Courtney Spencer’s career journey is a testament to the courage it takes to change direction, and the rewards that can follow.

After completing a Bachelor of Applied Animal Science, Courtney began her professional life in pet retail before transitioning into veterinary nursing. “I knew I wanted to work with animals, but I wasn’t sure exactly how,” she recalls. Her passion led her to a diploma in veterinary nursing, and eventually to a senior nurse role at a growing clinic in Glen Innes.

But after five years, and the emotional toll of working through the COVID-19 pandemic, Courtney felt burnt out. “It is one of those jobs where you work really hard, but you don’t always get a lot of reward out of it,” she says. “It was emotionally and physically draining.”

That is when she made her first big pivot, into dental assisting. “Different species, same principles,” she laughs. The skills transferred surprisingly well, and she found joy in learning new techniques and working with a supportive team. But after moving house, she saw an opportunity for a fresh start and took a leap into something completely new at Stellar Recruitment: an office-based role with site visits, people interaction, and a whole new learning curve.

Courtney’s story is far from unique. According to Stats NZ, the labour market is increasingly dynamic, with people moving between industries and roles more frequently. In fact, a recent Linked Employer-Employee Data (LEED) shows that job mobility in New Zealand has been steadily increasing, with over 600,000 job changes recorded in the year ending March 2025.

This reflects a growing openness to career shifts, especially among younger workers and women. Courtney continued, “Women often won’t apply for a job unless they meet all the criteria, whereas men are more likely to go for it even if they don’t tick every box.”

Her advice? “Don’t limit yourself. The worst that can happen is it doesn’t work out, and then you try something else.”

Now over a year into her role at Stellar, Courtney feels she made the right choice. “It was a massive learning curve, and I have grown so much. The team is amazing, and I feel really supported.”

Despite leaving the veterinary world, animals are still a big part of her life. She and her partner adopted two rescue cats, siblings Shumai who is fully blind and Miso who has one eye, who now rule their home. “They’re the perfect cats,” she beams. “It feels like everything’s come full circle.”

Courtney’s journey is a reminder that career change isn’t failure, it is growth. And in a labour market that’s more flexible than ever, it’s a path more Kiwis are embracing every day.