AUT Employability and Careers Info and Advice Blog

Why go to career expos? Because that is where you meet real employers and have real conversations about the world after AUT. Find out more about invaluable advice from employers and insights from students about the value of career expos – and other career events.

International students often tell us they feel very confused when employers say they want NZ work experience, despite the students having a wealth of experience in their own country. We explain what employers are looking for and how you can improve your job search opportunities.

Trying to meet employers and become known outside of AUT can be a difficult thing to contemplate. Here is a way to take small steps to build up confidence and start to interact with lots of different people.

Practising how to network can feel uncomfortable, but if you push through your awkwardness it can pay off, as Lavenia Tailai-Mataitini found when she attended a career expo and learned about the internship she is now undertaking with Auckland Transport.

Gaming attracted Liam O’Reilly-Gevert into a design degree that quickly opened up “a million and one other possibilities” and the realisation that your job title doesn’t have to reflect the name of your degree

“When I went to my Air NZ interview I found I could confidently answer every question they asked me because of the interview practice I did at the Employability Lab,” says Bachelor of International Tourism Management graduate Justin Singh. Now working as an Air NZ contact centre consultant, he encourages all students to make the most of AUT Employability and Career services.

Currently the youngest female Justice of the Peace in Auckland, Hana Malak is also senior lead engagement officer at the Honorary Consulate of Lebanon in New Zealand. These accomplishments would not have been achievable without the help of AUT Employability and Career services, she says, and Hana encourages others to make the most of the services.

Getting job interview help from AUT Employability services for a job she really wanted made all the difference for Spatial Design graduate Madi Wright who is now working as a junior designer for Outline Design.

Using LinkedIn led Rajvi Rangrej to an internship with a design firm and lots of great contacts – but it wasn’t something she was keen to do initially. But when she put up a logo she’d created for AUT Indian Student Association, everything changed.

If you don't want to be like the guy in the image, then read our tips on how to set up and perform in a virtual job interview. It's not difficult if you are prepared.