FAQ

When should I apply for a job?

You will need to begin applying for graduate programs as early as February in your final year of study.
Employers like to advertise this early in the year so that they have enough time to thoroughly process all applications, implement assessment centres and perform individual interviews of suitable applicants. It also allows them time to go through a second stage of recruitment if some of the originally chosen applicants fail their final year or choose not to take up the offer of employment.

When you commence your final year of study, make sure you have the following prepared:

• Resume/CV
• Skills database
• Academic transcript
• Ensure your details are up to date
• If you have completed all of these, then it will be easier for you to apply for positions.

Many employers will request you to apply online  – they will have an extensive Graduate Program webpage for you to source information and also provide contact details for a Recruitment Co-ordinator. It is an important step of your application to contact this person as they will be able to provide much more information than what is provided in the advertisement – make sure you take notes.

Step 1 - Apply
To apply, you may need to use an application form, write a covering letter, address a selection criteria and attach resumes, academic transcripts or references. For assistance at this stage of the process, the Career Officers at UNE are able to provide suggestions and proof read your material.

Step 2 – Selection Process
Once you submit your application online, via mail or email the employer will then select who will go onto the next step of the process. This is called the selection process and you may hear the term ‘cull’ – this is when the employer will go through and select applicants who have completed the information correctly and have been able to demonstrate the skills they require in their application. All other applications will be ‘culled’.

These steps will differ from position to position

Step 3 – Online testing
Many employers will send applicants an online numeracy/literacy test to complete. Those who do not ‘pass’, will be ‘culled’ from the next stage.

Step 4 – Assessment Centre
Congratulations! if you get to this stage, this is where you will be able to show the employer the real you and your employability skills. Often employers will pay for you to attend these centres – but you will need to clarify this at the time. The Assessment Centre is a practical interview, often used to clarify the persons skills that they have mentioned in their application. More information about these centres can be found at.

Step 5 – Interview
If you are successful at gaining an interview – this is usually the last step in the recruitment process.  A list of helpful techniques is available at.

Step 6 – Offer of employment
Well done! The employer is wishing to recruit you into their business and now is the time that you need to make a decision.

Is this the job that you want?? You usually have some time – maybe a couple of weeks -  to make a decision, so think wisely before rushing in and accepting.

First year at UNE - Exploring

Embarking on life as a university student is a major transition point. It will bring a host of new experiences and the opportunity to begin exploring that age-old question, ‘what do I want to do in my life?’

Take some time out from the hurly-burly for:

• Reflection: What do I like to do?
• Identification: what talents do I have?
• Articulation: What sort of work would I enjoy?

See how your university experiences can develop new skills and enhance your existing skills:

• Academic skills
• Personal skills
• Organisational Skills
• Work/Employment skills
• Look around you and observe the world of work. It is not necessary at this stage to know exactly what you want to do when you graduate, but you can start:
• Identifying fields of interest
• Identifying potential occupations
• Begin building your skills database
• Job Blog
• New England Award

Second year - Experiencing

Now that you have settled into university life and discovered more about yourself and the world around you, take some time to reflect on the following:

• Defining ‘what sort of work I’d like to do’
• Defining ‘what field/s I’d like to work in’
• Identify gaps in your skills inventory
• What do you need to do to round out your resume

During your second year, you have the time and opportunity to ‘test out’ some of the types of work you have been considering, and gain valuable skills to enhance your resume.There are a variety of ways you can do this:

• Work placements – paid work, volunteer work, internships, student societies etc
• WorReady – non-academic and WORK300
• Build your resume
• Fine tune your job search and interview skills
• Job Blog

Third year - Targeting

Visit Career Development - Student Assistance early in first semester to map our your personal career ‘plan of attack’

• Identify and rank, your occupational preferences
• Identify and rank, your employer preferences
• Fine tune your resume and application letters
• Practice interview skills
• Make the most of the Virtual Careers Fair
• Attend on-campus Employer presentations/functions
• Get into the habit of scanning newspaper job ads and internet recruitment sites.
• Fire up your job seeking networks
• Begin making applications for graduate positions
• Develop a Plan A – plus Plans B and C

Remember, there is always more than one route to get to where you want to go!

And as a bonus…..
The skills you have developed in making this transition will serve you well throughout your working life.