You’ve put in all the hard work and you’re ready for it to pay off. You’ve finished your university degree but six months on you’re still waiting tables or working in retail. Sound like anyone you know?
It doesn’t matter what qualifications you have, getting a job is never as easy as it seems. Hundreds of thousands of graduates emerge from our universities each year and they’re all looking for work.
Lots of opportunities
Once you graduate you have to put yourself on the market. It’s not enough to just have the degree - you have to show employers what sets you apart from other job applicants. If you don’t have practical experience in your field, go out and get it before you start applying for full-time work.
There are different ways you can get experience and also improve your chances of finding the job you want. Here are some ideas:
- Join your professional association and/or attend their events – it's a great way to meet potential employers and further your skills - check out our Industry profile pages for lists of industry bodies and professional associations on each of our Industry profile pages
- Go to your university’s career fairs - most universities host graduate careers expos, sometimes they're even tailored for specific disciplines, like engineering, medicine or teaching
- Apply for a graduate recruitment program - a graduate recruitment program is a great way to explore your options in both business and government
- Look for work interstate or overseas - to fund your trip you could take a working holiday and teach English as a second language
- Use your networks - let everyone you know that you are looking for work in your field of study, and get them to let everyone they know as well
- Volunteer - either locally or overseas, volunteering will help you to develop skills and experience that can make you stand out from other graduates
Where to go for more info
Here are some websites just for graduates:
- gradDIRECT (new window)
gradDIRECT links graduates to employment opportunities with small businesses - GraDS Online (new window)
Find out about graduate jobs and salaries in your field - Graduate Opportunities (new window)
Australasia’s online graduate jobs directory - Graduate Careers (new window)
Learn more about job-hunting for graduates - The Job Mob (new window)
Find jobs sourced by recent university graduates
