Jacob Waitere

Work experience in a hall of residence and skills honed from English Literature and Education studies gave Jacob a solid foundation for leadership roles.

I always knew I wanted to work with young people. Before going to university, I thought the only way to support young adults was in teaching, so I set up my Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree to major in Education with a view to studying Teaching later at postgraduate level. However, I also had a passion for English, media, theatre, and classics and wanted to think and reflect critically in other disciplines. I began to realise that a range of education and youth development career pathways were open to me.

The BA programme led me to be a critical and creative thinker and leader. BA degrees don't always lead into a defined career as much as other undergraduate degrees, and that is amazing! I've always said my BA could stand for ‘beautifully anything’. I enjoyed classical and modern Pacific literature and theatre and completed Education courses that focused on policy and psychology. In English Literature the lecturers really helped me hone my skills in writing and critical reflection. What really surprised me was that my study experience taught me to look at the world and think about the context, user experiences and emotions behind those experiences.

My degree demonstrated a commitment and ability to learn, however it was my extracurricular activities that got me the job. I spent a year volunteering in what was known as the Manaaki Pihipihinga programme with Pasifika students, and I was a residential advisor (RA) and volunteer civil defence warden for Weir House (hall of residence) while studying. All these roles developed my leadership and interpersonal skills and demonstrated to employers my ability to work with others.

Employers are looking for people who can question and move forward with innovative solutions. In the age of social media communication skills, both verbal and written, are so important. As a result of my studies and experiences I've been able to work across multiple teams/projects, from finance, IT, government lobbying, customer experience, and pastoral care.

Since studying I have also completed my Chartered Manager recognition through the Institute of Managers and Leaders Australia and New Zealand, and I am now also a professional member of Institute of Directors New Zealand.

My first role was competence assessment administrator for Engineering New Zealand. I worked with senior managers as part of a team that led the competence assessment process and supported graduate learning and development for engineers. The education policy courses I had completed were especially useful in this role. Soon afterwards I was appointed as an operations manager for student accommodation at University of Auckland, the youngest such manager in the country. In my current role I manage a team of 65 full-time staff, with an operating budget of $64m supporting 4500 students living on campus.

At time of writing, I am in a stage of work transition. After 11 years with University of Auckland I am going to UniLodge as General Manager for their University of Canterbury portfolio. I am also a board director for student accommodation professional bodies in New Zealand and Australia. These are big jobs making sure students have the best experiences living on campus. COVID-19 has really changed the ways people interact with one another and we will be looking at the long-term impact of physical isolation on our student communities.

My advice to future and current students would be to select courses that give you a different perspective and that help you to think. Get involved in mentoring, clubs, volunteer work or student jobs in the library or halls of residence. Your degree, combined with people-focused work experience, will demonstrate to employers not only can you be academic but also personable.