What it’s like to be a student? It was only end of last year I donned the grad cap, feeling proud as I walked the stage to receive that important piece of paper which symbolised 4 years of hard slog – I was a Massey Design student based in Wellington.
What university failed to do (as much as they tried) was to prepare us students for the outside world. Sure, the tutors explained how they got to where they did, and warned us how tough it might be, but everyone had different opinions about the path to becoming successful.
What was most important to me – and I’m sure many students would relate – was getting a job and getting it fast. (And hopefully getting it somewhat in the area I had been studying!). I didn’t want to end up like many people I knew who studied design for years then ended up as a bank teller (no offence to bank tellers, it’s a great job) but I thought to myself – what a waste of time.
The thing is, every year around the same time there are hundreds of other students who are graduating at the same time as you and looking for the same type of jobs. It can be very difficult to get noticed and harder to even get an interview, let alone getting a job you want.
So today I’m writing this blog to fellow students starting to worry about their future. I know how stressed you are now the year is finished, but the best thing I ever did for myself was to jump at an opportunity at employment before I even left University. Many tutors will INSIST that certain qualifications or honors will be essential to get a job but from the experience I’ve had, it’s a lot more dependent on your personality and your drive to get the job.
This is why GradConnection are fantastic. If i’d known about them when I was studying, I would definitely have listed with them. (I was lucky enough to secure employment through Summer of Tech – but that’s another blog post!)
GradConnection are a New Zealand based online company who partner with multiple businesses around New Zealand looking to offer students either permanent or temporary employment opportunities. They also host graduate programs and internships where students can get valuable work experience and knowledge to give you a valuable kickstart in your career. They know that it’s important to get that first opportunity in employment, and they are here to convince employers that students are the way to go!
We’re lucky enough to have some of the team along to share with us what they can do for students looking to work:
“The GCNZ website provides students with numerous tools for researching the companies they could potentially work for after leaving their tertiary studies. The key interactive feature is the unique “GradMaker” (think ‘matchmaker’) tool, which allows grads to identify what characteristics they are looking for in an employer. The GradMaker then finds the best employer matches and presents these to the grad.
A further integral element is the Graduate Forum, a place where graduates can ask questions (even the most simple ones) in an anonymous and pressure free environment that can be answered in a constructive and informative way by both GCNZ staff and contributing employers.
There are also the online company profiles that provide the graduate with key company information: who they are, what they do, graduate profiles and what benefits they offer. GCNZ provides a platform for graduates to find all this information on one website rather than requiring graduates to undertake the arduous task of searching individual company websites.
Finally, the latest GradConnection tool is “Personal Profiling”. This allows students to basically make a profile similar to LinkedIn, where you can highlight your job experiences, personal attributes, and upload your transcript. If you choose, employers can view this profile and even invite you to apply for a job.”
They are here to help bridge that gap between scary studentville and employed professional – it can seem like a huge leap but if you’re clever you will utilise their system to help you get the job you want!
GradConnection for Employers
Employers: Have you ever thought a student might be just what you’re after? Tim from GradConnection says:
“There seems to be a genuine lack of understanding of what bringing in tertiary talent on can do for an organisation today. A graduate is teachable to your ways, they have been taught all their lives and are used to learning from someone or some system that is able to advance their knowledge and steer them down the path to success. Generally resulting in no bad working habits.”
Below are just some of the key benefits of hiring graduates:
- They come equipped with the latest in academic preparation and are generally more enthusiastic and excited about their career path
- Graduates are eager to apply all they have learned; in fact eager is an understatement! They are keen to apply their learned skill set and prove their capabilities to succeed
- Graduates are happy to relocate and embrace every opportunity for career advancement. Their roots have not sunk too deep, so they are much more portable and adaptable to where the opportunity for advancement exists
- Graduates are tech savvy, they know about all the new ways of communicating; online resources etc and can bring this technological knowledge into your workplace
- They are easier to manage, and are willing to execute tasks as ordered
- Graduates often infuse a new, youthful energy into your work environment. Their positive approach to life is contagious, and likely to spill over to the rest of your workplace
- They are young, vibrant, and many are prepared to work long hours to get noticed
- Graduates come ready to go and nicely equipped ready to be shaped and moulded into the leaders of tomorrow by the leaders of today.
So, if you’re a student and your thinking about your future give GradConnection a try. You can also source new employment on Jobs.co.nz and keep an eye out on our blog for job hunting tips and tricks. Remember – It’s always about your personality and drive, but also who you know too. So get the word out you’re looking for a job through your friends and make it known on your social media outlets ( as long as they’re professional!)
Check out GradConnection on:
Website: www.gradconnection.co.nz
Email: info@gradconnection.co.nz
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GradConnectionNZ?ref=ts
Want some info on social media and job hunting? Check out our previous blog posts:
Personal Branding for Job hunters With Ross Bennett from @CauseAnd_Effect
