NCEA Results a Time for Career Conversations

NCEA Results a Time for Career Conversations And Future Planning

About 170,000 students will be anxiously awaiting today’s online release of NCEA results.

The results will be particularly important for school leavers, and Careers New Zealand says this can be an emotional and confronting time for teens.

“Results can be a mixed bag,” says Pat Cody, Principal Advisor, Career Knowledge Hub, Careers New Zealand. “For many students, results will confirm study or career pathways, but some will receive results that may be disappointing or unexpected.”

“Exams can be a difficult time so when students do badly, it can frighten them from trying again next time. That’s when they need the support of parents and caregivers to help them make the right decisions about their career and future.”

Mr Cody says it’s important to challenge your child and ask questions about their performance. A good technique is going through the exam paper together – this not only provides the chance to improve, it also allows them to see where they went wrong and learn from their mistakes.

“If parents and caregivers can show support and help teens understand their performance, they might be able to help them bounce back better than they would on their own.

“Results can be particularly daunting for school leavers who can feel their future hinges on their marks. The reality is that there are always options and it’s important for leavers to have a Plan B, or even a Plan C.

“There’s often more than one path to a desired career so it’s helpful for students to research alternative routes to achieve their goals.”

Sometimes a similar or related course could be cross-credited further down the track, and school leavers can also gain work experience to find out more about working in their chosen field.

“It’s important to remember that a career is not the job a person does, it’s also about developing skills that are transferable across industries – it’s a journey through learning, paid and unpaid work and other aspects of their life,” says Mr Cody.

For advice on creating your Plan B visit www.careers.govt.nz or phone 0800 222 733.

ENDS

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