Arts@work profile — Jane Batey
Jane Batey works as a Training Consultant for a software solutions company.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Melbourne and Graduate Diploma in Records Management and Archives from Curtin University. Her career journey has seen her specialise in information management.
Read more about Jane’s career journey below.
What did you study and what inspired you to pursue this path?
At school, I was so interested in history. It was my favourite subject by far, and I loved reading historical literature in my spare time. As a result, I applied to several universities and was accepted to the University of Melbourne to do an Arts degree. I majored in History with a focus on modern European history. Towards the end of my undergraduate degree I began to explore post-graduate options that would allow me to continue working in this area, and so I went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Records Management and Archives fully online through Curtin University, with the knowledge that I could use those subjects as credit towards a Masters of Information Management if I wished.
What is your current occupation?
I currently work as a Training Consultant for a software solutions company that specialises in information management.
What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?
I get to work with different people and organisations every day. I really enjoy this aspect of my role because each organisation works differently though they are all trying to achieve the same aim, which is basically to ensure that their information is both secure and accessible. The other part of my job that I love is the team I get to work with. It’s a very supportive and encouraging environment where everyone is encouraged to develop their existing skill set as well as develop new skills.
Thinking back, what was a highlight of your tertiary study?
I loved the broad range of subjects available to me. It meant I got to choose subjects I had a real interest in. The University of Melbourne is a beautiful place to learn, and the staff have an incredible amount of knowledge.
Were there any co-curricular activities you found particularly valuable?
There was a placement component for one of my post-graduate subjects, and I got placed at the Public Record Office Victoria. This experience has been consistently relevant to the work that I’m currently doing as it helped me gain a much better understanding of the work that they do there.
How do you think your humanities education has shaped you personally and professionally?
From a professional standpoint, I wouldn’t change a single thing about my humanities education. I got the chance to study something I truly enjoyed. In my working life now, enjoyment at work is a really high priority for me. Now, working for a software company, having a humanities background is very rare and I’ve found that in some aspects I am at an advantage because my way of thinking is different from those that I work with.
What career advice would you give to current students or recent graduates?
Opportunities come about as a result of your own hard work, so never pass them up where they are presented to you. It will open doors!
