Building a career
on your network
The words ‘it’s who you know’ are often thrown into discussions
about employment, job interviews and career paths, but they’ve never
been more relevant than for USQ alumna Heidi Somerset. When she
was studying at USQ, Heidi was open to every networking opportunity
presented to her and has reaped the rewards for years to follow.
Heidi’s career journey highlights the importance of being
open to networking opportunities and creating professional
friendships with these new contacts. It was at a social
function that Heidi first met her current employer, John
Wagner. Intrigued by her skills and experience, ‘he pretty
much interviewed me on the spot’ and became a valuable
professional contact. By investing the effort to keep her
networks strong, it wasn’t long before Heidi was being
approached to join the Wagners business. ‘We kept in touch
professionally over the next year or so and John asked me a
number of times to come over and join the business’. It was a
spur-of-the-moment introduction that paved the way for the
next stop in Heidi’s career.
Now working as the Human Resources Officer and Return
to Work Coordinator at Wagners in Toowoomba, Heidi is
responsible for recruitment, staff performance, management
and wellbeing, the Return to Work program, industrial
relations, staff morale, event coordination and management,
policy review, rosters, Workplace Health and Safety
compliance, training of junior staff and contracts and is
clearly passionate about the role of HR in business success. ‘I
love helping make a change and an improvement in business
and helping both the organisation and its people to grow
and evolve together’.
Her drive and consistency has recently been recognised by
the Australian Institute of Management, which named her
the regional winner of the Emerging Leader Award for her
outstanding commitment to developing others. ‘Leadership is
recognising that you don’t know everything and being willing
to listen to others’ thoughts and ideas. It’s important to
remember that other people have dreams and goals too and
as a member of a team you have to look out for their goals
as well as your own. You have to know how
to read people — is there something you
can do to help them find their way?’ Heidi’s
people-focused approach to business and
dedication to the professional development
of others has allowed her to rise through the
ranks to achieve her goals.
As a successful professional and leader, Heidi
has some advice of her own for aspiring
front-runners. ‘Resilience and self-reflection!
We are human so you’re not expected to get
it right all the time. At the end of the day, it’s
how you approach what went wrong — a
commitment to understanding why was it
wrong and how can you do better — that
matters. The true leaders aren’t those flying
around in private jets with billions of dollars.
They’re the people who have been through
the struggles of life and found success.’
Looking to the future, Heidi can see herself
continuing to develop and push her career.
‘I’m not sure where it’s going exactly but
I’ll take it how it comes — I might like to
be a CEO or manager. It will depend on
time, ability and opportunity.’ Considering
how far she’s come already, there’s no
doubt that with her continued discipline,
passion and willingness to embrace each
opportunity she encounters, Heidi’s success
will surely continue.
WORDS: LAURIE OXENFORD
IMAGES: SUPPLIED + SHUTTERSTOCK