Day 1 of 120

What is working in a professional organization really like? What is an office really like? How were the first few days of your IT placement? What did you find difficult or challenging in your first two weeks of IT?


Working in a vast and fast-paced professional organisation such as Macquarie Group has brought with it great change and challenges. Despite having worked in and out of various large organisations including McDonald's and David Jones, casual employment only provided me with a rusty hammer for the full-fledged battle of full-time work. 

The first few weeks of reprogramming proved to be one of the greatest challenges of the industry placement. Having previously survived on 3x4 hour uni days with only 15-20 of additional work, the 40 hour week was a harsh reality check. Over-time I developed an understanding that to thrive in such an environment, adjustments on my part had to be made. Minor but important changes such as planning around long days/weeks and early-trafficky commutes were surprisingly difficult aspects of full-time work to adjust to. The influx of new names and Macquarie jargon to remember, contributed to the information overload during the first few days. However, my manager's tip to carry a notebook and write down any important notes was very helpful during this time. While there was much to adapt to, the Macquarie people and culture provided a sturdy support network to lean on during the much needed eye-opener to the pressures and excitement of the corporate workplace.

Another challenge that didn't concern me before commencement was the employee age demographic. The relatively large annual intake of interns and graduates led me to overestimate the likelihood of being surrounded in employees of a similar age range. While I was initially uncomfortable in the unfamiliar environment, previous babysitting and tutoring work helped me empathise with my colleagues and build rapport. As other co-op students and graduates began to work on my floor, a greater sense of ease was developed.

During the first few days I realised that being placed in the OE (Operational Excellence) or PMO (Project Management Office) team implied that I was to be undertaking a management accounting/consulting-related role, in place of the anticipated financial accounting position. I was excited to know that the nature of my team allowed me to gain insight into the people and processes of teams across the entirety of the financial management group. While reading through hundreds of pages of Lean Six Sigma theory and training, and its application to the financial services industry may not have been enthralling, it allowed me to form a solid foundation of knowledge about the ideas and actions that my team was to impart on the financial management group. 

Finally, the Macquarie offices offer enviable facilities with daily fruit boxes and complimentary breakfast and snacks for the teams. My home office, 1 Martin Place being the oldest of the 3 buildings occupied by Macquarie Group, holds a more traditional layout with rows of desks across the working floor. However, in line with Macquarie's vision of continuous innovation and change, the floor also has a flexible working area. Being in a team with members dispersed across all 3 buildings has allowed me to be exposed to the modern, vibrant workplaces of the Shelley St and 50 Martin Place buildings. The hot-desking, bright colours and open spaces all work to create flexibility in workplace which in turn has helped bring new perspectives and ideas to the table.