Broaden your Horizons
I left school at 16 not having any idea what I wanted to do, so I decided to head to a recruitment agency, hoping they would be able to help me out.
Luckily they did and my first interview was with a company called Deutsche Bank. I went to the interview, feeling pretty nervous as it was my first one but it went absolutely fine and a few hours later they called me and offered me the job. I was so happy and I took it straight away. I ended up staying in that job for just over five years. I loved the people that I worked with and I really enjoyed working within the office environment. My job varied from day to day which was great; I wasn’t always doing the same thing!
Then, after 5 years passed I felt like I needed a change. It was a toss up between getting a new job doing the same thing or going travelling. What did I pick? To go travelling of course!
Looking back it was the best decision I have ever made, I have now travelled the whole of Australia and I am currently in New Zealand. I have been here in New Zealand for about 5 weeks, I am currently temping which is great while you’re travelling. I have a long-term assignment as a receptionist which I am really enjoying.
I feel that while I have been travelling it has opened my mind to a lot more job opportunities for me in the future as I have worked in different roles and also different environments. It has given me a lot more experience and it has broadened my horizons for the future. I am planning on travelling and working for another 8 months which will be great.
But then it will be back home to settle down and get back into a steady career. I will definitely work in an office environment again. Ideally I would love to get back into my previous role which was within the Trust industry, but I have also loved working with administration and reception, so we will have to wait and see what the next year or so has in store for me.
Nadia, 23, UK
Popcorn Stopping Moments
What is it about reality TV that fascinates us so? What is it that causes us to stop, amazed with popcorn half-way to our open mouths as we gaze on the passing parade of human achievement and endeavour? My own personal top ten of popcorn stopping moments used to include such gems as ‘extreme ironing’ and the Jerry Springer show, but these days I can’t keep up – it seems we scale new heights and plumb new depths constantly. The Jackass movies alone chronicle dozens, if not hundreds of priceless examples of what can be accomplished with a warped sense of humour and a hand-held video camera.
If you were approached to star in a reality show, which would it be? Are you the next Apprentice? What about a Masterchef? How about a Pop Idol? Or will Gok slice up your underwear perhaps? What will you do to make the top-ten of Popcorn stopping moments?
What Suits You?
Most of us know what we like in life. We know what makes the blood rush through our veins and gets us excited. In an ideal world, going to work would give you that adrenalin rush. The career path you choose is always going to be something that influences your life in a huge way, no matter how long you stay in that particular profession.
People used to ask me, “What do you want to do when you leave school?” and I would reply, “I don’t know, but it has to involve talking and eating”. These are two of my biggest passions. Talking is a very broad interest and eating, well that is the same really.
I sat down one day and had a good think about what I wanted to do with myself and realized that communicating to others in some form is something I would really enjoy. I heard about the Bachelor of Communication Studies at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and I looked on the internet to find out more about it.
Next thing I knew I was writing an application letter to the course leader! Being from Wellington, I had no idea where I would live in Auckland, but I knew this course was something that tickled my fancy.
The thing that made it easier for me was that I knew what I was passionate about. If I had not realized my passion I might still be a waitress in the café where I worked part time to support my social life during school.
Identifying your passions, skills and motivators is a huge part of your future career direction. If you are good at painting, then explore that as a career path because when you wake up in the morning you should feel inspired and excited to start the day.
You might think you already know what you want to do and just need the confidence to pursue it with passion, or you may have no idea what is next for you. Either way, there are places to go and people who can help with what is probably the most important decision of your life.
There are hundreds of career paths to take. The important thing is finding the one that’s right for you.




