Employability Blog

Wanting a bit of inspiration but don’t know where to find it? AUT accounting student Rael Choi is findint inspiration through AUT Employability online presentations workshops. Here's what has inspired her - what might inspire you?

Struggles as well as the successes need to be seen and celebrated, says Caitlin Baard who recently won the AUT Edge Leadership Prize for semester one.

“It is easy to see a person who’s ‘succeeded’ in something and feel alienated, believing they are always on and exceptional. But that is truly impossible - even a disadvantage,” says Caitlin, an AUT Public Health and Environmental Sciences graduate.

Do you look at your CV and feel it is a bit thin on activities and experience? Do you wonder how you’re going to show an employer that you’re good at communication or being organised or working in teams, when you don’t have any proof?

Having an impact on social change as a construction engineering graduate with Kāinga Ora is a big motivator for April Faitua, who draws on her AUT degree and her Samoan upbringing within her role.

You are very unlikely to go into your dream job immediately after you graduate. No, don’t sigh and bin this blog. All I’m saying is that often the best entry level graduate roles do not sound like dream jobs, but they will lead to them if you’re good at what you do.

If manager or team leader roles are not coming through feeds from AUT talenthub, NZUnitalent, SEEK etc, don’t panic. Most graduate roles fall under titles such as assistant, executive, administrator, officer etc. These roles are door openers – discard them at your peril.

The dream of becoming a detective led Georgia Fui to AUT to study criminology. However, as she delved further into her degree she started to question her career choice. Did she really want to be out on the streets catching people breaking the law? If not, then what else could she do?

When you hear the word ‘ninja’ what do you think of? People swooping around doing stealthy karate chops in dark outfits – or teenage mutant turtles called Michelangelo and Donatello eating pizza? I bet you’re not thinking of Systems Ninjas; techie trainees learning how to code without any strange outfits, medieval names or destruction?  Readiness IT 's ystems ninja traineeship is a great strating place says Systems Ninja Brian Kong.

“I wasn't confident at all at networking. I was anti-social and networking needed me to be the opposite. But once I understood the value of networking, it empowered me to give it a go,” says Graceland Ioane, ASB Team Support and AUT alumni.

Graceland is now so comfortable with networking she is one of 11 alumni who generously gave their time mid May to help students practise networking.

Read the students’ experiences and the alumni’s tips.

What would you give for an easier way to connect with the workplace and improve your communication and networking skills without having to go to events and give your elevator pitch? How about simply getting together with a few other people to offer your help a few hours a week? People often end up doing their best networking when helping out – volunteering – at a local organization or charity.