Postgrad Futures 2017 by Refraction Media

POSTGRADUATE

FUTURES postgradfutures.com

Launch a startup while you study, p12

2017/18

Issue 2

10 skills you need to succeed, p18 Australia’s top STEM companies, p20

DESIGN A NEW KIND OF CAREER 1

GRAD UNI GUIDE • INTERVIEW HACKS • STUDYING OVERSEAS

Postgraduate Futures 2017

Prepare for a remarkable career At Griffith University, our future-focused degrees are developed in collaboration with industry and informed by our cutting-edge research.

Find out how we can help you take your career to the next levelâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; or in a new directionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;at griffith.edu.au/engineering-it

CRICOS 00233E J001321

Our engineering and IT postgraduate degrees will prepare you to meet increasing demands for programmers, security experts, cloud capacity managers, data architects, integration experts and civil, software and environmental engineers.

Contents 5

20 STUDY PREP

A postgrad degree builds the foundation for the job you hope to have, so why not treat it like a job right from the start? Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what to look out for when contemplating a postgrad degree, from funding to networking

The hot topics to study to give you the skills you need for the coolest careers on offer

GRADUATE ESSENTIALS

The steps you can take while specialising in your chosen field to add bonus points to your CV

How finding a mentor can help fast-track your career to new heights

DIRECTORY

All you need to know about Australian universities and their postgrad programs

MAXIMISE YOUR ODDS

Get tips, tricks and insights on transforming degrees to careers postgradfutures.com/masterclass

There are plenty of benefits to packing up your skills and going overseas, from meeting researchers working in other fields to sharing your knowledge Creating your own startup at uni can lead to a career that is tailor-made just for you

Careers

CBA gives postgrads a chance to experiment with high-tech solutions to consumer problems

Maximise career success by upping participation in campus activities and industry events

The top 10 skills that will ensure you get the job you want

The STEM employers youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to want to send your resume to

Tips and tricks to get you through the job interview minefield

Five exercises to help you find your passion

POSTGRADUATE

FUTURES

MASTERCLASS Postgraduate Futures 2017

STUDY PREP

time to GET PROFESSIONAL WHY YOU SHOULD TREAT YOUR POSTGRAD STUDIES LIKE A JOB

ore than 300,000 students are working away at their postgrad degrees this year. When they graduate, half of them will keep pushing boundaries with research in academia – the rest will end up using their expertise hands-on in their chosen field. Set yourself apart, and you could be one of those graduates – but you’ll need to take your degree seriously to get there. A postgrad degree builds the foundation for the job you hope to have – so why not treat it like a job right from the start? A professional attitude will help you work better, feel better and, when you're ready, get a better career.

WORK BETTER

A postgrad degree takes two years for a Masters, and up to four for a PhD. It might not be broken down into neat, timetabled units – especially if you’re doing a research project rather than coursework. Tackling this amount of work takes a very different attitude to an undergraduate degree. It’s up to you to make your plan – and up to you to stick to it. University of Sydney PhD candidate Amy Vassallo recommends getting started early, and having a regular routine. “Take it seriously from the start and put in the hours along the way. Getting dressed, turning up, maintaining some sort of structure to your week and setting yourself milestones, just like any other ‘real job’, is important,” she says. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

Postgraduate Futures 2017

Feel better

Having a professional attitude isn’t just better for your work. It’s better for you, too. “One of the most difficult parts of a PhD is maintaining motivation and enthusiasm to consistently work on the same project for three to four years,” Amy says. Setting achievable goals, and letting yourself celebrate when you reach them, is one way to stay motivated, and avoid burning out. Taking time out from your studies, and leaving your work behind at the end of the day, can also be helpful. “I like to think of my PhD as my job. I refer to it as work, and I try to be in my office or the lab from 8.30am to 5.30pm every day,” says Ellie Sugden, a speech pathology PhD candidate at the University of Sydney. “I aim to fit all of my PhD work into these hours, and avoid taking anything home with me if I can.” “You can’t just drop everything when you start a PhD, it’s only one part of who you are," Ellie says. "There needs to be some downtime, otherwise your health and the quality of your work suffers.” There’s research to back up this attitude. Studies show that people who have some detachment from work during their downtime are happier and less stressed, without being less engaged while at work.

Have a better career

There are real bonuses to being in the office or the lab every day. Being a postgrad isn’t just about getting the work done, it’s about taking advantage of the things that crop up along the way. “A research degree is not only about taking opportunities to learn more things, but to build yourself as a person and as a researcher. Volunteer for lots of things – like student committees, conferences and teaching – these experiences make you more well-rounded and able to have some perspective on your research,” Ellie says. You never know who you’re going to meet or what you’re going to discover in the office or at the lab – but whatever amazing career opportunities are out there, you aren’t going to find them by sitting at home. – Rockwell McGellin

Get a head start postgradfutures.com/ masterclass

STUDY PREP

Why take on a postgraduate course? It's all about specialisation – getting extra expertise in a specific area – and often discovering something new in a particular field. Depending on your career goals, you can study for as little as one year for a graduate diploma, or as many as three to four years for a doctorate.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE: LESS THAN 1 YEAR, FULL TIME Entry requirement: Depends on the course, usually a Bachelor degree or equivalent.

GRADUATE DIPLOMA: 1 YEAR, FULL TIME Entry requirement: A Bachelor degree or equivalent.

MASTERS DEGREE: 2 YEARS, FULL TIME

Where to start? THERE ARE PLENTY OF GRADUATE OPTIONS THAT CAN BOOST YOUR CAREER PROSPECTS. HERE’S WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN CONTEMPLATING A POSTGRAD DEGREE

cut the cost You can claim Austudy during a professional Masters degree, but not for other kinds of postgrad studies. You can defer payment for most postgrad programs through HECS-HELP, but be aware not all degrees are Commonwealth supported – even Australian citizens might end up paying full price. studyassist.gov.au

take the first steps

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Entry requirement: A Bachelor degree or equivalent. There are several kinds of Masters degrees offering coursework, research, or both: • Coursework: 2 years of study in a specific area of expertise. • Research: Minimal coursework with a significant thesis project. • Coursework & Research: 1 year of study, 1 year on a research project. • Professional: These involve professional training, possibly with research, and often require work experience in a particular field, e.g. engineering or accountancy.

Taste test an Australian postgrad degree Link: postgradfutures.com/taste-test How to finance a postgrad degree Link: postgradfutures.com/finance

Learn about networks and support Link: postgradfutures.com/support Explore flexible study Link: postgradfutures.com/flexible

Share the PhD student journey Link: postgradfutures.com/PhD-student

DOCTORATE (PHD): FROM 3-4 YEARS Entry requirement: Honours or Masters degree. Intensive self-directed research on a particular area under the supervision of an academic in the chosen field.

Postgraduate Futures 2017

STUDY PREP

the hot topics this year YOUR GUIDE TO THE MOST POPULAR POSTGRAD CAREERS ON OFFER study: Machine Learning

Machine learning, one of the fastest growing areas of computer science, is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that enables a computer to learn from examples without being programmed.

• cool Jobs: Computer vision engineer Explore how machines can recognise and process information in images or videos, such as objects in a surveillance video.

• Deep learning specialist Develop algorithms that allow a system to carry out a range of different tasks, such as speech recognition and categorising numbers. • Cloud ninja Build cloud systems that can repair themselves when something goes wrong.

study: Data Analytics

From helping businesses make tough decisions to identifying trends, data analytics is a powerful tool for turning huge amounts of information into valuable insights.

• cool Jobs: Big data engineer Design and build solutions to help manage large amounts of data.

• Data visualisation developer Make communicating insights easier by producing infographics and graphs from results.

• Business intelligence (BI) architect Build frameworks, such as databases, that help organise data so it can be analysed and used more efficiently.

Postgraduate Futures 2017

study: Digital Marketing

With the rise of social media, smartphones and apps, today’s marketers need to connect with consumers in the digital world.

• cool Jobs: Social media strategist Manage and build online communities and develop strategies to reach target users on platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

• Digital marketing engineer Help businesses achieve marketing goals using web technology, from websites to email campaigns.

• In-game advertising manager Create advertisements for use in computer and video games.

study: User Experience Design

User experience (UX) designers improve the usability, accessibility and user satisfaction of a website or app.

• cool Jobs: Information architect Design solutions that help users navigate websites or apps.

• UX researcher Investigate the needs and goals of users to help design better products.

• Interaction designer Make using an interface more enjoyable for the user.

study: Biotechnology

This area of science fuses biological processes with technology to develop medicines, biofuels and healthier food.

• cool Jobs: Biomimicry designer Create innovative products that take inspiration from the natural world, from tentacle-inspired prosthetic limbs to armadillo-like backpacks. • Biomedical engineer Improve healthcare using engineering and design to build better solutions, like diagnostic devices and artificial organs.

• cool Job: Forensic DNA analyst Investigate DNA evidence to help people solve crimes.

Find your study path postgradfutures.com/ degree-finder

HIGHLIGHT: BOND UNI

Look outside the lecture hall INDUSTRY PLACEMENT PROGRAMS OFFER STUDENTS VALUABLE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WHILE THEY PURSUE THEIR POSTGRAD DEGREES

here’s much more to study than books and tutorials once you hit the postgrad world. For example, if you’re thinking of pursuing a health sciences degree and want to gain practical experience in the process, Bond University offers three allied health postgraduate options, all with a significant industry placement program, within the Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine. The Doctor of Physiotherapy trains students to work as physiotherapists, either in private practice or public health organisations; the Master of Occupational Therapy prepares graduates for careers in a variety of private and public sectors; and the Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice gives students the skills for private and industry based roles. “The employment outcomes are excellent, particularly in occupational therapy where there is very, very high job demand, and also within physiotherapy,” says Professor Peter Reaburn, the Head of Bond University’s Exercise And Sports Science Program. The courses are all delivered on campus, with a strong emphasis on practical experience. Peter says the university has strong links with private enterprise and the public health system, focusing on internships and industry experience. “I’ve only been here six months, but my observations are that often those placements are in excess of what the accrediting body might require because Bond sees and understands the importance of those placements and internships to gain industry experience,” he says. Students who are interested in taking on any of the three allied health programs will need to meet the entry requirements or take the available bridging courses as necessary. For example, the Doctor of Physiotherapy requires prior studies of anatomy and physiology. – Laura Boness

RIGHT NOW PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IS AS VALUABLE AS YOUR DEGREE Employers are seeking more from graduates. That’s why Bond University students benefit from small class sizes with personalised attention from clinicians and academics, unparalleled access to state-of-the-art facilities, industry networking and placement opportunities. All from the first semester. Our degrees in allied health are national leaders, including Australia’s first accredited Doctor of Physiotherapy program, where students experience more clinical placements than any other university in Australia. We also offer master’s programs in Nutrition and Dietetic Practice, and Occupational Therapy. Accelerate your career in health by completing a master’s specialisation in just two years — ask us how. bond.edu.au/hsm CRICOS Provider Code 00017B

Professor Peter Reaburn BOND UNIVERSITY WORKS CLOSELY WITH INDUSTRY TO GIVE STUDENTS PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE.

GRAD ESSENTIALS

Creating opportunities MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR DEGREE WHILE YOU STUDY – IT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BROADEN YOUR HORIZON

verything you do while completing your degree offers potential employment opportunities, new connections and hands-on experiences that can help you develop your career potential way before you’ve even got the job. Travel, for example, can broaden your skill sets, through studying abroad and immersing yourself in another culture, or by attending a conference and practising your communication skills. Whether you’re presenting your data or networking during the breaks, you’re honing skills that will wow recruiters when you’re ready to step into your career. You may need to work part-time or even full-time while studying. Though this can be a huge challenge, it can also allow you to trial different areas you might like to work in and can give you the practical skills future employers will be looking for. Kathy Bates is completing a Masters in Public Policy at RMIT University while working in a local government social planning role, training for an Ironman event and helping out in two volunteer roles. She feels work is helping her studies and vice versa, and recommends getting work in your field of study if possible. “It’s one thing to sit in a classroom and read a textbook and hear all these theories, but it’s another to be able to learn all that and then go out into the workforce and implement it.” There are many ways to make the most of your time while studying and gain new skills to make you more employable at the same time. You could volunteer at a local community organisation, take part in a graduate program, or do an internship. Unis may also offer internship units within some of their courses. Some universities have partnered with industry to offer co-op degrees, with work placements incorporated into the course. Kathy finds that working and studying complement each other, and provides her with a break from each. “It’s difficult at first, absolutely, but I think it’s certainly rewarding if you can organise yourself to do it.” – Laura Boness

Maximise your potential WANT TO STAND OUT FROM THE GRAD CROWD? TAKE ANY OF THESE STEPS WHILE SPECIALISING IN YOUR FIELD AND ADD BONUS POINTS TO YOUR CV • Want to study overseas? Find out how to get started: bit.ly/2oMDPlO • Find an internship and get more experience: au.gradconnection.com/internships • Take an intensive short course overseas for a travel taster: aimoverseas.com.au • Do a cadetship or get some work experience with the Australian government: bit.ly/2oiFD50 • Do some volunteer work … overseas! projects-abroad.com.au

Postgraduate Futures 2017

GRAD ESSENTIALS

Reach up T

MENTORING CAN FAST-TRACK YOU TO NEW CAREER HEIGHTS

Mentoring is effective in supporting career progression, particularly for women who are underrepresented in leadership positions.”

he importance of mentorship is well recognised in sectors like business, banking and finance, yet it is only just starting to gain traction in science, technology, engineering, medicine and maths (STEMM). There are a few reasons for this new buzz. The one-track career pathway to professorship is no longer tenable, so many STEMM graduates are seeking guidance on how to either persevere in an academic career or navigate other rewarding career paths in their field. In addition, there is now evidence that mentoring is effective in supporting career progression, particularly for women who are underrepresented in leadership positions. It makes sense that it is now being promoted as a way to strengthen the sector by ensuring the people in it thrive. So what is mentoring? Put simply, it is a relationship where one person, the mentor, provides personal and professional guidance to another, the mentee, to enhance their career. I was a late bloomer when it came to finding a mentor. It wasn’t until after I had completed an undergraduate science degree and then postgraduate Honours and Doctorate degrees in medical research that I realised I needed some career guidance. Now, almost 10 years on, I am lucky to have a number of mentors (some in STEMM and some in the corporate world) each of whom has brought unique ideas to my professional aspirations and personal attributes. I can confidently say my mentors have influenced my career for the better and I wish I had sought a mentor sooner. So how to get one? There are a few ways you can go about it. The scariest but quickest is to identify someone who inspires you, pick up the phone or send him or her an email, and ask to meet for coffee. Another is to look for mentoring programs offered through your university, employer or professional associations – you may be surprised how many opportunities are out there! – Melina Georgousakis

Find your mentor • Industry Mentoring Network In STEM is an award-winning initiative of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, which connects motivated second year PhD students with outstanding industry leaders, offering mentees a chance to increase their skills and mentors the opportunity to ‘give back’. bit.ly/2qmFePu

• Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) has developed a web-based Career Mentor Linkage Program where mid-career (5-12 years postdoc) ASMR members have the opportunity to be matched to a career mentor, free of charge. asmr.org.au/mentoring-program • Franklin Women has launched a structured mentoring program that matches high-potential women in health and medical research careers with male and female leaders across different organisations in the sector. franklinwomen.com.au/mentoring • Women in Technology runs a 12-week mentoring program twice a year, matching together women working in the technology and life science industries in Queensland. They provide details of the program as well as general mentee and mentor guidelines under the ‘Development Programs’ section on their website: wit.org.au • The Australasian College for Emergency Physicians has made available online eLearning modules and supporting resources for emergency medicine physicians who are already involved in, or wanting to be involved in, a mentoring relationship. They also have resources to support emergency departments introducing their own mentoring programs. bit.ly/2rauMfm

Postgraduate Futures 2017

GRAD ESSENTIALS

STUDYING OVERSEAS

THERE’S A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO BE GAINED BY UNDERTAKING A GRAD DEGREE IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY

here are plenty of benefits to packing up your skills and heading overseas, from improving your knowledge to learning from researchers working in different fields.

australians overseas

Whether it’s an exchange year or an entire course, completing some of your studies in another country lets you immerse yourself in a different culture, improve your social skills and learn more about yourself. Brent O’Carrigan worked as an oncology registrar at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney before he decided to do a PhD at Cambridge University in the UK. He’s joined the research group led by Professor Carlos Caldas at the Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Institute, which has made critical discoveries in breast cancer biology. If contemplating a move, Brent suggests you consider how your research can expand upon what you could achieve in Australia, and how it could translate to a career on your return. “For example, I plan to work as a specialist within an academic university hospital, with a parallel role as group leader for a breast cancer research team,” he says.

Environmental Science through James Cook University in Queensland. He is looking at the success of Indigenous conservation programs for marine turtles. One of the biggest selling points for coming to Australia was his supervisor, Mark Hamann, who Hector describes as “a legend in the marine turtle world”. Hector has also had the chance to learn from other researchers – he has been involved in separate dugong, seagrass and coral reef projects – as well as documenting Australia’s wildlife and the connection of Aboriginal people with their country.

Making it work

There are many challenges to studying overseas, but Brent says the benefits are outstanding. “In addition to exposure to world-leading science, the chance to live in Cambridge and experience the extraordinary culture of this place is brilliant.” Lina sometimes misses friends, food and music, but says it’s also been good to experience something different. “The opportunity of being overseas opens your mind,” she says. – Laura Boness

global grad programs

postgradfutures.com/ graduate-job

Studying in Australia Hector Barrios-Garrido

Brent O’Carrigan

Lina Garcia Florez

Postgraduate Futures 2017

Postgraduate student Lina Garcia Florez worked for 10 years in forestry and carbon sequestration in Colombia but then decided she needed something more. “I started to figure that there were lots of possibilities overseas to enhance this knowledge and get more information,” she says. Lina chose to study a Master of Forest Science and Management at Australia’s Southern Cross University (SCU) because she liked the program and thought the university would provide her with what she was hoping to learn. She’s now doing a PhD at SCU, focusing on carbon sequestration and the accumulation of carbon in different vegetation types and under different management systems. At the same time she is working as a Forestry Specialist for energy management company Climate Friendly. Hector Barrios-Garrido is an associate professor at the University of Zulia in Venezuela and is completing a PhD in

FIVE TIPS FOR STUDYING OVERSEAS:

Think carefully about where you want to study and which university offers the right course for you.

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Take opportunities to make contact with other researchers and improve your social skills. Ask your university if there are scholarships available for studying overseas.

Organisations such as the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the John Monash Foundation offer scholarships. A new student information gateway, StudyOverseas, provides details of programs, such as the Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships from the Department of Education and Training. Visit studyoverseas.gov.au.

Immerse yourself in the new culture – Hector now loves Vegemite and is a rugby league fan.

HIGHLIGHT: ECU

spying the chance

NIKOLAI HAMPTON FORMALISED 25 YEARS IN THE IT SECTOR TO BECOME A CYBERSECURITY EXPERT

s a kid, Nikolai Hampton enjoyed mucking around with electronics kits and a Commodore 64; later on, he dropped out of an engineering degree to work full-time as a computer salesperson. Now, he has more than two decades of experience in the IT sector and since 2009 Nikolai has run a business providing software solutions to the printing industry. In 2016, Nikolai completed his first degree – a Master of Cyber Security at Edith Cowan University (ECU). “I wanted to formalise 25 years of industry experience with some sort of qualification,” he says, adding that ECU’s track record in cybersecurity research and the accessibility of staff were major drawcards. Studying by distance education from his home in Brisbane, Nikolai co-authored a conference paper with his supervisor Patryk Szewczyk, which won the best paper award at the 2015 Australian Information Security Management Conference. This came as something of a surprise to Nikolai, who was diagnosed as dyslexic in high school. “It turns out I like writing!” he says. “Writing and reading were never things I thought I’d be strong at.” The realisation led Nikolai to start a blog, and several posts, which he published under a creative commons licence, were republished on The Conversation. Now, Nikolai is a contributor to publications like Computerworld and makes regular appearances as a media commentator on tech security issues. He’s also contemplating a PhD. “I’d never thought about doing research. I’d never thought about doing a PhD,” he says. “That was a foreign concept to me, but it’s definitely a possibility now.” – Chloe Walker

THE WORLD IS NO LONGER ABOUT SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. IT IS NOW ABOUT SURVIVAL OF THE SMARTEST. QUESTION. How do you stay ahead of the game as we enter the highly competitive tech-based era of employment? At ECU, we believe that now is the best time to equip yourself with world ready, highly transferable skills at postgraduate level. And that’s why we offer expert postgraduate training, including specialised masters, internationally accredited courses presented by world-renowned professors, and courses unique to WA. Get ready to future proof your career with a postgraduate degree from ECU.

Apply now at ecugetready.com.au/postgraduate Australia’s top ranked public university for student satisfaction. QILT rankings April 2017.

Postgraduate Futures 2017

START UP

CREATE AN INCREDIBLE JOB THAT’S TAILOR-MADE FOR YOUR SKILL SET BY BUILDING A BUSINESS WHILE YOU’RE STILL AT UNI OR STRAIGHT AFTER YOUR DEGREE

Renate Egan SOLAR ANALYTICS

Pablo Quintero FISHGIG

Annette McClellanD TEKUMA

GRAD ESSENTIALS

tartups are not just a chance to explore new business ideas, they’re also an important part of the Australian economy. They create opportunities for jobs and investment across the country in a variety of industries, whether it’s in artificial intelligence, gaming, robotics or retail. Monica Wulff, CEO and co-founder of Startup Muster, says the number of startup founders has traditionally been skewed towards men, but 23.5% of the founders in the Startup Muster 2016, a national survey of Australia’s startup economy, were female. And this trend is on the rise. There are also increasingly more initiatives, within universities and with private providers, that encourage women to study and build careers in entrepreneurship and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). “If we’ve got more women in STEM, studying STEM, then they’re more likely to be open to the opportunities that startups provide,” Monica says. launching point for an idea Startup Muster – which is Monica’s own startup business – shows that 84% of startup founders have a tertiary education, with around half of those founders having a postgraduate qualification. Additionally, universities are becoming more involved in entrepreneurship and startups, with initiatives such as Incubate, from the University of Sydney Union, and the University of Melbourne Accelerator Program. There’s also an increased focus on the commercialisation of research within the universities; “I think that’s one of the hot topics for 2017; it definitely was one for 2016 and I think it will continue because Australia creates fantastic science, yet we don’t really commercialise it,” Monica says. Co-founder of tech startup Tekuma, Annette McClelland, hadn’t considered entrepreneurship before becoming enrolled in UTS’s Hatchery educational program in 2016. “Through Hatchery events, conversations and meeting like-minded people I became determined to launch an idea of my own, to be as passionate as those around me about solving a problem I believed was worth solving,” she says. She discovered around the same time that her best friend from high school, Michael Griffin, was looking to commercialise technology he had started developing during his mechatronics engineering thesis the previous year. “I realised my communications experience and MBA training were a great compliment to his technical skills,” she says. “Drones are definitely an exciting space to be in and the more research I did, the more passionate I became about solving the problems with him.” They applied to UTS’s Hatchery+ accelerator and launched Tekuma in August 2016. The first product they are developing is a new control method for drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), that will enable a pilot to fly them with one hand. This frees up the other hand to control a camera or other peripherals, reducing the time, manpower and costs needed to complete these tasks. creating connections Being involved in Hatchery+ has given them several resources, including mentorship, connections and space in the UTS Business School. Annette also received a UTS scholarship to participate in the China Australia Millennial Project, where she formed friendships with people determined to foster better entrepreneurial relationships between Australia and China. Pablo Quintero, founder of FishGig, developed his business idea while working as a delivery rider and wanted to compare the rates offered by different companies. He is now developing an app to meet this need and is in the process of testing whether people want this product and if it’s a financially viable business. Before doing an MBA at UNSW and going on to create FishGig, Pablo completed a PhD in nutrition at the University of Navarra, Spain. The mindset of ‘testing hypotheses’ that he developed during his time as a researcher is standing him in good stead as he looks for

ways to validate the assumptions he has about his business idea. “That mentality of ‘I have a hypothesis and I have to test it’ is tremendously valuable, it’s the core thinking behind my operations in entrepreneurship,” he says. FishGig has been selected for the 2017 FounderLab startup program at UNSW Innovations, giving Pablo access to IT development expertise, one-on-one sessions with experts in online analytics and marketing, communication and pricing. Proof is in the marketability While FishGig and Tekuma are both in the early phases of development, Solar Analytics is much further into the startup process. The company, which provides customers with real-time data that enables them to measure their solar system’s performance and household energy use, was started in 2012 by four co-founders

Success in solar Co-founders of Solar Analytics (from left): Valantis Vais, Associate Professor Renate Egan, Stefan Jarnason and Dr John Laird

the first hurdle in any startup is proving you’ve got something. the second is getting somebody to invest.” who were experts in the solar industry and photovoltaic technology along with data science and development. “The first hurdle in any technology startup is proving you’ve got a great idea and then the second hurdle is getting somebody to invest alongside you because it’s hard to grow fast enough on your own,” says Associate Professor Renate Egan, who works in the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics at UNSW and is a co-founder, director and chair of Solar Analytics. Energy giant AGL invested alongside Solar Analytics in December 2014, enabling them to take their proven technology to a commercial product. The company has since acquired two new strategic investors, gained early traction in the US with close to 100 customers in the first year, and received a grant from renewable energy fund ARENA to support continued growth. Renate advises being ready to listen to what the market is saying and changing strategy accordingly, saying yes to opportunities, and to network. “When it comes to raising capital or recruiting good people talking to people about what you’re doing and why you want you’re doing it is key to success,” she says. – Laura Boness

discover what can be done postgradfutures.com/entrepreneurship

Postgraduate Futures 2017

CAREERS

DESIGN YOUR CAREER CHLOE SKAFTE LOVED HER GRAD PROGRAM EXPERIENCE SO MUCH THAT SHE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO GET THE JOB

ar from a traditional office format, work processes at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) operate a little differently – some may consider it more creative than financial. Hot-desking in the open space is standard. Teams can also apply to work in a hub where they can create innovative products that connect with national audiences. So when Chloe Skafte moved from a Bachelor of Information Technology at University of Technology, Sydney into CBA’s graduate program she was in for a surprise. Most grads do rotations in two departments, but Chloe was so inspired by what was going on in Emerging

Postgraduate Futures 2017

Technology that she decided to stick around. The department actively experiments with new technologies that might enhance, disrupt or otherwise intersect with the banking industry. Things like artificial intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of Things and even mixed reality are all used as part of their work. Chloe (pictured here with Hugh Ong, one of the managers within Emerging Technology) loved the experimental focus of the department. “You have so much freedom in this role. If you have an idea and can validate it with the bank, the team will give it a go,” she says.

HIGHLIGHT: CBA

CBA Innovation Labs

a hub for Design Thinking Hugh Ong (see page 23) is one of the managers of Emerging Technology at CBA, which helps groups work through a variety of problems using design thinking to develop disruptive and transformative new solutions, and take them from idea to product.

Photography: Lauren Trompp. Illustration: Leonie Herson.

I look at the work we do and think, wow, it has real benefits. the research we do is preparing us for the future.” “I didn’t expect to have so much freedom as a graduate. To be able to be creative was a big win for me.” One of the most exciting technologies Chloe has had a chance to play with is the Microsoft HoloLens (pictured above), which lets users interact with holograms in what is termed ‘mixed reality’. Unlike in virtual or augmented realities, the virtual and the real can interact with one another fluidly in mixed reality. “We heard about it and thought it has great potential to revolutionise our processes,” she says. “I look at the work we do and think it can make a worthwhile difference. The research we do is preparing us for the future.” – Chloe Walker

Design thinking turns problem-solving in business on its head by starting with an understanding of a particular customer need, then looking for a solution.

Empathy is a really important part of design thinking; putting the customer at the heart of the process.

In the prototype stage, CBA selects the idea or ideas with the most potential, and then proceeds to develop a prototype.

Empathy leads to insights, which leads to brainstorming ideas using techniques such as “parallel worlds” and “breaking the rules”, approaching the solution from the customer’s perspective.

Finally, they test prototypes with the customer, evaluating their needs and capturing feedback. They return to the prototype and improve it until it meets the customer’s need. Postgraduate Futures 2017

Maximising your success

thinking outside the box Deloitte’s Katrina Nguyen-Thai and James Balsillie.

Photography: Tina Smigielski

HIGHLIGHT: DELOITTE

UNIVERSITY SOCIETIES, RECRUITMENT FAIRS, INDUSTRY PLACEMENTS AND NETWORKING CAN DO MORE TO ENHANCE YOUR POST-STUDY CAREER THAN YOUR RESULTS ALONE

etting strategic with your postgraduate study isn’t just about getting high marks; nailing an interesting post-university career involves getting relevant industry experience and getting in front of potential employers. That’s how engineer James Balsillie found his dream job in Technology, Strategy and Architecture at Deloitte. His job looking at high-level IT strategies for the company calls on critical thinking skills honed in his engineering studies. “The physics and maths I learnt was fun and challenging, but it’s the problem-solving and creating something new that was the real appeal,” James says. Learning to pitch his skill set and understand his key motivations allowed James find a career he loves; and it was thanks to university networks that he worked out where his future could lie. “At its core, engineering is about innovating. It’s about looking at your surroundings and working out how to make them better,” he says. After graduating from the University of Queensland with a degree in electrical engineering, James did a Master of Engineering at RMIT. The RMIT networking nights, where James spoke to recruiters from tech-based startups through to big corporates, helped him get in front of not just engineering businesses, but a wider range of companies. “I met recruiters from Deloitte at a networking event,” he says. “Deloitte wasn’t on my radar until then, because it hadn’t crossed my mind that what I do could be relevant. “You get opportunities to get your face in front of people from the companies you are thinking about joining, and to ask them exactly what the jobs involve and what they are looking for,” he adds.

Postgraduate Futures 2017

Those conversations helped James realise that companies also consider unique skills outside work – like his own passion for songwriting and playing piano – to diversify their workforce. For Katrina Nguyen-Thai, joining Deloitte Digital as an experience design consultant came about thanks to an industry placement during her double degree in commerce and business information systems at Monash University – her “first taste” of the corporate world. She also joined the Women in IT society and held committee positions with the Business and Commerce Students’ Society. “It was a huge driver in keeping me involved and engaged with the business and IT industries, networking with others in the industry and gaining exposure to a range of employment postgraduate opportunities,” she says. But she rates the industry placement as the real key to her success. “The highlight of my degree was the six months I spent in the Deloitte Risk Services team for the Industry Based Learning program in my Bachelor of Information Systems degree,” she says. “Not only did I already have my ‘foot in the door’, I was able to effectively communicate to the Deloitte recruiters why I would be a strong fit for the team.” Working on client projects helped her understand the professional service industry. “I developed a range of soft skills beyond what was taught at university,” she says, citing time management, client interaction, communication and writing skills as examples. “Completing an industry placement while still studying allowed me to become a well-rounded, industry-ready graduate much sooner than most of my peers,” Katrina says. – Fran Molloy

HIGHLIGHT: AINSE

Tiny treatment, huge effect A FASCINATION WITH NANOTECHOLOGY MAY HELP THOSE WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS

elanie Fuller is using nanotechnology to help cure disease. In her PhD at the Flinders University Centre for NanoScale Science and Technology she is working to improve a potential treatment for cystic fibrosis, a chronic genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. There is no cure for this disease, but the Adelaide Cystic Fibrosis Research Group are working on an aerosol that can protect the lungs. The problem is, as the liquid treatment is aerosolised, it becomes damaged and ineffective. But Melanie is developing an innovative technique to protect the aerosol. She is using gold nanoparticles that electrostatically attach to the outside of the treatment and prevent it from breaking down. She is hoping to use this approach on other aerosol-based treatments for disease and infection. And Melanie’s hard work paid off when she was presented with a

Postgraduate Research Award from the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) in 2016. “I was very honoured to receive it,” she says. “Especially because it allows me to have more opportunities to use research facilities that I don’t normally get to use, such as the Australian Synchrotron and the neutron scattering facilities at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.” These facilities allow her to better see the shapes and sizes of the tiny nanoparticles used in her research. The futuristic quality of science at the nanoscale has always fascinated Melanie. She studied a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in nanotechnology at Flinders University before starting a PhD and is looking forward to a bright career in research. “I’d really like to continue on to a postdoctorate in biomedical nanotechnology, so that I can continue to work on helping people,” she says. – Cherese Sonkkila

2011– 2014

Bachelor of Science (Nanotechnology), Flinders University

Honours (Nanotechnology), Flinders University

2016– PRESENT

2015

PhD candidate (Nanotechnology), Flinders University

AINSE Opportunities:

Winter School Honours Scholarships Post-Graduate Research Awards PGRA Orientation Week Internship Programs Conference Support AINSE Roadshows Travel Support

Enhancing Australia’s capability in nuclear science and engineering by facilitating world-class research and education CONTACT AINSE FOR MORE INFORMATION

ainse@ainse.edu.au +61 2 9717 3376

www.ainse.edu.au

CAREERS

10 TOP

THESE ARE THE ATTRIBUTES THAT MAKE YOU HIGHLY DESIRABLE TO EMPLOYERS – NO MATTER WHAT THE JOB

lthough every job will have a slightly different mix of desirable criteria, there are some skills that will see you right no matter what the job is. We analysed research commissioned by the office of the Chief Scientist in 2014, which looked at the employment needs of more than 1000 Australian employers; scrutinised the Workplace Research Centre survey of 2700 graduates and more than 500 employers about the skills they value; read through LinkedIn’s analysis of recruiting activity worldwide; and pored over the University of Sydney Business School’s Identifying Your Employability Skills list. Combining the finding of these four key reports means we can now show you – drum roll, please – the 10 most employable skills. You’re welcome!

Communication skills

MOST EMPLOYABLE SKILLS

Can you speak and listen confidently to your work colleagues at all levels in both social and work-related conversations? You should also read and write proficiently, and produce coherent written material in an appropriate tone, from emails and reports to presentations and short speeches.

Teamwork Working with other people is important, and workplace collaboration is on the rise. Teamwork skills include learning to contribute ideas and accept suggestions within a group, sharing workload, responsibility and credit for work done, and giving and accepting positive and constructive feedback.

Initiative

Leadership skills Show leadership by motivating and directing others, taking responsibility for the direction and activities of a team, setting goals and objectives, coaching and mentoring colleagues and introducing improvements into work practices.

Negotiating and persuading

8 3 Problemsolving Good problemsolving involves thinking about a problem logically and taking steps to resolve it. You should be able to approach a problem from different angles and keep looking for solutions when faced with obstacles or setbacks.

Most employers don’t want to micro-manage, encouraging staff to take the initiative. This often entails seeing a problem and resolving it, forestalling a potential crisis with pre-emptive action, acting on opportunities; setting priorities, and having a “can do” attitude.

7 9

Most jobs involve some level of negotiation with other people to achieve an objective. Good negotiators can discuss options with others to find a solution everyone can accept. Sometimes, you may need to convince someone to adopt your position; the ability to do this with tact and logic and making appropriate compromises is a very valuable skill for any employee. Lifelong learning Your willingness to learn, invest time in understanding something new and to be able to pick up a different skill or more information quickly are real attributes in today’s rapidly changing workplace.

Managing, organising and time management This involves setting clear goals, breaking these into components, allocating time and resources to complete tasks and reviewing progress towards goals. It also means prioritising tasks so that more urgent jobs are done first and keeping track of work that has been done and tasks yet to be done.

Decisionmaking

The ability to efficiently clarify an issue, gather data, assess priorities, survey opinions of stakeholders and come to a logical conclusion on the direction to take is an important workplace skill.

Creativity and innovation Can you use your imagination to resolve problems by looking at them from a variety of perspectives? Are you able to ignore the obvious and look for a point of difference rather than following traditional patterns? In a competitive workplace, creativity and innovation will set you apart from the rest.

HIGHLIGHT: UQ

Conservation in action DANIELLA TEIXEIRA BELIEVES IT TAKES MORE THAN A SCIENCE DEGREE TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

a conservation biologist: Daniella’s path

2005– 2008

s an undergrad I studied marine biology and after graduating I found a job as a casual fisheries surveyor and then as a conservation and environmental officer. My main area of expertise is wildlife biology and monitoring, but I’ve always felt that taking courses in arts and humanities helped me to achieve good outcomes for conservation. STEM is only one part of the equation to solving environmental problems – you need to understand how other parts function before you can make a real difference. I really enjoyed working in research and realised conservation was my passion, so I went on to do a Masters degree in conservation biology. My postgrad studies taught me specific research skills like experimental design and data analysis, while exposing me to industry and the ‘real life’ challenges of conservation. All of this helped to secure my next job as a fisheries scientist. I was able to demonstrate that I could work effectively at achieving both environmental and human outcomes – a requirement for working in the government. I recommend taking every opportunity even if it doesn’t seem very relevant at the time. Put your hand up to volunteer and make yourself known. There are jobs out there that you don’t even know exist, so don’t be too picky to begin with.

Master of Conservation Biology, University of Queensland

2014– PRESENT

PhD candidate in Conservation Biology, University of Queensland

Bachelor of Marine Studies (Marine Biology and Ecology) (Honours), University of Queensland

2013– 2014

Fisheries scientist, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

2016– PRESENT

Australia’s Top STEM Employers

YOUR STEM DEGREE CAN OPEN DOORS TO WORKING AT AMAZING PLACES. WE’VE PICKED SOME OF THE HOTTEST STARTUPS, FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES AND GLOBAL ORGANISATIONS THAT WILL POWER UP YOUR STEM CAREER

Mining, energy, oil and gas Santos

Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Sydney A leader in natural gas production in the Asia-Pacific region, Santos’s grad program incorporates hands-on technical training as well as career development opportunities for geoscience and engineering graduates.

Woodside

Perth Australian oil and gas company Woodside offers a variety of graduate programs for both domestic and international graduates. In addition to the Graduate Development Program, Woodside also offers the Indigenous Cadetship Program to help Indigenous students from a wide range of disciplines develop their professional skills.

Postgraduate Futures 2017

Find more online!

What do employers really want? postgraduatefutures.com.au/ what-employers-want How to get your dream job postgraduatefutures.com.au/ dream-job Best places to work for women postgraduatefutures.com.au /best-places-to-work

CAREERS

Finance and accounting FirstStep

Melbourne FirstStep is an app that makes investment accessible for everyone, allowing users to round up their everyday expenses and use the change for investment. Since entering the University of Sydney’s accelerator program Incubate in 2015, FirstStep has registered their investment scheme with ASIC.

Optiver

Sydney Optiver is a multinational trading firm well regarded for its collaborative working culture, which combines the expertise of traders, researchers and developers. The company has a thriving summer trading internship program that allows interns to work on a real-world research project with top traders.

IT and technology Atlassian

Sydney Since its establishment 15 years ago, Atlassian has grown from being a software startup to a multinational tech company. There are graduate and intern programs, where participants are trained up during their first week in Atlassian’s ‘HackHouse’ induction program.

Engineering services, design and manufacturing Boeing Australia

Locations across Australia From commercial airplanes to military helicopters, Boeing has played a major role in Australia’s aerospace history for more than 80 years. The 12-month Graduate Program with Boeing Defence Australia, gives graduates the opportunity to work on real-world projects for the Australian Defence Force and international clients.

Envato

Melbourne Envato is a fast-growing online marketplace that sell tools for web developers. Its company ethos has a strong emphasis on diversity, fair opportunity and inclusion. Envato’s mission was developed in collaboration with employees and the wider community.

Salesforce

Sydney Salesforce is an award-winning cloud computing company which leverages 1% of its technology, people and resources to support non-profit organisations. Salesforce has also formed partnerships with education providers to help get more girls engaged in STEM subjects at school.

TELSTRA

Locations across Australia Based in more than 28 cities globally, Telstra is looking for people who will give it the edge as it works towards the company’s vision of becoming a world-class technology company that empowers people to connect.

Consulting KordaMentha

Locations across Australia Advisory firm KordaMentha manages complex forensic, real estate, turnaround and restructuring assignments. The company

offers a range of graduate roles in accounting, finance, property and information technology.

PwC Australia

Locations across Australia PwC helps businesses, not-for-profit organisations and governments improve the way they work and make better decisions. The leading consultancy values diversity, hiring interns and graduates from a wide variety of backgrounds, from software engineering to environmental science.

Science, research and development Cochlear

Sydney Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing products to address different types of hearing loss. The Australian company participates in more than 100 research projects worldwide and now operates in 20 countries. Cochlear offers a Summer Student Program for engineering undergraduates where participants are given the opportunity to enter the three-year graduate program.

CSIRO

Locations across Australia CSIRO is home to more than 5000 experts and 55 centres with extensive international

Nova Systems

Locations across Australia Nova Systems specialises in the engineering and management of projects in defence, energy and utilities, communications and transport markets. The engineering firm offers work experience for students in their final year of university, which may lead to full-time employment upon completion. connections. Globally, its research is in the top 1% in 15 out of 22 fields and is at the forefront of Australian innovation. CSIRO offers a wide range of graduate opportunities, from research scholarships to summer holiday programs.

Logistics, transport and supply chains SEKO Logistics Australia

Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney SEKO is an award-winning logistics and supply chain company spanning a wide range of industries from aerospace to retail. It is also an industry leader in providing innovative and customisable IT solutions. In 2016, SEKO’s Omni-Channel Logistics division was awarded top Start-Up Disruptor in PwC’s Aspire Awards.

Public services and utilities TasNetworks

Hobart TasNetworks delivers power to homes and businesses in Tasmania through a network of transmission towers, substations and powerlines. The organisation’s Graduate Program offers hands-on experience for business and engineering grads, including the opportunity to rotate in different teams.

Postgraduate Futures 2017

CAREERS

PLAY THE GAME PREPARE TO UNDERGO PERSONALITY TESTS, ACT OUT SCENARIOS AND VIRTUAL CHALLENGES TO GET THE BEST JOBS WITH THE MOST FORWARD-THINKING COMPANIES

etting a job these days isn’t always as simple as a chat with your prospective boss. Interviews for the best jobs are often accompanied by personality tests, scenario-based problems – and games that test how you respond to virtual challenges. So what do these look like? Are there trick questions? Do you put down the answer you think they want to hear, or should you be honest because you don’t really know what they’re testing for?

WHERE’S YOUR HEAD AT? Psychometric and personality tests are usually structured multiple choice exams. The aim is to measure your ability and certain aspects of your personality to see if you are a good fit for the position and the workplace. Written by occupational psychologists, they often measure your comprehension and reasoning skills, motivations, working preferences and your response to team dynamics. Most have time limits – with online tests designed to log you out when the time is up. And remember, they are designed with more questions than most people can complete – so don’t panic if you can’t finish it. Can you study for them? No, but like most things, if you practise you will get better at them. Try the practice tests at: practiceaptitudetests.com.

WHAT KIND OF TEAM PLAYER ARE YOU?

Group problem-solving exercises are assessments that are sometimes done in small teams to assess your behaviour in the workplace and to identify different key skills. Your group is given a time limit to work together to complete a certain challenge or team-building activity. They test how well you work as part of a team, your ability to work under pressure and how you communicate with others. Recruiters will observe your social

Postgraduate Futures 2017

skills and confidence, your leadership tendencies, your listening and communication skills, ability to problem-solve and your response to working under pressure and how you react to failure or criticism.

HOW to stand out in THE GROUP TEST?

Imagine you are being tested for your suitability to live on Mars with these people. The key is to remain calm and good-humoured, finding the right balance between getting your opinion across and not dominating the conversation. Be confident – but also encourage your teammates to speak up and let their ideas be heard. If tension breaks out, do your best to defuse the situation. Gamification in recruitment uses two main things. First, it uses game structures or in-game rewards – such as levels, achievements, points and leaderboards – to drive and reward your behaviour. Second, it uses design techniques like following a game map or journey to keep you interested – and to get you to reveal more about yourself. At PwC, for example, the selection game Multipoly is used to test candidates in a virtual reality work environment. Potential employees receive missions, attend training, negotiate with clients, and solve business problems to earn points toward getting hired. It helps if you’re used to online and mobile games. (See, all that time playing video games has led you to this moment – now it’s your time to shine.) The key to doing well, though, is to be respectful and professional in your attitude and the decisions you make at all times. And if you land a job at the end – you’ve definitely won the game! – Fran Molloy

Land your dream job

postgradfutures.com/ employability

CAREERS

3 ways inTO your career START LOOKING AT YOUR POSTGRAD STUDIES AS A TRAINING GROUND THAT WILL GIVE YOU ALL YOU NEED FOR SUCCESS

Elizabeth New

Take the lead

2009

2010– 2011

2012– PRESENT

PhD, Durham University, UK

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Berkeley, USA

Head of the New Research Group, University of Sydney

I am a senior lecturer and Westpac Research Fellow in the University of Sydney’s School of Chemistry. My area is chemical biology, which involves making chemical tools to better understand biological systems. One thing I love about my work day is that it is full of so many different things – there is no time to be bored! I spend time meeting and running experiments with my research group, meeting with potential collaborators, writing papers and proposals, and preparing materials for teaching. It is sometimes hard to juggle everything, but I also have great flexibility – I really am the boss of my own time. Being a researcher is all about leadership and management. Having the skills to run a research group within a budget and build networks of collaborators are just as important as the science itself. I developed these

Kagiso Manaka

Hugh ong

Take a chance

Develop transferable skills

I started out as an aerospace engineer before switching to finance. I now work in the Emerging Technology department at CBA, where I did their graduate program. My postgrad degree was all about getting breadth so that I would have broader skills. In the grad program most of my work was managing projects. Now I’m crafting new ones, discovering trends and designing experiments collaboratively. It’s less on-the-ground work and more thinking and designing. If you do a good job in a graduate program, generally the team wants to keep you around. I let them know that I thought this was the team for me and I guess they must have liked me enough to keep me!

When studying, I never imagined my degrees, a Bachelor of Science majoring in mathematics at RMIT, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Logistics at the University of South Australia, would lead me into the world of risk management. I now work as a senior analyst in risk analytics at Deloitte, where I help identify data patterns that reveal anomalies in internal areas like payroll and accounts payable. I didn’t have a clear idea about the opportunities at the end of my degree, but I found short industrybased courses helped close the gap so I could see what I was doing and how it would align with real life.

2014– 2016

2015– 2016

Risk Analyst, Graduate Diploma in Logistics, University of South Australia Latitude Financial Services

skills on the job, but I have had wonderful mentors who have guided me along the way. Some of the best advice they gave me was: ‘Don’t complain about things unless you can also provide a solution’; ‘Remember that everyone you work with is different, and will work differently’ and; ‘If someone steals your idea, it means that it was a good idea, and you’ll therefore be able to have more good ideas.’ I am always learning. My research has taken a few twists and turns and I have had to learn many new aspects of science. I learn so much at seminars and conferences, when I hear the exciting work that other researchers are carrying out. I’d love to be able to see the science that we do have real impact in the community, particularly in equipping developing communities to solve their own scientific needs.

2016– PRESENT

2011– 2013

Senior Analyst, Risk Advisory, Deloitte

Master of Management, University of Melbourne

2014– 2016

2016– PRESENT

Technology Innovation Manager, Emerging Technology, Analyst, Commonwealth Bank Commonwealth Bank

CAREERS

HOW TO FIND YOUR PASSION

The idea behind this is that when you surround yourself with images of your intention… your passion will grow.”

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GO NEXT ON YOUR CAREER PATH?

o your undergrad degree is well and truly done and postgrad studies are underway – you might even have your degree in hand! It’s time to figure out the next step, to look at what you’ve done and where you want go. Now’s when you need to find and develop that single idea or mission that’s going make you leap out of bed in the morning, impatient to get to work. Don’t worry if you think you don’t have a passion, because there are ways to come up with an idea that will power you through your day. Sometimes, finding your passion is just a case of following your curiosity. You might not have a clear vision for your career – but there are articles that fascinate you and movies that attract you. Simply going through your internet browsing history could uncover a pattern that starts to make sense. These are the unique motivations that differentiate you. Look back at your school days. What were your favourite subjects? Perhaps you really loved physical education and sports – would you be interested in a career in sports management? If it was art that floated your boat, consider design, or perhaps the entertainment industry. Try out the “billionaire challenge”. Set up a large piece of paper as your record. Imagine you have one year off in which you can do whatever you want, and $1 billion to help. What will you choose? Writing your ideas down in response can sometimes let a pattern emerge of interests that aren’t driven by practicality. Writer Mark Manson says that most people get distracted by the idea that they must find that one thing they are passionate about – not knowing is the point, he says. You’re awake 16 hours a day – what do you do with your time? Your passion is probably right there in front of you – you’re just avoiding it. – Fran Molloy

FAST FACT:

Around 44.5% of Australia’s workforce is classified as “creative-class workers” – the fourth highest ranking in the world, according to the 2014 Deloitte Australian Shift Index report.

Postgraduate Futures 2017

Here are five exercises to help you uncover your passion

REVISIT YOUR CHILDHOOD. WHAT DID YOU LOVE TO DO? “It’s amazing how disconnected we become to the things that brought us the most joy in favour of what’s practical,” says Rob Levit, a creativity expert, speaker and business consultant.

MAKE A “CREATIVITY BOARD” Start by taking a large poster board, put the words “New Business” in the centre and create a collage of images, sayings, articles, poems and other inspirations, suggests Michael Michalko, author of creativity books and tools, including Thinkpak (Ten Speed Press, 2006). “The idea behind this is that when you surround yourself with images of your intention – who you want to become or what you want to create – your awareness and passion will grow,” Michael says.

MAKE A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WHERE YOU WANT TO BE Study people who have been successful in the area you want to pursue. If they are close by, contact them and see if they can spare some of their time for a coffee and chat.

START DOING WHAT YOU LOVE, EVEN WITHOUT A BUSINESS PLAN A lot of people wait until they have an extensive business plan written down, along with investors wanting to throw cash at them – and their ideas never see the light of day.

TAKE A BREAK FROM BUSINESS THINKING While it might feel uncomfortable to step outside of business mode, the mind sometimes needs a rest from such bottom-line thinking, says Rob Levit, who has recently taken up haiku, a form of Japanese poetry. Maybe for you, it will be creative writing, painting, running or even gardening.