Welcome back! We hope all of you enjoyed your well-deserved Flex Week and took it as a chance to rest, reset your mind and do the things that you love.
Once again, we bring you the latest career advice, sponsor opportunities and more insight into our internal team. There’s plenty more to look forward to. Wishing all of you a fantastic start to the second half of term! 🪷
Where your annual leave goes
When you land your first corporate job, you’ll get four weeks of annual leave and assume those four weeks are yours to use however you want. They’re not. Most large companies shut down between Christmas and New Year and make you use your own annual leave to cover it. Some shut for a week, some for two, and a few push it to three. That’s up to half your yearly leave decided for you. It’s completely legal under Fair Work as long as they give reasonable notice, and it’s written into most enterprise agreements. Worth knowing now so you’re not blindsided in December of your first year when HR tells you that the two week holiday you were planning for July just got eaten by a shutdown you didn’t choose. Factor it into your leave planning from day one, keep a few days in reserve for it and if you’re comparing job offers, ask about the shutdown policy because the difference between a company that closes for five days and one that closes for fifteen is ten days of leave you’ll never get back.
Centre Stage
Polly Liu
This week on Centre Stage … our Capital W Events Director, Polly Liu!
She’s a 2nd year Arts/Law student with lots to share! 💜
Quick Picks
Hidden talent? Doing my eyeliner on buses or the Metro
Song/album on repeat? 7G by A. G. Cook
What’s something you used to believe that you’ve since changed your mind about?
I used to think that money was everything but now I realise that it's just a means to an end. I enjoy the privilege of living with my parents and eating at home, so I don't need to be keeping track of each cent. Practicing good financial habits is more important than working more hours to earn more money... at least in my opinion.
Did you know?
ANZ just announced a major restructure. NAB is publicly following with 2,500 roles on the chopping block. Westpac and CBA will have to do something similar because the economics of running a bank have changed and none of them can afford to keep operating the way they have been.
This isn’t a one-off redundancy round. The big four are fundamentally rethinking how they run their businesses, and AI is baked into every decision about what the new structure looks like. The roles getting cut first are the ones used to train graduates. Processing, reporting, basic analysis, operations support. The entry-level pipeline is shrinking.
If you’re aiming for banking, this doesn’t mean don’t apply. Banks will still hire graduates. But the roles they hire into are going to look different and there will be fewer of them. The grads who get offers will be the ones who can do something AI can’t easily replicate. Relationship management, complex problem solving, client-facing work, structuring deals. If your plan was to get in through an operations or back-office grad stream and work your way forward, that path is getting limited.
The fintechs, the fund managers, the mid-tier banks and the non-bank lenders are all still growing and in many cases hiring the people the big four are letting go. Just don’t build your entire career strategy around four employers who are publicly telling you they’re about to need fewer people.
Capital W Opportunities
2027 Director Recruitment
Ready to turn your ideas into impact? 💜
UNSW Capital W is officially recruiting our 2027 Board of Directors, and we're looking for passionate, driven female-identifying students who want to challenge themselves, build meaningful connections, and make a difference in the world of business! 💼🌟
Whether you're a natural leader, creative thinker, a people person, or someone wanting to step outside your comfort zone, there's a place for you at Capital W!
As a Director, you'll have the opportunity to bring ideas to life, collaborate with an incredible team, develop valuable professional skills, and help create spaces for women in business. From bringing events to life to building industry connections and shaping our community, your impact starts here. ✨
💌 EXPLORE OUR DIRECTOR POSITIONS:
📆 3x Events Directors
👩🏫 2x Careers Directors
🤝 3x Sponsorships Directors
🎨 3x Marketing Directors
🫶 2x Human Resources Directors
📝 2x Publications Directors
💻 2x Digital Directors
📸 2x Media Directors
⏰ Application deadline: Tuesday, 27th October 11:59 PM.
🎤 Interviews: 31st October - 1st November (in person).
Please note that this recruitment is currently open to female-identifying, undergraduate students at UNSW.
Sponsor Opportunities
Introducing - Next CA
We're excited to share CA ANZ's free student membership program, Next CA! Designed to tap into your future leader potential.
From sport and music to startups and global brands, Next CA helps you explore career pathways, hear real stories, and figure out what future you could look like.
The best part? As an exclusive member, you'll get up to 15% cash back deals from over 100+ major retailers - think The Iconic, LSKD and more!
Career Connect – Mentoring Platform
Future IM/Pact's Career Connect is a flash mentoring platform matching students and young professionals with investment industry mentors for 1:1 virtual conversations. Explore careers in investment management and advice, gain practical insight into roles and career paths, and build connections with professionals across the industry.
First published in the Capital W Bulletin, the newsletter of Capital W, the UNSW Women in Business Society. Read it there or subscribe.
