Since 2010 I have been studying a Masters of Economics Studies through the University of New England. Like most people who study mid-career my ultimate goal was a career change. However, I didn’t really know what I wanted to change to or where I fit. Approaching the end of my degree I started applying for jobs and started to fear that my hard work was for nothing.
In 2007 I graduated with a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) CQU and soon found employment in a local public practice. It didn’t take me long to realize that I wasn’t well suited for a career as an accountant. While I enjoyed the ideas and theory of accounting and business more generally I didn’t particularly like spending my day’s number crunching. I soon moved into the world of recruiting.
I’ve spent the last five years working in the recruitment and employment services industry. Having worked part-time as a telemarketer when I was a student I found out I had already developed one of the most important skills in recruitment. I never would have thought that the skills I was developing as a telemarketer for Guidedogs Queensland were the basis of a career when I was studying. Ultimately, recruitment depends on the consultant’s ability to one sell a recruitment services to employers and sell the vacancy to the candidate. To do this well the consultant needs to understands the needs of both parties and to properly match a good candidate with an appropriate job.
When global financial crisis started to affect Australia, I moved from recruitment to employment services. Working in the disability employment area I helped clients understand what employers were looking for, how to address their weaknesses and to directly market them to employers. I also worked with employers to help them incorporate people with a disability into their business and to access government funding. While I enjoyed this role and was good at it I ultimately saw myself as a failure having strayed so far away from my original career. This led me to studying a Master of Economics Studies at UNE.
I originally didn’t have a very clear idea of what I wanted to do, I just knew I wanted to be part of the business world or developing government policy. I didn’t take me long to remember why I loved economics. Economics gives students a way of understanding our society and trade offs that are made to manage scarce resources. I got particularly interested in microeconomics understanding the incentives individuals have to do the things they do. I joined the Young Economists and UNE Economics Society and made some friends who shared my interest.
Two years on I still hadn’t had success in changing career. I didn’t get into any of the very competitive government graduate programs. I had been interviewed for a business development assistant role I found through the UNE job blog. Ultimately they were looking for a more experienced candidate who could do valuations. I was short listed for an economic development officer position with the Moreton Bay Regional Council and missed out. Another role was for a Marketing Associate for a superannuation company. I was 1 out of 7 people interviewed for a role that received over 100 applications. While being very disappointed to have not secured a job it was clear my masters was opening doors.
This really highlights the importance of securing an intern position or a junior role in the industry you want to work in while studying. I tried to sell my experiences from employment services to employers but it was hard to compete with directly relevant experience. Ultimately, there are only so many graduate positions to go round and having industry experience is a massive plus.
In the long run I’m extremely pleased I missed out on those other roles I applied for. After a conversation with my neighbor I learnt of an exciting development in accounting software. Using cloud technology, firms had removed much of drudgery from public accounting. The holy grail of accountancy is providing current advise rather than solely helping clients comply with their tax obligations. The efficiency made possible by the cloud has made this long held dream of accountants possible. The economist in me could see how technology was lowering the barriers to entry to markets and allowing small and medium enterprises to access technologies previously reserved for large companies. I had found a company and product I believed in and decided to apply for a job with the market leader.
Like the previous roles I had applied for the application process was competitive. I first role a cover letter that spelt out why I was the perfect candidate, I then was screened over the phone by the human resources department, I then I had an interview with the local manager, followed by two skype interviews with the senior managers in Sydney and Melbourne. After several weeks and much emotion, I finally got the job. I now have a role that allows me to use my education and past experience. Financially the package I have received has justified the $20,000 I invested in a master’s degree. After a very long journey my studies have allowed me to enter a very exciting industry and to do work I am passionate about. I really hope other students will read this account of my journey and know that they will eventually get their opportunity and their setbacks aren't permanent. It's also important to be flexible, the role I secured is very different from any role I imaged, but it's the perfect role for me. I just didn't know it!
