31 May 2021

Careers expert Caroline Sandford

From Afternoons, 2:38 pm on 31 May 2021

Careers expert Caroline Sandford believes we need to reframe the word 'career' to mean something more like 'life experience'.

"We're actually always 'in our career'. We take ourselves with us. Every experience we've had, whether that's study, volunteer work, being a parent. They're all valuable experiences that add to us."

blonde woman on laptop

Photo: Unsplash

Caroline works with people who don't know what they want to do next workwise - usually, they're still in high school, unhappy in their job or have lost their job.

When it comes time to take any kind of step along your career path, creativity and self-knowledge will be your friends, Caroline says. Ask yourself:

  • What's important to you?
  • What are your values?
  • What kind of environment do you need to be in and what kind of people do you need to be around to thrive?

School-leavers will do well to expose themselves to as many different environments and workplaces as possible - especially within an industry they may be interested in. Chat to people as a kind of 'informal interviewing' rather than presenting yourself as a job-seeker.

If you haven't heard back about a job application, don't be afraid of being a squeaky wheel, Caroline says.

'Sometimes you can call just as someone is just beginning to look through CVs. They might give yours an extra look."

If you've been made redundant, which Caroline has, you'll likely travel a hard road through shock, anger, guilt and apathy but you will get to the other side. Then it will be time to again ask yourself 'what is it that I really want to do?'"

All job-seekers should keep their eyes open beyond what gets advertised on Seek and TradeMe, Caroline says.

"Go out there and talk to people build your connections, get your LinkedIn profile up, make sure your CV is marketing you in the best possible way."

To find a career advisor, visit the Career Development Association of NZ (CDANZ) website

Caroline Sandford is a certified career specialist with a Masters degree in Industrial Psychology and a Graduate Certificate in Career Development. She is also the executive director of Love Your Career.