Employability and Careers Blog: Info and Advice for AUT Students and Graduates

Scrum master Siobhan Flynn doesn’t chase a rugby ball around a field or hook her arms around someone’s hairy thighs. Nothing like that, much to the surprise of some people.“Even though my title says scrum master, it has nothing to do with rugby. I’m not even a sporty person,” laughs Siobhan.

Let's face it, Kiwis are not great at telling people about themselves, or heaven forbid, actually talking themselves up about anything. Am I right? Here are three employers tips on how to present yourself genuinely through your CV, cover letter and at events.

Bump spaces? Whaaat? Well they’re nothing too out of this world, but simply where you might bump into neighbours or locals as you go about your day, says Ockham Residential spatial designer Ethan Hoogenboom.And, while it may not always feel desirable to bump into your neighbour when you’ve been hosting loud parties, the need for bump space is becoming increasingly vital as we move into more intensified and smaller living spaces.

When Roberto Jatulan tells strangers where he works, the response is usually negative. Why would you want to do occupational therapy in mental health, he is asked.“Usually people are intimidated by the fact that I’m dealing with people with mental health illness and it is hard to blame them when the media offers so much negative portrayal …. but most of that is a misrepresentation. It is very fulfilling work,” says Roberto, who works at a rehabilitation unit for people struggling with mental illness; the Buchanan Clinical Rehabilitation Service.

Smelly, spongy or gangrenous – whatever condition feet are in – diabetic podiatrist Ramona Frost finds it a challenge and a puzzle to make feet better. It's a career she loves because of the difference it can make to people's lives.

Want to know how to create a more detailed story of you, your brand, your passions and the route your career is taking that can be accessed by potential employers? Emma O’Mahony from Robert Walters specialist recruitment agency generously gave me time to explain why she swears by LinkedIn as a recruitment tool.

Clubs are vital - and I’m not talking of nightclubs or the clubs used by Neanderthals to clobber dinosaurs for food. I'm talking about the exceptional range of clubs set up at AUT offering opportunities for you to hang out with other students and do stuff,

Here's some ideas of how to find something to do over the break that will help improve your CV and your chances of landing a good job.

A great online portfolio showcases your creative skills and helps you stand out when applying for jobs. Read our 8 tips on how to start to create a great online presence that will help you find work.

How do you put your best self forward when applying for design or other creative roles? By providing a CV and online portfolio – yes you need both and they need to be separate.