TAC GRADUATE PROGRAM
Written for Graduate Gateway by Kate Shepherd and Toni Smith
BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT
The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) graduate program development coincided with its relocation to Geelong in January 2009. It came out of a recognition that a graduate program was an investment in talent development for the future. The program has grown every year with five graduates commencing at the TAC in February 2011. This expansion reflects both the quality of graduates recruited and a greater understanding of the value of a graduate program.
The TAC’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) is fully committed to the graduate program as they recognise graduates are a key part of future business success. The engagement with ELT starts prior to the recruitment campaign commencing, and continues throughout the entire graduate program.
ATTRACTING TOP GRADS
The TAC’s approach to graduate advertising involves utilising various university and employment web sites, as well as print media. During the last two campaigns, strong links have been established with key universities, with advertisements displayed on career web sites. The TAC has a particularly strong relationship with Deakin University, evident by the most recent campaign involving customised emails being sent to students studying relevant courses and advertising on the Jobshop web site. This additional advertising and increased awareness contributed to the TAC receiving high quality applications from Deakin University graduates. As a result, four out of the five graduates who are commencing at the TAC in 2011, studied at Deakin
Feedback from past and current graduates has shown that the TAC program has a strong connection to the local community, providing fantastic opportunities to rotate around the business while providing graduates with valuable exposure to a large corporate environment.
WHAT’s WANTED IN A TOP GRAD
The TAC’s success is largely due to the high motivation shown by its employees. Therefore, commitment and motivation are important attributes for candidates to address in their application. It is also important for the TAC to understand candidates experience and skills gained from their studies and employment, and to consider how they could be transferred into a TAC graduate position. Transferable skills that are highly valued for graduate positions include strong skills in communication, planning and organisation, analytical thinking, along with a high attention to detail.
FINDING THE TOP GRADS
Candidates who pass the initial application stage (which includes telephone screening) are invited to attend a TAC Graduate Assessment Centre. The assessment usually takes approximately three hours, during which the candidate is required to take part in a group activity, complete literacy and numeracy testing and participate in a behavioural based interview.
Typically, candidates who excel in the behavioural interviews are those who have done some research on the organisation and the role, have some form of previous work experience and are able to draw on this by providing specific examples to answer the behavioural questions. And yes, McDonald’s examples are very valid in demonstrating an ability to be organised and to work as part of a team!
KEEPING THE TOP GRADS INTERESTED
Offers are made to those candidates who excel at the Assessment Centre, particularly in the interview component. Offers for the most recent intake were made in October 2010 with graduates commencing at the TAC in February 2011. The period from October to February (which we call the ‘keep warm’ phase) is crucial to keeping graduates engaged and excited about their graduate position. Over these five months, the TAC invites graduates to various events, including morning teas, divisional meetings, and Christmas celebrations and have an informal graduate networking session offsite. In addition to this, there is constant communication via text and email from the graduate project team.
FUTURE GRADS
The TAC Graduate Program employs graduates on a fixed-term basis for two years, and while graduates are not guaranteed employment with the TAC post-program, they are fully supported in seeking appropriate positions within the organisation on completion. For instance, the three graduates from the TAC’s pilot program all secured full-time roles prior to the completion of their programs, and the four graduates due to finish in August 2011 are already in high demand for full time roles within the business.
The TAC expects that the graduate program will continue to grow in the coming years, particularly in areas where recruitment gaps have been identified (i.e. IT and Health). Relationships will continue to be built with Deakin and other key Victorian universities, forming strong links with the Institute of Koorie Education at Deakin University and increasing the use of key associations, research and partnerships with the Australia Association of Graduate Employers (AAGE).
