CX Lavender has taken on eight bright and ambitious graduates into its 2018 Genus Grad Program, now in its fourth year.

The successful graduates join CX Lavender in full-time roles with a full-time salary, starting this week.

The application and selection process included a round of presentations to Genus Program founder Tess Lavender and other key individuals from across all areas of the agency, including previous Genus grads, as well as one-on-one interviews.

The Genus Program’s rigorous selection process identified the successful applicants’ strengths and passions, allowing CX Lavender to place them into the role best suited to them.

Stephanie Ryan and Miriam Jeffery begin their careers as writers, with Jason Manon and Jaimii Jakab taking up their roles as UX designers.

The remaining four grads – Alissa Del Vecchio, Malithi Geeganage, Shemara Selvaratnam and Sophie Hackett – will work across CX Lavender’s business and strategy guilds.

The Genus Graduate Program stands apart from other industry programs by employing the successful applicants in full-time roles with a full-time salary.

Genus Grads are exposed to client contact and partnered with a mentor outside of their team, to guide them through everyday agency life.

Tess Lavender (pictured above with the grads) said: “We are thrilled with the success of the program so far and the calibre of talent we have unearthed.

“Our Genus Graduate Program is an integral part of CX Lavender’s commitment to investing in our industry’s future leaders.

“This is crucial at a time when we face increased competition from tech companies and consultancies in attracting the best and brightest young talent.

“Our experience since launching the Genus Graduate Program four years ago shows that by investing in growing our own talent, we are creating an army of loyal and passionate employees, which in turn improves the outcomes we deliver to clients.”

Over the past four years, CX Lavender has welcomed 23 graduates as part of the Genus Graduate Program.