Advice for Selecting Your Options

How to Select Your Options

In selecting your options, it’s a good idea to start with yourself. Think about which subjects you most enjoy, or do well in. These are your strengths and it is a good idea to build on your existing strengths.

Next, consider your pathways beyond school. Think about the career possibilities that may follow from your option selections. List all your ideas on job areas you might want to go into, then do some research. Look into what you may need to study to go into a particular career. The ‘Job Profile’ section on the Careers New Zealand website will give you information on job opportunities and pay scales.

Now see if your strengths line up with your career possibilities.

In an ideal world, your career planning should be a clear pathway between your strengths, your course choices and the career you wish to pursue. In practice, it may not be a straight pathway and may involve change and compromise as you adapt to a fast moving job market. Your own values and dreams will also shape your future pathways.

Whatever you do, you want to build as much skill and academic capability as you can while you are at school.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Choosing a subject because your friend enjoys it and thinks you should study it too.

Mistake 2: Selecting a dream career that requires courses or skills you really struggle with.

Mistake 3: Not knowing the difference between Level One and Level Two literacy.

Mistake 4: Thinking you only need University Entrance if you are going to University. Many Polytechnic courses require University Entrance.

If you are considering University study you should check out the University websites. They often recommend you study certain school courses for their degree programmes.

Here are some links you might find useful:

• Victoria University - Planning Ahead
• University of Otago - Entrance Requirements
• University of Auckland - Subject guide for school students
• Massey University - Admission to undergraduate study

Option Choices and Career Implications

Two essentials for whatever options you choose.

1. Get the best grades you can in whatever you study.
2. Be informed about requirements for careers.

Some questions to ask yourself when selecting your options:

• What subjects interest me?
• What skills am I wishing to develop?
• What subjects do I get my best marks in?
• What courses can I go on to study later if I choose this subjects?
• What courses will I not be able to study later if I choose this subject?
• What careers or training courses interest me?
• What are the entry requirements for these careers or subjects?

What does the future hold in terms of career opportunities?

• Answering this question involves an element of crystal ball gazing; however here are some trends you may wish to consider.

On average adults make six to eight major occupational changes during their working life.

It may not be so useful to consider a career as a long-term occupation, but rather consider it to be skills that you have which can be adapted to fit a changing work scene.

For any job, a sense of responsibility, a moral and ethical knowledge and a respect for self and others (areas focused on in our Religious Education programme) are vital.