Study leads to a great job before course even over

Study leads to a great job before the course has even finished for Kaitaia’s Lee Gamble

NorthTec student Lee Gamble has got a great new job as an office administrator in Kaitaia thanks to a NorthTec computing and business administration programme – before she’s even finished her studies.

“I was looking for work in Kaitaia but I didn’t think I had the skills they were looking for in the ads in the paper,” said Lee. “I’d been working, but not in the administrative field for a while, and I realised that I needed to upskill in terms of having more up-to-date computer knowledge.

“I wasn’t intending to study but when I realised I could do what I needed to do locally I came in and met the tutor, signed up, and started my studies the next day.”

Lee has found that studying on the Computing and Business Administration programme has fitted in with her busy family life and that coming to the campus to learn has helped her stay focused.

“It’s worked out perfectly for me as a mother of three kids. If I were staying at home I wouldn’t get it done. I’d have found other things to do!”

NorthTec tutor Pat Harrison has been instrumental to Lee’s success. “She’s a fantastic teacher and has been very supportive. She gave me a lot of assistance to put together a strong CV. My new employers told me that my CV got me the interview.”

Before studying with NorthTec Lee says that she probably wouldn’t have even applied for the job. “It gave me the confidence and gave me a foot in the door.”

As soon as the she saw the ad Lee put her best foot forward and went to see her future employer to tell them ‘you want me’. It must have paid off because the competition for the job was fierce.

Lee now intends to complete her qualification while she is working.

“I’ll be working 20 hours a week spread over four days which suits me perfectly. I’ll continue with my studies and will be able to go and see my tutors on the day that I’m not working and submit my assignments.”

In addition to raising a family, working and studying Lee runs her own photography business. Studying at NorthTec has also helped her business, says Lee. “I now know a lot of shortcuts that I didn’t know before. It’s made working with photographs a lot easier.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media