Meet Nidhi Ahuja. An outstanding past student of the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Business Level 8.

Nidhi studied with us at NZIE from 2017 to 2018. She did extremely well in her internship placement that as soon as she graduated she was able to secure a full-time job at Zeald as a digital marketing specialist. 

A year and a half later she is still working at one of the largest website design and digital marketing agencies in New Zealand. Some of her responsibilities in her role there include:

• Auditing and reviewing website design and content to identify areas for improvement
• Research to identify target keywords relevant to the business
• Writing persuasive copy for key sales pages of client websites
• Optimising website content to improve Search Engine Ranking (SEO)
• Developing and optimising Google Adwords PPC campaigns
• Implementing and optimising performance-based marketing campaigns including banner advertising
• Interpreting and analysing website analytics including Google Analytics.
• Implementing and managing conversion rate optimisation and campaigns
• Planning and implementing Social media campaigns.
• Planning and implementing email promotions

We arranged an interview with Nidhi to chat about her time at NZIE and the role it has played in forming her future. Here is her story:

First of all, tell us about your background before coming to New Zealand.

Coming from the technical background has always helped me to understand the digital marketing industry. Back in my country I used to work as a Digital Marketing Manager for a renowned agency and I always wanted a similar kind of role in NZ.

Why did you choose to Study Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Business Level 8 at NZIE?

I wanted an in-depth knowledge of the businesses and of the digital industry here in NZ. In the course, I was trained theoretically and practically on how to work in a fast-paced business environment. The course taught me about the work ethics here, team management and how to carry yourself professionally in a multicultural environment.  The Internship to be very honest is the best thing about this course, this helps you to actually get the training and makes you ready for your future job.

How was your internship and research project with NZIE?

It was superb, I was working with a digital agency and because of my prior experience, it actually added a lot of value to their existing customers. Overall, it was an amazing experience and I learned a lot about the industry. 

What were the main issues you found and what solutions did you present to the company?

 Their packages were not streamlined so I worked a lot with them in order to strategize everything around that. I also suggested some digital tools for creating reports and monitoring the results in terms of social media tracking and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) which they started using for reporting. 

Did you find the internship and research project helpful as a student wanting to interact with an NZ business and develop a career in New Zealand?

It is absolutely very helpful, it gives you the right exposure and the best thing about the internship is that you can choose your stream. I got my full-time job just because of my prior experience and this internship. I was actually very confident in my interviews because of the exposure I got from my internship. I am very thankful to my internship organisation and NZIE for giving this opportunity to understand the work culture in NZ.

What are you doing now and what’s the plan for your future in New Zealand?

I am working with a very renowned company in the digital marketing industry. I work for Zeald Ltd in their Albany branch as a Marketing Specialist. It has been 1 year and a half with them now and I am really enjoying myself in this role. I am looking forward to working my way up to a senior position here and add value to the organization. My Zeald profile can be found here: www.zeald.com/About/Team.html

When you first started your studies at NZIE, what challenges did you face and how did you deal with them?

Culture was the biggest challenge for me, coming from the Asian country, it took me a while to understand the culture here. NZIE made this journey so easy for me by giving the right direction in everything. They also helped me with finding part-time work and housing.

 I really want to appreciate the staff here who was so helpful throughout this journey. I even found my first rented place because of their staff. Seriously, I am so obliged by the way they have handled us and helped us in all situations.

What’s the best advice for someone looking to study in New Zealand?

 Don’t go for big names and Universities unless you know everything about the course. Try to find a course that can actually help you achieve your career goals. 

That was Nidhi’s story and we’re so proud to hear all about her amazing career growth and opportunities since finishing up with us here at NZIE. We wish her all the best and can’t wait to check back in with her soon to see where she’s excelled to next.