Kalolaine Sikuvea
Kalolaine completed her Bachelor of Tourism Management at AIS in December 2012 and currently works at Pasifika Consulting, an Auckland-based employment support agency, as an employment placement officer.
Originally from Nuku’alofa, Tonga, Kalolaine first got a taste of New Zealand education at a young age, while studying at Auckland Girls Grammar School. She later returned to Tonga and worked full-time as a check-in agent at Fua’amotu International Airport; this was her first ever job and her first exposure to customer service. While working at the airport, Kalolaine studied evenings at the University of South Pacific to complete her Diploma in Management Studies. To add to the busy schedule, it was around this time that she also started a family.
Having worked in customer service for four years, and having gained her management qualification, Kalolaine moved on to work as an office administrator for Nautilus Minerals Tonga, an underwater mineral exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Two years later, on work leave, she took her family to New Zealand for a vacation.
“That’s when we started thinking. We decided to continue on with my studies to have a better future not only for myself, but for my children and my family.”
Kalolaine enrolled at AIS in May 2011 by cross-crediting her previous qualification from the University of South Pacific. Her husband came along and worked in New Zealand to support her studies paying by instalments; the kids stayed back in Tonga and were looked after by her family. It wasn’t easy.
“I didn’t know I was going to make it. It was hard financially and emotionally.
“The supportive environment at AIS helped me strive and succeed in my studies; and thinking of my kids and my background is what encouraged me to do well.”
She studied BTM for one and a half years instead of the regular three thanks to cross credits.
“It was a good experience for me. I had previous customer service experience, but studying the BTM helped me develop my skills further. It enabled me to work better with customers and unlock my full potential.”
Upon graduating, Kalolaine began her search for work. This didn’t last long. Her cousin recommended that she apply for a position at Pasifika Consulting.
“I said, well, I’ll just give it a try.
“They called me the next day and told me to come in for an interview.”
She passed the interview stage. The next step was to give a presentation. Luckily, Kalolaine already had a lot of experience at AIS.
“I didn’t expect to have to give a presentation, but it was easy for me because of what I’d learned at AIS.
“It was the highlight of my interview. They hadn’t seen anyone with the skills and confidence that I had when I presented, and I got the job.
“When I talked with the interviewers later, they said most people who come for an interview don’t do well at the presentation stage. But AIS equipped me well with what I needed to know.”
Six months into her employment, Kalolaine asked the company to help her with a job offer.
“The answer I got was yes. I could do it straight away. I got my residency before my job search visa expired."
Her husband also has a stable job and now their two children have joined them in New Zealand.
“Now that I’m here, all the hard work has been worth it.”
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