Graduate Careers AustraliaWork Experience
Enhancing Employability with Work ExperienceExposure to a real work setting rounds out and amplifies the academic knowledge you are acquiring. Study-related work experience gives you the opportunity to explore possible career options, establish a network of contacts and learn how to apply both your personal and academic skills to the workplace. Most importantly, hands-on experience is one of the best ways to 'test' whether or not a career area is appropriate for you. Whether the experience is paid or unpaid, evidence proves that relevant work experience enhances both employability and academic performance. Demonstrated work experience is highly valued by a potential employer who sees your skills, interest in/knowledge of a career field and your accomplishments as indicators of your ability to contribute and succeed. Many work experience opportunities turn into graduate job offers as an employer can hire you with confidence, having observed the quality of your work. Finding work experience opportunities:
Work experience can be for several weeks, months or even days and can be paid or unpaid. Careful planning will help you break the can’t get a job without experience – can’t get experience without a job cycle. Use the resources in your Careers Service reference library to help you get started! Another useful resource is the UK's National Council for Work Experience - www.work-experience.org . This comprehensive website features work experience case studies and information for students, employers and academics. This article was written by the Careers Advisory Service at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. While it was originally developed for a New Zealand audience, we believe that graduates in Australia will also find the information within it relevant and useful. Check out the excellent resources available on the Victoria University of Wellington's Careers Homepage |