Did you know there are some key skills that help rangatahi (young people) have a better chance of getting a foot in the door of a Māori business?
Māori businesses Ngāi Tahu Farming/Whenua Kura, Maui Studios Aotearoa, Ariki Creative, Hale Compound Conditioning and He Toki Ki Te Mahi shared their tips through Māia – a new video series giving rangatahi a taste of the construction, creative technology, health and fitness, and agriculture industries.
The Māia slogan “Kia Tū, Kia Māia, Kia Manawanui” means to “Be Brave, Be Bold, Be Determined” – exactly the attributes rangatahi need when starting a new job.
A top tip from employers on how rangatahi can add value to their business was to "have drive for the job you do".
Ngāi Tahu dairy farm manager, Chris Erurera, says for him his junior staff show drive by “being the first one out of the van ready to work.”
Top 10 tips from employers to rangatahi starting out in the workforce
- Choose a job that fits in with your whānau values and your own.
- Learn to be self-motivated, and work without direction.
- Keep your mind open to different tasks and always be eager to learn.
- Take pride in learning and developing your skills so that you can transfer them from job to job.
- Find out what qualifications you need for the job and search for opportunities where you can be paid to learn while at work.
- Gain experience by volunteering.
- Accept that sometimes making short-term sacrifices may help you achieve your long-term goals.
- Every mistake is an opportunity to learn and move forward.
- Showcase your creativity and share your ideas.
- Show up on time, always do more than is asked of you, ask lots of questions, and be passionate about your education and your career.
Consider talking to rangatahi you know about how they could develop these skills in their everyday life. It can often be the defining factor in helping them secure a job.