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Job Knowledge

Introduction

Jobs can generally be divided into a variety of general interest areas. The following list shows you the main areas.

How do you feel about these areas?
Are there any that stand out as being possible interest areas for you?

Interest Areas

Artistic

Careers involving creative work with your hands or those which require an interest in or appreciation of art.

Administrative/Clerical/Financial

Careers which are office based, often requiring accuracy, precision and the ability to manage staff.

Computational/Mathematical

Careers involving calculators and other use of numbers and formulae.

Literary - Information/Analytical

Careers requiring reading and writing, also those involved with the production, selling and use of printed and electronic publications.

Mechanical

Careers involving mechanical parts or the use of machines and tools.

Musical

Careers in this area involve playing an instrument, singing, recording, reading about and promoting music and musicians.

Outdoor - Agricultural/ Horticultural/ Environmental

Careers which keep you outside most of the time, and often involve work with animals or plants.

Persuasive

Careers which involve meeting and dealing with people, or working with the media to promote projects or to sell products or services.

Scientific/Research

Careers which involve solving scientific problems and discovering new facts. Sometimes health or product related.

Social Service

Careers which involve helping people manage personal difficulties, problems or crises in their personal lives. This category also includes careers which indirectly help people.

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Specific Jobs

Now look at the jobs which can be included in the various interest areas. (Some may appear in more than one list). Make a note of any jobs that take your interest. If you don't know the duties involved in a particular job, make a note to find out about it. You could avoid missing a potential opportunity.

a) Artistic
b) Administrative/Clerical/Financial
c) Computational/Mathematical
d) Literary - Information/Analytical
e) Mechanical
f) Musical
g) Outdoor - Agricultural/ Horticultural/ Environmental
h) Persuasive
i) Scientific/Research
j) Social Service

a) Artistic

Actor/Entertainer	Industrial Designer
Advertising Manager	Interior Designer
Architect	Jeweller
Art Editor	Landscape Architect
Art Historian	Lighting Technician
Art Teacher	Musical Instrument Maker
Boat Builder/Designer	Occupational Therapist
Choreographer	Photographer
Clothing/Textile Designer	Production Assistant
Curator	Radio Announcer/ Producer
Dancer/Dance Teacher	Screen Printer
Dentist	Signwriter
Desktop Publisher	Stage Designer
Exhibition Designer	Teacher
Film Animator	Television Designer
Film Producer	Theatre Director
Food Writer	Town Planner
Furniture Designer	TV Presenter/ Producer
Graphic Designer	Web Designer
Home Economics Teacher

Back to Specific Jobs

b) Administrative/Clerical/ Financial

Accountant	Investment Consultant
Activities Co-ordinator	Land Registrar
Actuary	Lawyer
Advisory Officer	Liaison Officer
Agricultural Economist	Librarian
Agronomist	Management Consultant
Architect	Market Research Officer
Archivist	Marketing Representative
Auditor	Personnel Officer
Biologist	Probation Officer
Building Inspector	Psychologist
Computer Programmer	Public Relations Officer
Database Administrator	Quality Controller
Diplomat	Quantity Surveyor
Doctor	Research Officer
Economist	Rural Valuer
Editorial Assistant	Social Worker
Engineer	Staff Development Officer
Financial Adviser	Statistician
Geologist	Systems Administrator
Guidance Counsellor	Systems Analyst
Health Inspector	Teacher
Health Service Administrator	Town Planner/Clerk
Human Resources Adviser	Trainer
Information Officer	Underwriter
Insurance Assessor	Urban Valuer

Back to Specific Jobs

c) Computational/ Mathematical

Accountant	Investment Administrator
Actuary	Land Surveyor
Agronomist	Landscape Architect
Air Traffic Controller	Market Research Officer
Aircraft Surveyor	Marketing Manager
Architect	Mathematics Teacher
Auditor	Meteorologist
Bank Officer	Operations Research/ Work Study & Methods
Biostatistician	Physicist
Cartographer	Psychologist
Civil Engineer	Quantity Surveyor
Development Engineer	Rural Valuer
Economist	Sharebroker/ Dealer
Electronics Engineer	Statistician
Engineer Scientist	Systems Analyst
Estates Administrator	Town Clerk
Farm Consultant	Urban Valuer
Financial Analyst/Adviser	Water and Soil Scientist
Financial Secretary

Back to Specific Jobs

d) Literary/Information/Analytical

Advisory Officer	Legal Researcher
Announcer	Librarian/Library Assistant
Archaeologist	Linguist
Architect	Market Research Analyst
Archivist	Minister of Religion
Author	Policy Analyst/Adviser
Copywriter	Press Secretary
Curator	Probation Officer
Desktop Publisher	Psychologist
Diplomat	Public Relations Officer
Economist	Publicity Secretary
Editor	Publisher
Education Officer	Research Officer
Farm Economist	School Teacher
Forest Manager	Second Language Teacher
Geologist	Social Science Researcher
Guidance Counsellor	Social Worker
Historian	Technical Writer
Human Resources Officer	Television Script Editor
Information Officer	Town Planner
Intelligence Officer	Translator/Interpreter
Journalist	University Lecturer
Lawyer

Back to Specific Jobs

e) Mechanical

Aeronautical Engineer	Heating and Ventilating Engineer
Agricultural Engineer	Hydraulic Engineer
Airline Pilot	Hydrographic Surveyor
Architectural Draughtsperson	Hydrologist
Audiologist	Landscape Architect
Cardiologist	Marine Engineer
Cartographer	Mechanical Engineer
Ceramics Technologist	Metallurgist
Chemical Engineer	Meteorologist
Civil Engineer	Mines Surveyor
Communications Engineer	Mining Engineer
Computer Service Technician/Engineer	Optician
Computer Software Developer	Patent Examiner
Dentist	Quantity Surveyor
Electrical Engineer	Radiologist
Electronics Engineer	Refrigeration Engineer
Engineering Lecturer	Roading Engineer
Flying Instructor	Seismologist
Food Technologist	Systems Engineer
Geologist	Traffic Engineer
Geophysicist

Back to Specific Jobs

f) Musical

Actor/Entertainer	Orchestral Performer
Conductor	Private Music Teacher
Film Producer	Professional Musician
Music Arranger/ Composer	Radio Announcer
Music Critic	Recording Engineer
Music Journalist	Secondary Music Teacher
Music Lecturer	Sound Operator/Engineer
Music Librarian	Stage Manager
Music Publisher	TV Producer

Back to Specific Jobs

g) Outdoors

Aeronautical Engineer	Mining Engineer
Agricultural Adviser	Nature Conservationist
Agricultural Engineer	Oceanographer
Anthropologist	Physical Education Teacher
Archaeologist	Plant Ecologist
Biologist	Quarantine Officer
Botanist	Recreation Administrator
Environmental Analyst	Resource Planner
Food Technologist	Rural Valuer
Forest Scientist	Soil Conservator
Geologist	Sports Coach
Geophysicist	Surveyor
Horticultural Researcher	Tourist Guide
Hydrographic Surveyor	Traffic Examiner
Landscape Architect	Veterinary Scientist
Mechanical Engineer	Zoo Keeper
Meteorologist	Zoologist

Back to Specific Jobs

h) Persuasive

Advertising Manager	Media Officer
Agricultural Adviser	Policy Adviser
Architect	Prison Officer
Customer Services Officer	Probation Officer
Dentist	Production Engineer
Dietitian	Programme Production (Broadcasting)
Diplomat	Property Manager
Disability Education Officer	Psychiatrist
Doctor	Psychologist
Drama Teacher	Public Relations Officer
EEO Practitioner	Real Estate Consultant
Farm Consultant	Retail/Sales Manager
Fundraising Officer	Sales Representative
Health Promoter	Security Officer
Human Resources Manager	Social Worker
Industrial Relations Officer	Statistician
Information Officer	Teacher
Insurance Representative	Telemarketer
Investigating Officer	Town Planner
Journalist	Trade Commissioner
Labour Relations Negotiator	Training Officer
Lawyer/Barrister/ Solicitor	Union Organiser
Management Consultant	University Lecturer
Marketing Officer

Back to Specific Jobs

i) Scientific/ Research

Agricultural Economist	Hydrologist
Agricultural Engineer	Industrial Chemist
Agronomist	Land Surveyor
Anaesthetist	Landscape Designer
Architect	Mechanical Engineer
Astronomer	Medical Laboratory Technologist
Bacteriologist	Metallurgist
Biochemist	Meteorologist
Biologist	Microbiologist
Biotechnologist	Mines Surveyor
Botanist	Nature Conservationist
Chemical Engineer	Nutritionist
Chiropractor	Optometrist
Civil Engineer	Patent Examiner
Conservator	Pathologist
Dental Surgeon	Pharmacist
Doctor	Physicist
Ecologist	Pollution Consultant
Electrical Engineer	Psychiatrist
Environmental Engineer	Quantity Surveyor
Epidemiologist	Radiologist
Farm Adviser	Research Officer/ Technician
Fire Prevention Officer	Roading Engineer
Food Technologist	Science Teacher
Forest Scientist	Scientific Editor/ Journalist
Geneticist	Seismologist
Geographer	Structural Engineer
Geologist	Textile Researcher
Health Services Administrator	Veterinarian
Horticulturalist	Water and Soil Engineer
Hydrographic Surveyor	Zoologist

Back to Specific Jobs

j) Social Service

Actuary	Minister of Religion
Auditor	Nanny
Careers Consultant	Nurse
Chiropractor	Nutritionist
Criminologist	Ombudsman
Dentist	Personnel Manager
Dietitian	Pharmacist
Doctor	Physiotherapist
Early Childhood Teacher	Police Officer
Ecologist	Press Officer
Economist	Probation Officer
Education Officer	Psychiatrist
Employment Adviser	Psychologist
Environmental Officer	Recreation Planner
Events Manager	Rural Valuer
Funeral Director	Secondary Teacher
Guidance Counsellor	Sociologist
Gynaecologist	Speech Therapist
Horticultural Adviser	Sports Coach
Hotel Management	Town Planner
Immigration Consultant	Travel Consultant
Interpreter	Urban Valuer
Journalist	Veterinarian
Labour Relations Negotiator	Volunteer Co-ordinator
Lawyer	Welfare Officer
Librarian	Youth Worker

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What next?

The next step is to spend some time in your careers library. The Vic Careers Resource Library is located on the ground level at 14 Kelburn Parade.

Start off by browsing through the general occupational literature. Then access the computer-assisted careers information programmes. This will give you a better idea of the duties that make up specific jobs.

If you have made a note of jobs from the main list, read up as much as possible about them. Think back to the lists you made about yourself, and think about the type of satisfactions that each job may give. Think also about the personal qualities necessary to enjoy the job and perform it well.

Career Development and Employment keeps comprehensive files on a wide range of employers. Read up about the different firms, see the type of activities they are involved in and check out some sample job descriptions.

Most employers are happy to talk with you to give you further information about their operations. It is a great way to get first-hand job information and lets you get the feel of a variety of work environments. Just ring the employer (Vic Careers has some contact names) and arrange to go along to see them. You don't have to be asking about specific vacancies; it can be a purely informational visit. (Read Career Essentials: Looking for Work). The majority of employers will be helpful if you are prepared to go along at a time that is convenient to them.

When visiting employers, take a copy of your curriculum vitae with you, if you are looking for work. Whether there are vacancies or not, it is something you can leave with the employer and tells them something about you. Many people find jobs this way. If an employer is impressed by your initiative it is more likely that they will contact you later.

To look totally professional, you may want to get a folder to carry your curriculum vitae, references, exam results and any certificates you may have for other activities. This helps you to appear organised and gives you something to refer to if necessary.

Employers are people.
Don't be apprehensive about approaching them!

Vic Careers can help you to get in touch with employers who will be supportive and co-operative. Try to timetable a couple of hours each week for employer visits when you get to this stage.

If you followed through the suggestions given, you should now be making some headway. Hopefully, you will have looked at a variety of job possibilities and have found out a lot of information to help in making some decisions. This is a good time to talk with a career consultant if you have not already done so. It isn't easy to clarify your ideas alone and the knowledge you have already gained will help considerably.

Exploring career possibilities and researching occupations is one of the best investments of time that you can make. The decisions you make now will probably influence your future for a number of years.

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Other resources available in the Careers Resource Library are:

Careers/Occupational Literature.
'Career View' leaflets looks at how degrees and courses relate to employment opportunities.
Computer-assisted career/course information programmes: Future Selves, CareerQuest Database, KiwiCareers.
Employer Profiles.
Directories and listings from Professional Bodies, Institutes, Associations eg. Government Sector Directory, Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce Directory of Members.
Information on courses and training guides.
Reference books on career planning, CV writing and interview techniques.
Job Vacancies noticeboard

Job Knowledge

On this page:

Introduction

Interest Areas

Artistic

Administrative/Clerical/Financial

Computational/Mathematical

Literary - Information/Analytical

Mechanical

Musical

Outdoor - Agricultural/ Horticultural/ Environmental

Persuasive

Scientific/Research

Social Service

Specific Jobs

What next?

Other resources available in the Careers Resource Library are: