Pointing Them in the Right Direction

Where do young people get their career ideas from? Sometimes it can depend on a chance meeting with someone who has a passion for their trade and a desire to nourish it with new talent.

 

 Havelock North signwriter Willy Ransfield definitely inspired Lauren when he fronted a careers expo stand put together by the New Zealand Sign and Display Association. Willy could tell Lauren was one of the young people who was interested in the display, so he spoke out to persuade her of the benefits of his trade. 

 

The multiple-award winning designer says he loves passing on knowledge, and events like careers expos are a way of "encouraging the young ones" to see what they can do with their talents.  "If young people are artistic, I say, 'Look, you can take that skill and get paid for it,' and that's something everyone enjoys." 

 

Willy has a special interest in influencing young people because he would like to help them realise their options sooner than he did. "I was quite a good artist at school and I didn't realise I would be able to turn it into a career until later. So I kick myself for taking so long to identify that my passion at school was something I could turn into my career."

 

"I'm a strong believer in turning your hobby into your job because then you can't wait to get up and go to work. I'll try to motivate people who are interested in this, and I love it when they leave with their mind spinning around at the possibilities."  

 

Willy says he "absolutely" supports trades training. When teenagers turn up at his studio with a promising portfolio, Willy will try to point them in the right direction if he can't do anything for them himself. Usually he sends them to Napier signwriter Murray Wilson. "He takes a lot of young ones under his wing, and he's producing fantastic artists. They had the skills, but he turned them into professional skills."