Summer holidays have been put on hold for some students who have opted to work at Western Bay of Plenty District Council to gain further experience in their chosen careers.
Seven students - studying civil engineering, marketing, environmental science, civil construction and finance – are finding local government a positive start in their respective career fields.
Group Manager People and Customer Services, Jan Pedersen, says the summer work experiences gives students a taste of the career opportunities in local government and can often lead to long-term career decisions within the sector.
“Our students play an important role in completing special projects throughout the District. It is important for students to gain on-the-job learning experiences in addition to their academic university studies,” says Jan.
Denzel Belbin, Jack Davison, Nic Butler, Mitchell Hooker, Emma Webb, Erika MacGregor and Ben Urbanc are all are hoping their contribution to Council will help pave the way to future employment.
Commerce student Nic Butler has returned to Western Bay for his third employment opportunity. He says the overall work experience has confirmed his decision that local government is a place he wants to work in the future.
“The people here are great, the working environment is awesome and I’ve gained an insight into working fulltime. A highlight of working here has been the skills and knowledge I have gained within the compliance area.”
Civil engineering student Denzel Belbin chose the summer job to discover what the role of an engineer (civil or other) would be in local government and the types of projects involved.
“I was elated to get some experience in local government. The main benefit of working here is being able to see the difference between what I can learn in the field as opposed to what I learn in lectures - particularly in the field of three waters.”
Science student Emma Webb is studying a Bachelor of Environmental Planning in Society and the Environment at Waikato University, with the aim of a career in Environmental Planning.
“I hope this job will enable me to work at the Council in future summers and that it may result in me having a career within Council after graduating.
“Working here has been an opportunity to meet new people and experience new opportunities that have taught me skills for the workplace place and life. I have also learnt how to manage my time and juggle multiple tasks.”
Erika MacGregor is also passionate about the environment and saw the Council job as a chance to put her Major in Environmental Science to work immediately.
“Because Environmental Science is such a broad field, I was unsure on what path to take after graduating. I hope this internship provides me with new skills and experience while also enabling me to determine where I want to go career wise.”
Civil engineering student Jack Davison believed that this role would provide great experienced with senior colleagues within civil engineering fields.
“I hope this experience will give me a practical hands-on perspective of what I have learned at university and how to apply it in a workplace environment. Furthermore, learning from people who have real-world experience in this field is invaluable to having a strong career in the future.”
Civil construction student Ben Urbanc always knew he wanted a career in the construction field. Joining Council’s summer programme has been a chance to understand the engineering challenges regarding a growing community.
“I want to gain understanding of the planning, design and maintenance of infrastructure from a public service perspective.” Ben says Council’s use of mapping tools and GIS is of great value as it provides readily available information.
Finance student Mitch Hooker felt that Council would be a good place to start his career.
“This job has allowed me to have numerous projects at the same time where I have to manage my time wisely. This sets me up well for my future career, as good time management is a key skill to have. “
