Success stories from graduates of the Wintec School of Business, August 2008
May Osborne - Diploma with Distinction
“I wish I’d done this right at the beginning of my work life because everything makes much more sense in your working life” said May.
The journey began in the early 2000’s when her then employer was looking at redundancies. May reflected on her work and experience and realised that she could do with a current qualification if she needed to go back on the job market. Her previous qualifications had been gained in the UK. As it happened May was promoted, and she decided to look at papers that would assist her in her job development. She started with a Health and Safety paper but soon realised after studying the Wintec Prospectus that she could work towards a meaningful qualification at the same time. She enrolled in the Diploma in Business Administration Level 5. Her role changed again and she enrolled in an accounting paper to support her new position. May then moved into her current job with NZIHT (New Zealand Institute of Highway Technology). This started as a part time role where she felt she could quickly complete the rest of the Diploma. But with the rapid growth of her employer’s business, her role soon changed to a full time position and she continued her studies one paper per Semester till it was completed last year.
May found her study at Wintec rewarding and fulfilling. Each Semester meant new faces and new groups to work with. As workplace assessment became available, May completed one Module through this process and did not have to attend class sessions, which fitted her work schedule.
May said by studying the Diploma it enabled her to embellish the knowledge she already had and consolidate it while bringing all the elements together.
Melissa Bryant - Career Aspirations
“In my last week at school I decided to be a Legal Executive” said Melissa. She discussed this with her Careers Advisor and English teacher and contacted a couple of people in Morrinsville, her home town, to find out what the job was about. What encouraged her was the fact that law is always changing as she didn’t want something that was going to be the same every day! She then contacted Wintec to enrol.
She enrolled in a year’s programme and completed the Certificate in Business and Computing Level 3 in Semester 1. By the end of this year she aims to have completed the Certificate in Business and Computing Level 4, and be qualified as a Legal Secretary but will continue studying towards the Legal Executive qualification at night over the next 3 years.
One of the three law firms in Morrinsville heard that Melissa was studying law and offered her some part time work. She was interviewed and accepted the 12 hours a week position at Allen Needham and Co. She juggles her course work with the law firm work and is gaining insight into the legal environment. Her Semester 2 programme is flexible enough to allow this work/study balance.
Melissa has gained a friend and ‘study buddy’ as a result of being at Wintec. They help each other with law study and she finds the practical aspects of her course are easier to deal with.
Lynne’ & Melanie Needham - Family footsteps
Midway through 2007 the twins decided to leave school. At that stage Lynne’ enrolled for a course at Wintec after hearing the Wintec Schools Liaison Officer. Initially she wanted to complete the legal option, but enrolled in the Certificate in Business Administration and Computing Level 3 programme. “It’s really good to know basic computing skills. You can go anywhere after doing this course” said Lynne’. In Semester 1 this year Lynne’ completed the Certificate in Business Administration and Computing Level 4. It was during this time and while waiting for her ride home, she was offered a position. She has now taken on this Receptionist role with office administration work attached. This means she is working with her Mum, Liz, and says this is working really well.
Although she is still keen to do the Legal Executive course she will wait a while before continuing her studies.
Melanie took a different approach on leaving school. As she says she was ‘looking for the money’ and started work full time as a waitress/barista. With Lynne’s encouragement she enrolled for the Certificate in Business Administration and Computing Level 3 programme this year and continued working part time as well. She had decided waitressing was not her and as Melanie said, “this course offered something you always need to know and something good to have on your CV”. As part of this course Melanie had to complete a week’s work experience. With Mum’s advice she approached Price-waterhouseCoopers. They gave her the opportunity for the week and then asked her if she would like to continue working casually during her holidays. Before Semester 2 began she asked if there was a job going and they offered her a full time position as Administration Assistant. She is loving the work.
“Don’t be scared to go out of your comfort zone and ask big businesses for work experience because every business needs office juniors” advised Melanie.
Karyn Mollison - Hospitality to Helpdesk
Earlier this year Karyn came to an open evening at Wintec, received information about our programmes and after speaking with the Programme Manager, Joanne James, enrolled in the Certificate in Business and Computing Level 3 six month programme and as she says ‘the rest is history!’
Karyn who has 12 years hospitality industry, felt it was time to look for a new direction. She had plenty of customer service and people skills but wanted to brush up on her computer skills. She completed the programme and will receive her Certificate with Distinction. While finishing her study she was asked to interview for a position at Wintec in the Student Enrolment & Information Centre in the Enrolment Team as a Student Consultant.
Karyn had found that she was either over or under qualified for positions, but this role uses skills from her previous work environment plus skills she gained from completing this qualification. The change in direction has given her back her confidence and as Karyn said “made me realise how smart I actually am”.