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A large number of penultimate university student and graduate positions
are advertised in targeted resources such as graduate opportunities
and unigrad, and for international students studying in Western Australia,
graduan and Careers in Asia. A few professional associations provide
mentoring activities and release publications directly to their student
member cohort promoting work experience within their discipline area.
These include APESMA and Engineers Australia. Individual company web
pages are also a good source of work experience information as many
include statements that encourage ad hoc applications to be submitted.
Western Australian Universities
There are five universities in Western Australia:
- Curtin University
- Edith Cowan University
- Murdoch University
- Notre Dame University
- University of Western Australia
Each university has a careers advisory service. All students are strongly
encouraged to make contact with their university career resources as
each will manage work experience processes that relate to students at
that university. Take a read of the following great stories...
Case Study: Research, the key to a great work experience!
Amy White: I graduated from Edith Cowan University October 2004 after
completing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management. After
three years of study I really wanted to travel but begin work in my
professional field at the same.
I booked a one way ticket to the UK six months prior to finishing my
degree. During this time, in addition to study, I prepared myself to
enter the workforce. I visited the Careers Advisory Service on campus
where I found a wealth of information such as potential employers, writing
résumé‘s, cover letters, fulfilling selection criteria
and interview preparation. I also logged onto their website and booked
myself in for workshops and events. I found these immensely helpful
in building my résumé and preparing for potential interviews.
I thought it may be difficult writing my résumé without
any previous experience in my profession. But I found how I could use
situations at university to demonstrate my skills and abilities in my
resume and fulfil selection criteria for job applications.
One week after completing my last exam, I flew to the UK. After 6 weeks
of travelling around the EU and the UK I knuckled down to find employment.
I registered and submitted my résumé with several recruitment
agencies and after 6 weeks I got the call I had been waiting for. I
had an interview with the largest environmental body in England and
Wales.
Using the interview techniques I learnt in the workshops and read online,
I was successful in the interview and began working in my dream job.
I was able to gain paid work experience whilst travelling on weekends
and holidays around the UK and the EU. After all the Greek Islands are
only 3 hours away!
The experience I gained from working overseas is invaluable and a really
enjoyable experience, I recommend it to anyone. I am really glad I prepared
myself for entering into my career, which I believe was essential in
achieving my goal.
Amy White
Case Study: Recognising and applying experience!
Rebecca Morgan: As a high school student I was curious about the Tourism
Industry, and the thought of travelling was the huge attraction that
convinced me to study a Bachelor of Tourism Management at Edith Cowan
University. Throughout my three years at uni I was exposed to a range
of situations and standards, which helped me to expand my knowledge
and understanding of such a rapidly growing industry.
Along the way I continued to work as a Dental Assistant which helped
me to expand my consumer service knowledge, computer skills, administrative
knowledge and organizational skills. It was not until my final year
that I actually got serious about doing preparation for my resume and
looking at doing some work experience that was related to the industry,
which I wanted to work in.
My first step was to make an appointment with the Careers Advisory
Officer who assisted me in putting together a worthy resume, which would
actually attract the attention for future employers. I was advised that
resumes are the first contact, and many do not reach the standard expected.
After altering and adjusting my CV, I then took the next step of showing
it to my tourism lecturer, who had been a great support throughout my
uni days. I had one question for him, “Would you hire someone
who came to you with a resume like this?” Once again I was advised
of adjustments that should be made in an attempt to optimise my skills
and knowledge.
In my last semester I undertook a unit called Professional Tourism
Experience. This unit encouraged students to go out and look for work
experience and complete tasks via a set of learning outcomes. I found
placement at Kings Park & Botanic Gardens Parks Authority. At the
time this Government department were organising their annual Wildflower
Festival. For seven weeks I undertook the role of Event Assistant, which
allowed me to liaise with sponsors, speakers and organise many of the
tasks that help in making the event run smoothly.
Finally my three years at university were over and I was forced out
into the real world to find work. I was scared that like many new graduates
I would be out of work for a while. However as luck may have it I applied
for a job at the Duxton Hotel Perth and go offered my dream first job
of Conference and Events Sales Coordinator. Obviously the assistance
I received from members of the faculty at uni and the work experience
I engaged myself in, all paid off!
Rebecca Morgan
Resources:
Professional
Associations
Professional associations can be very helpful in identifying various
forms of work experience within a discipline. While options between
associations will vary, it is a good idea to research what opportunities
are available to you by first reading the industry perspectives and
gathering information about work experience options using a technique
called information interviewing.
Careers in Asia
The Careers in Asia website is full of useful information for students
and graduates who are thinking about their employment future. Regardless
of the level of research you have already completed, the Careers in
Asia website can help you
Graduan
GRADUAN® is the ultimate one-stop careers and employment resource
centre for Malaysian fresh graduates to plan their careers and find
the RIGHT jobs. We provide a professional and unique package of information
through our annual publication, website and career counselling services.
Graduate and Vacation
Employment Opportunities
Graduate and vacation employment positions start being advertised
in the year before the position commences! University students are advised
to start looking for opportunities at the beginning of their penultimate
year of study.
Information to
People with a Disability Regional Disability Liaison Officers and Disability
Coordination Officers National Website.
The Regional Disability Liaison Officers and Disability Coordination
Officers National website aims to provide information to people with
disabilities to encourage them to make a successful transition to further
education or training and provide information to graduates with disabilities
on appropriate employment organisations, such as employment mentoring
agencies and career services.
International
opportunities: I.A.E.S.T.E The International Association for the Exchange
of Students for Technical Experience
IAESTE is committed to fostering exchanges for university students
in science, engineering and related disciplines to gain paid professional
work experience in other countries.
On Campus Activities: AEISEC
The AIESEC platform consists of a number of different opportunities
through which an individual creates their own AIESEC experience. This
same platform also serves to connect our partner organizations to the
talented young people within AIESEC. The main opportunities of the platform
are working abroad, learning networks, leadership experience, conferences,
and supported self-discover
On Campus Activities: SIFE
Students In Free Enterprise
SIFE Australia is part of the SIFE Global organisation of countries
participating in the development of students and their communities through
encouraging them to participate in ‘service learning’. It
is a process that develops strategic links between students, their universities,
their communities and both the private and public corporate sectors.
Postgraduate
Experience: Diploma in Professional Experience
This Diploma comprises targeted further study and real workplace experience
aligned to the undergraduate study area and is specifically designed
to support and build the transition between University and employment.
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