News Archive

Having a degree is only the start. Employers also want students to have industry experience. Research shows that having work experience significantly increases graduates chances of getting employment and is highly valued by employers.

Work experience can also be a stepping stone into paid full-time employment.

Benefits include:

• Gaining hands - on experience within a workplace and applying what they have learnt in their studies.
• Networking – 70 per cent of jobs are unadvertised, so developing contacts within chosen industry is important.
• Developing transferable skills – work experience helps students develop key skills such as communication, team working, and time management and information technology. Many employers consider these skills as important as high academic attainment.
• Employer referees and references – to add to resumes.

The Careers Centre has had growing numbers of students wanting to under industry work experience. Students are increasingly aware that gaining industry knowledge, skills and developing networks significantly increases their chances of gaining graduate employment.

Undertaking an overseas experience provides exposure to an increasingly global market, cultural awareness and developing language skills.  Reflection and learning from the experience is as important as doing it. Employers want to recruit students who will continue to learn informally as well as formally.

UWA offers insurance to students undertaking unpaid placements, vacation work and volunteer work.

Guild volunteering also assists with Volunteer Working with Children Checks and a Volunteer National Police Check.

Thirty six exhibitors have registered for the Careers Centre VIVE-Vacation, Internship, Volunteering and Experience Fair from 12.00 – 3.00 pm, Tuesday 11 August 2015 in the Under Croft.

The Careers Centre invites all staff to attend and please assist us promoting the VIVE Fair to your students and organisations that may be interested in exhibiting.