The virtual reality expo attendees were able to test what it would be like doing certain jobs through the headsets. Photo: Supplied
In a room full of people, Jaxson Anderson-Smith stands alone, trialling the role of a security guard.
Near him stands some others - one pruning kiwifruit, another driving a forklift.
The one thing they all have in common? They are all wearing a virtual reality headset, providing training for potential employment.
"I actually had a bit of fun with, I had never done VR [virtual reality] before so it was quite exciting," Anderson-Smith said.
"You got to see some of the things they would encounter in their job and the stuff they wear, the stuff they use."
Anderson-Smith said he had a part-time job, but was looking for extra work and therefore headed to the employment expo at Hamilton Gardens, hosted by the Ministry of Social Development.
While he realised a security guard was not the right fit for him, he said he was happy to know now rather than wasting an employer's time.
"The VR definitely gets you right into it, and you can actually see what the job itself is a little bit like. Even though it is only a simulation, it gives you an idea of what to expect."
MSD industry partnership account manager Nicola Anderson said trying to find a job could be tough and daunting, but the expo could help connect employers with potential employees.
"They [expo attendees using VR] get to experience things at their own pace, think about the things they are seeing and if they make mistakes then no one is around to see them do that," Anderson said.
"It is a really cool way to get people to think about what they might want to do, or what they don't want to do as well, because that's a big part of a job hunt. And that way they can put themselves on the right path."
The Skills VR modules can reduce four days training into 30-minute sessions. Photo: Supplied
The Skills VR modules, used at the expo, include training for the SiteSafe Foundation Passport for Civil and Construction Industries.
They can reduce four days training into 30-minute sessions and can assist people who may have difficulties with literacy.
Skills VR marketing manager Devon Toi said it increased learning outcomes from 30 to 90 percent.
"It takes away all the distractions, you are focused on the task at hand and, essentially, we try our best to captivate the 'learning while doing' mechanism. We do make our modules about 15 to 20 minutes long, so it's not an overload."
MSD employment co-ordinator Alice Tanner said the employment expo was first trialled in May and resulted in one employer hiring more than 15 people from the event.
"A lot of the employers we are working with, they are really, really desperate for staff. Some people, it might be that they haven't thought of working in that industry before, it's a bit of a change for them," Tanner said.
"We are just trying to keep up with that sort of thing and this is a good chance for people to expand their horizons."
The employment expo attracted more than 300 jobseekers today in Waikato - a region with about 14,500 people on the jobseekers benefit.
More expo events are scheduled for every region in the country.
