People Told Us How Their Traditional Degrees Landed Them In Totally Unexpected Careers

Ever met someone with an out-of-this-world job and wanted to know how they got there? Same.

We talked to a bunch of UNSW alumni about how their traditional university degrees landed them in totally unexpected careers. We got the inside scoop on how they turned their degree into an amazing line of work and set themselves up for success by getting involved in some of the unique student experiences offered exclusively to UNSW students. Here are their tips and tricks for future students who can’t wait to start uni and follow in their footsteps – or carve out their own path.

Kurt Walkom: “Immerse yourself and be open to change”

Completed Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering/Bachelor of Commerce

Co-Founder of FinTech start-up Pearler

Like many high-schoolers, Kurt Walkom wasn’t completely sure what he wanted to study after school – so he took a gap year.

When it was time for uni, Kurt applied for and was awarded a UNSW Co-Op Scholarship for Mechanical Engineering. He decided to keep his study flexible by pursuing a double degree, which allowed him to pursue his ideal combination of broad and valuable knowledge, “Finance/Commerce was the widest skillset that matched my strengths and interests.”

Kurt packed up his things, moving from his hometown of Goulburn, NSW, to live on campus at UNSW in Sydney. The travelling didn’t stop there: his course enabled him to complete an exchange program in the US. This hands-on experience, along with student placements, helped him realise he “didn’t want to be a traditional ‘Mechanical Engineer’”.

After exchange, Kurt returned with a deeper understanding of what he wanted. “I came home with a resolution to find at least one job that I would enjoy before I graduated from uni. My strategy was simple: work experience. The more the better. I knew I was interested in building things and investing, so I lined up an unpaid internship at an investment company that turned into a part-time job.”

The knowledge and experience he gained as part of his Commerce degree became a springboard to explore alternative career paths, which ultimately landed him in the world of start-ups. With support from the UNSW Founders program, Kurt co-founded Pearler, a FinTech start-up that helps Aussies achieve financial freedom. “The entrepreneurship community that UNSW is building is…world-class, which means that start-ups like us have better access to mentors, funding and other key resources. It would have been a much harder slog to get to where we are without the Founders team – who are legends.”

This entrepreneurial streak didn’t come as a surprise to Kurt’s family and friends. After all, he’d gifted some of them copies of The Barefoot Investor for their 18th birthdays, so it was clear that helping everyday people with their finances had long been a passion of his. And if other students don’t have a clear understanding of their passion? No worries, says Kurt. “Not knowing if your degree is right is normal. Spend time reflecting… be comfortable with your choice, immerse yourself in what you’re doing and be open to change.”

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Kayla Medica: “You have so much time on your hands. Take it slow”

Completed Bachelor of Arts – Double Major: Linguistics and Japanese Studies

Currently employed as Australian Marketing Manager for Perkbox

Kayla says her career has never followed a straight path. “I picked Japanese because I did it in high school, did well and thought it might be something I could turn into a career. Then I decided to pick up linguistics classes, thinking they’d help me with Japanese, which wasn’t the case, but I ended up falling in love with linguistics, so I’m grateful for that!”

Like Kurt, Kayla discovered that what she thought she wanted to do wasn’t always the case. “I thought I wanted to be an academic, so I did a Masters of Applied Linguistics, but realised it wasn’t for me… while I was studying, I got a job translating materials from Japanese to English [for a small marketing agency].” It was a good exercise in using practical experience to guide your career decisions, instead of an idea in your head of what the perfect job for you might be. “I kept telling myself I wanted to get out of marketing ASAP… I’m still here! Now I really enjoy and respect it.”

Kayla says, if she had her time over she’d do it all exactly the same. “It’s given me great people and management skills, which are the core of literally any career. You can never work in a bubble, completely alone. You have to talk to people, communicate, and collaborate.” The things Kayla learnt as part of her UNSW Arts degree will stay with her for her whole life. The flexibility of the degree enabled her to study subjects she was passionate about, equipping her with transferable skills and a wide breadth of knowledge that helped her stand out.

Looking back at her early days at university, Kayla reflects that she’s become a lot more confident and can do her own thing. She encourages people to check in with themselves, go with their gut, and not be afraid to pursue what they’re passionate about. “If something is telling you it’s not right, listen to it. Life is short!”

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Vanessa Zhao: “If something scares you, do it!”

 

Completed Bachelor of Commerce

Currently working in the Qantas Graduate Program – Engineering Operations

Like many new students, Vanessa told me she had “no clue” what she wanted out of her career when she first started uni. She chose to study Commerce because “I thought it would open the most doors…I read up on what majors made you ‘most employable’ and took those, planning fully to adapt to what society seemed to demand.”

She realised early on, though, that there’s just as much to learn outside the classroom. Vanessa embraced this flexible approach to learning by launching herself into a variety of diverse experiences throughout her Commerce degree, which she describes as “life-changing”. She completed overseas exchanges in both India and the Netherlands, worked as a volunteer and embraced the UNSW Business School student societies. Combined with some intense self-reflection (including realising all her heroes were entrepreneurs and artists, not economics experts), she “realised university is really about gaining an understanding of your own nature, interests and skill set, and then forging your own path.”

Along with the actual material covered in classes, these hands-on experiences were invaluable. “You have three years to learn but you don’t just learn course content — you focus on learning about yourself. By the end of this adventure I’d generated life experience and knew what type of work made my heart sing, what my strengths and weaknesses were, what topics made me speak faster out of enthusiasm.”

It all sounds pretty fantastic, and the work paid off. From this willingness to say yes to a range of opportunities and delve into student life at UNSW, Vanessa co-founded a start-up called Yellow Box that was the runner-up of the prestigious Peter Farrell Cup last year.

“The UNSW Founders provided us with pre-seed investment, office space, workshops and a trip to San Francisco, all of which we were over the moon to receive! But to be honest, the most valuable thing I gained [from the program] was confidence… having the guts to take myself and ideas seriously. A shift in self-belief can drastically affect a person’s output.”

Vanessa’s positivity and passion is contagious, and her advice for new students is just as encouraging. “If something excites you, push yourself to excel at it — don’t think about where it could lead you or the tangible benefits (they’ll come to you later). The world is changing faster than ever, avoid listening to the noise. Follow your intuition and build on what you’re good at.”

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Take the first step toward an exciting future and find the UNSW degree that’s perfect for you.

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(Lead image: Brooke Cagle / Unsplash)