Over the last few days all students have been involved in some careers based activities.

Starting on Wednesday the 1st of June Thomas Wardhaugh talked to a group of senior students about his experiences as a first year Otago University Health Sciences student and life afterwards at the School of Physiotherapy. While others attended a presentation by Knox College University hall of residence. On Thursday the 2nd all the Year 12 students visited the local Careers Expo at the Forbury Park events centre and some Year 13 students visited Action Engineering.

Our own Mini Expo was held on the 8th of June upstairs in the Shand. The Otago Polytechnic, SIT - Southland Institute of Technology, Telford (Lincoln University), Pihms - Pacific International Hotel Management School, Dive Otago, Defence Force NZ, Your Education (overseas education exchanges) and Otago University were involved. They provided information, gave advice and discussed entry requirements to their respective institutions to many year 13, 12, 11 and 10 students.

Science and mathematics classes got the opportunity to attend presentations from local Futureintech ambassadors in the fields of geology, fresh water ecology, structural engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering and surveying. A major aim during the week was for students and teachers to explore careers related resources. Class investigations of websites and/or homework tasks were set for students to encourage their exploration of possible career opportunities.

The websites below provide excellent information and interactive tools to help all students in their career decision making. For example http://www.justthejob.co.nz has over 250 seven minute bite-size video careers stories.

I invite parents along with teachers and students to take up the challenge and visit these websites for themselves.

http://www.careers.govt.nz

http://www.justthejob.co.nz/

http://landyourdreamjob.co.nz

http://www.futureintech.org.nz/search.cfm

http://www.getahead.co.nz

University choices at   http://www.nomajordrama.co.nz

GuideMe app: http://www.nzpost.co.nz/personal/mobile/guideme-app GuideMe is a free start-to-finish checklist for getting your university study sorted. It’s based on advice and tips from first-year university students, with links to essential websites and services they recommend.

Andrew Swan
Careers Adviser