Where & What Type of Work

Where & What Type of Work

Undergraduate opportunities...

Many organisations in Australia have formal or informal programs for penultimate or final-year students. These programs can range from vacation work schemes to longer-term cadetships and scholarships.

Getting clear on terms

Vacation work: Typically paid, degree-related work undertaken by students at the end of their second-last year of study (over the vacation period). Organisations are increasingly offering winter vacation programs as well as summer ones.

Work experience: Usually student initiated work, which can be paid or unpaid and is directed at allowing the student to experience a real-work setting. For more information see the Work Experience section of this site.

Cadetships: Full-time or part-time employment offered to students while they are completing their study. Programs can vary from formalised arrangements, where cadets are provided with concomitant training and mentoring, to informal set-ups between an individual student and an organisation.

Cooperative programs: An industry-based learning program consisting of hands-on, full-time experience in the relevant industry. Often undertaken during third-year of four-year degree, and involves credit points toward a degree.

Scholarships: Financial grant provided by government, industry or private organisations. Relevant work experience with the sponsor organisation is usually part of the scholarship.

Pros & cons

The benefits of undertaking any of the above undergraduate options include:

• Experience and résumé enhancement: Gain a working knowledge of the industry – useful in itself and great on a résumé
• Networking opportunities: Direct contact with a people involved in your industry of interest
• A foot in the door: Potential of securing further work with the organisation
• Career tester: Opportunity to 'preview' the job/profession/organisation
• Better grades: Seeing the theory being put into practice means you will go back to university with an enhanced understanding of your field of study.

How to find undergrad opportunities

• Look in the GO quick index
• Your Careers Service’s staff and website will be able to assist you
• Contact organisations that you are interested in working for. Even if they don’t have formal programs for students, ask whether there is any opportunity for you to gain experience of some kind with them.

Compulsory experience

In some university courses it is compulsory to do vacation work or a cooperative scheme placement at some point during the degree. Competition for 'top' opportunities can become intense between students, so follow the same tips as for job hunting:

• Use your network and market yourself effectively
• Speak to your Careers Service, lecturers and tutors
• Research relevant companies to compare what they offer.

Keep in mind

Remember, vacation work and other work experience programs are good for both employers and job seekers. Employing the wrong people is costly for organisations so they like having the chance to ‘preview’ workers. If an organisation you have undertaken a placement with offer you a job later down the track, it is less of a risk for both parties: you know the work environment, expectations and whether it felt 'right' for you and they know your skills, personality and role/organisation suitability.