Career exploration through work experience, expos and online research

Support your young person to find their future by helping them get work experience, attend career expos, and look for career information online.

Work experience is a great way for your young person to learn what’s involved in a job and it may lead to them choosing a career path.

Help them find work experience opportunities:

• check if they can work shadow (follow) you for a day
• contact their school to see if the Gateway programme is suitable for them
• ask friends or family members if they know of work experience opportunities
• search Volunteering New Zealand’s website for volunteer jobs.

• Work experience options
• Volunteering New Zealand’s website

Your young person will usually visit career expos with their school.

Career expos bring together universities, Te Pūkenga, private training organisations, Defence Forces, and sometimes employers. 

Help your young person prepare for an expo visit by listing questions they can ask training providers and employers. Use our expo planner to assist.

At the expo they can speak to people working in the industry they are interested in and take notes.

• New Zealand Careers Expos website
• Career expo planner (PDF – 654 KB)

Exploring career resources online can help you talk about school leaving options. Our 'plan your career' section has information and planning activities.

• Use our career planning tools
• Discover over 400 job profiles
• Plan your career

• Check out our Where to from school? ebook
• Sign up to our e-newsletter for tips to support young people with their study and careers