Connecting students with employers, Te tūhonohono ākonga ki ngā kaitukumahi
Updated 03 Jun 2026
Building strong connections between students and employers is a key part of effective career education.
Engaging with employers improves transitionsKa whakapaingia ngā whakawhitiwhiti mā te āta whai wāhi ki te kaitukumahi,
Employer engagement helps transition between school and the world of work. It gives young people access to real experiences, insights and relationships that support informed pathway decisions.
When employers engage with students in meaningful ways, they do more than just offer a look into a workplace. They can help students to:
- understand real workplaces and roles, not just job titles
- explore and refine their ideas about future pathways
- build transferable skills such as communication, teamwork and resilience
- develop networks and awareness of local opportunities
- understand how their learning connects to life beyond school.
Engagement is also valuable for employers. It provides opportunities to:
- promote their industry and the range of roles available
- contribute to their local community
- connect with future talent and build a pipeline of potential employees
- better understand the strengths and aspirations of young people.
Choosing the right employer experienceTe kōwhiri i te wheako kaitukumahi e tika ana māu,
The W3 model (work exposure, work exploration, work experience) provides a practical framework for planning employer engagement across a student’s learning journey.
Using this model helps to design experiences that are age-appropriate, purposeful and progressive, supporting students to build their understanding of work over time.
Stage 1: Work exposureTe whakataki mahi,
As a career educator, your role is to help students notice what interests them and what they’re curious about.
Work exposure supports early career learning. It helps students build awareness of different industries, roles and pathways and begin to challenge assumptions about stereotypes and work.
For example:
- role model events like Inspiring the Future
- careers expos
- classroom activities
- industry events
- lunchtime talks and guest speakers
- local employer school social media posts and newsletter stories.
TEC’s Inspiring the Future role model events
Inspiring the Future is a free, easy-to-use programme that connects students with real-life role models. These people are volunteers who are keen to share their career stories through interactive events. Inspiring the Future offers a wide variety of formats depending on year level, number of students, learning objectives and available time.
The Tahatū career map has recommendations on how to incorporate Inspiring the Future events into your career education programme.
Stage 2: Work explorationTe tūhurahura mahi,
At this stage, structured reflection is important. Your role is to support students to think about what they have observed and how it relates to them.
Work exploration allows students to see workplaces in context and begin to connect their interests, strengths and values with real roles.
For example:
- job shadowing
- workplace and site visits
- industry open days.
Stage 3: Work experienceNgā wheako mahi,
Your role is to support students to prepare for, engage in and reflect on these work experiences, so they can make informed decisions about next steps.
Work experience provides opportunities for students to participate in real work environments.
For example:
- Gateway placements
- Trades Academy programmes
- structured work experience with an employer
- community or whānau connected placements
- volunteering or part-time work
- internships.
Supporting inclusive experiences
All students should have access to meaningful employer engagement, including those who may face additional barriers.
As a career educator, this means working with employers to create inclusive environments and adapting activities to meet diverse needs. This ensures students are supported to fully participate.
OneinSix can support your conversations with employers to create more inclusive experiences for disabled young people. It also offers specific support and resources on removing barriers by impairment type.
Building employer engagement into career planningTe hanga whai wāhitanga kaitukumahi ki roto i ngā mahi whakamahere aramahi,
Students benefit most when they engage with employers more than once and over time, rather than as one-off events.
Building employer engagement into the school’s career education plan enables schools to use employer engagement to enhance student learning, inform pathway decisions and support successful transitions beyond school.
A strategic approach includes:
- mapping activities across year levels
- designing a sequence of experiences that move from exposure to exploration to experience
- ensuring multiple, meaningful experiences
- building and maintaining long-term relationships with employers and industry.
Working in this way supports a whole-school approach, where employer engagement is embedded, consistent and sustainable, and engagement benefits schools, students and employers.
How to write a career education plan
Preparing for engagementTe noho takatū mō te whai wāhi,
Preparation is critical to ensure both employers and students have a valuable experience.
Two resources from the Manufacturing and Engineering Industry Skills Board outline the W3 model in more detail and are widely applicable across all industries and education settings.
They provide advice for New Zealand schools and employers to plan, organise and offer meaningful opportunities, and include specific information for:
- career educators
- employers
- rangatahi engagement
- iwi and communities
- health and safety planning and checklists.
Health, safety and wellbeingTe hauora, te haumaru me te oranga,
You play an important role in working with your school and employers to make sure that activities are safe, appropriate and well managed.
This includes:
- confirming that workplaces are suitable for visits or placements
- working with employers to identify and manage risks
- ensuring appropriate supervision and support is in place
- following school processes for consent, safeguarding and safety checks
- preparing students so they understand expectations and how to keep themselves safe.
Many employers are experienced in managing workplace risks but may be less familiar with working with students.
Supporting them to understand school processes helps create safe and positive experiences for everyone.