CAREERS ADVICE AT COLLEGE It’s all about communication
All schools receive a raft of information about different careers, courses and places to study. Mr Sellars says his job is to sort through this information about universities, polytechnics and a range of other providers to find out what is relevant and ensure it is communicated to the boys. This may include information about a gap year.
“Communication is a key factor for me,’’ he says. “Letting the boys know what is available and helping them to broaden their horizons when it comes to careers is really important. We know that boys may have a series of different jobs throughout their lives, so we want to let them know just what is available. “I have a range of ways to let the boys know about courses, visits and speakers. Firstly, I have a regular column in In Black and White, which has proved to be so successful that students from other schools look at it. It is so satisfying when parents say they enjoy reading the page because it keeps them up with the play. It’s good to get positive feedback. “Another method is to send out a group text to all Year 12 and 13s. I get a huge return on this, some replying in a matter of minutes. They may be slower to read their emails, but eventually pick up their messages. I can also email documents and information to boys who are interested in a particular place to study, a university, polytech or course when it has been forwarded to me.’’ A good site for Years 9 and 10 is the Careers website at www. careers.govt.nz, which has a
wealth of information about career paths. Older students find the Occupational Outlook app from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment very useful as it helps students look at labour market forces that could be useful to them in their choice of occupation. The Youth Guarantee initiative also looks at various occupations within six vocational pathways.
all the options, whether I had the subject requirements and where I could study. “My problem was that sport was important to me. I looked at Dunedin and the options weren’t what I wanted, but rowing, my sport, was strong there. Mr Sellars said university was not really about sport, but about what I would be studying for the future. We talked about the pros and cons of Auckland and Wellington, and in the end I decided I was best suited to Wellington. “It was really helpful to have someone who knew what all the options were and who could help me make the right choice, and it was great to work out that architecture was the best option for me.’’
Year 13 student Ben Wade found out how a visit to
discuss career options can help anyone who may be uncertain about the way forward. “I thought I wanted to do architecture, but wasn’t sure if it was the right career for me or where I should study. Mr Sellars took me through
Mr Chris Sellars with Ben Wade.
College Issue 29 2015
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