Whether you’re looking for experience for your future career, or you need to finance your life and your studies (or both!), now is a great time to start your job search.

At Deakin, we encourage all students to actively prepare themselves for the workforce during their time at university. You can do this by building your soft skills, making industry connections, learning how to successfully apply for jobs and getting some work experience.

Working in a casual or part-time position while you study is the best way to build employment skills and industry knowledge. It will ensure that you’re a competitive applicant when applying for roles after graduation.

DeakinTALENT offers resources, advice and events to help you reach your career goals. They provide programs and services to get you ready for the job market or to polish your pre-existing job skills. Their resources include:

• The jobs and internships board, which lists many casual and part-time opportunities suitable for students, including placements and volunteer roles.
• A resume review tool, which checks the structure, presentation and format of your resume.
• The job application feedback service, where you can receive personalised feedback from an experienced career coach on your resume.
• Articles on how to improve your job applications, including tips on improving your LinkedIn profile, building your personal brand and practising your interview skills.
• Career Success Workshops presented by career coaches and recruitment consultants.

You can start your job search by browsing the jobs and internships board (as well as popular local job sites such as Seek), creating a LinkedIn profile and drafting your resume. Most employers will ask you to submit an up-to-date resume when you apply for a role, along with a concise cover letter explaining why you’re a good candidate for the job. If an employer is impressed by your application, you’ll likely be invited to an interview before they decide whether to hire you.

Remember that it might take some time to be hired in a casual or part-time role, but don’t give up. Think of each job application and interview as good practice for your communication skills and future career opportunities. Good luck!