Leaving School issue 25

BRIAR

Learn about careers in sheep and beef

There are many exciting careers available within sheep and beef farming and the wider red meat sector. Many people gain work on a farm directly after leaving school. Others choose to study first at a university, polytechnic or a cadet farm. The variety of positions and types of work within, and directly related to sheep and beef farming is huge.

B+LNZ invests in and

Did you know the red meat sector generates over 92,000 NZ jobs and contributes $12 billion in income per year for New Zealand?

Pathways to careers in sheep and beef

Primary ITO

Primary ITO offers training and learning while you work at levels 2, 3 and 4, and a full diploma. This training is arranged in conjunction with the farm manager or owner and delivered in block courses off site, combined with on job training and assessment. www.primaryito.ac.nz / 0800 20 80 20

Growing Future Farmers

Support on-farm cadetship opportunities in the growing network of sheep and beef farms across New Zealand. www.growingfuturefarmers.co.nz 021 315 534

Lincoln University

A specialist agricultural university in the South Island offering diplomas and degrees in agricultural commerce and science, plus related fields. www.lincoln.ac.nz / 0800 10 60 10

Telford

A live-in agricultural training centre (South Island) that delivers agricultural qualifications from level 2 to diploma. www.sit.ac.nz/Telford / 0800 83 53 67

Smedley Station

A full production sheep and beef station providing training for farm cadets. Trainees complete a National Certificate in Rural Servicing Level 4, as well as learning stock management and shepherding. www.smedley.ac.nz / 06 586 5725

Massey University

Offering specialist agricultural courses including degrees and diplomas in agribusiness and science and the related fields of environment and resource management and veterinarian training. www.massey.ac.nz

0800 MASSEY (06 350 5701)

ARA Institute of Canterbury

Based in the South Island and offering a Diploma in Agriculture. www.ara.ac.nz / 0800 24 24 76

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Offering New Zealand Certificates Primary Industries and Agriculture and a Diploma in Agribusiness Management. www.toiohomai.ac.nz / 0800 86 46 46

Otiwhiti Station

A specialisted sheep and beef live-in training farm delivering qualification in Agriculture up to level 3 and 4. www.otiwhitistation.co.nz / 0508 872 466

Waipaoa Station

Waipaoa Cadet Farm is a live-in farm training operation delivering in agriculture from level 2 to 4. www.waipaoa.co.nz / 06 862 1988

Otago Polytechnic (Central Campus)

Based in Cromwell, Otago Polytechnic provides agricultural training to level 4 including a specialised high country sheep and beef programme. www.central.op.ac.nz / 0800 765 9276

Southern Institute of Technology

To make a start on an agricultural career, the Vocational Pathways Primary Industries programme offers a good opportunity to gain sound practical foundation skills and knowledge in agriculture. www.sit.ac.nz/courses 0800 40 33 37 (03 211 2699)

Whenua Kura

A partnership between Lincoln University and Ngāi Tahu facilitating delivery of agriculture qualifications from level 3 to Diploma. www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz 0800 524 8248 (0800 KAI TAHU)

Direct to farm employment

It is often possible to gain employment on a sheep and beef farm directly from school. Vacancies are often advertised in local papers and the following websites: Agri-people website

Federated Farmers job website

TradeMe job website

Seek job website

Pacific Coast Technical Institute

A nationwide provider of Primary Industry and Food related training, offering a range of rural skills short courses to assist NZ farmers with skills for young people and refreshers for those in need.

www.pcti.co.nz / 07 575 2185

National Trade Academy

Providing land-based education and training since 2000. Take pride in teaching their students the practical skills and knowledge required for successful careers in the land-based industries.

www.nta.co.nz / 03 360 2192

Dairy Training Ltd

Delivers vocational training to the Primary Sector, ranging from lower level Primary Skills through to Business Management.

www.dairytraining.co.nz / 0800 467 768

Land Based Training

Delivers level 2-5 Agriculture training programmes, a range of short courses, and on-farm training placements.

www.landbasedtraining.co.nz 06 349 0077

MANAGING EDITOR

Oliver Lee

SUB-EDITOR

Elise McDowell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jennifer Beckett, Sarah Beresford, careers.govt.nz, Lisa Carrington, Diana Clement, James Heffield, StudyLink, Peter White

PHOTOGRAPHY

Duncan Brown, Brogan Campbell, Nathan Clark, Rochelle Dillon, Electra, iStock, Luke Marshall, Marty Melville, Dean Norrie, photosport.nz, Alan Stevens, SouthRoads, Logan West, Nicola Wilhelmsen, Phil Williams

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Mervyn Hurley (HNZL 2014 Limited)

PRINTER Webstar, Auckland

PUBLISHER

Box 331-667, Takapuna, Auckland 0740

T: +64-9-486 6966

E: oliver@oliverlee.co.nz

W: oliverlee.co.nz

W: LEAVINGSCHOOL.CO.NZ

ISSN 2463-3380 (Print)

ISSN 2463-3399 (Online)

COPYRIGHT: Reproduction in whole or in part by any means is prohibited. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Although all material is checked for accuracy, no liability is assumed by the publisher for any loss due to use of material in this magazine.

05 FOREWORD | LISA CARRINGTON

Take yourself out of your comfort zone, find the motivation and keep pushing.

06 ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN | HAMISH SINCLAIR

It all adds up to a variety of tasks, a challenging role and ultimately, great job satisfaction.

07 ACCOUNTANT | HANNAH SIMCOCK

It might surprise you to discover that the words strategy, workshops and growth are aligned with accounting.

08 AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN | BOBBIE GLASIER

It is ideal when an interest can be pursued and turned into a career.

10 GEOSPATIAL ANALYST | SEAN BRAGG

There is a shortage of workers in the Geographic Information Systems/Science industry (known as GIS), and you’ll find your skills are in top demand.

11 PARAMEDICINE | MATT BERRY

With St John, you are in a community focused, front-line emergency response role that is rewarding.

12 PLUMBER | BASIL CARPENTER

A shift from tertiary study to a plumbing apprenticeship has been the best move for this tradie.

14 SHEPHERD | BRIAR SWANSON

Having always known she wanted to get into farming, the day-to-day reality is everything she hoped for.

15 FARM BLOCK MANAGER | SHAUN TAHAU

From attending a programme as a trainee cadet to working there as a manager training new recruits.

16 FOOD TECHNOLOGY | ELLA ZWAGERMAN

Pursuing an interest in nutrition led to a role in food technology.

17 INTERVIEW TIPS

Some tips on how to impress your future employer at an interview.

18 SITE MANAGER | MATT THOM

Rope access work takes you into the great outdoors and provides days filled with adventures.

19 ROADING | JESS WILSON and SANTAYA MEIKLE

These road maintenance workers believe the time is right for other women to join them.

21 ELECTRICIAN | ESTELLA HUNGERFORD

The future is bright for this young tradie as electricians are in demand.

22 HEAVY AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING | FINN TEXTOR

This apprentice showed initiative and secured his future.

CALLUM MAZE

A busy and challenging role in the bush means the days go fast

Key dates, websites and information are all collated in one spot CALVIN YOUNG

One of the youngest in the crew and his sights are aimed high –both personally and professionally.

HUNTER BENDELL

Working in mussel farming means your day is spent in stunning scenery surrounded by dolphins.

MADISON HARVEY

With great friends and a variety of work locations in the outdoors, this line mechanic is thriving.

ROSARIO DE PILAR SORIA

Businesses require security services and demand is growing. In working to protect organisations, you should consider specialising in cyber security.

TOM CULLINANE

A role as a support worker led to a teacher aide position and then training to be a fully qualified teacher.

BUILDING CONTRACTOR | CEDRIC FOULAUMOETU’I

This building contractor has a focus on up-skilling, knowledge gathering and is driven to succeed.

AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER | JASON POU

Taking a love of cars and turning that into a worthwhile and

With exam time looming, here are some tips to help ease your stress.

Discover ways to pay for your study that are on offer from StudyLink.

Find out how to gain some free money by contributing to KiwiSaver.

Use your time wisely and create healthy financial habits.

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

What are employability skills and how can you show you have them?

Guidance on managing study the best possible way.

You might just find your future career among the jobs profiled here.

SEEK IMPROVEMENT AND ENJOYMENT

ALWAYS KEEP PUSHING

I WAS NOT SURE IF I COULD MAKE IT AS AN OLYMPIAN WHEN I WAS AT WHAKATĀNE HIGH SCHOOL. I GUESS IT WAS A PIPE DREAM REALLY BUT IT WAS AN ASPIRATIONAL AND ATHLETIC GOAL TO TRY AND REACH.

The key thing is to find the motivation to always do the best you can. Whether that may be in wanting to be an Olympian or a top athlete in the world or in New Zealand, or to be good enough to make your high school team.

What is going to motivate you can be as simple as trying to be better tomorrow than you are today or having those big goals.

I AM GRATEFUL

by DAME LISA CARRINGTON photo credit photosport.nz

I was quite a shy kid at school. It is definitely in my nature to stay in my comfort zone but I needed to navigate that shyness to get more confidence. It might have been going to the front of the class and speaking or turning up to a netball trial when I first got to high school, which was a bit scary.

I realised I struggled with those little moments so I worked out if I pushed myself and my boundaries, it gave me a lot of satisfaction that I could do it and achieve something.

I guess I have been pushing myself ever since on the world stage as a kayaker to keep improving and doing better.

At high school I really loved PE. It was really important for me. My form teacher was a PE teacher and we started the day in the school gymnasium so it was cool to be able to be in that space and play games. My other favourite subject was science, particularly biology, which I found really interesting.

I was not really sure what I was going to do after school so I tried to cover my bases and do subjects that would give me an opportunity when I got to university.

Then in Year 13, I was selected to go to the Youth Olympics for New Zealand and after that, sport took over for me. I felt really proud to have the opportunity to wear the silver fern and represent my country. This was when I realised that maybe there was a future in it – being a kayaker on the international stage.

I am grateful I participated in a lot of team sports growing up. I remember asking my mum why sport was so important. She said it is a really good way to teach you how to be a good winner and good loser.

Try to enjoy every moment in what you are doing. It is all about learning from your experiences. Have fun!

Dame Lisa Carrington International Kayaker

LISA CARRINGTON is New Zealand’s most successful Olympian, having won a staggering six Olympic medals (five gold, one bronze). In 2013, she was awarded an MBE and in the 2022 New Year’s Honours was promoted Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit services to canoe racing.

I PARTICIPATED IN A lot of TEAM SPORTS GROWING UP. I remember asking MY MUM WHY SPORT WAS SO IMPORTANT. SHE SAID IT IS A REALLY GOOD WAY to TEACH YOU HOW TO BE A good winner and GOOD LOSER .

THE NUMBERS STACK UP

TAKE AIM AT ACCOUNTING

writer SARAH BERESFORD // photo NICOLA WILHELMSEN (KELK PHOTOGRAPHY)

If you’d suggested to HAMISH SINCLAIR when he was at school that he would pursue a career in accounting, he admits his response would have been, “Absolutely not”. However, fast forward to today and the now 26-year-old is working at Forsyth Barr as an assistant accountant and things are very different.

“I really feel as if I’ve found my niche. I like the space I’m in and get a lot of job satisfaction from working with numbers. Every day is different, which is really good.”

Hamish did have an affinity with numbers at school. In Year 13 at Auckland’s King’s College, he studied English, Statistics, Calculus, Graphics and IT, and was interested in a career in business.

“I did a business paper at school, which I enjoyed but failed, so I thought I probably wasn’t too good in that area after all,” he says laughing.

When it came time to leave school, he decided he’d like to move as far away from Auckland as possible and so he enrolled at Otago University.

“I thought the social life would be great and in my first year in business studies I majored in management with a minor in marketing. I really didn’t have any idea what I was doing and I was lucky my parents were so supportive. After finishing my first year I had a better understanding of what was involved. I realised the whole finance and accounting side of things intrigued me, and that I really liked the process of working with numbers.”

After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in accounting and finance, Hamish fell on his feet when he was offered a role at investment firm Forsyth Barr.

“They are a force in the market and offered me a pathway into the world of finance and accounting.”

Hamish has been working at the firm for nearly five years, initially joining as a dividend’s administrator, and then moving on to work as an ASX and overseas administrator.

“I had the opportunity to learn as I was promoted through the department in different roles, and it was great to test out the finance world before I locked anything in. I realised I really wanted to work as an

I REALLY ENJOY WORKING WITH NUMBERS AND GET A lot of JOB SATISFACTION

i ’ve FOUND MY NICHE

HAMISH SINCLAIR

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ANZ STUDENT AFFILIATE

Explore the accounting and finance world and receive valuable information and resources to broaden your skills and understanding. You will be invited to networking and careers events and have access to exclusive employment opportunities. What are you waiting for? Sign up to be a Chartered Accountants ANZ student affiliate today.

accountant and applied for a role internally – I didn’t get it but they noted my interest, gave me some part-time work in accounts, and then created a new role for me as assistant accountant.”

He relishes the role and says he was initially surprised by the scope of the job. “I find the range of jobs stimulating, from reconciliations and consolidations to tax … there are new challenges every day.”

One surprise was the often-demanding nature of the job. “I had no idea of the long hours that are sometimes necessary, but I discovered I work well under the pressure of deadlines.”

Hamish says he is now very focused on his future career.

“First and foremost, I want to prove my worth and move from being an assistant accountant to an accountant. I really enjoy working with numbers and get a lot of job satisfaction. I’ve found my niche.”

Hamish is a Provisional Accounting Technician and is working towards achieving the Accounting Technician (AT) designation.

Study options to become an Accounting Technician include the New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 5) Accounting strand or enrolling in a Chartered Accountants ANZ accredited degree and passing subjects in required AT areas. Provisional ATs also complete work experience and an AT Program course.

NO TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME STRATEGY, GROWTH AND GOALS

writer SARAH BERESFORD // photographer ALAN STEVENS

“People don’t realise that there are so many different avenues that you can pursue as an accountant,” says HANNAH SIMCOCK . As a senior accountant at KPMG NZ, she loves the variety that her job offers.

“Some people like to go to work and know that every day is going to be the same, but that’s not me,” she says. “I love the fact that no two days are the same – the variety is huge. I could be doing monthly accounts, annual compliance, or dealing with GST and other taxes, or doing lots of work involving client contact, going on secondments and networking with people like bankers and lawyers. It is certainly not always a desk-bound job.”

Hannah studied accounting at high school for three years, but after leaving school she initially started training as an anaesthetic technician. “I always had a passion to work in the health arena but after a year working I realised it wasn’t for me, so I started to do some research into what else I could do.”

This led Hannah to enrol in a Bachelor of Business Analysis at the University of Waikato, graduating with a major in accounting.

“I worked for Waikato Occupational Health in a casual administration role while I was studying and they offered me the role of finance officer once I’d graduated. I did this for a year and it was a great stepping stone for me.”

Hannah has been with KPMG for three-and-a-half years and in that time has thrived on the challenges of a varied role and opportunities to keep learning. She completed the Chartered Accountants Program to obtain an accredited and internationally recognised postgraduate qualification – the Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting (GradDipCA), alongside mentored practical experience to become a Chartered Accountant.

Hannah is about to take on a new role at KPMG, one which she put her hand up for. “It’s strategy rather than compliance based. I did some strategy papers at uni and it was an area that really stood out for me. I always thought it was something I’d like to do.”

Her new role as a strategic consultant is very client focused and will encompass client workshops,

i ’D LIKE TO WORK MY WAY UP TO BEING A PARTNER OR CEO ONE DAY. iT ’S good to HAVE BIG GOALS .

HANNAH SIMCOCK

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ANZ STUDENT AFFILIATE

Explore the accounting and finance world and receive valuable information and resources to broaden your skills and understanding. You will be invited to networking and careers events and have access to exclusive employment opportunities. What are you waiting for? Sign up to be a Chartered Accountants ANZ student affiliate today.

strategy and performance monitoring, and helping clients on their growth journeys.

Hannah says KPMG fully supports its staff to take advantage of opportunities to keep learning.

“I can’t rave enough about the company culture and the mentors I have worked with so far.”

She sees a willingness to learn and good communication skills as being vital in moving forward professionally and is looking forward to the challenges of her new role. It will be a step in the right direction for her career development. “I’d like to work my way up to being a partner or CEO one day. It’s good to have big goals.”

NEW TECHNOLOGY

RAPIDLY ADVANCING INDUSTRY FULL THROTTLE FOR AUTOMOTIVES

writer PETER WHITE // photo NICOLA WILHELMSEN (KELK PHOTOGRAPHY)

BOBBIE GLASIER is proud to be an inspiration for other women to consider the trades as a career.

The 21-year-old is just over 18 months into her apprenticeship as an automotive technician with Cooke Howlison Toyota in Dunedin.

“It is not crazy hard to get into the job. It is not this alien subject you can’t do as a woman. It is just slightly different from what is expected, I guess, and that’s great. So just do it, why not?” says Bobbie.

“Yes, we are a minority but here we have three girls that are working on cars. There are definitely ladies coming into the industry which is quite good, with some coming through the Otago Polytechnic as well.”

Bobbie is relishing doing something she really loves.

“I didn’t feel pressured to go into this career but when you are working on-the-job, there is pressure to get things done on time. But the good thing is they will

■

help me if I need it. There is a support system at work, which is good.

“The biggest challenge so far is adjusting to the way of learning on-the-job. It is very hands-on, and I was very science-based at school, but I am enjoying it.”

The industry is changing rapidly. Electronics are a key part of what Bobbie does – including working on hybrid and electric cars.

“The way of diagnosing is changing. There are mechanic duties in what I do as an auto technician, but the new technology means there is a lot of electrical diagnosis and figuring out problems with the electronics and how they integrate with the mechanical systems. It is very interesting and I love it.”

Bobbie grew up around cars and loved tinkering with them. Her dad is a mechanic so making a similar career move after she left Otago Girls’ High School seemed the obvious move.

She took English, Design and Visual Communication, Calculus, Physics and Chemistry in Year 13. She enjoyed those subjects, but chose to do a pre-trade (or pre-apprentice) New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering at Otago Polytechnic.

“I was always interested in cars so when I left school and was not sure what I wanted to do, I thought why not give it a go and see what it is like. The pre-trade course covered all the basics, like changing tyres and all the things they expect you to know in the job. The employers really look to see you have done a pre-trade course.”

Bobbie says future prospects in the industry are excellent.

“There will always be jobs. They are crying out for qualified techs. While it is hard to get into an apprenticeship, once you are in, you are set. Don’t do it just because it is there though. If you prove you are hardworking, passionate about it and really want to do it, then you will go so far.”

MEANS THERE IS a LOT of electrical DIAGNOSIS AND FIGURING OUT PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONICS AND HOW THEY INTEGRATE WITH THE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS . IT IS VERY INTERESTING AND I LOVE it.

BOBBIE GLASIER

GEOSPATIAL SKILLS IN DEMAND

GEOSPATIAL ANALYST

SEAN BRAGG is proud to work for Ngāi Tahu Holdings as a Geospatial Analyst working in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) field.

“At the core of GIS are maps and location-based data and information, and understanding the world in a spatial manner and how things are linked together through space,” says Sean.

“The GIS part is a technical software skill, so you are getting your IT skills up as well. Working for Ngāi Tahu, we are exposed to quite a broad range of work. We do a lot of cultural mapping – like the mapping of place names, in particular – that has been a really big project for us over the last five to six years. We have released our own Ngāi Tahu atlas called Kā Huru Manu, which has about 1400 Ngāi Tahu place names spread across the South Island.

“It has been recognised by Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa New Zealand

writer PETER WHITE // photo BROGAN CAMPBELL

Geographic Board as an authoritative source of original Māori place names. Once made official by the Board, Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand can then start using a lot of our names on their maps and charts, and things like that.”

Sean also provides GIS support to the iwi’s commercial entities such as Ngāi Tahu Farming and Ngāi Tahu Property. He particularly enjoys the opportunity to do work for the many papatipu rūnanga/marae dotted around Te Waipounamu (South Island).

The 26-year-old of Ngāi Tahu descent is Bluff born-and-bred. He went to Verdon College in Invercargill and took Chemistry, Biology, Calculus, Religious Education and Physical Education in Year 13.

Rather than going to university, he went straight into an internship at Ngāi Tahu Holdings.

“It was more learning on-the-job. My introduction to GIS was through the internship for two years in Christchurch. The idea of the internship was to spend three or four months at a time within the different teams at Ngāi Tahu. One of the teams that I worked for was the GIS team.

“I got to the end of my internship and picked up a fixed-term contract doing GIS work and have been doing it ever since.”

The technical skills of GIS can be applied in many different fields. Sean says it is up to you to build those relationships and find out what is going on in the business and how you think GIS might be able to help.

“A lot of the time, people don’t often come to us so for a lot of the high-value projects, we have to reach out to people and learn a bit about what their job is and what they are trying to change or implement. Through our experience we try and apply GIS to help out.”

Sean says for school leavers interested in the GIS field, an interest in the environment and geography in general, plus having good computer skills, are important.

“GIS skills are really in demand at the moment and there is a shortage of people working in the industry, particularly for councils, crown agencies and private businesses as well.”

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

VOLUNTEER TO FRONT-LINE RESPONDER

writer PETER WHITE // photo LOGAN WEST

It is rare for an electrician to switch paths to become a front-line ambulance officer but MATT BERRY is loving every minute of his new career.

The 22-year-old recently qualified with a New Zealand Diploma in Ambulance Practice (Level 5) (NZDAP) as part of the new residential Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) programme introduced by St John earlier this year.

The programme provides an opportunity for those new to the health environment to fast-track their journey to become an EMT and begin working on-the-road as an ambulance officer. The training is high-intensity, fully immersive learning. It takes trainees through the New Zealand Certificate in First Responder (Level 3) and the NZDAP (Level 5) programme over a six-month period.

Trainees undergo classroom-based learning, practical skills development and almost three months of on-road ambulance experience, living in-house in Auckland for eight weeks of the course.

“EMT is kind of a base level to work on the ambulances. Paramedicine is split into three levels.

You have BLS or basic life support (the EMTs), then the intermediate level (paramedics), and then you have advanced life support (critical care paramedics or CCPs),” says Matt. “I want to end up in the advanced life support as a CCP one day. That is the goal.”

Matt attended Kristin College in Albany. In Year 12, he took Business Studies, Outdoor Education, Hard Technology, PE, English and Applied Maths before leaving school to begin an electrical trades apprenticeship. While he was completing his apprenticeship, he began volunteering for St John and says he fell in love with the medicine side and helping people.

“I did my apprenticeship specialising in automation and access control, which was quite interesting. I managed to buy a house in December last year which was cool, and then I switched over to being an ambulance officer. I did the six-month EMT course and started at the same time doing a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Paramedicine.”

For Matt the biggest challenges so far are the long hours and shift work, but he loves the environment at St John and the holidays.

“Every 16 weeks you get two weeks off. The thing I love about the job most is using the skills we have learned – like going to car crashes and dealing with people at their moment of need. The times when people are really unwell is when we enjoy the job a lot more because that is when you get to use your training, when you get to see interesting things happen.

“It is also quite cool to see grandmas and all the little kids, and even the little dogs that come running out to see you. The recognition you get in the community in this job is really nice.”

Matt says the key things you need for ambulance work are patience, confidence, being able to work well in stressful situations, and above all, good communication and people skills.

BERRY

OFF

NO REGRETS WITH TRADE

BASIL CARPENTER had nearly completed a degree when he decided he wanted to get a trade instead.

The decision to leave before he completed his Bachelor of Business majoring in accounting and project management was a big decision at the time. But as he nears the end of his five-year plumbing,

gasfitting and drainlaying apprenticeship, he has no regrets.

“On one of my summer breaks at uni, I went and worked for one of my dad’s clients who has a farm out in Pukekohe. I realised that I was going to be much happier working with my hands and getting a job that has critical thinking in that field, rather than in an office,” says Basil.

“I had worked in an office before and it was not that enjoyable for me. I’ve got dyslexia so sitting in an office is not so good for me compared to being outside.”

Basil works for McDermond P&G Solutions in Auckland with his apprenticeship organised through Masterlink.

“I am in maintenance and renovations work with plenty of critical thinking and no two jobs are the same. Each time you have to go about solving the problem a different way than you have in the past.

“I find that quite enjoyable and there is good variation of work, so I am not doing the same thing over and over again. That’s what I love about plumbing.”

In July, Basil was one of 10 Masterlink apprentices to win a fully funded 16-day Masterlink Outward Bound Leadership Course Scholarship.

“Honestly that was amazing. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life and was also the best thing I have ever had to do in my life. The one thing I took the most from it was how it teaches you resilience. For me, it was quite nice to reinforce leadership stuff I have done in the past.

“Masterlink have been very helpful from the start. They gave me some tools to begin with [that] I can use in the plumbing trade and helped me out with a host company.”

Basil attended King’s College in Auckland. In Year 13, he took Technology, English, Economics and PE.

“For any high school to be looked at as good, it is all about university entrance. At the time I decided to go to university to do my degree, I was not sure what I wanted to do.

“If I can give a recommendation to anyone, it would be to take as many subjects as you can and then find out what you want to do. Take a break, get some work experience, just get out of your comfort zone.”

The trades are booming at the moment with plenty of vacancies and endless opportunities in the future. Basil says school leavers should consider their options.

“Do your research on what you want to do, find a good company that has good variety of work and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

writer PETER

Supporting future tradies now & into the future

There are plenty of reasons why Kiwi tradies trust

Plumbing World to have their back. So here are a few of the things we’re doing behind the scenes to support our mates looking to join the trade.

Championing the next generation. The plumbing trades are an attractive career option for all school leavers to consider, so we’re proud to continue to support the Masterlink and ATT apprenticeship schemes, especially in these uncertain times. We’re also very proud of our Young Plumbers and Young Plumber of the Year initiatives as they help future proof our Industry and support and celebrate excellence.

Keeping business moving. We work alongside Master Plumbers and closely with our suppliers advocating to MBIE and the Government on behalf of the plumbing trades to ensure business keeps functioning while global supply is disrupted.

We’re your Team in Black

Supporting equality.

We’re focused on providing a supportive and inclusive culture for all our team members.

Plumbing World is also a NAWIC supporter (National Association of Women in Construction) and is behind the Women in Trades Expo series.

Keeping the flame alive.

We’re dedicated to getting to a zero carbon future so are working to ensure our operations are efficient. We are also focused on instilling confidence in the future of NZ’s energy mix as we move away from fossil fuels to further cut our countries emissions.

At Plumbing World we’re committed to developing our people throughout their careers. To support this we have teamed up with all the best industry players to make our industry hum. We’re here to keep our industry safe, inclusive and open so everyone’s journey is rewarding. If the Plumbing trades sound good to you please drop us a line.

LOVING THE LIFESTYLE

LIVING AND WORKING ON THE LAND

“Farming doesn’t always go to plan and the animals always come first,” says BRIAR SWANSON. The 22-year-old is a shepherd on a sheep and Angus stud beef farm in Balfour, Southland. She grew up on a farm and always knew farming would be her career.

Briar went to St Kevin’s College in Oamaru. In her final Year 12, she took English, Statistics, Religious Studies and two agriculture courses (NCEA and Primary ITO practical). Every Friday she did practical work on a farm learning new skills.

During Year 12, she was successful in gaining a place at Coleridge Downs Training Farm in the Rakaia Gorge, Mid Canterbury.

“I did two years there working and studying through Primary ITO, which was awesome and really set me up to be a shepherd – where I am now in Southland,” says Briar.

Last year, Briar started doing the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Generation Next Programme. It is designed to build sheep and beef farmers’ confidence and provide practical farmers with technical support and growth. There are three workshops held over a six-month period.

“I thought it was an awesome opportunity to get more knowledge of what is going on off-the-farm.

As a shepherd, you do all the practical stuff day-to-day – like fencing and stock work – but you don’t always get to see behind the scenes. The course opened up the opportunity to learn more about that.

“It was a great course. I have my final workshop at the end of this year because we got disrupted by COVID. It has been an awesome thing to be part of and I have met a lot of people through it as well. I think it is already paying off in what I am doing day-to-day.”

Briar has also benefited from the Young Farmers Club. She joined when she moved to Southland and says it has been a great networking tool.

“I am not from Southland and knew absolutely no one when I moved down here. I was looking to make some friends and get to know the community and that is what it did for me.”

Briar loves the lifestyle that comes with living and working on the land.

“The best way to sum it up is I just love the whole experience. You get to live on the farm, you get to work with your dogs every day, and actually get to form relationships with your sheep and cattle. You do really get to know them.

“The satisfaction comes after working really hard on a place for a couple of years, you finally get to see your progress and the input you are putting into the place. You really do get to see the results from that.”

Her advice to school leavers is to back yourself, have confidence to get out there and meet people, and ask questions.

“No question is a dumb question. Farmers are good people and they are willing to help you, as long as you have a good attitude.”

i just love the whole experience YOU GET TO LIVE ON the farm, YOU GET TO WORK WITH YOUR DOGS EVERY daY, and actually get to FORM RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR BEEF AND CATTLE

BRIAR SWANSON

more information on the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Generation Next Programme

visit

work/blnz-generation-next-programme

FIRM FOCUS ON FARMING

FARM CADET PROGRAMME

writer PETER WHITE photographer DUNCAN BROWN

SHAUN TAHAU

“It is awesome. It is an honour for me to have come through the programme and the station managers have obviously thought I was good enough to come back and teach, which is quite cool when you think about it,” says Shaun.

Smedley Station and Cadet Training Farm offers high quality, accredited courses that provide hands-on agriculture skills training for young farmers. Just 13 trainees are accepted each year.

Shaun has always wanted to be a farmer, having grown up familiar with the farming industry. Smedley Station take students straight out of school, and Shaun started there after finishing Year 13 at Napier Boys’ High School.

“I did two years as a cadet. The first year you do general sort of jobs as a junior – like fencing, chainsaw safety and all that sort of stuff. The second year, as a senior, you do your stock work – you get a couple of dogs,

learn how to train them and learn all the general stock-handling skills.”

After his two years at Smedley, Shaun went shepherding for two-and-a-half years before returning to work there as a block manager. In this role, he looks after one of the blocks on the station, having responsibility for all the stock shifts and their feeding arrangements, and has two cadets with him.

“I have a senior and a junior with me, so I organise them for the week. There is also all the liaising with the stock agents to do, so basically, I am responsible for all of the day-to-day management of the block.”

Shaun says working at Smedley is very rewarding as he gets to teach the next generation coming through.

“Just seeing them progress in doing any skill is awesome. I get so much out of my job every day, which is pretty much what anyone would want.”

Shaun took English, Statistics, PE, Agriculture and Engineering in Year 13. He says the key for school leavers who want to get into a farming cadet course is to have a passion for it.

“Show that you are really keen, ask a lot of questions, and get out there and help out on the local farms. The advisory board at Smedley love a person that shows they really want to do it.”

Shaun is positive about his future as a farmer and the benefits of what he is doing now.

“Going through Smedley as a cadet is one thing but to work here as a staff member is going to look awesome on my resume for future jobs. It is a stepping-stone job here and sets you up really well.

“Ideally, I would like to go into an equity partnership into a farm and what I am doing will set me up quite well for that.”

For more information on career opportunities in the Beef + Lamb industry, visit www.beeflambnz.com

For more information on the trainee cadet programme at Smedley Station, visit www.smedley.ac.nz

SHAUN TAHAU has gone from being a trainee cadet at Smedley Station in Waipawa, Central Hawke’s Bay, to one of the block managers training the new recruits. It is something the 22-year-old is proud to have achieved.

GOING THROUGH SMEDLEY AS A cadet is one thing but to work here as a staff MEMBER IS GOING TO LOOK AWESOME ON MY RESUME FOR FUTURE jobs.

16

AND AGRICULTURE

MERGING TWO INTEREST AREAS

writer PETER WHITE // photo NICOLA WILHELMSEN (KELK PHOTOGRAPHY)

Combining fulltime university study with an innovative role at Silver Fern Farms has paid dividends for ELLA ZWAGERMAN .

Ella grew up on the family dairy farm in Southland and attended Southland Girls’ High School. In Year 13, she took Chemistry, Biology, Statistics, PE, Health and English.

After leaving school, she went to the University of Otago and studied for a degree with a double major in pharmacology and toxicology and human nutrition, but soon realised she wanted to change course.

“I had a gap in my timetable and a broken leg from water skiing, so I took an interest paper in food science,” says Ella.

“Pretty much after my first lecture I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I realised this is my passion so decided to change my entire degree.

“Now I am about to finish my Bachelor of Applied Science in consumer food science and nutrition.

“I consider myself really lucky to have found a degree that I was able to combine food nutrition and agriculture into one.”

Ella did not realise how much she valued being a part of the agriculture industry until she got to university. She decided she wanted to pursue something that enabled her to work within the primary industry when she left university.

For the last year, Ella has been working for Silver Ferns Farms as an innovation intern/junior food technologist.

“I help develop new products and assess the quality of current products in the New Zealand retail market, like the chilled and frozen burger ranges. At the moment I am working on a flavour extension to the chilled range.”

Ella is grateful to have been awarded one of the Meat Industry Association (MIA) undergraduate scholarships, which is worth $5000 for each year of study.

“I thought it would be great to be financially supported, and that money is so important, but I didn’t realise the true value behind the scholarship.

“It is worth so much more than the actual dollars. MIA have also mentored me and helped me get my first internship, which led to my second internship

at Silver Fern Farms, now my job. It is amazing where opportunities can take you.”

Combining fulltime study and her role with Silver Ferns Farms requires lots of organisation.

“I juggle the two, sometimes well and sometimes I have to make sacrifices. But when I have the opportunity to pursue a job that gives me experience within the food industry and the red-meat sector, it is pretty easy to make some sacrifices here and there.”

Ella’s advice to school leavers is that it is okay to not know what you want to do. Not everything is going to come easy and you aren’t going to get everything on the first go, whether that’s a job or scholarship,

so back yourself but bounce back when things don’t work out the way you expected them to. She also says to always remember everything happens for a reason, so do what makes you happy and stay true to yourself.

i CONSIDER MYSELF REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE FOUND A DEGREE THAT i WAS ABLE TO COMBINE FOOD NUTRITION AND AGRICULTURE INTO ONE

ELLA

GIVES

WHAT EMPLOYERS

INTERVIEW TIPS WOW YOUR FUTURE BOSS

You’ve done the hard yards. You’ve got your secondary school qualifications, your CV is in order, you’ve applied for a job or placement with a training provider – and now you’ve secured an interview. But what is the person sitting opposite you looking for?

ATTITUDE — Have a good attitude and positive self-esteem. By showing respect for the interviewer, you are demonstrating you can work effectively with people from different backgrounds (e.g. age, social status, ethnicity, religion), which is a quality employers look for.

COMMUNICATION — Actively listen to what you are being asked, seek clarification if you are unsure, and then respond. Have a couple of questions you want to ask too – this shows you have taken the time to find out more about the organisation and thought about what you want from the interview. As always, treat the interviewer/s with respect and courtesy.

CULTURAL FIT — Think of how you can demonstrate how you will be an active and motivated member of their team. Employers rank cultural fit as their number one priority when they are recruiting – especially for school leavers or first-time employees.

PERSONAL SKILLS — Employers are looking for candidates who demonstrate willingness to learn, are motivated to get things done, take responsibility, and demonstrate ability to problem solve. Often you can link your extra-curricular activities (sport, cultural or community) to demonstrate your personal strengths in these areas.

TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS — It’s important to show you can use technology in the workplace to perform tasks necessary to the role you’ve applied for. This could be having the computer skills required to produce and present information, create spreadsheets and so forth.

RELIABILITY You are responsible for getting yourself to and from work, whether that’s via public transport or your own vehicle.

It’s important to demonstrate you are capable of turning up on time and have prepared for the meeting. This is what employers expect from you on a day-to-day basis – so always arrive in plenty of time and ready for your interview.

ACADEMIC SKILLS — Your academic qualifications are important, so make sure these are included in your CV, and show how you have competent literacy and numeracy skills.

If you’ve undertaken further training include this too. It is widely accepted that achieving NCEA Level 2 will mean you have the basic skills and qualifications to start your career.

WHILE NOT ESSENTIAL, IT IS HELPFUL IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY HELD A HOLIDAY

JOB — This gives the employer a peek into what you will be like as an employee – it’s not so much about what you were doing, but how you did it. For you, this work experience gives you an insight into what employers require, and the chance to develop key skills in a work setting. You may be able to use some of your experiences to highlight your positive qualities and attributes the interviewer is looking for.

THE BEST,

ALWAYS

Money in the bank. Skills under your belt.

Leaving school?

Learn new job skills and earn plenty!

Be part of the Silver Fern Farms whānau as a Team Member over the holidays or once you leave school. We’ve got heaps of jobs available - you could be a knife hand, packer, bagger, freezer hand or general labourer. We’ll place you where you fit best!

Check out the jobs at the site nearest to you and click APPLY or go to our website.

image iSTOCK

GET INTO THE GREAT OUTDOORS

WORK

writer PETER WHITE photographer MARTY MELVILLE

THOM

Having adventures building bridges in New Zealand’s great outdoors using rope access and industrial abseiling skills are all part of the job for MATT THOM.

He is a site manager for Abseil Access, a Wellington-based company that specialises in bridge design and building, slope stabilisation and industrial maintenance.

Matt went to Bay of Islands College in Kawakawa where PE was his favourite subject. After leaving school, he started outdoor pursuit instructor training and then did a building apprenticeship in Taupō before heading overseas. He installed climbing walls in Italy and managed a bungee jumping site in northern India. Returning home after the Christchurch earthquake, he found work doing slope stabilisation and other geotechnical work in the Port Hills.

Many of the bridges Matt has built can be found on New Zealand’s Great Walks, and he has worked for Abseil Access on several award-winning projects. The company won an award in August for the new wheelchairaccessible Pakuratahi Suspension Bridge project in Kaitoke Regional Park.

“We have had a good run on the awards this year. We also won the Civil Contractors National Award for the Hugo Bridge at Lake Dunstan and the National Award for the Nile River Bridge in Charleston,” says Matt.

He is now building a bridge in Wainuiomata Regional Park.

The project is the latest in a career that has seen him work on 26 bridges that provide access into the great outdoors.

“I really love the challenge of the job. The projects are quite logistically challenging, and it is reasonably

ambitious what we do. We prefabricate everything and organise a team of guys to fly in, particularly on the back-country jobs, bringing in an entire camp site.

“It is quite adventurous and kind of fills that void from not travelling. I still get that adventure feeling out of the job.”

But it is not all about bridges. Opportunities in rope access can involve being part of a team working in slope stabilisation, drilling, painting remote lighthouses, building maintenance, bio security and non-destructive testing.

“We do just about anything really that has difficult access and requires ropes and height safety protection. It is really broad and I think that is why so many people enjoy working in such a diverse role.”

Matt says there are many opportunities for young people with the right attitude.

“It is about being open-minded, prepared to learn, having a good work-ethic and loving the outdoors. People who can cook a meal, who are team players and interested in getting a trade, are welcome.

“There are many roles you can get into, some require getting qualifications, but rope access tickets are open to most people who have a reasonable level of fitness and motivation.

“Having trade skills is an advantage but not essential, as there are definitely opportunities out there for people new to the industry who are ready to learn on-the-job.

“I can think of a few colleagues who have made their start in rope access and obtained civil engineering diplomas, so there is definitely scope to have a rewarding career.”

THOM IS

THAT

WE DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING REALLY THAT HAS DIFFICULT ACCESS AND REQUIRES ROPES AND HEIGHT SAFETY PROTECTION . IT IS REALLY BROAD AND I THINK THAT IS WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ENJOY WORKING IN SUCH A DIVERSE ROLE .

PAVING THE WAY FOR WOMEN

CAREERS IN ROAD MAINTENANCE

“It sounds funny, but when you work on a highway, it’s very satisfying,” says JESS WILSON, a pilot vehicle driver for SouthRoads. “Putting in marker pegs, fixing potholes, repairing both sides of a wide road, sweeping the highway – it’s just beautiful.”

After four years on the job, Jess still loves the ever-changing views from her office-on-wheels. Whether it’s driving over Southland’s Jolly Hills to Lumsden under blue skies or marvelling at the coastal views on State Highway 99 along the bottom of the South Island, road maintenance in Southland is work that provides stunning scenery and interesting challenges in equal measure. “Every day we are somewhere new,” she says. “I can be driving the pilot vehicle or sometimes on the tools. That’s the best thing about it – it is different every day. You have to like getting your hands dirty and you have to like working outside.”

Jess has her Wheels, Tracks and Rollers driver licence endorsements and recently got her Class 2 licence

allowing her to operate small trucks. Next, she will learn to drive sweeper trucks so she can step in and cover for her colleague, SANTAYA MEIKLE, when needed.

Santaya drives a SouthRoads sweeper truck that is laden with equipment to support road maintenance sites in Southland.

She is often out on the roads with Jess as part of the day-to-day cyclic team working on marker pegs, potholes and sweeping, or responding to weather events, traffic incidents and occasionally assisting emergency services.

“We go to callouts after accidents to assist with traffic or to provide privacy for those involved,” says Santaya. “I quite enjoy going to callouts because you are helping someone out at a vital time.”

Santaya also enjoys other unique challenges, such as rounding-up stock on the roads, which is quite common in Southland. She also enjoys the trust her managers place in her and the autonomous nature of the job.

writer JAMES HEFFIELD photograph SOUTHROADS

“Me and Jess get to be our own boss quite a lot. We work at least 10 hours every day, but it’s in nice locations and sometimes we get to enjoy lunch in a really scenic Southland spot.”

Jess and Santaya believe it is a great time for women to embark on a career in road maintenance and join the movement.

“When I started working about five years ago, people would sometimes baby me a bit as a woman in the industry,” says Santaya. “But they don’t now – the industry has changed.”

Although there is less than 20 per cent female participation in most construction sector businesses, the number of women working in infrastructure has grown rapidly. There are now around 40,000 women employed in the wider construction-related workforce and the number of women training to be apprentices is growing at nearly twice the rate of male apprentices. Santaya’s advice to women considering a career in roading: “Just do it. It’s satisfying and it’s good to be able to prove to the guys that we can do it just as well.”

THE BEST

IS

HAVE

AND YOU TO HAVE

LIKE WORKING

IGNITING THE ELECTRICAL SPARK SKILLS IN RED-HOT DEMAND

ESTELLA HUNGERFORD is part of a new generation of young women making their mark in the traditionally male-dominated trades.

The 20-year-old from Christchurch is 18 months into her electrical apprenticeship with Etco (the Electrical Training Company) and is placed with Etco host Team Cabling.

“The first year was definitely hard as you don’t really know what you are doing but now my second year has gone way smoother and I feel a lot more comfortable now,” says Estella.

“It is important to stick it out at the start and keep going as there are heaps of benefits at the end of the road.”

Estella has enjoyed working with the Etco tutors, who are available whenever she needs them.

“I go to night-class once a week. The tutors are helping me to pass my assessments and study for my theory and regulations exams that I have to pass to become a registered electrician. It’s been good working with them.”

Estella says she does get noticed as a female in the trades but there are more and more females joining the industry.

“A friend who is a tradie warned me that I would get pretty thick-skinned quite fast, and that is definitely true, but all the guys in our company have been really nice to me. It is definitely cool to see heaps more girls coming through. We have two others in our company who have joined since I started.”

She admits the work is definitely hard at times with long hours but it is very fulfilling.

“We just finished doing a Countdown store in Belfast and it was very rewarding to see all your efforts being used by the public and everyone enjoying the building.

“Doing residential and domestic work is a really good place to start but I definitely enjoy the commercial stuff that has been given to me to do because there is a bit more variety and you are doing lots of different stuff and working with lots of different trades.”

She originally wanted to study engineering but decided going to university was not for her so opted to do a trades apprenticeship instead.

“I thought that was the best option and I really wanted to buy a house at some point, so it seemed like a good way to start working towards that.”

The key advice she has for school leavers thinking about getting an apprenticeship is to be willing to learn and to have the perseverance to keep going.

“You get paid to do the work straight away rather than studying at uni. You do end up doing some long hours and it gets a little hard to see the end goal at times, but you learn so much and get new opportunities, which is always very rewarding.”

The market for young tradies is booming in New Zealand with unlimited opportunities in the future in a variety of roles.

“At the moment I am focused on getting to the end of my apprenticeship but I am excited to see what I will decide to do when I qualify.

“People always want tradies. There is quite a shortage at the moment and you will always have a job.”

HEALTH

Estella took Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, English and Health in Year 13 at Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch.

IT IS DEFINITELY COOL TO SEE HEAPS MORE GIRLS COMING through we have two others in our COMPANY WHO HAVE JOINED SINCE I STARTED ESTELLA HUNGERFORD

writer PETER WHITE

photographer DEAN NORRIE

WORLDWIDE OPPORTUNITIES WORKING WITH BIG MACHINES

writer PETER WHITE photographer DEAN NORRIE

Working on heavy machinery every day brings loads of variety and challenges for FINN TEXTOR.

The 21-year-old is an apprentice technician closing in on three years of his four-year apprenticeship with Christchurch-based company Komatsu. Finn will qualify with a New Zealand Certificate in Heavy Automotive Engineering (Level 4).

The equipment and vehicles he works on ranges from diggers to dump trucks, graders, loaders and bulldozers.

“What I like most about working on heavy machinery is the variety of work. You know that every day is going to be different. You could be in the field or in the workshop. You are never bored,” says Finn.

“I didn’t want to be stuck doing the same thing every day. The heavy industry really does cater to branching out and there is a lot of complex stuff involved. It is a lot more interesting and a lot more fun. Komatsu is a great product to work on as well.”

Finn went to Lincoln High School in Christchurch. He says the most important subject he took in his final Year 12 was Employment Skills, which included three weeks of work experience at Komatsu. That was long enough for him to decide where to start his career.

“I always knew I wanted to do something with cars or heavy machinery and the work experience sparked my interest and made me determined to work for Komatsu.”

Finn showed plenty of initiative to get the job he wanted. He twice applied for an apprenticeship with Komatsu without any luck, so he did a pre-trades course at the Ara Institute in Woolston before being successful with his third application.

Finn enjoys working for Komatsu, a Japanese multinational corporation. Potentially, there are worldwide opportunities available as he progresses through his career.

“Their support and everything in general has been excellent. There are actually many levels of support and many directions you can go within the company. They have great learning and development opportunities and you can also get business certificates in management while you’re working.

“There are plenty of chances to branch out. You don’t have to stay as a mechanic forever. There are opportunities in sales and leadership roles, which they help build you up for, so you can do those sort of roles.”

Looking ahead to future prospects in the industry, Finn says it is a good time for school leavers to join.

“I recommend doing it for anyone who is willing to learn and to listen, plus willing to put in the hard work. There is a lot to take in and the work is not always easy but you can go anywhere in the world with this qualification. I am planning to go to Aussie after I finish my apprenticeship.

“There are opportunities everywhere with the job. You can take it anywhere you want. There is always a demand for heavy machinery mechanics.”

more information on career opportunities with Komatsu, visit https://www.komatsu.co.nz/company/ careers-with-komatsu/find-my-next-job

ENJOYMENT FACTOR IS HIGH

writer PETER WHITE // photographer PHIL WILLIAMS

CALLUM MAZE has quickly made his mark in the forestry industry.

The 18-year-old joined Roxburgh Contracting in Milton, Otago earlier this year after getting valuable work experience through the Gateway programme he did in Year 13 at South Otago High School.

“I did my Gateway through the school’s Ready to Work course. On Fridays, I would go out to do practical skills in the workplace to learn and watch and have hands-on experience with ground-based logging and using the skidder,” says Callum.

A skidder is a key piece of machinery in forestry work. It is similar to a bulldozer and can have either tracks or rubber tyres depending on how steep the land is. It drags logs from the bush up to the skid by using a winch or a grapple attached at the back.

“I am doing my two-year apprenticeship to get my tickets for loading trucks, fleeting and skidder extraction.

“You can also extend that qualification if you want and do a course on felling trees safely, which is

either with a chainsaw or a machine. Ultimately, you can one day own your own business.”

Callum works fulltime on the skidder pulling out trees. He loves working outdoors but he says safety is the most important factor as the job can be dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.

“I like working in the bush and we have a good crew. We are fairly busy all the time, which makes the days go quickly. You have to have a good work ethic and you are always thinking in this job. It is a high-risk job, so you have to have your brain switched on all the time.

“The job is challenging at times, so you have to be really observant, watching and learning, and making sure you are listening to rules and regulations about the bush as well. There are a lot of rules involved in logging to make sure we keep safe.”

Callum says the future is looking bright for him and for school leavers who want to join the industry.

“The logging business does go up-and-down but they are always looking for workers.”

The key attributes employers look for in new trainees is a good work ethic, being safety conscious and practical, the ability to work well as part of a team and being physically fit.

Glen Mackie from New Zealand Forest Owners Association says people of all ages and abilities will find great careers in forestry.

“These include planting and managing native and exotic forests, looking after the forest environment, managing people and resources, working with state-of-the-art technology, and potentially operating million-dollar machines and equipment.

“Some forestry jobs go all year, while others are seasonal. Some are inside, some are outside. Forestry offers many opportunities for school leavers from on-job training and training through polytechs or degree-level training at university.”

career opportunities

forestry industry

visit www.forestrycareers.nz

www.nzfoa.org.nz

CAREERS NEW ZEALAND

A fantastic resource providing expert advice and confidential, free information on all things education and employment – including choosing school subjects, enrolling in study or training and applying for jobs. Call their free advice line on 0800 222 733, free text CAREER to 434 or chat online by visiting their website at www.careers.govt.nz

FEELING DOWN?

Leaving school is one of the most major transitions we undertake in our lives, and it’s a time when anxiety, worry and depression can surface. www.thelowdown.co.nz is full of ideas and people who can help you get unstuck and get to a better place.

Need to talk? Free text to 5626

Term 4 holiday: No later than 20 December 2022 through to no earlier than 30 January 2023

Term 1 holiday: 7 April–23 April 2023

Term 2 holiday: 1 July–16 July 2023

Term 3 holiday: 23 September–8 October 2023

Information sourced from Ministry of Education, visit www.education.govt.nz

AND LOANS

If you are about to leave school and you’re looking at tertiary study, there’s going to be a lot to think about. If it’s anything to do with financial support while you’re studying, StudyLink can help and you need to apply by

December 2022.

up for info at www.studylink.govt.nz

happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope. Barack Obama

So many of our dreams at first seem impossible then they seem improbable and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.

Christopher Reeve

not our job, that is what we do, not what we were created to do. Our true work is to look after each other, to protect each otherand to be of benefit to one another.

Bill Gates

It’s always important to make sure that you are on the electoral roll and ready to take part in national and local elections. How else can you be sure that you are ready to have your say on the big issues affecting you and your family?

www.elections.org.nz/voters

There is a free-to-use comprehensive list of Year 13 scholarships available to 2022 school leavers at MoneyHub. Millions of dollars are available and applications close throughout the year.

Volunteering can provide you with opportunities to develop your skills in new and interesting ways as well as providing valuable real-world experiences – all important attributes to your CV when applying for your first job!

For more information, visit: www.volunteeringnz.org.nz/ volunteers/finding-volunteer-roles/

Read online at www.leavingschool.co.nz

Nothing really worth having is easy to get.

hard-fought battles the goals won with sacrifice

are the ones that matter.

Tyler

FISHING HELPS ACHIEVE GOALS

CALVIN YOUNG loves how much he is able to save working as a deep-sea fisher for Sealord. The 17-year-old says that is one of the best features about his job.

“My goal is to be able to buy a house by the end of next year,” says Calvin.

“With my job, you have the opportunity to do double-ups so you can save big time. Double-ups are when you do your shift at sea and instead of having time off, you do your trip again with another crew.”

Straight from school at 16, Calvin joined Sealord, making him one of the younger deep-sea fishers working for the company.

He normally works a two-weeks-on, two-weeks-off work schedule but during hoki season this schedule changes to a 10-days-on, 10-days-off roster.

Other fish quota Sealord catches are orange roughy, dory and ruby fish. Calvin has been as far as the Auckland Islands and Chatham Islands from Sealord’s Nelson base.

Calvin works on the Sealord vessel FV Thomas Harrison as a deck hand, after starting as a factory hand last year. His job is to help haul and shoot the gear (nets) and help process the fish in the factory.

He went to Nayland College in Stoke, Nelson and left school at the end of Year 11. He enjoyed PE, Woodwork and Engineering but decided school was not for him.

“I actually had no intentions of being a fisherman when I was at school but my older brother had been a fisherman and I heard that it was good money, so I thought I would give it a go.

“When I left school, I was working fulltime at Pak ‘n Save but thought I wanted a better paying job and chose fishing.”

The stunning views from deck never fail to make an impression on Calvin. He loves the wildlife they come across, particularly dolphins, and he has seen his first shark.

“That was pretty cool seeing its fin sticking out of the water while it was sunbathing. I have seen things I never thought I would.”

When he is at sea, Calvin does a split shift working for six hours, followed by a break of six hours. He has also sailed on the Otakou a couple of times and says they do longer shifts.

Being away from his family is the biggest challenge Calvin faced when he first started, and spending time with them is something he looks forward to. He says getting used to different sleeping patterns on board was another challenge early on.

Calvin is keen to go far in his career working with Sealord. He would one day like to be a chief engineer or a skipper but his first goal is to get his deck ticket, which includes doing a course at Westport Deep Sea Fishing School. His advice for school leavers is that deep-sea fishing will suit anyone who wants to work hard and has the right attitude.

writer

PICTURE PERFECT LOCATION

WORKING ON THE WATER

The magnificent setting of the Marlborough Sounds is where HUNTER BENDELL goes to work farming mussels for MacLab NZ Ltd.

The 17-year-old started working fulltime last November after completing Year 12 at Marlborough Boys’ College in Blenheim. He took Maths, English, Construction and, most importantly, Marine Biology, which he says set him up for his job with MacLab.

“As long as I can remember, I always wanted to work on a boat because I grew up on the water’s edge of the Sounds,” says Hunter. “I got a job offer through school in the middle of last year. We went on a school trip for Marine Biology and checked out mussel farms and that’s how I got the job. I started part-time when I was still at school.”

MacLab was founded in 1973 by brothers Jim and Bill Broadbent who pioneered the green-lipped mussel nutraceutical market. Hunter is part of the team that maintain the farms and processes the mussels before the valuable oil is extracted for health products, which are used worldwide.

“It is pretty physical work and you can be pretty much flat-out all day. Some days can be up to 15 hours long but it is well rewarded. I just love being on the water – that is probably the biggest thing for me.

writer PETER WHITE // photo LUKE MARSHALL

“There are different jobs you can do: you can be out on the boats harvesting the mussels, they also run a factory in Nelson so there is work there, and they even offer work for school leavers who want to do a gap year. I really like it and know everyone in the factory and out on the boats.”

AS LONG AS i can remember, i Always wanted to work on a boat because i grew up on the WATER’S EDGE OF THE SOUNDS .

HUNTER BENDELL

The brilliant scenery in the Marlborough Sounds and surprising meetings with local wildlife make the job special for Hunter.

“The really good thing about it is you see a lot of wildlife – like dolphins that we see all the time chasing us when we are heading out to the mussel farms. That is quite entertaining. On a hot day you can’t really beat being out on the Sounds.”

Hunter is looking long-term at a career in the aquaculture industry and would like to skipper his own boat.

“You can do a skipper’s course, which they do over in Nelson, and become a skipper of a vessel up to 12 metres. The other option is to work your way up to become a deck boss and manage a deck on-board. I would like to be a skipper definitely. I just have to wait until I am 18 to do the course.”

Hunter says the best advice he can give school leavers keen on a career working on boats is to have a good work ethic.

“You have a four-days-on, four-days-off roster, so that means you are out at sea for four days at a time with early starts. You don’t need too many skills as they will teach you once you get into it, but definitely you need to work hard.”

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

It is quite the career change to go from farming to beauty therapy to being a line mechanic but MADISON HARVEY is taking it all in her stride.

The 23-year-old went farming after taking Maths, English, Science, Agriculture, Horticulture and PE in Year 12 at Horowhenua College. Then she was accepted into a beauty therapy course.

“I used to do lots of make-up on my friends so I thought I would like the course. I like the best of both worlds really. I can go out and get dirty in the mud and also go partying with the girls,” says Madison.

“I had applied for a line mechanic job with Electra so had to choose between going to beauty school or becoming a line mechanic. I chose the line mechanic path but while doing my apprenticeship, I also completed an eyelash extensions course.”

Madison has been with Electra for four years. She has been a qualified line mechanic for over a year, having completed her New Zealand Certificate in Electricity Supply (Line Mechanic Distribution) (Level 4).

Electra is New Zealand’s ninth-largest lines company, covering the Kāpiti-Horowhenua region. It is this year’s host sponsor of Annual Connection, the three-day celebration of the Electricity Supply Industry run by Connexis.

Madison loves the variety her job offers, especially the chance to work outside and in different locations. She is the only female line mechanic at her company and says her male co-workers have been supportive and encouraging.

“It’s kind of a lifestyle, rather than just a job. It comes down to the people you work with. They are all such a great bunch. They are lifetime friends now. I think it is how you portray yourself. If you have the ‘can-do’ attitude and take everything on with a grin, then they respect you for that.

“The first time I went up the pole, I actually pulled up a cross arm [a heavy metal bar used for supporting electricity conductors]. I think that was one of the best things because it really gave me the confidence that I could do it. But there was never any pressure that I had to do something.”

Madison is famous at her depot for tidying up the trucks and installing a new system so tools and

equipment are easier to find, especially for trainees. She is committed to a career in the electricity supply industry and is excited by the opportunities it offers.

“There are many jobs I want to get into. I have been given so many opportunities at my current job. There are plenty of pathways you can choose so you are never really stuck in one place.”

Her advice to school leavers is to give it your all and try your best.

writer PETER WHITE photograph ELECTRA

“Don’t be scared. It is a fun job and you overcome things as you go. You don’t have to be big and strong. It is all about technique and working smarter, not harder.”

IT IS A fun job And you overcome things AS you go you don’t have to be big And stronG IT IS ALL ABOUT technique And working SMARTER , NOT HARDER .

MADISON HARVEY

CYBER SECURITY

ROSARIO DE PILAR SORIA just loves her job as security operations manager at Securecom.

“My attitude is to have fun and enjoy it every day. I still see this as a hobby – to get paid as well is awesome!” says Rosario.

The Peruvian national leads a security operations team that protects businesses

from cyber attacks. Securecom is a New Zealand Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) that supplies security services and end-to-end IT services to businesses across all industry sectors.

“My team is responsible for monitoring, detecting and responding to every security incident. Leading and co-ordinating our response is a

writer PETER WHITE // photography LOGAN WEST

critical part of my job. If anything major happens, I am across any actions that are needed and I keep customers informed.

“Basically, any critical cyber security alerts or any abnormal behaviour in the network at any point comes to us. We respond, we investigate and if there is any remedial action

we need to take, then we make a call on that.”

Rosario came to New Zealand from Peru after finishing high school. She loved computers so was delighted to begin her three-year Bachelor of Computing Systems at Unitec in 2014.

“When I came to New Zealand, I always knew I wanted to pursue IT because computers had always been my passion and my hobby, but I never thought I could make a living out of it.

“While I was studying IT in my first year, I figured out that cyber security was the right path for me. At first, I thought it would not work but after talking with other students and lecturers and doing my own research, I discovered that cyber security was something that excites me and something I wanted to follow.”

Rosario enjoyed the experience and found Unitec to be the ideal place to study.

“I chose Unitec based on the degree they offered. From day one, I was already making connections and contacts and I liked the way it was so hands-on. Other degrees have more theory but I wanted to do the practical side of things straight away and that is what happened. Any help we needed was given to us.

Rosario would like to see more school leavers who are doing computer studies to consider cyber security.

“They need to invest time in their studies whether that’s at uni or at school. It would be good if they know what they want to do in the future but if not, then don’t worry about it as they will figure it out along the way. That is what happened to me.

“For cyber security, you’ve got to have attention to detail. That is crucial as we can’t really make mistakes and overlook things. The other thing is to stay calm when people come to you when things go wrong.”

For more information on studying computer systems at Unitec

MORE THAN JUST A JOB SUPPORT WORKER TO TEACHER

Working with special needs students is way more than just another teaching job for TOM CULLINANE.

“It is so enriching to see not just who they are but who they can be. We teach students from new entrants right through to 21-year-olds who are in a community transition programme that helps them get work experience. We cover such a broad aspect,” says Tom.

The 26-year-old works for Sommerville Special School in Panmure, Auckland. In Year 12 at Howick College, he took Social Studies, Geography, Statistics, Hospitality, Health and Food Technology.

At that point, he was not sure what he wanted to do for a career but the key moment was when he volunteered at LifeKidz Trust.

“I didn’t have any clear idea of where I was going when I was at school. I didn’t do Year 13 because I got some part-time work doing support work and caregiving work for special needs children at LifeKidz – that’s an after-school care and holiday care programme for special needs and was my first role as a support worker.

“From there, I created a relationship with Sommerville Special School and got a job as a teacher aide. I worked in that role for four or five

years before starting my degree. I have done seven years as a teacher aide and almost one year as a fully qualified teacher at Sommerville.”

WE LOOK AT THE STUDENT THROUGH A HOLISTIC LENS AND HOW WE CAN TEACH THEM IN LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL TOO. it’s more THAN JUST A JOB.

TOM CULLINANE

Tom completed a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) – Primary at the University of Auckland.

“Getting the degree formalised my journey and the teaching I will be doing with my students. I really enjoyed the connection you make with everyone from different backgrounds who are all working to get the same outcome. It kind of widens your lens more going into a teaching role.

writer PETER WHITE photographer LOGAN WEST

“The degree helped me to bring everything together: experiences right from when I was younger to overall life experiences. It also solidified everything I had learnt about being at and working in a school as well.”

Tom feels working with special needs children is something innate and natural for him.

“The work is so rewarding. Our students don’t need the latest gadgets to be entertained. As long as they are happy with what and who is around them, they are content. And that’s where the best learning comes from.

“Our brand is ‘more than a school’ and we encompass children as a whole. We look at the student through a holistic lens and how we can teach them in life beyond school too. It’s more than just a job.”

His advice to school leavers considering working with special needs students – you need to have understanding and empathy, be compassionate, be flexible and a good communicator.

“The job is not for everyone. I recommend doing some volunteer work first to get a feel for the work. It is also a good start to going down different avenues of health care and teaching in many different roles.”

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED

Winning the 2019 New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Apprentice Challenge was a pivotal moment in the career of CEDRIC FOLAUMOETU’I, who was the first Pacifica winner of the competition.

Cedric was a late starter to building, making the career move aged 27. He did a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Auckland after leaving Onehunga High School and was working as a case manager at Work and Income New Zealand. He realised he couldn’t support a family on the money he was earning, so decided building was the way ahead for him.

After winning the Apprentice Challenge he has set-up his own company, Front Row Solutions, and now employs 14 staff.

“I have always been driven since I came into the industry. The whole plan was to start-up my own business. I observed how my bosses ran the company and really picked their brains about everything, including pricing and how they dealt with different contractors from all the trades,” says Cedric.

writer PETER WHITE photographer LOGAN WEST

He is a strong believer in continuing to learn and upskill yourself. He has completed a Diploma of Applied Technology (Building) and is working towards a Bachelor of Construction.

“I would like to get into consulting in the future. It is important to think outside the square when you come into building and find what you can offer that no-one else is offering. I really encourage professional development.”

Cedric now employs school leavers and puts a lot of importance on face-to-face interviews. He wants apprentices to be committed to the job.

“One of the main things is honesty. Just being hard working and having the right attitude are important.”

Nick Mathews, industry pathways and apprenticeship manager for NZCB, says the Apprentice Challenge has evolved into New Zealand’s most creditable apprentice competition.

It began as a competition for third-year apprentices but is now open to all NZCB apprentices.

“We have around 100 entries in 22 geographic areas. At a regional level, they are given a set of plans and some instructions the week before. On the day of the competition, they go to a polytech or an ITM store and over eight hours, they have to build quite a technical project,” says Nick.

“They are judged on things like accuracy and workmanship. Typical projects in the past have been things like a garden bench seat or a children’s playhouse. We have been selling them and raising funds for the Cancer Society.”

The regional winners go through to the national final, which is held concurrently with the NZCB national conference. In the final they have a formal interview with the judges, do some public speaking on an industry topic and undertake a formal trade assessment. This year’s finals will be held 17 to 19 November.

Nick would like school leavers to seriously consider the building trade as a future career.

“There are just as many good opportunities and pathways for tradespeople. There have been studies done that show you are earning a lot quicker, you have no student debt, you are paying off your mortgage quicker and you have a better lifestyle, as opposed to someone who goes off to university.

“Once you get your trade behind you, the world is your oyster. There is no end to what potentially you can do.”

AMPED FOR AUTOMOTIVES

“For me it is really hobby focused. I like what I do because I enjoy doing it,” says JASON POU , who completed his light automotive engineering qualification at Mercedes-Benz Auckland earlier this year.

Jason has always loved cars. The 30-year-old spent a number of years after he left Green Bay High School in west Auckland working for Super Cheap Auto, rising through the ranks from part-time school worker to assistant manager.

He says he reached a point in his life where he wanted to have a skill to back him up, so he decided to become qualified in a trade. In 2017, he enrolled at Unitec in the one-year Certificate in Applied Technology (Autotronics) course.

Māori and Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT) in Auckland supported him with funding.

“I originally wanted to be a sparky, which is why I took that autotronics course. MPTT rang me up and I had an interview and got in, which was mean because they paid my course fees.

“In the end, all I really had to pay was my living costs. I had no student debt really, so it made things pretty comfortable for me.”

MPTT connects training organisations, industry and employers to help Māori and Pasifika succeed and lead in the trades. In addition to funding their training, the scholarship programme helps trainees build skills, gain qualifications, find financial support and access practical assistance.

It’s about empowering Māori and Pasifika to create futures with purpose and possibility for themselves, their whānau and their communities.

Jason quickly picked up an apprenticeship with Mercedes-Benz Auckland. He was surprised at how much he learned during his apprenticeship.

“I started my pre-trades a bit later in life and I thought I knew a lot. But then I kind of had to eat a humble sandwich pretty early.”

Jason completed his light automotive engineering qualification in April 2022 through MPTT partner and industry training organisation MITO.

“I just want to become a better and more efficient mechanic. You sort of catch on and know when you’re

improving. When it comes to diagnosing issues with cars, some of it’s easy but some of it can be the most difficult part of the work.

“It’s pretty satisfying when you can find the issue and pinpoint it early without even having to go through all the steps.

“It’s a changing trade. Even once you’re qualified, you’ve got to keep training and learn about what’s happening in the market, as opposed to other trades where I think once you learn how to do something that’s that. Instead, it’s just like a consistently changing field.”

Working for such a reputable international brand as Mercedes-Benz enables Jason to work anywhere in the world on cars, SUVs and similar vehicles.

“It definitely gives me security, especially with the changing market out there with hybrids and electric vehicles. At least being at a dealership you have the better training and you get first-hand knowledge about those vehicles earlier than other smaller workshops.” Jason says working in his industry is definitely challenging but offers worthwhile, lucrative careers for anyone prepared to put in the hard yards and to learn as much as they can on-the-job.

■ JASON POU HAS COMPLETED AN APPRENTICESHIP IN LIGHT AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING WITH MERCEDES-BENZ AUCKLAND AND THROUGH INDUSTRY TRAINING ORGANISATION MITO

■ HE WAS SUPPORTED BY MĀORI AND PASIFIKA TRADES TRAINING, WHO ASIDE FROM FUNDING TRAINING, ALSO

JASON SAYS WHILE THE

For more information and to apply for a Māori and Pasifika Trades Training scholarship, visit www.maoripasifikatrades.co.nz/ apply-now

writer

In my role as a psychologist, I see a lot of students who feel overwhelmed with stress around exam time.

My advice for coping, and even enhancing exam performance, during this stressful time is to increase self-care. By self-care I mean looking after your physical, mental and emotional health.

Self-care is the constant repetition of many tiny habits that will keep you at your optimum –emotionally, physically and mentally. Mindfulness – the practice of being in the present – is an important part of this. Let’s imagine you’re sitting studying. How many times does your mind drift-off into the future or the past, even for only for a second?

Mindfulness is the ability to recognise when you are drifting and to bring your attention back to what you are doing, repeatedly.

Tuning into your five senses can help anchor you in the present.

SENSE OF SOUND

There are many apps that can help remind you to be in the present. ‘Mind bell’ has a Tibetan bell that sounds randomly throughout the day. Each time the bell rings, notice what you are doing, relax your shoulders and take a deep breath. Listening to a recording of waves at night-time may help you to focus on the soothing sound, rather than the thoughts going around in your head.

SENSE OF SMELL

You can use pleasant smells to anchor you in the moment. A mindfulness group exercise I often do is passing around lemons. I have people notice the weight and feel of the lemon, then scratch the skin and notice the smell. For people feeling overwhelmed or panicky, it might help to bite into a lemon and use this to anchor yourself.

SENSE OF TOUCH

Different textures can be soothing to touch and most $2 shops sell stress balls with a variety of textures, from jelly to spikes. Research suggests that patting a dog or cat can be particularly soothing, can calm anxiety and boost your mood.

SENSE OF TASTE

Eat a good variety of healthy foods that will provide you with energy. If you have a treat, enjoy it –be in the moment with the taste and texture.

SENSE OF SIGHT

Break up periods of study by going for a walk. It is great for sore muscles and will give your eyes a break from staring at a screen or book. A mindful walk involves paying attention to what you can see around you.

wind on your skin, the feel of your breath, the sound of your steps and anything you can taste in your mouth.

If you have times when you feel panic and anxiety, you could use the TIPP skills created by Dr Marsha Linehan:

■ Temperature change (hot or cold)

■ Intense exercise (like 20 sit-ups, for example)

■ Paced breathing

■ Progressively relax your muscles.

One of the most useful of the TIPP skills for extreme exam anxiety is temperature change that stimulates our mammalian dive reflex. You can do this by dunking your face into a bowl of very cold water for 30 seconds, coming up for breath as you need to.

This can quickly calm panic, and then you will be more able to think clearly about which of the other techniques you can use to be mindful and calm.

S A N F O R D

c a r e e r s s a n f o r d c o n z

You can incorporate your other senses too – notice the things you can smell, the feel of the sun or

These techniques aren’t only useful for exams. Once you’ve figured out what works for you, you’ll be able to use these techniques whenever you’re in a stressful situation.

O u r t e a m o f o v e r 1 5 0 0 p e o p l e a r e i n v o l v e d i n e v e r y t h i n g f r o m d e e p s e a

f i s h i n g , o n s h o r e p r o c e s s i n g , m u s s e l a n d s a l m o n f a r m i n g , t o b u s i n e s s s u p p o r t , i n n o v a t i o n , m a r k e t i n g a n d s a l e s , f i n a n c e a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l r o l e s t h a t e n a b l e t h e s e a m l e s s r u n n i n g o f o u r b u s i n e s s , a n d e n s u r e t h e s u s t a i n a b l e f u t u r e o f o u r i n d u s t r y a n d e n v i r o n m e n t

A c a r e e r w i t h S a n f o r d i s u n l i k e a n y o t h e r T h e r e a r e e n d l e s s o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r g r o w t h n o m a t t e r w h i c h l o c a t i o n o r a r e a o f o u r b u s i n e s s y o u ’ r e i n t e r e s t e d i n !

Jennifer Beckett is a registered psychologist and can be contacted by visiting www.talkingworks.co.nz

IT IS ESSENTIAL YOU MAKE TIME FOR self care as it REDUCES STRESS AND ANXIETY AND INCREASES ENERGY AND CONCENTRATION.

STUDYLINK IS HERE TO HELP WHO’S GOING TO FUND YOUR STUDY?

What do a genie, Santa and a billionaire’s chihuahua have in common? They’re not going to help fund your study!

But STUDYLINK can.

StudyLink is a government agency that can help you pay for study with Student Allowances and Loans.

Check out their website – studylink.govt.nz – to find out about the support you can get, how to apply for it and manage it online.

These are the main payments you can get to help you pay for your study:

FEES-FREE STUDY

A payment to cover your first year of course fees. You don’t need to pay it back. You may be able to get it as a New Zealander leaving school soon and studying or training for the first time next year.

To check, go to feesfree.govt.nz

Even if you get fees-free study for the first year, you may still need help with course costs or living expenses.

STUDENT ALLOWANCE

This is a weekly payment to help with living expenses – you don’t have to pay it back. How much you get depends on: your income your living situation your parents’ income (if you’re under 24).

STUDENT LOAN

The Student Loan can help with study costs. If you can get fees-free you may not need a Student Loan for your course fees, but you may still need to apply for a loan if you need help with course-related costs or living costs.

You may be able to get a loan for: compulsory course fees (check if you can get fees-free first) course-related costs (help to pay for study materials like books, stationery, tools and computer items) living costs (help to pay for day-to-day living costs, if you can’t get a Student Allowance). You’ll have to pay this back once you’re earning over a certain amount.

CHECK WHAT YOU CAN GET

It’s never too early to start working out what your study will cost and how you’ll pay for it. Use StudyLink’s eligibility test to work out what kind of help you could get while you’re studying – studylink.govt.nz

APPLY BY 16 DECEMBER AT STUDYLINK.GOVT.NZ

YOU DON’T NEED TO WAIT ‘TIL YOU GET YOUR NCEA RESULTS IN JANUARY TO APPLY!

IT’S BEST TO APPLY BY 16 DECEMBER TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE SORTED WHEN YOUR STUDY STARTS.

AROUND 160,000 STUDENTS WILL BE APPLYING, SO THE EARLIER YOU GET YOUR APPLICATION IN, THE FASTER IT WILL BE SORTED OUT FOR YOU.

DON’T WORRY IF THINGS CHANGE YOU CAN UPDATE YOUR APPLICATION DETAILS, LIKE YOUR EDUCATION PROVIDER OR COURSE, OR EVEN WITHDRAW YOUR APPLICATION AT ANY TIME.

IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO GET YOUR APPLICATION IN ON TIME, EVEN IF YOU HAVEN’T DECIDED ALL THE DETAILS YET.

39

USING KIWISAVER WISELY GETTING FREE MONEY

You’re never too poor for KiwiSaver. Even students working part-time will benefit from saving tiny sums of money in KiwiSaver. A few dollars a week drip-fed into KiwiSaver now will add up to many thousands of dollars far quicker than you think, thanks to investment growth and free top-ups from employers and the government.

The thing about KiwiSaver is you only have to put away a minimum of three per cent of what you’re earning. So, if you earn $100 in the week it’s just $3, which is less than one single energy drink or coffee. You won’t even notice that if it’s transferred to KiwiSaver automatically by your employer before you receive your pay in the bank.

You probably don’t think about yourself in 10, 20 or 30 years’ time. If you start saving that small percentage from your very first pay packet, you’ll thank yourself big time in a decade when, believe it or not, you might start to think about buying a house. It happens. By then, you’ll have a good chunk of a deposit saved without much effort.

The other reason to start early is that you get into a good habit. If you learn to put money aside before spending, you will find it easy.

What makes KiwiSaver a good deal is the free money that comes with it. From the age of 18, your employer has to double your three per cent contribution. But do be careful as some employers

WHAT MAKES

KIWISAVER A GOOD DEAL IS THE FREE MONEY THAT COMES WITH IT.

don’t always play by the rules. If you’re on minimum wage in particular, they must pay their three per cent over and above your wage.

You can make additional voluntary contributions direct to your KiwiSaver provider any time says Tammy

Peyper from the Financial Markets Authority. And there’s a very good reason to do that if you can.

The government tops your contributions up by 50 cents for every dollar you put in, up to a maximum of $1024.86 each year. That’s less than $20 a week says Peyper. In return, you get $521.43 added into your KiwiSaver for free by the government. The latest KiwiSaver annual report showed the highest amount of lump-sum contributions to KiwiSaver, up 20 per cent to $2.2 billion for the year to March 2022.

Even if you can’t contribute the full $1024, you still get a 50 cent top-up for every dollar you invest up to that sum. It doesn’t matter if you drip feed your money to you KiwiSaver provider every week or pay a lump sum once a year.

Contact your KiwiSaver provider to find out how to set-up extra regular payments. Or you can also make a one-off payment via online banking by choosing the IRD payment option and then “KiwiSaver member account” as your payee type. The money will be forwarded to your KiwiSaver account.

If you get to the stage where you want to buy a home, which thousands of New Zealanders in their twenties do, there’s more free money. After five years saving in KiwiSaver you can withdraw your savings, your employer’s contribution and the investment growth to buy your first home. If you’ve been putting at least three per cent in for that time, you’ll most likely also qualify for the $5000 HomeStart grant for a first home (or $10,000 for a brand-new home).

If you can, even in these inflationary times, then every extra bit of your wages or salary you save equals more to spend on your first home or tens of thousands of dollars later in retirement says Peyper. The very best advice is to look for excuses to invest that tiny three per cent into KiwiSaver each week, rather than saying “I can’t”. Your future self will be grateful in the not-too-distant future.

For more information on KiwiSaver and how it works, visit www.sorted.org.nz

LOOKING TO START YOUR CAREER IN THE FAST FOOD INDUSTRY

If you are looking for your first job or a cool place to work look no further

more training

full time hours

complete the more you can earn.

work around your life, apply now.

MANAGE YOUR MONEY

writer DIANA CLEMENT // image credit iSTOCK

Managing your own money as a student is a big learning curve. Suddenly you need to pay rent, for food, transport and plenty of other bills.

There are some simple steps you can do to take control of your finances to avoid spiralling into excessive debt.

Learning good financial habits is not rocket science. Here’s how:

KEEP A SPENDING DIARY

Set yourself up for budgeting with a one-off exercise of listing every single cent you spend for a month. Understanding your spending is the single most important thing you can do for your finances, says Massey University’s Pushpa Wood. Take your diary and analyse the findings. It will show you exactly where your money is going. Unnecessary spending really mounts up. Even a couple of bucks a day on chocolate or chippies adds up to $730 over a year or $2190 over a three-year degree. Debt is easy to rack up and hard to get rid of.

BUDGET AND TRACK

WHAT YOU’RE SPENDING

The next step is to allocate your weekly spending money to categories such as rent, food, transport

and entertainment. Look at the findings from your spending diary and trim the unnecessary stuff. But don’t forget to include a little “me money” for treats, or you’ll fail. Then every week take a few minutes to add up your spending. This is budgeting. A budget app can help keep track of your spending as you go and tells you when to stop in each category.

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

As you track your spending each week ask yourself how much of it was necessary. Even cash-strapped students need to think hard about the difference between needs and wants. Being mindful about every single item you buy will help you live within your means. Is that Big Mac or subscription really a need?

LEARN TO LIVE ON LESS

Don’t just accept group think that being a student is expensive as a reason to justify everything you buy. Even your basic supermarket spend will be a mix of needs and wants. Likewise driving when you could walk, cycle or catch the bus is a want not a need.

If you hear yourself making statements such as: “I need a new iPhone”, “I need takeaways” or “I need new shoes”, then you could end up in a whole lot of

unnecessary debt. Don’t buy new or don’t buy at all. The most important thing you can do to live within your means is to choose to.

MAKE MONEY

Work. It brings in money and you will gain life and work skills to add to your CV. There are jobs out there and someone gets them. Why not you? There’s no reason why you can’t be promoted in your part-time or holiday job and earn more. Or start a part-time business. It could be anything from computer repair to running entertainment events. Employing fellow students to do the work and taking a cut of every hour they work is very entrepreneurial. Finally, you can do it. Don’t assume that all students struggle financially. Plenty are in control of their money. Some may earn more money than you or be given more by their parents. If you’ve used your time while completing tertiary study or training to learn how to manage your money well, you’ll most likely end up better off than many of them in a decade or two.

SEVEN SKILLS EMPLOYERS WANT PRESENT YOURSELF IN YOUR BEST LIGHT

Have you ever wondered, ’What is that magical power some people have that gets them a job?’ The answer isn’t magical – the key is that these job seekers demonstrate they have the employability skills employers are looking for.

The world of work is rapidly changing. While new jobs will be created in the future, others will disappear or become automated.

Employers seek workers who have the skills, confidence and the ability to adapt to new technologies and other market opportunities. The good news is that you will have many of these skills already. These skills can be learned in daily life by doing work experience or volunteer work, playing sport, helping your whānau, taking up a hobby or taking part in school and community activities.

WHAT ARE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

Employability skills, or soft skills, are the personal qualities and attitudes you have that make you ready for work, such as getting to work on time or following instructions. Employers tell us they need young people to be work-ready – if you have the right attitude, the technical skills can be taught.

SEVEN EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS EMPLOYERS WANT

Employability skills include:

1. POSITIVE ATTITUDE: A positive attitude is not just about being bubbly. It means showing that you’ll happily do the work asked of you, and you’ll stay upbeat when the work gets hard.

2. COMMUNICATION: Good communication skills are when you follow instructions well and ask questions when you’re confused. Being able to explain things clearly is a bonus for employers.

3. TEAMWORK: Playing or working well with others is not just a bonus on the rugby ground or during that science project, it’s something employers value.

4. SELF-MANAGEMENT: Getting to work on time and dressed appropriately is just one part of self-management. Not getting angry at others when you’re frustrated and managing stress are top skills that will get you a job.

5. WILLINGNESS TO LEARN: Learning doesn’t stop once you leave school. Employers want to know that you can learn new technologies or new skills. Being keen to learn is a good bet for getting a job.

6. THINKING SKILLS: Employers rate thinking skills the highest when looking at your CV. Do you like to solve problems? Can you make a good decision? Do you think before you act?

7. RESILIENCE: Have you got grit? When something knocks you down, do you get back up again? This is resilience. Employers need you to have this skill to cope when things go wrong at work.

SHOW OFF YOUR EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS ON YOUR CV

Include employability skills in the skills list, work history, interests and achievement sections of your CV to wow employers.

■ SKILLS LIST: Bullet point up to five employability skills on your CV, with an example of how you got them.

■ WORK HISTORY: List volunteer work or paid work experience in your work history in a way that showcases your skills.

■ INTERESTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS SECTIONS: What you do in your spare time is a powerful indicator to employers of your range of skills. Remember: If you can show these skills on your CV, you are on the right track to getting an employer interested in hiring you.

For more information on employability skills and creating your CV, visit careers.govt.nz

contributor CAREERS.GOVT.NZ // photo credit iSTOCK

SWING INTO STUDY MODE

TOP TIPS TO TOP YOUR EXAMS

photo credit i STOCK

It’s staying brighter for longer and starting to feel like summer ... we must be getting close to exams! Before you start panicking, take a look at these tips to help you make the most of your study leave.

■ A few weeks out from your exams, draw up a study timetable that lists what you’re going to study and when.

Be as specific as possible by breaking each subject up into topics you need to study. This helps you to get straight into study each day knowing what you’re going to do.

■ Mixing it up is good. If you stick to one subject for too long, your brain can start to switch off, so schedule some algebra after novel studies, for example.

If possible, mix up where you study too to keep things interesting. Have a number of quiet, distraction-free spots and move between them.

■ Don’t spend time revising stuff you already know. If you don’t understand something, ask for help, or go online and see if you can find the answers.

■ There are many ways to revise, including drawing mind-maps or diagrams, making notes, answering past exam questions, writing cue cards, asking someone to test you,

highlighting important words or ideas, putting key-word posters on your bedroom wall or ceiling, or writing skeleton essays. Find a combination that works for you.

■ Making notes is a great way to memorise a lot of information. (The aim is to move the information out of your short-term memory and into your long-term memory.)

You’ll remember better if you write your notes out by hand rather than typing them. Reading your study notes aloud can help the information stick because you’re processing your notes audibly as well as visually.

■ Take short, frequent breaks. Research shows that shorter 25–30 minute study sessions work best as your concentration levels are higher. At the very least, aim to break every 50 minutes for 10 minutes.

■ Look at plenty of past exams and exemplars. These are available at: www.nzqa.govt.nz/ qualifications-standards/ qualifications/ncea/subjects/

■

Mornings, when you’re feeling fresh, is a good time for note taking. Before bed is a good time to look over your notes and commit them to memory. (Your brain processes new memories while you’re asleep.)

■ Make the most of your study time by minimising distractions.

Leave your phone in another room and shun all social media. Ideally switch off the Wi-Fi if you don’t need it for study.

■ Drink plenty of water and eat healthy snacks to keep your brain humming.

■ Make sure it’s not all work and no play. People who find the right balance between study and leisure are the ones who get the top marks. Exercise, in particular, is really important as it increases your heart rate and makes your blood circulate faster.

This supplies more oxygen to your brain which increases productivity and reduces tiredness and stress. Fresh air helps too.

HAPPY STUDYING!

A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME SOLID CAREER OPTIONS JOBS IN FOCUS

PERSONAL CARE

Food technologists may also be required to complete on-the-job training programmes for specific products and processes.

NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Home Economics, Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Job prospects for food technologists are good due to increasing demand for their services, but a shortage of skilled workers.

Statistics: Job prospects: Good.

Length of study: 3–5 years.

Pay scale: Food technologists with up to six years’ experience earn $45,000–$110,000 per year.

Senior food technologists earn $100,000–$140,000 per year.

Medical physicists help plan radiation treatment for patients and check and monitor radiation equipment and dosage. They also research and develop new treatment techniques and equipment. Interaction with patients as part of their radiation therapy treatment is also part of the role.

To become a medical physicist, it is necessary to have a relevant undergraduate degree – such as a Bachelor of Science majoring in physics or a Bachelor of Engineering with a focus on maths and physics. Specialist training and work experience is then required. This involves gaining a Master of Science in medical physics and a five-year clinical Training, Education and Accreditation programme, focusing on one of three specialties. Medical physicists must also be accredited with the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine.

NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Biology, Chemistry, Digital Technologies, Maths, Physics, and Construction and Mechanical Technologies.

Job prospects for medical physicists are good as there is a shortage of workers.

Statistics: Job prospects: Good.

Length of study: 8 years.

Pay scale: New medical physicists earn $60,000–$80,000 per year.

Experienced medical physicists earn $98,000–$156,000 per year.

Also known as: Clinical biochemist; clinical immunologist; haematologist; histologist; medical cytologist; medical microbiologist; transfusion scientist; cytogeneticist.

Medical laboratory scientists carry out laboratory tests on blood, tissues and other samples taken from patients. They prepare samples for pathologists, as well as test, set up, use and maintain laboratory equipment.

To become a fully qualified medical laboratory scientist, it is necessary to have a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science. You must also be registered with the Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand, hold a current practising certificate and work as a trainee medical laboratory scientist for at least six months. There are alternative pathways to become fully qualified as a medical laboratory scientist if you already hold a bachelor’s degree or are working as a medical laboratory technician.

NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Maths, Chemistry and Biology. Job prospects for medical laboratory scientists are good as there is a shortage of workers.

Statistics: Job prospects: Good.

Length of study: 4 years.

Pay scale: New medical laboratory scientists earn $50,000–$71,000 per year.

Senior medical laboratory scientists earn $71,000–$105,000 per year

Also known as: Biochemical engineer; process engineer (chemical); food processing engineer; petrochemical engineer; pharmaceutical engineer. Chemical engineers design and develop the processes used to manufacture chemicals and products. They also design, develop and operate the equipment used. Preparing and presenting reports is also an element of this role.

To become a chemical engineer, it is necessary to have a Bachelor of Engineering specialising in one of the following areas: biochemical, bioprocessing, biotechnology, chemical and materials, chemical and process, chemical technology or materials and process. For those wanting to work in food manufacturing technology, the following bachelor’s degrees are an option: food process engineering, food science and food technology.

NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Chemistry, Maths, Physics, and Construction, Mechanical and Processing Technologies. Chances of getting a job as a chemical engineer are good due to strong demand for their skills.

Statistics: Job prospects: Good.

Length of study: 3–4 years.

Pay scale: Chemical engineers earn an average of $100,000 per year.

Chemical engineers in team leader roles earn an average of $120,000 per year. Chemical engineering managers earn an average of $160,000 per year.

JOB

JOB

PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANT

Also known as: Civil engineering technologist; coastal engineer earthquake/seismic engineer; fire engineer; geotechnical engineer; hydraulics engineer; roading engineer; structural engineer; transport engineer; water resources engineer; site/project engineer.

Civil engineers plan, organise and oversee the building and maintenance of structures such as dams, bridges, sewerage systems and roads. They will consult with clients over the project and prepare working drawings, specifications and cost estimates.

To become a civil engineer, it is necessary to have a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).

NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Maths, English, Chemistry, Physics, Digital Technologies, and Construction and Mechanical Technologies.

Job prospects for civil engineers are good due to high demand for their services and a shortage of workers. Civil engineer is a role that is on Immigration New Zealand’s long-term skill shortage list. Demand for their services is expected to remain strong.

Statistics: Job prospects: Good.

Length of study: 4 years.

Pay scale: Civil engineers earn an average of $100,000 per year.

Civil engineers in team leader roles earn an average of $120,000 per year.

Civil engineering managers earn an average of $160,000 per year.

Also known as: Junior data scientist; business intelligence analyst; market research analyst; operations analyst; data warehouse analyst; quantitative analyst; developer programmer; database administrator; systems analyst; ICT business analyst.

DATA ANALYST Kaitātari raraunga

Data analysts identify and describe data trends using statistics and specialised software. This helps organisations and companies achieve their business aims, as data analysts interpret numbers to gain business insights and create written or visual reports.

While there are no specific requirements to become a data analyst, employers usually prefer job applicants to have a qualification in a subject that requires statistical, business and analytical skills. Examples include computer science, economics, maths or statistics, information management and business information systems.

NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Digital Technologies, Maths, Physics and English.

Job prospects for data analysts are good as there is a shortage of workers.

Statistics: Job prospects: Good.

Length of study: 2–3 years.

Pay scale: Data analysts usually earn $80,000–$130,000 per year.

Data scientists usually earn $100,000–$160,000 per year.

Also known as: Security specialist; cyber security analyst.

SECURITY ANALYST Kaitātari whakamarumaru

Security analysts create and monitor security processes and frameworks to protect an organisation or company’s information systems and computer networks from being illegally accessed.

While there are no specific entry requirements to work as a security analyst, it is generally expected that job applicants will have a qualification in a related subject, such as network engineering, computer science or cyber security. You can also gain an industry-based certification, such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional.

NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Digital Technologies, Statistics and Maths.

Security analysts are in high demand and this demand is expected to remain high as businesses shift their services and systems online and an increasing number of devices are connected to the internet, which hackers can access. There are not enough security analysts to meet demand.

Statistics: Job prospects: Good.

Length of study: 1–4 years.

Pay scale: Security analysts earn an average of $120,000–$160,000 per year.

Also known as: Analyst programmer; programmer; web/app developer; software engineer; website developer.

Kaihanga pūmanawa rorohiko

Software developers create and maintain computer software, websites and software applications. They may discuss clients’ requirements, write programs, run tests on programs and systems, maintain and upgrade programs, develop technical plans for websites, and liaise with designers.

While there are no specific entry requirements to work as a software developer, it is generally expected that job applicants will have experience or a relevant qualification. Relevant qualifications include tertiary qualifications in computing, software engineering, information systems or business computing, and industry-based certifications with well-known companies, such as Microsoft. It is also possible to do on-the-job training in software development through internships and graduate recruitment programmes.

NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Digital Technologies, Maths, English and Physics.

Chances of getting a job as a software developer are good due to a shortage of workers.

Statistics: Job prospects: Good. Length of study: 1–3 years.

Pay scale: Junior software developers usually earn $50,000–$80,000 per year. Intermediate software developers usually earn $80,000–$130,000 per year. Senior software developers usually earn $110,000–$180,000 per year. Software developers in team leader or management roles usually earn $120,000–$200,000 per year

Also known as: Computer systems analyst; systems designer; systems analyst; information analyst; ICT business analyst.

Business analysts design or recommend solutions, such as computers or computer programs, to help organisations and companies meet their goals. They consult with management, colleagues and clients on their needs and goals, formulate solutions and then estimate costs of their proposed solutions and create business cases for them.

pakihi

While there are no specific requirements to work as a business analyst, employers usually prefer job applicants to have a diploma or degree in a subject that requires statistical, business and analytical skills. Examples include business analysis, computing, information systems, business computing, economics, maths or statistics.

NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Digital Technologies, English and Maths.

Chances of getting a job as a business analyst are good due to a shortage of workers.

Statistics: Job prospects: Good.

Length of study: 2–3 years.

Pay scale: Business analysts usually earn $100,000–$130,000 per year.

Senior business analysts usually earn $110,000–$180,000 per year.

POOR

LOW

HIGH

POOR AVERAGE GOOD

MEDIUM HIGH

JOB PROSPECTS

POOR AVERAGE GOOD LENGTH OF STUDYLENGTH OF STUDY

LENGTH OF STUDY

JOB PROSPECTS

POOR AVERAGE GOOD

LENGTH

STUDY

STUDY

THE STORY

THE STORY