Shortly after completing a New Zealand Certificate in Business (Accounting Support Services) in 2021, Napier-based learner Hope Crow landed a new role that would put what she had learned to the test.
Hope’s passion for business began in 2016 when she studied administration and computing with Whiteria & WelTec. After moving from Wellington to Napier, she decided to extend her knowledge further through study, not knowing that this would immediately lead to a job she loved.
“When I was working in retail, as someone with management responsibilities, I got to see how a business ran and found I liked working with numbers. I came across the accounting support programme on eCampus NZ while I was looking for work and decided to give it a shot,” she said.
She moved straight from study to a job in accounting support services and credits her study with helping her to secure the position, “100%”.
“My role involved accounts payable/receivable and assisting with payroll. Everything I did related to what I just learnt,” she said.
“I used Xero accounting software, which I’d also learned in one of my courses, alongside manual journals, PAYE, and tax returns,” she said.
Because it came to her naturally and suits her skillset, Hope easily adjusted to her new role.
“I didn’t feel stressed and I got time to spend with my family,” she said.
Due to a change in personal circumstances, she recently stepped down from the role, but she hopes to be able to put her skills into practise again in a new position soon.
She enjoyed her online learning journey with EIT.
“Learning online felt strange at first, but I quickly got into a good routine. I realised that the resources and information I needed were in the palm of my hand and if I needed help, the facilitators were there at the push of a button,” she said.
She appreciated the support she received from her eCampus NZ course facilitators and student advisors.
“My Grandad passed as I was finishing the course, so I had to leave the region quickly and left all my study materials at home. My facilitator and student advisor were really empathetic and made sure I had everything I needed,” she said.
Hope felt both pride and relief that she was able to overcome these extremely difficult circumstances and graduate.
“It was pretty awesome,” she said.