Student Testimonial – Janto Hakim

New country, new language, new career – for Janto Hakim and family the move to Australia from Indonesia really became a new beginning.

While most people would find the three challenges enough to cope with Janto has faced a couple more – returning to study and coming to grips with the material for the Certificate III in Financial Services (Accounting).

Fortunately thanks to a scholarship sponsored by chartered accountants Haines Muir Hill finding the money to pay for fees and books was one less financial challenge to worry about.

“I will be able to add it to my references, which will help me in the future when I look for a job,” Janto said.

Janto worked as industrial equipment salesman before leaving Indonesia and holds degrees in chemical engineering and management. “I worked in that field for more than 10 years and decided I had had enough,” he said. “I decided when we emigrated that it was a new start and time for a new specialty.”

Janto chose to study accounting at Box Hill Institute because he had always loved numbers and calculations. “If you love something you can do it well,” he said. “I love doing the accounting course.”

Returning to study he admits was a “huge change”. “At first it was a bit hard, but at the end I was quite enjoying it,” he said.

“I have also learned new things like computer skills and communication skills which will help me. I have learned such a lot. For me the Certificate IV now I’m doing is much easier than the Certificate III as I had already covered some of the material when I studied my management degree.”

Janto plans to look for work after completing his Diploma.

26 May 2004