Applications for 2023 are now closed. Stay tuned for more info about our 2024 intake.

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For people like no other

All you need to know about applying for the Genus graduate program for 2023.

The graduate program
What does ‘Genus’ mean?
In nature, ‘genus’ describes a particular order of species that, though different, share some characteristics. Symbolically, it’s the same here; our graduates are celebrated for their individuality, but are united by their commitment to CX Lavender values.
What qualities are you looking for in your grads?
Above all, we’re looking for candidates who are comfortable being themselves, who have focus and a can-do attitude. No matter whether we’re introverts, extroverts, or anything in between, we all have something to contribute.
What can I expect from the program?
The graduate program runs for a year, by the end of which you should be fully settled in. Like an internship, you’ll be given the chance to hone your craft in a safe, supportive environment. Unlike an internship, it’s a full-time job, with real-life projects from (almost) day one. You’ll start with a two-week induction, rotating through the guilds to get a taste for what they all do. Then you’ll settle into your own guild, training on smaller tasks but eventually running your own projects.
What will my job involve?
Each day at the agency is different, and you’ll find yourself working on all sorts of projects for a diverse range of clients. Our specialty is digital marketing; one day you might find yourself developing an eDM campaign, the next designing a website. Within the workflow, you’ll be zipping between briefings, reviews and presentations.
How would I fit in to the company?
You’ll be entirely welcomed into CX Lavender as a real employee, with a full-time, salaried position. We have regular traditions, like Friday Morning Meetings, commensality lunches and end-of-week drinks, where you can get to know everyone around you and soak in the social life as well as the professional. You’ll also be assigned a mentor at the start of the year, who’ll show you the ropes and support you as you build your confidence.
The application process
What are the eligibility requirements?
You must be entitled to work in Australia and have graduated with a university degree or gained other relevant tertiary or vocational qualifications in the last 2 years. You might have studied marketing, design, communication, business or tech, but above all, we value personality and attitude.
What will be involved in the application process?
You'll fill in an application form, where we'll get you to:
- Answer a few questions about yourself, your interests, ambitions, and ideas.
- Provide your CV (no more than 2 pages).
- Attach your most recent university Academic Transcript or similar.
- Create a video response to a question in MP4, AVI or MOV file, up to 200MB.

If your application is successful, we'll be in contact about the next steps. Subsequent rounds will include:
- Interviews with Guild heads and past grads.
- A short, in-person presentation task.
How can I stand out in the application process?
Give the application your all. It needs to be your best work. It should help us understand who you are, your standards, your values, creativity and ambition. Before you start preparing, think about the people reading your application. Remember, they'll be reading hundreds, so you need to make sure yours is one that stands out for all the right reasons.

  1. Understand CX Lavender. Knowing who we are, what we do and what we're passionate about will inform your answers. Find out what Customer Experience is all about. This is the key to our business and clear insight in this area will shine through.
  2. Think first, write later. Do your research, strategise your responses and give them the time to evolve fully before you write them down. Also, be honest. The best way to show you're a good fit is to be honest about who you are and what you want for your future.
  3. Check your application for grammar and typos. When you're in a competitive situation, the detail really matters. Get someone to check your tone and grammar. This can be invaluable as we all fall victim to getting too close to our work from time to time!
  4. Read Making your Application Stand Out. Written by Genus Founder, Tess Lavender, it has invaluable tips to help with your application. 
  5. Your video is very important. This is a unique opportunity to show us your creativity and strategic smarts. You'll need to put some thought into how you can achieve this in the time you have and within Covid restrictions. For some more tips, have a look at the Blog section
What important dates should I know?
Sunday 2nd October: Applications close
Friday 14th October: Expect to hear back
End of October: Presentation/interview day
Offers made by Early November 
Monday 16th January 2023: Commence working at CX Lavender
About CX Lavender
What does CX mean?
Customer Experience (CX) means the customer is central to everything we do, so we’re constantly looking for new ways to build connections with brands according to their wants and needs. It might be through apps, direct marketing, a website, software or something completely out-there. Be keen to embrace innovation and you’ll stay ahead of the game.
What does it mean to be independent?
As an independent agency, we have the agility to adapt in what is an increasingly volatile industry. We stay on top of innovations in technology, and even start some ourselves. Be ready to learn at every stage of your career, and you’ll help set the pace.
What’s the culture like?
A band of creative and strategic misfits, bunched together in a two-storey office? It makes for plenty of laughs and memorable moments. Personalities of all shades here have room to grow, and we emphasise authenticity in all that we do. Be smart in problem analysis, brave in decision making, and kind towards each other, and that’s how you’ll fit in.

Hear from our grads'

Copywriter
A lesson in trusting the process

Copywriter Abby shares her unexpected journey from Business Management to Creative.

Art Director
Opportunities to flex your creativity

Art Director Charlie believes creativity isn’t a talent – it’s a practice. Here’s how he exercises it across the agency.

UX/UI Designer
The power of learning in a grad role

UX/UI Designer Patrick shares how the right support saw his skillset and confidence skyrocket.

Business Manager
The value of cross-agency mentoring

For Business Executive Angelica, it was all about the people. Here’s how she built relationships to last a lifetime.

View all blogs
CX Lavender acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
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