Preparing for Employment after Graduation
The following options can assist you plan for employment:
- part time and casual work
- career counsellors
- career services
- committees
- voluntary work
- mentoring programmes
- work experience
Justene Knight provides tips to
prepare
for employment after graduating
Part Time and Casual Work
Try and obtain some part time or casual work while undertaking your studies. Part time work allows you to practice job applications and interview skills and to demonstrate generic and technical skills. It also enables you to establish relationships that may be useful and lead to work opportunities in the future. To prepare for undertaking part time or casual work, see a Career counsellor at your tertiary institution who can provide you with interview and resume writing assistance.
Many tertiary institutions have a job advertising service where employers advertise for casual or part time staff. Some tertiary institutions also have a casual employment service where students can enquire about casual work that may be available inside the tertiary institution. Many libraries and departments need students to assist in research, cataloguing and hosting events. To find out if this service is available contact the students services office at your tertiary institution or search on the education providers website under ‘student employment’.
Career Counsellors
Take advantage of the career counselling services offered by your tertiary institution. Career counsellors can assist you identify potential employment avenues that your course of study may lead and to identify graduate recruitment programs in your field. Career counsellors will also assist you to identify your existing skills and knowledge in addition to your strengths and areas of interests. If your tertiary institution does not provide career counselling services contact your nearest Centrelink Career Information Centre.
See career counsellors and career information centre for further information.
Career services
Many tertiary institutions offer career support services for students such as interview techniques, writing a job application and resume preparation. Use these services to assist you write your resume, prepare for interviews and learn how to write job applications and covering letters. This service is free to enrolled students. If your tertiary institution does not provide career services contact your nearest Centrelink Career Information Centre.
Some disability service units work in partnership with employment agencies to assist students with disabilities and or medical conditions find work. The aim of these partnerships is to assist eligible students locate employment in a field that matches their career aspirations and abilities. To find out if your tertiary institution offers this service contact disability staff.
For more information see career services at tertiary institutions and career resources.
Committees
Take the opportunity to be on student or course committees. Many tertiary institutions have decision making bodies that students can nominate and seek election or be nominated by their peers. Some courses offer students the opportunity to be on advisory boards which are directly involved with decision and policy making. Participating on committees is a great way to network, meet future employers and/or contacts. Some committees are cross institutional which enables representatives to meet contacts from other tertiary institutions. Employers look favourably upon students that are actively involved in decision making and demonstrate a ‘hands on’ interest in the area they are studying.
Justene Knight talks about how
participation on committees
assisted her to obtain employment
after graduating
Voluntary Work
Explore voluntary work as a way to demonstrate your interest in a particular area and obtain new skills. Employers look favourably upon students that undertake voluntary work as it demonstrates a variety of characteristics including a demonstrated commitment to a particular interest and a broader outlook on life. Explore organisations that offer voluntary work in the area or sector that you are studying.
Mentoring Programs
Some tertiary institutions offer mentoring programs for students with disabilities and/or medical conditions. The Willing and Able Mentoring Program (WAM) is one such scheme that places students with a disability and/or medical condition with mentors based in employment in their field of interest for a series of approximately eight 1 -2 hour meetings over a three month period. To find out about mentoring programmes ask disability staff or the careers adviser at your tertiary institution.
Work Experience
Work experience is a great way to obtain hands on experience in the field that you wish to work and to meet and network with people. Some employers offer tertiary students the opportunity to undertake paid work experience places during the semester holidays. To obtain work experience you need to contact a prospective employer and ask if they offer work experience placements. Information about work experience is circulated to students by the course coordinator during the semester and should be available during career fairs run during the year.
Max Magain provides tips to
obtaining
employment after graduating from TAFE