BRAYDON Cowley was a former Inverell High School student, turned Supercheap Auto store manager, and one of several local employers who attended the school’s employment workshop keen to close to gap between students’ school days and the wide world beyond.
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If you went to that night last week, guaranteed most would say ‘we check people’s Facebook before we employ them’. I do it, I’m not ashamed to say it, and a lot of people do it out there.
- Braydon Cowley
The workshop was organised by IHS Year 11 advisors Cath Jeffery and Libby Ryan to help students break the ice with potential employers and get ahead start on their careers.
“I’m sure that kids are going to go now and get online and apply for that job and it was about persistence; if you don’t get it the first time, try again, keep reminding me, but have a reason why you want a job in my business,” Libby said.
“It was very good. There was some very positive feedback.”
For Braydon, it was a chance to help students make a good and lasting impression, no matter what job they apply for.
“Something that I discovered was that some of the kids went there thinking it was a big recruitment mission,” he said.
“That’s not what it was about. It was more about helping them get a job wherever they want.
He said his insiders tip for young jobseekers was all about leaving a good impression all round, not just in the interview.
“The big one that I spoke about was social network etiquette. A lot of kids don’t really think about that; how to act on social media, what photos to put up,” he said.
“If you went to that night last week, guaranteed most would say ‘we check people’s Facebook before we employ them’. I do it, I’m not ashamed to say it, and a lot of people do it out there.”
When it comes to hiring, Braydon said he looks for honesty and a willingness to learn, often over pre-developed work skills.
“No-one is saying you have to be an A-grade student to be successful, no-one is saying that at all, the only thing you have to do is apply yourself.
“It is not always the skill, because I can teach you that. That is what I get paid for. That is why people in head office get paid to do workplace training. Skill and knowledge of the job can be taught later on. You need to have that willingness to learn. That is what I look for.”
Back in the classroom, Libby said her fellow year advisor, Cath, went to great and successful lengths to bring students and employers together, and they were both keen to see the workshop expand.
“We want to build on it,” she said.
“Cath and I have thought about a couple of ideas where we might bring in recent past students back who have been through that experience of starting out. That is one direction, but we had great feedback from the employers.”
