What's your job about?
I am currently a Technology Graduate at AMP. AMP provides financial services to Australia and New Zealand. As a Technology Graduate, I am presented with many opportunities to gain experience with different technologies across the four rotations.
My current rotation is with the Advice Technology team. The team is responsible for supporting the Platforms and infrastructure used by the Advice Business at AMP, as well as the Platforms and SaaS applications utilised by the Advice network of advisers. The Advice Technology team also partner with the business in the delivery of Advice Projects. The Advice Technology Team is made up of developers, system business analysts, business analysts, testers, project managers and people leaders.
My responsibilities as a Business Analyst are wide-ranging, but the common theme with all my responsibilities is a focus on collaborating with stakeholders to deliver positive outcomes. Some of the responsibilities include gathering and documenting business requirements for solution development, process mapping current and desired states, analysing large data sets to draw insights that aid solution development, and supporting system integration testing. The most enjoyable part of my role is collaborating with highly driven people every day, which helps me meet lots of new people and build a professional network.
What's your background?
I am originally from Brisbane where I grew up and went to school. I was fortunate to have known what I wanted to study for the last couple of years of my schooling journey. However, I did not have a clear picture of what role I could pursue with my Bachelor of Business. I took on lots of learning opportunities at the Queensland University of Technology, but it was not until my last year of study that I narrowed down a role I could pursue. I had two invaluable experiences that helped shape what role I would eventually pursue – an internship within a digital transformation team and a technology symposium. These experiences opened my eyes to the world of possibilities in technology for people like me who did not have a technical background. These invaluable experiences have led me to now living and working in Sydney as a Technology Graduate in AMP’s Graduate Program.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Absolutely. There are no expectations placed on graduates to have a certain level of assumed knowledge. AMP has a firm focus on developing its people. There are endless opportunities for non-technical people like me to step outside of their comfort zone to try a technical role or vice-versa. You can take that step knowing you have the full support of the team. If you told me before starting that I would be able to fulfil my current role, I would not have believed you. But the support provided to refine your strengths and develop your weaknesses is excellent.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The accessibility to AMP’s management team and senior business leaders is the coolest thing about being a Technology Graduate at AMP. There are so many opportunities for all employees to interact with leaders across different forums. The graduate program specifically has a strong emphasis on getting graduates to talk with the leaders at AMP. This allows the graduate cohort to share their fresh ideas and have a say in the direction AMP takes going forward.
What are the limitations of your job?
The requirement for graduates to rotate every six months can prove challenging. This forces you to change roles just as you settle into your current role. This limitation is a short-term challenge. The long-term benefits of gaining exposure to four different business areas are invaluable. It improves flexibility, adaptability, and resilience. All of which are important traits to drive your career forward.
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