Success Stories

Success Stories

Zivile Laskauskaite – HR Intern at Stirling Council

In July 2019, AAI celebrated supporting it’s 1500th graduate into a valuable paid opportunity. We caught up with Miss 1500, Zivile Laskauskaite to hear about her journey, and her experience as a HR intern at veteran AAI employer, Stirling Council.

Before getting an opportunity through AAI, what was your experience with job-hunting?

Leaving University and entering the job market was a very scary experience. I think as a graduate, you are put under so much pressure to leave full-time education, which has been a comfort zone for years, and know what you want to do for the rest of your life or for at least the foreseeable future. 

My internship with Stirling Council through AAI has given me an amazing opportunity to develop my skills and knowledge further and to gain experience that employers expect young professionals to have. 


Please describe your experiences of AAI and how your opportunity has benefited you?

Applying for jobs and either not hearing anything back or being unsuccessful really affected my confidence, and I was starting to lose hope to ever find something in the professional field that I loved. Getting a paid internship through AAI has really helped to build up my confidence, both personally and professionally. I’m so grateful for the opportunity that I was given by Stirling Council.

What would you say to other graduates who are considering an opportunity through AAI?

Going for this opportunity has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The amount of support and encouragement that I have received has been amazing. Since starting my role, I’ve had the opportunity to get involved in different HR processes and work alongside an amazing team of passionate professionals.  I am confident that this internship will be a great stepping stone for my future career in HR.

What are you doing now in your career?                                                 

I am currently 9 months into my internship, still enjoying every bit of it. 

All the opportunities and experiences that I was given by Stirling Council have encouraged me to work on my professional development and to develop my knowledge further. A few months ago I made the decision to start studying towards becoming an Associate member of the CIPD by the end of 2019. 

Through this opportunity I have seen myself grow, both as an individual and as a young professional, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for me.

What were your roles and responsibilities in your position?

My role is varied and involves a wide range of duties. I am responsible for updating and maintaining employee absence records, arranging and attending Attendance Support Meetings, providing HR support and advice to managers. I also had opportunities to see what happens during Attendance and Performance Capability meetings and Disciplinary Hearings. I was able to get involved in recruitment panels and had a chance to learn how to use various HR Systems. 

As an HR Graduate I had a lot of knowledge about certain things, however, seeing how things work in practice, as opposed to reading about it, has been the best work experience I could ever ask for. 

Zevile is a prime example of a motivated young professional who was intimidated by her graduate prospects, but found purpose, self-belief and incredible work experience in a short period of time with a supportive employer.

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