The Student's Guide to Work Experience
You need a job to get experience but you need experience to get a job.
If you're like me then you're probably wondering how to get that extra boost to make you stand out to future employers. Luckily, with most University's in the midst of O-week, you'll have the chance to introduce yourself to a whole new bunch of resources and social networks.
Socialise and Network at Student Societies
Student societies, internships, tutoring, volunteering, upskilling and competitions are valuable and hassle-free ways to prepare yourself for getting a job at the end of your degree. Participate in university-faculty affiliated clubs and societies that are aligned with your vocational field of interest to develop interpersonal skills and establish a network of professionals that you can contact as referees. 70-80% of all professional jobs are not obtained through classified advertisements but rather through effective and consistent networking.
Invest Your Time Well
Instead of procrastinating, harness your energy into productively developing your CV by applying for internships or part-time job placements. To apply, set up a LinkedIn profile (should be included in your CV) or job search account such as 'Pedestrian.tv', 'Seek' or 'Indeed' to view career opportunities nearby. Organising a schedule can be a hassle, so learn to split your time efficiently and read how to organise a study planner available on the Platute website.
Become a Tutor to Earn While you Learn
When you become a tutor, you're not just earning money, you're also developing soft skills such as communication and leadership. You'll have an improved knowledge of learning, studying, and test-taking skills and build awareness of available resources. Additionally, you'll be practising your university syllabus to better prepare yourself for exams. If you're interested in becoming a tutor Sign up for free as a Platute tutor to get connected to students and earn as you learn.
Volunteer to Benefit You and the Community
If finding an internship proves harder than it should, volunteer for charities, and community or student not-for-profit organisations. Although it may not be a paid internship, volunteer programs can still provide experience related to your career of interest, and develop interpersonal skills with other volunteer members while achieving positive social impact. Volunteer at 'Our Big Kitchen', a community-run kitchen where volunteers prepare food for local shelters to distribute to Sydney’s needy. Alternatively, locate your campus student organisations that involves a student council managing orientation week, clubs, societies, and volunteer programs.
Enrol in Classes That Develop Hard Skills
Don’t want to work for anyone? Work on yourself! Join online courses or classes to develop the key skills and competencies section on your CV. Consider your goals and research the common requirements employers expect their interns to have for the specific industry. To solve this, students can simply join online courses or watch Youtube tutorials to self-teach new skills. Right now, Platute can give you free access to hundreds of experienced mentors who are available to help teach you the skills you need for the future. Sign-up now to accelerate your learning.
Flex Those Academic Achievements
Join university or national competitions, to demonstrate and further develop your interests and skills for your intended career. Tertiary institutions, for example, USYD’s Sydney Motorsport and UNSW’s Redback racing, are clubs that involve students passionate in automotive engineering and racing. These clubs and other universities engage in the FS-Sydney’s collegiate competitions. Have fun applying your education, and you might get a trophy while you're there.