Approaching the end of your university degree can be a stressful time but it shouldn’t have to be. Your concerns about being successful in your job search aren’t going unseen, your university will have career services that will help you get a strong start. Often students don’t realise what their institution offers, (I certainly didn’t before writing this!) and don’t take full advantage of what’s available. To make sure you don’t miss out, we spoke to representatives from The University of Sydney and La Trobe University to get an idea of how career services can help you in your job search.
When should I contact my University Careers Services?
If you’re early on in your degree it’s the perfect time to approach your universities career services to start learning what employers are looking for. The more time you have the more opportunity you’ll get to utilise the breadth of resources career services offer. They have programs spanning your entire degree and can help prepare you for being a recent graduate. No matter your stage or experience, career services are there to help.
What do I do if I don’t know how to approach my University Career Services?
To get in touch with your career services try attending open days at your university or inquire with your university's student assistance service (this is how I initially found career services in my degree). When we were speaking to La Trobe’s Employability Programs Team they pointed out that often students don’t even know they exist! Your university might have the same issue so sometimes approaching them is as simple as finding out what they offer.
Both universities recommend that you start using career services early. At Open Days they’ll often be on hand to advise prospective students and their parents about various career options. La Trobe has Career Ready Ambassadors that can direct you to the relevant resources at whatever stage in your degree you are.
Both universities also mentioned how often students have the same concerns of not knowing where to begin with their job search, the competitiveness of their industry, or what job they want in the first place. But they also showed how students can overcome these common concerns.
What if I’ve nearly finished my degree?
Careers services have programs that cater to students at all stages of their degree!
Your university may offer workshops for cover letters and resumes, for example La Trobe has CV360 and Interview360 that are interactive AI tools to fine tune your resume and interview ability.
Work experience is important throughout your entire degree, but this is especially true as you near the finish. Not only will it provide insight into your industry but help you build connections and experience that will help you as a recent graduate.
Your university will likely advertise internship opportunities to you, but if you’re not sure it’s best to ask your career services team. While going into an internship can be a stressful and unfamiliar experience, our advice on overcoming internship anxiety can help you feel more at ease.
Not sure what to ask your University Career Services? Here’s a common question they get asked -
What if I don’t know if I’ve picked the right subjects for the role I’m applying for?
The University of Sydney spokesperson says that picking the right subjects isn’t all you need to get good grades or find yourself in your dream position as a recent graduate.
“We generally advise students to take subjects they enjoy as they are likely to perform well in them, get involved in extracurricular activities and aim to get some work experience,” they said.
Extra-curricular activities are important due to your transferable skills that develop in them. While the activity may not seem related to your industry the skills you gain will give you an advantage in your job search.
For example, regularly playing team sports might not seem relevant to the position you’re going for but the teamwork and leadership skills you learn from this activity are. Being able to find these relevant skills in irrelevant activities is key in making yourself stand out as a recent graduate with limited experience.
 | About The Author Sam is a Media and Communications (journalism) student at La Trobe University. He's been writing for various outlets since he was 16 and recently completed an internship at the Herald Sun. He's passionate about what makes people tick, from their interests to their motivations. |