Author: laurenkempe

Lauren is a second year Bachelor of Communication student majoring in Journalism and Media studies at the University of Newcastle. When she isn't doing assignments, working or listening to Paul McCartney records on repeat, you can find her volunteering her time to manage UON's Yak Media, presenting/writing scripts and articles for Navigator or presenting the news on 2NURFM. She is obsessed with the idea of working in television news one day, and petting all the dogs she possibly can.

How to use alumni to your advantage

May 8, 2018

If you’re in your first or last year of university, one of the most valuable things you can take advantage of is the opportunity to get into contact with UON Alumni. No, not the triangle-eye, Bavarian secret society – university graduates!

Whether it’s sharing skills, knowledge, networking, or even just making new friends, getting involved with Alumni will truly take your university experience to the next level.  Here are a few ways you can get more out of your time at university by involving yourself with your Alumni:

Finding your way

It’s often assumed that if you’re at university you have a clear idea of the exact job you want and know the steps needed to get there. For some people this is true, but for those of us who have come straight from school, have limited experience or have worked in fields entirely separate from our degree, it can be difficult to be sure about all of this.

By contacting Alumni you can find out more about your degree’s courses from someone who has already completed them, what your chosen industry is like and the day-to-day of jobs your degree can lead to.

Whether it’s discussing your major, the possibility of further study, switching degrees or even making sure university is the right path for you, it’s never too early or too late to speak with former students with real skills and experience to get better clarity on what you want.

Careers Advisor, Monique Kassi, says the earlier you reach out for support, the better. “It’s never too early to start building your professional network. Making contact with Alumni at the beginning stages of your degree can significantly support your career planning and development. Establishing a relationship with Alumni early allows you to enjoy the benefits of this connection during your years of study, rather than at the end of your degree, or after graduation.”

Having a mentor

Unlike many other industry professionals, UON Alumni have been to the University of Newcastle just like you, and understand what it’s like to be a student looking for a job after their studies. Alumni will give you the extra care, support and guidance you need for entering the workforce.

“As UON graduates, Alumni have a special connection with the University and are likely to be receptive, welcoming, and keen to support its students,” Monique says.

A professional mentor is essentially a sounding board for the things you do along your career path, and the earlier you make these connections, the better. A member of Alumni can sit down with you, figure out a plan of attack and the next steps you can take alongside your studies to help you get a job at the end.

If you’re wondering how to get in touch with a member of Alumni, you can regularly find them on campus inspiring, mentoring and sharing their expertise and skills with students. These include iLEAD Plus and speed mentoring, as well as guest speaking events. So keep an eye out for these opportunities!

Building your professional network

As the saying goes, ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.’ Professional networking is one of the most crucial things you should be doing whilst completing your degree. You could be the best student with the highest marks, most amount of skills and biggest drive to get the job you want, but without knowing the right people and making contact to organise work experience or a job interview, you might not go further than your studies.

According to Monique, “Building a professional network can open many possibilities and the sooner you start to network, the sooner you can start gaining additional knowledge and skills to help you do your job better or get that job you want”.

Chances are, members of UON Alumni are either directly involved with a company in your desired field, or they know someone you can at least contact to express interest in working for, so make sure to take advantage of this!

Networking can lead to a number of job opportunities not open to the general public, which automatically increases your chances. By getting in to contact and forming relationships with Alumni you will have a higher chance of getting your foot in the door.

Getting a Job

Let’s face it, the reason you probably chose to go to university is to increase your chances of getting a job. While this can definitely put you above other applicants, it’s important to remember the degree doesn’t guarantee you a job on its own.

Because Alumni is largely made up of graduates, their main focus tends to shift toward locking down a job or furthering their career path, as opposed to their undergraduate degree. When you’re studying with limited to no industry experience, it can be easy to forget to look for work experience, jobs and graduate positions if you’re caught by assessments and other university work.

Forming a relationship with a member of Alumni will automatically take the blinkers off and put your studies into perspective in terms of securing a job. Alumni can give you that invaluable advice of what kinds of jobs to apply for, who to contact and they can even make you aware of positions not advertised online to give you that extra leg up.

In an environment where you spend most of your time listening to university lecturers, Alumni adds a whole different perspective to your learning by giving you that experienced voice from someone who was not too long ago in your shoes.

How can I contact Alumni?

Career expos and other events are perfect for introducing yourself to Alumni and potentially making lasting professional relationships that can benefit you in a really unique way. You can engage with Alumni across the world on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, or email alumni@newcastle.edu.au.

Also make sure to look out for opportunities offered by your school/faculty including guest lecture series, New Professor Talks and mentoring programs

 

Visit the Alumni page on the University website for more information:

https://www.newcastle.edu.au/alumni

4 things you should be doing in your final year at UON

March 19, 2018

You’ve gone through almost two decades of formal education, attended more classes than you have brain cells, and are eagerly awaiting the day you’ll never again have to passive-aggressively message Alice 17 times for her half of the Marketing 1001 group assignment. It’s your last year of university, and whether you have your sights set on full time work or taking a ‘travel-break’ before going into the big wide world, there are still some really important things you should take advantage of while you can. Here are four things you should be doing in your final year at UON.

Get as much out of your degree as possible

Being in your final year, it’s pretty clear the last thing you feel like doing is aiming for HDs. I mean why would you? It’s only a matter of months until you’ll be out of here, and the only thing on your mind is nailing down that full time job at the end, after a relaxing holiday up the coast. Whilst locking in placement and paid work is important in your final year, so is taking advantage of the vast knowledge still available to you on campus. Not only do your lecturers and tutors have a wealth of knowledge and experience behind them to help you get through your courses, they are actually real people (surprise!) who can give you professional advice to prepare you for the real world.

And before you roll your eyes and continue your six-hour The Crown binge, hear me out. This is essentially your last opportunity to reap all the benefits of formal schooling and living in the wonderfully protected bubble of university life. It’s the year to make mistakes, ask more questions, read more and gather up as much knowledge as possible before the real deal. This isn’t necessarily about getting perfect grades, it’s about jumping as deep as possible into your studies and absorbing as much as you can whilst you still have the support of academics, classmates and the myriad of university services available to you so you’ll feel totally prepared when you’re on your own.

Get to know the Careers and Student Development service and be job ready

The great thing about being at university are the student support services so readily available to you. A lot of people either don’t know these exist, aren’t sure how to organise consultations, or simply don’t feel it’s necessary to take advantage of them. Wrong! Making use of student, program and career advisors are easily some of the most beneficial things you can do in your last year of study to transition from university to work; especially for students who are unsure of what they’re planning to do after their degree.

Approaching the finish line can seem like a daunting task if you’ve left organising work experience and job applications to the last minute, but there’s no reason to panic, because you don’t have to do it alone! Just by attending a consultation with a UON Careers Adviser, you could have a polished and job-ready résumé, a planned-out career path and even made several job applications within the space of a few days, all with the professional help of someone who really knows their stuff. Just visit the Career Hub page on the university website; here you can book a session, find out their drop-in times and access a whole bunch of job vacancies to apply for.

Student Advisers are also not only great for first year students; they can really help you to get through the final hurdle if the work is getting a little too much for you. Just drop in to your nearest Student Central to organise a one-on-one meeting. Alternatively, you can email the Student Advice team at StudentAdvice@newcastle.edu.au or call 49215000.

Work Experience, Work Experience, Work Experience!

There are compulsory placement courses for a lot of degrees; sometimes these are organised for you (lucky duck!), and other times you need to set this up on your own. If you find yourself in the latter category, the best advice is not to leave locking this in to the last minute. By making connections at careers expos and directly contacting companies now, not only are you beating the rush of other students competing for the same position, you’re showing an employer that you have both the initiative and eagerness to gain experience beyond your studies. This will leave you with a great first impression, and make them more inclined to consider you for any paid positions that come up later down the line. Outside of formal placement however, now is the most crucial time in which you can develop the skills you have learned through your degree, and the last opportunity to put these into practice before applying for full time jobs; so take on as much experience as possible!

Enjoy it!

Catch up with friends, take advantage of student discounts, get involved with clubs and go to university events! Now’s the last chance you have to really appreciate the university lifestyle for everything it is. It’s the last time you’ll see your friends every day through the week and socialise basically whenever you feel like it. Full time work has so many benefits like actually having money and doing something you love every day, but also make sure to enjoy the simple freedoms university life allows like sleeping until your 11am lecture, catching up with friends for a coffee between classes, and rocking tracksuit pants in the daylight hours of Wednesday.

Most importantly, even if you don’t have everything perfectly lined up by your final year at university, don’t freak out. This is your year to really take advantage of all the services, information and people who can help you make that transition from university to full-time work as seamless as possible. Organise your résumé, work experience and really get the most out of your studies in the coming months, but also remember to have fun and make the most of the end of an era, and an exciting new beginning.

How early is too early to start thinking about your career?

February 27, 2018

Imagine you’ve just finished your degree and have managed to score an interview for your dream job. You now have the tertiary qualification, and because of this, you know you’re a much stronger candidate for the position than someone without one. Now, imagine you’re sitting in the waiting room with the five other candidates ready to be interviewed, and after some brief chatter, you realise every single one of these other people have the exact same qualification you do. You soon find out they have also completed work experience at several other companies, volunteered for university clubs, they also interact with industry professionals on LinkedIn and frequently attend events to network with others in the local area.

It’s no secret that having a degree can automatically enhance your employability, but for a lot of jobs, this is only one of many basic requirements. By getting involved with clubs, attending industry events and developing your skill set beyond your studies, you’ll put yourself miles ahead of others in your position.

But don’t leave all of this until your last year. The sooner you get started, the fuller your resume will be after all! Here are four things you should be doing alongside your studies to ensure you’re the best candidate for the job:

  1. Set Goals

Whilst you are studying at university, it’s important to know why you have chosen the degree you are doing. Is it a stepping-stone to further study, or a way to ensure you have the qualification needed for a certain job? You don’t need to pin down the exact position you want in the exact company you want to work for, but you should have an idea of the general industry you want to work in. Once you’ve done this, the next step is to create both short and long term goals to make this happen.

For example, if you are a business student, your long-term goal may be to own and manage a number of profitable clothing stores across the state. However, just because you have a business degree does not guarantee success alone. It’s working on short-term goals like undertaking work experience, getting advice/feedback from industry professionals and networking on a daily basis alongside your studies that will truly maximise your chances.

According to Employability Consultant at UON, Nicola Evans, the key to success is a building a mix of technical and transferable skills.

“The Foundation for Young Australians analysed big data to definitively uncover what employers want. The report found employers ask for transferable skills as often as technical skills and the demand for transferable skills has been rising over time,” she explained. “This doesn’t mean you should forget about your technical skills, rather build your employability by complementing your technical skills with great transferable skills.”

  1. Be Résumé Ready

Your résumé should be a concise summary of your qualifications, work history and achievements relevant to the job you wish to apply for. It should include your personal contact details, a summary of any work experience or qualifications in a particular field and at least one referee.

Nicola says by starting your resume early, you can start to work out what areas you need to enhance in the future.

“This is all about increasing your employability. Do a personal skills audit and work out what skills and attributes you want to develop. Then it is just a matter of getting involved. Participate in extra-curricular programs such as iLEADPlus, seek vacation work opportunities, undertake a placement elective, become a student member of a relevant professional association, [and] attend networking events,” she said.

For specific assistance with your résumé or applying for jobs, you should take full advantage of UON’s Careers and Student Development team. Whether you’re a current student or recent graduate, you can drop in for a one-on-one, 10-minute consultation (known as Careers Express) with a careers advisor who can help you with résumé and application advice, interview preparation, job search strategies and discussing career options for you. If you need a longer appointment, you can be referred on to a Careers Consultant via Careers Express. All the information you need to know on when and where these services are available at your campus can be found here.

  1. Network

Knowing how to grow a network and gain professional connections in your desired industry is vital in boosting your employability. By attending career expos, industry events and using professional networking sites like LinkedIn, you’ll give yourself the best opportunity to introduce yourself to prospective employers who you form professional relationships that may even lead to job opportunities. If you’re able to sustain a successful relationship with these people, you can gain some really invaluable industry insight and even a potential reference for your résumé.

Networking may seem challenging but it doesn’t have to be. Just by volunteering with an organisation, you’re building industry connections. Content Contributor for the University of Newcastle, Sarah James, started off just by volunteering as a writer for Yak Media. Since then she has performed a number of different writing jobs at the University.

“After twelve months of volunteering and asking people to be interviewees, eventually they start to recognise your face and get a feel for your work ethic. Volunteering with Yak Media ended up leading to so many opportunities which wouldn’t have come up otherwise,” she said.

There are heaps of volunteering opportunities on campus – make sure to check them out.

  1. Get Involved

While you gain great knowledge and experiences from completing courses in your degree, there is nothing more valuable in developing your skill set than putting this knowledge and experience into action.

Basically, just having a degree isn’t enough.

“Every year thousands of graduates compete for jobs, it is important that UON students stand out from the crowd,” Nicola said. “Employers look for well-rounded candidates, who in addition to their university qualifications have a range of other skills. Employability skills such as communication, team work and critical thinking are highly valued across all industries.”

By getting involved with a club or society, participating in extracurricular activities, maintaining a part-time job or sending out emails to businesses asking for work experience, you will demonstrate to future employers that you are a versatile and driven individual who is willing to go the extra mile. Employers want workers who can show they have interests outside their field of interest, interact well with others and are determined to learn and develop skills outside of formal education. If you can manage to balance all of this throughout your studies, you will automatically boost your future career prospects.

 

Whether you’re in your first or last year of study at the University of Newcastle, it’s never too early to start thinking about your future career. As well as having the degree, you need to prove to employers you have the skills, experience and drive that makes you the single best person for the job.

Being at university is not only about attending lectures and tutorials and passing courses to get your degree, it’s a perfect opportunity to continually work on all of these other things and ensure your future career will be a total success.

How UON Security can help you navigate campus safely

September 5, 2017

If you don’t have a driver’s license, live far away from campus or just want a cheaper (and cleaner) alternative to driving, public transport is a great service to take advantage of to get you to and from university safely.

But late class times mean sometimes you need to catch public transport in the dark. Whilst public transport options generally have safety measures in place, for many this can still be a daunting prospect. In order to put your mind at ease and make commuting safer, UON Security Services are here to help. We spoke with Jamie Daniluck, Manager of Safety and Security Services at UON on how you can stay safe.

Plan Your Trip and Have A Backup 

According to Jamie, security starts with you. “Security starts with the individual. It’s important to put in place safety strategies, making sure you plan appropriately your travels to and from campus, and…that applies to anything else you do outside, including catching public transport.”

Be organised and know the running times for the public transport you’re choosing to catch. Have a backup option if these services run late or break down and let someone know your travel schedule. By contacting a family member or friend when you get on and off, they’ll know when you’re safe and when to start looking if they don’t hear from you. Preparing in advance and knowing you can rely on someone if you’re in any trouble will give you confidence that your trip will be a safe one.

Jamie also recommends implementing simple strategies to limit how far you need to walk at night. “If you’ve got a vehicle during the day…you’ve parked quite a distance away from campus, as cars move on after business hours, try to move your vehicle closer to campus.”

Follow The Light

When walking around campus at night, Jamie advises against walking alone, recommending “walk in well-lit areas in well populated areas, no dark laneways or alleyways”.

While walking with a friend would be ideal, often this is not an option. For this reason, UON has security escort services on campus.

“It’s sort of an after-dark service we offer whereby if people feel unsafe for whatever reason, we will attend to them and escort them to their motor vehicle.”

Where possible, minimise the amount of time you are waiting for transport services in the dark, and when you get off at the other end organise for someone to pick you up or walk with you to where you live.

Use The Transport Services On Campus

The University of Newcastle has a number of free services that can help you safely get to and from transport stops. These include the shuttle bus and UON’s ‘Park and Ride’ service. For Callaghan, the shuttle bus operates between 8am and 12 midnight Monday to Friday during semester, and can take passengers to locations on campus and nearby suburbs including Jesmond, Shortland, Birmingham Gardens, Waratah West. For pickups after 6.30pm, you can call 0407 951 470.

For our City campus-goers, you can also catch the shuttle bus into town at 30 minute intervals, with pick-up points at the Design Bus Stop and Car Park 14 at Callaghan campus. The service operates between 7.15am to 10.15pm weekdays, is wheelchair accessible and even has free Wi-Fi!

For Ourimbah, Port Macquarie and Sydney students, there are a number of well-lit bus stops and parking facilities around campus, and security services operating 24 hours a day.

DoubleMap, a free app, shows you in real time the location of the security shuttle, allowing students to better plan their travels on and around campus.

Stay Aware Of Your Surroundings and Keep an Eye on Personal Possessions

When choosing where to sit whilst travelling on transport, trust your instincts and stay alert. For people commuting early in the morning or late at night, it’s generally best to surround yourself with lots of people, sit at the front of the vehicle near the driver and choose well-lit sections over dark ones. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to keep chat about your personal details between you and other passengers to a minimum.

The same goes for travelling on campus at night. “The incidents – which are a rarity – involve individuals at nighttime travelling by themselves, carrying valuables, not paying attention, [and with] headphones in so they’re not aware of their surrounds,” Jamie said.

Make sure you keep close control of any bags, electronics or valuable items on you and keep them at your feet or on your person wherever possible. By knowing where your possessions are and discretely carrying anything expensive or valuable, you minimise the risk of theft and can feel comfortable that both you and your stuff are safe.

Know Who To Call*

So you’ve planned your trip, used the free transport services on campus, told someone you trust you’re safe and have taken all the right precautions. But what happens if something goes wrong?

If you feel you are in a compromised situation or see something threatening or suspicious, there a number of Help Point Emergency Phones located across all UON campuses.

“At Callaghan you will see there is a variety. There’s some which are on a pole in the ground, others which are a blue box on the wall. At NeW Space, they’re different again, adjacent to each of the lifts on each of the floors. So we have security help phones on each of those floors as well,” Jamie said.

If you’re on public transport, notify the driver/operator as soon as possible, take note of the physical appearance of anyone involved, get off at the nearest stop and call the police. Make sure to follow up any incidents occurred when possible by contacting the company or transport service you were on.

For matters on campus, there are a number of security guards and security services operating 24 hours a day at all campuses:

4921 5888 (Callaghan), 4921 7962 (Newcastle City), 4348 4222 (Ourimbah), 0412 595 054 (Port Macquarie) and 8262 6488 (Sydney Campus).

 

*If you are in immediate danger, call 000 when it is safe to do so.