What's your job about?

Fuse Recruitment specialises in full-site recruitment services for a diverse range of industries like manufacturing or insurance. My day usually begins with checking my emails and then debriefing with my supervisor about my current progress and tasks that I need to complete during the day. These tasks include assisting in sourcing candidates for open roles, conducting prescreening calls and administration tasks. My role requires me to interact with a diverse range of people and pay close attention to detail. I also need strong time management skills, especially on days when many candidates apply for a single role, which can be overwhelming. 

What's your background?

Unlike many other HR interns, I pursued a four-year degree in Social Science at Macquarie University after high school. During that time, I was fortunate to complete a work placement at RMIT, where I worked within a team to create a research paper on Indigenous employment. From that research, I’ve found the joy in helping people in finding their career, so I decided to shift industries and started a postgraduate course in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations. I believe traveling and meeting new people is a valuable life experience. Going outside of my comfort zone has allowed me to discover new knowledge as well as gain self-confidence. Additionally, I've previously worked in various retail and hospitality jobs, which helped me develop important skills like time management, critical thinking, and customer service.  

Could someone with a different background do your job?

I believe that anyone from any work experience can become an HR intern. Take me as an example — I didn’t come from an HR or recruitment background. The great thing about this role is its flexibility in accepting individuals from diverse backgrounds, allowing you to use your transferable skills and develop new ones. A key characteristic for someone in this role is being adaptable and eager to learn new things. 

What's the coolest thing about your job?

One of the most enjoyable aspects of this job is how it challenges me to come outside my comfort zone. I must practice speaking to a large volume of people on the phone and dealing with rejection from candidates.

What are the limitations of your job?

Conversely, one of the biggest limitations of this internship is that you don’t have any knowledge of the industry you’re assigned to. There were times when I struggled to relate or converse with candidates because I lacked industry specific jargon.  

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

• My advice when taking on this internship is to be open-minded in learning new things, even if they’re outside your routine, as it can be exciting to gain new knowledge and valuable life skills.
• Don’t just complete your tasks slowly, rather ask lots of questions and try to get the most out of an internship; don’t be afraid to ask about things you are uncertain about.
• Finally, rejecting is just redirection. Don’t let it affect you personally, instead use it as motivation to improve.