Bachelor in Computing Systems graduate Andrew King believes he was at an advantage as a mature student at EIT.
As an honoured valedictorian, Andrew delivered a speech on behalf of his fellow graduates at EIT’s recent capping ceremony. The 47-year-old from Napier was selected for the role, not only because of his outstanding grades but also because of the support he provided for his classmates.
“The age gap probably has something to do with that,” he says. “I was a good 20 years older than most, but for different reasons older people study too.”
Although the move to computing studies was a significant swerve in direction, Andrew had previous experience of working with computers during a 25-year career in hotel management and the hospitality industry.
The former Aucklander worked for 10 years for the Four Seasons Hotel group in London, Sydney and then in Hampshire in the United Kingdom before returning to New Zealand with wife Caroline and son Alexander, then aged eight.
With family connections on both sides in Hawke’s Bay, the couple chose to settle in this region where Andrew managed Mangapapa Petit Hotel and then Te Awa winery, taking redundancy in 2012 when the wine company changed hands.
As it turned out, the move to study meant only two years and two months out of paid employment.
Early in his final year of degree studies, Andrew secured a paid internship at NOW. During that time, he was offered a full-time job as a software developer with the fixed line telecommunications company which is based in Onekawa while it continues to widen its reach.
“It’s a fast-growing company,” he points out. “There were 38 employees when I started there and after 10 months there were 70.”
Andrew likes that every working day is different.
“One of the good things about the EIT study was ordering my priorities. At NOW, work demands can change from morning to the afternoon. It’s a good company to work for with lots of opportunities, and you do have to be a self-starter.”
While he felt an affinity with younger classmates at EIT, Andrew says there were differences that he puts down to age. He wrote up lecture notes by pen, for instance, and doesn’t use social media.
“I see computing and IT generally as just another tool, so not just the physical computer,” he says. “I like tools that help people – that make things better.”
The mid-career life change reflects his willingness to embrace change, with Andrew seeing his past positions as better suited to a younger workforce.
“I enjoyed working in hospitality for 25 years, but you have to be very customer orientated. Working in the Four Seasons Hotel in London, I was required to wear a morning suit and highly polished shoes. IT is a very individual industry. It’s your own work and you don’t see the end user.”
The EIT degree and experience in the computing industry will provide a platform for further opportunities as Andrew and Caroline consider long-term possibilities for once again combining work and travel.
Andrew King sees computers as tools that can help make people’s lives better.