Signee Course Helps Young Trainee Land First Sign Making Job
The NZSDA’s Signee Course provides aspiring sign makers with a pathway into the industry, as recent graduate Abby Lane has demonstrated by securing an apprenticeship with BIG after completing the course and gaining work experience with several NZSDA members.
With a background in visual art and garment technology, Abby had experience in design and hands-on production, but she was looking for a career with more job opportunities and a strong community in New Zealand.
She was attracted to sign making because of the variety of work involved and the opportunity to build a much broader set of practical skills. “Sign making has the advantage of involving both indoor and outdoor work and overall has a wider array of skills to learn through apprenticeships, alongside a more structured career pathway,” Abby said.
While researching the industry, Abby discovered the NZSDA Signee Programme and contacted Melissa Coutts, who helped her get started. Melissa also arranged work experience for Abby with two Auckland sign shops, Grafix Wall Art and iSignit Ltd, giving her the opportunity to gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of how a sign shop operates.
Melissa describes Abby as enthusiastic, passionate and willing to learn. Her attitude was also noted during her work placements, with Christine from Grafix Wall Art saying, “She was so keen to learn. She turned up every day, early, and was ready and willing to participate.”
Initially, Abby faced difficulty landing full-time employment in the industry without previous experience. “There are lots of people applying and very few jobs going around. That is the biggest hurdle in every industry.” She participated in several interviews with sign shops, all of whom required strong industry references.
When asked what employers were looking for, Abby shared, “I have heard versions of ‘we can teach you the skills, but we can’t teach attitude’ at almost every interview. As I understand it, this idea boils down to: will your personality fit in with the pre-existing crew? Will you consistently turn up and do the job as intended? Can you take feedback well and change your work from what you are told?”
With support from the NZSDA and Competenz, Abby managed to land an apprenticeship with BIG in Auckland. “The Signee course was a massive help in showing initiative and having some practical experience, and the industry contacts via Melissa and the NZSDA were invaluable.”
Echoing statements made by sign shops across the country, Abby’s new employer, Ross Hall, commented: “I told her to ring me at 8.30 in the morning. I set an alarm on my phone for 8.29 so I could check her punctuality. She was to the second at 8.30. I can’t teach enthusiasm, but I can teach my trade. She has got the enthusiasm that is few and far between. Here’s hoping for another senior tradie in four years’ time.”
Abby also took the initiative to come along to the Sign & Print Expo and explore more of what the industry has to offer, including watching the Young Signee of the Year Competition. “The competition was awesome! It was impressive to watch how well the competitors did under stress, as well as which area each competitor’s skills were strongest. I hope that the event continues in 2029 when I might be able to take part,” Abby commented.
When asked what advice she would give to other young people wanting to enter the trade, Abby replied, “If you have the time and the safety net to do training, do training. I 100% recommend the Signee Programme.”
Abby added that some additional skills can also be useful when looking to enter the industry. Graphic design basics are helpful, Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW are widely used, while first aid certification can also be beneficial. She also recommends getting a full Class 1 driver licence: “A full licence is essentially mandatory. If you do not have your full Class 1 driver licence, get it.”
If you’re looking for work in the sign industry, check out the latest job listings on our Classifieds page.
To take your first step into the industry, find out more about the Signee Course here.