From Oldham to Australia: former student shares his experience

Businessman Graham Wynn left The Radclyffe School in 1978 with only a few qualifications. His working life was to take him to Australia. Back in this country to visit family, this week he returned to the school to talk to Year 11 students about reaching your goals, the world of work, and the expectations of modern school leavers from the eyes of the employer.

Mr Wynn now runs his own successful recruitment business, Superior People, based in Melbourne. Describing his experience of employment in the UK and, since 1990 in Australia, he advised the final-year students to discover what works for them and not assume there is only one path. There are alternatives to higher education, which might lead to more success.

Born in Australia, Graham moved to Oldham in 1974. At school, he loved Maths and after leaving, he combined work with three-nights-a-week study for an accountancy qualification. Finding he didn’t enjoy accountancy, he eventually took the decision to move back to Australia.

As Graham shared stories of finding a job, keeping it by making himself indispensable to his employer, but also of coping with redundancy, students got an insight into how to respond to both success and failure. Working in the travel industry and in training, Graham helped to turn failing businesses around.

He said, “Any business needs to focus on having the right people working for them, who fit into the company’s culture. Employees need to always believe they can do more than they are doing.”

With an interest in people, and finding entry into the recruitment industry difficult, Graham took a decision to establish his own company. He has built this up into a successful business, and now enjoys a slot on national radio as an expert voice in his field.

Speaking to the students and answering questions, Graham said, about interviews, “Employers often make their minds up about a candidate in the first 20 seconds, so it is important to make a great first impression.” He also told students applying for jobs to research the employer and always have questions to ask.