Free career advice for parents
Media release 31 July 2008
Making good career decisions has become all the more important as the number of career options available to young people today continues to multiply and employers’ needs become more complex.
Career Services has spent the last year developing a new area of their website especially for parents and caregivers to use when helping their children make good study and training decisions, and successful transitions into the workplace. It is full of up-to-date information and interactive resources.
"Parents and schools have complimentary roles to play in making young people aware of all the career options available to them today. With the new school term underway, schools are busy working with students on their subject choices for next year and preparing them for end-of-year exams. Parents and caregivers can also be actively involved behind the scenes, sparking those career conversations," says Career Services Chief Executive Lester Oakes.
"I know, as a parent myself, it’s sometimes difficult to get those career conversations going with a young person. We’ve included some conversation starters for talking with young people about careers and some tips from other parents and careers professionals for handling difficult decisions or situations," says Mr Oakes.
"You might like to start the process by taking our website quiz to understand how well you know your child’s career plans."
The importance of a parent’s role has also been recently reiterated in Dr Heather Carpenter’s new book The Careers Maze.
Also included on the parents site is a simple guide to understanding NCEA and help with understanding industry training and tertiary study options. There are lots of case studies and information about how the labour market and jobs have changed since the days when parents were planning their own careers.
To use this free resource, visit www.careers.govt.nz/parents
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For more information please contact:
Wendy Goldswain
wgoldswain@careers.govt.nz
04 381 5825
027 548 4568
Career Services is New Zealand’s leading provider of free and independent careers information, and advice - helping New Zealanders to make the best decisions about jobs, training and study. A crown agent, Career Services provides services and resources to more than 576,000 people annually, largely by Internet and telephone.
Career Services’ services and resources are relevant to all New Zealanders, including school and tertiary students, people of all ages who are entering tertiary education, trade training or work, mature workers considering a change in the direction of their careers, and migrants and refugees.
