Sarndra’s Success Stories: Students and Superstars!
Sarndra and ITC graduates, who are currently working for Sudima, and recently presented at the ITC Industry Expo.
Back in 2017, ITC welcomed the lovely Sarndra Stephens to the team as an Employment Consultant. Her job was to connect current students and graduates with job opportunities across New Zealand (and sometimes internationally as well!).
She would keep an eye out for exciting roles, share those jobs with students, keep in touch with past graduates to find out who was looking for a new job, and even help with CV and interview tips.
In short, she has worked her magic on thousands of students and graduates over the past years, and there are many, MANY people working in jobs today simply because she made those connections.
So today, we’re taking a look back at just a small sample of those student success stories.
Read the student story that made Employment Consultant Sarndra say “WOW!”
After taking several years away from the travel and tourism industry to raise her two children, ITC graduate Telesia Saofai achieved her dream of working as an airport check-in agent.
Despite arriving in New Zealand from Samoa at 16 without speaking English, Telesia worked hard to complete her NCEA qualifications and graduate from ITC with Distinction in both Level 3 and Level 4 Travel and Tourism.
With support from Sarndra, Telesia was quickly interviewed by Swissport and began training at the airport just days later. Her positive attitude, strong customer service experience, and dedication helped her secure the role she had always dreamed of, proving that it is never too late to pursue your career goals.
Meet Jessica Fuiono – ITC graduate and one of AJ Hackett’s newest team members!
After initially pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at AUT, Jessica Fuiono realised she wanted a different career path and enrolled at ITC to explore opportunities in travel and tourism. A bungy jump at Auckland Harbour Bridge helped her discover her passion for adventure tourism, and work experience with AJ Hackett confirmed her goal of working for the company.
Although no job was available at the Auckland site, ITC Employment Consultant Sarndra knew Jessica was considering a move and reached out to AJ Hackett to recommend her when a role opened in Queenstown. Thanks to Sarndra’s support and industry connections, Jessica secured a job with AJ Hackett in Queenstown, where she is now enjoying her new career and the team culture.
Meet Brooke Therond – The ITC Graduate working for Qantas!
After leaving school at the end of Year 12, Brooke Therond chose to follow her passion for travel by studying at ITC, where she completed her Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications. Since graduating, she has built an exciting career in aviation, first working as a check-in agent for Fiji Airways before securing her dream role as cabin crew for Qantas.
Brooke is loving the opportunity to travel the world and explore new cities, and credits Sarndra with providing valuable support along the way, including answering questions, improving her CV, and offering ongoing guidance. Her journey shows how ITC can help students turn their passion for travel into a rewarding career.
Catching up with Leandri: ITC Graduate Making a Splash in Exciting New Role!
After completing an international working holiday internship at Ocean Reef Club in Florida, ITC graduate Leandri achieved an incredible milestone by winning the club’s Associate of the Semester award, selected from a team of 1,300. After a year and a half abroad, she returned to New Zealand ready to take the next step in her career but was unsure which direction to pursue.
Leandri reached out to ITC Employment Consultant Sarndra, who helped her explore her options and introduced her to Akorn Destination Management. Leandri knew it was the right fit and is now working as a Cruise Operations Coordinator, enjoying a varied role that combines cruise ship operations, administration, and ongoing learning. Her journey highlights how ITC’s practical training and ongoing employment support can help graduates build rewarding careers in the travel and tourism industry.
Meet Eitaro Goshima: The ITC graduate whose boss won’t stop raving about how amazing he is
After completing his Level 3 and Level 4 studies at ITC’s Christchurch campus, followed by his Level 5 diploma in Auckland, Eitaro Goshima quickly secured a role at SkyCity thanks to the support of ITC Employment Consultant Sarndra.
Recognising his potential, Sarndra arranged a phone call with SkyCity, where both Eitaro and his future employer immediately saw that he was a great fit. Now working as a night porter, Eitaro enjoys the challenges of his role and the opportunity to solve problems independently. His manager has praised his can-do attitude, willingness to learn, and ability to take responsibility for running his own shift.
Are you ITC’s next success story?
The entire team at ITC, from our tutors to our Employment Consultants, is dedicated to seeing our students and graduates succeed.
If you’re thinking about getting into the travel and tourism industry, we make it our job to make that happen!
Contact us here to learn more about our industry-recognised qualifications.
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