Why ITC students strive to never miss class

At ITC, students are encouraged to treat studying like their first job – and that means no skipping class.

Skipping class is a normal part of being a student… or is it? Not at the International Travel College (ITC). At ITC, students strive to never miss class because they have their eye on a bigger prize: a 100% attendance record.

Achieving 100% attendance is one of the highest honours an ITC student can graduate with, as it immediately makes a good impression with tourism employers. If a student achieves 100% attendance, it shows employers they are dedicated, committed, reliable, and professional — all attractive traits when it comes to working in the industry.

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Five ways ITC teaches cultural awareness

A performance during Global Wednesday, a student event that teaches about cultural awareness.

To thrive in the tourism industry, it’s essential to cultivate a deep and genuine appreciation of different cultures. Cultural awareness is one of the best skills a tourism professional can possess — which is why ITC teaches it in several ways.

One ITC graduate — Madison Ryan — is now working in customer service for Explore. When asked to name a skill she learned at ITC that she uses every day in her career, she said cultural awareness. So did Gerrit Faalogo (who is in Aviation Security Service), Mikaela Rivers (who is working for a hotel), and Jasmine Tua (who is working for Menzies Aviation), as well as many more ITC graduates.

Jasmine Tua says studying at ITC helped her “gain confidence when speaking to new people travelling from the other side of the world”.

So how does ITC foster a sense of cultural awareness in its students? Here are five innovative ways ITC teaches cultural awareness to tourism students.

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ITC Graduation is in 10 days – have you got tickets?

ITC Graduation is an unmissable opportunity to celebrate your achievements with friends and family.

There are only 10 days until the “highlight of the year” – ITC Graduation. Have you got your tickets?

The Graduation Ceremony is on Thursday 2 August at the Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre. There are still tickets available – just ask at reception or email college@itc.co.nz for more information.

Graduation 2018 will be an amazing evening. It’s an opportunity to celebrate your achievements alongside your friends, family, ITC tutors, and tourism industry professionals.

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Five reasons to volunteer for unpaid work experience

Volunteering for work experience is a great opportunity to meet employers in the travel and tourism industry.

If you dream of working in the airline, travel or tourism industry, a great way to kickstart your career is to volunteer for unpaid work experience.

Unpaid work experience might not pay in cash, but you will reap plenty of other rewards in exchange for just a few days (or hours!) of your time.

Here are five reasons to give unpaid work experience a try.

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Would you want an employer looking at your social media?

Whether you agree with it or not, most employers will check your social media before meeting you. So it’s important to create a professional online presence.

Imagine you are going for a job interview. You choose a professional outfit, practice speaking in front of the mirror, and get ready to impress your interviewer with your experience and dedication. You know you are going to make a wonderful first impression.

But, what if your first impression wasn’t when you walked into the interview room to meet your potential employer?

What if your first impression was when they did a quick Google search of your name and viewed your social media accounts?

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“Your dream job is worth the wait” says ITC graduate

ITC graduate Danielle Marescia has just landed her dream job with Virgin Australia.

Finding your dream travel or tourism job might take a few years, but ITC graduate Danielle Marescia says it’s well worth the wait.

Danielle has just been offered her dream job as Cabin Crew with Virgin Australia after years of working hard and gaining customer service experience.

“My dream job has always been to become a cabin crew member,” says Danielle.

“I’m so grateful for ITC’s support. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for ITC.”

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Tips for making a career change

Are you thinking about changing careers so you can join the tourism industry? Read on for some great tips on managing the transition.

Are you thinking about making a career change and joining the tourism industry?

Firstly, great choice! New Zealand tourism is thriving and you’ll be stepping into an industry with so much potential for growth.

Secondly, we know changing careers is hard. So here are some tips for making the transition as smooth as possible.

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Get job-ready with the New Zealand Certificate in Travel Level 4

Get job-ready in just 21 weeks with the New Zealand Certificate in Travel Level 4.

The New Zealand Certificate in Travel Level 4 is one of our most popular and comprehensive qualifications – and there are spaces available on our June, July and August intakes.

If you’d love to work in the travel industry and you’re ready to start studying in the near future, contact us today to secure a spot on this sought-after course. Get in quick as spaces will fill fast!

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5 great things about working in tourism (according to ITC graduates)

ITC graduates share some of their favourite things about working in tourism.

Are you thinking about a career in tourism? Here are some of the best things about working in this exciting industry according to recent graduates from the International Travel College (ITC).

1. Meeting new people

Tourism is all about people. A job in this industry involves helping people travel — and therefore often involves helping people create once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

“I get the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world,” says Elena Moseeva, Customer Services Representative at Apex Car Rentals.

Shinal Chand, a Customer Services Agent at Aerocare, agrees.

“The high of my job is getting to engage with different types of people every day,” says Shinal.

2. Celebrating travel

If you’re passionate about travel, then you’ll love encouraging other people to travel. A job in the tourism industry allows you to celebrate your passion for travel — and instil it in others — every day.

Helloworld consultant Blair Lovett sums it up perfectly in just three words: he says the highlight of his job is “selling the world”.

3. Working with awesome colleagues

Tourism is a fun, vibrant industry — so the people you work with tend to be fun and vibrant, too!

Jessica Adamson works for STRAY travel and says the highlight of her job is “working in a great atmosphere with awesome co-workers and an amazing team ethic”.

4. Lifelong learning

The tourism industry offers endless opportunities for you to develop both professionally and personally, says Richard Forrest, a Passenger Services Agent at Menzies Aviation.

One of the highs of his job is “the opportunity to work and learn from great professionals that have a passion for the aviation industry”.

“I’m constantly learning new skills every day,” he adds.

5. Variety

We all know the saying ‘variety is the spice of life’ — and working in tourism offers a lot of variety.

“Every day is different,” says Armin Zhang, who is working as a Local Host for Tourism Holdings Limited.

“I’m busy every day, showing our campervans and motorhomes to renters from all over the world.”

Whether you’re meeting new people, learning new skills, enjoying new experiences, or solving new problems, one thing is for sure: you won’t be bored.

Would you like a job in tourism? ITC can help get your tourism career off to a flying start. Contact us today to learn more about our airline, travel and tourism qualifications.

Study tip: Tackle your least favourite topics first

Studying your least favourite topics first is kind of like eating your greens before dessert!

Ever heard of the saying “eat your vegetables first?” Your parents were right: it’s good for you to eat your greens before anything else. Because if you don’t eat them first, you might never eat them at all.

A similar concept applies to studying: tackle your least favourite topics first. Work on the topics you like the least before you move on to your favourite subjects.

This might mean starting a challenging assignment before an easier one, or skipping all the ‘easy’ questions on a test and beginning with the questions you find the most difficult.

In other words, look for the ‘broccoli’ in each assignment and get that out of the way before you move on to sweeter subjects.

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