Testimonials from student employees

Vanessa Bugge, HR Intern, Qantas and SydneyTalent

I am delighted to provide the SydneyTalent team with some fantastic feedback regarding my application to the Graduate Program at a top tier auditing and consulting firm. I am one of a few out of thousands of applicants, who have been offered a position in my degree-relevant stream, for commencement in 2011.

Whilst I always knew my work experience and the learning and development opportunities provided to me through SydneyTalent were invaluable, I did not realise the true value of this until I encountered the rigorous graduate recruitment processes of a top tier company. I know that I would not have successfully moved through the group assessment days, the individual case study interviews, or individual competency interviews, without the work experience I have had.

Brooklyn Sulaeman, Data Analyst/Project Coordinator, Qantas

I started at Qantas a year ago and they had me going straight away which was great. It’s just gone so quickly. I work side by side with another SydneyTalent placement in a group of 15. Our projects are very large scope and we reach across all different parts of the business. I’ve had the chance to work with operational people and all the way up to executive level. It’s a bit nerve wracking at times but they really encourage me to get out there and support me with the work that I’m doing. Qantas is a great company like that.

Chiara Van Vliet, Industrial Relations Assistant, TransGrid

With TransGrid, I’ve got a summer placement so I’m working full-time over the university break which is really good. I’m learning so much and in greater detail than at university. It’s helped me make a decision about what I want to specialise in. The work motivated me to keep going with Honours because I’m seeing I really like the research. I was very lucky I found something that completely matched what I was studying. I'm doing things today I didn't think I'd be given the responsibility to do for years.

Jeff Glushakow, Research Analyst, McKesson Asia-Pacific

The position has given me the opportunity to work in a multi-cultural environment. SydneyTalent definitely accelerated my development by providing me with the opportunity to utilize everything I learned during my postgraduate studies and apply it in the workplace.

SydneyTalent was able to place me in a position conducive to my career and personal goals. My job at McKesson has been challenging and fruitful and continues to evolve as I am given more responsibility. I also like that SydneyTalent representatives continued to serve as a resource for me even after my time at McKesson commenced.

Joy Enriquez, Communications Specialist, ICT, University of Sydney

Working with SydneyTalent has helped me build skills that are applicable to a large variety of roles and it’s also really helped in terms of getting a lot of confidence in working with different levels of management different types of organisations large and small. My placements with Qantas and ICT definitely helped in terms of getting hands on experience.

I’m in a role utilising what I have learnt in my undergraduate and my postgraduate degrees which isn’t common really. SydneyTalent really helped place me in a really suitable role.

Chad Davis, Project Assistant, Sydney Student Project, University of Sydney

Everyone I’ve worked with in my experience with SydneyTalent has been really supportive and they’ve been very responsive for any questions that I’ve had or any concerns that I’ve had. I came here on a Thursday, by the Friday SydneyTalent had already contacted some people for me and had some prospective jobs lined up. On Monday I had the interview for the Sydney Student project and by Wednesday I found out I got the job.

The project we’re working on now is going to be implemented over the next couple of years at Sydney so it’s good to know that I was part of an important team that’s going to make a difference for future students.

Matthew Bright, Master of Commerce & International Business

As a postgraduate student with several years of corporate work experience, I took the opportunity to update my skills during my combined Master of Commerce/Master of International Business degree as an employee through the SydneyTalent program. I worked for management in the International Office. undertaking a number of discrete market research projects. I found my experience to be both rewarding personally and of tangible value to the University. I would recommend the experience to anyone considering undertaking employment as a student.

Sara Hames, Master of Creative Writing

I'm working as a writer side-by-side with my studies, with the chance to partner with professional writers to create new work and hear constructive feedback. I've learned an immense amount in a very short time, my CV looks better than ever, and I genuinely feel that I've made the right choice in my degree. SydneyTalent is a great initiative. They treat my abilities as a real resource, encourage me to try new things, and obviously work very hard to tailor their program to individuals. I'm thrilled to have found such a positive attitude toward student employment.

Valeria Turchenko, Bachelor of Science, Majors in Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry

I am very happy with my experience with SydneyTalent, as I was able to find a job that is connected with my Science degree within a week of registering. It is so important for students to be able to work during breaks and part-time while studying, and SydneyTalent is very convenient given that everything was organised on campus. The service was quick, professional, reliable, and I know that I can trust the SydneyTalent recruiter. I can even see the potential of finding a graduate position, and I look forward working with SydneyTalent for the foreseeable future.

Julines Liong, Analyst Programmer, Agile Solutions, Solution Services, Information and Communications Technology, The University of Sydney

SydneyTalent provided me with the work experience opportunity while I was studying in University of Sydney, as well as earning income to supplement my studies As a student, it is often difficult to find work related to the course that you are studying, as most employers primarily look for experience and qualification – both of which most students lack and are in the process of attaining. SydneyTalent, along with their business partners, provides a service that allows students to gain experience through casual or part-time work. I was fortunate to be placed inside the ICT department for the University of Sydney, which minimises travel and brings flexibility to my studies and work (thanks to my Team Lead and Manager!). As well as employment opportunities, SydneyTalent provides development programs and modules such as WorkReady Essentials training for students to develop other aspects of employment such as communication skills and problem solving.

The staff members at SydneyTalent have been amazing and professional in their approach right from the first day and I fully recommend that current and future students who are seriously looking for work experience to kickstart their careers while studying at the University of Sydney to get in touch with SydneyTalent.

Through my experience with SydneyTalent, I am able to showcase the skills and abilities I have gained through my studies and apply them within a nurturing environment. I was fortunate to be offered a full-time position. I can say without a doubt that the experience I gained through SydneyTalent has been invaluable and provides me with personal development and technical skills in the workplace.

Stephanie Boustan, Bachelor of Engineering & IT, Major in Software Engineering

My experience with Sydney Talent has proven to be very beneficial. With their help in finding employment I was able to gain vital skills that have assisted me in integrating into the work force and will continue to assist me in the future when I am searching for a job. Sydney Talent's ongoing support and advice has made my experience as an employee much easier than I originally expected. The potential I see includes better work opportunities for the future as a result of the experience and skills that I have gained through Sydney Talent as well as more confidence in my abilities as an employee.

Paul Duong, Master of Law

My experience with SydneyTalent has been overwhelming. I think the development of SydneyTalent as an on-campus recruitment agency is a fantastic idea. It creates mutual benefits for both the University and its students. On one hand, current students are practically well-equipped before they graduate. On the other, the University is more attractive to future students not only for the intellectual training they receive but also the work experience in real-life scenarios.

SydneyTalent has given me a long-waited opportunity for course-related work experience. Having been an overseas students with limited work experience and a narrow career path, I sincerely appreciate that SydneyTalent has helped broaden this path for me. With the recent crises in the labour market, the opportunity to equip myself with on-the-job skills and to enhance my work-readiness is more crucial than ever. I see the University as a huge multi-department corporation employing the most advanced technologies in all areas of operation and, as such, being able to work closely with one of these departments (ICT) makes my practical knowledge a lot more appealing to my future employers.

I am 100% positive that SydneyTalent will be able to grow strongly outside the on-campus scope and its ideas will be attractive to existing and potential students.

Anthony Ursino, Combined Bachelor of Law and Commerce

Getting my first job in my desired industry was difficult. Despite many applications to various firms, I had little success. SydneyTalent provided a unique opportunity to 'break' into my chosen field and gain the requisite experience to kickstart my career. I am now practically applying the skills and knowledge gained from my University studies. Furthermore, with SydneyTalent's work preparation courses and a flexible employer, my employment fits well with my studies. After stressing out that I would be left with no graduate position, my experience with SydneyTalent has inspired confidence and security for career success. The opportunities provided by SydneyTalent are widespread and constantly expanding. The continual expansion of SydneyTalent is likely to see sophisticated tailored work-related training and various employment opportunities to broaden the skills and experience of student employees.