODAY

OPUSOpus CADETSHIPS ARE NOW OPEN!open! Please apply online at cadetships are now PLEASE APPLY ONLINE AT www.opus.co.nz/careers WWW.OPUS.CO.NZ/CAREERS Before the 30th September 2015 BEFORE THE 20TH SEPTEMBER 2015 Want more info? Go to www.schoolconnect.co.nz Want more info? Go to www.schoolconnect.co.nz

29 35

KNOW YOU’LL BE INSPIRED

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is a great place to “studyVictoria an arts degree.Wellington is the heart of government and a cauldron of bubbling creativity and culture. Hagen Neumegen

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CONSTRUCTION

FLETCHERS ATTRACT GRADS WITH BLIND FAITH When you’re a grad, finding a job can be intimidating. All those interviews with suited strangers, those desperate nights trying to flesh your CV into something that would make you stand out from the crowd, then being painfully aware that you could still be passed over for reasons that don’t even seem to make sense. The truth of the matter is, in reality, unconscious bias often plays a role in recruitment. Usually, graduate recruitment campaigns are no exception to this, but now one of NZ’s biggest companies has dedicated itself to addressing the issue, head-on. Fletcher Building is one of NZ’s largest listed companies and they’re known for their creative, innovative graduate recruitment campaigns. As well as attracting the best and brightest our universities have to offer, Fletcher Building are determined to address the unconscious bias that so often slips into the day-to-day recruitment process. And their approach to this year’s campaign certainly didn’t disappoint in the ‘uniqueness’ stakes. You see, they decided to build their candidate shortlists completely blind. That’s right - they removed the identifying features from each application so they could filter through and create shortlists based on merit and fit, not being swayed by any unconscious cultural, gender or appearance bias.

So why is this a big deal?

Well, unconscious bias is a very real thing. We all have it, and at some level it can be useful when dealing with the world around us. But when it comes to recruitment, those handling the process need to find ways to make the unconscious conscious so that they can assess potential employees on a fair and even playing field.

So how does blind recruitment work, exactly?

The 2015 Fletcher Building graduate campaign was based around a series of activities designed to assess how well candidates will fit the company culture and the roles themselves. Nothing revolutionary about that so far. What is special though, is that the culture fit activities were done first. Candidates applied through a Weirdly quiz – a very clever and cool software that asks creative and interesting questions that reveal an applicant’s key personality traits and automatically ranks them according to their fit with Fletcher’s brand values and organisational culture. Names, photos, contact details – anything that could possibly be used to uncover a candidate’s identity were obscured and hidden so even the recruiters didn’t know who they were looking at. Candidate #241 was just as likely to be Jean Valjean, as Jimmy from Wellington. The top 100 were then sent off, personal details still hidden, to psychometric testing. They were assessed, their candidate profile fleshed out with more detailed insights and a 50-person shortlist selected. That 50 were then asked to film a short video which was also altered to hide the applicant’s identity. Only at that point were the identities revealed and the top 30 put through face-to-face interviews and skills assessments. With over 600 applicants (that’s a 138% increase on the number of 2014 applicants), this grad campaign was unlike any other campaign seen in NZ. The very act of acknowledging that unconscious bias is a challenge, and looking for a solution to it, means Fletcher Building can be aware and watch for those biases creeping in further down the track when identities are revealed. It’s a bold, brave, revolutionary move – one that’s got graduates all around the country very excited.

LEADERSHIP

are the key to ‘SOFT SKILLS’ jobseekers getting a foot in the door With a scant employment history and no experience to speak of, ‘soft skills’ are more vital than ever in securing a job for first timers and school leavers.

For graduates, having a personal development course like Outward Bound on their CV, and being able to talk about their learning experience, is a great way of demonstrating that they have the potential to be a productive and reliable team member.

Often school leavers will have little or no work history and their skills are limited to academic achievements and while important, exam results do not give a potential employer the full picture. Enter soft skills; grit, confidence, communication, teamwork, leadership and planning - all intrinsic to a successful career and all found in course programmes offered by organisations such as Outward Bound.

The courses are designed for people to reach their potential through challenges in the outdoors, using the mountains, bush and waterways of the Marlborough Sound as classrooms. The eight and 21 day courses are designed for people aged 16 and up, to unlock potential and find direction - perfectly suited to job-seekers, first time employees and people looking to step up the ladder in their career.

Outward Bound works with expert facilitators to support the indoor learning aspect of their programmes and Tania Gough from Savvy at Work is one of these people. She helps Gen Y transition into the workforce and says that employers are looking for more than good grades.

Participants learn to challenge their limits, gain independence and work as a team. Time in the bush also provides them with an opportunity to reflect and discover what drives them and can help determine their future direction.

She believes employers looking to recruit graduates generally want people who have a positive attitude, a good work ethic, are able communicators and team players.

What Outward Bound gives people is the opportunity to gain an armoury of transferable skills including problem solving capabilities, leadership, exploring outside your comfort zone, managing people, collaboration and confidence. Skills that are equally important for those looking for work and those who are years down the track in a company.

Tania asserts that attending an Outward Bound programme helps grow a person’s self-awareness and self-management skills which underpin emotional intelligence, or the “soft skills”, that employers look for.

Martin Draper from BETA, the alliance of training organisations for the built environment industry, agrees. He advocates that many BETA participants return from Outward Bound better able to supervise teams having developed greater openness, maturity and an ability to manage conflict more effectively. Their own research has proven the programme provides an effective leadership development process across the spectrum of management and leadership. [1] The soft skills that a person can develop from attending an Outward Bound course gives them an advantage, which is an asset in today’s competitive job market - and in life. For information, call 0800 OUTWARD or see www.outwardbound.co.nz [1] BETA Outward Bound. An analysis of the impact of Outward Bound on apprentices. Authors; Martin Draper and Justin Kimberley 2014. Research commissioned by BETA and part funded by Ako Aotearoa.

SPORT

Whitecliffe graduates are articulate, innovative creative thinkers with broad skills and a high level of industry standard technical proficiency. They create powerful and compelling visual expressions of their ideas, are leaders in the creative industries, and shape contemporary culture.

Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, established in 1982 and located in Auckland, is an awardwinning, independent arts and design school producing the highest quality graduates.

• • • • • •

Eden Arts Art School Top Award 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015, Eden Arts Young Artist Award Australasian Graduate of the Year 2014 (AGOTYA) Fashion Design Australasian Graduate of the Year 2014 (AGOTYA) Visual Communication AgIdeas Best. Among other Best Awards Whitecliffe students have won Gold and Silver Awards in the 2014 competitions For full details please see http://www.whitecliffe.ac.nz/awards/

Whitecliffe provides an innovative and rewarding environment with low student-to-lecturer ratios that enable lecturers to focus on the individual needs of students. The programmes are taught by practising artists, designers, educators and researchers who have a passion for art and teaching that inspires and encourages creativity. As well as developing Individual creative talents, students learn critical thinking, research, communication and presentation skills, and take courses in Business, Management, PR and Marketing to support the transition from study to work. The vibrant student community of 480 students is exposed to the contemporary arts and design world through exhibitions, international guests and industry professionals. Independence, creativity and risk-taking are strongly encouraged within Whitecliffe programmes from foundation to postgraduate level. The FOUNDATION Certificate has two intakes per year and enables students to create a portfolio which assists in meeting requirements for entry into degree level study. FINE ARTS, PHOTO MEDIA, FASHION DESIGN and GRAPHIC DESIGN are offered within the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Certificate and Diploma exit qualifications available at the successful completion of each year. The Postgraduate, low residency programmes include FINE ARTS, ARTS THERAPY and ARTS MANAGEMENT.

http://whitecliffe.ac.nz/whitecliffe/prospectus/

L-R: Karma Scretching, Keewin Fam, Victoria Cullington, Suhee Kang

Get the Whitecliffe Edge

OUT OF

SURVEYING

GET YOUR

If variety is the spice of your life become a quantity surveyor! Quantity surveyors are the construction cost professionals who measure and estimate the cost of resources for construction projects. There’s never a dull moment in this profession where you could end up working in New Zealand or overseas on diverse projects such as bridges, roads, and tunnels; buildings from major projects like hospitals and high-rises; whole houses or bathrooms and kitchens. You will need to be able to think logically and analytically to solve problems. You will also need ‘people’ skills as well—being a good communicator with negotiation and relationship management skills. Mostly, you will have a passion for building and construction.

Becoming a quantity surveyor Secondary school subjects should include maths and science subjects and may include English, computing or economics. You will then need to study at tertiary level and either gain a National Diploma in Quantity Surveying (NDQS) or one of two Bachelor’s Degrees in Quantity Surveying.

Marley Surveyor QUALIFICATION Diploma in Sports Management and Coaching National Diploma in Quantity Surveying INSTITUTION Otago Polytechnic HIGH SCHOOL Wakatipu High School

Industry Information

The construction industry in New Zealand continues to be strong with a booming residential building sector in Auckland and the ongoing reconstruction of Christchurch city. In a recent Statistics New Zealand Income Survey in 2014 it showed the average income for a quantity surveyor as $78,000.

New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors

The New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors is the leading professional body of quantity surveyors with over 1700 members. We provide networking, industry advocacy, professional development, registration, and accreditation of education for quantity surveyors.

NAME Rebecca

NAME Shane

ROLE Quantity

What advice would you give to students who are choosing a career? Avoid being a slave to the ordinary, leave ordinary behind. Growing up I had a large range of career ambitions which all fitted in with the ordinary. I studied, graduated and began working with the ordinary, and soon lost interest.

What job opportunities have you had so far as a QS? I worked for Beca Wellington after one year of studies. I was then transferred to Beca Christchurch as a result of the Canterbury Earthquakes. I now work for an Insurance Litigation Firm, Risk Worldwide in Christchurch. I am in a critical stage of my career where I have many opportunities to diversify and progress. Quantity Surveying can be extremely versatile in terms of career change; I would never have imagined that I would be where I am now.

Annabel

Surveyor National Diploma in Quantity Surveying at Open Polytechnic INSTITUTION Victoria University QUALIFICATION Bachelor of Architectural Studies HIGH SCHOOL Wanganui High School CURRENTLY STUDYING

Why did you choose quantity surveying as a career? I studied and completed a Bachelor of Architectural Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, although not with the goal of becoming a QS mind you. It was only a guest lecturer that would spark my interest in Quantity Surveying and help me down the path.

What do you enjoy about being a QS? I really enjoy working within the construction industry where I can draw on my degree, but more than that, I enjoy being in an industry where no two jobs are the same. The industry seems to be constantly changing and evolving, presenting new situations, obstacles and opportunities every day.

For more information on what a Quantity Surveyor does, what qualifications you need, where you can study, and about the NZIQS, visit: www.nziqs.co.nz

Want more info? Go to www.schoolconnect.co.nz

MARITIME

Getting students into great jobs with the New Zealand Maritime School Matthew Hope-Johnson is a Marine Engineer for Holland America Line and a student at the New Zealand Maritime School. What did you study at the New Zealand Maritime School (NZMS)? I’m in the last two months of a three year diploma in Marine Engineering. At the end I’ll have a Certificate of Competency in large merchant vessels.

What made you choose to study at the NZMS? The programme sets you up for a wide range of jobs – you can work in just about any job to in the marine industry, on ship and on land.

How do you think the NZMS helped in equipping you for the workforce? As part of our training we have to do six months of sea time, which gives you real world work experience. Our lecturers are all from the industry – we learn subjects like maths and physics, but they make it relevant to marine engineering, so it means you get the knowledge you need for the real world.

What advice would you give to a student thinking about coming to study with NZMS? If you’re looking for a job that lets you travel the world and pays well, definitely consider a career in maritime. It’s not always glamorous, you have to get stuck in and work hard, but it’s an awesome job. I couldn’t think of anything better to do.

Where do you currently work and what does this involve?

NAME Matthew

I’m a Marine Engineer for Holland America Line. We’re basically in charge of anything mechanical on the cruise ship. For example, we make sure there’s plenty of fresh water generated, that the propulsion is right, we’re working on an engine the size of a building and maintaining the high voltage levels - there’s so many things we do.

CURRENTLY STUDYING Diploma

Working on a cruise line, we get the opportunity to visit amazing places – I’ve been to Alaska, Canada, down the east and west coasts of America, through the Panama Canal, and around Asia. All our travel is paid for, so it’s a great way to see the world.

ROLE Marine

Hope-Johnson

Engineer

in Marine Engineering INSTITUTION New

Zealand Maritime School

HIGH SCHOOL

Macleans College

EMBARK ON YOUR MARITIME CAREER. Get the skills and practical hands-on experience to be a highly sought after marine electro-technology engineer, marine engineer or navigating officer. To find out more come along to our Open Day Tuesday 29 September 2015, 10am – 3pm. nzmaritime.com | 0800 744 722 36

NZM058_1

FASHION

NZ Fashion Tech has been a leader in Fashion Education since 1995. We believe in taking our students’ passions and interests and teaming them up with the right technical skills for a successful career in the Fashion Industry. For many years NZ Fashion Tech has exclusively partnered with leading NZ brands that have led to our students participating in special projects. The learning experience is extraordinary and the exposure invaluable. To date we have partnered with Kleenex® Cottonelle®, NZ Red Cross, Fuji Xerox, Resene and Bannari Amman. Visit our website to see more - www.nzfashiontech.ac.nz This year marks our second successful partnership with Resene - embarking on the 2015 Resene NZ Fashion Tech Colour of Fashion project. Our Auckland and Wellington Diploma students each selected their vibrantly coloured fabric from 50 hand woven silks sourced from Dhoddampalayam village in south India. During the project the students worked on their designs, creating a storyboard to be presented to the Academic Director and tutors for approval; then they made their toile, which tests their pattern and design; and finally they took the nerveracking step to cut their fabric and expertly construct each garment. Finally, Judging Day arrived. Among the judges was designer Doris de Pont, who was impressed with the quality and inventiveness.

Ultimately, ten garments were chosen to open 4 Resene Designer Selection Shows at New Zealand Fashion Week, 6 looks were featured in the NZ Next magazine as well as articles in the NZ Herald and Dominion Post. These opportunities for emerging designers, while studying, is beyond exciting. Appearing on TVNZ’s Breakfast Show, two NZ Fashion Tech students expressed what this opportunity meant to them saying “It is so amazing for all of us.” “It’s a really great opportunity that Resene and NZ Fashion Tech have given us and fantastic for our careers.” Following last year’s success, NZ Fashion Tech were again granted the Prime Ministers’ Scholarship for Asia and this time twenty extremely lucky students will spend 5 weeks at the end of the year at Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, travelling through India, learning about the origins of fabric and re-creating their looks. This whole experience from beginning to end has once more exceeded expectations!

Certificate in Fashion Technology Certificate in Pattern Design

(LEVEL 3)

(LEVEL 4)

Diploma in Fashion Technology

(LEVEL 5)

NZ Fashion Tech Diploma Students begin their Resene NZ Fashion Tech Colour of Fashion project.

“

I DON’T DO FASHION I AM FASHION

”

COCO CHANEL

NZ Fashion Tech

ENROL NOW FOR 2016

Thinking about what to study? With over 150 programmes on offer, we can help you find your success.

ENQUIRE NOW at unitec.ac.nz We make the people who make it

YOUR

TOOLKIT

FOR SUCCESS

SchoolConnect talks with secondary school career experts, Pam Keegan, Lorraine Jackson and Nicole Bailey about how to effectively plan for a future following high school.

Making decisions ab out what you’re going to do when you leave school can be stres sful at times, but it doesn’t need to be.

PAM KEEGAN

HEAD OF CAREERS AND TRANSITION SANCTA MARIA COLLEGE

Here’s what career planning might look like:

end, and you’re School comes to an with a million one student faced tions. So how do study and career op th to take? you know which pa

• Confusion • Exploring and comparing careers and/or study options

LORRAINE JACKSON

• Prioritising the options

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT, CAREERS ONEHUNGA HIGH SCHOOL

• Deciding and Acting.

Here are some tips:

What stage are you up to? Take time to research what’s out there and what fits your personality, skills, values and interests.

A few pointers I share with my students: •Y ou’re not planning what you’re going to do with the rest of your life – just the next steps •W ork out broad areas you’re interested in and keep all career options open while you refine your ideas •G et out there and try out the jobs first by getting some work experience •R esearch, talk to people, go to career events, and don’t leave it to the last minute to start career planning.

ut your cisions abo e d e ak m raid to orthwhile Don’t be af ation is a w ic if al u q y n on ice. A ange directi career cho ’s okay to ch it d an , ry ia ce n rt experie our first te u have to. Y later on if yo bably won’t n most pro qualificatio . be your last

NICOLE BAILEY

CAREERS ADVISOR (KAITOHUTOHU) MIDDLETON GRANGE SCHOOL

• Know yourself. Spend time thinking through your strengths, weaknesses, passions and beliefs. The more you know about yourself, the better decisions you can make, both in your studies and work. • Discover your talents. The skills we’re naturally good at help us to do what we’re passionate about and find careers where we can really excel. Don’t forget to cultivate those talents into strengths! • Discover your purpose. Once you discover your purpose in life, all your actions, talents and passions will have meaning, and you’ll be confident with where you’re heading. Self-awareness leads to success. Put these tips into action, and soon you’ll find yourself in a career where you’re having fun while changing the world.

Finished school and looking into further study? Here are a few helpful tips: Choose a degree that combines the world’s needs with your strengths and values. Do what you’re really passionate about, but be realistic at the same time. If you love animals but you have a hard time with Science, then a Veterinary Science degree might not be your best option. Some school subjects are hard or impossible to pick up later, so make sure you ask your career advisor which subjects you need to take to get into your desired course. Use all the opportunities you have at school: sport, leadership, cultural events, work experience – and, of course, your career advisor!

Want more info? Go to www.schoolconnect.co.nz

SPORT In the Picture: Hannah McLeod Degree Student Former Iona College Student Hawkes Bay

What do you currently study? I am currently studying a Bachelor in Applied Science. What pathway have you taken to get to this point? I started at The New Zealand Institute of Sport (NZIS) studying the Diploma in Sport Management and Exercise Prescription in 2013. After my first year of study, I choose the direction of Exercise Prescription for the Advanced Diploma. My tutors were a great help in deciding what the best pathway was for me and it’s great that NZIS gives you the opportunity for higher learning. The structure of the programmes mean that I didn’t have to commit towards my bachelors until I knew it was right for me. How would you describe your experience at NZIS? It has been great, I have very much enjoyed my time studying with NZIS. The tutors are really helpful and actually make the effort to be there for you; the students build a really good relationship with their tutors. I loved all the physical stuff, we are taught very practically. It feels like it’s a big family!

What is/was your favourite class? Exercise Prescription. I love being fit, being healthy and I love food. This course teaches about what to eat, what not to eat and when to eat if you are preparing for a big sports event or just regular training. It’s great! What are your plans for next year? At the moment, I’m working on a healthy eating cook book and I’d love to open up my own restaurant someday: all about healthy eating. I would love to combine the restaurant with a gym, to help people live a healthy life style, teaching about exercise and food. What does your day look like? Since I’ve been doing the degree, it’s been very different than before - this is a self-study degree. I’m not in class as much as I used to. I do miss that, all the practical components we had at NZIS and our class was like a family. It was great to spend the afternoon in the gym, learning about exercise and correct techniques. It’s been a lot more theoretical lately - which is of course what I choose to do and I’ve learned so much, like how to write academically.

NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF SPORT Largest Provider in the Fitness, Sport and Recreation Industry www.nzis.ac.nz

HEALTH

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NextStep//ISSUE 4

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AGRICULTURE

Animals + Science =

CAREER OPTIONS!

Holly Phillips Currently Bachelor of Science Honours (Agricultural Science) graduating 2016 Previously Bachelor of Science double major (Animal Science and Agricultural Science) Studying a double major in animal science and agricultural science allowed self-proclaimed horse lover Holly Phillips to combine her two passions – animals and science. Two majors may seem like a challenge, but for the ex-Wellingtonian, it was the perfect choice. She says she was first drawn to Massey University because of its reputation in agriculture and the variety of related courses sealed the deal. “I came to the open day in Year 13, and Massey had a great atmosphere – both the staff and students were helpful and welcoming. I was able to select the course that was right for me and I haven’t looked back.” Part of the appeal was getting outside the classroom and learning by doing. “My favourite part of my undergraduate degree was being able to apply what we learnt in lectures to actual on-farm situations by having multiple field trips and talking to farmers.” For Holly, campus life made the degree even more enjoyable. “Agriculture students are a tight-knit community. The university halls and clubs such as Young Farmers were great to be a part of and definitely enhanced my university experience.” Two majors has opened up a huge variety of career options throughout the agriculture sector – both on and off the farm, she says. “Agriculture is such a huge part of the New Zealand economy and is something I have really enjoyed learning more about.” She now applies what she has learned in her undergraduate degree to her Honours degree – trying to solve one of the main issues farmers face around plantain crop persistence. The opportunities offered by Massey University were the perfect lead-in, she says. “I completed a summer studentship with Massey in the summer of 2014/2015. I was able to work with a number of Massey’s scientists on their relative projects and get a feel for what a career in research could involve. I was able to learn a number of new skills which undoubtedly helped me in my Honours this year, and will later help me in my career.” Her next steps are to work with DairyNZ and AgResearch as a science intern after she graduates with her Honours degree in 2016.

Visit www.massey.ac.nz Want more info? Go to www.schoolconnect.co.nz

LEADERSHIP

Reaching New Heights with Hyundai’s Pinnacle Programme NAME Ceilidh

Jenkins

TRAINING

Hyundai New Zealand’s Pinnacle Programme HIGH SCHOOL

Onewhero Area School Onewhero Area School’s head student Ceilidh Jenkins is multitalented. Apart from being awarded the top Biology and PE prizes in 2014 and the overall ‘Leadership in Sport’ Trophy, she was selected for Hyundai New Zealand’s Pinnacle ‘scholarship/ mentoring’ Programme. This year, Ceilidh has been a key member of the 1st XI Soccer side who won the Counties Senior Championship, and was also selected for the North Island Girls Football team for the third year in a row. She leads the school ball committee, is a senior on the student council and is chairperson of the TeenAg group.

However, Ceilidh’s absolute passion is horses. She was selected in January to compete for the Auckland U21 Polocrosse team and represented the Central Plateau as an Intermediate at their Nationals. Right after the NZ polocrosse nationals, Ceilidh flew out to Sydney to work for the Arrowfield Stud at the Sydney Easter Yearling Sales. She had four days back in Auckland before setting sail on the Spirit of Adventure funded through the Pinnacle Programme. Ceilidh says she “learnt heaps of new skills” and when asked about being busy she says she “wouldn’t have it any other way”. On the horse business side of things, Ceilidh has a client who supplies her with homebred coloured horses to sell on their behalf. Ceilidh loves knowing where the horses are coming from right from the start, and almost always relies on having another project coming through as they sell. Future-focused Ceilidh has already been accepted into the pre-vet courses at Massey University and into the Bachelor of Science majoring in physiology at Otago University for next year. ‘Vet’, though, is still her top priority. Ceilidh will be at Equidays at Mystery Creek (16 – 18 October 2015), assisting with the Pinnacle Programme stand in the Hyundai tent. She’s looking forward to chatting with other young, motivated teens about their passion and opportunities through Hyundai and the Pinnacle Programme.

PINNACLE PROGRAMME ARE YOU 15 – 18 YRS OLD? ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO? WANT A BOOST? REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.PINNACLEPROGRAMME.CO.NZ @PINNACLENZ

PINNACLE-PROGRAMME

PINNACLE PROGRAMME

DESIGN

Change for a brighter tomorrow What do you enjoy most about your job? We interviewed Matt Chinn, a recent graduate of ACG Yoobee School of Design. He first started tertiary study at AUT studying a Bachelor of Engineering but decided to change career paths as it just wasn’t the place for him.

Freelancing allows me to choose my own hours, work when I want and where I want. The freedom that my current career choice has given me allows me to work on my own projects as well as projects given to me by clients. It also means I can take breaks and have flexibility for travelling. What I love most about being a designer is seeing my work in real life and knowing that I have helped clients achieve what they set out to achieve. I’m working on a project at the moment that could be seen internationally, which is really exciting seeing as I’m only a recent graduate.

How have you found working freelance? I’ve found that freelancing for a range of clients is the best way to gain experience. Everyone wants something different, so it’s a great way to learn new things and experience a range of different environments. I never expected to find a full time job straight away, hence why I freelance for various companies who may only need a designer for a short period of time. The market for graphic designers is small and among plenty of graduates it’s definitely not easy to become a fully fledged designer with a full-time job, or even part-time straight away.

NAME Matt

Chinn

ROLE Freelance

Graphic Designer INSTITUTION ACG Yoobee School of Design QUALIFICATIONS

Certificate in Digital Media, Diploma in Computer Graphic Design (Distinction) HIGH SCHOOL

Botany Downs Secondary College PORTFOLIO www.be.net/mattchinn

What made you want to pursue a career in Graphic Design? I’d always wanted to have a career in the creative industry. At first it was architecture and then it was photography, but at the end of high school I decided to forgo my passion and started my Bachelors in Engineering at AUT thinking I’d be able to get some creativity in there some how. Unfortunately after having studied two years of Engineering, I decided that it was clearly not for me, jumped ship on my career path and finally followed my passion for design. 46

NextStep//ISSUE 4

What have you learnt in your job and about yourself whilst freelancing? You’ve got to be passionate about what you do. If you don’t have the passion for designing say a new brand identity, or even just an event poster, it will definitely show in your work. You’ve got to show your clients that you are the right person for the job. I’ve learnt that you have to have great workflow whilst freelancing. At any one time you could be juggling multiple jobs and you really have to manage your time well. In saying that, even with great time management, you need to still relax and get away from your work as well. To prevent myself from stressing, I make realistic deadlines for myself of what I need to have done for each job and break it down. This means I can work at a steady pace without hindering the quality of my work. It is definitely a career that has unsuspecting hours, but is definitely worth your while.

What advice would you give to anyone looking to pursue a career as a designer? Be willing to do the hard yards at first. Take advantage of every project you’re offered, no matter how small – it’s all experience. If it doesn’t work, try and try again. If that doesn’t work, take a break from the current project you are assigned to, clear your head and come back to it. Eventually, you will get it right.

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#gradconnection 47

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