Student Background
- Female, Chinese nationality
- No prior academic background in business or supply chain management
- Extensive experience in bar sales, with deep knowledge of wine varieties, origins, and quality
- Concerned about career prospects in business — worried about the “business degree = unemployment” stereotype
Application Goal
Transition into the supply chain industry through postgraduate study, with the aim of securing employment and applying for residency in New Zealand. Required a programme with low entry barriers, no undergraduate major restrictions, and strong employment prospects.
Service Process
When Student J first came to us, she was deeply conflicted — interested in business studies but discouraged by the narrative that business graduates struggle to find employment.
After a thorough discussion about her work history, our advisory team identified a key strength: years of bar sales had given her exceptional wine knowledge — she could identify varieties, origins, and quality with ease — along with strong client communication skills. This aligned perfectly with New Zealand’s wine industry supply chain.
Based on this insight, we recommended EIT’s Napier campus for the Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management:
- Campus choice: Napier is a renowned New Zealand wine region with exports dominated by wine — a perfect match for her background
- Programme advantage: Logistics and supply chain is a long-term skill shortage area in New Zealand, with roles like Procurement Manager on the Long Term Skill Shortage List, significantly boosting post-graduation immigration prospects
- Entry requirements: No undergraduate major restrictions — cross-discipline applicants welcome
- Career outlook: 3-year post-study work visa available, median salary approximately NZD 100,000
Our team handled the full application process including university admission, visa processing, and accommodation arrangements.
During Studies
Student J made the most of her unique strengths:
- Built a solid foundation in supply chain management, mastering warehousing, distribution, and procurement skills
- Applied wine knowledge and client communication skills from her bar sales career to academic practice
- Participated in local Napier winery export supply chain projects under faculty supervision
- Quickly adapted to procurement and distribution coordination tasks, offering practical optimisation suggestions based on her deep familiarity with wine categories
Final Result
Secured a job offer from a leading local wine import-export company before graduation, taking on a role focused on wine supply chain coordination — completely overturning the “business degrees don’t lead to jobs” stereotype.
Adviser’s Comments
Whether a business degree leads to employment isn’t about the degree itself — it’s about whether you choose the right direction based on your personal strengths. Student J’s story shows that seemingly “unrelated” work experience can become your strongest competitive advantage when precisely matched to industry needs. Helping students discover their unique strengths and matching them with the right institution and programme is exactly where our value lies.