JOB SEARCH HINTS

Graduate Employment

Many companies and government departments offer employment programs that are open only to recent university graduates. These programs usually offer fulltime employment with relevant training that may go from 6 – 24 months. They are aimed at providing a ‘whole’ company experience that may incorporate rotations into different areas/divisions, on-the-job training and professional development.

Graduate employers are looking at employing new recruits with the following employability skills:

  • Communication
  • Team work
  • Problem Solving
  • Self Management
  • Planning & Organising
  • Technology
  • Learning
  • Initiative and Enterprise

By obtaining your degree through the University of New England, you now have all these skills and are an ideal applicant for a Graduate Program.

When should I apply for a job?

You will need to begin applying for graduate programs as early as February in your final year of study.

Employers like to advertise this early in the year so that they have enough time to thoroughly process all applications, implement assessment centres and perform individual interviews of suitable applicants. It also allows them time to go through a second stage of recruitment if some of the originally chosen applicants fail their final year or choose not to take up the offer of employment.

When you commence your final year of study, make sure you have the following prepared:

  • Resume/CV
  • Skills database
  • Academic transcript
  • Registration on Career Hub is update

If you have completed all of these, then it will be easier for you to apply for positions.

What is the process of Graduate Program Recruitment?

Many employers will request you to apply online  – they will have an extensive Graduate Program webpage for you to source information and also provide contact details for a Recruitment Co-ordinator. It is an important step of your application to contact this person as they will be able to provide much more information than what is provided in the advertisement – make sure you take notes.

Step 1 - Apply

To apply, you may need to use an application form, write a covering letter, address a selection criteria and attach resumes, academic transcripts or references. For assistance at this stage of the process, the Career Officers at UNE are able to provide suggestions and proof read your material.

Step 2 – Selection Process

Once you submit your application online, via mail or email the employer will then select who will go onto the next step of the process. This is called the selection process and you may hear the term ‘cull’ – this is when the employer will go through and select applicants who have completed the information correctly and have been able to demonstrate the skills they require in their application. All other applications will be ‘culled’.

These steps will differ from position to position

Step 3 – Online testing

Many employers will send applicants an online numeracy/literacy test to complete. Those who do not ‘pass’, will be ‘culled’ from the next stage.

Step 4 – Assessment Centre

Congratulations! if you get to this stage, this is where you will be able to show the employer the real you and your employability skills. Often employers will pay for you to attend these centres – but you will need to clarify this at the time. The Assessment Centre is a practical interview, often used to clarify the persons skills that they have mentioned in their application. more information about these centres can be found at (link).

Step 5 – Interview

If you are successful at gaining an interview – this is usually the last step in the recruitment process.  A list of helpful techniques is available at (link).

Step 6 – Offer of employment

Well done! The employer is wishing to recruit you into their business and now is the time that you need to make a decision.

Is this the job that you want?? You usually have some time – maybe a couple of weeks -  to make a decision, so think wisely before rushing in and accepting.

Links

There are many sites on the internet that are readily available for the public to use. It is a good idea for you to register, using your UNE email address, and receive updates on employment that you may be interested in:

Applying for a Job

Download Fact Sheets:
3 Step Career Planner (PDF - 32KB)

Finding a Job (PDF - 32 KB)

Preparing Your Resume (PDF - 36KB)

Writing a Covering Letter   (PDF - 36KB)

Addressing Selection Criteria  (PDF - 36KB)

The Job Interview   (PDF - 36KB)


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