Different ways of working, Ngā tikanga mahi rerekē
Updated 25 Mar 2024
Find out about the many ways you can work in today’s world.
Finding out how you want to workTe mōhio haere ki ngā āhua e hiahia ai koe ki te mahi,
There are many different ways you can do mahi like working for an employer, working as a contractor or starting your own business. Whatever is important to you – your values, goals, interests and strengths – there is a way of working that will be best for you.
Trying out different ways of working can help you decide which direction to go in. Having many jobs in your career is normal – that’s what makes up your career journey. Along the way, you’ll collect skills and knowledge that you can add to your work kete.
Types of workNgā momo mahi,
When you’re thinking about what type of mahi you’d like to do, here are some useful terms.
- Part time – usually means working fewer than 30 hours per week.
- Full time – working more than 30 hours per week, usually 35 to 40 hours.
- Casual – no guaranteed hours of work or continuous employment.
- Job sharing – when two people share one full-time job.
Working for an employerTe mahi mō tētahi kaituku mahi,
When you work for an employer, they usually take care of all your taxes. You might be a permanent employee with no employment end date or on a fixed-term contract for a specific amount of time.
Working for an employer provides a secure income. You’ll usually have fixed working hours and days and get paid holidays and sick leave. Your employer will enrol you in KiwiSaver and contribute to your account.
You might find balancing your personal and work life more challenging when you work for an employer. You also might have to change jobs to advance your career or learn new skills. You might not have a say in what your responsibilities are and which projects you do, unlike when you work for yourself.
Working for yourselfTe mahi mōu anō,
When you work for yourself – doing freelance or contract work, or running your own business – you usually have more control over your time and money. You can choose the type of work or projects you do. It can be a great way to explore the type of work you’re interested in or explore your creative potential.
You might work for an employer part time and spend the rest of the time working on your freelance projects, doing casual work or building up a business. If you have more than one source of income you will have more financial security.
When you work for yourself you won’t have paid sick leave or holidays. Your income may not be steady and that can be difficult to plan your life around. You’ll also need to do your own accounts or hire someone to do your invoices and taxes.
See what works for youKitea te āhua pai mōu,
You could try out different ways of working to see what does and doesn’t fit your lifestyle and goals. Even if you don’t like a way of working you will still build up your resilience. Being resilient means you’re able to easily move between different jobs and industries – and adapt to the rapidly changing world of work.