A university degree is an important step on the path towards your future career. But did you know that employers today often look for more than a degree alone?
That’s why The University of Queensland (UQ) goes further to offer students the opportunities, support and guidance they need to graduate job-ready.
But how do you build your career while you study? To find out, we spoke to three UQ graduates, Nozomi Yamazaki, Doug Tham and Minh Le.
Dive into your coursework
At UQ, one of the ways we help you prepare for your future is simply by offering a practical educational experience.
Minh, who completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Food Science and Nutrition, says his studies saw him get lots of hands-on experience with modern lab equipment, as well as experience preparing for real workplace scenarios.
“In a third-year course, I had a group assignment in which we had to develop a plant-based beverage. We had to dive into the market, regulatory requirements, health claims, ingredients and the flavour profile of the product. The end presentation was the showcase of the product in front of the class and our professor,” he explains.
Get involved
Of course, there are also lots of exciting opportunities to explore outside of the classroom.
“I was part of Study Brisbane as a Brisbane International Student Ambassador, showcasing life in Brisbane as an international student,” says Nozomi, who completed a dual Bachelor of Communication and Business Marketing at UQ.
“I was also part of Newish, Australia’s first student-run communication agency, as a Director of PR,” she adds.
Doug also joined Newish while completing his Bachelor of Communication in Digital Media.
“We worked on real clients pro bono, and that helped me gain first-hand industry experience,” he shares.
Minh says he got involved with a range of programs, such as the InspireU Mentor Program, UQ International Student Ambassador Program, the UQ Outreach Ambassador program and the UQ Student-Staff Partnership, all of which helped him build a range of skills that have helped him in his career.
Use UQ’s career services
UQ’s careers and employability service isn’t just for graduates. Here, you’ll find plenty of events, workshops, support and advice to help you throughout your university journey.
Nozomi says she relied on the service to help her gain valuable work experience during her studies.
“I went in for advice around getting internships since I knew they were very important for me to land my first-ever full-time job,” she explains.
For Minh, the careers and employability service was instrumental in helping him successfully land two internships as well as some casual student work while he studied, all of which paved the way for him to land his first full-time job after graduation.
Take advantage of WIL
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is an important part of your educational experience. It lets you apply what you learn in the classroom to real situations and gain the real workplace experience that employers want.
At UQ, you have lots of different opportunities to engage in WIL, from industry placements to internships, incubators and events.
Nozomi says she recommends taking on as many internships as you can.
“I did about five to six!” she adds.
Grow your network
A professional network is an important part of your career toolkit, and the best place to start yours is at UQ.
Doug says one of the benefits he enjoyed about his course was the exposure it gave him to people in his industry. He adds that he still relies on these connections today.
Minh adds that networking in your first year is a great way to find out more about your chosen path.
“Start talking to people in your interested career paths to understand what really interests you and build professional connections," he explains.
“And keep growing your network by going to networking events and reaching out to anyone who interests you for a quick coffee chat,” adds Nozomi.
“You never know where that will take you, and it’s who you know, not what you know!”
Make the most of every opportunity
Finally, Doug says the best way to get the most from your student experience is to put yourself out there and not be afraid of failing.
“If something doesn’t work, iterate and refine until it works,” he says.
Minh agrees, and encourages current and future international students to step outside of their comfort zones to fully engage with UQ life.
“The more you put in, the more you get out,” he says.
“I don’t think great opportunities just simply come to you – You have to create them!”
