Career choices shape future

It's tough coping with school or starting to get a clear direction on your career aspirations while in your first job. You probably have lots of questions about setting your career on track so a handful of career counsellors have pitched in to answer the most common ones they are asked by school leavers.

Which is the best university or polytechnic?

Each university has specialist areas so it depends what you want to study. Research. Ask your employer about tertiary providers they rate highly. Ask graduates' opinions.

Remember the university you attend will not necessarily make you a better student. University study requires much more independent study to school - the buck rests with you.

Most employers pay more attention to grades than the name of the university behind your degree. And once you've successfully worked in one job, it is your work history that holds most weight.

How good are private providers?

Most are good, some are not. You need to research. Ask providers where their graduates find work. See if their website has a list of graduate destinations. Ask to talk to graduates. And don't forget, once again, that employers are a good source of information. What do they think of the provider you're considering?

I don't have the grades to enter university.

Don't panic. New Zealand's tertiary system offers a great number of staircasing options as well as a provisional entry option for people over 20 wanting to enter university.

Certificates and diplomas are commonly used to staircase into higher level qualifications. For example, you can enrol in the New Zealand Diploma in Business, gain good grades and staircase into a business degree, sometimes getting some cross credits. However, each university has a different approach to staircasing so discuss your plans with the institution.

I'm too thick for university.

Read above. There are also foundation courses offered through universities and polytechnics, along with short courses teaching specifics such as academic essay writing and library research.

People with work experience can sometimes get Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) which means you get some papers credited if you can prove you have already acquired the skills taught in the papers. Each institution will have a RPL adviser.

I don't have the cash to study.

Don't let money stop you. Many courses are now offered part-time or extramurally and some providers run graduate diplomas afterwork hours on a part-time basis. Then there are specialist extramural providers Open Polytechnic and Massey University.

Don't be afraid to broach the subject with your employer, either. They may be happy to help if it means they'll keep you on their payroll and use your growing skill base. It is certainly worth asking. And look out for scholarships.

What job pays the most?

That is the job for me. A fat pay cheque isn't enough to choose a career on. If you end up in a role that doesn't interest you, or you're not good at, you'll struggle to be successful and therefore not make the big bucks.

What kind of work would you like to do? What are you interested in? Sort those basics out first, then look at www.kiwicareers.co.nz salary information to see how salaries compare.

My parents say I should continue studying.

Few people know what to do as a teenager. Consider North Shore Career Services counsellor Janine Begg's approach. Design your own apprenticeship - a formal plan with a timeline and deadlines.

Think of five or 10 things you would like to learn and try them out in the next two or five years and make a plan on how to do this while getting paid. This could lead to finding something you love or something you want to explore further. Either way, you're working to a plan, which helps to assuage parental worries, and developing skills that mean something to you.

I'd like to be an [fill in your dream job] but my friend says there are no jobs in those areas.

First, friends mean well but often don't have a clue. Their information could be based on a family member losing their job, but doesn't necessarily mean the industry is in decline.

Check the number of ads in newspaper employment sections, ring and ask employers whether they intend to hire people in the next while.

Also, remember that even when jobs are tight, there is always room for someone who has potential. So if you have a real passion and ability for something, go for it.

Mum and Dad don't want me to do a trade. Aren't apprenticeships for dummies?

Er, no! Ever looked to see what half the owners of beachfront properties at Pauanui do for a living? Apprenticeships are ideal for people who enjoy practical problem solving, working with their hands and are keen on avoiding a student loan.

Apprentices learn while they earn and often set up their own business once they've got their qualification and a bit of experience under their belt. Trade skills are extremely desirable skills to have when travelling. Trades are an area where there is an ongoing shortage, so the jobs are there and so is the money once you qualify.

* Angela McCarthy spoke with career counsellors Astrid Von Holten, Kubi Witten-Hannah, Janine Beggs from North Shore Career Services, Marion Brightmore and Ann Hodge from Mt Roskill Grammar School Career Centre.