Accounting graduate

A holiday job at Officeworks helped Alex Cameron land a graduate accounting position at top firm KPMG.

 
“You may have great uni marks, but it’s no use if you can’t communicate with clients,” the 21-year-old said.
 
“At Officeworks, I worked with people of many different ages and I think it came across at interview that I could speak to anyone at any level.”
 
“In a job where you have to deal with clients every day it’s really important to push the communication skills and personality that demonstrates you can get on with all types of people.”
 
March marks the beginning of graduate hunting season, and Alex is happy to pass on her tips. The 21-year-old, who recently celebrated her first year at KPMG, remembers the interview and selection process well.
 
She believes one of the most important things to bring up in the interview process are non-study activities. For Alex, that was her love of playing classical violin.
 
Working at KPMG during her vacation time was also great preparation. That meant making it through a series of interviews and skills testing.
 
 “Vacation work is a good thing as it gives you an impression of what a job is going to be like, particularly through the interaction with clients,” Alex said.
 
“I work in middle markets advisory, which sources smaller business clients and lots of family businesses.”
 
“I specifically applied to that area because I knew I’d get a broader scope of work on each client – you get to see more of the business than if you’re working for a huge client.”
 
KPMG helps settle graduates into their new roles from day one by assigning each of them a ‘buddy’.

 
“I got allocated a buddy who had been here a year. It works really well because there is always someone you can turn to for help if you don’t want to bother a partner or manager,” Alex said.
 
“I’m a buddy now.”
 
Alex says being an accountant can be a real conversation-stopper, but it’s not what people perceive it to be.
 
“I meet lots of interesting people and have fun. There are loads of social events and I often go out with people from work. Plus, KPMG is so big that you can get choices to move around. I hope to go to New York.”
 
By Zsa-Zsa Bowie Wilson, careerone.com.au