The Star: October 05, 2017
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18 Thursday <strong>October</strong> 5 <strong>2017</strong><br />
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi<br />
Advertorial<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong><br />
SHIFT to a<br />
Career in Tech<br />
Looking for a career change? Tech is New Zealand’s third-largest export sector<br />
and is growing fast. To fuel this growth, NZ needs more people with a grounding<br />
in tech to meet the rapid expansion within this exciting and varied area, which<br />
crosses into many industries.<br />
SIGNAL ICT Grad School develops tech professionals to meet that growth via<br />
Shift, enabling more people to enter this dynamic and diverse sector.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Shift Programme<br />
Shift is an innovative industry-driven programme for those who are seeking a new career path, who may not have a<br />
tech background. Open to degree-holders in any discipline, learners in the current cohorts have various backgrounds,<br />
from philosophy, sociology and marketing, to graphic design, engineering and science. Available in both Christchurch<br />
and Dunedin, this 9-month programme offers relevant and current content to ensure you are well equipped to work<br />
within the tech area, where the skills you have learnt in previous work and study are highly valued.<br />
Partnering With Industry<br />
Shift uses immersive studio-based learning and real-world industry experience to produce graduates with a solid base<br />
of core computing skills, as well as the softer skills required in todays’ collaborative workplaces. <strong>The</strong> current Dunedin<br />
cohort, which started in February, are now working<br />
within local industry on a variety of projects, from<br />
assessing aerial drone footage of coastal erosion,<br />
to web and app development, and adding features<br />
to an online educational platform. <strong>The</strong>se projects<br />
are tailored to complement their preferred specialist<br />
tech area and enhance their employability.<br />
Opportunities<br />
With tech roles existing in nearly every area<br />
from aviation to zoology, career possibilities are<br />
extensive. Through the Shift programme, learners<br />
can focus on software design and development,<br />
or the allied roles, such as business analyst,<br />
web designer, project manager, user experience<br />
designer, technical writer, sales and client support<br />
. . . and the list goes on.<br />
SIGNAL’s Shift transitions graduates from any discipline<br />
into tech. <strong>The</strong> July Shift cohort (pictured) is 80% female,<br />
with several being mothers. Many new and mature<br />
graduates are considering tech as a viable and lucrative<br />
career option, and this is increasing as the range of roles<br />
within tech becomes more widely known.<br />
<strong>The</strong> tech sector can potentially offer flexible hours and work locations – making this an exciting and viable option for<br />
those with families. Diversity is welcomed, and in the current Christchurch cohort, 80 percent are women, and several<br />
learners in the Shift programme have young families. Shift is also well suited to new graduates who may be looking<br />
for that X factor to boost their employability.<br />
Situated at 181 High Street (Level 1), Christchurch (entrance off Tuam Street) in the heart of Christchurch’s growing<br />
Innovation Precinct.<br />
<strong>The</strong> next Shift intake commences in February 2018, and scholarships are available.<br />
Call SIGNAL today on 0800 990024 and start your shift into NZ’s fastest-growing sector.<br />
<strong>The</strong><br />
Tech<br />
Sector<br />
Needs<br />
YOU!<br />
Want to SHIFT into<br />
NZ’s fastest growing<br />
sector?<br />
Tech jobs exist in every industry,<br />
from aviation to zoology.<br />
Combine ANY DEGREE<br />
with the innovative SHIFT<br />
Programme and kickstart your<br />
new career today.<br />
From left: Isaac Burwell and Jonathan Manning discuss one of their industry projects with Shift<br />
programme co-ordinator Claudia Ott.<br />
ISAAC’S STORY:<br />
With a Masters in Geology, Isaac Burwell had been working in the mining industry for over 10 years.<br />
Last year, while acting as the primary caregiver for his three young daughters, he re-assessed his<br />
career goals, wanting a career that was more flexible and portable.<br />
‘I saw the Shift programme as an exciting opportunity to add specific tech skills to my knowledge<br />
base, so I can translate those skills into a new career. For my industry project, I am working with<br />
global infrastructure company Stantec NZ (formerly MWH NZ Ltd), and am looking at better ways<br />
to present data from aerial drone surveillance of coastal highway areas, to assist the engineers in<br />
their role.<br />
<strong>The</strong> school friendly course hours have allowed me to carry on with my before and after school<br />
duties, and this has really helped my family and my career training.’<br />
181 High St,<br />
(Level 1),<br />
Christchurch<br />
(entrance of Tuam St)<br />
P: 0800 990 024<br />
info@signal.ac.nz<br />
signal.ac.nz/shift<br />
SIGNAL is powered by:<br />
SCHOLARSHIPS<br />
AVAILABLE for<br />
February 2018.<br />
APPLY NOW!<br />
1941019-31/8-h
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