NAME: Sonny Perawiti
JOB: Kitchen hand and bartender, Foundation Bar and Restaurant
NZMA QUALIFICATIONS: NZMA Certificate in Hospitality and Employment Skills Level 3
National Certificate in Hospitality Level 4
NZMA Waikato
BACKGROUND: “I came to NZMA to gain hospitality qualifications and pursue my dream of owning my own hospitality establishment.”
THE REDFISH EXPERIENCE: “The support I received from Redfish was awesome. They helped me in so many ways and were always supportive and willing to offer assistance where needed. My Redfish recruitment consultant helped me to critique my CV and cover letter before I applied for jobs. She also helped me find suitable positions to apply for that would benefit me and my family, and helped me to understand the contractual requirements for any employment opportunities.”
FUTURE GOALS: “I want to own and operate a successful Burlesque style bar in Hamilton and I’d also like to become a Head Chef.”
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NAME: Raymond Kaumoana
JOB: Barista, Esquires Coffee House
NZMA QUALIFICATIONS: NZMA Certificate in Hospitality and Employment Skills Level 3
National Certificate in Hospitality Level 4
National Diploma in Hospitality Management Level 5
NZMA Auckland South Academy
BACKGROUND: “I had various part-time jobs in the fast food industry while I was at school but I started becoming really interested in hospitality after talking to my cousin who was studying it at NZMA. I really liked the sound of all the stuff they were learning, such as cocktail making, so I decided to enrol myself!”
THE REDFISH EXPERIENCE: “Redfish was quite useful. During my NZMA studies the Redfish Recruitment Consultant helped me get a job as a food & beverage attendant at the Holiday Inn. I worked at the Holiday Inn throughout my studies and also after I graduated, in a range of different positions within the food and beverage department. These included restaurant, cashiering, bar, banquets and mini-bar.
“Also while I was studying at NZMA I worked part-time as a crew member at the McCafe in Mangere so I was pretty busy! It was hard work but it was great to have the opportunity to practice all the skills I was learning in class each day.
“At the moment I work as a barista at Esquires Coffee House in Westfield Manukau. I really enjoy making coffee and through a lot of practice I have succeeded in greatly improving my coffee art! Apart from the coffees, I also prepare the food orders, take customer orders and maintain cleanliness in the cafe.
“I am also doing some more tertiary study. At the moment I am studying travel and tourism to broaden my industry skills and knowledge.”
FUTURE GOALS: “I am looking forward to a career in hotel management. I also have a dream of becoming a flight attendant. As my speciality is in food and beverage, my skills will be of great advantage in the air!”
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NAME: Lisa Wharepapa
JOB: Supervisor/Food Coordinator, Eden Park Catering
COURSE: National Certificate in Hospitality Level 4
NZMA Certificate in Supervision Level 5
National Diploma in Hospitality Management Level 5
National Diploma in Business Level 5
NZMA Auckland South Academy
BACKGROUND: “I am a gib-stopper and painter and have my own contracting business, but I want to try something different. My main aim is to become a chef.”
THE REDFISH EXPERIENCE: “I found the services of Redfish to be extremely valuable. The Redfish recruitment consultant was active in telling us about positions that were available and encouraging us to go for interviews. He was also supportive and encouraging if we didn’t get the job, reminding us that there were many more possibilities out there.
“Redfish helped me secure the job I have now – they sent me along to the interview and I started work as a supervisor/food coordinator for Eden Park Catering the very next evening! I have 16 workers under me.”
FUTURE GOALS: “I see myself becoming a chef in back of house. My dream would be to be on Master Chef New Zealand!”
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NAME: Hayley –Jean Osborne
JOB: Part-time personal assistant and volunteer coordinator, Dress for Success Hamilton
Part-time assistant, Tops N Tales Costume Hire
COURSE: NZMA Certificate in Hospitality and Employment Skills Level 3
National Certificate in Hospitality Level 4
NZMA Waikato
BACKGROUND: “Before coming to NZMA I was living in Auckland, studying by correspondence at Massey University and working full-time in a cafe. I returned to Hamilton and, after the loss of a family member, became a volunteer within the community at Hamilton’s Dress for Success.
“I also embarked on some more study, gaining my Level 3 and 4 business administration and computing qualifications. However I realised I enjoy working in hospitality more than I do working in an office! In the future I’d like to be involved with events, so I decided to come to NZMA and learn more about the hospitality industry, particularly the bar service side of it.”
THE REDFISH EXPERIENCE: “Redfish assisted me with my CV and cover letter by critiquing what I had already written up. I also found their weekly workshops were very beneficial. Without these workshops I don’t think I would have done so well at interviews – I have been out of the workforce for some time and a lot has changed.
“The services of Redfish were really valuable in helping me understand today’s trends and techniques when it comes to job hunting and interviews.”
FUTURE GOALS: “I can now see where I want to be in life and I am working as hard as I can to achieve my goals. I want to work in events. It’s going to be epic!”
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NAME: Rob McLeod
JOB: Part-time teller, ANZ Bank (work experience)
COURSE: IFL (Intensive Foundation Learning)
NZMA Certificate in Contact Centre and Employment Skills Level 3
NZMA Certificate in Business Administration and Employment Skills Level 3
NZMA Certificate in Business and Employment Skills Level 4
NZMA Auckland West Academy
National Diploma in Business Level 5
NZMA Auckland Central Academy
BACKGROUND: “I left school at 15 without any qualifications and started working in a cafe. Later I got a job at McDonald’s and spent ten years there, working my way up to manager. But eventually I decided I needed a change so I started studying. At first I didn’t really know what I wanted to do but NZMA gave me a real sense of direction.
“I started out at NZMA’s Auckland West Academy in 2009. Their foundation course was just what I needed to boost my confidence before starting one of their certificate programmes. Then I studied contact centre because I thought it might be a good career for me – but after seeing all the interesting things the business students were doing, I thought maybe there’s a way to combine the two. So after completing my contact centre certificate I went on to gain my level 3 and 4 business qualifications before transferring to NZMA’s Auckland Central Academy for my diploma. I will graduate later this year.”
THE REDFISH EXPERIENCE: “I recently won the Auckland West Academy’s ‘Student of the Year’. My prize was ten weeks of work experience as a teller for the ANZ Bank! Redfish organised it all and lined it up with the bank. I have been there for five weeks now, working two days a week at the New Lynn branch. I absolutely love it!
“Also earlier on during my NZMA studies Redfish arranged another work experience opportunity for me – two weeks working at the Waitakere District Court. It was a great experience.
“I have found that having Redfish as part of NZMA is a great asset for the students. It shows how dedicated they are to helping us make the most of our potential and launch our careers.”
FUTURE GOALS: “After I graduate I’d love to get a permanent job at the ANZ – that would be the best-case scenario. Otherwise I will apply at contact centres and in office blocks until I find something. Since I have both contact centre and business qualifications I have quite a few options.
“In the long-term I’d like to live and work in Sydney – that’s been a dream of mine since I first visited the place on holiday. However before that I want to get a lot more work experience under my belt and a really good feel for what I am doing.”
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NAME: Charisse Galiki
JOB: Hospitality staff member, Eden Park and Mt Smart Stadium
COURSE: NZMA Certificate in Hospitality and Employment Skills Level 3
National Certificate in Hospitality Level 4
NZMA Auckland South Academy
BACKGROUND: “Before coming to NZMA I was just bumming around on the benefit – I’d been on benefits for nearly 18 years. I’d never even had a job. I’m a mother of four. I dropped out of school at 15 and had my first child at 16. My mum passed away when I was 19 and that’s when things really went downhill for me. She had been an amazing support for me, and suddenly I lost that support. I got into drugs and eventually became addicted to P.
“I pretty much gave my kids away. I was hooked on P for about six years. I often wanted to stop, but I never did, until the kids’ father and I broke up in 2005. I could see my kids getting further and further away from me and I was determined to turn my life around. I haven’t touched the stuff for four years now and I’ve got my kids back in my life and a gorgeous granddaughter too. They are my inspiration.
“The first time I tried to apply at NZMA I chickened out. I just didn’t have the confidence to do it. However later on I was called up to do jury service. As I talked to the other jurors I really became inspired to get out there and do something with my life. They all had jobs and interesting lives. I, on the other hand, had nothing I could talk about. I just didn’t feel I was able to participate in any of conversations with them because I had nothing to share. That motivated me to gain a qualification and a job. So a year after my first visit to NZMA I came back and enrolled!
“At first it was really hard but after a while, NZMA became a real haven for me, a daily get-away during tough times. Originally I was planning to stop studying after gaining my Level 3 hospitality qualification but I loved it so much I decided to stay on and complete Level 4. After this I’m going to get my diploma!”
THE REDFISH EXPERIENCE: “Redfish is great. They are always encouraging students to sign up for work opportunities. At the beginning of this year they suggested I try out at Eden Park during an event. I was making hamburgers there during a Blues game. It was my first-ever job and I loved it!
“Now I work there regularly during events, as well as at Mt Smart Stadium. I have done cooking, cashiering and am looking at moving into the corporate or retail area. I have recently gained my EventStar NZ qualification and am looking forward to working at Eden Park during the Rugby World Cup – what an exciting event to be a part of!
“When I first started doing cashiering at Eden Park I was too shy to even look at the customers! But now I have gained my confidence and I love dealing with people and having a chat with them. Everything has totally changed for me. When I got my first job at Eden Park my daughter cried. My kids are really proud of me now – before they just used to think of me as ‘mum on the benefit’ or ‘mum getting drunk’. But now I am a good role model for them.”
FUTURE GOALS: “I will complete my Level 4 qualification in September and then I’m going to gain my National Diploma in Hospitality Management! I’m going all the way at NZMA!
“I’m looking forward to working in the hospitality industry, being out there with customers and interacting with them. I look back at where I was before and feel so happy now. I really feel like I have turned my life around – and that’s a great feeling.”
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NAME: Katrina Diaz
JOB: Programme Coordinator, Skills Update Training Institute
NZMA QUALIFICATIONS: National Diploma in Business Level 5
NZMA Auckland South Academy
BACKGROUND: “I left school at 15 because I fell pregnant. I now have four daughters. Because of my kids I became a parent helper and teacher aide at primary school, but I didn’t have any qualifications so I never became a proper teacher. After about 15 years I got fed up and needed a career change!
“For the next four or five years I did lots of different jobs. Then I moved to Egypt where I lived for two-and-a-half years and got back into teacher aide work. I returned to New Zealand and decided – at the age of 48 - it was time to start gaining some qualifications! That’s when I began studying business.
“I started off studying at another provider but I went to NZMA for my National Diploma in Business Level 5. It’s hard to express just how wonderful NZMA was! I had a lot of personal problems during the time I was studying there, but the staff were so supportive of what I was going through. Everything I have now is thanks to the NZMA staff. They encouraged me, supported me – there was nothing they wouldn’t do for me.”
THE REDFISH EXPERIENCE: “I graduated from NZMA on a Friday and started work at Skills Update Training Institute on the Monday as a teacher aid for the warehouse class. Two months later I was promoted and am now the Programme Coordinator for their Papakura branch. The qualifications and skills I gained at NZMA are the reason I am where I am today! I am so thankful for everything that NZMA did for me. Although I found this job myself, Redfish helped me with my CV and interview techniques so their services were very useful also.
“Skills Update is a private training institute which trains individuals for employment in a range of industries. I work in liaison with the work brokers at Work and Income New Zealand to oversee the employment of our students. I keep a daily record of each student’s progress, help them with their CV’s and find them employment. The job is very high-pressure but I love it.”
FUTURE GOALS: “I am so happy with this job. I have a lot of student contact as well as a good rapport and a good name with lots of company managers. I am a people’s person and this is the kind of role I love – so I plan to stay with Skills Update Training Institute for the foreseeable future!”
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NAME: Hemanth Kumar Bollam
ORIGIN: Karimnagar, South India
JOB: Customer Service Officer, ANZ Bank Sylvia Park branch
NZMA QUALIFICATIONS: National Diploma in Business, NZMA Auckland Central Academy
BACKGROUND: “Before coming to New Zealand I graduated from Osmania University in Hyderabad with a Bachelor Degree in Commerce. I was looking to settle overseas and do a post graduate course. New Zealand was one of the countries that appealed to me.
“The NZMA diploma course was really helpful for me because it gave me good practical exposure for the theoretical studies I had done in India. It also gave me a solid experience of the international workplace and how things are done in New Zealand. It’s completely different to India!
“I think one of the most valuable skills I gained from NZMA was learning how to stand and give a presentation in front of a group of people. Being confident and having strong presentation skills is incredibly useful in the workplace.”
THE REDFISH EXPERIENCE: “Within a month of arriving in New Zealand I landed a job as a crew member at Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers. That was good because it paid the bills during my diploma studies.
“Then at my graduation ceremony I was awarded Best Business Student by NZMA. The award was sponsored by the ANZ Bank and the prize included a four week internship with the bank. I started the internship the very next week and within a few weeks they asked me to apply for a permanent position. Redfish coached me prior to the interview and I sailed through and got the job!
“I was initially employed as a Customer Service Officer in the bank’s Henderson branch but now I am a full-time permanent staff member at ANZ Sylvia Park. My official title is Customer Service Officer 2. I have the same duties that I did in Henderson and also carry out some of the personal banker’s duties. I am loving it, especially all the exposure I get to different sorts of people and the team environment.
“I still can’t believe how lucky I have been and how well it has all worked out. There has been a drastic change in my life because now everything has come together and I am really on track with my career. Without NZMA and Redfish this would not have been easily achievable.”
FUTURE GOALS: “The ANZ is a great organisation to work for and they really look after their staff. It is also a multinational company so there are so many opportunities, both in New Zealand and overseas. My long term goal is to stay with the organisation and work my way up into a managerial position. At the moment I am in the process of applying for permanent residency here.”
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NAME: Carmanita Te Huna
JOB: Volunteer, Hospice Waikato
Casual staff, Red Badge Security
COURSE: National Certificate in Retail Level 3
NZMA Waikato
BACKGROUND: “I left school at 16 and became a labourer and orchard worker in my home town Gisborne. I moved to Hamilton about 14 years ago and got into cleaning work for a commercial cleaning company, and more recently I worked in a warehouse for four years. I left my warehouse job to spend more time with my teenage daughter and have a break. At the time, my son was studying hospitality at NZMA and he suggested I come here too. That was back in 2009 and I have been a student here ever since! Initially I completed my Hospitality Level 3&4, then I did Business Level 3 and now I am doing retail!”
THE REDFISH EXPERIENCE: “Redfish has been very helpful. Back when I was studying hospitality and business they lined me up with some temporary sales and marketing work which was great. Now they have organised some training and casual work for me with Red Badge Security, to further broaden my skills.
“As part of the retail course we have to do at least 40 hours volunteer work in a retail environment. I completed my 40 hours at Hospice Waikato – and I enjoyed it so much that I have continued doing voluntary work for them once a week!
“Everything I am learning in my retail class is helping me a lot in my hospice job and my boss is really pleased with me. She has given me the best – and longest – reference I have ever had!”
FUTURE GOALS: “Next year I’d like to gain my Level 4 business qualification from NZMA, and my Level 5 Certificate of Supervision. I love studying! I’d also like to continue working part-time for Red Badge and find a permanent part-time job cooking in a kitchen as well. My goal is to keep building my skills and experience until I am ready to open my own cafe.”
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NAME: Kelly Vincent
JOB: Sales Assistant, Suzanne Grae, Hamilton
NZMA QUALIFICATIONS: National Certificate in Retail Level 3
NZMA Waikato
BACKGROUND: “I grew up in Fielding, completed sixth form and then moved to Hamilton three and a half years ago. Finding a job was really difficult because employers all want people with experience. I started a travel course but dropped out due to lack of confidence and money. I went on to do a correspondence course in caring for children, but that didn’t give me a proper qualification so wasn’t really worthwhile.
“At the beginning of this year things started finally falling into place. I started doing some voluntary work for Red Cross and Dress for Success. Then one day my partner was reading the paper and he saw an ad for a new retail course at NZMA. He had studied at NZMA in the past and thoroughly recommended it. It sounded like just what I was looking for so I enrolled.”
THE REDFISH EXPERIENCE: “My course covered pretty much everything I needed to know – but even more importantly, it gave me heaps of confidence. My tutor set a goal for me to find a job so I approached Redfish who helped me with my CV and taught me how to tailor it to a specific job.
“Then I went door-knocking and lucky for me, Hamilton clothing shop Suzanne Grae was looking for somebody! After looking at my CV, doing a phone interview and a face-to-face interview, I got the job. I love it! It’s so cool talking to the customers and making them happy.
“I am really thrilled about the whole thing. All that time I couldn’t find a job – and now, after coming to NZMA, I’ve got the perfect job! They wouldn’t have offered me the job if I hadn’t done the NZMA course – they wouldn’t have even looked at my ridiculously long-winded CV and I wouldn’t have had the confidence or the knowledge to apply anyway.”
FUTURE GOALS: “I want to gain lots of experience in my sales assistant role and then eventually work my way up within Suzanne Grae to a managerial position. A lot of responsibility comes with being a manager so I need to have a lot more experience first, but it is something I want to work towards.”
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NAME: Ilya Penzin
ORIGIN: Russia
JOB: Barista and waiter, Tasca
COURSE: Diploma in Hospitality Management, NZMA Auckland Central Academy
BACKGROUND: “Last year I got a job in a restaurant. It was a completely new, challenging and unexpectedly fascinating experience for me! I learned the basics and became familiar with the inside aspects of the business; however I would like to grow further in this field and gain a managerial position. I hope that by completing a Diploma in Hospitality Management at NZMA I will cover my theoretical gaps and extend my practical skills.”
EMPLOYMENT: “I am currently working as a barista and waiter at Tasca, a Spanish bar and restaurant. I had been there before with friends and really liked the atmosphere, so later when I was looking for a job I went there with my CV. I was lucky enough to get a trial and then a job!”
FUTURE GOALS: “During my course, or shortly after I have graduated, I would like to become a restaurant manager.”
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