Jay is a trainee working in the NSW Public Sector. As a trainee, he learns on the job by working for the Department of Education and Training 4 days each week and he goes to TAFE every Thursday. At the end of this year Jay will have had lots of work experience as well as qualifying for a Certificate 3 in Business Administration Management.
At 19 - his career is just starting.
Q: How did you get started?
A: When I finished my HSC I had a part time job, laboring for my Dad's business. While I was still working, I kept applying for jobs in any and every type of work, that included some kind of formal training. I got a couple of interviews for some different things, but was offered this job and thought that it would be good opportunity.
Q: What is your favourite part of the job?
A: The environment that I work in is great, there is a sort of team feeling. Interacting with different people and learning from them is an excellent experience.
Q: What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
A: The commute and Public Transport. I hate getting up early, but the train is good for catching up on sleep.
Q: Where do you hope to be in 5 years time?
A: I hope to be able to wake up every morning and feel lucky that I'm going to a job that I really enjoy. And doing something that affords me to be able to live the type of lifestyle that I want.
Q: Who are your role models?
A: People that have had a positive influence on my life. From people like my Family, mates, teachers and inspirational people like Dr. Martin Luther King and Lance Armstrong.
Q: How do you define success?
A: Being happy with the way that you're living your life. Being yourself, when your job is making you happy, your family is proud of you, when although you are a clerical your mates don't pay out on you and when you feel like your life is finally pointing in the right direction. That to me is success.
Q: What are your ambitions?
A: I'm sure yet, but I do know that I want to experience a lot of different things. Before I settle down into one career, I want to see the world and just live in it for a while.
Q: What is your inspiration?
A: How lucky we are in this country. We have opportunities that other people don't. This is the best country in the world and that is why, when I feel like staying in bed and not going to work, I think that I'm very lucky to have the choice to be able to work.
Q: What is your idea of the perfect day at work?
A: A day when I know the answer to every problem that I face, a day when nothing goes wrong.
Q: What advice do you have for guys out there who are starting out?
A: Just try anything, don't get discouraged when you don't get a call back. The first job you have will not be your last.
