If the idea of working in the UK appeals to you, it could be a good idea to register to participate in the Prospects UK Virtual Careers Fairs.  These are scheduled to run from 9th -13th November 2009.  Registration will allow you to upload and submit your CV, apply for jobs, and talk on-line with a range of UK graduate employers. 

Find out more at www.prospects.ac.uk/prospectsfairs

Learn how to upskill, improve your career prospects or extend an interest at Massey University’s careers evening in Wellington, New Zealand. With flexible study options including full or part-time study, on campus or by distance education – study anywhere, anytime to suit your lifestyle and give you the competitive edge.

 Choose from more than one thousand programmes including: • Business • Psychology • Public Policy • Finance • Human Resources • Management • Exercise • Accounting • Economics • Teacher Training • Design & Fine Arts • Engineering • Health & Environment.

Meet our academic advisers, students and lecturers for one-to-one personalised course and career advice:

WHERE: Holiday Inn, 75 Featherston Street, CBD, Wellington, New Zealand.

WHEN: Wednesday 11th November 4:00 – 7:00 pm.

PRESENTATION: 6.00pm – Professor Claire Massey, Head of the Department of Management at Massey University, will discuss: How to Maximise the Value of Study.

Light refreshments and snacks provided.

For further information, contact Lorraine Archbold at:

Tel: 0800 MASSEY or email NLR.Liaison.WN@massey.ac.nz

If you are a Massey University student (on-campus or extramural) or are considering becoming one, there’s a lot to be gained from dropping in to one of the University’s ‘Staying on Track’ road shows.

These take place annually at a number of towns and cities throughout NZ.  They run from 3.00 pm until 8.00 pm and you can simply ‘drop-in’ – there’s no need to book.  Each event is an opportunity to gain advice on Massey’s papers and programmes; your career plans (if any) or simply to check that your studies are ‘on track’.

For more information, and the schedule of roadshows for 2009, see:

• Staying on Track 2009

Today’s post is a bit of a plea for help with a couple of things that I’m working on.

Firstly, I’ve been taking a look at what other universities offer on their web sites in the way of pre-entry guidance - particularly for those who are considering studying through distance education.  If you are a distance education student, or are considering becoming one, it would be useful to hear your views on issues such as:

• resources that you’d like to see on a web site to help you choose a course and/or papers
• the issues that you face, or think you’ll face, as a distance student
• resources that might help with these issues

Secondly, I’m also looking at the support offered to those studying for a PhD.  In particular:

• what support has been – or would be – useful for you as a doctoral student?
• what are some of the obstacles you’ve faced or are worried you’ll face?
• what might you – and your university – do about these? 

Any views on the above gratefully received!  Thanks.

If you are a Massey University student, I have some news that might be of interest:

Firstly, a warm welcome to Paul Fitzmaurice.  Paul is the new careers adviser based full-time on Massey’s Wellington campus.  He’s based in the contact centre there or can be reached via 04 801 2794 ext 6820 or P.R.Fitzmaurice@massey.ac.nz

Secondly, I’ll be in Christchurch for the rest of this week – meeting with Massey extramural students based there.  I still have some free appointment times on Saturday 27th June.  If you are a Massey extramural student – or are thinking of becoming one – and are based in Christchurch I can be reached via emcareers@massey.ac.nz.  I may be able to offer you a thirty minute ’slot’ for 1:1 careers advice.

If you are a student with Massey University these events may well be of interest:

• Extramural regional seminars - Developing skills for successful tertiary study - Semester 2, 2009

Presented by Student Learning Development Services, Massey Manawatu these free workshops are designed to help extramural students develop and maintain effective writing and study skills.

Topics covered will include time management, reading and note-taking, the principles of academic writing, and making the most of WebCT, as well as information on using the resources of the library.

You can register for a regional seminar here. If you have any further enquiries, please feel free to e-mail SLC-PN@massey.ac.nz or call (06) 350 2251.

If you are a student on Massey University’s Manawatu campus, or an extramural student living in the area, these events may be of interest to you -

1: Environmental & Planning Career Evening – Manawatu campus – Wednesday 20 May – 4.30 pm until 6.30 pm – Social Sciences Lecture Block Foyer

The purpose of this event is to provide information to students currently studying degrees such as:

• Bachelor of Resource & Environmental Planning
• Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental)
• Bachelor of Environmental Management

 Or to those who wish to move into these sectors as career pathways.

 Those attending will move around each organisation in small groups at 20 minute intervals. Organisations will be speaking about areas that include the types of projects being undertaken by their organisation, what they look for in graduates and the future of planning as they see it.

The School of People, Environment & Planning will also be showcasing some of the project work past students have been involved in.

To register your attendance please book-in on http://careerhub.massey.ac.nz

2: Sport @ Massey Career Evening – Manawatu campus – Wednesday 27 May – 4.30 pm start – Social Sciences Lecture Block Foyer

This is an invaluable opportunity for all students interested in a career in the sport sector to find out more.

• Hear about the exciting and varied career paths graduates have taken since leaving University.
• Find out about some of the exciting research our academics are currently involved in.
• Discover what it takes to be a teacher, nutritionist or psychologist!
• Sign up for volunteer work.
• Be in the draw to win a fabulous prize!

You will be introduced to the world of Sport at Massey and will then move around the five areas to find out all you need to know about opportunities in this field.

 To register your attendance please book-in on http://careerhub.massey.ac.nz

It’s a sign of the times for sure, but there is a wealth of press articles at the moment profiling people who are following ‘less traditional’ work patterns.  For example, in the New Zealand Herald a couple of days ago, an item noted ‘kiwi workers going solo’.  This highlighted the significant number of NZ professionals who would consider taking on a contract role. 

Then, true to my roots, I was also browsing ‘The Scotman’ on-line recently.  There I came across an article claiming that ‘students are the new entrepreneurs’.  This noted that “record numbers of students at Scotland’s universities are setting up their own companies as a way of ‘creating their own futures’ according to new research from a business support body”.

Make no mistake though, self-employment is not for everyone.  Rather,  it suits individuals with a particular mix of skills and traits.  These include resilience and the ability to cope well with stress and pressure.  Also, self-motivation; time-management; creativity; problem-solving; financial skills; communication and promotion abilities and managerial competence.  

Setting up, maintaining and developing a business takes an investment in money and time.  It takes multi-tasking and sacrifice.  However, if all of this hasn’t put you off help is at hand – some of this can be explored through the following links:

• Career Services Rapuara information on Entrepreneur
• Massey’s Bachelor of Business Studies (Enterprise Development) programme
• The e-centre – The business incubator at Massey University’s Albany campus
• Business Information Service
• Business New Zealand
• NZ Chambers of Commerce
• Inventors’ Trust
• Poutama Trust

Our information evenings offer an opportunity for prospective students, parents and teachers to meet with academic staff.  They offer the chance to explore study options and career pathways.

Use this link to access the schedule of Information Evenings on our Albany (Auckland) campus for May 2009:

• Albany campus

Massey University’s College of Business and Career Services together with Manawatu Chamber of Commerce and Vision Manawatu have developed the following paper:

Internship in Business – 115.377 – 15 credits, Semester 2, 2009

Are you a Massey University College of Business student who is interested in applying in ‘the real world’ the skills and knowledge you’ve developed over the last three years?  If your answer is yes, then this is the paper for you.

All internally assessed, it provides you with the opportunity to work on a business-related project with one of our participating local businesses.  This paper will be an excellent transition from university to work and will enable you to link theory with practice.

Currently, we have projects with the following businesses:

Only limited places are available.  If you are interested please contact either:

•  Sarah Leberman on 06 356 9099 ext 2785 or via S.I.Leberman@massey.ac.nz
• Annemarie Gillies on 06 356 9099 ext 2810 or via A.M.Gillies@massey.ac.nz

You should submit your CV and a reason why you want to do this paper by:

 Monday 18^th May 2009