How often do we consider the path we took that took us to where we are today – all the twists, turns, blocks, bumps, reversals, and pivots? 

What was modelled to you, and what were you exposed to that moulded your career? Was it your family, a teacher at school, or the careers person that met you for 5 minutes?

Perhaps they recommended a course you didn’t feel passionate about, or even misguidedly told you that you wouldn’t be able to do the one thing you had your heart set on? 

As we wander into 2023, as much as we might try to avoid New Year resolutions, it’s hard not to reflect. What would or could we have done differently over the last year or even years? How do those hypothetical scenarios play out in our imaginations?

Research tells us that we spend on average a third of our lives at work. So, with that in mind, are you truly happy with where you are today, and, more to the point, do you really want to keep doing what you are doing?

The good news is it is NEVER too late to change things up, get excited and learn. 

There’s even free help from the Government too!! Funding up to $12,000 is available if you fit the criteria. This can be for one year of study or two years of training through a tertiary education organisation. 

A big question to ask yourself is what it is that you want.

An amazing salary is of course a motivating factor, but what if you didn’t have to worry about money and could have just pure job satisfaction? What would you be doing? How would it feel, and what would that look like? Remember the pithy motivational ‘Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life’ quote!

Perhaps it is time to get serious with yourself and be your own life coach. 

Ask others questions about their job satisfaction and career dreams. Their answers could shine a light on some interesting themes as well as spark some thought-provoking conversations.  

At EASI NZ we are always happy to chat with you about what options might be out there, especially about apprenticeships that are a great way to learn while not accruing the dreaded student loan.

Many young people are getting ready to head off into tertiary education this time of year, feeling the pressure to forge ahead (but also sometimes floundering) to be ‘successful’.

Consider offering them your valuable lived experiences and stories. 

You could also think about joining them as you take a new turn on your own learning pathway or career change.

Whatever 2023 brings, the team at EASI NZ hope that it’s a happy and healthy one! Also, you could always take up Bee Keeping – there’s a funded course for that!