If you're unsure about your future after university, you're not alone—many students feel the same way. We're here to help you explore your options and build a career that aligns with who you are.

Choosing a career takes time, but the more you learn about yourself and the world of work, the better your decisions will be. Before you can begin researching your career it's important to be clear about what your strengths and weaknesses are, what you find interesting, what you enjoy doing and importantly, what you don't enjoy doing… after all, you spend a lot of time at work so it's important you choose a career you enjoy.

Start with a self-assessment to identify roles that match your skills and interests.

Skills and interests

There are many ways to explore what careers might suit you. One helpful starting point is the Prospects Job Match quiz on the Graduate Prospects UK website. It’s designed specifically for university students and helps match your skills and interests to potential career paths.

Prospects Job Match

Once you've completed the assessment, we recommend booking a 50-minute appointment with a Business School Career Development Consultant to discuss your results and next steps.

Values

As part of your self-assessment, it’s important to reflect on your values—what really matters to you in a job and workplace. If you're unsure where to start, we can help. In a 50-minute appointment with a Business School Career Development Consultant, we offer a guided activity designed to help you identify your core values and understand how they can shape your career decisions.

Compare your current skills and achievements with what’s needed in your target roles. Think about what you can do now to become a strong candidate for the jobs you want.

Whether you have a clear career direction, or are still exploring options, it's essential to develop a broad range of transferable skills during university. Engaging in work experience and extracurricular activities not only strengthens your CV but also helps you discover your strengths, areas for growth, and what you genuinely enjoy.

These transferable skills are valuable across a range of industries:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Communication and collaboration
• Digital literacy
• Emotional intelligence
• Creativity and innovation

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries—from finance and healthcare to marketing and engineering. While some roles may change or disappear, new opportunities are emerging.

Protect your future by:

• Building transferable skills that are harder for AI to replicate and are in high demand - like those described above. 
• Developing strong digital literacy and gaining hands-on experience with AI tools and data analysis to stay competitive in a tech-driven job market.
  
• Staying curious and open to lifelong learning.

• Know Yourself: Reflect on what motivates you, what you enjoy, and what you value in a job. It’s not just about salary—meaning and growth matter too.
• Meet industry professionals: Our Business School Careers Centre hosts a wide range of employer networking events, including presentations and workshops.
• Informational Interviews: Have an informal conversation with industry professionals to learn about industries and roles—but when you do this you are asking for advice, not a job.
• Build Experience: Get involved in internships, part-time work, and university clubs and other extracurriculars to develop skills and confidence.

• Careers New Zealand
• Prospects
• World Economic Forum. Future of Jobs Report 2025
• Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. Medium to long-term employment outlook: Looking ahead to 2026.