Graduate Opportunities

Many of you participated in the recent Virtual Careers Fair, hosted by Graduate Careers Australia. During the two-week event, a daily average of over 700 visitors to the VCF website chatted with representatives from over 65 different employers, 47 universities across Australia and New Zealand, and many other professional organisations and career consultancies.

One such chat session, hosted by Monash University’s Judi Green, and GCA Executive Director Cindy Tilbrook, focused specifically on graduate job searching during times of economic downturn. The one-hour session generated significant interest, and some important career advice.

What follows is a summary of some of the key questions and answers to arise from this chat session. We hope it helps in your job search, and our thanks to those who participated!

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

Answer: Even though times are tough, there are still plenty of organisations out there recruiting graduates. The same principles apply during these times as in boom times. You should ensure that your résumé is up-to-date, and you should identify both industries that are of interest and potential employers.

Many of you are in highly discrete job areas. If you are finding that you can't get a position in your specific discipline area, then apply for positions within other industries that appeal to you. This type of employment will then get you some important work experience, which will enhance your résumé when jobs more suited to your discipline area are available. All work experience and volunteer work is valuable, particularly if you record what skills and abilities you have obtained through that work experience.

Networking is also significant in job searching. Develop a list of people in your industry/discipline you could contact, and reach out to them. These could even be friends, family and university acquaintances.

It is also important to visit your university careers service, as it will be able to provide some suggestions for obtaining work experience.

Question: 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?

Answer: Work experience in your specific area is better, but may be much more difficult to obtain. General work experience is also valuable, but you must be able to identify how that work experience has made you a potentially better employee. For example, you might end up supervising some staff in your work experience, and this is a generic skill which is of value to many employers. For any work experience, keep a record of what you have done and what skills you have learned. These may be technology skills, customer service skills etc., all of which can be good skills to demonstrate to a potential employer.

Most university employment and career development services will have contacts for some places for volunteer work. Your faculty may have some suggestions for Work Integrated Learning options as well.

Question: I’m currently undertaking a broad, generalist degree, and so have found it hard to gain work experience in my area of interest. I’m currently doing some work experience that I’m not that interested in, but am completing it just to get that experience on my résumé. Will this help me find a graduate job, or am I doing the wrong thing?

Answer: You are doing the right thing. Try to maintain a positive attitude to your work experience, and make sure you keep a record of the skills you are learning through that work experience (see responses above).

You may also be able to do some volunteer work that is more directly related to your area of interest – this will also boost your résumé.

Question: What is the ideal length for a CV or résumé?

Answer: This can vary from employer to employer. Many organisations now require an initial online application. Most will specify what they require on their websites, so check them out first. If it isn't specified, then we'd say three to four pages of good relevant information should be fine.

It can also depend on the job you are applying for and how much experience you have. If you were going for a casual job, you would have a shorter résumé, for example two pages.

Again, visit http://www.graduateopportunities.com/career_advice/applications for résumé/application tips.

Question: I have trouble writing a cover letter, and don’t know what I should be including other than addressing the key selection criteria for a particular job. I haven’t had my résumé or cover letter reviewed by a career consultant – is this recommended?

Answer: You should certainly get your résumé and cover letters checked. Your career service will be happy to help. It is always a good idea to have careers education consultants and people whose opinion you trust/respect looking at your application. Most careers departments will have help sheets on résumé writing and cover letters.

Question: I have undertaken several volunteer internships, as well as leadership roles at the university level. However my job applications continue to be unsuccessful. Why?

Answer: You are certainly being proactive in obtaining some good experience. It may be worthwhile getting your résumé and cover letter checked by a career education consultant at your university to make sure you are including relevant information. It is vitally important to demonstrate how you meet the selection criteria of the employer, as specified in the application information.

Question: My applications are well written, grammatically correct, and target the needs of the employer. Why do I keep getting knocked back?

Answer: You need to look at the quality of your application. Ensure that in your application you do target the needs of the employer, selection criteria and job (and not just submit a generic application).

If, as you say, your application addresses these points, it is either the market out there or your competition. You could contact the employer and ask if they have any tips on what they are looking for in applicants and how you could improve your application for the future. Ask what made the successful applicant stand out. Otherwise, as mentioned previously, you may also want to think about extending your job search activities into different industries or different types of roles. Use your networks as well – family, friends, social acquaintances etc.

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 probably worthwhile visiting your careers service and getting your résumé checked out. They will also be able to give you some good strategies for getting past that initial stage in the application process.

Question: Do companies still target people who graduated over two years ago for graduate positions?

Answer: Some companies may not take graduates who are two or three years out into their 'graduate' programs – often after two years you are no longer considered a 'recent graduate' and will not be eligible for these programs. However, organisations may still recruit you through a different process, and companies have far more jobs than just graduate roles. There are many other types of jobs you can try for that will suit your needs. Try calling the organisation to see what is available. Visit the careers section of their websites for advertised jobs and to find about the criteria required for selection. An employer who recruits a graduate usually has a very healthy attitude to training all employees.

Question: I completed my degree in one city/state, and then moved interstate. Which career service should I go to now?

Answer: Most university careers services are set up as a free service for their students and alumni only. You may find that there will be a fee charged if you go to another university’s career service. It may be worthwhile contacting your university and asking whether the careers service may still be able to assist you.

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

Answer: While many large companies have their head offices in Sydney or Melbourne, there are still plenty of jobs available in every state. For example, Perth, and WA in general, have been offering significant employment opportunities. Although there is a downturn in many areas of mining, there are still senior jobs available there.

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 their selection criteria.

Question: What are the average base salaries and salary increments per year, for graduate positions, and is there a website where I can find this information?

Answer: Average base salary will vary depending on the type of work you end up obtaining, and the employer. You can visit GCA’s www.gradsonline.com.au website to obtain a general indication of graduate salaries.

Salary increments very much depend on the individual employer and what’s going on in the specific industry. There is no standard increase each year. Recently grad salaries have been going up by around 1-2K each year, but in the current climate it's anyone's guess. They will usually also depend on how well you perform in the position once you obtain employment.

There also are some excellent websites sponsored by the government that provide longer-term employment and salary information. See www.jobsearch.gov.au/joboutlook or www.workplace.gov.au/australianjobs.

Question: With the economy so unstable, is it a good time for a career switch?

Answer: In difficult times, it is often advisable to obtain a new job before resigning from your previous employment. This way, you aren't left without a job for any period of time. You will also want to be able to explain to a potential employer why you want to make the career change, so make sure you understand your own motivations.

Question: After several years of professional experience, would it be useful to do some volunteer work to secure that next job, or would an employer see a weakness in my career path if I approached them for volunteer work rather than a paid vacancy?

Answer: This is a difficult one. Certainly volunteer work would be of value (see responses above), but it may be worthwhile doing such work in addition to current employment. This would mean that you wouldn't have the break in your career path.

Most employers will be positive about someone who is being proactive in seeking employment. However, you also need to take into account your own personal and family situation in difficult economic times.

In addition to the voluntary work it would be useful to become actively involved in professional associations related to your field. For a list of many professional associations, visit http://www.graduateopportunities.com/header/professional_associations.

Question: I’m an honours student about to graduate, and for some time was reluctant to relocate to a larger city with more job opportunities. In trying to get my foot in the door I have picked up some industry experience here and there, but have a significant gap of unemployment on my résumé. Some recruiters tend to dismiss my applications based on this. What’s the best way to convey the reasons behind this, and to show I am now willing to relocate?

Answer: There are different styles of résumés. A functional résumé style would be best for you (as opposed to the traditional chronological style). This lists your employment history and skills based on job function and skills required/learned, which is useful for highlighting your suitability for specific job vacancies. When talking about your experiences remember to keep it all positive!

Honesty is always a good approach. Be upfront in your application about why you have gaps in your résumé. Many employers will understand issues like not wanting to relocate. Then make sure you focus on how you are still the best candidate for the job and meet their selection criteria.

For more career advice and application information, visit http://www.graduateopportunities.com/career_advice.

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

Answer: It depends on the individual and what you are studying. We don't personally believe that you can have an oversupply of advanced qualifications unless perhaps it is an industry that is skills-specific such as the trades etc. It is generally going to take longer for graduates to obtain employment as there are not as many opportunities during an economic downturn. Additional qualifications, and undertaking honours or masters, can always add value to you when you are competing against other graduates for roles.

It is also important to gain some experience in your area of study to make you more marketable for the industry or a graduate role. So, 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!

In closing…

In difficult times, don't forget that the longer-term prospects for graduates are still excellent. You will need to be a bit more flexible in how you think about your employment options. Gaining experience can be just as important now as getting your 'ideal' job. 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 comes up as the economy improves.

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. Pick up a Graduate Opportunities directory, available at your careers service, or view the information online at www.graduateopportunities.com.

Good luck!

NOTE: To view full transcripts of all Virtual Careers Fair chat sessions, please visit: www.vcf.graduatecareers.com.au.