There’s been a lot of luck involved in my career after service, but WithYouWithMe got me through the door, and it was just about seizing those opportunities when they came.
- Matthew Campbell
Meet Matthew
Matthew was an electronics technician in the communications branch of the Australian Navy, based in Canberra. In 2018, he was eager to discharge but had yet to choose a career pathway to pursue.
Matthew's journey
Matthew first learned about WithYouWithMe’s veteran program through a friend who’d recently discharged and found his first role through the company. Matthew met the team at a veteran expo and learned about an opportunity for a Connected Services Professional role which would become his first, post-service. This then led to a series of temporary roles including with Securitas and Salesforce.
During this time Matthew secured his Pega certifications, hoping to expand his skill set and employment opportunities. Soon after, he secured a role at Fujitsu as a Network Security Administrator.
“This first role involved shift work which was challenging, but the team at WithYouWithMe had told me to take this opportunity as it would lead to other roles down the line. That was the push I needed, and it turned out to be true!”
“It was new field for me, but those types of roles don’t require much technical background, it’s more about the attitude you bring to it.”
Finding an alternate pathway into tech
Matthew did shift work as a Security Administrator for about seven months, before being promoted to Network Engineer, then two months later, to Team Lead. After gaining further experience and building skills through a project management course, Matthew was asked to take on a management role which he eagerly accepted.
There’s been a lot of luck involved in my career after service, but WithYouWithMe got me through the door and it was just about seizing those opportunities when they came.
Hiring for attitude over experience
Once in a management role, Matthew needed to hire new talent into his own team and was eager to follow the same model that had enabled him to launch and grow his career.
“The way I approach it, I barely even look at someone’s technical ability. It’s all about finding people with the right attitude who are eager to learn, and then the technical skills can be taught.”
Through WithYouWithMe’s talent creation services, Matthew has hired 6 team members as part of a Squad, all of whom have thrived in their roles, with two having been promoted soon after.
“We’ve got mums who are returning to the workforce, other veterans who’ve just left service, introverts, extroverts and everything in between. WithYouWithMe know when they send me talent, that I’m looking for people who are keen to work hard and build their skills – they’re the ones that I want on my team.”
Providing equal access to opportunity
Now as IT Service Manager at the National Gallery of Australia, Matthew continues to champion inclusive hiring by focusing on attitude and potential over technical skills. He remains dedicated to providing diverse talent with the same stepping-stone opportunities that launched his career, building a team rich in backgrounds and experiences.
Matt on his team at Fujitsu: “It’s all about finding the right personality fit. Mine is a very inclusive team – there's 40-odd people and we help each other out. These roles are a great stepping stone, and where you go from there is up to you.”
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