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Call us on 0800 222 733Get involved in career events and the school
Being involved with what is happening at your child’s school can help you support your child with their career decision making.
Take an active interest in what's going on at school
Keeping yourself informed does not take long and it can really make a difference in supporting your child in their decision making. To find out what career events are happening you can:
- browse the school website – it will have crucial information such as the names and subject areas of the staff, a calendar of events and activities, the curriculum handbooks, and newsletters.
- read the curriculum handbook – this will have information on the subjects offered.
- make contact with the school – arrange an appointment for you and your child to see the careers adviser.
Events in your school will be advertised in advance, so this gives you plenty of time to prepare.
“The best thing you can do for your child is to keep in regular contact with whānau/form teachers. You can do this by phone or email.”
Lester Rivers, Careers Adviser, Kamo High School
Career expos
- Careers expos are useful for gaining information
Career expos bring together universities, training providers, ITOs, polytechnics, the forces and sometimes employers. Most are held between May and August and provide an opportunity for you and your child to gather information on possible career options.
Generally, schools provide transport to expos during school hours, but parents are also welcome to attend, either during the day or in the evening.
How to help your child make the most of career expos
- Have a list of questions to take to the expo (see below for examples).
- Suggest that your child spend time on our website beforehand. They can use our interactive tools to find out about the types of work that may interest them.
- When at the expo, visit the Careers New Zealand stand and attend any of the industry workshops that may interest your child.
- Interactive tools - use our tools to get career suggestions based on interests, skills and school subjects
- Download the expo planner - helps students get the most from a career expo (PDF - 1.5MB)
After the expo, there are a number of things you and your child could do:
- Make an appointment to see the careers adviser.
- Talk to the dean about subject choices for the coming year.
- Visit an employer for the day.
- Talk to the Gateway co-ordinator about doing work experience.
- Talk to people working in the industry that your child is interested in.
Questions your child can ask at careers expos
- What subjects do I need to take next year if I want to get into .....?
- How much will the course cost? What does this include?
- What are the entry requirements?
- Who is the ITO co-ordinator in this district?
- Can I study the course part time? Can I switch to part-time study during the course?
- Can I do this course by distance learning?
- Do you have open days?
- How long do I have to withdraw from the course once I've enrolled, and what happens to my course fee?
- When is the closing date for applications?
- How will the work be assessed? What are the requirements for passing?
Subject information evenings, careers evenings and report evenings
Evening events are often busy because so many parents attend, so go prepared!
- Make sure you know the names of the staff you want to see.
- Go with a list of questions and write down the answers.
- Encourage your child to come with you, and let them know beforehand what you want to talk about. Make sure there are no surprises.
- Ask the staff what resources are available to you and your child
- Make an appointment to see the dean or careers adviser at another time if you don't have enough time to get the information you and your child need.
- If you don’t feel comfortable visiting your child’s school, or English is your second language, ask a friend to go along with you for support. Another option is to make an appointment to speak to the careers adviser alone at another time.
Questions to ask at parent/teacher interviews
- What are my child's strengths?
- What areas do we need to focus on?
- Is my child on track and what can I do to keep him/her on track?
- How does my child get along with his/her friends?
Make the most of the school's career staff and resources
Schools often have a dedicated careers area or classroom with career resources. This area will have information such as:
- information on tertiary providers, industries, scholarships, apprenticeships and trade training options
- posters, brochures and other resources
- a computer giving students access to the Internet to produce their CVs and cover letters, and explore information on the Careers New Zealand website.
Encourage your child to become familiar with the support services, so they become comfortable with the staff and the environment. They'll then feel able to ask for help when they need it.