Students encouraged to choose careers in technology

21 June, 2013

Industry leaders call for more secondary students to choose careers in technology

Manukau Institute of Technology held an IndustryConnect event at Macleans College this week so secondary students and their parents could hear from a range New Zealand’s business and information technology leaders about career trends.

Speakers included Telecom NZ, CEO, Simon Moutter; Orion Health Vice President Product Development, Gareth Cronin; Microsoft NZ’s HR Director, Pia Dalum; Fuji Xerox Corporate Affairs Manager, Steven Caunce and MIT’s Dean of Faculty of Business and Information Technology, John Wadsworth.

More than 120 students from high schools in Auckland’s eastern corridor and their parents attended the event to hear what job opportunities in each of the speakers’ industries there are and what young people can do to create relevant and viable career pathways from school to tertiary to employment.

The speakers’ message was simple. They need more students to be planning careers in technology.

Also that they need people with sales and marketing skills within the technology industries so there are jobs for business graduates as well as IT graduates.

They pointed out that a career in technology does not mean sitting in isolation behind a computer screen and that there are many different roles available, all well paid, and the successful candidates need to be well-rounded individuals with excellent communication skills.

Telecom CEO Simon Moutter pointed out that this is a time of monumental change. “Any job to do with technology is going to be hot.” He says, “The jobs of 2020 haven’t even been conceived yet and it is young ICT professionals who will make the change.” He called on them all to step up saying “New Zealand needs you to aspire to great things.”

Orion Health’s Vice President Product Development, Gareth Cronin told the audience that despite what they might think, “IT is a creative industry.”

Blair Rankin (18) a student from Botany Downs Secondary College won a phone from Telecom CEO Simon Moutter for asking the best question. He said the evening had helped him to understand what skills he will need to succeed and had opened his eyes on different aspects of what he needs to consider for his future.

He said he was also inspired by the background of the speakers and how they started at the bottom and said he could see that ‘hard work pays off.’

The event was the second in Manukau Institute of Technology’s IndustryConnect series, a network aimed at informing and linking schools with professionals in business and information technology.

MIT’s Faculty of Business and Information Technology senior lecturer Edwina Mistry says the aim is to identify and discuss industry needs, and help young people transition from school to tertiary study and industry.

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