Just The Job: Season five episode ten
This week, it's the final show in this series of Just the Job and features the 150th career to be profiled throughout all five series. And with a whole lot more careers still to feature in the next series, it just goes to show that there are plenty of opportunities throughout New Zealand to find a job you love. This week is no different with three varied and rewarding careers to check out.
Civil Engineering Lab Technician
If you like science, maths and dirt, then this could be the job for you! Charles from Mangere College finds out how these attributes are part of the role of a civil engineering lab technician.
First up, he meets Curwin Boltman at the Fulton Hogan Auckland Laboratory and is off to observe a 'softening point' test - or a test that indicates at what temperature bitumen on a road will soften. It's a crucial test because the consequences could be disastrous and expensive if a road is not made to last. Charles finds out quality control in lab testing is an important aspect of establishing how the materials will perform on site.
It's not just road materials civil engineering lab technicians could be testing. Part of the role involves testing foundations which will have roads or structures built on them. So soil tests must be completed in the lab then the results supplied to the engineers who will then be able to ensure the level of compacting to support the structure is appropriate. It is again the job of the civil engineering lab technician to get out in the field and check the soil density and moisture following compaction. Charles tries his hand at completing this test.
So with opportunities for both lab testing and on site testing, Charles discovers civil engineering lab technicians enjoy lots of variety and some seriously interesting investigations.
Painting and Decorating
Ashleigh from Newlands College in Wellington has her work cut out for her when she goes on the job finding out about a career as a painter and decorator. Her first introduction to this industry is with Caroline Robinson, who has created a niche business with an all women team known as 'Women in White.'
Once ready with her overalls, hat and boots, Ashleigh is put straight to work with the sander and finds out from Caroline preparation is 70 per cent the job. From sander to wallpapering, Ashleigh meets apprentice Clare who shows her some of the finer points of this aspect of the business. For Clare, this is the ideal occupation because she enjoys working with colour and design and wanted a career where she could be hands on.
Dealing mainly in the residential market, Caroline explains while achieving great results is one thing, there is plenty of client contact required so developing good client relationships is also part of the job.
Next Ashleigh is off to find out about commercial painting and decorating from Hayden Nightingale who works for Paul Reddish Decorating Ltd. Hayden loves the fact as he drives around Wellington, he recognises buildings that he's had a hand in painting. He takes Ashleigh off to a new building still being completed and on the 12th floor, introduces her to a more industrial size sanding and vacuum machine used to prepare an interior wall for painting. Next she's on the roller as Hayden sprays paint onto the wall. Together it will take them just 10 minutes to finish an interior wall.
At the end of her experience, Ashleigh has goes away with some valuable new skills.
Secondary School Teacher
Daniel from Onslow College is along to check out the 150th career profiled on Just the Job when he spends a day on the other side of the classroom situation learning the ropes of a secondary school teacher.
Joining science and biology teacher Matthew Easterbrook at Wellington High School, Daniel is quickly into the classroom and observing the first of five classes for the day, a year nine science class. He needs to watch carefully because the next class, he's going to be the teacher!
Matthew explains the role of a secondary school teacher has changed over the years from being teacher dominated to allowing students to learn in the way that works best for them. If the teacher is passionate about the subject, this will engage students and they'll enjoy it too, he says.
Following a year 13 biology class, Daniel joins a year 11 physics class where forces are being investigated. To demonstrate how powerful different forces can be, a tug of war experiment is set up between the students with an interesting result.
It's all part of a day in the life of a secondary school teacher and leaves Daniel with a much better appreciation of his own teachers back at Onslow College.
If any of the careers featuring on Just the Job look like something you might be interested in, check out the Career Services website at www.careers.govt.nz and watch the programme for more information on how to get the career you want.
