Australian Securities and Investments Commission

How did you get to your current job position? For how long have you had it?

I studied a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) and Bachelor of Biomedical Science at university. I was interested in utilising my skills from both disciplines which I believed would be beneficial for working at ASIC. In my final year of university, I researched more about ASIC and applied online for a position in the ASIC Graduate program. I’ve been working at ASIC since January 2020. 

Suppose a student was considering your career. What would you advise them to study? 

Study something that interests you and that you are passionate in (as you also want to stay motivated and enjoy your time whilst studying)! Working at an organisation like ASIC to protect the financial wellbeing of Australians requires the perspectives of many from different disciplines including information technology, mathematics and social sciences.

How did you choose your specialisation?

Having no idea what I wanted to do when I started university, I enrolled in a dual law/arts degree. My attempts to figure out my arts major led to me trying music, German, philosophy, anthropology and peace and conflict studies. Still having no idea, I decided to just stick with law until I figured it out. 

In my third year of university, my volunteering work helped me appreciate all the different ways I could use my law degree to help others and advocate for change. Ultimately, I ended up focusing on my LLB (Hons)degree and applying for all the work experience I could that would equip me with skills to make a difference.

Which three pieces of advice would you give to a current university student?

1. Academia can only teach you so much. There are many other skills that can help you in your working life that are found outside your university lectures, and your time at university is the perfect time to pursue them. Take the time to participate in university societies, take up hobbies, attend events, volunteer, travel and gain work experience in a variety of different fields. 
2. Even if you are not sure what you want to do, sometimes it is just as valuable to figure out what you don’t want to do. The more experience you get, the easier it becomes to articulate what you enjoy and what you don’t enjoy.
3. Every person you encounter has something to teach you. I believe this is true in every aspect of life, but particularly when it comes to university and graduate employment. When you’re applying for jobs, talk to your fellow students about their experiences with applications and work. Talk to your lecturers and tutors about how they came to choose their current role, and how it differs to other roles. Attend networking events where possible. Even once you’ve got a job, there is no end to what you can learn from asking questions.

What do you most love about your job? 

One of the things I love most about my time at ASIC is the people you get to work with. One of the hardest things about a new job is how daunting it can be to work in an unfamiliar place with new people, especially as a graduate. With the opportunity to rotate through various teams, you are able to work closely with many people with a variety of backgrounds, expertise and experiences. Everyone I have worked with throughout my time has been so warm, welcoming and will always offer their help when you need it. I find that this has made my experience as a Graduate that much more enjoyable.

Can you describe a typical workday?

There really is no typical workday at ASIC. As a Graduate, you will experience four rotations in various teams who look after all sorts of issues and matters. Throughout my time at ASIC, not only have I experienced the effects that COVID-19 has had on our day-to-day work, but I have experienced the ways in which many other events can immediately shift work priorities, and this can be really exciting and rewarding.