Business graduate Marnie Stewart is in no doubt as to the value of Griffith University’s Industry Mentoring Program.
In 2010, Marnie completed a work placement in the Brisbane offices of Swedish engineering giant Sandvik.
Founded in 1862, Sandvik is a high technology, global engineering group with about 45,000 employees and interests in tooling, materials technology, mining and construction.
Under the watchful eye of her mentor, Sandvik executive Mr Matt Coogan, Marnie was involved in project work including systems administration, agreements and position descriptions.
This real-life experience aligned perfectly with her degree specialising in Human Resources Management.
And she must have impressed the company because on the Monday following her graduation, Marnie joined Sandvik in the full-time role of Human Resources Administrator.
So positive was Marnie’s experience with the Industry Mentoring Program, she is now helping other Griffith undergraduates who come to Sandvik for work placements.
“I firmly believe the Industry Mentoring Program gave me a great advantage when the time came to consider my career options,” says Marnie, who grew up in Brisbane, attended Mount Alvernia College and studied at Griffith’s Nathan campus.
“This was my first work experience and it offered me a great combination of work and study.
“Thanks to the support I received, I was better able to understand the company’s goals, structures and systems, and it exposed me to the full Human Resources spectrum.
“I would encourage other students to become involved. As well as giving you important skills and great confidence, it provides invaluable insight across a range of pertinent areas, from networking to business operations.”
In 2013, Marnie spent 10 months as Environmental Health and Safety advisor at Sandvik before taking on her current position as Human Resources Advisor — Recruitment.