Taking the Long Way ‘Round 

Char Hunter, Analyst | Human Capital – Organisational Transformation, Deloitte Consulting. 

It took me eight years to get my degree, to finally get that piece of paper and all the options it opens. It took me eight years, a full-time job in hospitality, and many degree changes.  

But I graduated. And one month later, I was working as a consultant at Deloitte.  

Going to uni straight out of high school was… not a mistake, but I did fail half my classes in my first year and dropped out. I guess I was sick of learning. I picked criminology because I had no idea what else to do. I was barely an adult, how was I supposed to know what career I wanted? Well, after a year, I realised it wasn’t criminology.  

I moved to full-time work, running a restaurant. After a few years, I realised I wanted more. I went back to uni, this time to study nutrition. I rediscovered my love for learning, but the content didn’t feel quite right. I found La Trobe’s Bachelor of Business (Accounting), before dropping the accounting after a year but keeping the Bachelor of Business.  

Eight years later, I have graduated with a Bachelor of Business, majoring in management and marketing. Eight years later, I have a full-time job, in my chosen career, with a future full of options to pick from.  

When I started at La Trobe, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my future. I was put in contact with a Student Advisor, who showed me all La Trobe had to offer.  

I signed up for the Industry Mentoring Program and had the privilege of being mentored by a senior consultant (a career I had no idea existed!) Over the 12 weeks, my mentor helped me prepare for interviews, apply for graduate roles, expand my network, and learn about the industry. I can confidently say I would not be where I am today without La Trobe’s Industry Mentoring Program.  

La Trobe helped me build and expand my resume. Getting involved in programs such as the La Trobe Leaders and the Student Excellence Academy gave me the opportunity to get involved in impactful projects and professional learnings. These programs helped me get the full experience La Trobe has to offer.  

There’s so much more to La Trobe University than just the degree – there’s the connection, the passion, and the support to see us graduate and succeed.  

Learn more about the La Trobe Industry Mentoring Program.