Employment Preparation

You need to select your University year of study to find out what employment preparation you should have completed at this stage of your studies. A wealth of employment preparation information is located on the CQUni CareerHub website under the heading "Info Sheets".

1st Year of Study

During the first year of study students should consider or complete the following:

1. Develop your Resume

If you have not already you should look at developing your resume. Information on this is available in the Info Sheets section in the CQUni CareerHub website.

2. Work experience (paid or unpaid)

You need to investigate how to participate in work experience. Working experience within your discipline will not only assist your studies but will also assist your career success. By providing insight into the relevance of your courses to the industry you will feel more motivated to engage with your studies. Work experience can also add a dimension to your resume that provides you an advantage over other applicants.

3. Compulsory Placements in your degree

Check for any compulsory work placement components in your program or your eligibility to change to a cooperative program. These programs will give you invaluable experience in your area of study which will assist you in locating work once you have completed your program of study.

4. Scholarships

Consider scholarships for commencing students and apply for any (and all) for which you meet the eligibility criteria. Consult CQUni's Scholarship and Financial website. It is also important to check the professional bodies aligned with your degree as many offer a range of scholarships.

5. Leadership training and experience

Consider applying to be a CQUniversity student mentor. The Student Mentor and Leadership Program is where students who have been at university for a year or more give friendly advice to new students through their first year. For further information, visit the mentoring website.

2nd Year of Study

During the second year of study students should consider or complete the following:

1. Update your Resume

Information on this is available at the CQUni CareerHub website.

2. Leadership training and experience

Consider applying to be a CQUniversity student mentor. The Student Mentor and Leadership Program is where students who have been at university for a year or more give friendly advice to new students through their first year. For further information, visit the mentoring website.

3. Scholarships

Consider scholarships for continuing students and apply for any (and all) for which you meet the eligibility criteria. Consult CQUni's Scholarship and Financial website.

4. Paid work experience

You will not only gain experience and skills that provide an edge in the graduate employment market but get some cash in your pocket as well. Involvement in university and community activities is often used as selection criteria for scholarships as may experience within the industry. Being granted scholarships will not only give you help with the costs of university, it provides another advantage on your resume.

3rd and 4th Year of Study

For many students this will be your final year. This will be a decision point on your career path. Most students decide to commence graduate employment or to continue into an honours year or enrol in a postgraduate degree by course work. Applications for graduate jobs for the following year usually close from April to June of the previous year. Regardless of your decision the following is extremely important to consider:

1. Attend CQUni Student Careers Fair

Participate in the CQUni Student Careers Fair organised by the CQUniversity Careers and Employment Service.

2. Update Resume

Information on this is available on CQUni CareerHub under Info Sheets.

3. Employment Preparation workshops

Attend Employment Preparation workshops run by the CQUniversity Careers and Employment Service on Bundaberg, Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone Campuses. Or access the Resume, Selection Criteria and Cover Letter information on CQUni CareerHub under Info Sheets.

4. Access CQUni CareerHub

Companies advertise positions and graduate opportunities on CQUni CareerHub for CQUniversity students to apply. When accessing vacancies look for the closing dates of the applications and the commencement of work dates as many jobs advertised have commencement dates for the following year after you have completed your studies.