Meet Jess our new Return to Work Administrator in our
Support Office HR team. In this blog Jess talks us through her choice in
degree, tips for graduates and her experience at SFG so far! Over to you Jess……
I originally started out doing a mix of commerce and
primary school teaching. After about three weeks into my degree I had fallen in
love with the commerce aspect and especially the HR subjects. From recruitment through
to occupational health & safety I knew I was on the right path because they
all involved working with people and influencing strategic business decisions.
HR is an evolving profession and I’m excited to be part of that innovation and problem
solving along the way.
What areas of HR
engaged you most whilst studying?
My favourite subjects were defiantly Training & Development
as well as International Human Resources. Training and development taught me
about engaging with an audience and understanding that each individual has
their own preferred way of learning; this has already helped me in my HR career
and studies especially when I have to do presentations.
What other jobs have
you had prior to SFG?
My first ever job was at a local cafe, I worked for maybe
two weeks before it was obvious that hospitality was just not for me! Not to
mention, I'm not the greatest cook, the omelette I made last night that somehow
turned into scrambled eggs is proof of that!
Although it’s early days the best job I’ve had so far would
have to be the one I am currently doing. I have been working as the Return to
Work Administrator at SFG for just over one month and have learnt so much
already. The HR team have welcomed me with open arms and I already feel like
part of the family. The role is really varied; I spend a lot of the day on the
phone speaking with team members up and down the country and no two people are
the same. Each person is an individual and all circumstances are different and
require a unique approach which is why I'm loving this role; I'm constantly
learning new things!
What advice would
she give to other graduates?
First up - get some experience. I know this can be tricky
for graduates but I believe every bit of work experience counts!
Before I started working at the Support Office for SFG I
was living in Shellharbour and working part-time in Retail as well as studying
for my degree full-time. I was actually working in store for our Autograph
brand.
I was lucky enough to secure an HR internship at a company
called, Hilti and on my only day off I would drive up to Sydney from the South
Coast. The internship was great - I was mostly focused in the recruitment team where
I learnt the basics right through to being given the opportunity to present to
the senior management team. All of this has proven to be really useful in my
new role at SFG as I felt I could really hit the ground running and add value
from day one.
It can be a tough world out there for graduates. There is
so much pressure to get that perfect job and sometimes you can just feel like
another number. But for me it was all about choosing a company with a great culture
that I could really see myself fitting into. I wanted a good job but I also
wanted to be happy in my role and be with an organisation where I can have fun!
Once you have worked out the type of company you want to
work for I suggest a bit of a stalking!! Now, I'm not talking about waiting
outside reception ready to pounce on the first HR person you see but rather getting
social and connecting with professionals. Get yourself onto LinkedIn, follow
what your preferred companies are doing, research their website and connect
with the key stakeholders in the business.
Next, and most importantly, is to tailor your resume to
every job you apply for. Yes I know this can be time consuming but trust me
I've been there. If a recruiter can see that you have read the job description
and explained where your skills, experience or study matches those requirements
they're looking for you will be moved to the top of the list. Just make sure
you use examples, where possible, that are measurable and to show you're
genuine interest in the position.
What’s your
impression of SFG so far?
SFG is like one big family. As you can expect, on my
first day I was quite nervous but when I arrived, waiting for me on my desk,
was a welcome card that the whole HR team had signed. It made me feel so at ease
and I felt like this was the place that I am meant to be. My team have been
incredibly patient with me and my billion questions a day! It’s been the small
things, like people coming up to introduce themselves and welcoming me to the
team when I bump into them in the kitchen which has made settling in very easy
and enjoyable.
Tell us a bit
about Jess - what do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time I like to work on my personal Blog and
YouTube channel. I started a plus size fashion Blog about two years ago and it
has opened up so many windows of opportunity. A new avenue for me has been adding
a beauty aspect to my Blogging on YouTube which has been so much fun! Also, I
have just moved from the South Coast to Sydney so I’m spending lots of my spare
time exploring new places to go out with friends in this beautiful city of
Sydney.
Welcome Jess- we hope
you have a long and successful career with Specialty Fashion Group!
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