Jemma recently gained full-time employment with the Taupo District Council as a pound keeper.
Her employer said the skills she was looking for were – enthusiasm, wanting to work and be keen to learn. She wasn’t worried about Jemma having specific skills but it was all about the right attitude.
Jemma starting by doing summer work with the council. She really enjoyed that so then did Gateway while she was still at school. A fulltime job came up which Jemma applied for and was successful in getting. She is now training as a Compliance Cadet. This job will involve animal management, regulatory duties such as enforcing general council bylaws and the district plan. She is studying her Certificate in Basic Animal Care through SIT too as a lot of her work involves handling animals.
Jemma feels the important skills for this job are commitment, listening, learning, literacy, being flexible and having reasonable computer skills. What advice would she give a young person who wanted to get into this industry – do Gateway first, it’s a great way to try it out and decide if it’s right for you. Then be prepared to get dirty and to deal with difficult people.
