Maria Baring

She's a trained engineer with more than a decade's experience behind her - yet when Maria Baring immigrated to New Zealand three-and-a-half years ago she couldn't find work.

Now, thanks to a stint back in the classroom, the bubbly mum's career is back on track. She's sitting pretty working as a Resource Management Engineer for the Manukau City Council

"Back in the Philippines I'd been working in a management level position in the civil engineering industry for 12 years. My husband is also in the same field and he managed to get a related job in New Zealand. I don't know why I couldn't get work here...maybe because I'm a female," says Maria.

WINZ (Work and Income New Zealand) suggested she do a course in order to gain a New Zealand qualification. They felt this would increase her employability. So Maria headed to NZMA to gain her National Diploma in Business.

"It was fun and I met a lot of people. I learnt a lot about time management, talking to people from other cultures and being able to understand different kinds of English accents. This was very important for me. The method of teaching at NZMA is quite different from our country it's much more relaxing studying here than in the Philippines."

That's just as well considering Maria was pregnant throughout her studies and two months before the end of the course she gave birth to a little boy. She took two weeks off, and then returned to the classroom to complete her qualification!

Not long after, the Manukau City Council snapped her up. She was initially employed as a Trainee Multi-Skilled Building Officer. Competition for the job was stiff, with Maria competing against civil engineers from around the world.

"I really didn't think I'd get it! I think the fact that I had a New Zealand qualification played a big factor in them choosing me."

She has now been promoted to Resource Management Engineer and is thrilled about it.

"It's great to finally be able to return to the type of work I was doing in the Philippines. Studying at NZMA helped me gain the confidence to work in a new country and got me a foot in the door so I could get back to using my engineering qualification."
After a disillusioning start in a new homeland, Maria Baring has now well and truly fallen on her feet. Returning to the classroom has given her a New Zealand-recognized qualification, enabling her to move forward in her career and create a promising, happy future for herself and her family.