Meet our new staff: Rachael Marsters
“I like to put my hand up and take on new challenges,” says AUT’s newest employability relationship manager Rachael Marsters.
She sure does. Last year she raised $10,000 to hitch hike to Queenstown to create awareness of Cure Kids. This personal challenge pushed her limits physically but also enhanced important life skills of tenacity, perseverance and goal setting. She is now bringing those skills, along with her experience in sales and account management roles, including professional sport clubs, to AUT.
Her first challenge at AUT is helping colleague Vanessa Freeman deliver an even bigger, brighter and more diverse Employability Matters Week than ever before. Employability Matters includes career fairs for Law and for Hospitality, Tourism, Events and Culinary Arts and a Volunteering Expo, as well as many leadership presentations and employer events.
We welcome Rachael to the Employability and Careers team as an employability relationship manager, working alongside Vanessa Freeman.
What do you do as an employability relationship manager?
We go out into the workplace and create relationships with employers, bringing them into the university to meet with students and graduates and open up opportunities for graduate roles, internships, work placements etc.
We help prepare students for the challenges of entering the workforce by providing quality industry exposure through employer events, such as career fairs and lunchtime series.
I’m responsible for building up relationships with industries for business and law, science, sport & recreation and health.
Why did you want to take on this role?
I loved the idea of being able to contribute to a student’s career journey by developing relationships with employers and organisations within various industries.
What do you feel you bring to the role?
I enjoy meeting new people and I’m passionate about doing good things. I really believe in taking a partnership approach with my clients. In all my roles I’ve been client facing where it’s important that I listen to understand my clients’ goals. I’ve got strong relationships with many areas of industry.
I’m not afraid to pick up the phone and ask for things and utilise my networks to get results.
Any previous experience with tertiary?
This is my first role working in tertiary. But I have a teenager and I’m amazed how different his world is to mine, yet there is only 18 years between us. There has been so much change in such a short time and it isn’t stopping.
What drives you in what you do?
I love doing good things and contributing to initiatives that make improvements and help, be that in my work or personal life. The first initiative I’ve supported is Tupu Tai internships for Pasifika students and I’ve loved been involved with that because my Dad is a Cook Islander so it is something I’m keen to put energy into.
Your goals in this role?
Simply to contribute to the overall success of the Employability and Careers team within AUT, whether that be with new ideas or just being an awesome team member.
Advice to your 18-year-old self?
Think wide and outside the box! There are so many amazing roles out there that you may not be aware of. Be strategic to carve the path you want.