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Switched-on student secures sought-after job
A University of the Sunshine Coast student has secured a position with one of the world’s leading audit firms, KPMG, while still studying his final year of a Software Engineering degree.
Nineteen-year-old Shehan Fernando of Palmwoods recently accepted a full-time information technology advisory job at KPMG’s Brisbane office starting in February 2012.
The highly sought-after graduate position was offered to Shehan after he completed an internship with the company earlier this year.
“I really am very excited about my new job, although a little bit nervous about fitting into the heavy business life in Brisbane,” Shehan said.
“I am glad I got to experience working life during my internship because it is a lot different to university life.”
The former St John’s College graduate scored an OP2 and based his decision to study at USC on the University’s reputation for fostering good teacher/student relationships and the convenience of being able to live at home.
“One of the main reasons I wanted to study at USC is that the degree suited my requirements,” he said.
“I thought there was no point in going to Brisbane, paying rent and getting lost in the bigger universities there, when I could do the degree I wanted to do right here on the Sunshine Coast.”
USC’s Faculty of Business Industry Liaison Officer Wayne Clutterbuck said Shehan should be congratulated on his achievement.
“The fact that Shehan has been offered this job shows what students can do if they focus on their career aspirations,” he said.
“Many of our students obtain jobs during their last semester here, and Shehan is a prime example of someone who has been focused on his career and achieved his goal.”
— Michelle Widdicombe