KEY POINTS:
Most young people have been in the position of not being able to get the job they want because they don't have enough work experience. It is the chicken-and-egg situation that can be hard to overcome.
But there are a number of schemes available to help not only
young people looking for ways to get job experience but to give migrants - with many years of work under their belt - the opportunity to get the much sought after "Kiwi experience".
Lucy Harris, 21, completed her double major in marketing and management at AUT and, as part of the course, had to complete nine weeks' work to get experience related to her degree.
Harris ended up with the chance to work for Mills Display, a firm that sells point-of-sale products for the retail industry.
The general manager of the company in Penrose, Rosemary Fowler, said she had never taken on anyone without work experience before and so was a bit wary.
"But Lucy is full of energy and enthusiasm, and clearly wanted to learn - that is a major benefit," says Fowler. "She was interested in all facets of our business so we enjoyed having her onboard."
Harris arrived to man the reception desk and help customers. Fowler not only had to help her understand how to answer the phone correctly, she buddied her up with a member of staff doing a similar job.
"It is a big learning curve for someone working in an office for the first time - but when someone has that drive and interest to succeed then it is a win-win situation for everyone," says Fowler.
Fowler admits she had to go back to basics to ensure Harris understood what to do during those first important few weeks.
While Harris welcomed the chance to get work experience, she says life at work is very different to being at university.
"As a student, you are used to getting up late, studying through the night, doing what you want during the day - so that takes a bit of getting used to," says Harris.
She says students coping with the change from being a student to an employee need to have clear goals.
"You have to know where you want to be," she says. "You need to learn how to work as a professional.
"The first two weeks at work were difficult, learning all the procedures, understanding what needs to be done. It was a bit of an eye-opener for me because I used to be able to choose who I was with or what I wanted to do - you also have to be accepting of all the diverse people that are out there.
"It is different to university where you are surrounded by lots of people doing the same thing as you and have common goals."
Harris was lucky in that Mills Display was able to pay her for her nine weeks' work experience.
"[Being paid] depends on who the employer is," says Kate Coleman, co-operative education manager at AUT. Some smaller firms just can't afford to pay students; interestingly some of the bigger organisations don't pay either.
"The nine weeks' work experience is compulsory if you do a bachelor of business degree here and the work has to relate to your discipline. And once the nine weeks have been completed, students return to AUT."
Coleman says the AUT scheme means students on work experience don't impact too much on the employers' day-to-day operations, but admits employers do have to make an effort to settle students into a role.
"Employers do have to spend a bit of time with them and we ask that students are buddied up with someone. Some employers spend lots of time with the student, helping them, mentoring them and giving them feedback. Some firms only do the bare minimum."
For Harris, working life has turned out well. She was taken on full time by Mills Display and is developing her career there.
"Getting work experience - even if it is unpaid - is absolutely worth it," she says. "What they don't teach you at university is that work experience, when you graduate, is more crucial than your grades - in the short term.
"If I were to do my degree again, I'd look at getting more office experience while studying, so you get the edge and can understand how what you learn in class can be applied at work."
Work and Income has a scheme called Work Experience that provides unpaid opportunities in a workplace or work-type environment to help people get work experience and to develop informal contacts.
A spokesman for the government scheme says the primary aim of Work Experience is to help people engage in the labour market and move towards unsubsidised work by developing and maintaining their motivation, confidence, skills and self-esteem.
The scheme is open to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who are actively seeking work.
In addition, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce has a scheme called the New Kiwis Programme that matches highly skilled migrants with employers needing a helping hand. The candidate agrees to work for up to eight weeks (unpaid) in a work experience capacity while still being free to attend job interviews.
For some, the idea of working for nothing can be a big ask. For others, a short burst of doing something for nothing can turn into a solid career opportunity.
ON THE WEB
www.chamber.co.nz
http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/employers-industry/work-experience.html
Contact Steve Hart at www.stevehart.co.nz
