EMPLOYMENT ADVICE

EVERY JOBIS A STEPPING STONE

writer DIANA CLEMENT // photographer LOGAN WEST

Not everyone starts their working life with a degree under their belt or an idea where their career will take them. Even entry level jobs can lead all the way to the top. When JACOB COLLIGAN signed up for a Red Shirts in Schools Gateway training in 2014, little did he know that he’d be still working his way up at The Warehouse’s head office eight years later. After completing the 10-week course, the then-Year 12 Birkenhead College student was offered part-time work on The Warehouse shop floor at Glenfield Mall in Auckland. The following year he was recruited for a fulltime job. It was at that point the career path open to him dawned fully on Jacob. Future development opportunities were discussed at his interview, including the possibility of eventually becoming a store manager. Jacob’s ambition kicked in almost as soon as he started working for The Warehouse fulltime. He realised that he enjoyed the job and customers, and relished working for an iconic brand. Having been identified for his talent potential, Jacob was put on a future leaders course. He landed various promotions and secondments and eventually moved into the head office operations team for The Warehouse and Warehouse Stationery. When the pandemic hit, Jacob took over the operational execution of The Warehouse’s COVID response, which includes store operation processes and policy. School and university leavers often find themselves working in the bottom rung of many organisations. Even part-time cleaners can work their way up as Palmerston North mother Melissa Pearce did when she started as a school cleaner for OCS Group NZ. Melissa realised that her supervisor at OCS earned more than she did and set her sights working her way up – one role at a time. Fast forward 15 years and Pearce is now OCS’ operations manager for Massey University in Palmerston North. Starting as a frontline cleaner or security guard and working your way up to supervisor or manager isn’t unusual in the company, says operations director at OCS, Gavin Upston. If you have the ability to do the job, put your hand up, show ambition and motivation, you’ll get yourself noticed, Gavin says. “With specialist roles ranging from trauma cleaners and parking valets to engineers, career opportunities within large facilities management companies like OCS are plentiful.” Most young Kiwis who start working at McDonald’s think of the job as a means to earn some money. Yet there are employees who have progressed from part-time crew member at their local McDonald’s restaurant to highly paid corporate roles. That includes the last three managing directors. “As soon as you start training, you start earning credits towards a diploma in hospitality,” says Davis Howse, managing director of McDonald’s New Zealand. “For students who aren’t sure what they want to do when leaving school, Maccas can be a good option. They get NZQA accredited training while they work out their plans, says Davis. This furnishes employees with transferable skills for other jobs in the hospitality industry. “Regardless of the job you’re going for, a grounding in work at McDonald’s tells future employers you’ve worked in an environment that helps develop a range of skills and builds confidence.” Not everyone can progress from an entry level job up the ranks without some form of training. In-house training works for many but in some cases, it may be necessary to do part-time study or even complete a fulltime course along the way. Qualifications can be easier to study for if you know where you’re headed and the benefits of that qualification.

NOT EVERYONE STARTS THEIR WORKING LIFE WITH A DEGREE UNDER THEIR BELT OR AN IDEA WHERE THEIR CAREER WILL TAKE THEM. EVEN ENTRY LEVEL JOBS CAN LEAD ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.

DID YOU KNOW?

■ THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO BEGIN A CAREER AND YOUR FIRST JOB MAY BE FULL OF

OPPORTUNITIES EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT EVIDENT AT FIRST GLANCE.

■ ENQUIRE WITH YOUR EMPLOYER ABOUT FURTHERING YOUR TRAINING, COURSES YOU

CAN ATTEND AND YOUR ADVANCEMENT PROSPECTS.

■ McDONALD’S LAST THREE MANAGING DIRECTORS BEGAN THEIR EMPLOYMENT AT

McDONALD’S AS PART-TIME CREW MEMBERS.

For more information on starting to plan your career, training options and to discover a few ideas, visit www.careers.govt.nz/

plan-your-career