News Archive

It might have a cute name, but the UWA Careers Centre's annual Big Brekkie means business.

For five years, the Centre (part of Student Services) has been running the breakfast for engineering and commerce students to meet people in the industries that will eventually employ them.

Careers Centre client services assistant Karina Desarmia said the event had become so successful that companies were employing soon-to-graduate students there and then, at the breakfast. And these young employees were returning to the breakfast the following year to recruit the next round of graduate employees.

This year's event, the Momentum Partners Big Brekkie , was jointly hosted by Momentum Partners and the Careers Centre, supported by Rio Tinto, Technip, Hatch and Kiewit.

Rio Tinto's involvement is part of its Education Partnerships Program with UWA.  The company has participated in the breakfast with great success for the past three years.

Luke Smith and Des Yeo are two graduates who found not only their jobs, but a clear direction for their careers, at the Big Brekkie .  They both attended this year to encourage and recruit the next generation of students.

Both graduates are mechanical engineers and Des also has a degree in commerce.

Luke, who works with Technip, said he was pleasantly surprised by the Big Brekkie he attended as a student.

"There were a lot of engineer reps from the companies, which gives you an opportunity to understand what the company really does (as opposed to just speaking with HR reps)," he said.

"The ratio of company reps to undergrads was much higher than the other events I'd been to. I think this ultimately led to me getting my job, because I spent about 15 minutes speaking to the person who would eventually become my engineering discipline lead.

He explained the graduate role and the company really well. I also got the opportunity to tell him about my aspirations, my work experience and hobbies and it turned out I was a perfect match for the role. I can quite easily attribute being offered this job to the Big Brekkie .

"I'm extremely happy in my position and believe I am set for a long career here at Technip."

Des Yeo has a graduate position with Shell and echoes Luke's sentiments about the Big Brekkie program.

"I started going to Careers Centre events because I took to heart the words of the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson. I heard him say many times that if we left UWA with just a degree, the University had failed us.  He encouraged all students to become involved with all the other aspects of student life," Des said.

"So I did, including joining Guild clubs, going on exchange and working with the UWA Motorsport and collaborating with companies on the Terrace. I learned what no engineering text book could have taught me.

"I believe I wouldn't be where I am today without all the extra-curricular activities and experiences.  They made me who I am, which I believe helped me to get the job I have now.

"Shell is sending me to work in the Netherlands next month.  It's a fantastic opportunity and the Careers Centre, the Big Brekkie and the Career Mentor Link program were all instrumental in getting me where I am today."

Registrations for the 2014 Big Brekkie open in October. Find out more about careers at: uwa.careerhub.com.au