Graduate Opportunities

The uncertain global economy and job market is, justifiably, of great concern to students and graduates searching for work. But don’t stress – there are still steps you can take to maximise your employment prospects! Keep reading as we answer some common questions...

Q: The job market is pretty harsh at the moment. How do I gain an opportunity during these times?

A: Though times are tough, many organisations are still recruiting graduates. The same principles apply now as in boom times. Ensure your résumé is up to date, and identify both industries and potential employers that are of interest.

If you find you can’t get a position in your specific discipline, apply for positions within other industries that appeal. Consider approaching industry-related professional associations as well. This type of employment will provide important professional experience and enhance your résumé when jobs more suited to your discipline are available. All employment, work experience and volunteerism has value.

Networking is also significant in job searching. Develop a list of people in your industry/discipline area you could contact and reach out to them. These could include friends, family and university acquaintances. Most university employment and career development services will have further information on industry specific contacts and volunteer work. Your faculty may also have some suggestions for work-integrated learning options (WIL).

31% of graduate employers surveyed still had difficulty recruiting graduates in 2009 (Source: Graduate Outlook Survey, 2009 GCA)

Q: Will any kind of work experience/volunteer roles help towards getting a ‘foot in the door’ in my preferred area, or do these opportunities have to be specific to my field of study?

A: Work experience in your specific area is better,but may be much more difficult to obtain. This may be particularly true if you are undertaking a broad, generalist degree (e.g. Arts, Science). General work experience is also valuable, but you must be able to identify how it makes you a potentially better employee.

For example, you might end up supervising some staff in your work experience; this is a valuable generic skill to many employers. For all work experience, keep a record of your tasks and the skills obtained. These could be leadership, technology or customer service skills, all of which are excellent to demonstrate to potential employers. You should also always ask for a reference from an employer or colleague to reinforce your skills and strength as an applicant.

Simultaneously studying and looking for work experience or internships is beneficial. If you are a qualified individual with a positive personality and a depth and breadth of skills then you will eventually obtain work!

Q: Is it important to be in a big city like Sydney or Melbourne to secure a job during these times, or is somewhere smaller just a good?

A: While many large companies have head offices in Sydney or Melbourne, there are still plenty of jobs available in every state. What is most important is identifying how your skills and abilities will meet the requirements of the employer, and being able to demonstrate how you meet its selection criteria.

In difficult times, don’t forget that longer-term prospects for students and graduates are still excellent. You will need to be more flexible in how you think about your employment options. Gaining experience can be just as important now as getting your ‘ideal’ job.

95% of graduate employers surveyed maintained their graduate program in 2009 in spite of the economic downturn (Source: Graduate Outlook Survey, 2009 GCA)

Q: Some people tell me that in the current economic climate I should focus on studying and gaining additional qualifications, given fewer jobs are available. Others think that with so many people returning to university, there will be an oversupply of qualified people when the job market recovers. Who do I believe?

A: It depends on the individual and what you are studying. We don’t believe that you can have an over-supply of advanced qualifications unless perhaps it is a skills-specific industry such as the trades. It will generally take longer for graduates to obtain employment as there are fewer opportunities during an economic downturn. Additional qualifications and undertaking honours or masters can always add value when you are competing against other graduates for roles.

It is important to gain experience in your area of study to make you more marketable to the industry or a graduate role. Simultaneously studying and looking for work experience or internships is beneficial. If you are a qualified individual with a positive personality and a depth and breadth of skills then you will eventually obtain work!

There are many excellent resources available to help you find contacts. Take advantage of your university careers service, and talk to your friends and family. Use this Graduate Opportunities directory, available at your careers service, or view career advice information online at www.graduateopportunities.com

Keep up your job search activities, don’t be too discouraged, and try to remain positive. You might not get your ‘ideal’ job straight away, but you want to be ready with some good work experience for when your ‘ideal’ job does come along.

Q: My applications are well written, grammatically correct and target the needs of the employer. I have undertaken several volunteer internships, as well as leadership roles at the university level. Why do I keep getting knocked back?

A: You are certainly being proactive in obtaining some good experience. If, as you say, your application addresses these points, it is either the fickle market out there or your increased competition. Contact the employer and ask for any tips on what th company is seeking in applicants and how you could improve future applications. Ask what made the successful applicant stand out.

It is also important to ensure that you meet the basic eligibility requirements of the position. For example, some employers can only take on graduates who have their Permanent Residency status, are undertaking certain degree qualifications, or have certain academic results. You should be able to find out these basic requirements from the employer’s website.
It is worthwhile visiting your careers services and getting your résumé checked out. They will also be able to provide some good strategies for getting past that initial stage in the application process.

Good luck!

This article has been adapted from an online chat session hosted by Monash University’s Judi Green, and Cindy Tilbrook, former Executive Director of Graduate Careers Australia. The session was conducted as part of GCA’s 2009 Virtual Careers Fair.