Where Are They Now? Q + A with graduate Negasi

We chatted with Negasi, who was a trainee during our Autumn Scarf ’15 program. Negasi’s been pretty busy since graduating from Scarf three years ago, and recently became the first graduate trainee to come back to Scarf as a volunteer mentor. Negasi will be working behind the bar at Do More Than Dine ’18. 

Why did you want to do Scarf?
I was looking for a job at the time.

What was the most beneficial part of the program?
Networking and getting experience.

Did you feel more confident to find a job after Scarf? If yes, why?
Yes. Because of having experience from working in the restaurant, and having a mentor beside you.

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Training in action during Autumn Scarf ’15 at Green Park. Photo: Peter Tarasiuk.

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Have you been involved in any other Scarf events since you graduated?
I worked at the first Do More Than Dine fundraising dinner in 2016. I saw it as a chance to get good, paid experience at a big event. And to meet Matt Preston!  

Working at Do More Than Dine ’16. Photo: Gareth Sobey. 

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What have you been up to since graduating from Scarf?
I worked at Shebeen bar for almost one year [after connecting with them through a Scarf mentor], then at Garden State Hotel for almost two years as a bartender. I recently left Garden State to move to a full time bartending job at Siglo and City Wine Shop. I’m about to start studying part time too – a Certificate IV to become an Operating Theatre Technician.

Negasi and Kevin at Garden State Hotel. Whilst working there in 2017, Negasi was nominated for the ‘Rookie of the Year’ in Bartender Magazine’s Australian Bar Awards and made it to finalist. Photo: Garden State Hotel.  

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In your current job, do you ever draw on anything you learned/experienced in the Scarf program?
So much of what I know was learned at Scarf. I got experience with a mentor beside me.

What do you hope to be doing 5 years from now?
Hopefully I’ll be working as an operating theatre technician.

You’ve been mentoring the trainees in the Autumn Scarf ’18 program at Stomping Ground Beer Hall – why did you decide to come back to Scarf as a mentor?
To give back – it makes you feel good. I’m doing it on my only day off, I could be sleeping but I’m volunteering!

What is your advice to current and future Scarf trainees?
Be good at anything you do, if you want to improve just ask. Give a smile. Be positive.

What are you most excited about when you mentor new trainees in the program?
To see them get a job at the end of it. To help them to get that experience that they need.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I’m so happy to see Scarf growing. I tell people I’m mentoring on a Tuesday… they ask me “Oh, at Scarf?” So many people know about it now, it’s awesome.

Autumn Scarf ’18 team at Stomping Ground Beer Hall. Photo:Gareth Sobey. 

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Featured image: Negasi behind the bar during Autumn Scarf '18. Photo: Gareth Sobey.