Taking a leap: Cam’s next chapter in HR

For Cam, choosing to study overseas was a chance to step beyond what was familiar and see how far she could grow.

Originally from Vietnam, Cam had already completed a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in Finance and spent three years working in talent acquisition when she began thinking about what could come next.

“I realised that it was possibly the time to take a leap,” Cam says.

“I want to broaden my skills in the industry, also to learn about people management from different perspectives and cultures.”

That next step brought her to the University of Newcastle, where she is now completing a Master of Business Administration / Master of Human Resource Management.

Cam describes herself as someone who likes certainty, structure and guidance. But she was also curious about what she could learn by experiencing another country and education system.

“I’ve always been someone who likes to observe, analyse, and learn from the people around me,” she says.

“I had met people who returned from studying abroad and was impressed by how much they had grown, so I started wondering whether I could challenge myself in the same way and see how far I could go.”

The University of Newcastle entered the picture through a close friend and University alumnus, who recommended the double degree after learning about Cam’s career ambitions.

“At just the right time, my close friend came across a University program that aligned really well with the direction I wanted to take,” she says.

“Looking back, it feels like everything just fell into place at the right moment.”

Having already worked in talent acquisition, Cam wanted her postgraduate studies to help her develop a broader understanding of human resources and people management.

One of the things that has stood out to her is the opportunity to connect what she is learning with the industry.

“If I had to give a shoutout to one, it would definitely be the industry connections,” she says.

“The lecturers really make an effort to bring industry professionals into the classroom and integrate their real-world insights directly into our lectures.”

Among the highlights have been a visit to the Fair Work Commission as part of her Employment Relations course and an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement simulation for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution.

“These are experiences that I don’t think everyone gets the chance to have, and that made them particularly valuable to me,” Cam says.

“For someone who wants to go further in the HR field in Australia, experiences like these have given me a much better understanding of employment relations and how the Australian labour market actually works, even before I’ve finished my degree.”

Networking events have also given Cam opportunities to meet people working in her field, although walking into a room of strangers hasn't always come naturally.

“I’ve been to a few networking events at the University, and honestly, walking into a room full of strangers can be quite intimidating for me,” she says.

It was the small actions of her lecturers that helped make those experiences easier.

“My lecturers would come over, talk to me, and even introduce me to some of the senior professionals at the event, which made it so much easier to start a conversation.”

“And even after those events, whenever they saw me around campus, they would still check in and encourage me. Those little things really helped build my confidence and made me feel more positive about where I’m heading.”

That support extended to settling into a new university and country.

“What really helped me feel safe and welcome was knowing that whenever I had a question or needed help, there was always someone I could turn to,” Cam says.

“Everyone was also incredibly friendly, approachable, and willing to help, which made settling into a new environment much easier.”

Alongside her studies, Cam works casually, viewing her job as another opportunity to develop skills and meet new people while keeping university her priority.

She has also made use of the University's career resources as she prepares for her next professional step.

“I rely on CareerHub a lot actually,” she says.

“The University has everything you need including career services helping with CV, templates for your cover letters, and job opportunities.”

She says the resources have also helped her pick up new tips for job hunting and interviews.

Cam received a University scholarship in the form of a tuition fee waiver, which she says has also helped with the financial realities of studying overseas.

“Studying in another country is not an easy thing in terms of finance,” she says.

“To be honest, the financial burden remains, but it's much easier to breathe, especially when I plan my spending effectively.”

As Cam approaches the end of her degree, she has a clearer idea of how she wants to build on her previous talent acquisition experience.

“My career goal is still within HR, but I want to move beyond recruitment and become a more well-rounded HR professional,” she says.

“Talent Acquisition gave me a really good starting point, but now I’m interested in understanding the whole employee journey and, eventually, contributing at a more strategic level.”

At the heart of those ambitions is a desire to keep developing.

“My biggest motivation is probably growth. I don’t really want to stay somewhere just because I’m already comfortable or good at it.”

“I like the feeling that there’s still something I don’t know, something I can improve, and another version of myself that I can work towards.”

With her two years as a student nearing their end, Cam is looking forward to putting what she has learnt into practice and, she hopes, beginning the next stage of her HR career in Australia.

For other international students considering studying overseas, Cam acknowledges that the experience can bring both challenges and uncertainty.

“It's totally fine to feel lost sometimes,” she says.

“But believe me, when you have courage to reach out, you will experience many unexpected challenges, but also many unexpected opportunities, and those experiences can become the most valuable part of the journey.”

Her advice to students considering the University of Newcastle reflects the same willingness to take a chance that brought her here.

“If you feel like this is the time to take a leap in your career and the University of Newcastle offers your desired degree, then just go for it.”

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For someone who wants to go further in the HR field in Australia, experiences like these have given me a much better understanding of employment relations and how the Australian labour market actually works, even before I’ve finished my degree.