Summer-job scheme tackles coffee hurdle
It is time business graduates are seen as more than coffee-getters and photocopiers, one Wellington student says.
Victoria University business student Jasmine Rowland wants graduates to be taken seriously, and is pushing that message to employers around the country.
To achieve this, she is part of the organising committee for a Wellington business internship programme called Summer of Biz.
The aim is to connect Wellington employers with human resources and marketing students for paid summer jobs.
However, employers must agree to mentor the students, rather than give them jobs such as photocopying or fetching coffee.
Rowland said some employers did not see the value in employing university graduates.
‘‘I see the problem. I know the problem is about to hit me, and I want to help others pass this hurdle too.’’
About 110 students had signed up to the Summer of Biz programme so far. It gives students the opportunity to attend workshops throughout the year to learn practical skills.
At the end of the year, students would apply for a paid summer internship with a Wellington business.
Often students had theoretical skills, but not practical skills that would enable them to ‘‘hit the ground running’’ once they secured a job, Rowland said.
SilverStripe chief marketing officer Nicole Williams – one of the lead industry people behind Summer of Biz – said the programme was a two-sided coin.
‘‘We are creating an opportunity for the people of Wellington, for talented university graduates … while also acknowledging there is a gap between the theory at uni and the practical side.’’
Summer of Biz is described as the ‘‘younger sibling’’ of the Summer of Tech scheme, which connects technology graduates with businesses for paid internships that could lead to jobs.
Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (Wreda) chief executive Chris Whelan said the agency supports the programmes because they were an investment in Wellington’s workforce development.