A Correspondent
Getting New Zealand experience is vital for job seekers wanting to climb the corporate ladder.
Manukau Institute of Technology prides itself on teaching real world skills that allow our students to contribute in the workplace From Day One.
To do that, we foster strong relationships with major companies who provide work placements. These often turn into jobs.
Internship helps
Harkeerat Kaur Brar is now working at Fletcher Building as an HR Systems Analyst after arriving from India in 2017 to study a Graduate Diploma of Data Analytics with us.
“The biggest plus point is the internship. I got an internship with Bank of New Zealand and it was only because of MIT,” she says.
The 31-year-old really made the most of her time there, working hard and getting to know the ins and outs of corporate life in this country and came highly recommended on applying for her current position.
“I see that as my turning point in understanding the company working environment in New Zealand and the methodologies. I used what I learned at BNZ in the interview with Fletcher Building.”
Fletcher Building is a global company with operations spanning Construction, Retail, Home Building and Manufacturing.
It employs 20,000 staff worldwide with Harkeerat -who is known as Harry by her colleagues – part of a team managing two systems that are in place internationally.
Challenging Queries
“She receives really challenging queries from end users particularly in the HR community and has to resolve those as they come in,” says Wendy Turner, HR systems manager.
“Harry contributes to the release of new functionalities in our people systems by performing analysis to ensure that the improvements will reduce incidents and disruptions as well as increase customer satisfaction.”
It’s great to be able to see a former student doing so well and with whom we were able to connect the right qualification and the right job. It feels like the beginning of a really bright future in this country.
About Harkeerat Brar
A Graduate Diploma of Data Analytics (Level 7) provides a strong base of knowledge in analytical, technical and theoretical concepts through hands-on teaching methods.
These skills are in demand in workplaces both here and around the world.
Harkeerat came to MIT with an exceptionally strong educational background in India where she earned two Master’s degrees and was an Assistant Professor at Guru Nanak College in Punjab.
“I did not feel that I was progressing in my career. I wanted to do something different and found New Zealand was quite a good place to do it.”
However, because of her academic qualifications, she found local universities wouldn’t offer her a place but a Data Analytics specialisation at MIT was sufficiently different to her networking experience to offer a pathway to further study.
“I had many challenges. I was alone. No family, no friends. I knew no one. I got everything from MIT. It was my basic building blocks. They were like family. The lecturers supported my course work and the international team with life outside study,” she says.
Harkeerat is currently on a Work visa but hopes that she will achieve Permanent Residency in the near future. As a valuable member of the team at Fletchers, her boss is certainly hoping she will be staying put.
“She’s a really calming presence. She’s such a good person. It illuminates to the rest of the team. She’s a true inspiration for her accomplishments,” says Wendy Turner.
Recently, Harkeerat returned home and spoke as a Guest Lecturer at her old college. She encouraged the students to follow their dreams and not be afraid to go beyond their comfort zone to achieve them.
That’s great to hear and a key part of what we do every day at MIT.
Manukau Institute of Technology is the Sponsor of the ‘Business Excellence in International Trade with India’ Category of the Twelfth Annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2019, entries to which close on Saturday, August 31, 2019. Please attend our Workshops on ‘How to file a good entry,’ from 2 pm to 4 pm on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 86 Highbrook Drive, East Tamaki, Auckland and on Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at ANZ House, 8, Business Parade South, Highbrook, East Tamaki, Auckland. For Registration, please call 021-836528. Email: venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz
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Photo Caption:
Harkeerat Kaur Brar
