8 minute read
‘Dream Dare Do’ is an event series for ANU College of Business and Economics (CBE) current students and recent graduates who are pursuing their dream jobs.
In our upcoming event, CBE alumni Stephanie Robertson and Andrei Markhachov will share critical insights on optimising your job search and succeeding when applying for roles. Stephanie is currently working for Medibank as a Talent Acquisition Partner and Andrei works for EY as a Consultant.
They will be speaking at the second event of the four-part series, ‘Dare – How to win the recruitment process’, on Thursday 25 March.
During this online session, they will share their experiences regarding building their careers and will discuss the tactics and skills you can use when pursuing employment opportunities. This will include a focus on networking and the value interactions with stakeholders can provide, as well as the effectiveness of reaching out to individuals and organisations ahead of advertised job vacancies.
Our presenters will also discuss the practicalities of the interview process, and will cover topics such as resume expectations and best interview practices.
Stephanie and Andrei recently shared their own career paths and some teasers on what attendees can expect at this event.
Q. Can you tell us about your career path and what led you to the role you're in today?
Stephanie:
I completed a Bachelor of Commerce from CBE in 2017. While working as a barista on campus during my final year, I made a connection with someone working in the University’s Human Resources (HR) space. I leveraged this connection to help me get my first job as a HR Assistant at The Australian National University (ANU). I then worked for an executive search and management-consulting firm as a research associate for Anna Whitlam People. During this time, I found myself wanting to move into a sector that aligned more with my core values. I started looking for work with reputable organisations in the not-for-profit sector and purpose-driven companies. I researched Medibank and found its values and purpose aligned with my own. Leveraging some connections I had in my network and researching the best people to connect with outside of that network, I moved to Medibank in 2019 as a Talent Acquisition Advisor. I am now working at Medibank as a Talen Acquisition Partner, Corporate.
Andrei:
I too completed a Bachelor of Commerce at CBE and my first professional role was also at ANU as an Academic Advisor and residential Scholar at Burton and Garran Hall. I continued my career while studying at CBE – working in the student call room for the Advancement Annual Giving Team's phone appeal. During this time, I worked my way up to Call Room Supervisor where I led a team of 35 callers for the program. In 2019, I was successful in gaining a position with EY as a Vacationer, which is essentially working as a part of an internship program. From here, I gained a graduate position with EY and am currently working as a Consultant in the Business Transformation space.
Q. Could you give us a taste of which topics you will cover in the 'Dream Dare Do’ event?
Stephanie:
I am keen to explore and expand on the “whys” that will help students and recent graduates, as prospective employees, understand their roles and that a job might be a stepping-stone on to something that can help you get into the industry. My first role was in payroll, which was not exactly what I wanted to do, but it led to other great opportunities and gave me a good foundation of experience and transferrable skills to draw from. Some of the other topics I would like to discuss are “adaptability”, not being too tied to a title or an organisation, and “taking the leap” in your career.
Andrei:
I would like to talk about being mentally prepared for the final year of university. I find that many students are quite focused on their academic programs and other aspects of their busy lives without being fully aware of the amount of effort that job applications take. I would like to discuss setting expectations and staying positive through the recruitment process. Another great topic is the value in current students being open to lots of experiences; from working in hospitability jobs to participating in competitive sports, experiences contribute to your personal growth, so you should do as much as possible.
Q. How did your CBE degree prepare you for your career?
Stephanie:
The top things that worked for me were:
- Course content – I have applied a lot more of what I learned at university than I realised I would. Just the other day I was looking through an old essay for reference to something work-related. This isn't something I necessarily thought I would do at the time of writing it.
- Research and critical thinking skills that I learned through my degree.
- The connections and networks that my degree and courses provided me.
Andrei:
Three things at CBE that prepared me for my career are:
- The courses I studied – I learned a lot about business, its language and frameworks.
- Internships and summer courses.
- Professional skills, soft skills, and networking though College programs such as MomentuM.
Click here to register for ‘Dare – How to win the recruitment process’ on Thursday 25 March.
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