How to get a job – before you’ve had a job

As a graduate job seeker, you’ll often find that getting the job you want is dependent on already having worked in that very job. You need work experience to build your career, but no one will give you a foot in the door.

Frustrating, right?

But at VU, we offer a range of ways to graduate with a CV that boasts all the professional experience employers want!

Through course content closely linked with industry and well-established workplace learning programs, you can gain experience that is equivalent to prior employment, while earning study credit for it at VU. You’ll also have the chance to network in your field and potentially impress key industry employers.

For example, Arts students can take up an internship with the Footscray Community Arts Centre, while Education students can gain up to 700 hours’ teaching practice during their degree. Our Law students can shadow high-profile judges, and our Sport and Exercise Science students complete placements with over 350 different host organisations.

Our long-standing Work-integrated Learning program for Business students offers opportunities to work with hundreds of top-tier companies like KPMG, ANZ Bank, GM Holden, Disneyworld Florida and more.

Build up your skill-set and referee list by taking part in some of the fantastic student work opportunities on campus. While some are voluntary positions, the experience you get is guaranteed to pay off in the future.

VU offers a number of paid roles each year for Student Ambassadors, which give you the chance to develop communication and networking skills.

There are a number of other opportunities for paid work on campus, such as in the Student Mentor Program. Student Mentors are VU students, paid to provide advice and guidance to other VU students. Work experiences like this provide you with invaluable employability skills for future career development, and can lead to other 'student as staff' positions within VU.

Our Student Leadership Program also offers unique professional-development opportunities to hone your leadership skills and help you stand out when you graduate.

And don’t forget to check out the exciting external internship opportunities that may be available for your study area! Check the jobs board on Learning Hub site (login required).

Take advantage of free advisory services on campus. At VU, there are a range of services designed to help students gain employment before they even graduate.

Current VU students, and graduates who have completed study within the last two years, can access online and face-to-face careers and employment services through VU Careers Hub.

VU Employ offers careers counselling and a range of employability services, resources and programs designed to ensure you have the skills, experience and knowledge needed to be job- and career-ready.

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