u
ndergraduate work: know
your options
Many students who are midway through GETTING CLEAR ON TERMS
a degree put off thinking about career
Vacation work
planning: the mindset is, ‘I’ve still got a Vacation work is degree-related work, usually
couple of years, there’s plenty of time’.
paid, undertaken by students at the end of their
However, you put off at your own peril!
second-last year of study, over the vacation
if you have a couple of years or more left
period. Competition, especially in high-profile
before you graduate, there are things you
organisations, can be intense, as these placements
can often lead to a graduate position.
can be doing which will greatly enhance
your graduate employment prospects.
Organisations are increasingly offering winter
First and foremost, you need to familiarise
vacation programs as well as the traditional
summer ones so check with your university
yourself with the range of vacation work
careers service about all the options.
and other undergraduate work experience
options that are available.
Work experience
Work experience is usually student-initiated and
Many organisations in Australia have formal or
is directed at allowing the student to experience a
informal programs for penultimate or final-year
real-work setting. The work can be paid or unpaid
students. These programs can range from one-
and varies in structure and intensity. For more
off work experience stints to formal vacation
information see page 10.
work placements, longer-term cadetships or
scholarships. Not only are these programs a
Cadetships
great way of getting a ‘foot in the door’, they can
Cadetships are employed positions offered
significantly increase your chances of landing a
to students (sometimes graduates) which
graduate position and give you an opportunity to
are designed to provide specific training or
test out an organisation and/or career path.
mentoring. They can be full-time or part-time and
vary from formalised schemes, where cadets are
Opportunities for work-related experience vary
provided with a structured program of training
depending on your field of study. In some courses,
and mentoring, to informal arrangements
like Education or Nursing, for example, work
between an individual student and an
placements are embedded in the curriculum.
organisation.
In areas like Accounting, Business and Law,
universities often have links with employers who
Cooperative programs
offer formal programs.
A cooperative program is an industry-based
learning program consisting of hands-on,
If your course does not have a formal program in
full-time experience in the relevant industry.
place, do not despair. Directories like this one can
Participation in a cooperative scheme is usually
help you find out about opportunities available,
undertaken in the third or fourth year of study
as can your university careers service.
and involves credit points toward a degree.
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