Marketing Graduates: Here’s How to Land That First Role (Even When It Seems Impossible)

On Wednesday 4 June 2025, Lucy and New Chapter Talent rolled up their sleeves and got sandwich-making with a purpose. Alongside more than 20 other small business recruitment agency owners from Recruitment United — Australia’s fastest growing community for recruitment agency owners — the team joined forces with Eat Up Australia to make a real difference. The morning event, hosted at Eat Up’s Melbourne base, saw the group prepare 954 cheese sandwiches in under an hour — all destined for schoolchildren across Victoria doing it tough. Who is Eat Up Australia? Eat Up Australia is a not-for-profit organisation founded by Lyndon Galea . Their mission is simple but powerful: to feed the one in five Aussie kids who go to school hungry. Since its inception, Eat Up has delivered millions of lunches to children in need, thanks to the support of volunteers, schools, and partners across the country. Their work ensures that kids can focus on learning, laughing, and being kids — rather than worrying about where their next meal will come from. As the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact Australian families, teachers are increasingly stepping in to share their own lunches with students. It’s a heartbreaking reality — and one that Eat Up works tirelessly to change. Bringing the Recruitment Community Together The initiative was organised by Pete Watson , founder of Recruitment United. Pete’s goal? To bring together a community of like-minded recruitment business owners who not only support one another professionally but also show up for causes that matter. And show up they did. Laughter, teamwork and a fair bit of cheese filled the air as the group assembled sandwich after sandwich, each one a small act of kindness for a child in need. While the group narrowly missed their ambitious 1,000 sandwich target (running out of bread with just 46 to go!), the impact of the morning was undeniable. New Chapter Talent was proud to take part in such an uplifting and hands-on initiative. It was a chance to connect with an incredible community of recruiters, support an extraordinary organisation, and give back in a meaningful way. From all of us at New Chapter Talent — a huge thanks to Pete Watson for bringing the recruitment community together, and to Lyndon and the Eat Up Australia team for the incredible work you do. We were honoured to be a part of it! Learn more about Eat Up Australia and how you can support at eatup.org.au .

We’re so excited to announce the launch of the inaugural New Chapter Talent Marketing Leader Awards (MLAs) – a celebration of standout marketers across Australia and New Zealand who are shaping the future of our industry and inspiring us all along the way. These awards are our way of recognising two very special groups of people: those who are just getting started and showing exceptional promise, and those who are already leading the charge with strategic brilliance, commercial impact, and unwavering support for their teams. We’ve got two award categories , some truly brilliant judges , and a prize pack that’s seriously worth shouting about . Let’s dive in. The Marketing Rising Star Award This category celebrates emerging marketers who are already making a big impact, despite being early in their careers. These rising stars are the ones to watch – full of ideas, drive, and a hunger to learn. Our judging criteria for this award include: Leadership and Innovation: Do they think differently, lead with purpose, and bring a fresh perspective? Collaboration and Integration: How do they work with others and motivate those around them? Passion and Goal-Driven: Are they constantly learning, pushing themselves, and chasing their goals? Impact and Results: What have they delivered so far – campaigns, projects, performance? Self-nominations are welcome – just include a testimonial from a senior colleague, manager, or mentor.