Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long do classroom visits last?

A: A typical class will be 60 minutes long, and your time in the class will vary depending on what kind of presentation you're giving.  An interactive activity may take up the whole session, but a standard PowerPoint presentation about your job could be as short as 15-20 minutes.

Q: What should I wear to a school visit?

A: Generally you should wear the same kind of clothing you would wear at work.  If you work outside, it could be fun to wear your (clean) outdoor clothes, reflective vests, hard hat, etc.

Q: What should I do if I'm running late, or I have to cancel a visit for whatever reason (e.g. illness)?

A: Call your Facilitator and let him/her know.  Your Facilitator will contact the school and try to reschedule if possible.

Q: Am I allowed to promote my company?  What about the university/polytech I went to?

A: Yes, it's all right to promote your company and university as a part of your career path.  The main focus of a school visit is you, what you do in your job and why you enjoy it.

Q: What should I say if a student asks a weird/unrelated/ inappropriate question?

A: You should be prepared for a few irrelevant or funny questions from the students. Be polite and friendly, but feel free to deflect any questions you don’t feel comfortable answering.

Q: What if the students get unruly?

A: It’s the teacher’s responsibility to supervise the class and discipline them when necessary. If you feel that the class is getting beyond your control, ask the teacher for help, or if your Facilitator is there, ask him/her to do so.

Q: What should I do if I’m left alone with the students?

A: You should NEVER be left alone with the students – the teacher or another member of the school’s staff should always be present. If you are left without supervision, let your Facilitator know.

Q: Will the school provide equipment like a computer or a projector?

A: Most schools will have this kind of equipment available, but it's important to check with your Facilitator beforehand. 

Q: What happens if the school’s computer equipment breaks down when I’m giving a PowerPoint presentation?

A: Sometimes technical difficulties are unavoidable, but careful planning can help you get through them. If you can bring your own laptop and use it in your presentation, it will let you avoid problems with the school’s computers. Try to get your presentation set up and ready to go before the class begins – this will let you catch any problems early. Print out a copy of your slides and/or notes, so that if worst comes to worst, you still have something to fall back on.

Q: Someone wants to include me in a Futureintech newsletter/ publication. What can I expect?

A: We frequently use interesting Ambassador stories in our online newsletters enewsforschools and enewsforindustry, our printed brochures, posters, and other publications. Our Writer/Researcher may contact you to request a phone interview, photographs, or confirmation about the details of your career.

A draft version of the article will be sent to you and your manager for approval before it goes to print. You’re welcome to reword your quotes, send us corrections, or ask that we edit the text to fit your company’s guidelines. We’ll also send you a final copy of the publication for your records. If there’s anything we can do to make the process easier, just let us know.

Q: I need to update my Ambassador profile on the Futureintech website. What should I do?

A: If your job situation changes, contact our Writer/Researcher at writer-researcher@futureintech.org.nz. You can either send in small individual changes to the old profile, or request a copy of our profile questionnaire and start from scratch. The Writer/Researcher will rewrite your profile based on your new information and send you a copy for approval before putting it online. If you want your profile picture updated, you can send that to the Writer/Researcher as well.