Graduate's tale brings flood of job offers

Last week, her struggle to survive on the dole was featured in the Weekend Herald; now recent graduate Catherine Meintjes is to start work on Monday after being inundated with offers.

Ms Meintjes has a double major with a bachelor of commerce degree in accounting, but found only six entry-level accounting positions after weeks of job hunting.

Retailers also turned her downsaying she was overqualified.

She eventually approached Work and Income for an unemployment benefit despite friends calling her a bludger.

But she became highly sought-after as soon as her story appeared in the Herald, Ms Meintjes said. She has signed with one of the suitors, water cooler suppliers Just Water, and starts in its accounts department on Monday.

Chief executive Tony Falkenstein saw her in the Herald last Saturday and thought she could be the answer to six weeks of searching in vain for a keen recruit.

"We've been finding it very, very difficult to fill these jobs. We're struggling to get people," he said.

He tracked down Ms Meintjes by finding her mother in the phone book, and interviewed her on Tuesday. An offer was made soon after.

"She has a good personality and a good attitude," Mr Falkenstein said.

Even though the position had been advertised for six weeks, it was not a full accountancy role and therefore most graduates missed it.

The company had contacted agencies to help with the recruitment, and had two or three more similar positions to fill, he said. "We're looking for more Catherines."

Ms Meintjes' qualifications did not fit perfectly for the position but the company would train her, and she would have plenty of opportunity to take on greater roles.

"Graduates are not worth that much initially," Mr Falkenstein said

"It's probably a lesser job than she was looking for but it's a whole lot better than being on the dole.

"And if she does well she will move quickly up the ladder."

Students struggling to find work had to be willing to roll up their sleeves and do lesser work, Mr Falkenstein said.

"If I was one of these students I would go to companies and say, I'll work for nothing and in three months prove to you I'm worth hiring. I don't think they've got the right spirit."

Just Water employs 180 people in Australia and New Zealand, and has 22 in its accounts team.

Mr Falkenstein said some of its vacancies were inundated with applicants while others just could not be filled.

Kinetic Recruitment director Kate Ross said administrative and clerical roles with some accounting tasks were particularly hard to fill, and it was a matter of companies taking a chance on someone who did not fit the job description but had a good attitude.

A company would compromise and train someone if it liked the candidate's personality and attitude - and being brave enough to be featured in the Herald was a good sign, she said.