I’ll start by saying that one of my New Year resolutions is to add more posts here than I did in 2009.

As a start, here’s a useful link for you if you’re a student or graduate looking for work in New Zealand or Australia.  It takes you to the web site for a Virtual Careers Fair that will run on-line for three days from 29-31 March. You can preview the event 22-28 March, plan your visits, and register for scheduled chats.

During the event participating employers appear in expo halls by discipline making it easy to find them and you can engage with them one-on-one; attend employer presentations and group chats; access and download material and subscribe to employer newsletters.

You’ll have to register but the event is free to you.  Register at http://www.vcf.graduatecareers.com.au/

Furthermore, remember that we’re coming in to career expos and fairs season.  If you’re a Massey University student or graduate you can find out about the events we’re organising by going to http://careerhub.massey.ac.nz

If you are a Massey University student (on campus or extramural), or are thinking of becoming one, and are based in Palmerston North or Wellington these events are for you.

Staying on Track is your opportunity to have one to one time with a range of Massey University staff. Senior administrative college staff, student liaison advisors and careers consultants will be on hand. 

Come along for assistance in:

•  planning your study;
• exploring the career opportunities with your degree;
• your selection of papers;
• confirming that you are on track to complete your qualification;
• clarifying degree or major regulations;
• exploring possible postgraduate study options; and
• any other queries you may have (if we don’ t have the answers, we will take responsibility for finding out for you).

The dates are given below, no need to book – just pop in at any time during the hours listed below.  (Full addresses and links to maps are given on the Massey career service website – http://careers.massey.ac.nz).

Staying on Track schedule: 3.00pm – 8.00pm at all venues listed below:                                                                         

• Tue 17 Nov – Massey Palmerston North. Level 2, Registry Building. Turitea Campus.
• Wed 18 Nov – Student Common Room, Massey Wellington, Level 1 of the Student Centre, Massey Wellington Campus.          

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

 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

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

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.

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.

• 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.

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

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