Employers look for a balanced lifestyle, not just an excellent academic record.
As Deloitte Senior Consultant Antonia Iannunzio explains, "When we look for a candidate we look at a variety of different things from work experience to extra-curricular activities to academic results...we look for a balanced candidate".
Often, students don't realise how important it is to participate in a range of activities, such as working at the local pub, playing sport, joining clubs and societies, or doing unpaid work experience.
"It shows that you can balance your priorities and that you have good organisational skills, are a team player or can interact with people...academic results can give you a competitive advantage, but they're not everything," Iannunzio says.
According to monster.com, earning a bachelor's degree can increase your salary by up to 58%!
(...so hang in there guys!)
Alison Thomson is a career counsellor at QUT and has overseen the development of the innovative Career Development Program.
What was your first job?
Model / Professional Contemporary Dancer
Why did you change your career path?
Through networking I was lucky enough to see my career evolve and change direction several times. Dancing led to living and working in Europe and Asia. This, plus further study in Fashion Design and working with Yves St Laurent (fashion empire - London division) led to a successful career as a fashion designer. This expanded to include a career as a fashion marketing agent for several Queensland labels. After a 10 year break to bring up 2 children I completed a business degree and was offered a position in Education. After helping to build a careers service in a private school I completed a Master of Counselling to further develop the area where I currently work.
I know now I have found what I want to be when I grow up and have enjoyed the amazing journey!
What is the best career advice you ever received?
Sometimes you have to give up some security to explore opportunities - never pass up an opportunity.
What is your favourite thing about your current job at QUT?
Being able to help students see the bigger picture and the various pathways towards a career they love.
What helps get you through the day?
My friends, family and work colleagues and knowing you have helped someone to find a solution.
I wish I had...
believed in myself more when I was young.
I wish I hadn't...
passed up the opportunity when I was offered an acting contract (but then again I wasn't very good at acting).
What advice would you give to current students?
Master the art of Networking and gain as much work experience in the area you are studying to help gain knowledge of what is out there and where you will fit and grow. Always see the positive side of situations.
About to graduate with qualifications in surveying or spatial science? Then we have the job for you! The Brisbane City Council, Australia's largest Council, is looking to recruit a Graduate Surveyor, to commence work in October 2010.
Brisbane is humming with civil engineering projects, so you will be involved in the surveying of the city's roads, bridge and bikeway projects using the latest equipment with the support of seasoned professionals. You will liaise directly with our clients in the Major Projects area, provide outstanding customer service and utilise your skills in terrain modeling to generate and assess data reports. Your team are keen to ensure you are up and running quickly so all ongoing training and development is a high priority.
To find out more, see the job description on CareerHub, but HURRY because applications close September 6!
Have you checked out Careers and Employment on Facebook and Twitter this week?
Connect with us and your peers to keep updated on the latest events, news, jobs, career information and more!
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Website
www.careers.qut.edu.au
Email
careers@qut.edu.au
Phone
07 3138 2649 Gardens Point
07 3138 3488 Kelvin Grove
07 5316 7400 Caboolture
Offices
Gardens Point Campus:
Level 2, X Block
Kelvin Grove Campus:
Level 4, C Block
Caboolture Campus:
Student Centre, J Block
NOTE: Information and links contained in this newsletter are correct at time of publishing.
Dear Final Year Student,
Welcome to Spring, and the September edition of Careers News!
The end of your degree is looming closer and closer, and if you haven't started job searching yet, NOW is the time to get your act together! To get you started, this issue of Careers News includes an overview of the resources we offer to help you create and refine your resume, advice on how to choose an ethical employer, and a list of recruiters' pet hates for your to avoid. As usual, we also have a schedule of upcoming workshops which can help you develop skills related to employment seeking and preparation, and a list of jobs on offer on our CareerHub website which are closing within the month.
Regards,
QUT Careers and Employment Team
'Green Jobs' are getting pretty trendy these days, but there's more to choosing an Ethical Employer than just considering their environmental impact. Many people seek to align themselves with an organisation that is committed to values common to their own. If you want to work for an ethically sound employer, how will you make your judgment?
Decide which areas of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) you feel strongly about:
Environmental: the environmental impact, direct or indirect, of an organisation's operations, products or services, including those of its suppliers.
Community/Social: the impact of an organisation's projects, products, services or investments on the community at a local or global level.
Workplace Practices: including respectful treatment of employees in: recruitment, selection & remuneration; diversity & equal opportunity; work/life balance; professional development & progression; managing redundancies; full entitlement to employment rights.
Marketplace and Business Conduct: responsible behaviour in developing, purchasing, selling and marketing products and services.
Ethical Governance: from board level and throughout an organisation: transparency; risk reporting; effective codes of conduct, codes of ethics and compliance measures.
Research the organisation/s you are considering:
Find out how they are rated by independent third parties.
There are a number of indexes that rate an organisations performance against a range of measures, including employee satisfaction, corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability. Some of theses indexes include:
You may have been told to say "please" and "thank you" as a child, but did you know that manners and correct business etiquette are considered important skills in the workplace?
In a competitive job world you need to display impeccable manners. Managers are looking for employees that they can trust to engage with colleagues, peers and business associates. Even if the job that you are considering does not appear to offer the corporate business lunch scenario, good manners still apply.
An Australian study conducted by Barbara Griffin, an organisational psychologist, found that a single rude comment from a colleague could undermine employee engagement. "We know that poor employee engagement affects productivity and customer satisfaction, as well as increases staff turnover," she says.
Etiquette Coach Rachel Quilty explains, "Your inability to handle yourself as expected could be expensive, as no-one will tell you the real reason you didn't get the job or the promotion".
So at the next job interview or networking event stop and think about the impression that you are creating and remember that a professional attitude will always be preferred.
To read more on the topic, see here.
A resume is a very important tool when it comes to securing a job interview. It is your chance to present your skills, knowledge and experience to an employer, in a concise and factual format. But did you know that employers usually spend less than a minute scanning resumes! So make sure yours is concise, easy to follow, and makes you stand out from the crowd. Whether you have never written a resume before, or just need that extra fine-tuning, QUT Careers and Employment can help!
Getting Your Resume Ready: We provide a range of resources are available to help you create your resume:
Sumbitting Your Resume for Feedback: Careers and Employment provide a resume checking service to all QUT students. You can either email us a copy of your resume to careers@qut.edu.au, and we will get back to you within five days, or you can bring a hard copy of your resume along to one of our walk-in sessions for a 20 minute consultation with a careers counsellor. These happen every day from 11am-12pm, at both our Gardens Point office (room X222) and Kelvin Grove office (level 4 of C Block) and is on a first-come-first-served basis.
For more information on these jobs, or to search for more jobs, go to the QUT CareerHub link on the Careers and Employment website.
Trade and Investment Queensland is seeking expressions of interest from highly talented individuals for the 2011 cadet positions.
The IBC program is an excellent opportunity to enter the world of international business and develop a valuable network of contacts. During the 29-week program, cadets will work closely with the Queensland Government, its international network of Trade and Investment Queensland offices and with industry.
Location:
Cadets can be placed in one of the Trade and Investment Queensland international offices, depending on the needs of the sponsor organisation. These include:
2011 Program:
During the 29-week placement you will undertake targeted research and market assessment work for your sponsor. The program, a great opportunity for you to enhance your international business and marketing expertise, includes:
Applications close 6 September 2010, so GET IT QUICK!
For more information, and to apply online, visit the IBC program website.
| Workshop | Location | Date | Time |
| Accessing the Workforce in Brisbane for International Students | GP - S405 | 02-Sep-2010 Thursday | 3:00 - 4:30 PM |
| Interview Skills | KG - B304 | 03-Sep-2010 Friday | 9:30 - 11:30 AM |
| Job Seeking Strategies for Urban Development students | GP - C405 | 06-Sep-2010 Monday | 6:00 - 8:00 PM |
| Accessing the Workforce in Brisbane for International Students | GP - O520 | 08-Sep-2010 Wednesday | 3:00 - 4:30 PM |
| Job Search Strategies Workshop | KG - B304 | 09-Sep-2010 Thursday | 3:00 - 4:30 PM |
| Accessing the Workforce in Brisbane for International Students | GP - S405 | 15-Sep-2010 Wednesday | 9:30 - 11:00 AM |
| Resume and Letter Writing | KG - B304 | 17-Sep-2010 Friday | 9:30 - 11:00 AM |
| Interview Skills | GP - S405 | 22-Sep-2010 Wednesday | 3:00 - 4:30 PM |
| Accessing the Workforce in Brisbane for International Students | GP - S405 | 30-Sep-2010 Thursday | 3:00 - 4:30 PM |
| Presentation | Location | Date | Time |
| Invensys Rail | GP - Z504 | 8-Sep-2010 Wednesday | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Event | Location | Date |
| Young ICT Professionals Conference | Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | 20-Sep-2010 Monday - 21-Sep-2010 Tuesday |
For the most up-to-date information, or to view more workshops or employer presentations, go to QUT CareerHub on the Careers and Employment website.
While you're job searching it's very important to make a good impression on recruiters. To help you out, Finetuned Coaching's Fiona Wainrit - a Results qualified Coach, specialising in career and life transitions - has developed this list of the most common recruiters' pet peeves and how to avoid them.
1. Long, wordy cover letters and resumes
Many recruiters simply don't have time to read through long-winded cover letters and resumes. Focus on the most important, relevant information, and use dot-points to help cut down fluff. The general rule of thumb is one page for a cover letter, and to limit your resume to 2-3 pages.
2. Generic resumes
When you are trying to cover the same basic information as the next applicant, after a while, generic sounding resumes can be boring to read.
Regardless of the industry you're in, even if it's IT or Finance, there's always
room for some creativity.
Perhaps start with a succinct career objective that captures your personal branding - the essence of what makes you unique, along with your key skills/experience. Elements like this can help you stand out from the crowd and spark interest from the recruiter.
3. Putting your photo on a resume
Unless you're applying for a modelling/acting position that requires a "headshot," there is absolutely no need to include your photo. You want to be judged on the merit of your skills, education and work history, not your race, age, hairstyle, weight or eye colour.
4. The "I'm just calling to check you received my resume" phone call
In today''s world of online applications, there is rarely much time between when you send your resume and when it reaches the recruiters inbox or database. Many recruiters now send automated replys to prevent such phone calls. Follow up calls CAN be good if executed properly - you could ask intelligent questions not covered in the position description, or simply let them know how excited you are that there is finally a position available that merges your expertise into an industry you are passionate about. However if you're calling purely to check that they have received your resume, it is likely the recruiter will just find this annoying.
5. Resumes not sent as a word attachment
Unless specifically requested otherwise, your resume should be sent as a Word attachment. Do not send your resume as a PDF, Mac file, or Zip file. A recruiter simply does not have time to download and convert special files.
6. Spelling errors, typos and poor grammar
In the world of technology and 'Spell Check', you would be amazed how many resumes come through with errors! Your resume provides a first impression of who you are. Find a trusty pal to proof read it if necessary. Also check for consistency in past/ present tense and formatting.
7. Dates that are not included or inaccurate
A resume that does not include dates sends out "red flags" about a candidate's background and is immediately disregarded. The obvious assumption is that the candidate is trying to hide something. Furthermore, be honest about your dates of employment.
8. Too duty oriented
Resumes need to describe more than just work duties, they must also detail your accomplishments. Provide specific examples of how the company benefited from your performance, outlining your direct results and successes. Think about what the employer is looking for and highlight accordingly. This may include financial or client wins, changing a system, or streamlining a process.
9. Lying or misleading information
It is becoming more commonplace for companies to do extensive background and reference checks on a candidate's background prior to hiring.
10. Bagging your former/current employer
No matter how disgruntled you may be, an interview is not the place to vent your frustrations - showing disloyalty towards an employer is not a good thing! Save this for discussions with your family and friends.
View original article by Fiona Wainrit, Director of FinetunedCoaching.
