Whether you’re in your first year of university or your last, the time to start planning your career is now. Learn how to prepare and make the most of your time at university in 8 steps, so that by the time you’re ready to graduate, you’re ready to launch straight into a successful career. From learning how to decide what type of job, employer and workplace you want, to how to sell yourself and make valuable connections by networking, these tips will help uni students and graduates be prepared for the world of work and to find their place within it. Planning for a successful career never stops. Once you’ve taken the 8 steps listed here, there are a number of other resources you can check out further advice on USQ’s Social Hub and USQ’s career resource centre, Career Hub.

1. From page
to wage
8 steps to launching your new career

2. Have you ever wondered when you need to start
looking for that great job you want after university?
NOW is the time.
The day you enrol at university is the day you start
on your next career journey. So it makes sense not
to leave your career to chance and to prepare.
Just as you research and learn the necessary skills
at uni that will to enable you to do a job after
completing your degree, you need to do some
research and learn how to get the job you
really want.

3. Here are 8 simple steps to help you
get that job and launch your new career:
STEP 1
Understand
you
STEP 2
Decide what type
of job you want
STEP 3
Consider what you
want in an employer
and workplace
STEP 4
Learn how to
sell yourself
STEP 5
Connections
are key
STEP 6
Develop skills outside
the lecture theatre
STEP 7
Work on your
career every year
STEP 8
Believe in
yourself

4. STEP 1.
Understand you
Understanding who you are and what you really want in life
is essential to successfully choosing the right job.
Being able to identify your values, interests and strengths will
help you to make more informed decisions about what you
want from a job and, ultimately, to succeed in your career.
Everyone is different and it is important you stay true
to yourself.
Once you have a better understanding of who you are, it will
be easier to identify what direction you want your job search
to go in.

5. Tip: It’s always good to get an outsider’s perspective,
so call up or sit down with your family or a trusted
friend and find out what they think your values,
interests and strengths are. You might find it’s an
uplifting experience.

6. ‘When you know yourself, you are empowered.
When you accept yourself, you are invincible.’
Tina Lifford, American actress and playwright

7. Your values
If you highly value your family but work 60 hours a week, or you value innovation but work in a
very conservative organisation, are you likely to be happy or satisfied?
Let’s find the right fit for you!
Your interests
Whether it is a hobby, a passion or just stuff you like to do, it is important to consider
your interests when you are planning your career. Some people like to keep their outside
interests just that, outside of their work, while others might find that their love of cooking
could lead them to a great job working in a food production company.
Your strengths
Everybody is good at something and we want to help you work out what makes you unique.
You probably already know your weaknesses, but what about your strengths?

8. Your values
If you highly value your family but work 60 hours a week, or you value innovation but work in a
very conservative organisation, are you likely to be happy or satisfied?
Let’s find the right fit for you!
Your interests
Whether it is a hobby, a passion or just stuff you like to do, it is important to consider
your interests when you are planning your career. Some people like to keep their outside
interests just that, outside of their work, while others might find that their love of cooking
could lead them to a great job working in a food production company.
Your strengths
Everybody is good at something and we want to help you work out what makes you unique.
You probably already know your weaknesses, but what about your strengths?

9. Your values
If you highly value your family but work 60 hours a week, or you value innovation but work in a
very conservative organisation, are you likely to be happy or satisfied?
Let’s find the right fit for you!
Your interests
Whether it is a hobby, a passion or just stuff you like to do, it is important to consider
your interests when you are planning your career. Some people like to keep their outside
interests just that, outside of their work, while others might find that their love of cooking
could lead them to a great job working in a food production company.
Your strengths
Everybody is good at something and we want to help you work out what makes you unique.
You probably already know your weaknesses, but what about your strengths?

10. Tip: Make contact with one of USQ’s Career
Development Practitioners at Student Services.
They can assist you with personality and work
preference assessments to help you better
understand your strengths, values and interests and
refine your career goals.

11. ‘When your values are clear to you, making
decisions becomes easier.’
Roy E. Disney, former senior executive of
the Walt Disney Company

12. STEP 2.
Decide what type of
job you want
When it comes to looking for a job, you need to be
clear what it is you are looking for. It is also important
that you be realistic; let’s face it, your first job after
graduation may not be your dream job. Luckily, we
are here to help you through the maze and can help you
get a handle on the terminology. Once you complete
your degree, there are a variety of jobs available that you
can apply for. Two of the most popular are graduate jobs
and graduate program positions.

13. Graduate jobs
Graduate jobs (also known as entry-level jobs) usually require a qualification and a
specific set of skills and knowledge. Graduate jobs can be great to get your foot in
the door within your chosen industry and provide graduates with good experience
and the opportunity to develop skills and expertise.
With these jobs, you are there to perform a role, gain experience and commence
your professional career. Not all graduates are attracted to the formal Graduate
programs, therefore a great number of university graduates commence their career in
entry-level positions.

14. Graduate programs
If you would like more structure to your new role and more formal on-the-
job training and development, graduate programs are offered by a number
organisations each year. These positions are highly sought after and recruitment
can commence up to 10 months prior, so you need to be prepared and apply
early.
Graduate programs are more structured than entry-level positions. They have a
set duration (1–2 years), have formalised training and development embedded,
and can feature rotations around the company and physical locations. They
can often feature mentoring and some have training leading to postgraduate
qualifications. Graduate programs attract a certain type of candidate and are
not suitable for everyone. They are highly competitive, representative of certain
industries, and most often limited to capital cities and major metropolitan areas.

15. Tip: Graduate program applications are generally
open between January and April each year.
Check out the Graduate Opportunities website
for specific details.

16. STEP 3.
Consider what you
want in an employer
and workplace
Thinking about who you want to work for is another important
step when planning your career, as when it comes time to write
applications and talk to prospective employers, you want to
know who you’re aiming for.
A lot of people spend a significant amount of time sending
résumés to every organisation they can think of. Not only is this
a waste of time and money, but it is also disheartening and
pointless if you won’t enjoy working for the organisation.

17. Ask yourself what kind of workplace you want to work in.
Do you dream of working in a large corporation, a government
department or a small business?
Have you thought about what cities or towns you are willing to work in?
Many of us like staying in the place we know, but don’t discount moving
to a new city if there is a chance this is where that amazing job is.

18. What is
important to you
in an employer?
Is it important that they have a trusted reputation,
family-friendly policies, corporate social responsibility,
environmental credentials, multicultural diversity or a
healthy workplace culture?
Whatever you decide, keep an open mind and make sure
you are applying to places that fit with your values and
are likely to make you happy. In saying that, be open to
alternatives and always consider whether a different job
could still take you a step in the right direction.

19. ‘The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe
is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love
what you do.’
Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc

20. STEP 4.
Learn how to
sell yourself
Now don’t freak out. Learning how to sell yourself is a challenge for
many people.
What might make it easier for you is to separate the person you are at
home who has bad hair days, not enough money in the bank and an
inability to use a hammer, with the person you are (or are going to
be) at work. This is the person who has studied really hard to learn all
the skills and knowledge they need to excel at their new job.
Think about what is unique and original about you, the career
professional. What makes you better than the 100 other graduates who
just completed the same degree as you? (Lots of things, we’re sure.)

21. To sell yourself, you need to network, communicate and engage with the right people in the best
possible way.
Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:
• head along to local business or industry association networking events. They are great
opportunities to meet new people and build relationships well before you start looking for a job.
• set up your profile on LinkedIn and ask people you know to connect. Make sure you keep it
professional with a quality head shot (don’t use one from a party or family holiday!) and all your
work and study information.
• develop a 30-second elevator pitch. You’ve just been introduced to the boss of a company
where you want to work and you don’t want to blow the opportunity. You need a brief and
persuasive speech — an elevator pitch. Your pitch should answer 4 key questions: who you are,
what you do, what is unique about you, and what you want them to do. It’s important to tell a
story and engage the person you’re talking to, while leaving out the jargon.

22. Tip: Talk to one of USQ’s Career Development
Practitioners at Student Services. They can help
you with job applications, your résumé and even
conduct mock interviews with you to help you put
your best foot forward.

23. STEP 5.Connections are key
Did you know that a third of all Australian jobs are
never advertised?*
So, what can you do to increase your chances of
getting the job you want? Connections are key!
In the search for the right job, networking and
building relationships are essential. It will probably
take you out of your comfort zone, but it will all be
worth it.
*Source: Australian Government Department of Employment, 2015, Australian Jobs.

24. Here are some tips to make networking easier:
• Talk to people you already know. You will be amazed at what connections your network of
family, friends and colleagues have and how easy it is for you to tap into this resource.
• Look for any connections you may have in companies you want to work for. By talking to them
you might get a better understanding of the organisation and it may just give you a shoo-in.
• Go along to networking functions and meet people. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce
and uni associations for events.
• Join the professional association in your field as a student member and attend their events.
• Head along to the annual USQ Career Fest and meet employers looking for graduates.
• Spend some time every month (more often if you can) searching for possible contacts and leads
on LinkedIn. Be responsible with your requests and ask your contacts for introductions to persons
of interest you don’t know, or write a brief introductory note to the person you are trying to make
contact with. You don’t want to be known for spamming people.

25. How to build a network and improve your
career prospects
‘A big part of studying at university is networking. We don’t only want the piece of paper
once we finish our degrees, do we? We also want to have developed networks within our
chosen field by the end of our degree, because this might make it a tad easier to actually get
a job at the end of the day. I don’t know about you, but I definitely want a job at the end of
my degree!
Let me explain some of the ways I’ve used networking as a tool to help me further my career
and gain employment.’ – Nick, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) graduate
Read Nick’s blog.

26. STEP 6.
Develop skills outside
the lecture theatre
Will you have all the skills required to get the job you want? If not, work out
now how you are going to get them.
Most employers are looking for a broad range of skills that cover what
you have learned at university plus other skills like good communication,
leadership, teamwork, the ability to follow directions and a solid work ethic.
There are many different opportunities to boost your skills throughout your
years at uni. Here are just two:
• apply to undertake work experience, an internship, cadetship or
vacation program in your field of study.
• find a casual job or volunteer to improve your employability skills.

27. When writing your résumé, don’t overlook a previous job because it’s not
related to your current field of study. It’s really important to include all your
jobs and work experience. That job you had at the local supermarket can
show a lot to a prospective employer about your determination to work,
your ability to adapt and a whole set of skills that can be transferable to
your dream position.

28. Tip: Talk to USQ’s Student Services team about
how to go about getting work experience, an
internship, cadetship or entry into a vacation program.

29. ‘Theory can only take you so far, so it’s important to go out
of your way to find relevant work experience to get that
dream job!’
Eliza, Bachelor of Applied Media (journalism) graduate.
See what Eliza has to say on
why you should chase work experience.

30. STEP 7.Work on your career
every year
Your first year
You’ve just started on your journey at uni and you’ve got a thousand things to do and not
enough time, we know. However, the reasons you are at uni in the first place is to get an
awesome career, so it’s important that you put aside some time to come up with an action plan.
You can’t do it all at once but you don’t want to leave it all until the last year.
The middle years
By now you will have settled into uni life and have a handle on where you are heading. These
are some of the most important years for career planning. It’s vital that during your time at uni
you are out there working on your networking and also on your self-confidence. We are not all
born salespeople, so it’s important to learn the skills and confidence to sell yourself.
Your final year
Congratulations! You have made it to your final year and now it’s time to start searching for that
great job. Start searching for and applying for graduate program positions in January of your
final year. If you are looking for a graduate job, it would pay to start searching in the middle of
the year.

31. STEP 7.Work on your career
every year
Your first year
You’ve just started on your journey at uni and you’ve got a thousand things to do and not
enough time, we know. However, the reasons you are at uni in the first place is to get an
awesome career, so it’s important that you put aside some time to come up with an action plan.
You can’t do it all at once but you don’t want to leave it all until the last year.
The middle years
By now you will have settled into uni life and have a handle on where you are heading. These
are some of the most important years for career planning. It’s vital that during your time at uni
you are out there working on your networking and also on your self-confidence. We are not all
born salespeople, so it’s important to learn the skills and confidence to sell yourself.
Your final year
Congratulations! You have made it to your final year and now it’s time to start searching for that
great job. Start searching for and applying for graduate program positions in January of your
final year. If you are looking for a graduate job, it would pay to start searching in the middle of
the year.

32. STEP 7.Work on your career
every year
Your first year
You’ve just started on your journey at uni and you’ve got a thousand things to do and not
enough time, we know. However, the reasons you are at uni in the first place is to get an
awesome career, so it’s important that you put aside some time to come up with an action plan.
You can’t do it all at once but you don’t want to leave it all until the last year.
The middle years
By now you will have settled into uni life and have a handle on where you are heading. These
are some of the most important years for career planning. It’s vital that during your time at uni
you are out there working on your networking and also on your self-confidence. We are not all
born salespeople, so it’s important to learn the skills and confidence to sell yourself.
Your final year
Congratulations! You have made it to your final year and now it’s time to start searching for that
great job. Start searching for and applying for graduate program positions in January of your
final year. If you are looking for a graduate job, it would pay to start searching in the middle of
the year.

33. Tip: To ensure that you are maximising your career
opportunities every step of the way during your uni
journey, make an appointment with USQ’s Career
Development Practitioners at Student Services.

34. STEP 8.Believe in yourself
You have worked hard and made it this far,
so don’t stop now.
The job market might be tough right now,
but there are more jobs around than you
think. You need to make time to create a plan
and get out there and give it your best shot.
Believe in yourself and your abilities and
remember, we are here to support you every
step of the way. #youcandoit

35. ‘Believe in yourself and back yourself to come out on top. A
fulfilling career is waiting for those brave enough to find it.’
Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group

36. What now?
Check that you are taking action
towards each of these 8 steps:
Step 1 – Understand you
Step 2 – Decide what type of job you want
Step 3 – Consider what you want in an employer and workplace
Step 4 – Learn how to sell yourself
Step 5 – Connections are key
Step 6 – Develop skills outside the lecture theatre
Step 7 – Work on your career every year
Step 8 – Believe in yourself

37. CRICOS: QLD00244B NSW02225M TEQSA: PRV12081 29.6.2 01.2017 IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
social.usq.edu.au
A little more inspiration
You’ve gone through the 8 steps and are looking for a little more inspiration to go forward
with your plan. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few things to do:
• Make an appointment with one of USQ’s Career Development Practitioners at
Student Services.
• Head to USQ’s career resource centre, the Career Hub.
• Check out USQ’s Social Hub.
• Chat to your lecturers and tutors.
• Find out about the Career Mentoring Program at USQ.
• Watch our Career Quick Tips series and be prepared for the next
steps on your career journey. The series covers everything from tips on
writing résumés, to what psychometric testing is and how
to address selection criteria.