Find out how Be. Lab’s Tertiary Internship programme provided Lucy the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, and the confidence and connections to launch into a career she loves.
Lucy is a tenacious, hardworking person, partly the legacy of being heavily involved in equestrian sport growing up. Passionate and full of energy, Lucy sets herself big goals, and dedicates her energy to achieve them, like now competing at CrossFit competitions after ending her equestrian career in 2015.
Lucy was born in Invercargill and grew up in Auckland, but has always felt a strong connection to Dunedin, as she is a descendant of Caroline Freeman, the first woman in New Zealand to graduate from the University of Otago. Lucy knew that she wanted to study at the same University and moved there to study a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in PhPE - Philosophy, Politics and Economics and minoring in History.
Nearing the end of her degree, Lucy began job-seeking but found she was not hearing back from many of the roles she applied for. Facing rejections, Lucy started to feel concerned about her future. This slowly led to her feeling uncertain which in turn had an impact on her confidence.
Lucy stumbled upon the Be. Lab Tertiary Internship programme, through a poster displayed at an Otago University study room called the Caroline Freeman room (Coincidence? She thinks not!).
She contacted the Be. Team, and once accepted onto the programme was supported by one of the Talent Team relationship managers, Sarah Mitchell, focusing on CV editing and interview preparation. Sarah said, “Lucy’s lovely warm personality paired with her strong communication skills and empathy made a position in a people-focused team feel like the perfect fit for her”. Lucy was matched with a role at Watercare summer internship in the talent team.
“Be. Lab really helped me get my foot in the door. With Be. Lab's connections I managed to get an internship at Watercare in Auckland and led me to the job and role I'm at today.”
Lucy appreciated the support from Be. Lab, and loved how accessible the team was. Mentoring is a key part of the Be. Lab internship programme, to support candidates in their transition into work, and Lucy was grateful to have had a buddy to bounce ideas off and share challenges with.
Coming on board as part of the Watercare Internship Programme Lucy felt like she fitted in immediately. The Watercare team were fantastic, providing support and flexibility, creating an atmosphere where she thrived.
“I really found my feet through the internship”.
Lucy feels grateful for the internship. She says it gave her the skills and experience to transition into the roles she went into afterwards, and contributed to her confidence to make connections socially. This includes her current permanent role at Vector - Lucy learned about the industry she now works in when she began chatting with her current manager at a morning CrossFit class!
Lucy’s goals for the future include traveling around the world, and working in the United Kingdom and America. She’d also love to be part of creating an environment where people talking about their access needs is normalised.
Lucy loves her work at Vector and appreciates the role Be. Lab played in getting her to where she is today. She’d love to have the opportunity to be able to take Be. Lab interns in the future, to pay forward the positive experience she had.