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Ernest Sulivan believes if you work hard and are willing to learn, you can succeed at your goals.
Ernest completed a BCIS International Business major with Accounting specialisation and Accounting industry certification in 2017 at IPU New Zealand and now works as a Senior Accountant at First Commercials.
He heard about IPU New Zealand from a friend at his church in Indonesia. They said IPU had small class sizes and many international students. He researched the culture and education in New Zealand and thought that it looked great. Ernest has been here for five years and has found people here very friendly. He is happy to stay because of the easier pace of life and great lifestyle. He says there are parks everywhere which are great for outdoor activities.
He loves how journeys within Palmerston North are often less than 10 minutes and says the short commute times make it possible to achieve work life balance.
In Indonesia it is not common to work while you study, which meant Ernest had not had to find work before coming to New Zealand.
Ernest started job hunting early in his studies. He didn’t want to leave it to the last minute. One of the papers in Ernest’s course was on English in the Professional World, which helped him prepare and improve his CV and interview skills. He did a lot of research on the available job agencies and websites, including Student Job Search, TradeMe, and Seek. He tried knocking on doors to see if there were any vacant positions and asked friends if they knew of any job opportunities.
When Student Job Search came to do a presentation at the IPU campus, it opened his eyes to what job opportunities were available. However, he kept looking. “You have to go over and beyond to be above average,” Ernest says.
Ernest found out about the job at First Commercials through word of mouth. He says sometimes your network can help you advance your career.
Ernest describes his employer as amazing and very welcoming. He remembers that on his first day they introduced him to all the staff and invited him out for lunch.
It took him a while to get used to how businesses operate in New Zealand. For example, he has had to get used to how employees and managers greet each other with first names. It’s much more personal. He has found his colleagues’ understanding of cultural differences has helped him to feel part of the team, along with the awesome staff activities they do twice a year.
Although the Kiwi accent was a challenge at first, Ernest found that things got better as time went on, and his managers and colleagues have been very helpful and understanding. They know that English is not his first language and sometimes explain things for him. Ernest found that having the right attitude meant that they were more than happy to support his journey in learning English.
Ernest really appreciates his manager’s flexibility in accommodating leave for his study, and that he was given leave to go home and visit his family for Christmas.
“Work hard and make sure you put in the effort. Try to constantly better yourself. Going the extra mile does make a difference.”
“Do everything with your very best in every situation. It’s like sowing seeds, some fall along the path and die, yet others fall on good soil and grow exponentially. You never know what and when opportunities might come up for you, so the best you can do is prepare yourself so that when the time comes, you’re already ahead of everybody else.”
“If we do a great job to the best of our ability, I can’t see why we won’t be in a good place one day. It may take some time, but we’ll surely get there.”
“Give international students a chance. Sure, things might not work out after you assess the performance of graduates – but if you never give them a chance, how would you know it wouldn’t work out?”
Each year Palmerston North welcomes 3,000 international students to the region.
Palmerston North has a diverse and vibrant population, with 130 cultures and 90 languages spoken.
Ernest Sulivan believes if you work hard and are willing to learn, you can succeed at your goals.
Ernest completed a BCIS International Business major with Accounting specialisation and Accounting industry certification in 2017 at IPU New Zealand and now works as a Senior Accountant at First Commercials.
He heard about IPU New Zealand from a friend at his church in Indonesia. They said IPU had small class sizes and many international students. He researched the culture and education in New Zealand and thought that it looked great. Ernest has been here for five years and has found people here very friendly. He is happy to stay because of the easier pace of life and great lifestyle. He says there are parks everywhere which are great for outdoor activities.
He loves how journeys within Palmerston North are often less than 10 minutes and says the short commute times make it possible to achieve work life balance.
In Indonesia it is not common to work while you study, which meant Ernest had not had to find work before coming to New Zealand.
Ernest started job hunting early in his studies. He didn’t want to leave it to the last minute. One of the papers in Ernest’s course was on English in the Professional World, which helped him prepare and improve his CV and interview skills. He did a lot of research on the available job agencies and websites, including Student Job Search, TradeMe, and Seek. He tried knocking on doors to see if there were any vacant positions and asked friends if they knew of any job opportunities.
When Student Job Search came to do a presentation at the IPU campus, it opened his eyes to what job opportunities were available. However, he kept looking. “You have to go over and beyond to be above average,” Ernest says.
Ernest found out about the job at First Commercials through word of mouth. He says sometimes your network can help you advance your career.
Ernest describes his employer as amazing and very welcoming. He remembers that on his first day they introduced him to all the staff and invited him out for lunch.
It took him a while to get used to how businesses operate in New Zealand. For example, he has had to get used to how employees and managers greet each other with first names. It’s much more personal. He has found his colleagues’ understanding of cultural differences has helped him to feel part of the team, along with the awesome staff activities they do twice a year.
Although the Kiwi accent was a challenge at first, Ernest found that things got better as time went on, and his managers and colleagues have been very helpful and understanding. They know that English is not his first language and sometimes explain things for him. Ernest found that having the right attitude meant that they were more than happy to support his journey in learning English.
Ernest really appreciates his manager’s flexibility in accommodating leave for his study, and that he was given leave to go home and visit his family for Christmas.
“Work hard and make sure you put in the effort. Try to constantly better yourself. Going the extra mile does make a difference.”
“Do everything with your very best in every situation. It’s like sowing seeds, some fall along the path and die, yet others fall on good soil and grow exponentially. You never know what and when opportunities might come up for you, so the best you can do is prepare yourself so that when the time comes, you’re already ahead of everybody else.”
“If we do a great job to the best of our ability, I can’t see why we won’t be in a good place one day. It may take some time, but we’ll surely get there.”
“Give international students a chance. Sure, things might not work out after you assess the performance of graduates – but if you never give them a chance, how would you know it wouldn’t work out?”
Each year Palmerston North welcomes 3,000 international students to the region.
Palmerston North has a diverse and vibrant population, with 130 cultures and 90 languages spoken.
TSB Towers
Level One
1-19 Fitzherbert Avenue
Palmerston North 4410
PO Box 12005
Palmerston North 4444
+64 6 350 1830
office@ceda.nz
CEDA.nz
Palmerston North City i-SITE
The Square, Palmerston North
0800 MANAWATU
(626 292)
isite@pncc.govt.nz
Feilding and District
Information Centre
Feilding Railway Station
61 Aorangi Street
+64 6 323 3318
info@feildingpromotion.co.nz
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