NZ's Largest Careers Expo arrives in Auckland

04 August 2010

New Zealand’s Largest Careers Expo arrives in Auckland

The 2010 Coca-Cola Careers Expo will arrive in Auckland on Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 August at the ASB Centre, with a fantastic opportunity for Aucklanders to focus on their future career and beyond.

Following on from the great success of the past 18 years, New Zealand’s largest and longest running Careers Expo promises to provide a ‘one stop shop’ of practical information and real life industry examples for the job-seekers of today.

More than 40,000 people will pass through the Coca-Cola Careers Expo gates over the course of the annual series; Christchurch, Dunedin Auckland and Wellington. Admission is free, so the opportunity to kick start your career is easier than ever.

Expo organiser, Mark Gillard says The Careers Expo series owes its longevity and successful track record to some key strengths that set it apart from other events of its kind.

“It’s all about providing a resource rich atmosphere that will inspire and inform kiwis to be proactive in their chosen career. We bring a wide range of key education providers, ITO’s and industry professionals in one space so that visitors can interact with the key people to help guide students and adults alike in their career journey,” says Mark Gillard, Coca-Cola Careers Expo organizer.

One student who has benefited from the Expo, is former Year 12 Sacred Heart student, Sarah Leitner.

Sarah arrived at the Careers Expo with a somewhat vague idea of what she wanted to do when she left school. Like many visitors who tour through the Expo’s exhibits, Sarah discovered that there was a whole other world of options available to her that weren’t even on her radar.

“The Careers Expo totally opened my mind up to a lot of places and careers that I had never heard of. It was all the little, niche type of exhibits that showed me there was more to life than just going to the local university,” says Sarah.

Sarah was specifically impressed with the stand showcasing the International College of Hotel Management.

“I had never seen a Hotel Management School before and I was really surprised to see an international exhibit at the Expo. Australia had always interested me, and after talking with Neil Lambie who was hosting the exhibit, I was convinced that this was what I wanted to do,” adds Sarah.

Neil Lambie is the New Zealand representative for the International College of Hotel Management and remembers talking with Sarah and her mother during their visit to the Careers Expo.

“Sarah and her mother were particularly interested in finding out about how Sarah’s skills and love for travel could give her a successful career in the food and beverage industry,” says Neil.

Currently in her second year at the International College of Hotel Management, Sarah believes the Career Expo led her on her path to her dream career and urges other students to go with good questions, and with an open mind.

“It was the best decision I ever made and I would never have known about it if it wasn’t for attending the Careers Expo,” says Sarah.

“It’s definitely worth the trip!”

ENDS

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