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BYU-Hawaii Students Benefit from Fiji Career Connect Trip

BYU-Hawaii students gained valuable experiences from a summer Career Connect trip to Fiji, which also built on important connections and relationships for students, the University, and other institutions involved in the excursion focused on enhancing career opportunities for BYU–Hawaii students following graduation. 

According to Meli Lesuma, Career Services' Senior Manager of On Campus Recruiting and Events, students were able to engage in opportunities on the trip that enabled them to make connections with 16 different institutions. 

The Career Connect trips will usually include about 12 students, Lesuma shared, who are sponsored by the school to meet with selected employers, H.R. experts, government, educational, and church leaders. “Students can then expand their understanding of employment and internship trends, forecasts, and opportunities in these geographical locations as they seek internships before, and full-time employment following, graduation,” said Lesuma.

Lesuma explained that on this most recent trip to Fiji, students had the opportunity to visit government ministries, statutory organizations, major hotels, universities and medical schools, financial institutions, non-profit organizations, LDS church schools and other entities. “These visits were productive and their respective leaders expressed their support and cooperation towards our Career Connect program and for BYU-Hawaii,” Lesuma said. “They explained how our students can apply for their vacancies and we can remain in touch through bilateral relations in the future.” He continued, sharing that several of the students have chosen where they want to work or do internships as a result from the visit.

“I realized I was in the wrong major,” said Iliesa Malani, a senior in computer science from Fiji. Malani was one of the students that made the trip to Fiji. He commented that he saw how expertise in information technology is in demand in Fiji. “I’m thinking of continuing in computer science but then doing a minor or a double major.”

The trips also act as a tool for missionary work. Lesuma commented that students expressed their love and appreciation for the church and for BYU-Hawaii. “They made a significant impression on these employers and senior government officials because of their conduct and high standards,”Lesuma said.

“We learn from the experience that it requires a combined effort between the student and the Career Center to make this a successful visit,” said Lesuma. He expressed that students are responsible for developing contacts to help in their search for finding an internship or career. “Success will largely depend upon how well the student prepares in advance by researching the companies and organizations in the area and nurturing the contacts upon returning from the programs.”

“If you’re looking for a job, you need to go to career connect,” said Malani. He strongly recommended the program for students. The program visits many different countries throughout the year, including Fiji, Tahiti, the Philippines, Japan, Kiribati, China, Tonga, and Thailand. Visits are also made to U.S. mainland cities like Boston, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and Seattle.

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