Graduate Profile - Economics

Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Economics (major Business Economics)
Position Gained: Accounts Receivable Position in SA Public Sector
Commencement Date: 19/09/05

Could you give us a description of what your traineeship involves or will involve?

The Traineeship involves full time study at TAFE for the Business Certificate 3 and full time employment.

During the day in the Department I basically process any invoices, cheques, cash, eft and credit notes in their system. I also take care of their mail. Once I have done little bit of accounting I will be doing bank reconciliation for them on a daily basis. At the moment I'm at TAFE in the mornings and after lectures at TAFE I go to work. Both the employment and the TAFE are in the city so I don't need to worry about transport.

With your experiences in securing employment what advice would you give to students who are in their first, second, and final year of study?

I was able to gain this position through the Government Youth Traineeship, where you log on to their website to download the application form and send it back to them. To be accepted you have to be under the age of 25 and have completed year 12. The Government also accepts students who are in the middle their degree or have recently finished their degree. Therefore my advice is definitely to go for it. You only need to pass the degree for them to accept you.

Don't confuse the above Traineeship with the SA Public Sector Graduate Recruitment Program where different things apply. Check their website for details.

How did you go about finding graduate employment?

After graduating from my degree, I was put on the NewStart allowance from Centrelink and I had to do Work for the Dole. While commencing Work for the Dole, the Supervisor advised me to talk to my Job Network provider to see whether I would be eligible for the Government Youth Traineeship. Then together with my Job Network provider I made an application for the traineeship.

Can you briefly describe the application process relevant to your position?

What interview questions were you asked?

I sent my application form, together with my resume, academic transcript and my year 12 results. I then got the letter send out to me saying that I had been accepted into the traineeship. Then the Traineeship Department sends your resume to any appropriate positions available through the Government. After that you get the letter describing the department they have put your resume through to. Every Government Department has their own Recruitment Company. Their Recruitment Company will give you call to arrange the interview with them and to do the necessary assessment test. The test depends on the position they have put you through to. After having an interview with the Recruitment Company, you then have an interview with the actual Department.

Sometimes these Interviews will last for whole day like mine. I first had an interview with Recruitment Company including the assessment test from 9am-11am. Then I had a lunch break and after that, together with Recruitment Officers we went to the Department for the second interview from 1pm-2pm.

After all these interviews I got call from my Boss asking me to come for a second interview with their Department. When I was there, they told me that they would like to give me this opportunity, then after accepting it they showed me the Department where I met the people I would be working with.

In your opinion, what factors enabled you to be successful in obtaining employment?

Both of the interviews were conducted by panels (where you will have more than one person interviewing you at the same time). The interview questions were really easy and it's important that you answer them honestly and truthfully. The questions were more on the basis of getting to know you, for example what are your likes/dislikes, favourite things, hobbies, what you do in your spare time, etc. They also ask questions regarding customer service, effective communication, work complaints resolution and some on team environments.

Then they had some short assessment case studies that were similar to the Degree Plus Program Workshops (Graduate Skills Development Program). In fact if you attend those workshops and participate in them then you have nothing to worry about. Those workshops are the ones that have helped me through interviews.

Do you have any further helpful hints for graduates?

When you are at the Interviews do not shy away and always be prepared to present yourself. They want to see you interact with them, that you are comfortable and always give honest answers. If you don't have the skill or have never done something before that they are looking for, tell them that and in your answer include your opinion on how it should be done.