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MANAGING EDITOR
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SUB-EDITOR
Sara Carbery
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Sara Carbery; Diana Clement; Janet Tuck; StudyLink, Ministry of Social Development; Peter White
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Joe Allison – Getty Images; Tim Cuff; iStock; Kristi Kizewski; Paula McInnes; Marty Melville; Alan Stevens; Logan West
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ISSN 2463-3380 (Print)
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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.
From part-time to full-time: Carving out a rewarding career in retail with Briscoe Group.
12 COLLISION REPAIR TECHNICIAN | VICTORIA HINE
Meet the ‘Golden Hammer’ apprentice of the year who has turned her passion for cars into an award-winning career.
13 AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHER | SIDNEY CLOW
An MITO apprenticeship was the key to success for the winner of this year’s ‘Golden Gun’ award for vehicle refinishing.
14 AGRONOMIST | JAMIE WELLS
Potatoes, onions, carrots and more – meet the Franklin ‘crop doctor’ who is helping crops thrive from seed to harvest.
15 BUILDER | RYAN HAY
Knock on wood: Building a solid career was easy for this Garin College graduate, thanks to BCITO and L.T. McGuinness.
16 NOTICEBOARD
Key dates, websites and events to help you navigate life after school.
18 PODIATRIST | CHRISTEL MASAGCA
Put your best foot forward with a Bachelor of Health Science (Podiatry) from AUT.
19 STUDYLINK
Discover ways to pay for your future studies with help from StudyLink.
20 KIWISAVER KNOW-HOW
A small amount can add up to thousands of dollars far quicker than you think, thanks to free top-ups and investment growth.
21 INTERVIEW TIPS | WHAT ARE EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR?
Congratulations! You’re through to the interview stage. We share some tips on how to wow your future boss.
22 SENIOR AUDITOR | MIRIAMA SHARMAN
Much more than numbers: If you have a logical brain and good initiative, a career in accounting could be your ticket to the world.
23 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST | GRETA STUTHRIDGE
Combining technical knowledge, environmental awareness and problem-solving skills to help the planet and our communities.
24 GAME DEVELOPER | EMMA DERMODY
Meet the Matatū lock who is passionate about promoting and growing women’s rugby in Canterbury.
25 APPRENTICE MECHANICAL ENGINEER | AZAAN HUSSAIN
Variety and support: Learning on the job at Fonterra’s milk-processing plant in Te Awamutu.
26 CRAFTING A WINNING CV
Stand out from the crowd with advice from an expert on how to put together a winning CV.
27 SUPPORT FOR JOB SEEKERS
Good news! If you’re ready to leave school but don’t have a job, there is lots of support available to help you find one.
28 JOBS IN FOCUS
Important statistics about 14 career options, including job prospects, length of study/training and what you can expect to be paid.
THEMOSTOPENDAY
24AUG2024AUTCITYCAMPUS
HELPING BUSINESSES SUCCEED
THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF ACCOUNTANTS
writer SARA CARBERY
photograph
KRISTI KIZEWSKI
When asked what he enjoys most about working as an Accounting Technician with BDO Gisborne, it’s clear ERUTINI
PARINGATAI-WALKER AT (Ngati Porou, Te Whanau a Hunaara) is driven by a passion to make a difference in people’s lives.
“[I enjoy] the opportunity to be a part of a team that creates significant outcomes for our people, the opportunities to grow and network with other likeminded people, the opportunity to create positive and meaningful engagements with different businesses and brands, and the opportunity to give back to my people.”
Erutini (24) grew up in the small community of Horoera on te Tairāwhiti (the East Cape) and attended Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti.
In Taumata 3 (Year 13), he took Te Reo Rangatira (Te Reo Māori), Putaiao (Science), Te Reo Pakeha (English), Pangarau (Maths) and Rugby.
Erutini says Te Reo Rangatira and Pangarau (Maths) have been the most helpful subjects for his career.
“These two subjects have helped a lot as accounting is numbers and literature based. Being able to converse and explain scenarios in both Te Reo Māori and English allows me to be bicultural.”
Accounting would have been helpful too, he says, but wasn’t taught at his school.
Accounting wasn’t Erutini’s first career choice –he initially enrolled at EIT Tairāwhiti to do a building course, but the class was full. All through school he had found maths easier than English, so he “picked the closest thing to numbers, which was accounting, and the rest is history”.
Wanting to stay close to home, Erutini enrolled in a Bachelor of Business Studies majoring in Accounting at EIT Tairāwhiti.
When a work experience opportunity came up at BDO Gisborne in his second year, he switched from full-time to part-time study, completing his degree in four years.
Erutini says working as part of a team that has a strong work ethic and values that align with Tikanga Māori inspires him to be the best he can be.
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ANZ STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
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 member today.
Part of being the best he can be is gaining professional accreditation through Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ).
This means he can use the postnominal AT (Accounting Technician) to indicate he has been trained to oversee and manage financial accounts to high ethical and professional standards.
Erutini’s goal is to become a Chartered Accountant (CA) and continue to support small to medium sized businesses in his community.
■ ERUTINI PARINGATAI-WALKER IS AN ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN (AT) WITH BDO GISBORNE
■ ACCOUNTING TECHNICIANS ARE TRAINED TO OVERSEE AND MANAGE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS TO HIGH ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
■ ERUTINI HAS A BACHELOR OF BUSINESS STUDIES MAJORING IN ACCOUNTING FROM EIT TAIRĀWHITI
“I aim to break down barriers and help grow our people using a ‘By Māori, for Māori, by Ngati Porou, for Ngati Porou’ approach.”
If you’re considering a career in accounting, Erutini’s advice is to “feel the fear and do it”.
“There is a missing generation that are not financially literate, nor do they have any business acumen. We need more people in the profession so that we can educate our own around financial literacy and critical thinking when it comes to making the tough decisions.”
ONLINE
A CAREER OF TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE EXPLORING THE OCEAN
writer PETER WHITE
photographer MARTY MELVILLE
If you love a challenge, being outdoors on the water, and would like to travel the world, hydrographic surveying might just be the career for you. BRAD COOPER is six years into his role as a senior hydrographic surveyor with Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), based in Wellington. Before that he spent seven years working for a large survey company in Perth, Australia, and he’s also spent time in Norway, the UK, the Netherlands and Papua New Guinea.
“We surveyed about 30 areas across the whole of Papua New Guinea. We got to see lots of different parts of the country, including some parts that people from inside Papua New Guinea had probably not seen before. Maybe from our surveys, some cruise ships will be going into some of those awesome places,” says Brad.
“I spent many years working in the field but now I oversee and manage contracts to do those hydrographic surveys. My job is to check the data and make sure it is really accurate, before I pass it on to the cartographers who then produce the nautical charts.”
One of the high-profile projects Brad was involved in was helping to find the wreckage of the Malaysian Airways flight MH370 that disappeared in 2014. He was involved in designing the search plan that was used.
“It was interesting to use the hydrographic tools that we have to try and solve that problem.”
In his current role with LINZ, he has done some hydrographic surveying in Antarctica. LINZ, as the New Zealand Hydrographic Authority, produces charts and nautical products that mariners use to navigate safely. LINZ is responsible for the New Zealand area, as well as a wider area of ocean which encompasses the Ross Sea, Tonga, Niue, Tokelau, Samoa and the Cook Islands.
Brad loves the variety in his role at LINZ, including the use of new technology to do the charting work.
“A big reason why LINZ commissions surveys is to help with safety and navigation. We want to make sure that boats have safe passage from port-to-port so that’s why we produce nautical charts. A lot of the information behind those charts is hydrographic seabed mapping data.”
Brad attended James Hargest College in Invercargill. The subjects he took in Year 13 that have been beneficial to his career are Maths, Physics and Geography, plus he says good written skills are useful.
He holds a Bachelor of Surveying from the University of Otago, the only university in New Zealand to offer this four-year course.
Brad says a career in hydrographic surveying would suit school leavers who want variety all the way through their career – both on and off the water.
“We are seeing lots of changes in technology in this industry which keeps you on your toes.
■ BRAD COOPER IS A SENIOR HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYOR AT TOITŪ TE WHENUA LAND INFORMATION NEW ZEALAND (LINZ), BASED IN WELLINGTON
■ HE HOLDS A BACHELOR OF SURVEYING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, THE ONLY UNIVERSITY IN NEW ZEALAND TO OFFER THIS FOUR-YEAR COURSE
“There are lots of good problems for future hydrographic surveyors to solve. Job prospects are very good at the moment, particularly in Australasia.”
■ BRAD’S WORK HAS TAKEN HIM AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING TO AUSTRALIA, ANTARCTICA, NORWAY, THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE NETHERLANDS AND PAPUA NEW GUINEA
For more information on the 2024 LINZ Geospatial Virtual Field Trip (VFT) for schools related to a recent Gisborne hydrographic survey, visit https://www.learnz.org.nz/mapping241
RISING THROUGH THE RANKS
MAKE HEADWAY WITH A CAREER AT
writer FIONA TERRY // photographer TIM CUFF
“I love that every single day there’s something different going on,” says SAM ROBERTSON regarding his role as an engineer aboard a Sealord fishing vessel.
The 21-year-old joined the company as a trainee engineer expecting to take at least two to three years to qualify for promotion. Instead, it took him just seven months to achieve the qualifications needed, enabling him to quickly rise through the ranks to become second engineer aboard the company’s vessel FV Thomas Harrison
“This job keeps things interesting – there’s always something new to learn,” says Sam, from Waiuku.
“My role is pretty much to maintain or fix broken things on the boat. The main part of my work is in the engine room or factory where I could be fixing a conveyor belt, a water pump, or servicing and maintaining the engine and auxiliary engines.
“But there’s day-to-day work on cabins or other parts of the boat too, so I could be fitting a TV in someone’s room or doing work on the hot water system.”
Sam left Pukekohe High School at 16, after being offered a job as a motorcycle mechanic just a couple of weeks after his Year 11 exams. As well as the standard subjects at NCEA Level 1, he studied Science, Calculus and Hard Materials.
SEA
“I pretty much failed everything except Hard Materials, which I passed with flying colours,” he says. “I’ve always liked doing things with my hands and used to love taking things apart and rebuilding them, especially my little motorbike that needed fixing all the time. Anything with a motor I’d just love to pull apart.”
He spent some time on a farm fixing tractors and machinery before the opportunity to join Sealord opened up, so he has had plenty of experience with hydraulics too.
Sam is now working towards his next marine engineering qualification, MEC 5, something he says Sealord supports employees through with full pay and covers expenses for.
“On the boat I have a room to myself, everyone’s real welcoming and the meals on board are so good! In my downtime I can catch up on movies I’ve downloaded.
“The pay’s really great. I’m saving money for a house, and one of the other things I really love about the job is the amount of time we get off. That’s where you can go travel or spend time at home.
“I’m really big on watersports and then in the winter I do a lot of four-wheel driving and snowboarding, so it works out well for me that I’ve got all this free time to do the things that I love as well.”
He’s also grateful for the opportunity to travel with the company, with the vessels sometimes docking in Dunedin as well as Nelson. There is discounted air travel to reach the boat or return home.
“There are so many other potential opportunities to travel too, with one of the factory boats going to Australia sometimes and another boat based out of Mauritius.
“When I was younger, I thought my dream job would be a mechanic but there’s a lot more money to be made being an engineer at sea and there’s a lot more variety too.”
ENGINEERING APPRENTICESHIPS OPEN DOORS CAREERS WITH FONTERRA
writer PETER WHITE // photographer PAULA McINNES
“This has been like a dream come true for me to be able to see how something works as part of a process, to understand it and find out what you need to do to make that function again,” says SAM SKOVLUND.
“There is no greater joy than working with my hands and seeing something good come out of it.”
Sam, 24, is in the third year of her mechanical engineering apprenticeship, working at Fonterra’s Kauri site in Whangārei. She is part of the factory maintenance department that keeps the massive machinery operating efficiently.
“Getting a mechanical engineering apprenticeship was just amazing,” she says. “It has been really interesting learning about the different types of machinery that are used, the level of complexity and sometimes the simplicity of some of our major components.
“Just seeing how everything works has always been really interesting for me. I really enjoy the problem-solving aspect of it and the detective work that goes with it, to find out what caused the issues and then being able to fix the problem.”
Sam says there is also the satisfaction that comes from getting a job done to completion. Her role is full of variety and involves working on a wide range of machinery.
“We do have quite a few regular maintenance jobs but if there is a breakdown then it can be very exciting but very nerve-wracking at the same time. We do get daily hiccups we need to address, and we work a lot on valves and pumps, plus other complex machinery that needs our attention.”
Sam gained plenty of practical skills – and important life skills – working on various projects after she left school, including two years overseas.
“It was a bit of a convoluted journey to where I am now. I had always been mechanically-inclined. I enjoy taking stuff apart to fix it. After school, I started working at the shipyards in Whangārei doing work on the vessels. I wanted to get into the superyacht engineering side.
“I worked in Auckland, then overseas, and most of the time I was hands-on in some sort of engineering work. You do a lot of character building just living when you are overseas and that helps you get to where you want to go.”
Sam enjoys the work culture at Fonterra and receives plenty of support from team leaders and managers.
In Year 13 at Whangārei Girls’ High School she took Physics, Chemistry, Calculus, Product and Design, and English.
Her advice to school leavers interested in a career in mechanical engineering is to be honest, open up to your mistakes and ask for help if you need it.
“There are a lot of people out there willing to teach enthusiastic people and you don’t have to have the highest grades. You just need to have a good attitude and be willing to learn and listen to the people around you.”
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WILLING TO TEACH ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE THE HIGHEST GRADES. you just need TO HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE AND BE WILLING TO LEARN aND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
SAM SKOVLUND
CAREERS IN RETAIL
JOIN THE TEAM AT BRISCOES
writer PETER WHITE // photographer LOGAN WEST
BIANCA TARIQI started working for Briscoe Group while she was at Avondale College –and still loves working there 20 years later. There is something special about the way Briscoe Group values their team members, says Bianca.
“The support they have given me over the years, through work or personal issues, has been amazing. They really do stick to their word and really do look after us. There are so many opportunities in-house with them. I have studied for a Diploma in Business from AUT thanks to Briscoe Group.
“They encouraged me and opened those doors for me. I have done leadership courses as well. They are all about developing their employees, the diversity is awesome, and they really do treat you like family.”
Bianca has two varied and busy roles in Briscoe Group’s support office in Auckland – as a buyer support and an assistant merchandise administration manager.
“I manage a team while supporting a buyer who is responsible for six categories. In a typical week, I am signing off advertising, releasing orders, liaising with multiple suppliers and the
THEY ENCOURAGED me and opened DOORS FOR ME . I HAVE DONE LEADERSHIP COURSES AS WELL . THEY ARE ALL ABOUT DEVELOPING their employees , the diversity is awesome , and they really do TREAT you LIKE FAMILY.
BIANCA TARIQI
48 Briscoes stores nationwide – plus dealing with my team in the office and releasing everything on our website as well.
“It is exciting as I get to deal with import suppliers from China, Germany, Australia and India.
“It is great that I get to build that relationship, especially as I have been in this particular role for 13 years.”
Watching a product’s journey from creation to its display on the shop floor is particularly fulfilling for Bianca.
She also enjoys participating in retail store activities, especially during big events like the Black Friday sales.
“Even seeing the price ticket and packaging, or a TV ad, and knowing that I signed that off, is so satisfying as all that hard work I put in has paid off.”
Bianca’s favourite subject at Avondale College was accountancy.
She encourages school leavers to explore career opportunities with Briscoe Group, emphasising the rewarding career paths available in both the retail stores and support office.
“The best advice I can give is to be confident and don’t be scared when you start working.
“Some of the career changes I went through in my years at Briscoe Group have made me who I am today, so don’t be scared. Go for it. Listen to your heart and I promise you it does work.”
And when people encourage you and give you advice, take that onboard too, she says.
If you’re interested in working in a team-oriented environment, consider Briscoes Homeware or Rebel Sport.
And if you’re looking for a part-time job this summer, make sure you apply early, before the school year ends.
“Don’t leave it until your exams are over because we would have hired by then and have everyone trained up, ready for the three-month Christmas break.”
KEY FACTS
■ BIANCA TARIQI IS A BUYER SUPPORT AND ASSISTANT MERCHANDISE ADMINISTRATION MANAGER AT BRISCOE GROUP’S SUPPORT OFFICE IN AUCKLAND
■ SHE STARTED WORKING FOR THE COMPANY 20 YEARS AGO WHEN SHE WAS A STUDENT AT AVONDALE COLLEGE
■ BIANCA HAS STUDIED FOR A DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS AND PROGRESSED INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH SUPPORT FROM BRISCOE GROUP.
THE KEY TO SUCCESS
writer SARA CARBERY photograph LOGAN WEST
TURNING A PASSION FOR CARS INTO A CAREER
As the winner of the CRA Apprentice of the Year Golden Hammer award for collision repair, MITO apprentice VICTORIA HINE is clearly very good at what she does. But becoming a collision repair technician wasn’t something the 24-year-old thought about doing when she left Massey High School at the end of Year 13.
Feeling burnt out and not having achieved the results she needed for a Bachelor of Health Science, Victoria took a gap year and worked full-time at McDonalds, where she had a part-time job.
Although McDonalds put her forward for a management position, she realised this wasn’t what she wanted to do. She wanted a job she was passionate about, so she decided to turn her passion for cars into a career.
An entry-level job cleaning cars at a panel shop in Auckland quickly grew into something more
when the team realised she was a hard worker and keen to learn. In 2020, when the government announced extra funding for apprenticeships, her boss asked her if she’d like to enrol.
“I was super keen to take this step,” says Victoria. “I was excited for the future and to learn as much as I could – and that feeling hasn’t stopped.”
It took her two-and-a-half years to complete her apprenticeship through MITO. “All the work was online which is super convenient so I could work full-time and take photos and submit my work for assessments.”
As a collision repair technician (Level 4) at A1 Autofinish in New Lynn, Victoria is qualified to structurally repair cars that have been damaged in a crash.
Her day-to-day duties include stripping cars down, identifying damage, welding, grinding steel, applying body filler, sanding to pre-painting
I REALLY LIKE SEEING A JOB THROUGH AND achieving a really good result.
specifications and refitting parts after they’ve been painted.
“I really like seeing a job through and achieving a really good result. If the car looks awesome then I’m always stoked.”
In the beginning she wasn’t sure she was doing things correctly, but she says her confidence grew over time.
“One day you wake up and you start to notice jobs that are similar to what you have done before, and you know how to get it done this time around. Your confidence builds from there.”
Taking English, Statistics, Physics and Scholarship Chemistry and Biology, Victoria achieved NCEA Level 2 with Excellence and Level 3 with Merit.
“I think understanding chemistry has some relevance to my job now, but you definitely would get by in collision repair without taking science.”
If this is an industry that interests you, Victoria’s advice is to turn up at a panel shop and ask for a job.
“If they don’t have apprenticeships available (it is hard to give someone inexperienced an apprenticeship straight away) ask if you can clean cars for them and prove your work ethic.”
She adds that all the men she has worked with have been “awesome and supportive”, so to any young women reading this she adds, “We are equals, so get out there and show them!”
Repair Association (CRA) for more information www.collisionrepair.co.nz
VICTORIA HINE
LEARNING ON THE JOB APPRENTICESHIPS
IN COLLISION REPAIR
For nineteen-year-old MITO apprentice SIDNEY CLOW, there’s not much that can beat the satisfaction of seeing a beautifully repaired and painted car. This passion and her drive to achieve perfection with colour matching and finishes helped her win the ‘Golden Gun’ award for vehicle refinishing at this year’s Collision Repair Association’s Apprentice of the Year Awards .
“Winning this award is a massive goal to achieve,” says Sidney. “Winning reflects not only my hard work but also the support of my coworkers and others who have helped to get me here.
“They are what makes me proud to be in this industry.”
Sidney became interested in collision repair when her now-boss, Malcolm Sankey from Matamata Panelworks, spoke at a trades expo at school about the apprenticeships he was offering. “I thought, ‘hey I could do that’, ” says Sidney.
“After doing some work placement, I found a real passion for the work I was doing and joined the team as a full-time floor hand.”
With support from an AA Insurance scholarship, which provided her with tools and financial assistance, Sidney completed her MITO apprenticeship (Level 3 collision repair, Level 3 automotive refinishing and Level 4 automotive refinishing) in December.
She now works as an automotive refinisher, mainly on crash repairs, which involves a lot of colour-matching, sanding and painting.
“I enjoy being able to work on cars and getting to do hands-on work every day. No day is ever the same and new jobs come with new challenges, which is something I love.
“Being able to work in an industry I’m so passionate about has provided me with a career path that I find both motivating and creatively fulfilling.”
The main challenge, she admits, is learning to accept failure as a tool to help her improve and adapt.
“In an industry like refinishing, learning processes for the wide range of jobs you encounter, and then having the ability to have a go at each one, is essential.”
Of the subjects she took in Year 12 at Matamata College – English, Maths, Science, Cooking, Construction and Product Design – Sidney says Construction has been the most useful.
“Getting a taste of hands-on work and building something from nothing gave me a real drive to find a career that was hands-on.”
NO DAY IS EVER THE SAME AND NEW JOBS COME WITH NEW CHALLENGES, WHICH IS SOMETHING I love.
SIDNEY CLOW
She has learnt a lot in the two years and 10 months she’s been in the industry and looks forward to learning more “from the best at Matamata Panelworks” and gaining experience in the restoration side of the business.
In the future Sidney would like to move into a management role so she can learn the business from both sides – “the workshop and the office”.
For school leavers interested in an MITO apprenticeship, the key to doing well is to give it your “110% effort day in, day out”, she says.
“You are not only working but you are learning. Listen and take those lessons into how you approach each job. Be willing to ask questions and understand the trade. You don’t just need the practical experience; you need the passion and discipline to learn.”
KEY FACTS ONLINE
■ SIDNEY CLOW IS AN AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHER AT MATAMATA PANELWORKS IN MATAMATA
■ SHE WON THE ‘GOLDEN GUN’ AWARD FOR VEHICLE REFINISHING AT THIS YEAR’S COLLISION REPAIR ASSOCIATION’S APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARDS
■ SIDNEY COMPLETED HER MITO APPRENTICESHIP (LEVEL 3 COLLISION REPAIR, LEVEL 3 AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING AND LEVEL 4 AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING) IN DECEMBER
To learn more about careers in the collision industry, watch this three-minute video www.collisionrepair.co.nz/careers-video or contact the Collision Repair Association (CRA) for more information www.collisionrepair.co.nz writer SARA CARBERY photograper ALAN
ENSURING HEALTHY FOOD CROPS
writer PETER WHITE
CAREERS IN HORTICULTURE
A presentation to Year 13 students by Eamon Balle, from Pukekohe’s Balle Bros Fresh Produce, inspired agronomist JAMIE WELLS to pursue a career in the horticulture industry.
Jamie wanted to learn more about potato production after the talk and was offered a tour of the operation to gain a better understanding of how the company works.
This was the catalyst Jamie needed to start as a junior agronomist/trial assistant with the company after he left school – and he hasn’t looked back since.
In May, Jamie won the Pukekohe Young Grower of the Year competition. He and six others were tested on various challenges within the industry related to field and office work.
“It included practical assessments such as tractor driving and irrigation set-up – plus theoretical material such as auditing, pest disease identification, fertiliser analysis, business marketing strategy, a financial module and a speech presentation,” says Jamie.
He works mostly in the Franklin District with potatoes, onions, carrots, spring onions, cereals and brassica crops, and assists with planting administration, auditing, quality control analysis and seed, chemical and fertiliser ordering.
“An agronomist is almost like a crop doctor. We do nutrition management, pest disease and weed analysis, in terms of the crops we are scouting. It is like being a consultant who looks after crops and checks the growth from seed to harvest.
“Pretty much every week I am out on farms, just walking through different crops, seeing how they are looking and if there are any ailments that are starting to show up within the paddock. Then I may recommend nutritional, or herbicide, or agrichemical products to the farmers, who will then apply that to their crop. I will check again a week later to see how it has come out.”
Rather than going away to Massey University to study full-time, Jamie studied via correspondence while learning the business – similar to an apprenticeship. He graduated with a Bachelor of Agriscience (majoring in Horticulture) and has also completed intermediate and advanced sustainable nutrient management courses via correspondence. Horticulture, IT and Economics are the subjects he took in Year 13 at Pukekohe High School that have helped him the most.
If he had his time again, Jamie would add core science subjects – Biology and Chemistry – which he says would definitely help anyone moving into the industry. Jamie recommends school leavers who like the outdoors – and don’t mind hard work – to consider a career in the potato/horticulture industry.
“Everyone comes from completely different backgrounds in this industry. If you are willing to learn – and be open-minded to anything – you can go far. There are opportunities for new people to come into the sector, whether that is in vegetables, fruit, viticulture or indoor cropping.
“To anyone interested, I recommend contacting either Horticulture New Zealand or Potatoes New Zealand, who can direct you to growers or to other areas of the sector where they are looking for new employees.”
JAMIE WELLS
TRADES ARE ALWAYS IN DEMAND
BUILDING A SOLID CAREER
What RYAN HAY loves most about being a builder is stepping back at the end of a day’s work and seeing what he has accomplished.
“I like to look at how hard I have worked and if I have done a good job or not. That is what I enjoy,” says Ryan, who grew up in Nelson.
“I really like the people I work with. They love to have fun but also take their job seriously when it comes to doing what needs to be done.”
Ryan, 22, took just two-and-a-half years to complete his apprenticeship.
“Straight out of high school, I did a pre-trades carpentry course at the polytech in Nelson. I then joined up with L.T. McGuinness in Wellington. They do a mandatory one-year of labouring on site before starting an apprenticeship – to prove you are keen and committed to the job.
“I wanted to get my apprenticeship done,” he says. “I had heard stories of other guys not really committing to it, and taking ages to do it, so I thought I would go hard at my bookwork and get it done fast. It was good.”
Keen to take on a leadership role in the future, Ryan is now enrolled to do a New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trades – Supervision Level 5, supported by his supervisor who recognised his leadership potential.
“I am really passionate about my job so learning the skills around that side of the trade is something I want to do.”
Ryan has worked on some big projects, including the Victoria Lane apartments in Wellington and the prestigious One Queen Street complex in Auckland, where he is now based.
He did his apprenticeship through BCITO and appreciated how they gave him all the resources he needed at the start and how quickly they responded with feedback.
“The way their training system is set up means you are in control of your own learning, and your own workload, in your own time.
“There are no dates for deadlines to be met which suited me, as I just wanted to go hard at it. I really
enjoyed it and loved how I got such quick response to my work from my training advisor within a few days.”
In Year 12, Ryan took Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Technology, English, Religious Instruction and PE at Garin College in Nelson.
He encourages school leavers who are keen to learn – and not afraid to work hard – to consider doing a building apprenticeship.
“There are all sorts of opportunities in this industry. I know guys who have done their apprenticeship and decided to go into the health and safety side of things or project management.
IF YOU GET A TRADES QUALIFICATION, NO MATTER WHERE YOU END UP, YOU CAN ALWAYS FALL BACK ON IT. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE WORK AS A BUILDER .
RYAN HAY
■ RYAN HAY COMPLETED HIS BUILDING APPRENTICESHIP IN TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS THROUGH BCITO
■ HE DID A PRE-TRADES COURSE AT NMIT AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL AND WORKED AS A LABOURER FOR L.T. McGUINNESS BEFORE STARTING HIS APPRENTICESHIP
“If you get a trades qualification, no matter where you end up, you can always fall back on it. There will always be work as a builder.” For more information on BCITO apprenticeships, visit www.bcito.org.nz
■ RYAN STARTED OUT WITH L.T. McGUINNESS IN WELLINGTON AND NOW WORKS FOR THE COMPANY IN AUCKLAND
■ HE IS WORKING TOWARDS A NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATE IN CONSTRUCTION TRADES – SUPERVISION LEVEL 5
FEELING DOWN?
Leaving school is one of the biggest transitions we make 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
Dr Seuss
UNIVERSITY/POLYTECHNIC
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
* Accurate at time of print. Please check providers’ websites for any changes.
A.A. Milne
MIRIAMA SHARMAN
SCHOLARSHIPS
Albert Einstein
There is a free-to-use comprehensive Year 13 scholarships available to 2024 school leavers at MoneyHub. Millions of dollars are available and applications close throughout the year. in anything was once a beginner.
Helen Hayes
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. You need to apply by 16 December 2024. Sign up for info at www.studylink.govt.nz
0800 787 797 available 24/7 www.alcoholdrughelp.org.nz
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
EMMA DERMODY GAME DEVELOPER – SEE PAGE 24
A CAREER IN PODIATRY
PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD
“If you like caring for people and that is your passion, then podiatry is such a gratifying profession to get into,” says CHRISTEL MASAGCA.
Bringing comfort and wellness to people with diabetes is what she loves most about working as a podiatrist at Waitakere Foot in Auckland.
Before moving to Waitakere Foot a year ago, Christel spent two years in another practice working with elderly patients, people living with disabilities and those recovering from minor surgery and sporting injuries.
She loves working in one of the biggest podiatry practices in Auckland.
“It is great having people around you who can help if you need them. We also focus on setting goals every month.”
Christel (24) has a Bachelor of Health Science (Podiatry) from AUT in Auckland. She is now doing postgraduate study to gain more knowledge in her chosen field of diabetic care.
“People with diabetes come into the clinic needing a thorough foot check as many of them are susceptible to getting serious foot conditions.
“That is an important thing we try to catch early, as nerve damage and vascular changes can lead to worse conditions if not treated early, such as amputations in the future. What we do is an important part in helping people avoid that situation.”
As a keen runner, Christel got an early insight into how our feet work.
“I was into running at school, so I knew then I was going to do something related to that. I went to a podiatrist myself when I was younger and it just seemed interesting to me how they could watch you walk and figure out the cause of my foot problems.“
She says the biggest problem that podiatrists face is that most people are not aware of how important foot health is.
Christel would love to see more awareness about what podiatrists do and how important their work is to overall health and wellbeing.
“We tend to not look at our feet until there is something painful or wrong. So education is important, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.”
Christel studied Chemistry, Biology, English, Calculus and Earth Science in Year 13 at Avondale College and says biology has been the most helpful subject.
She encourages school leavers who are looking at studying health science at university to consider podiatry as a major.
The future for young graduates moving into podiatry is very positive, she says.
“Podiatry is one of those professions that has so much involved in it. You can focus on sport, or aged care where you help so many older people, or like myself, work in diabetes or minor surgery areas.”
PODIATRY IS ONE OF THOSE PROFESSIONS THAT HAS SO MUCH INVOLVED in IT. YOU CAN FOCUS ON SPORT, OR AGED CARE ... OR LIKE MYSELF, WORK IN DIABETES OR MINOR surgery areas.
CHRISTEL MASAGCA
STUDYLINK IS HERE TO HELP WHO’S GOING TO FUND YOUR STUDY?
contributed by STUDYLINK, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL
Tertiary study is an investment, and unless you’re planning on winning it big, you need to think about how you’re going to pay for it. That’s where STUDYLINK can help.
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.
DEVELOPMENT
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).
FEES-FREE STUDY HAS CHANGED
The Government has announced that FEES-FREE for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. From 2025, FEES-FREE will cover the final year instead. Information about this change will be available at feesfree.govt.nz
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 – 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/eligibilitytest
APPLY BY 16 DECEMBER AT
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 120,000 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.
KEY FACTS
■ TAKE STUDYLINK’S ELIGIBILITY TEST TO SEE WHAT HELP YOU CAN GET
■ APPLY TO STUDYLINK BY 16 DECEMBER –DON’T WAIT FOR YOUR NCEA RESULTS
■ PROVIDE YOUR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS QUICKLY
NEVER TOO POOR FOR KIWISAVER
writer DIANA CLEMENT
A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY
As a student you may feel too poor to invest in KIWISAVER. However, 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 3% of what you’re earning.
So, if you earn $100 in the week it’s just $3, which is less than an energy drink or a coffee. You won’t even notice that if it’s transferred to KiwiSaver automatically by your employer before you receive your pay.
If you start saving that small amount from your very first pay packet, you’ll thank yourself big time in a decade or so when, believe it or not, you might start thinking about buying a house. It happens. By then you’ll have a chunk of money saved without much effort. The other reason to start early is you’ll get into a good habit of putting money aside before spending it. This will make saving easier. What makes KiwiSaver a good deal is the free money that comes with it. From the age of 18 your employer has
to match your 3% contribution. But be careful as some employers don’t always play by the rules. If you’re on minimum wage, in particular,
for every dollar you put in, up to a maximum of $1024.86 each year. The full $1024.86 is around $20 a week. In return you get $521.43 added into
IF YOU START SAVING THAT SMALL amount from your very first pay PACKET, YOU ’LL THANK YOURSELF BIG TIME IN A DECADE OR SO WHEN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU MIGHT START THINKING ABOUT BUYING A HOUSE. IT HAPPENS .
they must pay their 3% over and above your hourly rate.
Another good reason to save into KiwiSaver, is that the government tops up your contributions by 50c
your KiwiSaver by the government.
Even if you can’t contribute the full amount, you still get a 50c top-up for every dollar you invest up to that sum.
You can also drip-feed extra money into your KiwiSaver account, either regularly or in a lump sum.
Contact your KiwiSaver provider to find out how to make one-off or extra regular payments.
Or you can make direct payments to KiwiSaver 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 house, you can withdraw your funds for a house deposit.
Even in these inflationary times, every extra bit you can save equals more to spend on your first home or in retirement later on.
The best advice is instead of saying “I can’t”, look for excuses to invest 3% into KiwiSaver each week. Your future self will be grateful.
WOW YOUR FUTURE BOSS
INTERVIEW TIPS
WORK EXPERIENCE GIVES YOU AN INSIGHT INTO WHAT EMPLOYERS REQUIRE, AND THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP KEY SKILLS IN A WORK SETTING.
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.
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?
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.
ALL THE BEST, AND ALWAYS GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT!
Degrees that work.
Ben Programme Director
CHARTERED ACCOUNTING YOUR TICKET TO THE WORLD
writer SARA CARBERY
photography MARTY MELVILLE
You don’t need to be good at maths to become an accountant.
“Full disclosure – I failed calculus in Year 13 and have not suffered because of it,” says 24-year-old MIRIAMA SHARMAN (Ngāpuhi).
What you do need, Miriama says, is a logical brain, good self-management skills and the ability to take initiative.
As a senior auditor with BDO in Wellington, Miriama works with clients to make sure their financial statements are in line with accounting standards – a role that requires adaptability and good problem-solving skills.
“Things rarely go the way they were planned, and our job is to go, ‘Oh no that’s not good – here’s what we are going to do about it’. ”
Miriama graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), majoring in accounting and commercial law.
“Commercial law is what pushed me into auditing as when we audit, we are interpreting standards similar to the way a lawyer may look at and apply an Act.”
In Year 13 at Tawa College, Miriama took Accounting, Classics, Statistics, Calculus and History.
Unsurprisingly, accounting has been the subject that has helped her the most, but history has also been very useful.
“In history you learn how to write fact-based essays and reports. This makes university assignments and referencing an extension of what you are already doing.”
If you’re considering enrolling in a Bachelor of Commerce, Miriama highly recommends taking economics at school.
“There are two compulsory economics papers in a BCom and those who took economics at college had a much easier time than, say, me who struggled conceptually with economics.”
Miriama also holds a Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting (GradDipCA) from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) – an internationally recognised postgraduate accounting qualification.
“The CA ANZ programme is a significant amount of work, but it can take you anywhere,” she says.
“Many of my co-workers have left to cities such as Melbourne, Amsterdam and London with their CA [their Chartered Accounting qualification].
“The programme is important for anyone thinking of getting into the accounting profession and many jobs in the sector require a CA in order to qualify.”
Looking to the future, Miriama wants to continue to work with Māori business in any way she can.
“In 2018 Victoria Uni awarded me a scholarship as a Māori student in accounting and I want to ensure
that I do everything to pay back the scholarship through supporting other Māori students getting into accounting, supporting my iwi and supporting my family.”
If you want to become an accountant, enrolling in a Bachelor of Commerce is a great first step, she says.
“It’s a great choice as you are exposed to a whole lot of papers such as marketing, management and information systems.”
She also recommends attending career expos and talking to representatives from CA ANZ, BDO and similar organisations.
COMMERCIAL LAW IS WHAT PUSHED ME INTO AUDITING as when we audit, we are INTERPRETING STANDARDS SIMILAR TO the way a lawyer may look at and apply an act.
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS ANZ STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
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 member today.
MIRIAMA SHARMAN
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE A PLAYGROUND FOR CURIOUS MINDS
writer SARA CARBERY // photographer MARTY MELVILLE
Environmental science is a combination of geology, atmospheric science, biology, ecology and many other scientific disciplines “making it a playground for curious minds,” says GRETA STUTHRIDGE, an environmental scientist with consulting firm Jacobs.
“This field of work combines hydrology, coastal science, climate change science, water quality, and more. You get to explore diverse topics and collaborate with experts from various disciplines every day!”
In her work with the water resources team at Jacobs in Wellington, Greta’s technical knowledge, environmental awareness, and problem-solving skills are used to help clients manage water-related challenges.
The projects she works on are varied and might range from creating a flood model to anticipate and manage the impact of floods, to analysing water quality data to make sure risks to downstream water users are being managed effectively.
“I wanted a career which would make a positive impact on both the environment and my community.”
Greta (26) holds both a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Master of Science from Victoria University of Wellington (VUW).
A big drawcard for studying at VUW was the Antarctic Research Centre, where scientists study how the Antarctic is changing due to global warming. This offers students special opportunities to learn about a key environmental issue. “As a student you get access to world-leading scientists and their research.”
If you’re interested in studying science, Greta’s advice is to gain as much practical experience at university as you can.
“Apply for internships, field research, summer research scholarships, uni tutor jobs, volunteer to do laboratory work for uni professors, etc. These hands-on experiences are often the fastest way to learn how to apply skills learnt in uni courses and I found they really help to clarify your interests and shape your career goals.
“I was a research assistant in climate and environmental applications at NIWA, an intern in Antarctic Marine Physics at NIWA, a tutor in computer coding at uni,
I WANTED A career whIch would make A POSITIVE IMPACT ON BOTH THE environment and my COMMUNITY
GRETA STUTHRIDGE
and got involved in a bunch of field work and laboratory work which really fast-tracked the development of my skillset and opened up new opportunities.”
And follow your interests, she says. “If you really enjoy one specific topic or a paper taught by one specific lecturer, then take another paper on the same topic or by that same lecturer. Genuine interest makes it easier to be successful in whatever you’re doing and makes challenges exciting puzzles rather than obstacles.”
Interestingly, Greta didn’t like science at school, choosing instead to take Art History, History, Art: Photography, English Literature and Geography in Year 13 at St Andrews College in Christchurch.
“As you would expect, geography proved most useful. It was in high school geography that I first
learnt and began to understand earth systems, spatial thinking, data collection and analysis, environmental challenges (and opportunities), and found a love for interdisciplinary science.
“However, I would say art history as well! Art history at high school was where I really started to develop skills such as creativity and problem-solving, perspective and analytical thinking, representation and communication, storytelling, and discovery – which are all quintessential qualities of a scientist.”
While traditional science subjects, particularly chemistry, would be helpful, digital technology is at the top of Greta’s ‘helpful subjects’ list.
“If it interests you, you can use a lot of computer coding in scientific research.”
GROWING RUGBY IN CANTERBURY GIVING BACK TO THE GAME
EMMA DERMODY is passionate about promoting and growing women’s rugby in her role as the Women and Girls Game Developer for Canterbury Rugby.
It really is a labour of love for Emma (23), who plays lock for Matatū, the South Island Super Rugby Aupiki team.
“I help organise and run all women’s and girls’ rugby in the Canterbury region. I help with how all the grades are going to look and also help with coach development. It is a pretty broad job, but it is awesome as I get to work with all ages and stages,” says Emma, who would love to play for the Black Ferns one day.
Emma grew up on a farm in the southernmost corner of the South Island’s Catlins region, which has views across to Stewart Island. From an early age she knew she wanted a career either in farming or sport, so when she was awarded a sports scholarship to Lincoln University, she felt it was the perfect fit for her.
“I actually got a netball scholarship to Lincoln. I applied to a few universities for rugby and netball scholarships and thought Lincoln was the best choice for me because of my love of farming and sport. It was perfect. I was with very like-minded people.”
Emma graduated with a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management, majoring in event management, and started working for Canterbury Rugby in May last year.
“I liked how broad the degree was. We did everything from psychology to marketing, indoor and outdoor recreation, so it was kind of cool to get an experience of all types of sport and business and event management.
“There was so much you could do. I think that was the best part about it. You could pick and choose what you wanted to focus on. Most of my classes were small so we all knew each other really well. It just made it so much easier when you had to do class presentations.”
As part of her degree, Emma spent 120 hours working as an intern for Tamai Sports in Christchurch.
“They are a not-for-profit organisation that gets the kids who haven’t got a sports team to play in and joins
I HELP ORGANISE AND RUN WOMEN’ S AND GIRLS’ RUGBY IN the canterbury REGION. I HELP WITH HOW ALL THE GRADES are GOING TO LOOK AND ALSO HELP WITH COACH DEVELOPMENT.
them all up. I helped them out with training and we would feed them dinner, then I would coach them on a Saturday before my game which was awesome.”
Emma studied Statistics, AgriBusiness, Agriculture, Biology and Geography in Year 13 at Columba College in Dunedin after getting Level 3 endorsement in PE in Year 12.
If you have lots of varied interests, the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management could be the degree for you.
“You don’t have to be physical at all to do the degree,” says Emma. “It is more about the ‘why’ behind the sport, but it also covers many other avenues you can get into with the degree. It opens up so many different job opportunities.”
EMMA DERMODY
CAREERS WITH FONTERRA OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ON THE JOB
AZAAN HUSSAIN has already clocked up an impressive work history in engineering workshops around the Waikato. The 18-year-old is proof that hard work and passion for what you are doing can bring rewards, even if you leave school early.
Azaan left Te Awamutu College at the start of Year 12. He had done well, gaining Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in Year 11, but was keen to get a trade and see how far he could take his passion for welding. He first got a taste for it in engineering classes at school and realised not only did he love it, but he was also very good at it.
Aged 16, Azaan got a job straightaway as a welder with an engineering company that builds farm machinery. In the middle of last year, he realised he was ready for a change and applied to Fonterra for an apprenticeship. The timing was good –he heard he was accepted just as he was made redundant from his welding job – and Azaan hasn’t looked back since.
He has started a four-year Level 4 mechanical engineering apprenticeship with Fonterra, based at their Te Awamutu milk-processing plant.
“I love the variety of work,” he says. “My previous job was just constant, repetitive work. At Fonterra, I can go from welding something, to machining something on the lathe, to a simple valve repair, servicing things, or just checking things and making sure they are running all good and not making weird noises.
“The actual physical work we do is really interesting and just the sheer scale of things here. With the site being so massive and with it being such a complex role, there is a lot of different machinery to work on. Almost every day you will see something new just because of the amount of things that are here.
“I am always learning. There is so much assistance here and advice that I can get at any time from anyone. You get trained here to a really high standard.”
The way Fonterra looks after their staff is another positive for Azaan. He says various departments keep in touch with him to make sure he is going
well with his apprenticeship and getting his work/ life balance right.
“There are many different types of support that I get constantly which is really good to have.”
Azaan encourages school leavers to consider working for Fonterra.
“It is 100 percent a good industry to get into. You have to be passionate and try things to see
what starts that spark in yourself. The main thing is you have to have drive – how bad do you want it?
“You always have days when you want to stay in bed but you have to think of the bigger picture. What am I going to miss out on today that I could have learnt that will help me tomorrow? So just stay motivated.”
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD PUTTING YOUR BEST CV FORWARD
written by JANET TUCK // graphic iSTOCK
When you want to find any kind of job, you are going to need a curriculum vitae (CV). A CV is important because it gives an employer information to help them choose the best person for a job, and it helps you stand out from other applicants.
Your CV needs to include your contact details, a short summary of your skills, any work experience you’ve had and where you are up to with your education. It is also helpful to include a short profile summary.
CV STRUCTURE AND CONTENT
l Put your name and contact details clearly at the top, and include a a residential address.
l Add a short profile – two to three sentences in length – explaining a bit about yourself and what you are aiming for in terms of study or career aspirations.
l List your skills as bullet points and explain where you have used each skill. Include things like team work, responsibility, time management, money handling, customer service, written and oral communication, and computer skills. These are what employers are looking for in younger employees. You can use experience from being in clubs and teams, as well as any paid or unpaid work you have done. Don’t forget to include the skills that are mentioned in the job advertisement.
l List any previous jobs you have had, along with the name of who you worked for and what you did.
l Include an Education section. Provide the year you are in and the subjects you are studying.
l List your interests.
l List the names and contact details of people who will be referees for you. You need people who know you and have worked with you in some way.
A WORD ABOUT LAYOUT
Use a computer to format your CV clearly, leaving plenty of white space so it doesn’t look cluttered. Choose a font that is easy to read. Use headings for each section and list your skills with bullet points. Make sure all headings line up and the line spacing is the same throughout.
When you have finished, ask someone else to proofread it for you before you send it off.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it a good idea to get someone else to write my CV for me?
No. It is easy to tell when someone else has written a CV because the language is generally more formal and sometimes a bit too sophisticated. Sure you can
get someone to help you if you are not sure how to say something, but putting your CV together yourself will mean that you know what is in it and you will answer interview questions using the same style and language.
Should I include a photo?
As a rule, I generally advise not to. We all like to think that our picture might get us a job, but I think it can introduce the possibility of bias, for whatever reason.
Should I use colour or make it look more attractive in some way?
The content of your CV is the most important thing. Using a lot of colour and design features can be distracting.
ONLINE
Janet Tuck is a Career Specialist and Director of Career Clinic For more information visit www.careerclinic.co.nz
writer DIANA CLEMENT Image credit i STOCK
HELP IS AVAILABLE SICK OF SCHOOL BUT CAN’T FIND A JOB?
SCHOOL ISN’T FOR EVERYONE. The good news is there is a lot of support available to help you make the transition from school into your first job, including support for writing a CV, gaining job hunting and life skills, access to further education to gain qualifications and, in limited circumstances, financial assistance.
More good news: Plenty of rangatahi (young people) succeed in their chosen path, despite leaving school without NCEA or other qualifications. According to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), one in five New Zealanders with no qualifications earn more than the average income for graduates. Income isn’t everything of course; it’s important to find a job you enjoy.
The job market is tight at the moment and with no experience school leavers might be overlooked by employers, says Craig Dyason, president of the Careers and Transition Educators Association (CATE).
But don’t give up and sit watching Netflix, he says. Take that first step by reading Careers New Zealand’s Job Hunters Workbook tinyurl.com/JobHuntersWorkbook
The Ministry of Education’s School Leavers’ Toolkit is also helpful. tinyurl.com/ SchoolLeaversToolkit
Everyone has life skills they can list on a CV, Craig says. Gamers, for example, will have soft skills such as critical thinking skills, or teamwork. Jump online at tinyurl.com/SchoolLeaverCV to download a CV template designed for school leavers.
Only 30 percent of jobs are advertised, so let your contacts know that you’re looking for work, says Craig, and join and make contacts on LinkedIn.
“I also recommend young people jump onto their local Facebook page and put themselves out there as a school leaver looking for part- or full-time employment.”
There is a long list of organisations that offer help and programmes to school leavers. The government’s Youth Service lists many on its website. https://www.youthservice.govt.nz/ Youth Employability Aotearoa has a long list as well. Yea.org.nz/connect/our-network
SOME USEFUL SERVICES AND RESOURCES INCLUDE:
■ YouthTown’s Youth Employability Programme offers skills training for 14 to 24-year-olds to transition into the world of work. https://www.youthtown.org.nz/youth-employability
■ The YMCA has free Y-Skills programmes to support young people into future study, apprenticeships and employment. https://ymca.org.nz/education/
■ Rural youth can get help in many regions from the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs https://www.mtfj.co.nz/
■ For someone to talk to, text, or chat to online, contact Youthline https://youthline.co.nz/
■ MoneyTalks gives free advice about managing money. https://www.moneytalks.co.nz/
UPSKILL AFTER YOU LEAVE SCHOOL
Even with no qualifications it may be possible to get pre-trade training, do an apprenticeship, or upskill to get into a career, says Craig. Rest assured: Study and training is very different to being at school.
■ You can gain missed NCEA credits through correspondence at https://www.tekura.school.nz/ It’s free for 16 to 19-year-olds.
■ Youth Guarantee supports young people who have no or low qualifications to gain NCEA qualifications. https://youthguarantee.education.govt.nz/
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Only school leavers aged 18 or older qualify for Jobseeker Support. However, 16 and 17-year-olds who aren’t supported by parents may be eligible for a Youth Payment, says Dana Mauriohooho, MSD national director youth services.
To find out what support the government can offer 16 to 19-year-olds, visit https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/16-19-year-olds/index.html
Under the ‘What we offer’ heading you will see links to Youth Service, StudyLink, and Limited Service Volunteer course webpages.
There is other helpful information under the headings, ‘Help finding a job’, ‘Help moving into a job’, ‘Help when leaving school or home’, and ‘Help with childcare’. Work and Income also has a ‘Check what you might get’ calculator available here. https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/online-services/eligibility/index.html
A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME SOLID CAREER OPTIONS
FOURTEEN FASCINATING JOBS
There are so many things to think about when deciding which path to take after school and so many jobs to choose from. To help with the decision-making process, we’ve put together a selection of 14 jobs from a variety of industries, including Construction, Health, Law and Information Technology.
Read on for a snapshot of these careers, including the length of study/training required, what job prospects are like, useful subjects to take at school and what you can expect to be paid. To find out more, head to the Careers New Zealand website where you’ll find pretty much everything you need to know about these jobs and hundreds more.
Also known as: Accounting technician; assistant accountant; financial accountant; management accountant; taxation accountant.
Accountants prepare financial accounts and advise on financial matters, such as tax, for businesses and individuals. They also develop, forecast and check budgets, review accounting procedures and analyse the financial performance of businesses.
Working as an accountant usually requires an accounting degree or business or commerce degree majoring in accounting or finance. Becoming a professionally qualified accountant requires work experience and some further study on top of this. Most accountants are members of Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand, membership is preferred by most employers.
NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, English and Maths.
Job prospects for accountants are good and should remain so due to growing demand for accounting services and financial advice.
Job prospects: Good.
Length of study: 2–6 years.
Pay scale: The average salary for accountants with less than five years’ experience is $70,000 per year. The average salary for accountants with more than 20 years’ experience is $165,000 per year.
Also known as: Aeroplane pilot; fixed-wing aircraft pilot; charter pilot; agricultural pilot.
Pilots fly and navigate aircraft that transport people and goods, or spread fertiliser or bait. They also prepare or check flight plans, perform pre-flight checks of weather forecasts and the plane’s load, fuel and equipment, calculate the amount of fuel needed for flights, programme flight management systems and liaise with air traffic control.
To become a commercial aeroplane pilot you need a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). To get this you need to hold a Private Pilot Licence (PPL), complete at least 200 hours of flying, pass a Class 1 medical exam, written exams, an English language test, and a flying test and satisfy the Civil Aviation Authority’s fit and proper person requirements – for example, by showing you don’t have serious convictions. You can gain your CPL as part of completing either the New Zealand Diploma in Aviation – Aeroplane and Helicopter (Level 6) with strands in airline preparation and flight instruction or Massey University’s Bachelor of Aviation. You need to pass the ADAPT pre-pilot screening test and attend a selection interview to enter these courses.
NCEA Level 3 is required to enter tertiary training. Useful subjects include English, Maths and Physics.
Entry for graduate pilots is difficult and initial income is low compared to the high cost of training.
Job prospects: Good. Length of study: 2–3 years.
Pay scale: Aeroplane pilots who fly for airlines or the military usually earn $48,000–$148,000 per year.
Also known as: Solicitor; legal adviser; legal counsel; attorney; corporate solicitor; government solicitor, barrister.
Lawyers provide legal advice and prepare and draft legal documents. They also conduct negotiations on behalf of clients, plead cases in courts and tribunals, and interpret, analyse, administer and review the law.
To become a lawyer, it is necessary to have a Bachelor of Laws and complete a professional legal studies course. You must then get a completion certificate from the New Zealand Council of Legal Education, and a certificate of character from the Law Society. Then, you must be admitted to the roll of Barristers and Solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand and hold a current practising certificate issued by the Law Society. NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are English, History, Classical Studies, Social Studies and te reo Māori.
Chances of getting a job as a solicitor are poor for graduates and average for those with experience.
Job prospects: Poor-Average.
Length of study: 3–4 years.
Pay scale: Lawyers with less than one year’s experience – the median salary is $62,000 per year.
Lawyers with three years’ experience – the median salary is $80,000 a year.
Lawyers with five or more years’ experience – the median salary is $131,000 a year.
Also known as: Real estate valuer; personal property/chattels valuer; appraiser; land economist.
Valuers estimate the value of a number of assets, such as property, buildings, art and jewellery. A valuer usually specialises in valuing one type of item so they can build as much expertise as possible in a specialised area.
In order to work as a valuer of real estate, you need to be registered with the Valuers Registration Board, and hold certain qualifications. To become a valuer of other types of assets, there are no entry requirements needed. However, on-the-job training with a skilled valuer and completion of a valuing related programme is highly recommended.
NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Art History, Business Studies, English, Economics, Mathematics, and Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Printmaking Combined.
Chances of getting a job for valuers is good. Employment for this profession is projected to grow in the next few years, which will make it easier for new valuers to get work. Income is high, especially for experienced workers.
Job prospects: Good. Length of study: 1–4 years.
Pay scale: Valuers with up to three years’ experience usually earn $56,000–$87,000 per year.
Valuers with over three years’ experience usually earn $87,000 –$138,000 per year.
Also known as: Landscape architect.
Architects design buildings and oversee and provide advice on their construction. They may also advise on urban design projects. Landscape architects design and oversee the construction of outdoor spaces, such as parks, gardens, urban plazas, and coastal and waterfront areas.
To become a registered architect, you usually need a Bachelor of Architectural Studies and a Master’s of Architecture (Professional). You also need to be registered with the New Zealand Registered Architects Board, which requires you to complete three to five years post-graduation work experience.
NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Maths, Physics, Design and Visual Communication, Digital Technologies, and Construction and Mechanical Technologies.
Chances of getting a job as an architect are average for new graduates but good for those with experience.
Job prospects: Average for new graduates; good for those with experience.
Length of study: 8–10 years.
Pay scale: Architectural graduates with up to five years’ experience usually earn from $60,000–$90,000 per year.
Architects with five to 10 years’ experience usually earn between $85,000–$130,000 per year.
Senior architects with more than 10 years’ experience can earn from $110,000–$140,000.
Also known as: Builder
Carpenters work on-site constructing large and small buildings, and repairing and installing structures such as foundations, walls, roofs, windows, and doors. They work mainly with wood.
There are no specific requirements to become a carpenter as you gain skills on the job. However, many employers prefer to hire carpenters who have or are working towards a qualification. To become a qualified carpenter you need to complete an apprenticeship and gain a New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4). The Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) oversees carpentry apprenticeships.
No specific secondary education is required for this job, but Maths, Construction and Mechanical Technologies, Design and Visual Communication, English, and Science to at least NCEA Level 2 are useful. Year 11 and 12 learners can find out more about the construction industry, and gain relevant skills, by doing a National Certificate in Building, Construction and Allied Trades (Levels 1 and 2) through the BConstructive programme. For Year 11, 12 and 13 learners, trades academies and the STAR and Gateway programmes are good ways to gain relevant experience and skills.
Job prospects: Good. Length of study: 3–4 years.
Pay scale: New carpenters usually earn $23–$25 per hour.
Experienced carpenters usually earn $29–$41 per hour.
Also known as: Electrical technician; electrical fitter.
Electricians test, install, maintain and repair electrical systems and equipment. They are involved in the construction and maintenance of both residential and commercial properties. Depending on what they specialise in, electricians do a wide range of work.
To become an electrician you need to complete an apprenticeship and gain a New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory and Practice (Trade) (Level 4). The Electrical Training Company (ETCO) and Te Pūkenga oversee electrical apprenticeships. You also need to be registered with the Electrical Workers Registration Board.
NCEA Level 2 in Maths, Science and English are usually required to enter an apprenticeship. For Year 11 to 13 learners, trades academies and the STAR and Gateway programmes are good ways to gain relevant experience and skills.
Job prospects: Good.
Length of study: 3–4 years.
Pay scale: New electricians usually earn an average of $34 per hour.
Electricians with over eight years’ of experience can earn an average of $43 per hour.
Also known as: Gasfitter; drainlayer.
Plumbers assemble, install and repair pipes, drains and fixtures and fittings that supply water and gas or remove waste.
To become a plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer, you need to complete an apprenticeship and gain a New Zealand Certificate (Level 4) in Plumbing, Gasfitting or Drainlaying and be registered with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board. A driver’s licence is also useful. ATT and Masterlink employ, train and place apprentices.
No specific secondary education is required for this job, but English, Maths, Physics, Design and Visual Communication, and Construction and Mechanical Technologies to at least NCEA Level 2 are useful. Year 11 and 12 learners can find out more about the construction industry and gain relevant skills by doing a National Certificate in Building, Construction and Allied Trades (Levels 1 and 2) through the BConstructive programme.
For Year 11 to 13 learners, trades academies and the STAR and Gateway programmes are good ways to gain relevant experience and skills.
As there is a shortage of plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers, chances of getting a job are good.
Job prospects: Good. Length of study: 2–4 years.
Pay scale: Apprentice/trainee plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers usually start on the training or adult minimum wage and can earn up to $39 an hour as they gain skills and unit standards. Newly licensed plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers usually earn $35–$42 an hour. Licensed and experienced plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers can earn between $45–$53 an hour.
Also known as: Roof tiler.
Roofers repair and install roofs, making sure they are watertight. They use tiles, roofing iron and shingles to cover the roofs, and install membranes to keep it watertight. Roofing involves working at heights to install roofs on residential houses and commercial buildings.
There are no specific requirements to become a roofer as you gain skills on the job. However, many employers prefer to hire roofers who have or are working towards a qualification. To become a qualified roofer you need to complete an apprenticeship and gain a New Zealand Certificate in Roofing (Level 4). Industry Connection for Excellence (ICE) and Vertical Horizonz oversee apprenticeships for roofing.
Chances of getting a job as a roofer are good as there is a current shortage of workers.
Job prospects: Good.
Length of study: 3 years.
Pay scale: New roofers or those with up to three years’ experience earn $23–$30 per hour.
Experienced roofers or supervisors earn $30–$40 per hour.
Also known as: Community midwife; core midwife; lead maternity carer.
Midwives are health professionals that specialise in pregnancy, childbirth and the first six weeks of a baby’s life. They care for both mother and baby, monitoring their health and wellbeing. Midwives also provide education, parenting information and provide all necessary care.
To become a midwife you need to complete a Bachelor of Midwifery or a Bachelor of Health Science (Midwifery). You also need to be registered with the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.
NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are English, Te Reo Māori, Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Health Education.
Chances of getting a job as a midwife are good due to a regional shortage of workers.
Job prospects: Good.
Length of study: 3 years
Pay scale: Community midwives earn $80,000 to $111,000 per year.
Senior designated midwives earn $105,000 to $153,000 per year.
Also known as: Community pharmacist; hospital pharmacist; industrial pharmacist; pharmacist prescriber; chemist
Pharmacists prepare, mix and dispense prescribed medicines. They advise patients about their medication and medical conditions.
Pharmacists also work to ensure the safe and effective use of medications.
To become a pharmacist you need to complete a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Auckland or University of Otago, complete an internship of one year working in a hospital or community pharmacy and register with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand.
NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are Biology, Chemistry, Health, Maths and Physics.
Job prospects are good due to increasing demand for their services.
Job prospects: Good.
Length of study: 5 years.
Pay scale: Staff pharmacists in community pharmacies earn an average of $82,000 per year.
Charge pharmacists who manage a pharmacy earn an average of $86,000 per year.
Te Whatu Ora Health NZ qualified pharmacists who manage a pharmacy usually earn $58,000–$86,000 per year.
Senior pharmacists who supervise staff can earn $87,000–$119,000 per year.
PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANT
Also known as: Food scientist; packaging technologist; product development technologist; research and development technologist; research scientist; food engineer.
Food technologists research, develop and improve food and drink products and their packaging. They may also be involved in the processing, intellectual property management, storage and safety of food to meet government and industry standards and regulations.
To become a food technologist, most employers require you to have a Bachelor’s degree in food technology, food science or food engineering.
A Master’s degree is preferred. 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.
Chances of getting a job as a food technologist are good due a shortage of workers and increasing demand for their services.
Job prospects: Good.
Length of study: 3–5 years.
Pay scale: New food technologists usually earn $50,000–$75,000 per year.
Senior food technologists with more experience usually earn $100,000–$140,000 per year.
Also known as: Analyst programmer; programmer; web/app developer; software engineer; website developer.
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.
Job prospects: Good.
Length of study: 1–3 years.
Pay scale: Software developers usually earn $110,000 to $160,000 a year.
Also known as: Geospatial analyst; geospatial information architect; geospatial data specialist; geographic information systems analyst; geospatial developer. Geospatial specialists gather and analyse geographic and spatial (location-based) information and use specialist software to present it in user-friendly formats. These formats include maps and 3D models. They also design data specifications and write and present reports on geospatial data analysis.
To become a geospatial specialist, it is necessary to have a Bachelor’s degree in one of the following areas: surveying, applied science, geography or digital technologies/computer science. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) papers may also be included as part of the degree.
NCEA subjects that are useful in this role are English, Maths, Physics, Geography, Digital Technologies, and Design and Visual Communication (Graphics).
Job prospects for geospatial specialists are good as there is a shortage of workers.
Job prospects: Good.
Length of study: 3 years.
Pay scale: New geospatial specialists usually earn $45,000–$65,000 per year.
Geospatial specialists with five or more years’ experience earn $60,000–$80,000 per year.
Those with 10 years’ plus experience earn $70,000–$120,000 per year.
Trade up to an amazing future
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Whether it's mechanical engineering, electrical or heavy automotive that sparks your interest, we have something for you. And that something is a four year pathway to qualification – learning from experts in their field, with support, challenge and opportunity every step of the way. So, if you're ready to take the first step toward a bright future, imagine tomorrow, today.
