Are you looking for a leg up in the increasingly competitive job market? The University’s Careers Service can help you do just that – for free. That’s right – free! So, forget about all the paid workshops on how to spruik your resume and create a winning cover letter, you can get all that and much more right here. Intrigued? We spoke with Curriculum and Careers Manager, Renée Smith, on how the Careers Service can help you at all stages of your professional life.
1. Find a job that works for you right now
Just because you’re at university, it doesn’t mean you need to look at graduate jobs right this very second. Sometimes you just want to find a retail or hospitality position to help pay the bills, and maybe even get you a Euro summer escapade.
It’s time to get that sweet side-hustle happening. The Careers Service can take some of the hassle out of finding part-time or casual work. Not only can they help you with your application, CareerHub features a Job Search tool where you can check out part-time and casual jobs, as well as graduate and volunteering opportunities. Long gone are the days of having to wander around a shopping centre dropping off resumes
2. Helping you apply for work
Resumes and cover letters can be deceptively tricky. Sure, ‘just send your cover letter and resume’ sounds simple, but sometimes it’s a matter of “how do I sell myself without sounding arrogant?”, “is my resume too long?” or “do employers want to know about that first-in-course award I received in high school?” Throw selection criteria in the mix and suddenly there’s a lot you need to get right.
But there’s no need to fret – the Careers Service is home to an expert team who know exactly how to nail that application. According to Renée, they are able to help with reviewing your resume, cover letter and selection criteria documents; preparation and practice for interviews; clarifying your employability skills and advising you on your job search practises.
“If [students] are seeking application advice they walk away with a good understanding of how to construct best-practice applications, promote their strengths and skills to an employer, and an understanding of what employers are looking for in candidates. The same is true for interviews and other aspects of recruitment – for example assessment centres,” she said.
The team also offer online support. There’s a new suite of sample resumes on the Career website. And Career Essentials is the perfect option if you need immediate help with your resume or cover letter. It’s a great online tool which includes a Resume Builder and Resume Reviewer to help you perfect that application. Find out what Career Essentials could do for you.
You can also submit your application for the team to review by using the Ask A Question function in CareerHub.
3. Programs to build your skills and employability
Career Connect is the University’s new program that focusses on building your employability while you study so that you are ready for the professional job market when you graduate. Look out for the workshops that are being run across semester.
The service also offers interview and assessment centre preparation activities to help get over nerves before you meet an employer. By booking an appointment with an Employability Consultant, you will be able to practice lots of common questions.
If you’re looking for more interview practice, within Career Essentials you can access an online tool called Interview360. Basically, you record answers to a series of practice interview questions. Afterwards, you’re able to review your own performance and send it to others to request their feedback.
4. Workshops and events
There’s no shortage of resources online about job applications, but sometimes it takes a conversation for it to really click. The Careers team offers a range of online Career Chats, Employer interviews and industry events that cover topics such as career planning, job-seeking, applications and interview skills.
There are also stacks of events on throughout the year including expos, employer or professional association information sessions and networking activities.
5. Jobs on campus
Jobs on Campus – that’s right, paid jobs right here on our campuses – are undeniably popular, and it’s easy to see why: great conditions, great pay, great location and great people.
The Careers team want to see you do well, and when it comes to Jobs on Campus, they give you every opportunity to do so. Each job campaign offers a workshop with the employer who explains exactly what is needed from a successful applicant and provides tips on writing a targeted application. Join the Jobs on Campus Facebook page to stay up to date with new vacancies.
6. Resources covering your entire career journey
According to Renée, the underlying function of the Careers Service is to help “students work out their career goals and pathways to get there”. Even if you are unsure of what you want, there is no need to worry. Employability Consultants are able to help you define your goals, plan a direction and make career-related decisions.
“Those seeking career advice can develop a clearer sense of self and career direction as well as an understanding of what resources they can access to help guide them in their decision making,” she said.
“Students also tend to learn about how to connect the dots between their interests, skills and the labour market when making career related decisions, and how their studies are connected to different career areas.”
Whether you need help finding casual work, an internship or graduate position – or you’re further along and need some interview prep, there’s a range of tools and resources that cover the entire career journey. These include sample resumes, cover letter checklists and information sheets, and more.
While we recommend making the absolute most of these while you’re a student, the good news is you can still access this service once you’ve graduated!
For more information on the Careers Service, read the Careers Service FAQs or contact the Careers team via Ask a Question.