Pegasus Post: August 23, 2016

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Tuesday August 23 2016
CONTINUING EDUCATION
eStar working to
attract best IT talent
Nurturing new talent and better
engaging employees will reach new
heights at eStar, as the world class
e-commerce platform and leading
Christchurch tech company strives to
attract the brightest IT professionals.
eStar’s outreach activities look
four to five years ahead, says Chief
Operations Officer Kevin Rowland.
eStar ‘lead team’ staff attend careers
events, visit secondary schools and
recently supported Shadowtech,
with two female employees
mentoring two secondary school girls for a day.
The company is recruiting and will be looking
for new talent at Ara Institute of Canterbury’s
Industry Expo on 25 August, having previously
employed Ara graduates (when Ara was CPIT).
Finding the right skills mix for retail IT is
challenging, Rowland says. With around 70
staff, eStar designs and develops the software
that powers the websites and the online retail
systems of retailers including Briscoes and
Country Road.
Technical skills are of course essential, but ‘soft
skills’ such as communication and interaction
can really set candidates apart. “When we
interview I am always looking for personality. We
do a technical test/developer half day immersion
and everybody freaks over the fact that it’s a tech
test, but if you can do what you say on your CV
then it’s not an issue. You’re in a live ‘dev’ room,
with the people you are going to be working
with. I not only encourage people to talk to each
other but it has to happen because that helps me
see what they’re like.
“Most people who work in IT are introverts.
It’s what makes us good programmers; it’s part
of our personality.
“It’s OK if candidates are a bit meek, but I
have to see some kind of spark. I can throw a
stone into Christchurch and find graduates
who can do IT. They have got to have that bit of
enthusiasm.”
To find out more about working for eStar
and other leading Christchurch companies
visit the Ara Industry Expo and Open Day
on 25 August, 2 – 5pm, City Campus and
Woolston Campus, Christchurch.
SPORTS
WINNER: Cruz Topai-Aveai was awarded the Philip McDonald Memorial
Medal after the UC Championship final at Rugby Park on Saturday ​
Shirley player
a stand-out in
UC Championship
• By Gordon Findlater
SHIRLEY BOYS’ High School may have
lost the final, but No 8 Cruz Topai-Aveai
has a consolation by taking away the
most outstanding player for the UC
Championship.
Topai-Aveai was the joint winner of the
Philip McDonald Memorial Medal with
Burnside High School’s Cam Russell.
Former winners of the medal include
the likes of super rugby player Damian
McKenzie and current Canterbury player
Josh McKay.
The winner of the award is decided
by opposition coaches throughout the
season. After each game coaches will
submit who they believe were the top
three performers on the opposition side.
PEGASUS POST
Topai-Aveai has been a part of the first
XV for three years and has played 40
games for Shirley.
The exciting ball carrier has also attracted
plenty of attention from the other
code. He was given a trial at the South
Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league club late
last year.
The award came on what was otherwise
a day of heartbreak for Shirley who were
defeated 21-20 by Christchurch Boys’
High School in the UC Championship
grand final at Rugby Park.
Trailing 15-21 late in the game, Shirley
co-captain Logan Bell scored to make
it 20-21 and give first-five Taine Jacobs-
Lawson the chance to take the lead for
Shirley. His conversion was unsuccessful
and CBHS hung onto take the win.
KORFBALL SUCCESS: Queenspark School korfball team placed fourth at an
inter-school competition, held at Pioneer Stadium last Monday. Korfball is
played like a combination of netball and basketball where players score points
by throwing the ball through a 3.5m high basket. Senior Queenspark year 8
pupil Brooke Overend (number 11) was selected in the team of the tournament.
South New Brighton, Marshland, Opawa, Beckenham, Kirkwood Intermediate,
Christchurch South Intermediate and Heaton Intermediate Schools all
competed.