Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
1 min ago
Aramex New Zealand’s Human Resources Business Partner Rachel Sim (Left), with Grace Rocard, who is Recruitment and HR Coordinator; and CEO Scott Jenyns.
Studying a Bachelor of Business Studies (Management) at EIT’s School of Business gave Grace Rocard the confidence to pursue her dreams.
The 25-year-old, due to graduate this year, is now working as a Recruitment and Human Resources Coordinator at Aramex New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay office, after working there as an intern for 6six months.
Having previously worked in hospitality, she says the three-year-degree at EIT’s Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale grew her passion for people and customer service.
“I really enjoyed all the papers that related to human management. HR seems like a good fit to learn about business, to learn how organisations operate, also to learn how you’re meant to treat and should be treated as employees, caring more for the well-being of your staff, that sort of thing. I just think that my nature is more in line with how the people fit in the business rather than necessarily the overall business operations.”
When she finished at Hastings Girls’ High School in 2014, she didn’t have an idea of what she wanted to do, so began a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Politics and Philosophy at the University of Auckland.
But two years later, she decided to put a hold on study and continue working in hospitality, eventually moving back to Hawke’s Bay.
“I chose to go to EIT to do business, mostly because I had a real passion for hospitality and I thought one day, if I wanted to own my own business, having a business background would just set me up for that no matter what I chose to do,” she says.
“I had been working as a restaurant manager, but I didn’t have the confidence that I felt like I needed to really do the job well so that’s why I decided I should get a formal education in business.”
She was attracted to EIT after hearing of her friends’ positive experiences.
“I also thought I had been to a university, and I know I didn’t really enjoy the way it was run – the fact you were just a number amongst a mass of students. I thought I might learn better with the smaller class sizes and that sort of thing, so I just thought, why not give it a go and I loved it.”
She credits an internship at Aramex New Zealand, during her final year at EIT, for securing full time employment with the company.
“They’ve offered me a lot of great opportunities. It’s a really exciting time to be a part of the organisation.”
She strongly believes studying a Bachelor of Business Studies at EIT sets you up for success in the real-world.
“I can only speak positively of the experience. What you learn is applied in a way that translates to the workplace and I think that is super beneficial for anyone wanting to actually work in the business realm.”
“The lecturers are super passionate and really supportive, and I felt that I was learning and succeeding in the way that I wanted to. Also, the smaller class sizes means you feel like you’re part of a small community and are able to ask the questions you need to ask.”
Aramex New Zealand’s Human Resources Business Partner Rachel Sim says Grace has been an amazing addition to the team.
“She has hit the ground running and has such great enthusiasm and a really can do attitude to all responsibilities she is given. She has great common sense, confidence in what she is doing and has been a really great fit within the team.
“I hope she is also enjoying her time here with us, and is getting a really good insight to the world of HR.”
Russell Booth, the Programme Coordinator of EIT’s Bachelor of Business Studies, says: “No one in the School of Business was surprised when Grace was offered the role of Recruitment and HR Co-ordinator early in in her internship. Staff describe her as ‘conscientious, calm, intelligent and very personable’ which obviously are attributes that Aramex identified early and knew they were what they were looking for. “
“This also clearly demonstrates the fact that an internship through EIT’s School of Business allows students to show employers their potential and obviously employers see that which leads to employment opportunities. We are absolutely thrilled for Grace and feel she is deserving of this fantastic opportunity.”
