International +64 9 309 0301
New Zealand 0800 111 212

Boosting confidence with local experience

9 October, 2019
News and events

Management student Samuel Alonso has come away from his MediaWorks placement confident about his professional future in New Zealand.

Sam says he was so keen to get into the New Zealand workforce that he approached OPAIC’s Corporate Relations Team soon after he began his qualification.

“It is very important to get local experience,” he says.

The Corporate Relations Team helped him line up a placement at MediaWorks, where he has been interning as a finance assistant for the past six months.

 “I feel more confident about the Kiwi work culture and I feel that I am building up my English skills. In general, I feel more prepared for my next professional experience.”

Sam already had expertise in finance, having worked as a finance manager for hotels in Malta.

During his placement he learned about the kiwi culture, media relations, and the complex internal processes of large companies. His poster project proposing a transformation of the Casual Wages Process at MediaWorks won first prize at this year’s OPAIC research Showcase.

Sam will soon begin another internship at private air travel company Inflite Charters Limited. It’s a fast-growing company and he hopes there might be opportunities for him there beyond his internship.

Sam expects to have a good professional experience in New Zealand once his post-study work visa comes through.

“I can feel the difference between when I just started and now. I feel more confident about my future.”

Students should start thinking from both an academic and a professional point of view early on in their study, he says.

He advises students just starting on the placement journey to form good working relationships and be respectful, positive, and kind.

“You have to be enthusiastic and proactive.”

He says it’s important to understand that both the academic experience and the work experience here could have benefits into the future.

“All these classmates and all these co-workers are going to be part of your network.”

Hear Sam speak about his placement over on our YouTube channel.