Knowing what to do when leaving school is an age-old dilemma for many teens, with parents sometimes struggling to understand how best to guide them in their decision making.

The Canvas Careers Expo, being held on Thursday and Friday, August 8-9, at Mercury Baypark Arena, is a great place to start.

A special session, as part of the expo, is a parents' and teens' discovery session running from 4pm-8pm next Thursday, August 8.

This will be an ideal time for parents and whānau to head along with their teens as they try and turn career decisions from “I don’t know” into “I do know!”

Exciting mix 

Hosted by Priority One and The Rotary Club of Tauranga, the Canvas Careers Expo features an exciting mix of employers and training providers on-site ready to talk about their work sector or tertiary training opportunity.

Priority One’s instep manager Vee de Koster says it’s the ideal time and place to guide teens in their decision making.

“It can be so stressful when you have a teen in your house who can’t decide what is the right career or training path, or maybe they have an idea but need more information," says Vee.

"What better place to talk this through than in one arena with experts from all fields.”

Canvas Careers Expo is a fun and inspiring environment to discover career opportunities in the region. Photo: Supplied.

Rotary Club of Tauranga organiser Sue Boyne says the expo is also an amazing place to make industry connections.

“Because we have so many businesses at the expo, teens can come along and talk directly with an actual staff member from a business and get an insight into what an average day or career looks like in that industry sector," says Sue.

"They can also make valuable industry connections.”

Get inspired! 

Universities and tertiary training providers from across New Zealand will also be in attendance with all the information young people need to get ready for their next steps after school.

“It’s the perfect environment to get informed, get inspired and make job and career decisions,” says Sue.

The expo is also about showcasing the diverse and exciting career opportunities right here in the region.

“Tauranga is New Zealand’s fastest growing region and with that brings more job opportunities and the need for people with skills to support that growth,” says Vee. 

Canvas is the place to turn career decisions from ‘I don’t know’ into ‘I do know’. Photo: Supplied.

“The expo is a great place to get a feel for what’s on offer here and to understand the yet-to-be-discovered prospects available for job seekers.”

Free to attend, the Canvas Careers Expo runs from 9am-2pm and 4pm-8pm next Thursday, August 8, and 9am-2pm Friday, August 9. For more information, go to: www.canvascareers.co.nz