Graduate Careers Australia

Work Experience

Work Experience - Benefits for Graduates

Employers value, and have a preference for, job applicants who possess skills such as team work, communication, problem solving and initiative; at the same time students seek to enhance their careers through uni courses and other means to increase their knowledge and skills in a particular discipline or industry. This not only helps individuals to identify potential career pathways but also ultimately assists them to meet employer expectations and needs.

Work Experience Defined

Work experience includes:

• paid or unpaid work
• both private and public sectors
• commercial, volunteer and not-for-profit organisations
• having an element of on- or off-the-job training, instruction, supervision or mentoring and the like.

Experience placements may of course be undertaken locally, nationally or overseas and are generally characterised by having a pre-determined ‘end date’ to the relationship; though this may not always be the case.

This definition allows a broader perspective of ‘experience’ to include positions and activities that are described as, for example cadetships, internships, vacation, graduate, trainee, structured workplace learning, new apprenticeship, casual, part-time and voluntary.

Why is Work Experience Good for Graduates

For employers it is the opportunity to develop strategic human resource strategies that fit their business needs aimed at progressing relationships with those who aim to be, or who are in, or who have potential to be within the labour market.

Benefits for graduates include:

• gaining experience in applying for jobs
• getting a feel for what it’s like to work and what’s expected of you in a real life work situation
• finding out if you really like the job you have in mind
• getting on-the-job experience and developing skills employers want
• getting a foot in the door with an employer.

How Long?

This varies, but the longer the better and spread over a period. On the website www.jobjuice.gov.au graduates are advised to ‘start with one week full-time then follow it up with one day a month for the next few months’. This is an excellent way of gaining the kind skills and knowledge that will enhance your employment prospects after graduation.

Where Do I Start?

There are various avenues for finding out about and applying for work experience. These include:

• family and friends
• university Careers Services
• Job Network providers
• industry contacts
• web searches for work experience, volunteering, etc
• government programs.

Tips for Success

www.jobjuice.gov.au suggests the following:

• Approach work experience in the same way you would any job.
• Prepare what you are going to ask an employer before contacting them and develop a résumé to help sell yourself.
• Before starting, think about what areas you want to gain experience in while on your placement and then talk this through with your employer. This will benefit you and your employer.
• Make sure you behave like a real employee. Arrive on time, wear the right clothes and show respect for your colleagues.

This article was extracted from ‘New Centre for Work Experience’ (Graduate Grapevine No 5, September 2006) written by Lucretia Radhakrishnan, Project Officer – Youth Career Development Services WA Department of Education and Training, Tel: +61 8 9264 5732 email: [email protected]  and information provided by the Federal Government on www.jobjuice.gov.au .

• Undergraduate Options
• Work Experience - Benefits for Graduates