Finding a career path through career expos

It wasn’t until the third year that Andrew Bassett started to take the idea of finding a career after university seriously.

“Like many students, I didn’t want to think about the ‘after university’ conversation,” he jokes.

Although Andrew had had a few conversations with tutors and lecturers about jobs in the field of marine science, he hadn’t found a clear direction.

When his friends suggested going to a couple of career expos, he was unsure about the idea of fronting up to a whole lot of employers, but in the end tagged along with his mates.

“I felt very nervous at the idea of walking around and talking to people, but I found going with friends really helped. It took the pressure off because the focus wasn’t just on me. It was easier to relax being part of a group asking questions, and I ended up asking my own anyway,” says Andrew.

At the expos, Andrew was impressed with the variety of companies and breadth of roles in the science sector. Graduate programmes were his focus, but when chatting to organisations, he found many had cut back their graduate programmes and internships. Then during the second science career expo, Andrew stumbled across the Conservation Volunteers NZ stand.

“Chatting with them made me start to think about the kind of company I would actually want to work for. It was something I hadn’t given much thought to before.”

His interest was further piqued when a friend told him she’d worked part time for CVNZ and recommended the organisation.

“I’d been feeling a bit anxious about future work possibilities, but this changed my perspective, and I started to feel more excited about the next year,” says Andrew.

Landing a full-time role at CVNZ

A little later, a CVNZ job listing for an engagement officer popped up, and Andrew immediately applied. His capstone project had been on science communication – which fitted well with the advertised role of volunteer engagement officer.

His experience at the career expo turned out to be an asset in the application process.

"Because I had already spoken to CVNZ at the expo, I knew about their projects that weren’t mentioned on the website. This gave me an edge during the interview, as I could speak confidently about their work," says Andrew.

Working for a charity offers a great diversity of experience, says Andrew.

“The breadth of opportunity is amazing. In any one day I can be doing everything from communications and logistics to funding applications and fieldwork. The role allows him to use his skills in scientific communication, which he finds challenging and rewarding. “So, I’m getting a lot of opportunities to test my strengths and stretch myself. That’s the advantage of being in a smaller organisation,” he points out.

Working out what matters

CVNZ also fits Andrew’s passions for animals, nature and science communication.

"I love working in the conservation space and encouraging people to volunteer and contribute to preserving our country’s unique wildlife," he says.

Andrew’s original reason for studying marine science was to become a global science documentary maker. As a school leaver, he did a video editing diploma before pursuing marine science. But during his studies, his focus shifted as he became increasingly fascinated by New Zealand’s endangered species, such as the skink and other native creatures.

"They may not be as exotic as some overseas endangered species, but they’re still fascinating and in need of support," he notes.

Helping people understand the significance of conservation is something that Andrew is particularly passionate about.

“I like to engage with normal people, with people who don't necessarily have a science background and getting them onside for the cause. Finding champions for conservation is crucial to the success of any project."

Career advice for students

• Get to know your classmates:
  "You learn a lot from each other, and you never know where connections or ideas for future careers might come from."
• Do auxiliary courses:
  "One of my classmates got her skipper’s license, which ended up being a requirement for a Department of Conservation (DOC) ranger job. It’s important to do extra courses that make you more employable."
• Don’t stay in your narrow little lane:
  “Listen to what your classmates are doing and explore different job opportunities. The connections and insights you gain are invaluable."
• Be collaborative and inclusive: “By connecting with others, you open up to a world of opportunities.”

Find out more about career expos and volunteering

Sign up to Elab Online where you’ll be able to register for all Employability and Careers career expos, events, workshops and volunteering opportunities.