Dannevirke: Firms offer career options

Dylan Dyer (left) Josh Thomas and Thomas Lilo at the Dannevirke High School careers expo in The Hub last Tuesday night. Photo / Christine McKay

Deciding on which career pathway to take was a little easier for Dannevirke teens last Tuesday night with a careers expo hosted by the high school at The Hub.

The venue was crowded as parents and their children arrived to learn more about the 29 businesses promoting a choice of future direction.

For friends Dylan Dyer, Josh Thomas and Thomas Lilo, the options were endless.

Pippa Dixon, a training adviser with the Primary ITO, and Aria Mullins, explain the benefits of training in the primary sector.

"I'm interested in farming and building," Dylan said.

Josh loves the outdoors and is looking at a career as a hunting guide or a ranger.

Thomas was interested in everything from being an electrician to a line mechanic with Scanpower and also thought a career in the army would be an option.

Callum Garvey was looking at teaching and exploring other options.

"There is heaps of stuff here tonight," he said.

Tararua District Mayor Roly Ellis said the expo was a great way to connect parents, employers and young people.

"There are many exciting and new skills out there," he said.

Dannevirke High School principal Dawid de Villiers said it was now time for students to research all their career options.

"We are going into option selection mode for next year and an event like this is a good kick-start," he said. "I'm also encouraging our juniors to come to events such as this because this whole process needs to start earlier. The more information students have, the better their decisions can be."

But it wasn't just the careers expo helping to inform students, Dannevirke High School is also taking them to Massey University and UCOL open days in Palmerston North.

And with many of those attending from the rural sector, training adviser Pippa Dixon and Aria Mullins from the Primary ITO were kept busy offering career suggestions.

"It can depend on a parent's focal point and because half of those in this room could be farmers and not everyone is academic, we're trying to give students practical options," Ms Dixon said. " ... What we find with these on-the-job options is that it can give students an in to tertiary education later."