Technology makes career planning in country easy

Media Release

Wednesday, 4 November 2009

City technology makes career planning easy in the country

DairyNZ has launched a career development tool that uses simple technology to bring career planning in the dairy industry to life.

Launched today by the Minister of Agriculture David Carter, the Career Pathways tool includes career planning resources, creates customised career maps and simplifies the process of learning about on-farm and near-farm positions. All via a portable USB flash drive.

“Skilled people are increasingly important on-farm and in the industry,” says DairyNZ Strategy and Investment Leader for People and Business, Dr Mark Paine.

“Career Pathways is a first for our industry. It is a tool that will open doors to a career in dairy for talented people and it will help those already in the industry to work towards their aspirations and realise a rewarding career in dairying.”

Career Pathways developer Samantha Palmer believes there is nothing else like it in agriculture – and possibly across all industries in New Zealand.

“It’s unique – it takes employees and shows them every job available to them, their skills are assessed and any training requirements are identified. It then maps out a career plan for the next five to 10 years,” says Samantha. “For example, if you have a family and time with them is important, the Career Pathways tool will help you identify the jobs that fit with that priority.”

The programme operates by USB flash drive, only needing an internet connection for registration.

“The entire programme works off the flash drive, so there’s no reliance on the internet and no need to worry about slow dial-up, which is a primary concern for most dairy farmers,” says Samantha.

Once inserted into a computer, the flash drive automatically launches the Career Pathways programme, which looks and functions just like an interactive website.

However unlike a website, Career Pathways quickly becomes a personalised career planning tool.

Samantha says the software is designed to be unique to its user, through a simple process of steps which evaluate where you are now and where you want to – or could be – in the future.

Created for all people involved in dairy farming, regardless of their age or career goals the Career Pathways tool has been designed so that it can be used over and over again. People can revisit their career plans as circumstances change, goals are achieved or when aspirations and goals need to be redefined.

Users can ‘explore their options’ both on-farm and near-farm, learning more about the roles, necessary qualifications, and get an insight into the everyday work through real-life profiles on video.

A series of simple assessments help the user to ‘discover who I am’ – evaluating skills, goals, core values and other key personal qualities.

The resulting interactive career map provides relevant career options, helps set goals and creates a training plan to work towards.

Designed to help employers too, Career Pathways identifies employees’ key strengths and skills, what motivates them, their ambitions and potential training needs.

The resources section helps develop a CV, build strong financial skills or develop management skills.

Users can also register to receive professional development resources matched to their learning needs, essentially building a great library of resources tailored to them.

“New articles will be distributed to them as they become available. For example, if you are looking for HR or people management info, it will be delivered directly to your online toolbox.”

DairyNZ Career Pathways is available through DairyNZ consulting officers, AgITO, New Zealand Young Farmers and other rural professionals, along with the DairyNZ website: www.dairynz.co.nz/careerpathways

DairyNZ Career Pathways - Q&A

What is Career Pathways?

DairyNZ’s Career Pathways tool uses simple technology to bring career planning to life, providing those in the dairy industry with real career choices.

The programme includes career planning resources, creates customised career maps and simplifies the process of learning about on-farm and near-farm positions. All via a portable USB flash drive.

How does it work?

Inserted into a computer, the flash drive automatically launches the Career Pathways programme, which looks and functions just like an interactive website. However unlike a website, Career Pathways quickly becomes the user’s own personal career planning tool.

Why use a USB flash drive?

As the entire programme operates off the USB flash drive, users only need an internet connection for registration. As a result there is no ongoing reliance on the internet and no need to worry about slow dial-up, which is a primary concern for most dairy farmers.

By saving as you progress through, the software is designed to become unique to its user, through a simple process which evaluates where you are now and where you want to – or could be – in the future. And it can be used over and over again. Users can revisit and update their career plans as circumstances change or goals are achieved.

What does it cover?

The tool covers all stages of a career in the dairy industry, including near-farm roles. It will help users make informed decisions about career plans and provide clear information on how to achieve goals.

It provides the user with a personalised career plan with hints and tips on how to achieve goals. It also provides a comprehensive training plan, helping users develop and grow into their next role.

It is widely recognised that there are several stages in career planning: consider (options), evaluate (self), match and plan. The Career Pathways tool works through all these stages step-by-step:

• Consider – read and watch dairy farmers’ own stories
• Review – six self-assessments give users an opportunity to review current skills and goals
• Match – a career planning map that matches wants/needs with dairy industry roles
• Plan – a training plan and career plan that provides relevant career options, helps set goals and creates a training plan to work towards.

Career Pathways will then help users with the next stage of their career by providing professional development resources to help meet learning goals.

The resources section helps develop a personalised CV, build strong financial skills or develop management skills.

Users can also register to receive professional development resources matched to their learning needs, essentially building a great library of resources tailored to them.
Who should use Career Pathways?

DairyNZ’s Career Pathways has been created for all people working in dairy farming, regardless of their age or career goals.

Designed to help employers too, Career Pathways identifies employees’ key strengths and skills, what motivates them, their ambitions and potential training needs. It also creates clarity, ensuring that any plans made focus both on how the employer sees the role progressing and how the Career Pathways user wants to progress.

In many circumstances it can work effectively alongside existing HR processes, so can compliment resources already being used by Rural Professionals.

Why does the dairy industry need Career Pathways?

The New Zealand dairy industry is a growing one which needs 3,000 – 5,000 new people to fill jobs on dairy farms each year. Skilled people are also increasingly important on-farm and in the industry. Career Pathways is a tool that will open doors to a career in dairy for talented people and it will help those already in the industry to work towards their aspirations and realise a rewarding career in dairying.

How do I get a Career Pathways USB stick?

DairyNZ’s Career Pathways tool is free to all DairyNZ levy payers and to those committed to a future in the New Zealand dairy industry.

Career Pathways is available through DairyNZ consulting officers, AgITO, New Zealand Young Farmers, other rural professionals, the DairyNZ Farmer Information Service (0800 4 324 7969) or by visiting the Career Pathways pages on the DairyNZ website: www.dairynz.co.nz/careerpathways

ENDS

© Scoop Media