The decisions continue
When you chose your degree course that was not the end of the decision-making.
If you are in a degree with a lot of subject choice, you have to
make decisions every semester about units.
Explore the implications
of your choices. Or you might be uncertain about your original
choice, even in a highly specialised degree, so seek help whenever
you think you need it – from your Careers Service, academics,
and others.
Help from university careers services
Go to your Careers Service with any questions, needs, or problems
about your career thinking. Your Careers Service exists to provide
this kind of help, so it’s always the best place to start.
They are expert at helping you explore options, think through
the implications of your choices, and identify other sources. They
will always welcome you in person, but you can also go to their
website. These not only contain all sorts of useful career
and job-seeking advice, they also act as effective portals to a
wide range of other careers information.
Be in it
Careers Services run a variety of programs for final year students – careers
fairs, on-campus interviews, workshops, employer presentations and so on.
This is what Careers Services are for, and they work hard to set up programs
and services that make it easier for you to access all the relevant
opportunities.
Develop
a portfolio
If you want to compete effectively in the graduate labour market,
it is essential to keep a good record of all the skills and experiences
you develop through your study, your jobs, and your other activities
(sporting, community, cultural etc).
Most universities are now
able to help you construct a ‘career portfolio’ covering
your skill development. Many of these are available as ‘e-portfolios’ on-line.
Keep an eye on the market
If you are in your final year, you will be graduating at the right
time! 2007 was a great year for graduate recruitment, and
2008 promises to be as good, although recent forecasts of international
recession suggest some caution in outlook.
The demand is good across the board, but especially so in areas like
Accounting and Finance, and Mining and Construction. The mining and
related industries in particular had a very strong demand for new
graduates in 2007, and such a level is likely to continue.
You can
see more detail in the results of the Graduate Outlook Survey on www.graduatecareers.com.au.
Also look at specialist pages in the newspaper careers sections – for
example the Mining and Engineering pages of the weekend press have
had many vacancies in all states over the past few months.
Watch the web
Each year more information and more applications and selection
processes are web-based. There are several major sites that more
or less specialise in graduate employment and they are listed on
this chart. There are many others, often in specialist professional
areas.
Once again, start with the website of your campus Careers
Service – they will have identified and hot-linked the most
helpful sites, and will carry job vacancies themselves.
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