From hospitality gap year to business career: Savannah Kemp
During a gap year working in hospitality, Savannah Kemp had a sense she might fit into the business world, so she started a business certificate at Ara. She quickly discovered her hunch was right and Ara’s hands-on approach suited her perfectly.
“My tutors encouraged me to keep at it and work towards my diploma, so I picked up a few more papers, doing things I enjoyed, and almost before I knew it, I decided to commit to the degree!”
As part of her Bachelor of Applied Management, Savannah did an internship at Ryman Healthcare. That led to employment with the company, where she’s worked her way up to being a recruitment advisor.
“The flexibility of study made it easy to balance work and learning. Continuing to the degree felt like a natural next step to keep my career options open.”
Savannah completed the Certificate in Business (Administration and Technology), followed by a New Zealand Diploma in Business, and finally her degree. That foundation has served her well at Ryman, where she’s progressed from recruitment administrator to coordinator, senior coordinator, and now Recruitment Advisor—supporting around 20 retirement villages.
Where could business study take you?
Savannah started with a six-month certificate and discovered a career pathway that matched her goals.
With flexible business study at Ara, you can:
- Build foundation skills with a certificate
- Progress to diploma and degree-level study
- Gain practical skills employers value
- Build industry connections through projects and internships
Some qualifications can also help you move into higher-level study faster. For example, by completing the New Zealand Diploma in Business you can gain entry into the second year of the Bachelor of Applied Management.
Explore business study pathways