"The hardest years of your life, in many ways, are going from uni to work because the picture is so big but the transition can be so difficult," he said. "Don't have too many expectations of yourself. Get that first job for the first couple of years, get the basics right, take all the stuff you don't like and just suck it up, but always keep your dreams on top."
Malley made himself available for one-on-one mentoring during the evening, with many seizing the chance to ask him specific questions.
KPMG, Xero, ASB and F&P Healthcare were among 21 employers who had representatives at the expo to discuss graduate opportunities and internships on offer. Students also got advice on how to dress for success and how to sharpen up their CV.
Jillian Bowen, CPA Australia's content and social media manager, gave tips on improving LinkedIn profiles. She suggested using an aspirational headline (eg Econ Major and Aspiring Financial Analyst), always writing in the "first person", and including relevant education, experience and awards - "no primary school swimming certificates!" Students should join appropriate university clubs and undertake volunteering, as these look good to prospective employers, she said. Students were able to have a professional photo taken on the night at a LinkedIn photo booth.
A panel of accounting executives involved in hiring students offered guidance on presenting effectively in an interview. Chye Heng of Beca, Rebecca Isted of Grant Thornton and Jason Doherty of KPMG advised that students should research their chosen employer, be prepared with a couple of questions to show their interest, and speak confidently but not arrogantly.
Jordan Lee of Fonterra, Zain Ansari of KPMG and Dan Lindsay of BNZ made up a graduate panel detailing what students can expect from their first accounting job, the transition period, and balancing their CPA studies with work - a segment particularly appreciated by aspiring accountant Toni-Anne Patton.
Attending as well as helping to organise the event, Patton, 20, is studying for a Bachelor of Business, majoring in accounting and human resource management. When she graduates next August, she would love to work for one of the big firms but is open to any accounting role with the right organisational fit.
"It was really insightful to watch how a potential employer would react to my CV, and useful to see which parts were good and where I can improve," she said. Patton's resume checker was impressed with her formal presentation and work experience, but mentioned the lack of a "personal skills" section.
"He said knowing about skills like 'teamwork' can grab an employer's attention and help you stand out as a candidate," she said. "These tips are invaluable because as a student you do what you think is best for your CV but you just don't know exactly what they are looking for."
Tips on using LinkedIn to help move into the working world can be found at university.linkedin.com. Alex Malley offers careers mentoring on thenakedceo.com.
