NxtStep Magazine - Issue 7

NZ’S #1 CAREERS MAGAZINE FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS

www.nxtstep.co.nz

ISSUE 7

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

Want to know more? Head to:

youunlimitedanz.com 2

Š 2017 Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand ABN 50 084 642 571. All rights reserved. 169 MAY 2017

e plumbing

apprentice

ship takes

four years

to complete but you ca n stu over the tim dy them jointly. The re e and each one takes 1 are 12 block courses It involves 7 weeks to practical w complete. ork as well as a lot of p aper work. licence wh ich allows yo u to start yo business. ur own plum bing What skills and qualitie s do you nee You need a d really good understand to make it in your job? need to be ing of math version of New ab le toto Welcome the freshly overhauled u n d s erstand an hand/eye co d follow inst and you ordinat ion is also ru ctions. G number one school leaver careers magazine, think foZealand’s helpful. Yo ood r yourself an u need to b dNxtStep have gooIssue Customintroducing e 7. ab le d time manag to er relations ement skill is also imp ortanist. driven by s. innovative Who help The to NxtStep the new ed transition you to get where you- a careers and pathway website Nigel at N platform eustroskNxtStep are today? i Plumbindigital and my mu g and Gas h m and nan dedicated to help and guide youth finding their dream as beeninto a have also a gre work colleag at help been really es hofavlate job.uAs June NxtStep.co.nz will be live and ready for su e bee p p o rt n great as w iv e. My What futu ell. re plans/and students young job seekers to use. goals do y ou have?

Gas and thThe Honourable Nikki Kaye - our Minister of Education en I want to get my Cert overseas an begins this with anifyi inspiring our readers to d do so ng. I’d almessage meissue so lo toto plumbing. goright on paper Finally, whresist the pressure of doing what mightveseem at advice d o you have would like for youyour and courage to pursue to fohave llow in ng pedreams. ople who your foots Don’t be af teps? raid to get yo u r h an In this issue we have spotlight on the business ds dairspecial ty!

e same”

From the NxtStep Team

and accounting industry, highlighting how an accounting 0800 502 1qualification can lead you to a vast variety of exciting 02 admin@mcareers whilst unlocking global opportunities. There are a steoutstanding rlink.co.nzstories from incredible individuals with some www.maste rl in entrepreneurial k.co.nz beginnings, a range of study backgrounds and interesting careers in well-known New Zealand businesses.

21

12

30

Contents A Word from Nikki Kaye - Minister of Education

4

The Online Guide to Your Dream Job

5

Brightening the Digital Marketing Industry - Firefly

6

A Gap Year with a Purpose - Lattitude

7

Authentic & Practical Education for Little Minds - Porse Nanny Intern Programme

9

Make an Impact that Matters - Deloitte

10

Get On Board With Toi Ohomai - Toi Ohomai

11

No Two Days are Ever Really the Same - Masterlink

12

Scholar Profile - Brittany Rorrison - Russell McVeagh

13

Marketing NZ’s Most Recognised Brands - FoodStuffs New Zealand

14

A World of Opportunities with Mainfreight - Mainfreight

15

PUBLISHER: Green Door Design

Your Dream Job can Become a Reality - The University of Waikato

17

EDITOR: Nicola Gorst

Designing a Brighter Future - Media Design School

18

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Magdalena Stanuch

What is a Chartered Accountant?

- Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

19

Rising to the Top - Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

19

A Fashion-forward Iconic Leader - Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

20

A Taste for the Finer Things - Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

21

The Passport to an International Career - Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

22

Accounting for Those in Need - Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

23

Employment Experts for Tertiary Students - Student Job Search

25

Be a Part of the Healthcare Revolution - Orion

27

Start Making an Impact on your Future Today - EY

28

Accredited Programmes Pathway into Chartered Accounting - Auckland Institute of Studies

29

A Fresh Approach to Internships - AUT Internz

30

Each page is aimed at helping students and key influencers understand a variety of pathways before making the important decision of “where to next?”. Do you really know what opportunities are out there for you after finishing high school?

This issue should inspire readers to think ahead and aim high!

For further career research check out NxtStep.co.nz - launching end of June!

THE NXTSTEP TEAM

COPYWRITERS: Miah Dixon, Tayla Court 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

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

3

A word from Nikki Kaye -Minister of Education Although now pursuing a career in politics, newly appointed Minister of Education Nikki Kaye completed degrees in both Law and Genetics at University.

It can be a pretty overwhelming time when you leave school. You can feel pressured to follow a particular path or others might suggest you are destined for a certain degree or job before you even get a chance to think about it yourself.

Some people leave school and know exactly what they want to do and exactly how to get there, but others don’t.

There is no perfect formula for when you leave school. Not everybody goes on to do traditional study at university – in fact only 30% of school leavers currently do. We’ve been carrying out a substantial amount of work to make the various pathways into ongoing education easier to navigate before you step out into the big wide world.

Vocational pathways provide new ways to achieve NCEA and develop pathways to progress to further study, training and employment. We have also come a long way in providing greater equality of opportunities for women in terms of both education and careers. Good education is a lifelong investment that opens doors and gives you the power to make choices for yourself.

We live in a world where people are constantly changing not only their jobs, but also their careers, so developing 21st century skills such as digital fluency, problem solving and critical thinking will be invaluable in whatever profession you choose. Preparing yourself for work also means investing in your personal development, such as good communication skills, the ability to work in a team and respecting those around you.

My own personal path wasn’t hugely straight forward. When I was at school I lost motivation in my senior years, and it wasn’t until my principal provided some much needed words of encouragement that I began to think about what I really enjoyed and what I wanted to pursue in terms of a career.

It was while I was away at university that it became clear what my passion was. I realised that politics could give me a platform from which I could really make a difference and help improve people’s lives, which is my underlying motivation and why I love what I do.

// ISSUE 7

It is really important to find a passion and run with it. Sometimes you don’t discover what that might be immediately, but once you do it will make every working day so much more enjoyable. Don’t be afraid to try a range of different things until you do find your passion. I would also encourage every young person to find a mentor.

As the Minister for Youth I will continue to work hard to ensure that mentoring, leadership and volunteering opportunities are available for young people. However, you should also think about asking those people around you who you already know, admire and respect to be a mentor. The knowledge and advice that can be gained through a mentoring relationship is hugely valuable and can help to keep you on track when things get hard.

Remember that everyone’s path is different - so work hard, utilise the support of others, and ultimately back yourself.

I decided to go down to Otago University and study law and genetics. They were areas that I was interested in – particularly science. I knew that I didn’t want to become a lawyer, but realized the value of a law degree to sharpen skills such as critical thinking and developing and presenting an argument.

4

While politics can be challenging, I knew that it was the best place for me to be.

Try to resist the pressure to do what might seem the right fit on paper and have the courage to pursue what you want to do.

One awesome example of this is a young woman named Rez Gardi.

Rez, who is the 2017 Young New Zealander of the Year, was born in a United Nations refugee camp in Pakistan. When Rez was six years old, her family escaped their homeland and settled in New Zealand.

Despite English being her fourth language she has gone on to become the first person in her family to graduate from secondary school and attend university and is now New Zealand’s first female Kurdish lawyer. Rez is an outstanding example of someone who has overcome significant barriers, and has used her personal experience to make a difference. Rez exemplifies that barriers are made to be broken. If you have the courage, you can do anything and forge the path that you have dreamt for yourself.

Remember that everyone’s path is different - so work hard, utilise the support of others, and ultimately back yourself.

The Online Guide to Your Dream Job ...introducing nxtstep.co.nz

In School As a high school student NxtStep will be a place to research what careers might interest you, and how to get there - whether it is becoming a Builder, Civil Engineer, Veterinarian or one of many other career options available.

NxtStep will guide you to achieve your career dream by outlining the study and qualifications you will need as well as your options on where you can study.

School Leaver Being a school leaver is the time where you have to make important decisions.

NxtStep can help you choose between further study at University, an Institute of Technology, Private Training Organisation, or entering into the work force with an entry-level role.

Looking for Entry Level Work Joining the work force without a few years of experience can often be difficult. The employers on NxtStep understand this, and will provide you with job opportunities that require no industry experience.

Cool Features • Unique and amazing career opportunities listed throughout New Zealand.

• Free account to follow employers and be updated with opportunities that will interest you.

Further Study Deciding to study at a University, Institute of Technology or Private Training Organisation can open up many doors for your future. NxtStep shows a broad range of part-time roles, internships and graduate programmes across a range of employers that match your qualification.

Employment!

NxtStep has helped you to research and structure your study to achieve your dream job.

• “Employer take over” events - chat to the organisations you want to work for!

• Compare careers, employers and roles all in one place.

• Ask career path experts for free advice.

• A range of part time and full time jobs - no experience required.

Coming to you soon... register now at www.nxtstep.co.nz and be in to WIN a Macbook Air!

WIN a Macbook Air!

Terms and conditions apply, prize will be drawn 30 November 2017

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

5

MARKETING

Brightening the digital marketing industry from humble beginnings to an empire Can you tell us about your business?

Firefly is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing and top digital marketing agencies. Our aim is to help businesses to grow in the digital marketing space. I wanted to start Firefly to bring a new and improved digital marketing service to Kiwi businesses. We work with clients to design a complete digital marketing strategy, giving full transparency whilst measuring the success of each campaign.

How have you made Firefly grow to where it is today?

What do you enjoy most about your role as CEO?

We saw an opportunity, so we took it. We have put in a lot of time and effort to make this a reality; when we started, we worked side jobs whilst spending nights and weekends working on Firefly. My business partner (Marko Kisa) is excellent with systems and processes, which complemented my own skillset so it was a great fit. A major part of our growth has come through the strategic partnership’s we have fostered.

These relationships allow us to be in more places at once, and build connections with potential businesses quickly.

I love leading and driving the business to be successful. I thrive off challenges and goals, the freedom to make decisions and set my own schedule is important to me as well.

To build a fast-growing business, we needed to solve a problem and add value. We do that by analysing a businesses’ current underperforming digital marketing strategy, communicating why it isn’t working for them and providing tangible solutions. Importantly, we are constantly innovating our procedures to make our solutions stronger and stay ahead of the game.

When you were at high school, what kind of career did you want? Did you have any mentors?

I always wanted to be in business, but I had no idea what that would look like. Initially the plan was to become a sparky and start my own business – but after a hefty electric shock, I realised I wasn’t very passionate about the trade, so I re-evaluated. That is when I discovered digital marketing.

I started seeking mentors when I was in business, however, looking back, I wish I had mentors growing up as well – people who could have helped develop my entrepreneurial side earlier. Not only have I learnt so much from people who have already walked the path, I have built some amazing friendships along the way. I highly recommend seeking out mentors no matter what stage you are at.

What does a typical day at Firefly look like for you?

At the moment, CEO at Firefly really means Chief-of-Everything Officer. I like to be involved in all aspects of the business from consulting with clients, to helping staff and working on our strategic vision. Some of the cool things I find myself doing is travelling up and down the country, or to Australia to meet with my business advisor and having regular meetings with our suppliers like Google.

I also put a strong emphasis on personal development, so I set aside time for myself to up-skill and ensure I keep learning. I recognised early on that the company will only grow as fast as the leader within it, and I strive to be the best version of myself and improve every day. If you can improve by 1% every day – you will be 365% better after a year!

6

Anthony Baxter CEO Firefly

// ISSUE 7

Can you give me an example of a particularly exciting project you have worked on?

We have worked across many projects, but a recent exciting one for Firefly has been helping out a New Zealand not-for-profit. Knowing that the work we are doing is helping to grow a charity, improve their message in a digital space and capture a larger audience is a great project to be involved with.

What do you like about the digital marketing industry?

I love the positive impact digital marketing can have on a business, whether it be large or small. I really like how it is transparent and easy to measure performance. Digital marketing is very fast-paced and constantly changing. What works today might not work two years down the track – which keeps myself, and Firefly on our toes.

What advice would you give to students considering a career in the digital marketing industry?

Digital marketing has a range of avenues from data based roles to creative ones – so take the time to investigate them properly. I recommend doing online courses and sitting your Google certification – it’s free!

Also, try to get some practical experience. Internships are a good way to understand the industry and learn on the job. Many small agencies offer these kind of opportunities and if not, approach the business and ask for one – bend the rules!

Do you have any tips for students who want to start their own business?

You need to know that it will never feel like the right time to start a business, but if you have an idea – here are a few tips: • Start now, work hard and follow your passion. Starting a business requires dedication.

• Understand your vision, mission and values to stay focused through the ups and downs. Without a vision the rest falls through.

• Seek out mentors – you don’t have to do it alone • Focus on personal development. As you grow, the business will form and grow with you.

GAP YEAR

A Gap Year with a Purpose Markus McCraith writes from Malawi, Africa where he is part of the Lattitude Global Volunteering Gap Year programme between high school and university.

Why volunteer in Malawi?

I chose to volunteer in Malawi with Lattitude Global Volunteering because I wanted a new experience, and I thought it would be a great opportunity for personal learning and growth, whilst being able to help people in need. Even though Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, it is famous for the warm-heartedness and friendliness of its people. They have so, so little and I was interested to see how they nurture positivity in their culture.

What is your village like?

We are situated 45 minutes down a dusty dirt road in the rural village of Chimbowe, Central Malawi. It is a really nice community, with a primary and secondary school, as well as a small local shop and a maize mill.

There are 4 Lattitude volunteers in the village; the two girls teach at the primary school while myself and my volunteer partner Jack teach at the secondary school.

What does you average week consist of?

Typically, the average week day consists of teaching classes from 7:30am-2pm. Our other duties involve cooking over a charcoal burner, drawing water from the borehole and walking to the weekly market. We also get to spend a lot of time hanging out, chatting with friends and local people in the village.

What kind of projects have you worked on?

Before coming to Malawi, I thought it could be beneficial to implement a composting toilet system to introduce a more sustainable alternative to their current toilets here. After settling in to my placement, I started investigating the best way to implement a system at the school, using local resources. After establishing the rough costs of installation, I set up a givealittle fundraising page. I shared it on Facebook and thanks to my generous friends the amount needed was raised in less than a week!

The official opening ceremony of the new toilet block Markus raised funds to build at his Lattitude placement Chimbowe Secondary School.

How did you cope with living in a significantly different environment?

As Malawi is a very underdeveloped country, there are naturally many differences to home. I found the best way to cope with these differences was to set aside my past living expectations, and observe everything with an open, non-judgmental mind. I have strived to immerse myself in local life as much as possible. Cooking and eating nimsa with friends. Going to the borehole and chatting. Washing clothes with students. Buying food at the market. There is so much friendliness in the people here, so it makes it a lot easier.

What have you learnt from your Lattitude Experience?

I feel like by being put in such a different environment and way of life has increased my ability to adapt to my surrounding environment, no matter what it is. We take many things for granted living in NZ, and this experience has really changed my perspective on things. Volunteering in a local village is a great way to see and experience Malawian culture first hand.

Lattitude Global Volunteering is a youth development organisation, established in 1972. They offer highly structured and supported gap year placements for 17-25 year olds with a wide range of placement options in 12 unique countries worldwide.

Applications for 2018 are open now.

Visit www.lattitude.org.nz for more information.

7

Campus Link powered by

Need help with your high school exams?

CampusLink can help!

CampusLink provides one, two and three-day exam revision workshops for subjects across all three curriculums offered in NZ. Hosted at two Auckland schools over the holiday period, each workshop helps you review content and prepare for your upcoming exams. Classes are small, with no more than seven people, so you get plenty of one-on-one time with your tutor.

Workshops available for the following subject areas: Sciences, Maths, History, Statistics, Calculus, Business, English, Media and more‌.

The first round of revision workshops begin in July.

NCEA Campus

IB Campus

Cambridge Campus

To receive updates as we release workshop dates, head to www.campuslink.org to register your interest.

8

// ISSUE 7

The PORSE Nanny Intern Programme is available to young adults aged 17 to 25 who are interested in a career in early childhood education, and to training families who are willing to support a nanny intern to learn on the job in a home environment.

Learners are enrolled in the National Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4) and matched with a training family.

For the duration of the 20 week enrolment period, learners are placed in a family home to have practical, on the job experience in a nanny role.

Why did you choose the PORSE Programme?

Donna: I’ve always enjoyed looking after children, having babysat

children for a lot of friends and family. After my final year at Napier Girls’ High School I completed a tourism course, however, I was still thinking about the possibility of working with children. I knew from high school that PORSE offered nanny training. After the first few weeks of working with the Turfrey family I knew this was what I wanted to do.

What does the Nanny Intern Programme involve?

Donna:

I spend three afternoons with the Turfreys, helping Eva look after two-and-a-half-year-old Edward and four-month-old James. It’s great hands-on experience. I try out a lot of the activity ideas from my studies with Edward. He loves painting rocks and helping me bake. I will complete the National Certificate in Early Childhood Education over 20 weeks as well as First Aid training. A qualified Early Childcare Teacher visits me working with the Turfreys once a month, giving feedback and tips on how I can improve. She oversees all of my course work and we catch up at weekly tutorials for the nanny interns.

What attracted your family to the Nanny Intern Programme?

Eva: I started thinking about childcare options when I realised my second son was due in the middle of a very busy wedding season for photography. I was starting to get anxious about how I was going to cope with my workload and be a mum to a toddler and a baby. I felt I couldn’t justify the expense of a fully qualified nanny as I can work from home at times and have help from family. The Nanny Intern Programme really appealed to me because of the low cost and the support I get. We pay the equivalent of $5 an hour, which covers Donna’s course fees.

CHILDCARE

Authentic & practical education for little minds M eet 1 9 y ea r o l d D o n n a M en d s , a PO RS E N a n n y In t e r n , w i t h E va a n d E va ’ s ki d s Ed w a rd a n d Ja m es What does a Training Family get from the Programme?

Eva: At the bare minimum, I thought an extra pair of hands would be

handy but it has really exceeded my expectations. Donna is here during the hours of 5-7pm, so instead of my husband walking through the door and having tasks thrown at him from a stressed mother, he is able to unwind and play with the kids because they have been bathed and had their dinner. As a training family, I supervise Donna fifty per cent of the time. Having to articulate what makes a good parent to Donna makes me think about how I approach parenting.

Where to next for you?

Donna: I love working with the Turfreys. Eva is a really good teacher,

I’ve learnt a lot from her. I want to keep working as a nanny and see where it takes me. This programme is a great first step. I could go on to work as a nanny abroad or continue my training by completing a degree.

It’s a really good introduction to a career in early childhood education and care.

The Nanny Intern Programme is now available online.

The PORSE Nanny Intern Programme is available all over New Zealand.

The online programme breaks down barriers and enables anyone anywhere to enrol. It’s giving young people in places like Whangarei and Invercargill options to study from home while gaining skills toward a rewarding career in childcare.

PORSE Education and Training has recently been recognised as one of the top tertiary providers in New Zealand.

As a leading in-home childcare provider and private training establishment, PORSE was awarded a ‘highly confident’ rating by the NZQA as a result of an external evaluation and review process.

We are now taking applications for 2018, with our first intake of the year beginning in February.

Contact PORSE to find out about how you can become a Nanny Intern on 0800 023 456 | www.porse.co.nz Want more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz

9

ACCOUNTING

Make an impact that matters.

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.

We had a chat to Isaac Robinson, a University of Waikato Management Studies graduate, to give us some insight about what it’s like to work at a Big Four accounting firm.

Meet Isaac Robinson member of Deloitte Tax & Private team Qualification: Bachelor of Management studies at The University oF Waikato High school: New Plymouth Boys High School

Why did you choose a career at Deloitte?

I chose a career at Deloitte because of the reputation, values and brand it is based on. I started out with a summer internship during uni, which was where I had the opportunity to get an insight into what life at Deloitte was really like. My team were extremely supportive and welcoming, which stood out for me.

On top of this, I realised there was a lot to learn, and Deloitte has great training and support networks which helped me along the way. Most importantly, Deloitte has a great culture which makes coming to work a lot more enjoyable.

What is your role at Deloitte?

What did you study?

I am currently a consultant in the Tax and Private division, working on small to medium enterprises, the Māori Sector, trusts and high net worth individuals.

I studied a Bachelor of Management Studies at The University of Waikato, majoring in accounting. While studying, I also put a lot of time into any additional learning opportunities which came along, to add to my skillset and open career opportunities. This included learning Mandarin and spending some time in China as part of my degree.

What do you do on an average day?

It is hard to describe an average day at Deloitte because each day is different. In Tax and Private, we do a lot of end-of-year reporting and tax returns; but we also have other compliance work such as GST returns, PAYE, provisional tax and Xero administration. This sort of work gives me the opportunity to meet with clients often, which is a part of the job that I really enjoy. I also have the opportunity on some occasions to get out of the office and be based on site with a client. As Deloitte has a wide range of service lines, from time to time my division links up with others such as Consulting or Risk Advisory. This provides a little taste of what the other service lines do, and is a great chance for me to add to my ‘tool box’ of skills.

What advice do you have for students?

My advice would be to make the most of any and all opportunities that come your way. There is always a learning experience that you can take from these opportunities, which will only better yourself and open doors for your career. Volunteering, work and team experiences make you stand out from the crowd when you are looking for a job after studying. Most employers are looking for individuals who do the extras, rather than just those with good grades, so make sure you can build up as much detail about yourself as you can.

www2.deloitte.com/nz 10

// ISSUE 7

GET ON BOARD WITH STUDY

TOI OHOMAI

Bay of Plenty’s newest tertiary provider is turning student dreams into reality Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is the largest tertiary provider in the Bay of Plenty and the third biggest in the country. 14,000 students have made the choice to study with us at one of five main campuses in Rotorua, Tauranga, Taupō, Tokoroa and Whakatāne.

What can you study at Toi Ohomai?

Where do we start! We have a huge range of study options from degrees to diplomas, certificates and post-graduate study. Our most popular areas of study include marine science, nursing, business, creative, engineering, sport, forestry, horticulture, hospitality and tourism.

What makes us different?

You can’t beat our location – the Bay of Plenty is an adrenalin junkie’s dream. Whether you’re into mountain biking, surfing, or anything that gets the heart racing, we’ve got it all!

On a serious note – you’ll have access to some incredible facilities. Our brand new creative arts building recently opened

at the Windermere Campus in Tauranga with state-of-the-art music studios and radio broadcasting facilities, creative studios and Mac suites. If you’re studying health care or nursing at our Mokoia Campus in Rotorua, you’ll have access to the simulated learning environment in the flagship Health and Science Centre.

Photo: Mark Hamilton

Who are we?

When you study at Toi Ohomai, you’re not just a number. Our classes are small, our tutors know you by name and if they notice you’re not in class for a few days, you can expect a phone call!

We’ll do everything we can to help you succeed – you’re part of our whānau and we want to see you graduate as much as your own family does!

What do our students say?

Rotorua-based Bachelor of Social Work student Sharlene Cotter believes the mantra that the students are all on the same waka and leave no one behind perfectly illustrates why she chose to apply to be on the popular degree.

“Learning is embraced at Toi Ohomai and you are really supported through the process, regardless of your academic background.”

11

PLUMBING

Tell us about yourself I was born in Auckland and my family moved to Te Kuiti when I was four years old. I attended Te Kuiti Primary School, then Te Kuiti High School and after that I started working for my uncle in Te Awamutu laying concrete. I then moved to Gisborne for a short period where I worked in a sawmill, then returned home to Te Kuiti to work at Tregoweth Sawmill. I met Nigel Neustroski through rugby and approached him for a job and I’ve been with him ever since. Last year I started my apprenticeship with him through Masterlink and I’m currently in my second year. I was also recently nominated for Best First Year All Round Apprentice.

What does a typical day on the job involve?

I really enjoy working for Neustroski Plumbing and Gas because no two days are ever really the same. One day you could be fixing a broken pipe, and then the next day you could be knee deep in water trying to fix a leak or digging trenches or putting up spouting. A lot of people say it’s not a great job but I really enjoy it.

How does the apprenticeship work?

The plumbing apprenticeship takes four years to complete and drainlaying and gasfitting take two years to complete, but you can study them jointly. There are 13 block courses spread out over the 4 years. In between you are learning on the job.

It involves practical work as well as a lot of paper work.

Once you are qualified you can then go for your Certifying licence which allows you to start your own plumbing business.

What qualifications do you need to get into your job?

You need a really good understanding of maths and you need to be able to understand and follow instructions. Good hand/eye coordination is also helpful. You need to be able to think for yourself and have good time management skills.

Customer relations is also important.

Who helped you to get where you are today?

I was working with Nigel at Neustroski Plumbing and Gas and I asked him about an apprenticeship. He put me onto Masterlink and that’s how it all started.

My Regional Manager has been really supportive, I can always ring and ask him questions, they always help out a lot when you need it.

I’d definitely recommend a Masterlink apprenticeship, they are really good. They help you out with the tools and PPE at the start of your apprenticeship.

What future plans/goals do you have?

I’ll finish my apprenticeship with Neustroski Plumbing and Gas and then I want to get my Certifying. I’d also love to go overseas and do some plumbing.

Finally, what advice do you have for young people who would like to follow in your footsteps?

Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!

12

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

Jayden Higgins “No two days are ever really the same”

SCHOL AR PROFILE

LAW

Brittany Rorrison

RUSSELL McVEAGH SCHOOL LEAVERS’ SCHOLAR

About Me I grew up in Hawke’s Bay and studied at Karamu High School. I moved to Wellington in 2012 to study at Victoria University and graduated this year with an LLB/BSc (Envi). I am a Graduate in Russell McVeagh’s fantastic Environment, Planning and Natural Resources team.

Why did I choose to study law?

I was drawn to law because of a love for words, for people and for problem solving. And, of course, the Elle Woods factor.

I loved my time at university. The best thing that studying law did for me was change the way I think.

It exposed me to many different types of people with varying motivations and aspirations. It taught me to be inquisitive and back my opinions and ideas. Law makes you think critically and ask questions, teaching me to challenge information rather than accept it as fact.

Russell McVeagh Scholarships

How has the scholarship helped me?

I was incredibly lucky to receive a Russell McVeagh School Leavers Scholarship. My school Dean suggested that I apply and, for two reasons, I could not be more grateful that I did.

Firstly, the Scholarship gave me a tangible goal that motivated me throughout my five years of study. It gave me insight into legal practice, a mentor I could lean on and aspire to, and opportunities to both work and network with people at the firm. The summer I spent as a Law Clerk remains my most valued learning experience.

Secondly, the Scholarship offered me a support network. Whether sending us pre-exam chocolate or taking us out for dinner to break up the student eggs-on-toast diet, Russell McVeagh looked after us and got to know us. This care for its people is what made me sure I wanted to work at Russell McVeagh.

Join

At Russell McVeagh, we believe that young talent should be nurtured right from the start. We were the first law firm to recognise student talent and achievement through a dedicated scholarship programme. Our scholarship offers financial assistance, mentoring and the opportunity for work experience during your studies.

Each year we offer a number of scholarships to school leavers who are intending to study law at a New Zealand university.

Applications for this year’s School Leaver Scholarships open 3 July 2017 and close 21 July 2017. For more information and to apply, visit: russellmcveagh.com

Graduate Induction Trip 2017 Waiheke Island, Auckland

MARKETING

Marketing NZ’s Most Recognised Brands Stephanie Pyne Head of Retail Marketing at Foodstuffs New Zealand Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Bachelor of Arts majoring in Art History and Anthropology

What is your role at Foodstuffs New Zealand?

- What do you enjoy most about your role?

I am the Head of Retail Marketing and work across well-known kiwi brands including PAK’nSAVE and New World. The fast paced nature of the retail environment means there is a lot of variety in my role. Working in a co-operative involves dealing with a lot of stakeholders and getting to build personal relationships with locally owned and operated businesses. Being part of the marketing team exposes me to many different business units – for example retail, merchandise, supply chain, FMCG suppliers and the wider marketing team (including PR, brand, insights, customer marketing, finance and digital).

What helped you get this role? What did you study?

I studied a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing alongside a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Art History and Anthropology. I had a short stint in a marketing role in the film industry, but it wasn’t until I started working at Foodstuffs that my career really kicked off. Transitioning through different roles from a marketing co-ordinator and now the Head of Retail Marketing required a lot of motivation and ambition to apply myself. But with the support of Foodstuffs and working with a world class team of marketers I’ve been given plenty of opportunities to develop my career. With great experiences, like the Foodstuffs internal course programme and other courses and conferences offered by the likes of the Marketing Association of New Zealand.

What does a typical work day look like to you?

My team and I are working on dozens of projects at a time. In retail, your day can change quickly. But generally my day involves a lot of planning, briefing, developing, researching and executing campaigns that our customers, suppliers and local stores will love. We aim to create compelling campaigns for our brands that will drive foot traffic to our stores and engage customers with our brands. To ensure that our campaigns are making a positive impact, it is important for our team to develop campaigns backed with customer insights. We work with a range of stakeholders to find out key information, including using a panel of our customers to evaluate whether our campaigns are relevant, engaging and fun!

14

// ISSUE 7

Can you give an example of an exciting project you have worked on?

I have had the chance to work on so many exciting projects and brands which allow me to be creative and innovative. A project I have really enjoyed is the ‘Little’ series with New World. Being involved from the very start has been a fun and rewarding journey. It all started with mini grocery collectible toys called Little Shop and was something we thought was worth taking a punt on, who doesn’t love mini things? The positive results have been fantastic! To keep the campaign evolving and continue to make it exciting for customers across four years has challenged me to think “what next?”

The Little series continues to grow, last year we launched Little Garden which saw another huge success, where shoppers received free seedling kits to grow their own veggies at home. I am proud to have seen this campaign develop and continue to oversee it’s success for the New World brand.

What do you like about working in the FMCG industry?

I really like how increasingly important a marketers role is becoming in the FMCG world. A marketer can add significant value by recognising the importance of trying to solve customer’s problems, innovating and taking risks to create growth for the business. There is an increased importance on captivating people with interesting stories and making people genuinely care about your brand and the products you sell.

I love the versatility of FMCG, working for such a large organisation gives you insight into a great business operation. It is imperative we stay in tune with our customers to deliver what matters most to them. Whether it is about delivering low prices with PAK’nSAVE or providing excellent customer service at New World there’s a lot of passion that goes into delivering a great shopping experience and staying in front of the pack.

What advice would you give to students considering a career in the FMCG industry?

If you have an interest in grocery or FMCG brands/products give it a go, try different departments and get a taste of the industry. There are great graduate programmes available. You might want to own a supermarket one day or market cool products.

Stay up to date with technologies, media and global trends, in the digital world we live in its key to stay in tune with what’s going to help drive innovation that is valued.

LOGISTICS

A world of opportunities with Mainfreight

Meet Zain Zain James left school halfway through year 13, and tried a couple of other jobs before he found his fit at Mainfreight. See what he has to say about his experience, and why to him, Mainfreight feels like family.

I’ve had more opportunities than s e i t i n u t r o p p re oimagine moever aIdcould

“After deciding school wasn’t for me, I worked for a few months before getting the opportunity to start at Mainfreight. My first year has been

eh . e n i g a m i r e an I could ev

very full-on, and I’ve grown beyond my wildest dreams. I have already had opportunities I never thought would come my way, and I know that in a company like Mainfreight, there are plenty more to come.

From day dot, I have had the opportunity to be hands-on in the The moment you become a member of the operations of sorting and loading freight, rather than just watching Mainfreight family, your career hits overdrive. from the sidelines. This has allowed me to get a really good grasp on Anything is possible at Mainfreight because you the business in my first year. get to work right alongside the best people and r jobs theyou’re o f Once o le p u o c a d a part of the Mainfreight team, you really feel like you are ie tr make real-lifeudecisions. gh year 13 and I’ve

d of the family. Your attitude and effort are key in growing ro een full-on aanmember b hool halfway th ’s r a e y st r fi y ht. M to go as far as you dare.opportuyour Wet give youfrthe ies here, working hard is essential for success. It’s OK to ask a eigfreedom nitcareer Main d a h y startingIfathat d thousand questions and make the odd mistake – as long as you take it a e lr a s. I’ve and living in other ds-on freedom means mtravelling a thelearn from it. I even have my own mentor, who helped re d in st n e o d il board and w n y a h m of the world, if a new areahofrothe g in e b h beyond parts g u business T meh toin settle y way. g, in and get a grasp on how things work in the Mainfreight comeormyou’re atc verexcited w neyou st ju n a gets fired up about running th r ht would e environment. He’s been through everything I’m going through now, so eight rath g fr adinone lo d n a g he’s a great support – I couldn’t ask for more. this global business day, we say “go for it”! n ti r r. a so ions my first ye in ss e n si u b e th e yodouI’rseee myself in a few years? Mainfreight is an international t a real grasp on el likWhere fe y ll a re u o y , m company, so with that brings real opportunities to travel. I see myself eight tea fr your in a g M in e w th ro f g o t in y working for Mainfreight in the USA, in a transport or operations role. I e k re a t r you’re par o ff e d n s alikendI’ve found where I belong.” ionfeel . Your attitude a y il m fa a nd questfinally f sa o u r e o b th m a sk a to K even got my e ainfreight. It’s O v I’ . it m o fr r here at Mwww.mainfreightgraduates.com n r a | www.team.mainfreight.com | careers@mainfreight.co.nz as long as you le e k ta is m d d o e the ’t ask for more. n ld u o c I – r to n me ainfreight inWant more info? Go to www.nxtstep.co.nz M r fo g in rk o W d years? myself in a few eel like I’ve foun

15

Engineers are in high demand, both here in New Zealand and across the globe. So if you want an exciting career that helps shape the future, the University of Waikato’s Faculty of Engineering can make it happen.

Ben McGuinness enrolled at the University of Waikato and progressed from the Bachelor of Engineering to a Master of Engineering and finally a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.

Designing useful machines is all in a day’s work for Ben who says creativity and the ability to problem solve are just as important as maths and science in his field. He has been involved in developing the “dibbler” – a machine that drills holes for planting pine cuttings in nursery beds which has helped improve tree stock productivity by about 30%. His latest workin-progress is an automated lifter/grader that uses camera to analyse a seedling to determine its viability for selling to the forestry industry. “You don’t get bored when you’re doing new things every day, making things and solving problems.”

Get in touch on 0800 WAIKATO or visit waikato.ac.nz/go/engineering to explore your study potential.

16

University of Waikato Masters student Erin Sims completed her Bachelor of Engineering with Honours last year and has already found her dream job at Robotics Plus, a Tauranga company that develops robotic technologies for primary industries.

ENGINEERING

Your dream job can become a reality Erin landed this job after working with Robotics Plus to develop a robotic apple harvester for her fourthyear university project. Since starting full-time work, Erin has been working on developing a kiwifruit harvester. Both of these projects will be exhibited at the University of Waikato Fieldays stand in June. She enjoys the variety that her job offers; her day-to-day tasks include 3D modelling, ordering parts, and assembling projects.

“It’s cool being able to do both sides of it. I really like spending time on the computer designing, but then also doing the hands-on stuff,” says Erin.

Erin attended Waihi College.

Her favourite subjects included maths, physics, graphics and art, which sparked her interest in engineering. Inspired by her parents, teachers and school careers counsellors, she chose the Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Waikato due to its small class sizes, friendly culture and cheap living costs.

She was impressed by the range of scholarships that the University of Waikato offered and was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Academic Excellence School Leaver Scholarship, the Brian Perry Charitable Trust Undergraduate Scholarship in Science and Engineering, and the Freemasons University Scholarship.

“The scholarships made a huge difference, especially as I was moving out of home. They gave me the freedom to be able to do more,” she says.

Erin managed to secure her “dream job” at Robotics Plus following her study in Engineering at the University of Waikato.

Erin took advantage of this freedom to embrace as many opportunities as she could. Throughout her four undergraduate years, Erin completed work placements at Lely Sensortec, Vertex and Gallagher. The practical elements of the University of Waikato’s engineering course allowed Erin to gain transferrable skills that have helped her in the industry.

She played soccer for the university, was a member of the university skiing club and became a student ambassador, developing her networking and communication skills while meeting new students.

The highlight of university for Erin was making lifelong friends.

She believes there is a wide

range of jobs for engineering graduates in Waikato.

“Most of my friends have found jobs after university – a few have gone into consultancy, and there have been sales engineers, as well as research and development and robotics work.”

Erin is loving her current job at Robotics Plus and is keen to stay there for as long as they have work for her.

“The most rewarding part is seeing stuff that I have designed on the computer come to life.”

Erin’s Top Tips for Potential Engineering Students • Get involved with the Engineering Faculty club activities; a good way to make friends and they are always heaps of fun • Think about which papers you enjoy to help you decide what kind of engineering you want to pursue – there are many different types • Buy the books – they are useful to refer to while you are out working in the industry!

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

17

STUDY

Designing a brighter tomorrow Five reasons to study with Media Design School

4) Our teaching style has been created to simulate the real

1) W e’re New Zealand’s most awarded tertiary institute for creative and digital technology qualifications, specialising in Game Programming, Game Art, Graphic Design, Creative Advertising, Motion Graphics, Interactive Design, and 3D Animation and Visual Effects.

world industry as closely as possible. From your very first day at Media Design School’s central Auckland campus, students study in a studio-like environment using industry aligned software and technology. They are encouraged to challenge conventions and push boundaries in new and emerging digital technologies through project-based learning and live briefs!

5) With Media Design School, you can make virtual

2) In 2017, we were announced as the world’s top tertiary provider for both Graphic Design and Photography by The Rookies and their panel of internationally renowned judges, making us one of the best digital design tertiary providers in the world!

3) Media Design School was the first in New Zealand to provide specialised gaming degrees for aspirational game developers.

Since then, we’ve become the only school in New Zealand to have partnered with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s PlayStation First Academic Development Programme. That means our students can develop games for PlayStation platforms such as PS4 and the PlayStation Vita!

reality your reality! Last year, Media Design School became the first tertiary provider in New Zealand to offer a qualification with a dedicated stream focusing on two of the world’s biggest emerging Want to find technologies: Virtual Reality and out more about Augmented Reality(VR/AR).

How cool is that?!

Media Design School?

Simply visit www.mediadesignschool.com to discover more about how you could study with New Zealand’s most awarded tertiary institute for creative and digital technology qualifications.

Study with the world’s No.1 Graphic Design school!

Media Design School is ranked as the world’s top tertiary provider for both Graphic Design and Photography * mediadesignschool.com *The Rookies, 2017

What is a Chartered Accountant?

As a Chartered Accountant you hold a powerful qualification.

It opens doors to work in New Zealand, Australia and around the globe in all kinds of industries and companies, or even for yourself. Start your CA journey by choosing to study accounting and continue on to study one of the most premium accounting qualifications in the world with Chartered Accountants ANZ. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand is a professional body made up of 117,000 diverse, talented and financially astute members; who are also affiliated with two of the world’s largest accounting alliances: The Global Accounting Alliance (GAA) and Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW).

As a Chartered Accountant, you can take your pick of the industries you want to work in. From not-for-profit to the world’s biggest companies, Chartered Accountants are sought after for their unique skills that help drive business decisions and create better economies and societies all over the world.

Rising to the top

I am the Senior Commercial Analyst in the alcohol division at Coca Cola Amatil (CCA) in New Zealand. Our alcohol division is fairly new and includes the brands Jim Beam and Canadian Club. The best part of my role would probably be the variety.

Not one day is the same, where I constantly interact with the marketing, sales and finance functions. Another stand out is the importance of my role and the ability to influence business decisions by interpreting numbers and communicating to key stakeholders. I’m also lucky to be a part of an organisation that appreciates and recognises their staff – for example 300 of our sales team just got back from a holiday in Fiji celebrating our hard work.

ACCOUNTING

What is your current role? What do you enjoy about it?

How did you get to where you are today?

I completed a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and commercial law, with a diploma in business management. I began my career as a finance analyst at Goodman Fielder, where I completed my studies to become a Chartered Accountant. I have always had an interest in a senior role, however without financial accounting experience it is a difficult jump to make. I was lucky to get this opportunity when I applied for a senior financial accounting role at CCA, which I wouldn’t have been offered had it not been for my CA qualification.

What would a typical day look like for you?

I wouldn’t say there is a typical day here at CCA, but a few routine task would include: sales reports, a rundown of business performance, budgeting and forecasting. My work essentially lets key stakeholders see how well my sector is doing, which is very important as it is a growing division for Coca Cola Amatil.

What interested you in the Chartered Accountant pathway? Were you interested in accounting at school?

My career to date is far from what I thought I’d be doing when I was younger. I just had the intention to attend university and see what options were out there for me when I got my degree.

At university I started to seriously think about my career. I had an interest in business and thought “everyone needs an accountant right?” so once I selected that as my major, I started to see the benefits of becoming a Chartered Accountant and the business understanding I would receive.

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a Chartered Accountant?

NAME: Andrew Vete CA ROLE: Senior Commercial Analyst at

Coca Cola Amatil

Do it. Being a Chartered Accountant is an investment into your career, it opens doors to allow you to pursue a range of careers within accounting and the wider business sector.

The CA designation gives you a level of credibility that is recognised globally, and it is a great asset to have if a senior finance role or a job that allows you to travel is what you have in mind.

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

19

ACCOUNTING

A fashion-forward iconic leader What is your current role?

I’m the CFO of The Iconic. Because of the type of business that we are, my role is pretty broad. I get to look after all of the financial planning and reporting, but also all of the people initiatives (like HR), and I help make sure we comply with regulations and mitigate our business risks. I suppose you could say I’m not your traditional CFO, I definitely don’t just spend all my time number-crunching. My role is very influential across the business, and I am privy to most of the key decisions we make.

How did you get to where you are now?

I think my career journey started when I was 17. I was in high school, and we had the Big Four accounting firms talk to us about whether we wanted to be accountants. I didn’t think about it too much, but I knew that being in business, and more specifically accounting and finance, was always going to be a very good foundation to set me up for success, and provide me with as many options in my career as possible.

How has being a Chartered Accountant helped your career?

I think getting through CA Program is already a huge achievement because it’s not just about the exams. You need a lot of discipline, endurance and resilience to study at the same time as gaining practical experience in a work context. These personal skills were the driving force of getting me to where I am today.

Being a Chartered Accountant is a mark of high standards in the industry, its helped me get to where I am in my career because it is a door opener. It enables me to have a conversation with anyone in the business, whether it’s a business partnership, or a further career opportunity.

What do you enjoy most in your role as CFO? I really like the variety. No day at The Iconic is the same, which sounds cliché but it’s true. Monday this week might be completely different to Monday next week, which always provides some level of excitement. It can be a bit scary, but I love a challenge and I think it’s really amazing when you’re able to find a role that is suited to your personality.

What career advice would you give to yourself when you were leaving school?

I don’t think I’d ever have thought that I would be the CFO of an online fashion retailer – ‘online fashion retail’ didn’t even exist then! My best piece of advice would be to have a goal, and set yourself a mindset to achieve it. I believe you could find success in anything, so take a leap of faith, don’t think about it too much and go with the flow because you never know where you’ll end up!

Anna is currently transitioning into a new and exciting role as COO at The Iconic.

20

// ISSUE 7

NAME: Anna Lee CA ROLE: Chief Financial Officer

of The Iconic

NAME: Penelope Dickeson CA ROLE: Operations Controller for

Cloudy Bay Vineyards

What is your current role?

I am the Operations Controller at Cloudy Bay Vineyards, in Marlborough New Zealand. In this role, I am involved in all sorts of aspects of the business, but mostly I look after budgets, capital expenditure and forecasting.

ACCOUNTING

A taste for the finer things

There are only three of us in the finance team, which is cool as we get more involved in the business than what you might in a bigger environment… I even get to be involved in the winemaking from time to time!

How did you get to where you are today?

At high school, my parents made sure I had as many opportunities as possible and kept my options wide open for university. I didn’t initially know what I wanted to do at uni, but through my business studies paper I realised that I really enjoyed thinking about how businesses worked – so I went from there to study a Bachelor of Commerce.

It’s hard to know what you want to do when you’re 18 or 19 but I realised that there were great job opportunities in accounting, so I majored in that. I soon discovered that being a Chartered Accountant was the top type of accountant you could be, and the top people running businesses all had ‘CA’ after their name, so that was very influential in my decision!

What are some of the highlights working at Cloudy Bay Vineyards?

Being in the industry for such a well-known brand with a great reputation puts a lot of pride in your work. It’s also a great conversation starter and people are always interested to talk you after they find out you work for Cloudy Bay. In my role, we have a lot of flexibility in managing our own time, so I get to work hours around my family which is great.

How would you describe a Chartered Accountant?

A Chartered Accountant is someone who can be a key influencer in a business. They are respected for knowing a broad range of issues, and being able to think about more than one side of each story.

This means you get to be involved in a lot of decision making processes for the business. I decided to become a Chartered Accountant when I saw it would take you places. Many roles have a minimum requirement of being a Chartered Accountant, so having it on your CV opens a lot of doors.

How has being a Chartered Accountant changed your life?

In my career I’ve had a lot of opportunities to do something interesting and different; from working in Papua New Guinea as a volunteer accountant, through to doing a secondment with Deloitte in Dubai and now living in New Zealand.

There are lots of opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have had in a different role. Accountants are needed all over the world, and this has really rung true for me.

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

21

ACCOUNTING

The passport to an international career

What is your current role?

I’m a Financial Controller for Microsoft in Australia, and I’ve been a Chartered Accountant for 14 years. As well as managing our Profit & Loss, I also have to think about longrange forecasting, budgeting and strategic investments for the company. I try to anticipate how we need the company to be structured in the future, given the dynamic changes of the products and services we offer.

How did you get to where you are today?

After completing my Bachelor of Commerce degree, I started a job at a small accounting firm, before moving to a larger one.

I knew that for a successful career in accounting, it would be a great asset to have my CA designation.

The first time it really paid off for me, I was working at KPMG and an opportunity came up to work in part of a team which worked with investment banks from London, New York and Singapore. Candidates were only considered for the team if they were Chartered Accountants, and this was my first taste at what it really entailed. Whilst in Singapore, I was considered to run a finance organisation in Vietnam. My CA accreditation was the final tick in the box for my boss to say “you’ll be fine; you’ll get the job done”.

NAME: Simon Hardman CA ROLE: Financial Controller

for Microsoft

How has being a Chartered Accountant changed your life?

I think the designation is an international passport for me. It is recognised globally, which has allowed me to work in various markets around the globe, including Singapore, Vietnam, London and Australia. I know comfortably that if there is a country I want to go, having CA on my resume allows me to get that first foot in the door.

The CA designation provides you with many different skills that you can encompass in some shape or form throughout your career and various jobs. When I look back at the pivotal points of my career, it was my CA accreditation that has pushed me over the line to get me to where I am today.

What is your biggest career highlight?

One of my biggest career highlights was when I was working in Vietnam. I was invited as part of a group of six select CFOs to participate in a private luncheon with Jim Wolfensohn, who was the ex-World Bank President to get feedback on how the various financial operations were operating in Vietnam.

At 28-years old, this was a bit of an eye-opener for me to say ‘Wow, it’s amazing that I’ve come to where I am today’.

What was your first year of accounting at university like?

Sometimes it’s hard at university to work out what the relevance of what you’re learning is, because it feels like you are so far away from doing it in practice. But it’s interesting, once you start working, there are little eureka moments when finally, you think “Now I get it!”.

22

// ISSUE 7

What is your current role?

I am the Chief Financial Officer of World Vision Australia.

World Vision is the world’s largest private humanitarian development organisation, of which Australia raises over $400 million a year toward. As CFO, I am responsible for the finance and legal teams, as well as risk management, internal audit, business performance and planning and procurement; which is made up of about 50 staff members.

ACCOUNTING

Accounting for those in need

What does being a Chartered Accountant mean to you?

To me, being a Chartered Accountant is about being someone who can bring a variety of skills to particularly challenging business problems. I think being a CA has been the key stepping stone in my career. I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I have had, had it not been for obtaining the designation. I certainly wouldn’t be CFO of World Vision without it!

How does your role as a Chartered Accountant come into play for World Vision’s projects?

NAME: Rebecca Glover CA ROLE: Chief Financial Officer of

World Vision Australia

As an accountant, there are generally two roles that come into play when working on a project. The first is to look at compliance related obligations associated with particular donor requirements. For example, if the Australian Government gave us funds to fund a particular project, there are usually contractual grant requirements associated with it. Essentially I’d be checking to make sure the money was being spent to align with these. Secondly, I’d oversee a project if we weren’t satisfied with the financial information received from our project partners. I’d go to see what processes were in place, and make sure we could track how the money was being spent, to ensure it is being used to its full potential.

Why is working at World Vision a highlight of your career?

Prior to working here, I worked for a Big Four organisation.

My job was to help others by providing advisory services to help organisations make better decisions or report more accurately to their shareholders. This too is important work, but for me personally, I wanted to use the great skills I’d been lucky enough to develop and put them towards tackling an even bigger problem. So the best part about my job now, is the intrinsic reward you get every day by working for an organisation that is trying to help others and eliminate global poverty.

What advice would you give to a young person interested in working in the not-for-profit sector?

Volunteer. As an organisation that is there to help other people, we want to employ people who find that intrinsically rewarding. The not-for-profit sector is incredibly diverse and very different to the profit sector, as they are motivated by different things. Volunteering will give you a taste of what notfor-profit is actually like, and give you a purpose to continue with your studies – to help others!

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

23

24

JOBS When it comes to your last year of high school, there are many things to consider like whether to enrol in tertiary study, or head straight into the workforce. If you are thinking of enrolling in tertiary study, you may also want to consider whether you will need a job to support yourself.

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.

What’s special about us is that we advertise thousands of jobs every year, just for tertiary students! We can help you find work from a range of different jobs to suit your study schedule and experience. One-off jobs to permanent part-time work, there is sure to be something for you.

If you plan to enrol in tertiary study for 2018, you are able to start using SJS up to 4 months before you start. Applying for jobs on the website is easy, and only requires that you register as a student to get started. You can register online at www.sjs.co.nz.

SJS stands out to Justine compared to other job websites in that it offers “jobs for students which only students can apply for; there is no better way to find work while you study. The referral process is great as it means that I’m screened and considered qualified for the job, and my application will definitely be passed on to the employer”.

Justine has also found the range of jobs on the website to be a huge benefit. “The one-off and casual jobs listed are great if you want to make some extra cash, at one point I had 5 rotating casual jobs on top of my permanent part-time position! It was a great way to save money.”

The jobs Justine has gained throughout her years at University have also given her some useful transferable skills. She explains that: “Job experience helps with your time-management, which flows on to positively affect your studies. The more experience you build on your CV, the easier it will be to find that elusive graduate job once you finish”.

Justine’s one piece of advice for first year students wanting to get a job is: “Don’t give up! You may have to apply for a few jobs before you are successful, the trick is to not get disheartened.

Keep trying, your hard work will eventually pay off, I promise!”

There are many benefits to working while studying. Not only does a job give you extra money, it allows you to gain valuable skills and experience that will help you now, and when you graduate. Justine, a Sociology Honours student at the University of Auckland, has used SJS throughout her years at university.

Jobs for students which only students can apply for; there is no better way to find work while you study.

JUSTINE , STUDENT JOB SEARCH USER

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

25

$85 +GST

d Bring a frien 13+) for free (age

per week*

TECH TOOLBOX Feeling left behind by today’s tech-savvy millennials?

Want to gain hands-on experience with the latest creative technologies so you can teach them a thing or two?

Tech Toolbox - designed with parents, grandparents, early childhood educators and friends of The Mind Lab by Unitec in mind - is your answer!

THE FINER DETAILS 10 WEEKS

2 HRS/WEEK

START DATES JUNE 7 | No assignments, no homework

6 - 8PM SEPT 6

A friend or teen can tag along for free each week

Earn a Badge of Brilliance

EACH WEEK YOU’LL BE EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT TECH...

Build your own robot 3D print your creation Build an electronic car and connect it to the Internet of Things

Experiment with augmented reality Code a computer game Film and edit your own epic 1min movie

and more... *$850 +GST in total **Limited to 40 places per intake at 69 Carlton Gore Rd, Newmarket

BOOK NOW themindlab.com

IT BUSINESS

Be a part of the healthcare revolution

Anna Spyker - Software Engineer

Siobhan Mills - Junior Business Analyst

What does being a Software Engineer entail?

What does being a Business Analyst entail?

Each day involves problem solving; writing code that solves gaps in healthcare software, designing, collaborating with people... and drinking lots of coffee! I’m in the research team but I also work closely with a Principle Engineer on new projects and ideas so I have variety in what I do.

A Business Analyst works within a development process to help get work ready to be picked up by someone who will then write the code to make the software work.

Why did you choose to work at Orion Health?

I wanted to work for a business that had a well-established graduate programme. Most importantly, I wanted to work for a company with an innovative, flexible and open culture.

What is something cool you’re currently working on?

I’m currently writing a medical calculator application. For example, you (or your doctor) can enter in your bio statistics and it can predict future health outcomes.

What do you enjoy most about the industry?

Learning about new technologies and being exposed to such intelligent people that use them every day. It is really rewarding to continuously improve my skillset and get through tough challenges which I originally had no idea about. I find it hugely satisfying to collaborate with others and solve problems multiple times a day.

Is the job similar to what you’d expected?

Yes and no. The culture is what I expected, however I didn’t expect to work with such talented people that I would get along with so well. I also didn’t expect to have such great opportunities available to me and to feel like my opinions are always heard and valued.

What advice could you give to students trying to figure out their next step?

There is more to university than just being an engineer, lawyer or doctor!

There are degrees that can lead to so many different careers. I did a Science degree which really suited me as it allowed me to try new things that I didn’t even know existed at high school.

Take opportunities to try and find new strengths and push yourself outside your comfort zone. Also, it’s okay to change! Don’t stick to something if you aren’t enjoying it.

Most of my time is spent talking with the other teams in development internally at Orion. As well as this, I do a bit of market research to see what other companies are out there doing similar things to us, to make sure our products are moving in the right direction.

Why did you choose to work at Orion Health?

I studied Health Informatics at University and heard about Orion Health while I was there. I chose to focus my studies on Patient Portals and had an opportunity to talk with some “Orionites” at a Health Informatics conference specifically about them. My passion for making a difference in this field and what Orion Health develops align so well, which is why it was the perfect company for me to start my career in.

What is something cool you’re working on currently?

Sweet Rectangle, the team I work in, develops mobile apps that allow users to access and use their medical records online. Patient access to their medical records can make such a difference in staying healthy in the community - I think it’s absolutely awesome to be a part of a team enabling this!

What do you enjoy most about the industry?

Making a difference in people’s lives. We are creating the software that could help keep people healthy.

What makes Orion Health so unique?

We’re a NZ based company that is making a global impact in the health sector. This is something unique and I’m proud to be a part of it.

What advice could you give to students trying to figure out their next step?

Be open minded to whatever comes your way. I initially had tunnel vision but once I opened my eyes I found my passion for a slightly different path in the health industry. Also, network, network, network!

Take any opportunity you can to talk to people from the industry.

Attend talks and go to conferences – this will help you to get your foot in the door.

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

27

ADVISORY

Start making an impact on your future today

Name: Jay Dave High School: Mount Albert Grammar School Tertiary Education: University of Auckland, Masters in Bioscience Enterprise

Get connected ey.com/careers facebook.com/eycareersnewzealand PH1730511.

© 2017 Ernst & Young New Zealand. All Rights Reserved. ED none. APAC no. NZ00000865.

At EY we believe better begins now. You can start making an impact on your career today by honing your skills and building the knowledge you’ll need to prepare you for your future.

28

instagram.com/eynzcareers bit.ly/EYLinkedIn_Careers

About me: I’m Jay and I’ve been with EY for almost two and a half years. I’m a Senior Consultant working in Advisory within the Performance Improvement team. My role involves working with a diverse range of clients, providing them with services that aim to solve their business problems.

Simply put, it’s like being a doctor for businesses; diagnosing their problems, providing solutions and finding new and healthier ways of doing things to ensure they are operating to the best of their ability.

University: I started at the University of Auckland in 2010, where I completed an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science followed by a Master’s Degree in Bioscience.

I knew from an early age I wanted to help people and gravitated towards a science degree in the biomedical field. However I realised that despite enjoying science, my curiosity, interest, and enthusiasm was leaning further towards understanding and helping businesses.

Through my academic studies at university, extra-curricular activities and part time jobs in my early career I began to understand and appreciate that the science and business worlds play different, but equally important, roles in helping people and building communities.

Why EY?: I only heard about EY in my last year at university. I went along to a careers event at university and I was speaking with a representative from EY where they described the organisation, the types of projects they had been involved in and it sparked an interest. I then did a bit more research and discovered that I’d been constantly learning; being exposed to different backgrounds, perspectives and ideas; and the culture and values fitted mine.

EY provides services to various scientific and technical focused companies around the world, so having the ability to understand both the technical components and commercial aspects of a business when solving problems is a major plus.

Career highlight: I’ve been able to experience many types of business functions, roles, projects and industries meeting senior leaders like CEOs, CFOs and COOs from some of the biggest organisations in New Zealand. I’ve had the opportunity to work from a little rural town in New Zealand all the way to a major metro city like Beijing, China.

My advice to students: You aren’t confined to work in areas of your academic degree, so don’t be afraid to pursue something that might be a little different from your scope of studies.

Be proactive while at university, get involved in extra-curricular activities, attend events, try and get a part time job, meet with people from different career paths and learn as much as you can. This will help to give clarity on what you like and don’t like and put you in a better position for the future ahead.

Membership with CPA Australia or Chartered Membership CPA Australia Chartered Accountantswith Australia and Newor Zealand (CAANZ) gives Accountants and New Zealand gives assurance toAustralia employers and clients that(CAANZ) members will assurance to employers and clients that members will be well equipped to tackle the challenging accounting, be well equipped to tackle the challenging accounting, finance or business situations faced in today’s global finance or business situations faced in today’s global marketplace. marketplace.

Studying accredited programmes is a giant step toward Studying accredited programmes is a giant step toward gaining that membership. gaining that membership.

Auckland Institute of Studies is pleased to announce that Auckland Institute of Studies is pleased to announce that our Bachelor of Business is now accredited by both CPA our Bachelor of Business is now accredited by both CPA Australia and CAANZ. Australia and CAANZ. This means that with careful selection of your electives This means that with careful selection of your electives you can satisfy the academic requirements for admission you can satisfy the academic requirements for admission to CAANZ and CPA Australia, putting yourself on the front to CAANZ and CPA Australia, putting yourself on the front foot for a career in Accounting. foot for a career in Accounting.

This accreditation, as well as Category 1 NZQA quality This accreditation, as well as Category 1 NZQA quality status, makes the AIS Bachelor of Business the highest status, makes the AIS Bachelor of Business the highest level of quality. The same level as the Bachelor of Business level of quality. The same level as the Bachelor of Business offeredby byNew NewZealand Zealanduniversities. universities.What Whatalso alsomakes makesthe the offered AIS Bachelor of Business stand out is that it is a practiceAIS Bachelor of Business stand out is that it is a practicebased,applied appliedprogramme programmethat thatfocuses focuseson onthe thestudent student based,

ACCOUNTING

Accredited Programmes Programmes Accredited PathwayInto Into Careers Careersin inAccounting Accounting Pathway

career pathway. CPA Australia and CAANZ will work closely career pathway.

Australia journey. and CAANZ will work closely with AIS in thisCPA professional with AIS in this professional journey.

The AIS Bachelor of Business is a premium The AIS Bachelor of Business is a premium business degree offering in New Zealand. business degree offering in New Zealand.

This is supported by the CPA/CAANZ This is supported by the CPA/CAANZ accreditation, our Category 1 NZQA quality accreditation, our Category 1 NZQA quality status, as well as being the only private status, as well as being the only private tertiary education provider in New Zealand tertiary education provider in New Zealand haveachieved achieved such recognition from totohave such recognition from anan international professional organisation. international professional organisation.

- Professor Robert Davis, Academic - Professor Robert Davis, Academic Head of Business Programmes Head of Business Programmes

VisitAIS.ac.nz AIS.ac.nz for more detail the Bachelor Business.

Visit for more detail onon the Bachelor of of Business.

SUPPORTIVE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT

NZQA Approved Degrees and NZQA Approved Degrees and Diplomas Diplomas • Hospitality Management • Hospitality Management • Information Technology • Information Technology • Business • Business • Tourism Management • Tourism Management Three year full scholarships Three year full scholarships available. available.

See you qualify See if if you qualify at:at: www.ais.ac.nz/scholarships www.ais.ac.nz/scholarships Student Careers Centre Student Careers Centre Study Skills Assistance Study Skills Assistance Location: MtMt Albert, Auckland Location: Albert, Auckland

Gain Gain aa Quality QualityEducation Educationat atAIS AIS and and Achieve Achieve Real RealWorld WorldSuccess Success

For more information For more information Email: enquiry@ais.ac.nz Email: enquiry@ais.ac.nz Freephone: 0800 788 392 Freephone: 0800 788 392

www.AIS.ac.nz www.AIS.ac.nz

29

INTERNS

A fresh approach to internships Internships can help to bridge the gap between students and organisations with a skills shortage. That is the message from New Zealand’s second largest university, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in response to findings from a recent survey of employers that highlighted that many organisations find it difficult to find suitable talent.

Sixty eight percent of kiwi businesses surveyed said they expect their business to grow; yet seventy-two percent find it ‘difficult to recruit staff in skilled positions.’ The figures suggest that university students and graduates are an untapped resource for many employers: only forty six percent of respondents said they have links to the tertiary sector.

Linking talented graduates with organisations is something AUT can help with, says Ella Monahan, Director of AUT Internz, a bespoke service that matches AUT graduates with New Zealand and international companies from all industries.

“Internships really are a two way street because they benefit both parties equally. We always try to take on one graduate a year. They bring a great energy to the space and their insight adds real value to the business.”

AUT Internz is available to AUT students from all disciplines.

Students in year two and above are encouraged to register on the AUT Internz website and create a profile. Once online, students can search and apply for suitable roles.

“At AUT Internz we have matched over a hundred graduates with businesses. By studying at AUT, you could be next.” Ella says.

“An internship can offer a student or graduate unique new perspectives and ideas to tackle business problems. We recognise that a historical challenge for some employers has been how and where to access students from, and a perception from students that it can be hard to get a foot in the door. That’s where AUT Internz can help.”

Developed as a gateway for AUT students to reach employers , the initiative helps to match employers with fresh thinking students and graduates through a user-friendly website.

Two New Zealand employers who successfully tapped into AUT’s student talent pool, are JUCY Rentals and Unleashed Software.

AUT Internz – fast facts

JUCY needed to address a specific skills gap in their social media team.

• Over 2,000 AUT students are presently registered as seeking internships

“We were looking for a way to improve our video strategy and we realised we needed an intern with all those skills.” says Alisha Palin, PR and Social Media Executive at JUCY.

• Internships tend to be of a ‘fixed term’ such as three months

“At the same time we wanted an intern to get something out of the experience too by building up their portfolio and their skills and experience working in a professional environment,” she adds.

As well as addressing specific skill gaps or immediate project needs, having an intern can bring other benefits to employers.

There are huge potential benefits for a student who embarks on an internship says Lisa Miles-Heal, CFO of Unleashed, a fast growth technology company, based in North Auckland.

• Internships are paid (minimum wage+) except for registered not-for-profit organisations who may list voluntary roles • AUT students can register with AUT Internz, build a profile for employers to view then apply for internships with employers looking for AUT students Authors: Robert Bruce / Ella Monahan, AUT Internz robert.bruce@aut.ac.nz / ella.monahan@aut.ac.nz

To find our more about AUT Internz visit www.internz.aut.ac.nz or email internz@aut.ac.nz 30

// ISSUE 7

T U A E V I L Y A D EN

P O ST

O M HE

T

you

re u t u rf

s n o i opt

W O R N ve

i l E / z T S .n I c a .

G t au RE

e r o l Exp

2PT

SE 2017 31

Study, work, career.

So many choices.

Too many choices.

You only need ONE website to make your decision.

Take the next step with www.nxtstep.co.nz Coming June 2017.