Graduate Profile

Amy Williams - Project Management

“I’m Client Assistant here at Perpetual Guardian and I love the flexibility of the role. It includes client and staff communication and analysis of data. I chose the Project Management option for my degree and that choice seemed a positive point of interest at my job interviews.”

“Another big advantage on my CV was that during our course we were out interacting with local businesses with our industry projects. Mine was with a start-up business and I loved that our study was in a social environment.”

“There are several aspects of direct relevance from the course training to what I do in my work here. Because our assignments were done as a team, we learnt the skills and communication of teamwork which I can apply to our team environment here. Time management and scheduling are crucial to my role here in order to motivate myself and other people, and it was a key component of the Project Management study option. Working accurately with numbers and data is essential in business and finance, as is working with business info systems and being tech savvy. And our course also gave us good communication and presentation skills that I use here every day.”

“My first job after graduating was a summer contract at the Regional Economic Development Agency and that gave me a good understanding of business and data analysis. I’ve been working here at Perpetual Guardian since early 2016 and in that time I’ve become even more confident that I can present myself professionally and be respectful in a wide range of situations. My interpersonal skills have really developed and I’m enjoying being part of our team here. I’m learning as much as possible in every situation and I learn something about the world of business every day.”

Melissa Tan - Business

“The Bachelor of Applied Management not only helped me to run my business, it also helped me in everyday life. I found it very useful – I learnt about leadership, communication and management skills which I apply to the running of my business, and also on how to make my own life more efficient.

“The tutors are really great, it is a different learning style to what I experienced in China. The tutors here ask you what you would like to learn and support you through all of the assessments.

“I also love the campus in Raumanga. It is not like other polytechnics and universities with large buildings – it is more spread out with beautiful gardens and grass. The environment NorthTec created for us was great. I was an international student but I did not have any problem making local friends, in fact I only had kiwi friends, which I do not think is the case with other cities.

“The people in Whangarei are so lovely. I love the lifestyle here – I am from a large city in China, so I came here for a lifestyle change. There is hardly any traffic, there is more space, I don’t have to wait in long queues– but there is still everything we need here!

“I have done a lot of study at NorthTec. I started with a Diploma in Hospitality Management, then moved on to my ESOL (English as a Second Language) Certificate and after speaking with the NorthTec tutors, I thought it would be very beneficial to study a Bachelor of Applied Management as I would have a broader career in the future. So I had my hospitality programme as a foundation, and then my Bachelor degree to support me wherever I wanted to go.

“I really like being in the hospitality industry. I had more than 11 years’ experience in the hospitality industry before we bought Jolt café in Maunu, and it has always been something I like to do. I love running my own business, it brings me a lot of satisfaction. The team is established so it gives me the flexibility to make sure I have enough time for my daughter. I like meeting people and interacting with people. I like receiving feedback and trying to do better and improve for our customers.”
 

Aaron Hooper - Applied Management

“After 20 years in the banking industry I wanted a change. I was concerned that I didn’t have a degree so was more susceptible to the ebb and flow of the tides of employment. We have a young family so I wanted to secure their future, plus I made a decision to move away from the corporate world. We sold a house in Auckland which enabled funding for me to do the degree.”
 
Aaron Hooper was surprised at how easy the tutors made it for him as a mature student to re-enter study. “The processes were so streamlined and the tutors are so accessible and passionate about their subject.”
 
They can also be challenging. Aaron - “They challenged us sometimes to change our way of thinking. As part of the course we had to audit a small business. This forced us out of our comfort zone because we had to create new relationships and networks which were part of building our future.”
 
Aaron completed his Bachelor of Applied Management in 2014 and is now a Partner at MAQ Chartered Accounting. “What we learned is very practical in terms of everyday business use. I’m directly applying the financial accounting, management, and taxation that we studied.”
 
“I was 39 when I started my study so my career path has been different from most. I’ve learnt that we’re never too old to change, to learn, and to progress. Don’t let age ever become a barrier.”

Find out more about NorthTec's Applied Management programmes

Nardus Kroese - Accounting

“Nearly everyone needs an accountant, so my Applied Management degree has opened a world of opportunity for me.” Nardus arrived in Whangarei at age 14 from South Africa and has wanted to be an accountant since high school. “My Mum was an accountant but this training has introduced me to a broader skill set than I expected.”

“I loved all the accounting content but the managerial papers really helped me develop as a person and improve my communication skills. I was asked to be student rep for the business sector of NorthTec and I loved the interaction with students from all different courses. I met my networking crew through this and we worked as a team to set up student events like end of year dinners.”

Nardus reminds local people to look locally for tertiary study. “Being at a small polytechnic like NorthTec can be such an advantage. The classes are small so you get one-on-one input, plus you can save money by studying from home.” 

During the last year of his degree Nardus got the opportunity to work in the financial department of NorthTec. “There is an interview process and the idea is for students to see how the business runs. The experience really helped with the position I’ve now got at Fonterra as Business Services Officer in the accounts payable team. I thank all my friends, family and tutors who have assisted me on this journey.”

“Doing the Applied Management degree opened my eyes to the different specialties within accounting – like tax, auditing, and managerial accounting. I’m keen to become a Chartered Accountant and will probably decide between managerial and financial accountancy. Being with Fonterra gives me a great chance to get experience as well as options for stepping up.”

Akuhata Te Whare - First Line Management

“The skills that I have learnt from the course has helped me to understand why certain people work the way they do. I now see things from the employers’ point of view which has helped me to not be so petty when given jobs that usually would have been looked at as punishment, instead of as something that needs to be done.”

“Because of my change in attitude towards work, I am now given responsibilities that would usually have required me to take a senior member of staff with me to the job site and assess and organise how the job should be done. I now feel I would like to carry on with training, the knowledge you learn from doing these courses helps one make wiser choices in life, I now know what type of industry I would like to work towards being part of now.”

Eloise Neeley - Applied Management

“I chose to study at NorthTec because I wanted to study locally, get the degree I had always wanted, meet Northland people and get back into my community. Studying at NorthTec for me achieved that and more. I just really loved it and had brilliant tutors who continue to support me even after I have left.”

Alicia Schultz - First Line Management

“I am so much more confident at giving instructions at work and at getting resolution in any conflicted situations. The course has really helped me come out of my shell and communicate at work in ways that are effective.”

“I’d been in our company for a while, starting as the parts girl, when I was offered a service role that involved giving instructions. The opportunity came through to enrol for the First Line course and my bosses were ready to support me in that. It involved three block days a month.”

“It was really daunting to walk into a classroom of people I didn’t know. I am naturally shy and I was also a full-time working new Mum at the time, but the tutors created a relaxing environment and made each of us feel comfortable.”

“Public speaking, being involved in discussions, and doing role play, were a real stretch for me but with encouragement and constructive feedback I was able to push past my limits  and gain a lot of self-confidence by the experience.”

“I went there very nervous as to whether I could pass. It really surprised me that one of the tutors sorted out a scholarship for me that paid for the course. It boosted my confidence to know someone had taken an interest in me and wanted me to succeed.”

“Now that I am performing at a good level in my Service Co-ordinator role taking calls and organizing the day for our three engineers, I will try for the Service Manager’s role here. This would be more of an H.R. role involving trainings, induction, and handling the pay roll and discipline issues. I understand more now about dealing with different personalities and am better at responding with an appropriate mix of compassion and firmness. I’ll keep giving it my all because I know that gets results.”

“As I progress I may take the H.R course at NorthTec. I’ll highly recommend NorthTec to anyone as a great place to be and to study – whatever the course.”

Kaila Verdadero - Business

“I did my degree in business management at a university in the Philippines and had worked in the same office job there since then. I was ready for a change, was keen to upskill, and I saw New Zealand as a good opportunity, so applied to the NorthTec international campus in Auckland. I’ve just completed my Graduate Diploma in Business which will be forever on my CV now.”

“The diploma involved eight months of study and the best part of it was the attitude and competence of the tutors. They gave us clear guidelines but were adamant that we were independent in how we went about things. This worked well for me because I prefer to work alone and then get feedback. I found the papers in the last semester were hard but the other students helped me calm down and de-stress.”

“While I was studying I was working part time in a retail store, and since graduating I have been given a position as Assistant Manager in that store. One of our study subjects was consumer behaviour so it’s fascinating now to see the exact things we learnt about, played out in life. All of what we learnt is a perfect fit for my work now.”

“Since I’ve been working here, my sense of responsibility has grown a lot. There’s a real consequence for your actions and you have to do certain things to get results. I’m operating at a whole different level.”

“I’m keen to stay in this job to learn more then would like to progress to the role of Manager. My dream situation would be to be Regional Manager of all the stores of this retail firm in Auckland. That would be a huge leap and require some major life changes but I know it’s possible.”

Fiona Taylor - Accounting

“The reason I did the business study was to get validity and pay equality for the business experience I already had, plus I wanted to get more into management. I previously had a strong background in business and accounting. I had been a PA for a power company, we had a security business, my parents ran a skating rink, and I now work full time for a business in town. Getting the business qualifications gave recognition and value to that experience.”

“Because I work full time, I did my studies part time at home and I finished my degree at the end of 2016. During my study time I was engaged and couldn’t find a venue that I wanted to get married in, so for my industry study project I researched wedding venues. We had an under-utilised, beautiful site here so I’ve now started a business offering our property as a wedding venue.”

“The aspects of the NorthTec course that provided huge value to my wedding business idea, were the marketing and research papers I had to complete. I did a survey on Facebook of other wedding venues, priced out marquees, tepees and permanent buildings, and was in touch with both the Chamber of Commerce and Northland Inc and other venues located in Kumeu, an area similar to my location. As a result I now run two entrepreneurial businesses – one offering the wedding venue and the other one for a B&B that I started here in early 2016. The initial idea for the B&B was that the bride could stay here as part of the wedding venue package.”

“My next step is to get the official sign-off on what we have done so far, and in the meantime I’ll focus on creating the gardens and environment, and then plan our next small building which will be a shack-themed shed that we can use as a bar.”

“I’m at an exciting phase of the project now and if I hadn’t done the degree I wouldn’t be in this position. I still work full time but I have Fridays off so I have three days to concentrate on my own businesses – Willows on Abbey and Abbey Barn B&B.” 

“I look forward to creating the next stage of the project and I love seeing the pleasure my clients get from the experience here. That in itself is a rich reward.”

Desiree Norman - Business Administration

The business administration and computing course has proved its worth for Desiree, who since graduation has quickly progressed through to a store manager position with Dick Smith in Takapuna.

“My NorthTec studies have played a huge part towards me getting my foot in the door. The knowledge I gained, as well as the qualification, really helped me move up the management ladder as quickly as I have.”

On finishing the NorthTec course in 2013, Desiree’s dream job was to become CEO of a retail franchise, and it seems she is now well on her way. From NorthTec she went into a part-time sales job with Dick Smith, Waipapa, and began a retail apprenticeship with the company.

“I became a key-holder in the Waipapa store, meaning I could open and close the store alone, and was then promoted to a sales manager. A couple of months later I moved to Auckland, as I was placed into the store manager training programme, and I am now a store manager.”

“I currently run Dick Smith, Takapuna. However this is not the end for me. I plan on taking more and more steps until I have reached the top. The next step I wish to take will be to become a regional manager.”