Welcome to the final day of our International Women’s Day Love What You Do Series. This week we are recognising some of the women who are furthering their dreams and goals by taking advantage of the flexible work Sidekicker provides as well as celebrating our 50/50 gender split in HQ. Our Sidekick community is made up of people from all walks of life. Their backgrounds, their passions and their stories are part of what makes them so good at what they do. Briana is an aspiring audiologist who loves unicycling, practising sign language and dancing – she Sidekicks to make all of her passions more accessible.
Where were you working before you started Sidekicking?
When I started Sidekicking, I was a first-year University student with a part-time job as a dance teacher. Joining Sidekicker was perfect for me. I could pick up shifts when I had free time, but if I had loads of assignments due then I didn’t have to work.
Tell us something unique about yourself
My interests include unicycling, using New Zealand sign language and dance modelling. I also love working different jobs all the time and have had around 50 different types of jobs through part-time work and Sidekicker.
What was your first Sidekicking gig?
My first gig was giving out flyers in Auckland City to introduce Uber, back when not many people knew it existed. So many people were unsure about the idea, if only they could see now.
Coolest thing you’ve done at Sidekicker
The best job I’ve ever had with Sidekicker was accompanying shareholders on a day trip to an oil refinery up North in New Zealand. We got delicious free food and coffee, got to go on a tour with the Shareholders of the refinery and all we had to do was make sure everyone was okay, hand out the food and provide information if anyone asked questions. We got over $200 for the day and it didn’t even feel like working!
What was your first job?
My first ever job was in a factory putting stickers on CDs and DVDs for up to 13 hours a day. That experience definitely gave me the motivation to explore other options, and that is how I found Sidekicker and have loved it ever since.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I am still studying at University at the moment, doing a Masters Degree in Audiology. This means that in two years I will be moving into full-time audiology work. However, during these final two years of my studies, I will absolutely be using Sidekicker. Not only is Sidekicker great for contributing towards my expenses while studying, but through different jobs, I learn so many different skills that will set me up for being an effective clinician. I’m learning communication skills, getting the confidence to talk to strangers, working as part of a group, time management and much more.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
When I was younger I wanted to be either a professional dancer or a scientist.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is an awesome idea. It’s a celebration of our past achievements and inspires me to continue that into the future. The day is a reminder that we can do anything and that we need to continue to stand up, work hard and fight for equality.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone who wants to be a Sidekick?
Even if you have the perfect experience and skills for a job you need to make sure it’s on your profile. I always review and edit my profile once every few months to make sure it is up-to-date, relevant and includes all the new skills I have gained through working with Sidekicker.
Why do you love what you do?
I love meeting new people, learning new things and having a new challenge every day. Varied, flexible and exciting opportunities inspire me to get up every day and embrace the experience of life!