OPENINGS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS LEAVING SCHOOL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 32, 13 December 1948, Page 5

OPENINGS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS LEAVING SCHOOL

Opportunities At Whakatane

When children leave school at Whakatane what jobs with good prospects are there in the town and around the district for those who do not contemplate furthering their studies at university? To find out what was offering the Beacon made a short survey and, from the information received, it would appear that there are plenty of good vocations in Whakatane. It was found that in some positions it was preferable to gain experience in larger towns, but opportunities are here just the same. For boys, there is more to choose from than for girls, but good positions are available for both. Selection Limited In a small town it is only natural that the selection of careers is rather limited. There are no universities to carry on studies and the only avenue open there is through correspondence schools. However, in Whakatane there are good opportunities, and nearly all business firms are desperately short of trained staff. The largest firm at Whakatane is, of course, the Whakatane Board Mills. Here, there are opportunities for a limited number of boys each year as electrical and carpenters’ cadets, office clerks and trainees for responsible positions in technical control. This work entails testing and taking samples of the product through its various stages. For girls there are a . few positions as shorthand typistes. Newspaper Work In every community where people gather and live in large numbers a most necessary service is a newspaper. Here at Whakatane the Beacan has openings for boys to learn job printing and newspaper work. There are also openings for girls from time to time. In other office jobs the field open to both girls and boys is very large, but entails some study of accountancy. Girls are always required as shorthand typistes but should, if possible, learn to type at a business college. For the boys accountancy clerks are in very short demand. High responsible positions are available for those who can qualify in accountancy. The Retail Trades Turning to the retail trades, the scope here is still fairly large, not quite so much, however, for girls. Most shops prefer to train their own staff for executive positions. At present they are very short of trained men for those jobs, caused by so few being trained during the war. Besides having the chance to rise in the retail trade, boys also have the chance to learn and then start out on their own.

For boys there are other trades where they are required to serve ah apprenticeship such as carpenters, electrical engineers,, bakers, barbers and blacksmiths. Positions are available in banks and all Government Departments for both boys and girls, but here there is the possibility of 'transfer from home. Farms also offer a promising field with a solid future.