KEY POINTS:
One of the great challenges in setting out on a career path is the thousands of options out there which could take you half a lifetime just to track down the right people to talk to them about.
How much easier would it be if there was an event where all the experts came together in one place - somewhere like The New Zealand Herald Your Career Expo, for instance?
Whether you're looking for your first job, want to fast track your way to the top, have a complete career change or simply meet and ask questions of the experts, then the Your Career Expo is for you.
To be held on September 27-28 at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland, it will be the largest gathering of careers professionals in the country, all waiting to help you along your chosen path.
The Expo is for people who want to:
* Get guidance from the country's leading education providers, career advisors, recruitment companies, franchisors and employers.
* Meet with the right people if you're considering self employment or franchise opportunities.
* Achieve a better work/life balance.
* Talk to experts before starting a new career.
* Learn how to up-skill through further education.
* Find out which organisations promote a friendly and motivated workplace.
* Network with potential future employers.
There will be four pavilions at the Expo, each catering to a particular type of career path or life phase.
Great places to work
This pavilion is for people who want to research an employer that best suits their needs or want to explore specific selection criteria with organisations that could be future employers. Exhibitors in this pavilion will be proud of their employment practices and eager to demonstrate why prospective employees would want to work there. These companies will be able to point individuals to specific training options that will enhance their worth to the company.
New directions
A career is more than just a job. This showcase of options is for people who want to take control and improve their work/life balance. For example, it could be a move to a more desirable location, or to explore the path to self-employment. The content will be part aspirational and part practical. Exhibitors will include local and provincial councils and affiliated businesses, franchises and business brokers and may include Australian destinations. Support services will also be on offer including career coaches, recruitment consultants, financial advisors, accountants and real estate agents.
Fast Track
Fast Track is designed for people looking to further develop their skills set. Options on offer will range from professional development programmes to post-graduate study, including MBAs. Exhibitors will include training organisations, domestic and international universities and colleges, as well as careers advisers.
Kickstart
Kickstart is geared towards people starting their career, changing their career or wishing to do further study in support of a specific career path. A range of information and specific opportunities will be presented for those who are about to graduate, want to learn a trade, need specific advice on what career will suit their strengths or to simply learn how to go about getting a new job.
Exhibitors will range from a variety of industries including travel, insurance, education, government, engineering, utilities, communications and retail.
The New Zealand Herald Your Career Expo will provide visitors with the opportunity to meet and network face-to-face with market leaders and experts across a breadth of industries.
IAG NZ Ltd, New Zealand's largest general insurance company is an exhibitor at the 'Great Places to Work' pavilion.
IAG NZ Ltd, Organisational Consultant Mike Kensington says they welcome the opportunity to be involved with the Your Career Expo.
"We're delighted to be involved with this Expo. It's important for us to keep up to speed with what's going on in the marketplace and also ensure we network with and employ talented applicants," he said.
"The insurance industry provides a variety of roles and we want to explain to potential applicants what it means to work in insurance, share with them the passion we have for the industry and provide a really good insight into what it's like to work at IAG NZ Ltd."
Fulton Hogan is a major trans-Tasman civil contracting company, specialising in infrastructure, and will also be exhibiting in the 'Great Places to Work' pavilion.
Fulton Hogan recruitment manager Matthew Pontim says the Expo caters to a variety of career paths and phases, providing in-depth advice and information.
"We're keen to be involved with the Your Career Expo because we are always on the lookout for talented and enthusiastic people to join our team," he said.
"The infrastructure industry is extremely busy on both sides of the Tasman at the moment and there are a large number of major projects underway that need skilled professionals on board to bring them to completion."
Martin Simons, chief executive of APN New Zealand which publishes The New Zealand Herald, said the company had got behind the expo to help employers and potential employees to meet face-to-face in a professional environment to explore career opportunities.
He said many key national bodies, corporates and universities were supporting the event to generate greater public interest in chosen careers and personal development.
"All of these organisations perfectly complement the objective of the Expo which is to offer visitors in-depth information, advice, education and solutions to further their career ambitions."
Mr Simons said a key objective of the Expo was to provide a broad range of solutions for individuals at any stage on the career ladder so it had relevance to a very broad audience.
APN plans to hold the event annually in Auckland.
Each Wednesday until the Expo the Herald's Career section will feature a regular column to provide readers with the latest information on what to expect at each of the pavilions Expo in September.
Check out the information below for the first update on Great Places to Work and New Directions. People wanting to attend the expo can pre-register at www.yourcareerexpo.co.nz for free tickets, or pay $10 at the door on the day.
