Guides / Career advice
Career advice for NZ teens and school leavers: where to start
Not having a career plan at 16 or 17 is normal. Good career advice doesn't tell you what to be. It helps you make the next decision in front of you, with real information – and leaves you with one step you can take this week. Here's how to get that in New Zealand, most of it free.
The decisions you're probably facing
“Which subjects should I take?”
Pick subjects you're OK at and don't hate, and keep a few doors open. If there's a job you're curious about, look up its entry requirements on Tahatū – many trades, for example, ask for NCEA Level 2 for the training. Your careers adviser knows which subjects lead where at your school.
“Work, an apprenticeship, study or a gap year?”
All four are real options. Compare them in what to do after high school. Weighing a trade against a degree? Read is university worth it in NZ? and how apprenticeships work.
“I've got no idea what I want to do.”
Start with what you've already done and what gives you energy – not with job titles. Then read “I don't know what to do with my life.” Start here.
“I need a job now.”
A part-time or first job is a smart move: you earn, and you find out what you like. See how to get your first job, then write a CV with no work experience and a short cover letter.
“Will AI change the job I want?”
Probably some parts of it. Instead of hunting for a job that's safe forever, look at which tasks are likely to change. Our guide to jobs AI can't replace shows how to check any job.
“Is it too late to change direction?”
No. Plenty of people change direction, at every age. Apprenticeships, for example, have no upper age limit (Tahatū).
Questions to ask about any job you're considering
Check these on Tahatū and with someone who does the job:
- What does a normal day look like – inside or outside, with people or on your own?
- How do you get in: an apprenticeship, a course, a degree, or straight into work?
- How long does the training take, and what does it cost? Can you earn while you learn?
- What does it pay when you start, and after a few years?
- Where are the jobs – near you, or would you need to move?
- How might AI and new tools change the tasks?
Can't answer one of them yet? That's your next step: find out.
Who to talk to: free career advice and guidance in NZ
1. Your school's careers adviser
Many secondary schools have a careers adviser – sometimes called a careers counsellor – to help students plan their next steps after school (Tahatū). They're at the centre of careers education at school: they know your subjects, and they can tell you whether your school offers Gateway or a trades academy, where you can try a trade while you study for NCEA (Tahatū). Book early in the year – the weeks before applications close get busy.
2. Tahatū, the government's careers website
Tahatū is free and covers more than 800 career ideas and more than 4,000 qualifications and courses: what the jobs involve, what they pay and how to get in. It also has an Interest quiz. The old careers.govt.nz site now redirects there. Use it to check any job someone suggests to you.
3. The free Direct Career Service
The Ministry of Social Development runs the Direct Career Service: free one-on-one help from career experts. It's for New Zealand residents aged 17 or older, and for 16-year-olds who aren't in school, training or work. They help with career planning, your skills and job applications. You can meet in person at a Work and Income site, by phone or online, so it works wherever you live.
To book: call 0800 222 733 or email direct_careers@msd.govt.nz.
4. Youth Service, if you're 16 or 17 and not in school or work
Youth Service providers help 16- and 17-year-olds who aren't in education, employment or training to get into study, training or work-based learning; some 15-year-olds can join too (Work and Income). Find your nearest provider at youthservice.govt.nz.
5. Careers teams at universities, polytechnics and training providers
Once you're studying, your provider usually has a careers or employability centre with advisers you can talk to (Tahatū).
6. People who actually do the job – and people who know you
Some of the best career advice is free: 20 minutes with someone who does the job you're curious about. Ask family, coaches, neighbours and teachers who they know. One honest answer to “What does a normal Tuesday look like?” beats hours of reading. People who know you well can also help you spot your skills, check an application or introduce you to someone in the industry.
How to get the most out of a careers conversation
Before you go, jot down three things: what you've done (jobs, sport, projects, looking after family), what you enjoy and why, and your no-gos. Then take a few questions:
- Which jobs use what I'm good at – including ones I've never heard of?
- Which subjects keep my options open?
- Who could I talk to who does this job?
- What's the cheapest, quickest way to try it – a day of work experience, Gateway, a short course?
- Are there apprenticeships, scholarships or earn-while-you-learn options for this path?
Afterwards, pick one next step and do it within a week. Advice only works if something happens.
Private career coaches: what they cost
Private career coaches and counsellors charge for their time, and prices vary a lot. Two examples from New Zealand providers in October 2026:
- A package for high school students – an online questionnaire, a 90-minute coaching session and a written report: $547 + GST (Career Matters).
- Four coaching sessions for graduates and young adults: $460 + GST, extra sessions $120 + GST an hour (Evolve Careers).
Before you book, ask: Do you work with teenagers? Can a parent join? What's included, and what happens after the session? The Career Development Association of New Zealand (CDANZ) is the professional body for career practitioners and lists its members.
Careers adviser, career counsellor or career coach?
In New Zealand the names overlap, and people use them loosely:
- Careers adviser or careers counsellor – usually the person at school, uni or a public service who helps you understand your options and plan your next step.
- Career coach – usually private and paid, often a series of sessions focused on goals, applications and confidence.
- Counselling for how you're feeling is something different. If things feel heavy, free call or text 1737 any time to talk to a trained counsellor.
Online career advice and AI career coaches
You don't have to sit in an office to get good career advice. The Direct Career Service works by phone and online, and many private coaches meet on Zoom.
AI career coaches are newer. Week by Week is one, built for NZ students. You type or talk to the AI coach about what you've done – school, sport, jobs, the things you're good at. Your wins turn into skills, you see career paths that fit and any current job ads near you and an AI estimate of how well you match each one, and you choose one small step each week. You join through your school with a school code and a nickname, and it's free for students when their school uses it. AI can be wrong, though: check pay and entry requirements on Tahatū, and talk to real people before big decisions.
What good career advice for a young person sounds like
- It starts with you, not with a list of job titles.
- It gives you a few options, not one “right answer”.
- It's honest about pay, study costs, entry requirements and how AI is changing work.
- It ends with a next step you can actually take this week.
- It's OK with you changing your mind. Most people do.
Parents and caregivers are often the first careers advisers a teen has. If that's you, read how to help your teen find their direction. Work in a school careers team? See how Week by Week fits into careers education.
Questions
Where can I get free career advice in NZ?
Start with your school's careers adviser. Outside school, the Direct Career Service from the Ministry of Social Development gives free one-on-one advice from career experts to NZ residents aged 17 or older, and to 16-year-olds who aren't in school, training or work – call 0800 222 733 or email direct_careers@msd.govt.nz. Tahatū, the government's careers website, is free online.
Is there a free careers adviser I can call?
Yes. The Direct Career Service offers free career advice by phone, online or in person at a Work and Income site. Call 0800 222 733 to request an appointment. It's for NZ residents aged 17 or older, and for 16-year-olds who aren't in school, training or work.
What does a careers adviser do?
A careers adviser helps you work out what you're good at and what you enjoy, explains your options – work, apprenticeships, study, training – and helps you plan the next step. School careers advisers can also tell you about subjects, scholarships, Gateway and trades academies.
What is careers education at school?
It's the help your school gives you to plan what's next – from your careers adviser to programmes like Gateway and trades academies, where you can try a trade while you study for NCEA. What's on offer differs between schools, so ask at yours.
How much does a career coach cost in NZ?
Prices vary a lot. As examples from NZ providers in October 2026: a package for high school students with a questionnaire, a 90-minute coaching session and a written report costs $547 + GST, and four sessions for young adults cost $460 + GST, with extra sessions at $120 + GST an hour. Always ask what's included before you book.
Can I get career counselling online?
Yes. The Direct Career Service works by phone and online, many private career coaches meet on Zoom, and if your school uses Week by Week, its AI coach is there between conversations. What matters is that you leave with a clear next step.
Does Week by Week replace my school careers adviser?
No. Week by Week is an AI career coach that keeps you moving between conversations – one small step each week. Your careers adviser knows your school, your subjects and local opportunities. The two work best together.
Want a plan that's actually about you? Week by Week is an AI coach for NZ students: your wins turn into skills, you see career paths that fit and any current job ads near you, and you take one small step a week. It's free for students when their school uses it. No school code yet? Ask your school – it can try Week by Week free with 5 students for a month.
Sources
- Tahatū, Get help to make a career decision (checked 3 October 2026)
- Tahatū Career Navigator (checked 3 October 2026)
- Tahatū, About apprenticeships (checked 3 October 2026)
- Tahatū, Combine school with work or training (checked 3 October 2026)
- Work and Income, Direct Career Service (page updated 30 July 2026, checked 3 October 2026)
- Work and Income, Youth Service (checked 3 October 2026)
- Youth Service, find a provider
- Career Matters, Career Explorer Package (price, checked 3 October 2026)
- Evolve Careers, coaching packages (price, checked 3 October 2026)
- Career Development Association of New Zealand (CDANZ)