Karishma, 22
Property Branch, Asset Management Group
Bachelor of Laws with Honours, Australian National University
I worked in the retail industry for six years before starting with Finance.
How did you get into the graduate program?
I applied for the 2007 graduate program after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper in April 2006. I went to the first and second rounds of interviews and received my offer in August 2006.
What attracted you to the public service rather than private enterprise?
Growing up in Canberra, I knew that the public sector provided equally good opportunities for career advancement compared with the private sector. The Department of Finance and Deregulation was particularly attractive as it is a central agency and is a reputable employer.
What does being a graduate involve?
We are given access to various types of training programs throughout the year and are part of a great network of around 50 other graduates. I've built some great friendships and also had plenty of opportunities for personal and career development.
What would you do on an average day?
In the Property Branch our work varies on a day-to-day basis. I am involved in a number of legal matters that affect the Branch, as well as general property divestment matters, as I am in the Divestment and Acquisitions Team.
Each day I will read and respond to emails and other correspondence from our various stakeholders. There will usually be a meeting or two to discuss the current status of the cases I'm working on, as well as fortnightly Branch meetings, and Team meetings every few days. I am able to use my writing skills often as I provide our Managers, Secretary and Minister with briefings on various projects. Most of the divestment work that we conduct involves appointing contractors (such as lawyers, selling agents, probity advisers etc) so most weeks I will write one or two submissions to our Managers seeking funding for these appointments. I am also required to do research on various issues.
What is your working environment like? How many people do you work with?
We have a Branch of just over 20 people and my team consists of a Director, another Project Officer and myself. We deal with the rest of the Branch daily.
The Property and Construction Division has fortnightly morning teas which are a great opportunity for the four branches to get together. The working environment is great — everyone is approachable and willing to answer any questions, or just have a casual chat.
How do you compare what you learnt at university to what you learn on the job?
I tend to use the more generic skills from university in my job, such as writing, teamwork, analytical and research skills. While I use my legal background to an extent in my work (and my managers are keen to make use of my background), as I am not in a legal area it is difficult to really apply my legal skills in this role.
Having said that, in this position I have developed a range of new skills and knowledge, particularly in relation to the property and construction industry. Being at Finance has definitely been a good learning experience for me as I have been able to build upon my knowledge and skills from university.
What is an interesting project that you have been involved in?
I am currently involved in transferring the management of the Georges River Footbridge in between Voyager Point and East Hills, NSW, to the Bankstown and Liverpool City Councils. This is an interesting project as it involves a significant amount of stakeholder liaison and I have had the opportunity to be involved in the drafting of the documentation for the transfer.
What career opportunities does the Department offer you?
The diversity of the work undertaken by Finance enables people to move within the Department and work on a range of different matters. Also, Finance offers study assistance and study leave which will hopefully allow me to complete my Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice in 2008. Finance is well recognised by other employers for its quality staff and working at Finance provides graduates with the opportunity to further their careers in the public and private sectors.
Why would you recommend the Finance graduate program?
The Finance graduate program is a great way to enter the public service and to gain insight into the way in which the legislature Government works. As we do not have rotations at Finance, we are able to ‘own' our work and settle into our work areas much better than we would otherwise. The graduate program allows graduates to develop their social and professional lives through the network of graduates both within and outside the Department.
Contact for information on this page: Recruitment and Retention Team