Human Resource Management

Graduate Profile: Laura Wilkinson

Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resources, Marketing)

Highlight: Work experience placement Coles Group Limited head office
Employment: Business graduate position with the NSW Attorney-General’s Department.

A six-month business internship at the Coles Group Limited head office during the final year of her commerce degree studies paid huge dividends for Laura Wilkinson.

Not only did Laura gain invaluable experience in the field of human resources but she made a substantial contribution by producing a recruitment manual to be used company-wide and also secured a part-time position as a recruitment assistant. The overall experience added impressive weight to her successful application for the business graduate program with the NSW Attorney-General’s Department.

Laura, a Dean’s Scholar, worked at Coles Group Limited for her Industry Based Learning (IBL) elective unit in the third and final year of her course at Deakin’s Melbourne Burwood Campus. Laura chose the IBL unit because she wanted to have industry experience when she applied for highly sought after graduate positions

‘My time at Coles Group Limited was fantastic,’ Laura said. ‘I had to liaise with all the Coles Group Limited recruitment officers to develop a single recruitment manual for the entire company. I gained excellent insight into the whole recruitment process and I was able to put into practice the skills and knowledge I had acquired at Deakin.’

Ms Julia Dwyer, graduate program manager for the Coles Group Limited, said industry experience, through programs such as Deakin ’s IBL, gave students a tremendous edge when they applied for graduate positions.

‘Employers know they have additional experience in a corporate environment,’ Ms Dwyer said. She noted the Coles Group Limited received about 3000 applicants for graduate positions in 2006, for only 18 positions. The group looked for industry experience and also extra curricular involvements, particularly leadership qualities through positions in sports and university clubs.

Laura feels she has landed on her feet at the NSW Attorney General’s Department because it offers a very well-rounded graduate program through its 40 different business centres.

Laura has already rotated through the Sheriff’s Office, corporate human resources and more recently, the communications unit. While in the human resources unit, Laura assisted with the development of a corporate wellness program for the department’s 5000 staff, and project managed and developed an associated website. She has also handled the marketing of a new flexible working hours agreement for staff, which involved the production of a brochure, DVD and website.