How to start your career before you graduate

A university degree or vocational training course sounds like a great way to advance your career, whether you’re keen to start out in a new field or obtain that awesome promotion, right? Right! But you should only worry about making yourself more appealing to your future employer after you’ve finished your degree, right? Wrong!

At Charles Darwin University, we're all about helping our students prepare for work, starting well before they graduate. Our free CDU Careers Centre provides tips, resources and access to career counsellors to help all students maximise their employability. 

There's one piece of advice the Careers team swears by: start making yourself more employable while you study. 

Gain work experience early

Employers value experience - all experience. Think about the skills you have learned from your casual and part-time jobs: these are transferable skills and can be built into your resume. Finding it difficult to get a job in your area of study? Seek out volunteer opportunities. 

Additionally, CDU consistently ranks amongst the best universities in Australia for graduate outcomes with the work integrated learning for many students resulting in employment after graduation.

“CDU is a highly-regarded university in the country with great employment outcomes for its graduates. The course is very practical, and the teaching placements can connect me with future employment opportunities in local schools” - Sunny 

Finding it difficult to get a job in your area of study? Seek out volunteer opportunities through the CDU Careers Centre or Volunteer SA/NT. 

Secure references

Be mindful of the need for referees: a good reference can be the difference between you successfully obtaining a job or not. So always bring a can-do attitude and positive approach to the job, no matter the role or how difficult the work environment may be.

Network, network, network

Whether you study online or on campus, joining student organisations and professional associations are great ways to get involved in networking opportunities.

Loads of jobs and professional experience opportunities that aren’t advertised are instead filled through leveraging personal relationships, so networking is key.

Who knows? You may meet your future employer at that industry briefing breakfast, so get mingling.

Take the time to build relationships with staff and other students; having good relationships with your lecturers is one of the best ways to build your networks early.

Start reading job ads

Look for interesting positions, increase your exposure to language used in job ads, and research companies who advertise the jobs that interest you. Students at CDU can access the free CareerHub, which is full of awesome work opportunities.

Remember to also look for jobs via LinkedIn, directly with organisations you're interested in, online via websites like Seek.com and through recruitment agencies.

And don't be shy to ask friends and family if they know of any job vacancies. Sometimes the best jobs are never even advertised!

Start working on your resume early

Develop your resume and keep updating it with new skills and work experience so it’s good to go when your dream job becomes available.

Lead time for some job applications or graduate employment programs can be very short so having an up-to-date resume at the ready can make all the difference in securing the role.

Use a portfolio approach so you can include examples of your work (if appropriate) or create a LinkedIn profile to include on your resume. Unsure on how to write a resume? If you're a CDU student, book a time with the careers team; they have plenty of resources and advice to help you create an awesome resume!

Attend seminars and workshops

Take advantage of all learning opportunities that are offered - you may not get credit for them, but they will help you get a job.

CDU Careers Centre hold regular online and face-to-face workshops for CDU students and cover off on a wide range of topics, including how to write a resume and cover letter, addressing selection criteria, refining your interview skills and building your profile on LinkedIn. 

Build your personal brand

What skills, professional experience and passions do you possess that set you apart from other job candidates? Are you creative? Perhaps you’re an expert at Excel spreadsheets, or maybe you can speak another language.

Whatever your point of difference, continue to develop it – and most of all – let it shine.  

LinkedIn is a fantastic platform for showcasing your personal brand. Make sure you connect your profile to Charles Darwin University’s LinkedIn page.

Develop employability skills through the student experience

Employers look for evidence that demonstrates well-developed “soft skills” including effective communication, ability to work as a member of a team (group assignments, I’m looking at you), good organisational skills, ability to problem solve and use initiative.

If you're a CDU student or recent graduate, reach out to the CDU Career Centre for personalised online or face-to-face advice on building your career. Learn more.