5 ways UWA College and The University of Western Australia will get you career ready
If you imagine what your future will look like, landing your dream job probably ranks highly. To achieve this, you’ll need more than a degree to stand out in today’s competitive job market. Employers want to see real industry experience and evidence of your employability skills. They want you work ready.
Start your journey to career success with a UWA College pathway, leading to a degree at The University of Western Australia (UWA). With a reputation for industry-integrated learning and links with more than 4,500 global industry partners, UWA is Western Australia’s best university for graduate employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022).
Are you ready to reach your potential? Here are five ways UWA College and UWA will help you develop the real-world skills employers look for, giving you a head start when you graduate.
1. Build your employability skills from day one
Studying at UWA College offers more than a pathway to a degree at UWA. Every UWA College program has been specially designed to enhance your employability too.
From the moment you start your studies, you’ll benefit from learning styles and unit content that will help you build your key soft skills. These are skills such as communication, teamwork and time management that show employers your ability to develop effective working relationships and contribute positively to the company.
As part of your assessments, you’ll also complete tasks related to your degree subject and future career. Think short films for media students, business plans for aspiring CEOs and lab reports for future scientists.
As a UWA College student, not only will you benefit from using university facilities. You’ll also have access to UWA’s career services. And if you’d like to get more involved in College life, then consider becoming a UWA College Student Ambassador – it’s fun and a great chance to gain a variety of experience, from assisting the Student Services team to talking to prospective students.
When you start your studies at UWA, helping you get a job at the end of your degree is the university’s top priority. Read on to find out more about the university’s range of programs and hands-on experiences that will help you develop career-specific skills further.
2. Gain real-world experience beyond the classroom
Do you know one of the best ways to stand out when applying for jobs? By being able to show future employers you have authentic industry experience.
Through UWA’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement program, you can put what you learn at university into action. You’ll gain invaluable work experience with one of UWA’s 500+ host organizations across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
You can take WIL as part of your degree – and it will even count towards your final grade – or you can do it alongside your studies. Either way, there’s a long list of benefits for undertaking WIL. Expand your knowledge, enhance your professional and employability skills, and understand workplace culture. It’s even an opportunity to try out your potential career and see if it’s the right path for you!
3. Make connections with career mentoring
A great way to learn more about the industry you want to work in is from professionals doing the job you hope to do.
This is where UWA’s Career Mentor Link will help. The largest and longest-running higher education industry mentoring program in Australia, will match you with a professional. You’ll get insider industry knowledge from an expert with real career experience in your area of interest.
Mentors can also guide you in your employment goals and help you develop your job-seeking skills. Not only will you be more confident about entering your chosen profession, but you’ll also understand current professional trends, the career options available to you and what employers are looking for. Plus – a real bonus – you’ll have built your professional networks.
4. Get career ready while studying
The university’s award program, the UWA Career and Employability Award, will kickstart your career – and it’s highly valued by employers.
Through hands-on learning, you’ll gain practical real-world experiences, skills and knowledge. Career development and practical activities will help you prepare your resume.
There’s also the chance to undertake work and volunteer activities, all helping you develop valuable transferable skills. At the end of the program, you’ll have a personalized Career Toolkit as well as a certificate of completion to demonstrate your enhanced employability. Get ready to ace those job interviews!
5. Explore an interest, have fun AND develop your skills
You can continue to prepare for your future outside of your studies too, by joining a student club. UWA has a wide range of clubs and societies to choose from – more than 160! And as a UWA College student, you can join any of them.
Clubs and societies are an excellent extracurricular activity, giving you a further opportunity to build your employability skills, meet new people and network. Whether you join a sports, faith or hobby club (or all of them!), you’ll be able to develop transferable interpersonal skills that employers look for – including teamwork, leadership and communication.
There are even academic clubs that may be related to the industry you’re interested in, such as UWA Women in Business, Electrical and Electronic Engineers of WA and Data Science Club of UWA. Be sure to include your participation in clubs and societies in your resume too – it reflects who you are and is a great talking point in interviews.
Start your journey to career success with UWA College
Find out more about preparing for undergraduate study at UWA in a supportive international student environment.
You may also like to read 5 reasons why Perth is the perfect place to launch your career or 7 in-demand jobs in Australia – and how to prepare for them.
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Provider: The University of Western Australia (UWA)
UWA College in Partnership with INTO Perth
CRICOS 00126G, PRV12169, Australian University
INTO Perth Pty Ltd is an approved third-party provider of The University of Western Australia and will provide the course on its behalf.
