Jobs, careers and graduate opportunities
Graduate profiles
Tabith Frith
Southeast Asia Analyst, Office of National Assessments
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) majoring in politics, PhD
A visit to the politics department at Monash during her VCE helped convince Tabith Frith to apply for a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Politics and a minor in Russian Studies. Her choice of Clayton campus was motivated by practicality: it allowed her to continue living with her parents while studying.
Tabitha says that the best experience she had while at Monash was completing an Honours degree in Politics:
It was a challenging and rewarding year. I was introduced to research work and to stimulating debate about ideas with my Honours peers. this was such a positive experience that I decided to discontinue my Law studies - I'd enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws in second year - to pursue a PhD in Malaysia politics.
Tabitha's PhD studies gave her the expertise to win a role as a Southeast Asia Analyst at the Office of National Assessments (ONA) in Canberra:
ONA is an autonomous government agency, reporting directly to the Prime Minister, which produces analytical assessments of international developments.
My position requires preparation of forward-looking, strategic assessments about political, social and economic developments in Southeast Asia. In doing so, I identify and analyse emerging issues in the region.
Tabitha's advice to students starting out in the academic life is simple:
Don't be afraid to follow your interests at the expense of foregoing more conventional or guaranteed career paths. The rewards are often well worth the risk.
Sara Groen
Presenter and segment producer
Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) by Off-campus Learning
Monash has a great reputation and a fantastic off-campus learning program. I feel so involved and can easily communicate with lecturers and other students. The administration staff are always incredibly helpful, as are the lecturers.
As well as studying, Sara works as a presenter and segment producer for Saturday Disney and Sydney Weekender on Channel Seven.
A lot of the skills I've acquired in my career have worked alongside my degree so I have been fortunate in gaining both theoretical and practical experience.
Sara's work with Saturday Disney involves presenting to camera as well as researching, writing, and producing stories and short dramas. She interviews celebrities, does segments on cooking and craft and has the opportunity to travel to locations in Australia and overseas. Last year, she went to LA for a film junket and produced and presented two stories on location.
Monash has been a fantastic experience. Television is a very fickle business and it really helps to have some credibility behind you. Just recently I received news that I topped my degree for last semester and was so thrilled! I'm sure the degree will open more doors for me and help me in whatever path I choose to take.
Kate McGrath
Journalist, Network 10 News
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with majors in English literature and history
Kate chose Monash Arts because she knew it would allow her to study the disciplines she was interested in while she decided on a career path:
One of the best experiences I had was studying the Renaissance in Florence unit in Italy. It was the most enriching and rewarding travel and study period of my life. I began a life long obsession with all things Italian and gained my best results for assignments.
Having decided to pursue a career in Journalism, Kate began as a production assistant in the Network 10 newsroom. She took voice lessons, volunteered on weekends, and talked with other journalists about how they got started, all in an effort to kick-start her own career. Eventually, she became a trainee, and with gradual improvement and experience she has become a graded journalist:
My job involves finding, researching and analysing stories, conducting interviews and writing and voicing stories for air. It's all about deadlines. It's news, so your story cannot wait until the next day. It must be ready to go to air to the entire network at five pm.
Kate's advice to prospective students is:
Find what it is you love and make someone pay you to do it! It's pointless studying for a career that will offer you no enjoyment. there are more careers beyond uni than you can imagine, so don't feel you have to figure it out by year twelve. Do work experience, its a great way to find out what working environments stimulate you.
Jesse Northfield
Account Executive
Bachelor of Communication with a major in Advertising
Throughout high school Jesse Northfield's aim was to attend Monash University.
My expectations were exceeded when I finally achieved my goal. studying the Bachelor of Communication at Berwick provided me with an education and experience that will last a lifetime and put me in a excellent position for my career progression.
During his degree Jesse served as President of the Monash Union of Berwick Students. Although the position was not a defined communications role, it provided experience in communicating to 1500 stakeholders and helped him to understand how to effectively promote and assist the activities of the union, skills that have served him well in his career in public relations.
Jesse is currently an Account Executive at Haystac, one of Melbourne's leading Public Relations firms. His clients include the National Australia Bank and the RACV and his work involves developing and implementing community and government relations campaigns; sponsorship programs; internal communications; internal and external stakeholder relations; and media relations.
Jesse's advice to prospective students is to get involved in university life:
Don't simply come and study. Talk to staff and aim to use all the resources available. University is the best experience you will have.
For those seeking a career in public relations he advises:
Get as much work experience as possible. Get you name out there and explore all the different areas of public relations.
Ed Russell
Student
Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws majoring in Indonesian
Ed Russell's enjoyment of studying Indonesian at school inspired him to continue it at Monash.
I've learnt how Indonesian language is used in different settings - like legal, business, journalistic and environmental terminology - and about Indonesian culture, as it's difficult to learn a language without a basic cultural and political understanding.
In 2003 Ed studied in Indonesia as part of an intensive six-week study program:
The course involved far more than just classroom learning. Each student was assigned a personal tutor with whom we could practice speaking. Different topics were studied each week and relevant field trips complemented the in-class study.
Ed thinks the best thing about learning a language is the feeling you get when communicating with somebody:
Being able to speak to people in their own language is a great way to break down erroneous preconceptions on both sides. Many Indonesian people we met took it as a big complement that we were learning about their language and way of life.
Although not certain what path his career will take, Ed is confident that his language skills will feature:
I have discussed career opportunities with my lecturer. He knows graduates working in education, defense intelligence, the Departments of Justice and Immigration, the federal police, law firms, non-governmental organisations in Indonesia, and multi-national charities. There really are lots of opportunities.
Raghav Sacher
Recording Artist
Bachelor of Music
Opportunities to study music in India are very limited, so Raghav Sacher decided to apply to Monash University as an international student.
Monash has a recognisable name internationally as one of the most esteemed universities in Australia. I applied to Monash and was accepted into the Bachelor of Music, so I did not waste time applying anywhere else.
Twice during his Monash degree Raghav was selected to tour Southeast Asia as a performer with the international chamber ensemble.
Raghav is now a recording artist with Saregama India Limited and is actively involved in interviews, photo shoots and concerts for the promotion of his first album entitled For the First Time - Raghav. The album has entitled the former student to establish recordings as an arranger, producer, composer and instrumentalist.