In this session of HR Chats with Te Radar, we chat with Anna Ferguson, Chief People Officer for Vista Group

With a recession forecast as likely, university students are entering a workforce where jobs are competitive and not guaranteed. Auckland University of Technology’s Professor Candice Harris has warned students not to expect their “dream job” right away in the current market – and is also concerned about employers halting graduate programmes for short-term cost savings, as this can have longer-term impacts on the company’s employment pipeline.  

Vista is about to open applications for its 2023 graduate and intern programme. Today we talk to Anna Ferguson, Chief People Officer at leading cinema software and data analytics company Vista Group, on why new graduates should consider graduate schemes and internships when starting out in their career, and why continuing to offer graduate schemes is important for businesses’ long-term success. In the tech sector, with its ongoing skills shortages, this is especially critical to cater for a fast-digitising world.

Specifically we cover:

• How long has Vista Group been running its graduate programme, and what does it entail and how do they contribute to the business?


• Why do you think graduates should consider schemes like this, rather than applying for a standard role?


• What’s the value of these schemes for employers? Are they still feasible at a time when many workplaces are actually looking at job reductions?


• What advice would you give graduates wanting to make the most of a scheme like this, to kick-start their career? And likewise, how can employers best support new graduates?