"Speed-dating" event secures internships for students

An international award-winning “speed-dating” networking event that connects willing student workers with local employers, takes place in Dunedin tomorrow night.

This unconventional interview process is part of Sexy Summer Jobs, a student internship programme devised by the Dunedin business community, Otago Polytechnic, the University of Otago and the Economic Development Unit at Dunedin City Council.

Now in its fourth year, Sexy Summer Jobs has received international acclaim, last year receiving an Honourary Award from the International Economic Development Council in recognition of its innovative approach. This year, it is a finalist in the AUT Excellence in Business Support Awards.

While the scheme initially focused on jobs within the computing and information technology sector, it has now extended to include a wider range of sectors, including business services, fashion and tourism.

“Sexy Summer Jobs offers invaluable, real-world experience to students,” says the Head of Otago Polytechnic’s School of Information Technology, Lesley Smith. “The outcomes for our IT students have been fantastic – about 50% of them have been offered further work with these companies after their summer internships.”

Otago Polytechnic has been running CV writing and interview skills workshops to help prepare students for the speed-dating evening. They must bring a current copy of their CV to the event, and be primed for an intensive series of seven-minute interviews. Employers have the opportunity to interview a maximum of 10 students each during the 90-minute event.

Employers participating in this year’s Sexy Summer Jobs Speed Dating Evening  include: Abacusbio; Allied Press; ArchiDesign; AVOS, The Big Picture Learning Compnay, CRT; Destination Content; Firebrand; Fringe  Ferstival, Igtimi; Judith Cullen Cooks and Tours; Runaway(NHNZ); Oceanbrowser; Tamsin Cooper; Techion; Ticket Direct; Turboweb; Architecture van Brandenburg; Uniphone.

Media are warmly invited to attend.

Sexy Summer Jobs Speed Dating Evening
5.00pm, Tuesday 25 September
F Block, Otago Polytechnic- Staff Room
Forth Street, Dunedin.
Students must be on-site for registration at 4.30pm.