Career Tips – Page 5 – Griffith University Careers and Employment Service

How to find the perfect internship

By Sophie Wood

It is the one piece of advice that was regularly spelt out to me by all my lecturers in every single class – “Before you graduate you need to have experience”. In some degrees, work experience is a necessary component and in other degrees, it is all on your own accord. The earlier you can get some experience, the better!

I was a late bloomer and halfway through my degree before I realised that I needed to gain some valuable experience. I trawled through dozens of employment websites, spoke to everyone I knew and even emailed organisations that I really loved to see if they had anything to offer. Finding the perfect internship was a six-month journey with highs and lows. I feel like I learnt a lot during this time, so let me share some tips with you!

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Building your LinkedIn profile

As the world’s larg download (8) est online professional network, one would assume we would be rushing to build our personal brand on LinkedIn. That’s not always the case. Firstly, what is a personal brand? The first time I heard that phrase I had no idea what it meant. I was fortunate enough yesterday to attend CPA Australia’s LinkedIn workshop with Jillian Bowen, Content and Social Media Manager for CPA and the Naked CEO.

But first, what is LinkedIn? And why is it so important to all of us, no matter what stage of our professional lives to have an online presence? Simply put, it’s all about you: who you aspire to be, what you stand for, a platform to showcase your skills, experiences and abilities, connect with people and take people on a journey of who you are. LinkedIn offers a professional platform to start building your profile and connecting with people you know or may wish to work with and is the perfect opportunity to build your personal brand.

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Connecting with careers – building the application

In May 2013, I made the difficult decision to leave the place I had become accustomed to for the last five years. It was my apprenticeship into the tertiary sector, taught me how the systems worked, allowed me decipher the never-ending acronyms of university and build relationships with fellow staff, industry and students. In the process, it became one of the great loves of my life. On my last day, I looked back on everything I had accomplished knowing that I gave everything and my degree in Communications allowed me to try things I once imagined impossible.

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Inside Red University

I have a secret addiction I’m going public with. I’m a Twitterholic. I get overly delighted when a post gets retweeted, favourited or someone I admire becomes a follower. Until now, I haven’t shared my Twitter obsession publicly. After attending Red University yesterday to hear from PR experts and learn valuable insights into the world of journalism from professionals in television, magazines and newspapers, I can now feel secure in knowing my Twitter addiction is actively shared and encouraged.

Red University is the forward-thinking initiative of integrated communications firm Red Republic which offers university students studying Communications, PR and Journalism the opportunity to gain inside knowledge of the real world of PR and journalism. In its second year, Red University delivers an intensive workshop focusing on taking the first steps into the industry, delivering and writing the perfect pitch and developing a personal brand to stand out from the crowd.

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What’s a career?

I’m sitting at my desk considering what type of blog post students would want to read right now. Commentary on the budget? How to get a job? Will I ever get that break?

For 5 ½ months, I’ve worked in Careers and Employment and learnt an incredible amount from those around me. Lately, I’ve considered what it means to develop and define your career. Is a career something you realise at a young age and do anything to achieve? Or do you experience a life bulb moment and suddenly realise you knew all along? What about the culmination of your experiences? Working in Careers and Employment, I’ve learnt there is no set answer. The cliché is true: each person will go through a different experience.

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How to expand your career opportunities – Industry Mentoring Program

Over the past few days, I’ve been speaking to grad recruiters about the qualities they seek in the ideal candidate. I’ve also run into some students who are currently going through the application process and feeling frustrated after submitting over fifty applications. Whether you are a first year student or in your final weeks, it may not be that simple to walk into the perfect job. Sometimes you will get led down a path you didn’t expect and end up learning skills you never even imagined. As the mid semester break starts, consider what Griffith provides to enhance your employment prospects

Every year, the Careers and Employment team run the Industry Mentoring Program which matches students to mentors in their field and it offers an invaluable opportunity to expand your networks.

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Graduate Programs Open for 2015

Companies Now Recruiting for 2015

It’s that time of year once more. The major companies are opening their metaphorical recruitment doors and accepting applications from a herd of eager, dewy eyed final year students looking to break their way into some of the top companies in the world.

Graduate programs are a fantastic place to start your career, although they are competitive, with companies accepting hundreds of applications each year. Don’t let that deter you, however, as securing a coveted place in these programs offer a myriad of benefits.

The graduate programs are usually structured with extensive training and development opportunities. Some of them work on a rotational basis, meaning you get the opportunity to experience a range of different roles (a benefit scarcely seen in typical entry level positions). You will also be earning a decent entry level wage while receiving this training and are in a great position to develop and grow your career with a top tier company. You can also apply for graduate programs with various government departments.

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Networking – how to do it

Networking is a daunting concept. By now, you are probably aware that over 75% of jobs are unadvertised, and consequently, networking is the best path into employment. But the idea of networking and how to do it can seem overwhelming and somewhat impossible. You may think you don’t know anyone, or you don’t know where to start or how to even approach people.

It could be easier than you think.

Here is the story of Student Employment and Communications Officer, Sarah Binney and how she landed her graduate role through networking:

I am a journalism graduate from Griffith who started full time employment in the Careers Office mid last year. Beginning my graduate job search was a scary concept. I had friends who had been out of university for years and were still working their casual jobs at our local cinema. I thought I would be destined to a life of stacking shelves and listening to customers complain that we stocked Pepsi instead of Coke – a decision that was obviously made by me, a lowly retail worker (insert sarcastic tone of voice here).

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