Co-written by Kay Jayme

ANZ, one of our dedicated partners, held a panel event where past interns and grads talked about their different career journeys within technology and where they are working now.

ANZ is one of Aotearoa New Zealand's leading banking and financial services groups. More than one million New Zealanders bank with ANZ. Their tech team supports customers and staff through creating outstanding digital experiences, backed up by secure and stable technology.

This bootcamp was hosted by the amazing team at ANZ: Grace Taikato, Chris Pidgeon, Rogan Frazer, Heather Firth and Lauren Halka. The panel delved into commonly asked questions about entering the tech industry.

 

What’s some useful advice for those applying for internship jobs?

• Include a cover letter to share your unique personality and why you want the role / want to work at the organisation. 

• Give it a go! If you don’t tick all the boxes for an internship role, don’t be discouraged by this. Put yourself out there! Many people are unsure what a role entails when they first start their internship, so you’re not alone. You’re there to learn, and you’ll never know what the role is like until you start the job. Don’t allow job descriptions to overwhelm you!

• At ANZ, many resources are provided, and you are taught on the job. However, a willingness to learn is key!

• Be yourself.

What’s your top tip for making someone stand out in their interview or C.V.?

• Include your transferable skills and experiences in the workforce - all skills are relevant. For example, communication is a key skill commonly used in jobs such as retail or hospitality. It is also highly valued in the tech industry. Highlight these key transferable skills on your C.V.

• Show personal projects. Refresh yourself on University assignments that you could discuss in interviews. Showcase your technical skills by presenting your personal projects.

• Ensure that your C.V is spell-checked.

• Research the company and its values before interviews. Make sure you choose a work environment that aligns with your values. A good question is: “I like your values as a company; how do you apply them daily in the office?”

• Add personal touches to your C.V. You could do this by including your hobbies outside of work.

• Use keywords that are in the job description.

 

What’s your favourite thing about working in technology, and did you have any misconceptions when working in technology?

Some of the panellists’ favourite things about working in the technology industry:

• Many panellists agreed that the work was relevant and very rewarding. When you complete a project, clients can enjoy the benefits of the work that you’ve done. 

• There are many opportunities to learn and grow because the technology industry is broad. 

Some of the panellists’ misconceptions:

• You need to be in a more senior role to be trusted with lots of work. When working at ANZ, Chris Pidgeon found this was a misconception. As a novice, if you’re keen and willing to learn, your employers will allow you to delve into the work. After doing this himself, Chris was tasked with more challenging work that he really enjoyed.

• Failing is not allowed. A great misconception! You should fail quickly, and failing is okay. Everyone has moments of failure, and when you do, a support network (your team) will be there to help you get back up, and back on track. 

• Your career path is linear. This is a common misconception because you will constantly learn new things and continually grow.

• You should know everything when you enter your internship. No one expects you to be an expert at everything. Again, having an open mind and a ready-to-learn attitude is key!

 

How can you build a good network?

• Figure out who does what. If you want to be a software engineer, find out who the software engineers are in the company, meet them and ask them questions. They will most likely love to help you out, so don’t hesitate to reach out!

• Pull the “intern card”. You’re an intern for 3 months, so use it to get people to know you, catch up with you and help you. 

• Get to know people outside of work. Invite teammates along to an outside-of-work event! Find something in common that you can bond over to help strengthen your connection. This can help you find a new work bestie, and this is a great way to socialise. 

• Attend online meet-ups; they are valuable for building connections with peers and networks. Make time to get to know others during your internship.

How do you maintain a work/life balance, and is it important to you?

• Stick to your timetable. If work finishes at 5 pm, clock out from your workspace at 5pm. 

• Find methods to transition from work to hometime in a more relaxed state. For example, exercise is an excellent way to get your mind off work and helps your body recognise when work has finished.

• When working remotely, use separate rooms for home living and your workspace. 

• It can get easy to stay and work at home. However, as things return to a new “normal”, try setting up catch-up times with your coworkers. Ensure you get out of your house and set a work/life balance.

• Find something that makes you happy outside of work that you can do daily after work.

• ANZ values employees and pushes them toward a healthy work/life balance. Feel free to speak to your manager if you need any time for life admin. As long as the work gets done, they will most likely be lenient.

 

What’s a good tip for writing about your past work experience without being too long?

• Use bullet points. Think about the core responsibilities and skills you’ve gained from your work experience and bullet point them.

• Don’t put too much in, and be concise about your key skills. Summer of Tech does a good job of ensuring that your C.V. is up to scratch when registering!

 

During the Meet & Greet, how would you suggest approaching employers? Would it be like an elevator pitch? Or a casual conversation?

• Mention your name, area of study and the role that you’re looking for.

• Ask the employers what they’re looking for. Make sure this matches up with you. Not all companies may have a clear work/life balance policy or qualities you are looking for, so make sure that you find companies that align with your values.

• Meet & Greet is not just them interviewing you, but you’re also interviewing them. Shop around at the different companies; you want them to impress you and to find an excellent role for you. Ask questions that you would genuinely like to know when working there.

 

Key skills learnt from working at ANZ

• Soft skills: time management, resilience, stress management. Stress management is a tremendous skill; no matter where you are in your career, you will encounter stress, so learning how to handle it is essential.

• You won’t get everything perfect the first time, and that’s okay. Practice makes perfect! There’s no need to be perfect at everything; be humble enough to listen and learn.

• Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. 

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions; find someone you can trust to ask questions.

• Be kind to yourself. You’re a human, not a robot, and you have emotions. Therefore be kind to yourself; if you need to take a break, then take it. Reach out to your support network and pick yourself up when you need to. 

• Fill yourself up with good and positive thoughts. 

 

Why did you choose ANZ?

The panellists agreed that the human connection was genuine during the interview process. The people at ANZ felt very down-to-Earth, and the values of ANZ were also highly attractive.

 

Tips for the interview process

• Try to give the interviewers various examples where you used different skills, even if it’s not necessarily in the workforce. Show them where you’ve applied your skills.

• Research the company. Know their values and what they do, and ensure they align with you.

• Don’t be afraid to pause when answering questions. If you receive a tricky question, take a breath and think it over. Taking this time makes you appear more confident.

• If you don’t know the answer to a question, just let them know. 

• If you don’t know a technical skill, say that you’re willing to learn and keen to try it out.

• Don’t undervalue how you carry yourself; manners and good energy can speak volumes about a person.

Thank you to the team at ANZ for sharing their career insights and journey. They discussed some really practical tips for getting the most out of C.V. preparation and interview techniques. Check out the latest roles at ANZ today.