Serega Tanner

This summer job was my first insight into what it was like to work for a big organisation. Training workshops, opening and closing procedure, and continuous documentation is a big part of working as a lifeguard for the Auckland Council leisure centres. In my 3 months at Tepid Baths I was nominated as employee of the month for my commitment to help out others as well as willingness to step up and take on extra work when required. I believe this to be a testament of my ability to work with my peers and my commitment to any job I take on. I have also stayed on in a casual position once my seasonal contract has expired as my manager was keen to keep me as an employee.

This job has a wide variety of challenges i enjoy. Working with young adults requires patience, compassion and strong attention to detail, especially when dealing with legal problems. I believe the research skills I employed at YouthLaw are directly transferable to any legal profession and are the perfect stepping stone towards a profession in corporate law.

During my time at House of Haghi, I have worked with a wide variety of customers from top-level executives to simple people that love handmade rugs. This position taught me a lot about finding common ground with customers and how to make them feel welcome and looked after. I had the pleasure of working with people that have been in the retail business for 40+ years and earning their trust to handle customers on my own. Due to the nature of commerce, working with clients is a big part of the job for a commercial lawyer. My experience at HoH has prepared me well for this.

This position has exposed me to many unique problems faced by our wider Auckland community. Due to the nature of CAB, we work with many vulnerable people who often need legal advice. Legal research and interviewing citizens is the bread and butter of the work I do at CAB, but sometime people just need someone to listen, this position has helped me to become a compassionate and attentive listener.