Investing for your future

Some international students may be deterred from attending social functions, perhaps due to any language barriers, but this is easily remedied, as according to Ratna, the best solution is still to connect with others.

“[Students have] to get out of their circles,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with having a circle - but get out of the circle, get into the mainstream. By talking to other groups you are coming out of the shyness. This even happens in the workplace where cultural groups only mix with each other and don’t mix with others.”

“Speaking must come from talking to your colleagues. My background is Sri Lankan, if a Sri Lankan student comes here and only wants to mix with Sri Lankans [they are] not going to develop their skills.” He recalls his time at an organisation where he was the only Sri Lankan on his floor, but rather than finding it challenging, he saw it as an opportunity to engage with the others around him. “The guy sitting next to me asked to go to the pub and go and play table tennis during lunch time. By playing table tennis during lunchtime I came to know other people from other areas and developed more connections,” he said. University, says Ratna, is a good platform to improve your language because no one is going to pick on you at the university level. At work level, other employees may have a tendency to hinder your progress.

GETTING A FOOT IN THE DOOR

Graduate programs are some of the most sought after entrylevel positions, and are therefore competitive to break through. Behavioural interviews are common when progressing through the interview progress for graduate and associate level jobs, and are used to ascertain the candidate’s suitability for the role through their problem solving abilities. Generally, the interview panel will give a hypothetical scenario - perhaps that is common within that organisation like how you might handle a difficult client - and candidates are required to offer their hypothetical treatment of the issue. This is why having some work experience is imperative, even if it’s a casual hospitality job at a fast-food chain. Ratna explains that a young graduate doing some odd jobs in a coffee shop or at McDonalds will give better practical answers at behavioural interviews, as opposed to a student who has not explored and is not developing other aspects of work life such as, or perhaps most importantly, communication. For a final year student, applications begin from February to March, and interviews begin in April and the appointment process commences in June to July, subject to completion of the course in November and the placement will usually begin in February, the following year. Students must apply for programs in February for the following year, and progress through four or five different types of interviews. First they will ask for an aptitude test, then they will sit for a group interview, and then successful applicants who are successful here will progress to the one to one interview, and then the next level. While some applicants may have a specific role in mind that they would like to progress to, the selection panel may recognise that your talents be suitable for another area. Ratna remembers one mentee of his that had applied for a particular role, then progressed to the individual interview stage and who later found out that he was not successful for the role, but was offered a job in another area within the company. “Say I’m doing marketing as a major, and I know I’m not fit for marketing, but I can show other skills that are relevant for other jobs,” said Ratna. But what if marketing is what we really want to pursue? “Sometimes we are born like that, we might struggle with something that we feel we might want to do,” said Ratna, “but our innate skillset might serve us, and others, better in other occupations. First, get into the workforce, then work your way to the marketing area because you are already inside the system.” “You can ask for a job in an area you like within the larger companies and graduate programs

Ratna says preparation, work experience, networking, flexibility and presentation are key to finding a job.

which offer a three month rotation, so that within one year you would have covered a few different departments. ”

Weaknesses are strengths that have not yet been properly developed. To help build confidence Ratna advises his mentees to write down their perceived weaknesses and learn how to develop it, depending on what it is. If it is public speaking for instance, Ratna will advise his mentees to write a small paragraph, stand in front of a mirror or in front of a group of friends and speak. Seeing and hearing your weakness in action can help you pinpoint the areas you need to work on.

“You can’t change it just like that, the mentee must break that barrier. What I would advise actually is that the mentee has to move around his or her own crowd, talk to other people, get comfortable, and once you get comfortable, it will then be easy to go out and mix with the people,” he said. He gives the example of a doctor who came from overseas, and was required to take an exam before she could practice. Ratna said that she would not do well if she rushes to sit for the exam while dealing with the anxieties associated with moving countries. Ratna advised her to take a little more time to absorb the local culture and engage with the community. “Then I advised her to organise a session to observe a domestic doctor in practice, sit with a GP and see how they talk and practice in Australia, it's to learn those techniques before you go and sit in the exam.” “Now she is comfortable and slowly recovering and gradually getting through that shyness,” said Ratna.

INTRODUCTIONS ARE EVERYTHING

While resumes have been used for the recruitment process for graduate programs, in some cases, explains Ratna, the resume is usually looked at last. Therefore candidates must satisfy all the other requirements in a graduate intake process before the managers check their resumes thoroughly. One of the most vital components of the resume is the introductory summary, a short and sweet paragraph about yourself. “The first paragraph is very important. Most of the managers don’t have time to go through all the resumes because for each graduate program, they get about 12,000 applications, so with 12,000 resumes you can’t go through it entirely,” said Ratna. A winning introductory summary is direct, it showcases achievements and highlights educational milestones. It is useful to mention tertiary awards, professional memberships, voluntary work with an additional sentence or two about your practical and work experience, explained Ratna. While the graduate job market and entry-level positions are a competitive area, preparation, work experience, networking, flexibility and presentation are key to assist graduates in finding and securing jobs. “I wish all students good luck with their graduate program applications and placements!”

Ratna Ratnakumar is a committee and advisory board member with over 30 years of Financial Services experience including 11 years in academia and mentoring. He has worked for several leading life insurance companies, superannuation administrators and for a software developer and as an accredited examiner and lecturer/tutor for tertiary institutions. Ratna is a Fellow of AIM, ANZIIF, ASFA & FINSIA. Mr Ratnakumar is also a mentor for those looking to take their first steps into the world of work, and those looking to delve further into their careers by providing invaluable advice for every step of the process. Students are free to contact Ratna for advice with graduate programs at

manager@bestpracticeadvisory.com