The perks of working in corporate catering: Yamika’s part-time job | Study with New Zealand
Yamika’s first part-time job in New Zealand was in corporate catering where she enjoyed great perks, such as attending concerts and sporting events and eating exquisite food. This job revealed a side of life she’d never encountered before—a world of luxury and leisure that felt entirely separate from the day-to-day experiences she was familiar with as a student.
Yamika first came to New Zealand as an international student from India in February 2023 to study for a master’s in applied data science, at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. Today she has a great job as an intern data scientist at Tencent, one of the world’s highest grossing multinational technology companies.
But it was her first part-time job in corporate catering that set her up with the life skills and work experience that future employers look for.
Applying for an IRD (tax) number
The first thing Yamika did before she even started looking for a part-time job was to apply for an IRD number (the tax number you need before you start working). It can take weeks to come through, but Yamika discovered it’s much quicker if you apply as a ‘new arrival’.
“As a ‘new arrival’ to New Zealand, you’ve already provided information about your background, your passport number, your Visa number, etc. These are things the government already has on your file so if you go through that pathway, you just put in your Visa number and that’s it.”
I got my IRD number in two days instead of the usual waiting time of around a month.
Finding jobs on the Student Job Search website
Once she had her IRD number Yamika checked out Student Job Search, a website that lists jobs especially suited to students and their study schedules. Up popped a part-time catering job with a recruitment company, which seemed like the perfect fit. Notifications about the shifts were sent out to all the enrolled staff and if you were available, you could put your name down for it.
“It was like being a freelancer. You just turned up when you wanted. I only had to respond to the notification for a shift that I wanted; only had to say ‘yes’ when I wanted. I didn’t even have to say ‘no’ when I wasn’t available or give an explanation."
There was no obligation to fulfil a minimum number of hours which was exactly what I loved about the job. It allowed me flexibility as a student without being tied down to any commitments.
Background checks and dress code
It was almost two months before Yamika got her first shift because she had to wait for her employer to do background checks and verify her referrals.
“When I came here, obviously that was my first job in New Zealand, so my referral was from India, and they actually got in touch with that person and verified all the stuff.”
But that wasn’t the only reason for the delay in starting work. Her employer had a strict dress code: no coloured nails, no visible tattoos or piercings and she had to buy a special pair of black shoes.“
It took me so long to find those black shoes and they didn’t allow sneakers or even a speck of colour.
“It was a job catering to high-end corporate people, so the requirement was to look very professional.”
It was (mostly) fun and games
Although most of the events were on weekdays when she was busy attending lectures, she was offered a few shifts during university holidays, so she grabbed them.
The job involved serving food to people in corporate conventions, in VIP suites at sporting events and at concerts.
“Most of the time it was busy but sometimes I had to stand around for hours particularly at events like cricket matches.”
“The toughest thing about working in hospitality is that it’s physically draining and it’s backbreaking work. You’re not allowed to sit down except when you’re on a break.” You have to stand in service all the time, and that’s exhausting if it’s a 7-hour shift. For events like the cricket match, I mostly stood there watching the players bowling for 5 hours and the longer it went on the longer I had to serve food.
“One time, the game ended early, so yay, I got to go home sooner.”
She also got to see a rugby match at the Apollo Projects Stadium, a sport that New Zealanders are passionate about. Crusaders (Canterbury’s team) won, and to her surprise all the staff were tipped $20 each from one of the excited fans. Tipping is not part of New Zealand culture, but Yamika puts it down to working in a VIP environment supplying a premium service.
An eye-opening experience
"This job showed me a world I didn't even know existed. As a broke student, my idea of fun was pretty straightforward - going to the mall, catching a movie, grabbing a snack. I never thought about private gatherings filled with gourmet food, champagne toasts, or lavish setups on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Working this job gave me a front-row seat to a lifestyle that felt worlds apart from my own. It opened my eyes to a side of leisure and entertainment I’d only seen in movies and made me realize how small my experience of ‘fun’ really was."
I had no clue what happened on weekends for Kiwis with money to spend.”
However, the thing that she really disliked about working at these events was how much food was left over after the parties. Most of the time, she was instructed to chuck the food in the bin, which she hated doing. But sometimes it was given to the staff to eat and take home.
“The food was amazing. I got to taste lots of new delicacies.”
Her favourite shift was the Matchbox 20 and Goo Goo Dolls concert. She was up in the VIP suite with a view of the whole stadium, and there wasn’t much to do except bring food in from the back and enjoy the concert. It was the first concert of her entire life.
“I sent the videos to my family and my brother was so jealous. I had never heard of those bands before, but he was a fan, and he told me, you literally got paid to attend their concert, and when he put it like that, I realized how truly awesome this job was.”
She also had a profound moment at that concert. “I remember I was standing in that VIP suite, and basically the entire thing had been paid for by various companies for their employees, including the food and drinks and tickets. It was dark all around me, and I was watching all these pretty, well-dressed women drinking and dancing to the music. They were living the life.
“I thought to myself, I’m gonna work hard and reach that level myself so that one day it’s me on the other side being served. And now I am at a good company. So it’s like a full-circle moment for me.”
As it turned out, this work wasn’t reliable because the shifts often happened during lectures, and they weren’t regular either, so she moved on to another part-time job in an Indian restaurant where the shifts worked better around her studies.
Yamika’s top tips for getting a part-time job:
You may be able to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week, and full-time during holidays and over the Christmas/New Year period. It all depends on what Visa you have. It’s best to check the Immigration New Zealand website for more details.
Apply for an IRD number as soon as possible (the tax number you need before you start working) through the ‘new arrival’ pathway.
Make sure you have all your background information ready for your employer to check. Let your referrals know that they may have to provide a reference.
Check out the Student Job Search website and other sites like Seek and TradeMe.
Make sure your resume is up to date and be prepared to write a cover letter. (Most employers in New Zealand ask for both a cover letter and a resume.) Tips how to write a cover letter.
And go for it. Working part-time while you study not only gives you extra cash to enjoy things in your spare time, but it also gives you all those other skills your future employers look for. Skills like:
- Communication: clearly discuss ideas, both verbally and in writing, and listen effectively
- Time Management: prioritise tasks and manage deadlines
- Problem solving: think things through and find solutions to challenges or obstacles
- Teamwork: get on well with your team, share responsibilities and contribute to group success
- Adaptability: cope well with new challenges, tools and work environments
- Attention to detail: be accurate in your work, spotting errors and ensuring quality
- Emotional intelligence: manage your emotions and be aware of other people’s emotions
- Technical ability: stay up to date with the technical skills required for your job (software, tools, data analysis etc)
About the contributors
Originally from India, Yamika is studying her Master of Applied Data Science at the University of Canterbury. She shares her experiences on her Instagram blog (@yamika.gandhi) and her YouTube channel (@yamika).