Graduate Trainee profile - Jeremy

Year joined

2009

Current position

I'm currently a Desk Officer in the Solomon Islands Section, before which I worked in the Counter-Terrorism Policy Section.

What were you doing before you joined DFAT?

In 2008 I was in Fiji with the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program (a program I'd recommend to anyone). Before my time in Fiji, I was at the University of Sydney studying Arts/Law, with an Arts major in Spanish and Latin American Studies.

Why did you apply to DFAT?

While at uni I was given a book written by a former senior DFAT officer about his long and fascinating career representing Australia all around the world. It was a good read and it showed that life as a DFAT officer could be a bit of an adventure. You could end up almost anywhere, doing almost anything. After five years at uni, that sense of unpredictability and adventure was exactly what I was looking for, so I applied.

Do you speak any languages?

Spanish

What was the most challenging aspect of the recruitment/selection process?

I found the whole process pretty painful. The exam was tough and, having never studied international relations, I felt as though I was just fumbling my way through. Also, being quizzed on foreign policy by former ambassadors during the interview was daunting. Overall, I found the waiting to be the hardest aspect. It felt as though, for much of the year, I was nervous about either an upcoming stage in the DFAT recruitment process, or about receiving my results from the last stage.

Do you have any tips for applicants on how to approach the selection process?

Just approach the process one stage at a time, putting in the necessary hours to make sure you're as prepared as possible for each stage. Also, have someone proof-read your initial application, and try to read widely (blogs, newspapers, The Economist etc) in preparation for the exam and interview.

Why would you recommend DFAT as a career?

It's still early days for me, but so far so good. Yes, you'll spend a bit of time at your desk, but you'll also have some unforgettable experiences and meet some fascinating people. Some of my fellow graduates have already been to places like Islamabad, Vienna, Beijing, and Taipei. One of the highlights for me was spending two weeks in Cairns for the Pacific Islands Forum. They worked us hard during the day (and sometimes well into the night), but we learned a great deal and had a lot of fun cruising around Cairns in our spare time. Hopefully there will be a few more experiences like this in the years to come.