NxtStep Issue 8 by NxtStep

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ISSUE 8

BECOME A DIFFERENCE MAKER Do you want an exciting career where you can contribute to something bigger than yourself? A career in business as a Chartered Accountant is a career path that provides you with exciting opportunities to make an impact beyond just numbers. You will be equipped with the portfolio of skills needed to drive business decisions required for better societies, communities and economies - for a more prosperous future for us all.

UNIQUE SKILLS GLOBAL RECOGNITION DIVERSE QUALIFICATION

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From the NxtStep Team Welcome to the eighth edition of NxtStep Magazine. 2017 has been a big year for the NxtStep team, as we brought together our three key platforms under one name.

NxtStep represents a journey, one which every person is on, in their own time and space. It is our hope that NxtStep Magazine and NxtStep.co.nz will help you as you navigate your career journey, regardless of whether you’re at high school and just figuring things out, or finishing university and looking for that all important first job.

From Kaikohe to the world

We’d like to say a quick thanks to all of those who have spent I’m from town where time as we consulted with youa small throughout thesometimes process itofcan feel that really matters to anyone. You can easily be creating this great newnobody brand. Many hours have been spent dismissed as a nothing if you don’t try to push through trying to ensure that allthe versions of NxtStep, both in print and stereotypes. online, are the very best resource for ourit wasyoung people. Growing up in Kaikohe wasn’t the issue; Did you know to be a student in Auckland the people who surrounded me. I saw and heard a lot of things that kids shouldn’t. I saw thugs and

city is really expensive? Especially when your parents don’t live here. I was accepted into the

roaming the streets and in my school, University’s student residence, O’Rorke Hall, Now that our previousgangsters platform, SchoolConnect, has almost every kid had a gang colour to ‘rep’. but to move in I had to pay a bond and weekly rent. Now that may not sound like a big deal Kaikohe isn’t much different from other towns transitioned over to NxtStep.co.nz, we are pleased toof ainvite but it was a heck lot money to me. in Aotearoa New Zealand. The big difference By now you’re thinking, why didn’t I save up schools and lack jobs. Most people you to head online andiswhoquality take a look at our fresh new look. money at high school, or why don’t I get a job I saw dropped out of school, lived off this year? By now you’re thinking, why didn’t their parents, or worked in a supermarket, All of the same great information come expect I saveto up money at high school, or why don’t not because they wanted toyou’ve but because they I get a job this year? In Kaikohe, it’s incredibly could see no other choice. from SchoolConnect has been soto get you can difficult a job and I needed every spare I’m lucky. I have a dadbrought with a full-time jobacross, and moment to study to pass exams. I still do, a family who loves me and values education. I which makes it reallyfor hard tous find flexible work begin using it straight away. you have any feedback want to study If medicine and one day become a during the semester that fits around the extra pathologist. But because I went to a small, low study I need (positive or constructive!) we’d love to hear it.to do. decile highthen school I knew that compared to what other students learned in top decile schools, what I was learning was so much less. For us,

Just when a way forward seemed impossible, I received a scholarship. I don’t know if the

who made the scholarship possible will there are only seven physics teachers for That’s us for 2017. We well, can’t wait to bring you people another great ever really understand the difference this made all 28 schools in Northland. I understood that I’d for me and my family. have to work for my dream. So I did. set of magazines in 2018. I’m the eldest in my family and for my siblings I worked harder than I ever thought I could. I

THE NXTSTEP TEAM EDITOR: Nicola Gorst

spent my holidays learning organic chemistry because my school didn’t teach it. I needed these unit standards for uni, so I had to learn two years of classes in two weeks by myself. Studying like crazy paid off and I got accepted into the Certificate of Health Science this year, a one-year programme to prepare Māori and Pacific students for tertiary study in health professions. It seemed like I really could make my dream a reality.

COPYWRITER: Tayla Court

to see that I’ve made it to university is worth the stress and madness. It makes it even more rewarding that I can show people who watched me grow up that the place you live in doesn’t have to hold you back. It’s the mind set you use that helps you get places in the world. Kindest regards Te Orakiri Patricia Graham

And yet, it turned out my hard work and determination just weren’t enough.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Magdalena Stanuch OPERATIONS: Rob Milne & Miah Dixon

NxtStep© 2017. Published by Green Door Design Limited. No part of this publication may be replicated, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, internet, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers. Green Door Design Limited has put measures in place to ensure the exactness of the information in this publication; however, they accept no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or subsequent consequences. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily endorsed by the editor, publisher, Green Door Design Limited and its related parties.

Interested in being in the next issue of this magazine? Contact us! For any editorial, advertising or general queries you may have regarding NxtStep Magazine please get in touch.

Nicola Gorst 09 307 7858 | nicola@attracthq.co.nz | www.nxtstep.co.nz

Contents Studying like crazy paid off and I I grow up, I want to be... a politician! gotWhen accepted into the Certificate of Health Science this year, a oneyear programme to prepare Māori Everyone should do it! - Masterlink and Pacific students for tertiary study in health professions. It seemed like I really could maketo Help Others - Auckland Making a Career my dream a reality.

4 6 Law

School

Employment Experts for Tertiary Students - Student Job Search

How you can help

Each year, people just like you are the driving force in making university accessible to students like Te Orakiri.

If you would like to help students with a gift of as little as $1 to a faculty scholarship fund, you can donate to a faculty scholarship fund.

7 9

A reputation that will take you places - Deloitte

Achieving the end goal - Goodman Fielder

Keeping the community smiling - Southern District Health Board

Every day is different in the IT industry - The University of Waikato

Green Lights Ahead - Toyota

Making Career Dreams a Reality - Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

A One-Way Ticket to San Francisco - Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

Discovering Opportunities Along the Way - Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

From Kaikohe to the world - The University of Auckland

Youth Health Hub - Youthline

Who is your Top Employer? - Talent Solutions

A chat with a future actuary - Sovereign

What to do when you’re still not sure

Top Student’s Top Tips - Top Student Awards

Donate today www.giving.auckland.ac.nz/appeal

Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

When I grow up, I want to be … a politician! We hear from four politicians about their journey, and found out that not everyone intends to have a career in politics. It’s an election year! For some of you, this may be your first chance to vote… or you might just be missing out this time Through elections, we get the chance to say who we think are the best people to collectively run our country – arguably one of the most important jobs there is!

Grant Robertson Labour MP for Wellington Central The first job I can remember saying that I wanted to do was to be a Police Officer. I was about eight years old and the Police had come to our school to talk about keeping ourselves safe, and how they helped people. That sounded like a good thing to do. Later on I wanted to be an actor or a lawyer. Now I am a politician I get to do all those things! I don’t think many people end up doing exactly what they planned to do for a career. And we know that it is likely that in the future you will change jobs and careers many times in your life. In those circumstances what is really important is building a broad base, and taking the opportunities to keep learning and training throughout your life. In the last couple of years I have led a project for the Labour Party called the Future of Work Commission (www.futureofwork.nz). We spoke to thousands of people about what the world of work will be like with automation, robots and artificial intelligence growing in importance. There are two lessons from that work that have stayed with me. First, is the importance of life-long learning. That is why the Labour Party has decided that if we are elected to government we will fund three years of free post-secondary school training and education. We will start with the first year in 2018 and then roll out the others over the next few years. It will not just be for school leavers but also for people who are working who have not had the chance to study beyond school. The second lesson, and the most common thing I heard from employers, is that the skills and attributes they are looking for are creativity, collaboration, problem solving and empathy. As the Chief Executive of one large company said to me “I want to employ decent human beings.” Even if you are really interested in a particular subject, say engineering, it is a good idea to do something completely different that is creative, either as a subject or as an extra-curricular activity. We know that many of the exciting jobs of the future will be ones that you create yourself rather than working for somebody else. So, start with a broad base, never stop learning and remember that working together always makes us stronger. Good luck!

// ISSUE 8

But who are these people? How did they become politicians? NxtStep had the chance to hear from politicians from National, Labour, NZ First and the Green Party to try and understand how they became involved with politics.

Louise Upston National MP for Taupo I always planned to be a Member of Parliament from the time I was in primary school. I wanted to help people and I thought being an MP was the best way to help as many people as possible. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get there so I made a plan. The problem with plans is that they don’t always work out the way they are meant to, which is why, if you have a goal, always be prepared to make adjustments to get back on track. I went to Waikato University with the intention of studying law. Sadly, my B+ average was not good enough to get me accepted so I studied English literature, politics and women’s studies at Auckland University instead. But I dropped out of university because my mother died, and studying was just not an option. I started my own business when I was 19 and, I have to say, I had no idea what I was doing. Someone suggested it to me and even though I didn’t know how I was going to achieve it, I seized the opportunity. I offered book-keeping, secretarial services and event management. I also did some business papers at night school and enrolled in AUT’s Bachelor of Business part-time. By the time I was 26, I was a solo mum on a benefit, and still no clear career path. I had skills though and I moved into project management while juggling work, study, and raising my family. I finally gained an MBA from Waikato University in my mid-30s and became an MP at age 37. I have reached my goal, and it is great to climb to the top of the mountain and look down at the path you have travelled while marvelling at how you achieved it despite challenges. My advice to young people would be to approach your career as a jungle gym, not a ladder. You can travel up, down and across, from one thing to another, it does not always have to be one long grind up to the top. It is important to stay true to yourself and do what is important to you, even if that means taking a step down or moving in a direction you hadn’t originally foreseen. Have a plan, and be willing to adjust that plan when you need to, it doesn’t mean you’re failing, it means you are taking the sensible option and doing what is best for you at the time. There will be obstacles, there always are. But it is how you overcome them that counts.

Chlöe Swarbrick Green Candidate for Maungakiekie Life for young people in Aotearoa New Zealand today is less predictable than it may have been for our parents or grandparents. Things aren’t as straight forward as they used to be. The world is more connected than it’s ever been, we’re all more educated than ever before, and opportunities to innovate, disrupt or short circuit boring or banal parts of the traditional job market are flourishing. I’ve been quoted as saying that nowadays, “you can do anything with confidence and Google,” and I still believe that’s largely true. The wealth of knowledge accumulated across humanity’s history sits in our back pocket, or often as the extension of our arm. It’s become a new skillset unto itself to figure out how to focus and what exactly to focus on, so that we can filter the noise in an avalanche of information and entertainment overload. In this brave new world, I think the best skillset you can foster is trusting your gut, maintaining an open, constructive and critical mind, and taking new opportunities in your fields of interest as they come. It’s crucial to get comfortable with being a little bit uncomfortable. We only grow when we push ourselves. I’ve spent the past several years as a student, sales assistant, journalist, small business owner, copywriter, community project organiser, and now a politician. This wasn’t really where I saw my life going, and it’s become the most meaningful thing I never knew I wanted to do.

Ron Mark NZ First Deputy Leader It seems to me that all humans want the same things: somewhere to live, somewhere to work, someone to love and something to hope for. I can’t take credit for summing it up like that goes to Norman Kirk, one of our former Prime Ministers. Having someone to love is up to you. But the other three is where I think I can offer value to our country. As a politician, my time and effort goes into working to make sure people have somewhere to live, somewhere to work and something to strive for. This means there is always work for me to do, be that in Parliament, or in Wairarapa – where I live or around the country. This is a bit of the story of how I got here and what prepared me for the work that I do. As a child I didn’t always know where I would be living. I was a foster child in a number of homes. I could have got used to the social welfare system taking care of me throughout my life, but I chose not to. I took responsibility for myself and set out on a journey of personal independence and self-improvement. After school, I joined the NZ Army and learned about discipline, working hard and earning the trust of others. And I learned that when you put in the time and effort and strive for accuracy in your work you get promoted.

My job nowadays involves travelling around my city, Tāmaki Makaurau, and our country, talking to lots of different people doing lots of different things with their lives about how we can improve the state of things for all of us. It’s hugely rewarding.

I took up an opportunity to serve in the army in Egypt and then in Oman. At this time, it was important for me to be flexible. I had to adjust to a new way of life, new culture, new food and a new way of working. Being flexible enough to do all this ensured that I had a rewarding work experience.

Thousands of young people have been part of those discussions. What I’ve found is that we don’t necessarily study to get jobs in the assumedly related field (I did a law degree without any intention of being a lawyer – and, on that note, a philosophy degree without any explicit ‘career prospects’ of ever becoming a philosopher), but to learn more about our place in the world. We aren’t even necessarily able to get jobs in the fields of our study, as productivity per worker and automation constantly moves the target.

It wasn’t my idea that originally had me stand for election as a candidate with New Zealand First. People around me recognised that I had clear views about society and felt I could make a difference. I am happy I chose to listen to those people because as an MP, I am able to work towards a better society. Deciding to run for Parliament is a risk. Not an irresponsible risk, but it did mean putting myself and my views in the public arena for scrutiny, being prepared to be judged and being asked to justify my beliefs.

Whether you pursue tertiary study, go straight into the workforce, or train in trades, we all succeed when we focus on bettering ourselves and our communities. We find our life purpose when we work towards something bigger than us. It’s nice to have financial goals, but it’s important to remember that money can’t buy health, whānau, friends or happiness.

Taking risks is part of life and it is true that the more you strive to achieve and the more you seek to change, the bigger the risk. That requires confidence, courage and strength of conviction. Attributes that are essential no matter what you do in life.

I sincerely believe that our generation will change the world. Every day, in every conversation, I find our compassion, creative thinking and care for each other and the planet is reinforced. It’s a big world out there, and it’s laden with potential.

Throughout my career and life there have been times I’ve felt uncertain about the future or about the risks I was taking and times when I have been confronted with problems. In such times, and they do happen to all of us, one needs to remember that it’s not what happens to you that matters; it is how you respond to that which happens.

Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

PLUMBING

“Everyone should do it!” Esmey Parata is nearly five months into her four-year apprenticeship through Masterlink at Dunedin firm Gas & Water Ltd. She can’t speak more highly of her experience. Plumbing was not included in career advice at the girls’ high school she attended. Instead, she was strongly encouraged to go to university—but Esmey knew she didn’t want a desk job and liked working with her hands. “Plumbing’s an underrated trade. I heard about it from my brother and dad and, now I’m doing it, I’ve fallen in love with it,” she says. “It is hard work but fun—everyone should do it! It’s cool trying different things. There’s never a dull moment, I’m constantly learning… and I have an income.” Esmey is receiving on-job training in plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying. So far her work has involved gas installations, bathroom renovations and big outdoor jobs tearing up roads. A highlight has been using a digger to rip up a school field and create trenches.

“There’s never a dull moment, I’m constantly learning… and I have an income.”

Start earning! Start living! Start your plumbing career without the burden of a massive student loan. Masterlink will not only find you an apprenticeship – we’ll also: · pay you a regular wage while you learn · cover all your training fees and · kit you out with PPE gear and tools. Our apprentice package saves you at least $6k! What are you waiting for? Get your working life started now.

www.masterlink.co.nz 0800 502 102 admin@masterlink.co.nz

// ISSUE 8

She’s not fussed when people say plumbing’s not a female job. “I know I’m just as capable as the guys. We’re like a family at Gas & Water and all get along really well. The team has been incredibly welcoming and I never feel out of place. There’s banter, but it’s all good-natured. I’ve grown up with boys, so it doesn’t bother me.” Esmey is very grateful to Masterlink Regional Manager Roger Herd for interviewing her and helping her get into the trade. “Roger helped me with job experience and found me a place with a host company. He’s so supportive and I’m really thankful to him—and to my boss Sean Reynolds for giving me this opportunity.” Esmey’s proud that one of her friends is now considering a career in plumbing. “She was jealous of all the fun I’m having!”

Contact Masterlink to find out about opportunities in your local area: 0800 502 012 www.masterlink.co.nz

Imagine for a moment that you are a teenager who has just travelled around the world to land in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language, know nothing about its culture and ways, have no community of support, and own nothing more than what’s in your suitcase. This almost-impossible-to-imagine scenario was Nosia Fogogo’s reality when she moved to New Zealand from the Central African Republic of Burundi 12 years ago. In March 2005, Nosia and several of her family members arrived at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre in Auckland. Today, Nosia is a poised, articulate and confident young woman embarking on her final year of a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Auckland. Back then, she says, she was a shy teen who, understandably, was torn by a range of emotions upon her arrival in New Zealand. “I felt excited, scared, confused and lost. I spoke no English at all - that was the biggest hurdle. And I was in culture shock,” says Nosia. “There are so many things you do here that you wouldn’t do at home – like making eye contact when you speak to elders, or greeting people casually, not with a bow and formal handshake. It took me ages to learn.” Eventually, Nosia moved to the North Shore and attended Northcote College, leaving at the end of Year 12. Nosia admits her entrance into adulthood was tough: she was determined to gain a tertiary qualification but, after enrolling in different programmes, she realised her language skills could not support the academic requirements of university. Refusing to be thwarted, Nosia took time out to travel, eventually returning to New Zealand to embark on a travel and tourism course to improve her spoken and written English. After a year of working full-time in the tourism industry, Nosia felt confident enough to enrol at AUT in a Bachelor of Business degree. After a year, she decided law was her calling and completed the first two years of an LLB. She then moved to the Auckland Law School.

Meet Nosia

LAW

Making a career to help others Bachelor of Laws at the University of Auckland

“I want to contribute to the society that has educated and supported me” “Our University community is amazingly diverse and our staff and students from refugee backgrounds add to this richness.” Nosia has described vividly many of the challenges faced by refugees but her experiences also demonstrate that, given the right opportunities and support, she and other people from refugee backgrounds have huge potential to contribute to our society, and to our future economic success and prosperity. Nosia is part of the team at Empower which is a youth-led charity providing mentoring and support to address the under representation of refugees in higher education in New Zealand. As for her own hopes and aspirations? Despite – or perhaps because of – her somewhat convoluted journey to the University, Nosia is crystal clear about her future: “I want to help. If just one or two people see that if I can do it, they can, too – that will be the biggest achievement I could ever have. I want to contribute to the society that has educated and supported me. I want to be part of the community, to get involved and help change lives.”

Today, Nosia has her eye keenly on the prize: a law degree with honours from New Zealand’s leading university.

Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

The last year of high school is a busy time, with fellow students going onto tertiary study, full time work or a gap year – there are many exciting decisions to be made. If you are thinking about tertiary study in 2018, it’s possible you’ll need a job going into your first year.

JOBS

Here at Student Job Search (SJS) we offer a free employment service that aims to match students looking for work, with employers looking for talent like you.

Student Job Search (SJS) is available for students to use up to four months before starting tertiary study. If you have enrolled at a tertiary institute, you’ll be able to use the SJS service and start looking for jobs. There are new jobs listed daily, so you’ll be sure to find something that suits you! Having a job while you’re studying means having the financial freedom to make the most of new opportunities. Your first year is a whirlwind of new friends, new activities and sometimes even a new city. A job is not only a great way to make some extra cash, but it can help you meet a new group of people and gain valuable experience. If you’re enrolled for study in 2018, you can register on our site www.sjs.co.nz and start looking for jobs! If you don’t think you’ll need to work while studying, you can always have a look for summer jobs and save up your hard earned cash for when you’ve settled into your new life. If you have any questions about employment, or are looking for some tips, check out our website or call us on 0800 757 562.

I got a summer job at a podiatry clinic and was studying to become a physiotherapist at the time. Because of the location of the clinic I was working at I made so many connections with other health professionals and incidentally met my new boss for my first ever job as a qualified physio three years later!! Thanks SJS for the opportunities. KELSI PARKER, OTAGO.

Want to know more about SJS? Head to our website www.sjs.co.nz or give our friendly team a call on 0800 757 562. Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

NEW FOR 201 8

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A reputation that will take you places

We had a chat to Nick Thomas, who is six months into his graduate role as an Audit Analyst, to see how he was enjoying Deloitte and life after uni.

What does a normal day look like for you? Well, a normal day is difficult to describe due to the wide range of clients we deal with, as cliché as that sounds. My day could involve looking at interest rate swaps of a listed company, to viewing production plants, interviewing financial controllers and other key management personnel, examining entities’ controls and policies etc. The beauty of audit is that you get to get out of the office, travel and be on site with clients face-to-face.

Why did you choose a career at Deloitte? I chose a career here for two key reasons. First is the international reputation Deloitte holds – it is a brand name that resonates throughout the world as one of the leading professional services firms. As a lot of young Kiwis do end up travelling overseas, being involved with a company on this scale, with the reputation it holds as well as the reach of its member firms makes it particularly attractive. Secondly, the exposure you receive at Deloitte is exceptional. As a graduate, you are often working with key management personnel – the people that influence a firm’s strategic direction. The opportunity to see up close how these people operate and how businesses are run at such a young point in your career is certainly something you can leverage going forward.

What is the most exciting thing you’ve done with Deloitte so far? There have been heaps of fun and exciting things, but one of the initial things that jumped out at me was one of my first jobs. I was working with a healthcare company who are one of the fastest growing companies in NZ, which was a fantastic experience straight off the bat.

Nick Thomas Audit Analyst

I’d also say the most exciting thing is that you get to travel – I’m going to Queenstown for most of September for an audit down there, and I couldn’t think of a better place to be really!

ACCOUNTING

Deloitte is one of the largest professional services firms in the world, with over 1,200 specialists working in NZ. Their focus includes audit, tax, technology & systems, corporate finance, business recovery, forensics and accounting services.

Did you know what you wanted to do at school? Yes, I always knew I wanted to be in the accounting and finance field. At school, I studied accounting but I always tried to keep my study options open, so I wasn’t restricted to one path. I continued this through uni, studying a Bachelor of Science majoring in maths and statistics in addition to my BCom accounting/finance major.

What advice do you have for students looking to study business or accounting? I would encourage students to do things other than just study accounting – study it for sure, but do other things in addition to that. I think this gives you the opportunity to think broader and have a different view on accounting issues which can help improve the way they are. Even though some areas of study might seem irrelevant, you’d be surprised about how you can incorporate them into your work every day.

From your current position as a Audit Analyst, do you have an idea of where you would like your career to end up? To be honest, I haven’t really thought that far in advance. I mentioned earlier that most kiwi’s love to do their OE, but beyond that I haven’t really considered where I would want to be. You get the opportunity in audit to go through such a wide range of companies – from large to public entities, to smaller charities and that sort of thing. I am only six months in, so I have only experienced a very small sample size of what is out there. I think at the end of my three years studying for my Chartered Accountancy qualification would be a good time to really assess what I want to do.

www.deloitte.co/nz/students

Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

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ACHIEVING THE

END GOAL

We caught up with Angela in the first week of her new role. She tells us how she turned a casual merchandising role at Goodman Fielder into a successful career.

MERCHANDISING

When did you first join Goodman Fielder? I started as a casual back in 2001 when my daughter was just starting school, and I assisted one of the more permanent merchandisers who would direct me what to do.

What kind of work did you do when you started out? When I started, my general merchandising responsibilities included stocking and rotating shelves, and working with the store staff. I helped out with ordering when my merchandiser was away. Basically, I was receiving consistent on the job training which I made an effort to make the most of.

Tell us about the different roles you have had at Goodman Fielder? How did you prepare yourself to move into those roles? Not long after I started, there was a restructure of the company, during which I applied and was successful in becoming a part-time merchandiser in the dairy area. During that time, I was doing the ordering for some of the biggest supermarkets in Christchurch on top of my merchandising, which allowed me to transition into a fulltime role. With the increase in hours, I took on more stores, ordering and doing a bit of demo work on the side, which I really enjoyed as I like talking and interacting with people – especially with products I’m passionate about. I also started helping out when reps were going away on holidays, presenting new products to owners, and constantly looking for stuff to do to help out in stores. As such, my work was noticed and it was suggested to me that I should apply for the role of Merchandising Supervisor. In this role, I took on 20 merchandisers and made some pretty severe changes in some areas. I worked on creating relationships between the supervisors, contractors and sales reps; and set some really good teams up. I also worked on my IT skills – I crashed the computer two times on my first day in the role so I really needed to upskill! I am really into self-training and improving my skills, so I took a computer course outside of work to help with that. I was always putting my hand up to do displays and help out the Territory Managers – the more knowledge I have from them makes my job a lot easier.

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Meet Angela Durham Field Merchandising Manager

Your job title is Field Merchandising Manager – can you tell us a bit about it? I have just recently been promoted to the job I’ve been after since the start! My new role involves managing the Merchandising Supervisors. I’ve gone from managing 20 people, to all the merchandising staff in the South Island which amounts to about 95 people.

Congratulations! What do you think were the key reasons you got to where you are today? As a merchandiser, I could have gone into sales, which is what many do, but I knew that wasn’t where I wanted to go. Everything I have done in my career so far has been to get me to where I am right now. I have put in a lot of time, effort and hard work, as well as making sure I am a reliable and take ownership for everything I’ve done – I think this is really important. When I employ merchandisers, I tell people to think about the role and where they want the role to take them. If you want to stay as a merchandiser, that’s fine, but be the best merchandiser that you can be. If you want to use merchandising as a foot in the door, then make that your goal and do everything you can to achieve it.

What piece of advice could you offer to someone looking to progress their career through Goodman Fielder? Goodman Fielder always offers a lot of support to their staff – they don’t want anyone to fail and will help everyone to make sure they succeed. As a merchandiser you can be as successful as you let yourself be, which can sometimes mean stepping outside of your comfort zone. Additionally, always ask questions, because that’s a great indicator to showing people you are engaged and interested.

Keeping the community smiling Nina Gooding works with the Southern DHB providing free basic dental services and education to kids in the community. What does being a Dental Therapist do?

Did you know where you wanted to go from school?

We provide routine dental check-ups for children in the community, from pre-school age to 18 year olds. We teach them healthy habits regarding brushing their teeth, perform routine dental procedures like fillings, and provide referrals for more serious issues to dentists.

Nope! I don’t think I even knew it was a job when I first started thinking about careers. I knew I wanted to do something that was health related and helped people in the community. I looked at the health related stands at career’s expo’s and University open days which is where I came across Dental Therapy. I went to Otago University to study when I left school and then started with the DHB.

What do you enjoy most about your role? I really enjoy meeting kids in the community and getting to know them over the years. As we treat kids from pre-school age, we quite often see them when we go back to schools and it’s nice to see them growing up and doing well. I also like the opportunity I have to work across different clinics in the region, as it provides a bit of variety to the work day.

What would a typical work day look like for you? Every day is quite varied. As we travel across Plunket centres, primary schools and high schools, the age group changes from week-to-week, which means we have to change our approach accordingly. We typically see around 15 kids a day, and I would mainly be performing basic check-ups and running through dental hygiene practices, but occasionally I have to perform fillings or extractions.

HEALTHCARE

Meet Nina

What subjects and interests would you recommend people take if they were interested in this pathway? You definitely need to be taking science, especially biology and health as they both play a big part of what you learn at uni. As a person, you need to be someone who wants to, and enjoys working with people; and someone works well with kids as sometimes you have to be very patient and calm their nerves.

What advice would you give to a student wanting to enter the healthcare sector? Just go for it! Work hard and you’ll succeed.

www.southerndhb.govt.nz/careers

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Every day is different in the IT industry University of Waikato graduate Tom Lochore is working his way to his dream job at Datacom, thanks to his Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences. Tom Lochore is on the path to his dream job in the IT industry, after graduating from the University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours in 2016.

Tom works as a Scrum Master, or project manager, at Datacom, a company that builds, designs, and runs IT systems for businesses. He enjoys the variety his job offers; every day is different depending on the projects at hand. “There is no such thing as a typical day at Datacom and that’s what keeps it interesting,” he says. Tom started with Datacom as a graduate software engineer, transitioning to a project manager role one year later. In Tom’s eyes, working in the IT industry is not just about computer science – it’s about bringing value to people and creating real-world results. “I get really invested in the outcome of my work and I love making a positive difference in people’s lives.” Tom decided to enrol at university after working in sales for several years in telecommunications, because he wanted to move into the more technical side of the industry. He chose the University of Waikato due to its close proximity to his Raglan home and because of the practical aspects of Waikato’s Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences. While at university, Tom worked on several real-world projects. During his Honours studies, he researched genetic evolution, developing an artificial network to map the human brain to create artificial intelligence. Tom also won a Summer Research Scholarship two years in a row, allowing him to put his

Tom now works for Datacom after graduating from the University of Waikato with a Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours in 2016. skills into practice, while also getting paid. Tom took advantage of these scholarships to learn how to create a machine learning system, a form of artificial intelligence which enables software applications to more accurately predict outcomes without requiring programming. Tom’s first machine learning system was designed to predict and add the appropriate macrons to Māori words. His work on this system is now used by the Ministry of Justice. Another summer research project involved creating a machine learning system to optimise space in wind farms, increasing kilowatts for the lowest possible cost. Tom found success in extracurricular university activities, winning first place at the 2013 Innes 48 Business Startup competition. As a member of Team Lightbulb, Tom created a

digital immigration advisory to help streamline the immigration application process, reducing the cost for immigrants. “The practical elements of the University of Waikato’s course really helped to prepare me for the work I would be expected to do in the industry. I recommend students get involved with Waikato’s Summer Research Scholarships because they give you great work experience and allow you to form good relationships with your lecturers – I still keep in touch with them today!” Tom enjoyed the flexibility the University offered, broadening his horizons by taking all of his elective subjects outside of the Computing and Mathematical Sciences faculty.

I took interest papers in finance, philosophy and physics. However, computer science was my top priority, because I knew I really wanted to be in this industry.” Tom enjoys his job at Datacom and looks forward to his career in the IT industry. “I would really like to work my way up to senior a management role at Datacom. I’m very grateful that my degree and experience scored me such a fantastic job in the industry I have always wanted to be in.” A Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences will give you the practical skills you need to succeed in the IT industry. Visit waikato.ac.nz/go/ computerscience to apply to start study in 2018

“One of the best things about studying at Waikato was the wide range of subjects available –

Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

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Green Lights Ahead From “petrol head” to a career, we talk to Cloe White on her experiences in the industry and how she’s breaking stereotypes

AUTOMOTIVE

What does your role involve? I work in the parts department at Tasman Toyota New Plymouth, as an Apprentice Parts Consultant. In my role, I help select and order parts for our workshop, over the counter customers and trade customers nationwide. Through my time here, I have received a lot of training and support; Toyota New Zealand have a lot of courses to help me with my role and expand my knowledge about cars and car parts. I also get the opportunity to go into the workshop with the technicians and see where the part is and what it does if I need more understanding; and a great team to support me if I need help with a challenging situation or difficult customer.

How have you found your time at Tasman Toyota so far? I have really enjoyed it so far – it is so different from any other job I have experienced. The level of support and development I have received from my time at Toyota is far beyond what I received in previous jobs, and has greatly exceeded my expectations. I don’t think many places offer the same kind of support as what I have received over the past year; Toyota have really helped me with anything and everything.

What specific skills have you learnt? The biggest skill I have gained is my customer service skills. The ability to deal with good and bad customers in a calm and effective manner has really helped me to be better at my job. With the development of these skills, I feel like I am much more relaxed on the phone and with decision making. Additionally, I have gained a lot of computer skills, as my job requires me to use data spreadsheets and the mailing system among other things.

What interests you about the industry? I guess I have always been a little bit of a petrol head… Growing up my Dad has a passion for cars and motorbikes, so I was exposed to the industry from a young age. Now I can say that I do have a genuine love for cars and the industry itself. I also like the challenge of being a female in the automotive industry. I find that there is still a lot of preconceived assumptions about my knowledge and capability because of this, so it is a great feeling when I can prove that I know my stuff and provide top notch service to those customers.

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Meet Cloe

Parts Consultant at Tasman Toyota New Plymouth

What advice would you give to a young person who wants to get into the automotive industry? Go for it! It may be a little bit difficult to begin with, but there is a whole range of things you can do as a student to make your entry into the industry easier. When I was at school, I was involved with the Gateway programme and started working one day a week in a workshop as an automotive technician. I did “car classes” at school, and I also did a pre-trade course at WIT which covered a range of roles from automotive technician to auto-electrical and this gave me a good taste of the industry. My advice would be to get out there and see what programmes your school can connect you with. A lot of smaller workshops prefer to bring on students for work experience through a programme like Gateway, rather than someone who walked off the street.

Where do you see yourself in the next few years? I definitely see myself still in the automotive industry. Once you are in it, it is quite easy to move around so who knows where I will end up! Basically, I see myself with more qualifications and a better knowledge of the industry. I know that Tasman Toyota offer a range of industry courses so I will definitely be looking in to what else I can study with them. The appeal for me with Toyota and this industry is working with a brand and trade that is globally recognised – and I think that is pretty cool!

“We believe that if you can dream it you can do it” Find out more about Toyota careers.toyota.co.nz

Get a Career that Counts

develop both professionally and personally. I also really enjoy influencing and helping business owners get to where they want to go. It is really satisfying when you help create a financial plan for a business and then see it come to life.

Did you know what you wanted to do leaving school?

Making Career Dreams a Reality

I knew that I wanted to be in business, and in some form of corporate leader capacity. I knew at the time that I should leverage my strengths with numbers to head in that direction, which is why I majored in accounting at uni and I definitely cannot say that I would have anticipated the specific journey that took me to where I am today though!

So tell us, how did you get to where you are now? I am a person who plans a lot, so I knew that when I left high school I would be heading straight to university. While I was studying, I had the opportunity to work part-time in a small business, where I got a lot of practical experience in conjunction to the theoretical knowledge I was learning at uni. I think that this combination of theory and practice really set me up for the career I have today. I would say it almost put me slightly ahead of other people at uni who weren’t working in jobs related to their field. Once I graduated, I was involved in a few junior accounting roles, before moving Lion. I was able to grow up through the business, and it was at this point where I knew that I really wanted to be a senior finance leader. From there I went to Villa Maria, before starting at SmartFoods as their Financial Controller.

ACCOUNTING

A career in business as a Chartered Accountant can open up a world of opportunity. From working for a top kiwi brand, to working overseas for a large multinational company, or innovating product developments for the latest start-up there are various paths for you to make a difference with a career in business.

What are some of the highlights of working at SmartFoods? It would have to be the team and the people – there is very much a family vibe; we know a lot about each other in and outside of work. The people are definitely the highlight, but as I mentioned earlier I really like the variety of the work that I do. I am constantly being challenged and doing things I haven’t had the opportunity to do before, which keeps me excited.

NAME: Stephanie Cooper-Poka CA ROLE: Financial Controller at

SmartFoods Ltd What is your current role? Do you have a typical day? I am the Head of Finance in a privately owned company, SmartFoods Ltd. I guess you could say I don’t really have a typical day – because I work in both an operational and tactical role. My workload is very varied. I’m responsible for technical things like making sure suppliers are paid on time, but I also help the leadership team and owners of SmartFoods plan and strategise to achieve our five year goals.

What do you enjoy about your role? I really love the fact that not one day is the same. I enjoy working with my team; watching and helping them grow and

How would you describe a Chartered Accountant? Someone who adds value to a business. CAs are not just number crunchers, but people who can interpret numbers to assist businesses in achieving their goals.

How has being a Chartered Accountant helped in your career? Having the CA qualification has given my employers confidence in my technical knowledge. They know that I have dedicated a lot of my life to achieving this qualification, which shows that I know my stuff. Being a Chartered Accountant opens a lot of doors, especially through their networking events which are a great way to meet new people.

What career advice would you give to yourself when you were leaving school? Not to put so much pressure on myself – you aren’t expected to know all the answers at that stage. I would suggest to try career pathways where you have a passion, and where you will have fun because then it isn’t really work.

Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

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A One-Way Ticket to San Francisco Tell us briefly about your role

ACCOUNTING

I work at KPMG as a Senior Associate in the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and Transaction Services Practice. Generally, my role involves analysing large sets of financial information, normalising and adjusting earnings, looking at entities working capital, running reports and attending management meetings.

Would you say there is a typical day for you, or is it varied? To be honest, every day varies depending on what project I’m on, and what stage it’s at. I’ve been lucky enough to get to work with a variety of different businesses in various sectors, which I enjoy as it keeps my work fresh and interesting. On any given day, I could be analysing large sets of financial information, looking to understand the risks and key drivers of what actually makes the business run and what their earning and projections are.

How did you get to where you are now? I guess you could say I have always had an affinity for numbers, I always picked very maths and number-based subjects when I was at high school. Accounting was something that I ended up becoming really good at, so I thought I’d just build on that at university. During my penultimate year I joined EY as an intern and thoroughly enjoyed that as well, so I knew I was heading in the right direction. I finished off uni and started back there full time, completed my Chartered Accountants (CA) qualification and then thought it was time for a change of scenery – so I packed my bags, bought a one-way ticket to San Francisco and here I am now working for KPMG.

NAME: Rishabh Tandon CA

How has becoming a Chartered Accountant helped to get you where you are today?

So we worked with them and came up with some really innovative ideas to really refresh their budgeting and forecasting processes, to make sure they were ordering inventory just in time to make their stock. Sometimes coming in to a business with a fresh pair of eyes you can come up with the things that the client ordinarily wouldn’t have thought of and help them solve problems they don’t always know they have – which is something clients really value.

Being a Chartered Accountant is probably the main reason that I’m sitting here in a brand new city working at a very highly regarded firm. The skills you acquire as a CA are really, really transferable. It is a globally recognised qualification, something that employers and clients all around the world really value and want to see in someone dealing with their accounts. The reputation of the CA qualification would be one of the biggest factors that got me to where I am now.

Can you tell us a time your skills as a CA have really helped you in business? The skills I’ve acquired as a Chartered Accountant are really transferable to different sorts of sectors and the work that you do on a day-to-day basis. There was one particular client of mine in the food manufacturing industry who was having some issues with their inventory management, with a lot of stock being wasted.

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ROLE: Senior Associate at KPMG

What is one of your biggest career highlights? My personal career highlight would definitely have to be having the ability to pack up my life to come and live and work in San Francisco. I think I set myself a solid foundation working at EY in their assurance practice. After some time there, I felt within myself that I was ready for a change of scenery and a new challenge. The Chartered Accountant qualification really gave me the ability to do that, and now that I’ve made the move to the San Francisco, I’m working in transaction services in Mergers and Acquisitions, which is something that I’ve always wanted to do.

NAME: Paul Churchman CA ROLE: Senior Account Manager and

NZ Head of Agri-Business at Xero NZ

about three days travelling. If I’m in Waikato that involves driving my ute down, but otherwise I’m flying around the country and liaising with firms. I’ll then spend another day in the office, planning ahead and following up meetings.

Did you know what you wanted to do at school? This is actually quite a funny story. I took Year 11 accounting at school, but I wasn’t a great student and only got 14/24 credits so I didn’t continue with it. I dropped out of school altogether in Year 13 to play rugby in France, so becoming a Chartered Accountant was really the last thing on my mind. I did a year overseas, came back and started at Victoria University of Wellington in the Business School. I managed to pass my first year accounting paper quite well, so I decided I’d give that a crack in second year. Fast forward five years and I was out celebrating my last CA exam when I ran into a teacher from my high school who insisted on ringing my old accounting teacher to tell him the good news. He said to me: “Well Paul, you always were a smart bugger, you just never applied yourself”. That was possibly one of the best phone calls I’ve ever had!

ACCOUNTING

Discovering Opportunities Along the Way

How did you get to where you are now? I started at a medium-sized firm in Wellington after I graduated, and they were bought by Deloitte a year later, so I was lucky to experience two very different environments. I finished my Chartered Accountants Program at Deloitte, but I realised that becoming a CA doesn’t hold you to being an accountant – it actually opens more doors for you, which is how I started at Xero as a teacher. Because I had experience in practice, I was able to apply that knowledge in my training sessions around the country. Within nine months, I had moved to a Senior Accounts role. I had never done sales in my life, but my ability to engage with clients and hold conversations really became a strength in the field.

How would you describe a Chartered Accountant?

What is your current role and what do you enjoy about it? I am a Senior Account Manager at Xero NZ, and also the NZ Head of Agri-Business. As a Senior Account Manager, I am responsible for all of the accounting firms in Waikato, Taranaki and Gisborne – which amounts to about 200 firms. I help them implement Xero and use it more efficiently. As the NZ Head of Agri-business, I travel around the country hosting meetings to educate and upskill various firms about how to utilise Xero in the agriculture sector.

What does a typical day look like for you? I wouldn’t say I have a typical day, more of a typical week. Mondays I spend in the office. There are six other region managers so we meet up weekly to catch up. I then spend

There is an old stereotype as an accountant being an old man in glasses sitting behind a computer with no social skills, and that is something I take offence from, because it is fundamentally wrong! In the new age of CAs, there is a huge weighing of young professionals who dramatically influence the field because they are enthusiastic, passionate, thoughtprovoking decision makers. Over my three years in practice, a key takeaway for me was that accounting is now a services based industry – it is less and less manual number punching. Historically, you wouldn’t have thought of accounting as a field for people, but that is increasingly what it is becoming.

What career advice would you give to yourself when you were leaving school? Only so many people make it in professional rugby, so if that’s not the route for you, be open to all opportunities that come your way. Try and put yourself in a position where you aren’t pigeon holed into one route, because you generally don’t know what you want to do when you are 18. Also, seek out a professional mentor, they are really helpful to go to when you need advice or encouragement.

Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

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From Kaikohe to the world HEALTHCARE

I’m from a small town where sometimes it can feel that nobody really matters to anyone. You can easily be dismissed as a nothing if you don’t try to push through the stereotypes. Growing up in Kaikohe wasn’t the issue; it was the people who surrounded me. I saw and heard a lot of things that kids shouldn’t. I saw thugs and gangsters roaming the streets and in my school, almost every kid had a gang colour to ‘rep’. Kaikohe isn’t much different from other towns in Aotearoa New Zealand. The big difference is quality schools and lack jobs. Most people who I saw dropped out of school, lived off their parents, or worked in a supermarket, not because they wanted to but because they could see no other choice. I’m lucky. I have a dad with a full-time job and a family who loves me and values education. I want to study medicine and one day become a pathologist. But because I went to a small, low decile high school I knew that compared to what other students learned in top decile schools, what I was learning was so much less. For us, well, there are only seven physics teachers for all 28 schools in Northland. I understood that I’d have to work for my dream. So I did. I worked harder than I ever thought I could. I spent my holidays learning organic chemistry because my school didn’t teach it. I needed these unit standards for uni, so I had to learn two years of classes in two weeks by myself. Studying like crazy paid off and I got accepted into the Certificate of Health Science this year, a one-year programme to prepare Māori and Pacific students for tertiary study in health professions. It seemed like I really could make my dream a reality. And yet, it turned out my hard work and determination just weren’t enough.

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Did you know to be a student in Auckland city is really expensive? Especially when your parents don’t live here. I was accepted into the University’s student residence, O’Rorke Hall, but to move in I had to pay a bond and weekly rent. Now that may not sound like a big deal but it was a heck of a lot money to me. By now you’re thinking, why didn’t I save up money at high school, or why don’t I get a job this year? By now you’re thinking, why didn’t I save up money at high school, or why don’t I get a job this year? In Kaikohe, it’s incredibly difficult to get a job and I needed every spare moment to study to pass exams. I still do, which makes it really hard to find flexible work during the semester that fits around the extra study I need to do. Just when a way forward seemed impossible, I received a scholarship. I don’t know if the people who made the scholarship possible will ever really understand the difference this made for me and my family. I’m the eldest in my family and for my siblings to see that I’ve made it to university is worth the stress and madness. It makes it even more rewarding that I can show people who watched me grow up that the place you live in doesn’t have to hold you back. It’s the mind set you use that helps you get places in the world. Kindest regards Te Orakiri Patricia Graham

Studying like crazy paid off and I got accepted into the Certificate of Health Science this year, a oneyear programme to prepare Māori and Pacific students for tertiary study in health professions. It seemed like I really could make my dream a reality. How you can help Each year, people just like you are the driving force in making university accessible to students like Te Orakiri. If you would like to help students with a gift of as little as $1 to a faculty scholarship fund, you can donate to a faculty scholarship fund.

Donate today www.giving.auckland.ac.nz/appeal

BACHELOR OF HEALTH SCIENCES IT

“I decided to study this undergraduate degree because I am passionate about issues like health inequity, and racial and ethnic, social and environmental justice. After this, I am looking to do postgraduate study, with a focus on population health research.” Bruce Kidd is studying for a Bachelor of Health Sciences

Programme overview

Programme structure

The BHSc provides a multidisciplinary understanding of health, healthcare and its services in New Zealand.

This is a three year degree (360 points)

It focuses on population health, considering issues such as the socio-economic and behavioural factors affecting health and health provision. It will provide an in depth understanding of the role governments play in determining health policy, how wealth systems function, and how the biological and social bases of ill-health exist in our communities.

In your first year (Stage I) you will study a combination of core courses in population health and health systems (135 points) You have a selection of elective courses you can choose from the Bachelor of Health Sciences Schedule (120 points) For your second and third years (Stage II-III), you can either pursue a generic BHSc degree or choose from one of our career pathways that will allow you to focus on a particular subject.

Pathways are: • Health Promotion • Mental Health and Addictions • Population Health Nutrition • Health Systems • Health Information and Analysis • Research

Apply Applynow. now. www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/bhsc www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/bhsc Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

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YOUTH HELP HUB Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.

FREE PHONE 0800 37 66 33 You can talk to a real person who understands what it's like to be a young person and is trained to help you with whatever is going on.

FREE TXT 234 We have trained counsellors who are keen to chat with you in txt about anything big or small.

WEB BASED CONNECTION Through Youthline's web chat at youthline.co.nz you can live chat with us.

SELF ASSESSMENT TOOLS A range of self-assessment quizzes at youthline.co.nz will help you to figure out why you are feeling the way you are about whatever is bothering you and what you can do about it.

ONLINE VIDEO COUNSELLING Video counselling increases accessibility to our face to face services in case you don't have transport or you cannot make it to a couple of sessions.

TXT BASED E-THERAPY Is a ten-week programme we designed to help you to manage anxiety and/or depression. To sign up go to youthline.co.nz.

INSPIRE ME

Inspire me is a daily inspirational txt message to encourage you in your journey. To join txt "inspireme" to 234.

INFO You can find a wide range of information for young people and families facing a tough time at youthline.co.nz.

GOOD2GREAT - PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Good2Great is an interactive, fun online app that helps you explore who you are and grow to be the best you can be. Visit the homepage at youthline.co.nz to play.

EMAIL - talk@youthline.co.nz You can always get in touch with us via email 24/7.

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EXPLORE FUTURE GOALS ALONGSIDE SOMEONE WHO WILL LISTEN AND CAN HELP. Get in touch if you are 16 or 17, you are living or studying in Central Auckland, North Shore or Rodney AND IF YOU Have struggled to achieve or stay in school Have low NCEA results Are thinking of leaving school, or have left We can help you work out your goals, and a plan to achieve them so you get to where you want to be. CONTACT call 0800 2 YOUTH youthservice@youthline.co.nz free text "MENTORING" to 234 visit youthline.co.nz We look forward to hearing from you. / 23

WHO IS YOUR TOP EMPLOYER? NxtStep, in conjunction with Talent Solutions, has pooled 9 of New Zealand’s most sought after graduate employers. These employers were selected as the “Top 9” based on an objective survey of university graduates.

DELOITTE

FONTERRA

As one of New Zealand’s leading professional services firms, Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, risk and financial advisory services through over 1,000 professionals across the country, as well as being a large international organisation.

Fonterra is a global, cooperatively owned company with its roots firmly planted in New Zealand’s rich land, working to unlock every drop of goodness from the 22 billion litres of milk we collect each year, and sharing it with the world. Fonterra recognises that the success of their company depends on their people, and through a graduate programme that has been successfully running for over 40 years, they are committed to providing graduates with a unique, challenging and exciting experience in an environment where your contribution and ideas are welcomed.

People and culture is what sets Deloitte apart from the rest, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, collaboration, high performance and opportunity. At Deloitte, you’ll be doing work that matters, on projects that matter from day one. If you’d rather do meaningful than menial, Deloitte may be the right fit for you.

FISHER & PAYKEL HEALTHCARE

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Fisher and Paykel Healthcare is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a range of innovative healthcare devices which incorporate unique features to improve patient care.

The Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD) purpose is to help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent. It provides services that make a real difference to the lives of New Zealanders.

Millions of patients worldwide use their broad and growing range of medical devices, and it is their commitment to improving patient care with innovative technologies which has allowed them to grow and offer unique and rewarding opportunities to their employees.

The work is challenging, with high risks and high public expectations. To turn their visions into reality, MSD needs great people who share their values to work with them. They are committed to providing a work environment that is supportive, collaborative and helps develop graduates’ skills and experiences.

Fisher and Paykel Healthcare has a dedicated graduate programme which exposes graduates to all facets of the business, fully supporting them as they develop their knowledge and skills through on the job training and additional training workshops. They believe inquiring minds can challenge conventional wisdom, which is why they value their graduates vision and creativity highly.

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MSD’s graduate programme includes IT, Policy and Legal. These structured programmes offer you the opportunity to gain exposure in different areas of the business and professional mentorship programmes with senior management.

PwC

AUCKLAND COUNCIL

As the leading business advisory firm in New Zealand, PwC is working with the best clients on the best projects every day. Graduates are encouraged to tackle new challenges, achieve their goals and develop a career that stands out from the rest. PwC focuses on partnering with their clients to constantly create and add value, and graduates have a chance to with work private and public companies, regional and local governments, high net worth individuals and charities.

Auckland Council is the largest local authority in Australasia, with a team of over 9,500 people achieving things that have never been done in New Zealand.

At PwC, ‘leadership’ is about being yourself, being courageous and being different. As a PwC professional, you will be supported with a coach and buddy to develop your business skills, as well as growing your leadership potential and learning life skills that will be valuable wherever your career takes you.

hey are passionate about creating a world class city T where talent wants to live, and look for graduates to share our passion for Auckland. Graduates have the opportunity to work on large scale projects that are shaping the city, and the council’s two-year programme is designed to provide broad experience through rotations, exposure to senior leaders and a tailored training programme so you can further develop your skills. The graduate programme runs across 23 different departments, and recruits from a wide range of disciplines from Architecture and Communications to Finance, Cultural Studies and Sciences.

BECA Beca is one of the largest employee-owned professional services consultancies in the Asia Pacific. With over 3,000 people based in 19 offices around the world, Beca people are engineers, architects, planners, surveyors, project managers, asset managers and valuers. Beca pride themselves on being big enough to secure major projects, to provide leading edge skills and international opportunities to their graduates and employees, whilst being small enough for you as an individual to make an impact.

GOOGLE Google is one of the largest and most renowned companies in the world, and provides one of the best graduate programmes one could aspire to.

AECOM With an experienced global team, AECOM is built to deliver a better world. From remote villages in developing nations, to some of the world’s largest and most vibrant cities, they design and deliver infrastructure that creates lasting and positive change. AECOM values graduates as their collaborative thinking, bold use of technology and appetite for delivering solutions to complex challenges keep their business focused, energised and fit for the future. For these reasons, AECOM seeks graduates from a range of disciplines, including civil, environmental, mechanical and chemical engineering (among others), as well as design, planning and cost management fields. As a graduate, AECOM provides opportunities to work alongside industry leaders on iconic projects that help shape and connect our cities and communities.

At Google, they don’t just accept difference – they celebrate, support and thrive on it for the benefit of their employees, their products and the community. Google prides itself on being an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. With internships available over a range of fields – including product management, sales and marketing, finance, security, operations and many more; starting your career at Google will send your career to new heights, even before it has begun.

Find out who else is in NZ’s Top 50 graduate employers www.top50graduateemployers.co.nz

Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

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ACTUARY

A CHAT WITH A FUTURE ACTUARY NAME: Riley ROLE:

Power Actuarial Analyst

What does being an Actuary involve? We are looking at the financial impact that risk will have on a business. It requires using a lot of maths, statistics and business knowledge. At Sovereign, we are in the insurance industry, so our job involves evaluating the pricing of insurance policies and calculating how much they are worth to the company. I’m personally involved in the Model Development Team – we work on creating mathematical models using different kinds of software to get a better understanding of the business’s value. Becoming an Actuary also involves sitting a lot of exams – it can be a long process,taking a minimum of 5 years to be fully qualified. When I entered the workforce you couldn’t do Actuarial courses at Uni; in New Zealand typically you will work in the area and do the exams as you go.

to go and be an engineer – which is what I did. I studied chemical and process engineering at Uni, but when I finished my degreeI realised I was more interested in the business side than the technical,so I completed my Masters of Business last year. Once I finished that,I knew I didn’t want to be an engineer, but I didn’t know what else I could do. A friend of my Mum recommended I look into actuarial work,and I discovered a lot of the skills you learn in engineering were very transferrable to it, and it included the business element that I was interested in.

What is one of the best things about working at Sovereign? I do enjoy the work that I’m doing, but outside of that I really enjoy the team activities. We recently had a volunteer day, where one day a year we all get to go out and do something in the community. We went to Waiheke and spent the day gardening for a not-for-profit company and it was a lot of fun to get out of the office. There is a good culture here, everyone gets involved in company-wide and team activities… which includes things like going out to celebrate when we pass exams etc.

Becoming an Actuary requires a lot of dedication and learning, but it is a really satisfying combination of both business and mathematical skills.” How does it differ from other roles such as accounting or financial analysts? Accounting looks a lot at what has happened in the past, the history and current position of the company; whereas as actuaries, we look at the history to estimate a futuristic view of the company. We have to deal with a lot more uncertainty, so it is a lot harder to provide accurate predictions.

How did you get to where you are today? Did you know where you wanted to go from school? No! I went to a small high school, where business papers like accounting weren’t available. Because I was good at science and maths,I was told

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Where do you see yourself in the future? Hmm… I’m not really sure. I’m only 8 months into the role, so I am still just trying to learn and absorb as much as I can. I’m hoping I will be a fully qualified actuary before I turn 30, and in the meantime I guess I will just see what opportunities come up and make sure I make the most of them!

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone considering becoming an Actuary, or is perhaps interested in maths, statistics, and economics etc.? Be very open minded to what is out there, and be open to learning a lot. Becoming an Actuary requires a lot of dedication and learning, but it is a really satisfying combination of both business and mathematical skills.

What to do when you’re still not sure

Choosing what to do after school is no easy feat. To help you out, we have come up with a short process to help you start your careers research.

What are your interests?

Sometimes it can be hard to narrow it down, but what do you actually enjoy? Is there a subject(s) you really like at school? A hobby? A sport? Something on TV? Does an older sibling, friend or relative have a job that’s sounds cool when they share their work stories? Do you like helping people? Animals? The outdoors? Do you like using your hands and fixing things? Or do you prefer reading and analysing? Follow up your interests with thinking about your strengths – what are you good at? Can you tie this in to something you enjoy?

Tip: NxtStep has a wide range of career options to explore, and links them to tertiary institutions that provide the relevant qualifications.

Consider your future

Where do you see yourself if you look into the future? Do you see yourself running a corporation? Or your own small business? Working in an office, a classroom or outdoors? Building and fixing things, or teaching and helping others? Behind a computer analysing, or on the ground getting stuck in?

Identify your options

Now that you have a vague idea, through combining your interests, strengths and the future picture of yourself; what do you need to do to get you where you want to go? Do you need to study? What qualifications or experiences do you need? Are there subjects you need to take at school?

Sort through your options

Once you have some options, you need to pick the best ones for you. What do you think will suit you better? Are you happy to keep studying, or would you rather learn on the job? If you do decide to study, will a polytechnic institute or university suit you better? Are you able to study full-time, or will you need part-time or correspondence options? Would you be able to do some work experience while your still at school to try it out?

Tip: Look broader than the initial job. You might discover careers you didn’t even know existed, in the same field, doing similar things in different ways.

Make your decision

It is now time to make your decision! If you need help, talk to your parents, friends, teachers, mentors – anyone that is important in your life might be able to help. With this in mind, don’t feel like you have to go in any certain way, this is your life and it is your decision. If you still aren’t sure, some people need to take a gap year (or a couple) and spend their time travelling and working odd jobs to discover what they really want to do. MOST IMPORTANTLY, remember that you can change your mind – and that is totally OK!

If you still aren’t sure, see your school’s guidance counsellors or careers department, and look through the NxtStep website to see if anything catches your eye.

Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

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STUDY IN 2018

@ SIT

INVERCARGILL

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With over 200 courses in 33 subject areas, from Certificate to Masters, SIT has an option for you.

0800 4 0 FEES www.sit.ac.nz / 29

THE 2017

TOP STUDENT’S

TOP TIPS

TOP

STUDENT AWA R D S

Harry Flett, winner of the 2016 CA ANZ Accounting Top Student Award tells us about his experiences at university, and what it means to be a Top Student.

Tell us a bit about yourself I’m originally from England, where my Mum met my Dad on an OE, and rather than staying in England for a couple of months, ended up staying for 13 years and having two kids. I came to New Zealand when I was six years old, and grew up in Rangiora, just north of Christchurch. I’ve always had an interest in business and accounting, and that migrated me down south to the University of Otago, where I am now in my third year of a BCom majoring in Finance and minoring in Accounting. I’m passionate about music and play several instruments, and am an avid health junkie. I spend a large amount of my time tutoring at Otago, and pride myself on my ability to strip back ideas and help others understand something difficult.

Why did you choose a Bachelor of Commerce as your degree? I love people, I love numbers, and I love something that’s dynamic and constantly evolving. Business and a Bachelor of Commerce ticked all those boxes. I didn’t know that Finance would be my thing, but taking a core Finance paper quickly set me on track to love the subject.

What advice would you give to students getting ready to start university in 2018? Come willing to learn. Come willing to learn everything - not just University content, but about people and about who you are. People forget that you learn just as much outside a lecture theatre as you do in, and it’s easy to get bogged down in the daily grind. University is a chance to improve yourself, but it can sometimes be tough to accept you’re not perfect and that you need to change your approach. A lot of people are uncomfortable with change, and don’t fully take the chance to learn from their mistakes. Come with an open mind, embrace every aspect of university and absorb as much as you can, because as soon as you stop learning, university becomes a chore. Remember you’re paying to be here, so why not get your money’s worth!

Harry Flett Winner of the 2016 Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand Top Accounting Student Award

Of all your achievements, which are you the proudest of and why? Winning the Top Accounting Student Award is something I’m still super proud of (and surprised by) today. I really didn’t think I would.

How have the Top Student Awards provided opportunities for you since your win? Having the opportunity to review my own psychometric testing (at the Top Student Awards assessment centre) was huge for me. It taught me a lot about how I work as a person, and in all honesty, changed my view on a lot of things. In that sense, the Top Student Awards have provided me with a huge opportunity. Additionally, it has provided a badge of recognition that I’m proud to display to employers, which has been an opportunity in itself.

What are you planning to do once you’ve left university? I couldn’t tell you the answer right now. I plan to go somewhere that I can make a difference. Whether that’s a corporate job in the Finance industry, or managing my own start-up, I’m unsure. Time will tell.

The 2017 Top Student Awards are proudly sponsored by:

What is the most valuable piece of advice that anyone has given you? Two bits of advice have stuck with me: Have a desire to learn. The biggest determinant of success isn’t ability - it isn’t intellect, brains, or social skills - it’s the desire to improve, to learn. Learn all the time, and love doing it. Those who feel appreciated always do more than expected. Appreciate your friends, your family, your classmates, and one day, your co-workers and your boss. They’ll look after you if you do.

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To find out more about The Top Student Awards visit:

www.topstudentawards.co.nz

Campus Link powered by

Are you ready for your exams? CampusLink can help! Get up to speed with our live online revision classes. At CampusLink, our focus is on making sure you’re ready for your next academic challenge. With exams just around the corner, we’ve got a great range of online revision classes to help you get ready.

NCEA Campus

IB Campus

Cambridge Campus

View our timetable of live online classes at

www.campuslink.org Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

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FROM

ACCOUNTING TO

ZOOLOGY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN NxtStep can guide you where to go, and show you how to get there.

You only need ONE website to help you make your decision.

Take the next step with www.nxtstep.co.nz