Career Choice FAQs

Listed below are links to some Frequently Asked Questions...

I don’t know what to study!

I know what I want to do. How do I find the best course?

What tertiary environment will suit me?

Shouldn’t I simply choose the best known university?

How can I tell whether a private provider is okay?

How do I persuade my parents to let me study what I want?

What if I don’t meet the entry requirements for the course I wish to do?

I need a break. Will I be disadvantaged if I don’t go straight to tertiary study from school?

How to Choose a Career

I don’t know what to study!

Uncertainty and anxiety about career decisions is very common for young people, just remember your first career decision does not lock you into one career for the rest of your life. People make career changes throughout their lives and your first step along the path is simply one that will open up many other opportunities.

Some school leavers feel they want to continue study at tertiary level even if they are not sure what they want to do. In that case, it can be useful to start with an interest area and explore career possibilities from there. Courses that develop good practical skills are another option.

Visiting the Career Suite is a good first step for people confused about what to do. You will be encouraged to research using the internet, newspapers, books, p

romotional material and attending visits from liason personnel. [Top of Page]

I know what I want to do. How do I find the best course?

All tertiary institutions say they’re the best, so research is vital. Talk to students and graduates about whether the course lives up to expectations. Ask to see graduate placement statistics.

You can read about the skills and knowledge required in a job through the ‘job’ section on Career Services website and compare against course information.

You could also approach a couple of businesses or organisations you’d like to work for and enquire whether they prefer graduates from one course over another.

Often you’ll find employers happy with all courses, but sometimes they’ll have definite preferences about specific content or industry experience. [Top of Page]

What tertiary environment will suit me?

A lot of people don’t initially think about this, but it can make a big difference to your success at studying. Do you prefer lots of group work or to study on your own? Do you prefer small classes or large anonymous lecture theatres? Universities emphasise independent thinking and research and usually offer the highest level of tertiary qualifications.

Polytechnics or institutes of technology tend to have a more practical focus with more bridging and pre-degree qualifications. This means good stair-casing options, where you start at a lower level and pass courses that allow you to move onto more advanced ones.

Private providers tend to specialise – hospitality, travel and tourism, hairdressing – and are usually small and practical and owned by an individual or group, not the state.

There are also three state funded wānanga offering study with an emphasis on Māori tikanga (culture) and te reo Māori.

Take advantage of options Workchoice Day, Taster Days, Open Days and information evenings to get a feel for the courses and environment. [Top of Page]

Shouldn’t I simply choose the best known university?

The reputation of a course is more important than the name of an institution. Would you employ a graduate because their qualification is from a well known university or because they’ve got the right skills and knowledge?

International students or immigrants, who intend to eventually work back home, often worry that some New Zealand universities aren’t as well known overseas as others. But if you intend to gain work experience in New Zealand after graduating, the calibre of your work history will usually hold more weight than your qualification. [Top of Page]

How can I tell whether a private provider is okay?

Check the provider is registered and accredited with the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) and the course is NZQA approved. This information should be written on the provider’s published material. Check everything because a provider can be registered and approved yet have some courses that aren’t approved.

NB: University courses don’t come under NZQA. There are also some international qualifications that are internationally approved so don’t need NZQA approval, such as City & Guilds. [Top of Page]

How do I persuade my parents to let me study what I want?

Some parents have very high expectations of their children. Yet pressuring children to enter study that doesn’t fit with their aptitude and interests can result in years of dissatisfaction and failure. If you are struggling with a subject at school, you’ll likely to struggle to make the entry requirements anyway. A compromise is often the answer; one that satisfies parents and student. A neutral person, such as a career advisor, can help in these discussions. To make a case for a different career, you need to become informed and research the career you want to follow and collect evidence to show your parents that it will provide good outcomes. The New Zealand Vice Chancellors Committee  puts out annual statistics on the destinations and salaries of graduates that would be useful. The Department of Labour’s website also has up to date information about skill shortages in New Zealand which may help your decision making. [Top of Page]

What if I don’t meet the entry requirements for the course I wish to do?

Usually there are options to staircase or bridge into higher or more specific levels of study. This can be done through summer school papers, evening classes, distance learning or full time foundation courses. It is important, though, to check the bridging course is accepted as an appropriate prerequisite for the course you want to enter.

People sometimes enter diploma level study and, after proving their academic ability in the first two semesters, move into degree study taking some credits from their diploma study with them. [Top of Page]

I need a break. Will I be disadvantaged if I don’t go straight to tertiary study from school?

A lot of young people take a gap year – or more - before further study. Some are simply tired of studying; others don’t know what to do. Many young people don’t want to pay for a course until they find something that really interests them, so they prefer to earn and save in the mean time.

Try testing out some of your ideas with entry level work in industries you’re interested in and actively developing skills you identify as important for the future, such as a full driver’s license and customer service skills. You could also do some part time tertiary study, such as a paper at tertiary level in an area of interest, or a short course in computer skills. [Top of Page]

How to Choose a Career

Career Services has heaps of ideas and information about choosing subjects, making career choices, finding courses and trade options from a national perspective. There is also excellent information on the labour market and the benefits of work experience. Check it out…