Now is the time, if you haven't already, to start thinking about what you want to do once you leave or finish high school.
There are many expectations of young people; that they should all go to university and get a degree. This is not the case. If hands one work, or trade work, floats you boat, then go to a polytechnic or seek an aprenticeship. So many people are now going to university that there is a shortage of skilled workers. Want to hear my theory? I believe that eventually the richest people in the country will be tradesmen because they can charge the thousands of university graduates as much as they like because the grads can't even unblock their toilet.
Aside from that random remark, you really need to start thinking about what you are going to after high school. A good place to start is to find out what you are into, take this online test to find out what your interest areas are. Once you've found that out, you can use that to help you decide what it is that you want to do.
Careers.govt.nz is a government agency that can help you to decide what you want to do, read the online information or ring the toll-free hotline.
Don't forget that the best help is sometimes the closest. If you haven't already left school, go and see your careers counsellor. They will be able to provide you with all sorts of information regarding skills that you need, further training and learning, and of course a vast amount of information about any career you inquire about. Also, they may have at their disposal a piece of software very similar to the online one mentioned above.
If you want to go into a trade or something similar, take a look at some of the polytechnics, such as UCOL, to see what they offer that can help you in your chosen profession. Seek and you shall find that the SEEK website lists apprencticeships that are available throughout the county, simply enter your criteria and you're away! See a list of further helpful links at the end of this post.
Perhaps you are going to go to university and study, if that is the case then you can check out the different university websites to see what is on offer. Really, university is a big subject and should have a post all to itself, but this is where you must do your own work. Do some research on the university websites, see what courses they offer, what student services they have, where they are situated, and find their contact details. If you contact someone at a university they will be more than willing to help you in regards to further study and what you need to do. Links to various universities can be found at the bottom of this post.
WorkSite
Pathfinder
Massey University
Victoria University of Wellington
University of Otago
The University of Auckland
University of Canterbury
The University of Waikato
Tairawhiti Polytechnic
The Open Polytechnic
Western Institute of Technology
