Rotorua 'hero', 64, finds work after 100-plus job applications

Top Staff Solutions director Kirsten Bangs and Fa'atoaga Pelulale. Photo / Andrew Warner

It took about 11 months, more than 100 job applications and a Rotorua "hero" who never gave up.

Like many others, Fa'atoaga Pelulale - or "Fatu" - lost his job when Covid-19 sent the country into level 4 lockdown in March 2020.

He said he had worked at Rotorua business for about 12 years before he was made redundant. The news was devastating.

"I was in big pain, I had no money and I was looking for a job."

The setback came about a year after Fatu was hailed as a hero for saving a 2-year-old boy, a 26-year-old woman and 23-year-old man from a car just seconds before it went up in flames after a crash between Paengaroa and Okere Falls on State Highway 33.

Fatu showed the same fearlessness, determination and grit he displayed that day in his pursuit of a new job. He applied for more than 100 positions with no success but never gave up.

"I was looking for any kind of job, whatever I could find."

Then, in September, he was offered a permanent job as an order person at timber manufacturer and supply company Hume Pine in Rotorua.

Coincidentally his new boss, production manager Simon Mitchell, worked with Fatu 30 years ago and recognised him when he turned up to the interview.

Mitchell said the company normally employed younger workers because the job could be physically demanding but Fatu was quickly hired.

"I just knew he would be a good worker.

"I worked with him when I left school. I was only like 17 back then, 30 years later he was coming for a job with me.

Mitchell said Fatu was usually the first to turn up for work and always got the job done.

"We can always rely on Fatu. He doesn't let anyone down. Always happy and always smiling."

After his year-long search for work, Fatu was overjoyed when he was told he had the job.

"I said: 'Whatever you give to me I will do'. When I got the phone call, I said: 'Thank you Lord you answered my prayer'."

Fatu said words of advice from his father had helped him push through so many unsuccessful job applications.

"My dad told me it depends on your two feet and your two hands. Don't try to depend on anyone else."

"When times get tough you just have to keep moving forward," he said.

Fatu also thanked Rotorua recruitment agency Top Staff Solutions managing director Kirsten Bangs, who helped him in his search.

"I take my hat off to Kirsten for helping me for such a long time to look for a job."

Fa'atoaga Pelulale. Photo / Andrew Warner

Bangs said she was impressed when Fatu turned up to their first meeting in a suit and tie.

He told her: 'I've got two hands and two feet I am going to work'.

Bangs believed Fatu's age was most likely the reason he was turned down for so many jobs but she did not look at how old he was, instead, she looked at his loyalty to the last company he worked for.

"When I looked at Fatu's CV it was the fact he had been with one company for 12 years and I just thought someone who stays with a company for that long is really loyal. I have to meet this person.

"Fatu's story can help a lot of people. This is a story of an amazing person with a great attitude who didn't give up."