Enrol with Summer of Biz to have the showcase your skills, learn from industry leaders and get a chance to work with top companies in New Zealand.
Summer of Biz (SoB) is a non-profit, industry-led programme that helps bridge the gap between New Zealand tertiary students, and their first job in HR & Marketing.
What is a Summer of Biz event?
From March to August each year, we co-ordinate a programme of workshops, on technical & professional topics, designed to help students prepare for work. There is no cost to attend, but you must be registered for our programme AND registered for the specific event – space is limited!
Our definition of an "internship" is a full time, paid summer job. Usually from mid November-mid February (approximately 400 hours). It is mentored & supervised closely by the host employer, and the intern works on real HR or Marketing projects. There is an employment contract in place, and usually no expectation of ongoing work beyond the summer.
We ask all employers in our SoB Interns programme to abide by these guidelines on what makes a good HR & Marketing internship.
No. Summer of Biz is for students who are enrolled in a NZ tertiary institution. Our full terms & conditions for students are here.
Summer of Biz Internships are restricted to students with a student ID for the current calendar year. If you graduate mid-year, you are still eligible for summer internships.
Yes. As long as you're studying at a NZ tertiary institution, and have a valid work visa for the summer.
Can SoB help me with my CV?
Yes, please attend our CV Bootcamps and clinics! If you missed those, we have office hours at some campuses later in the year. If you join the programme REALLY late, please review the CV Bootcamp slides and videos. Have a crack at it, and contact us if you want feedback from one of the team before the end of August. September is too late to get your CV sorted, we're deep into recruitment season!
Your "Short Blurb" should include the specific role(s) you're looking for. Are you interested in HR or Marketing? Recruitment or social media? This is the text that goes right next to your profile picture when an employer sees it in a search result. Be snappy!
Bonus tips: getting the profile photo right is the key to making a good first impression! The photo should be a professional headshot, that's recognisably YOU, so that employers remember you when they meet you at SoB events. Here's some tips about profile photos.
Employers who have registered and posted internship roles on the SoB website can see your completed profile. When you have opted into region(s), and completed your profile, you can see them, too! You can see their company profiles here, and jobs here.
How do I withdraw from SoB?
If your plans change, or if you get a job outside of the SoB programme, then you MUST opt out of all programmes. You can do this on your profile settings. We archive your profile, so that you can log in and refresh it next year. If you want us to remove all record of your profile from SoB, contact us.
Is there a cost for students to attend SoB events?
No. Our charitable purpose is all about inclusive, accessible, free educational events for students.
1-2 hour workshops or talks, on technical and non-technical topics. These are designed to inform, inspire and upskill students on the stuff that industry wants you to know. They might be lecture style, or hands-on – it all depends on the presenters!
Usually volunteers from the SoB network, or the SoB Team. Usually employers, who want you to learn this stuff so that they can hire you for internships in the summer! We are constantly talking to industry about what gaps they're seeing in graduates. We try to work alongside tertiaries, supporting what they're teaching, but we're able to move quickly to deploy short sharp lessons based on industry demand.
If you're running late to a SoB event, please let the team know by email or DM on our website, and we'll hold your spot for you.
How can I get my attendance recorded so the event shows on my profile?
We have volunteer student champions who help run our events, and they will "check in" attendees and manage the waiting list if events are oversubscribed. Please get your name ticked off when you arrive, or if you arrive late, find them at the end of the event. If you miss them completely, send us a message, and we'll check you in.
What if I get a job outside Summer of Biz?
How do I know if they're interested in me?
Employers will "Shortlist" candidates they're interested in. Most wait to do this after Meet & Greet. Some wait until right before Offers day!
If you're shortlisted, you will see they're interested on your Jobs page. It's a sign that you might be invited for an interview. We suggest you check out the organisation profile, research the role, and be ready to talk to them if they contact you.
If that's not your situation, please withdraw from Summer if Biz Internships.