The truth about your career planLet’s separate fact from fiction…

2ND YEAR OR EQUIVALENT

After completing your first year of study we hope that you are feeling even more

enthusiastic about your career direction.

However, it probably won’t surprise you to hear that your career aspirations will not just magically happen.

Achieving Career Goals = Planning + Persistence + LOTS OF ACTION

Let’s find out the truth about career planning in your second year at uni.

True or false?

It’s important to have a positive mindset when taking action toward your career goals.

True

If you haven’t started already, your second year at uni is definitely the time to start taking action toward

your career goals.

Having a positive mindset will help you to identify and make the most

of opportunities to develop your professional skills and experience.

A great way to take action towards achieving your career goals is to take on some unpaid work experience.Yes, unpaid! While it may not seem appealing at first, this is where a positive mindset is important. Reframe how you look at career opportunities (such as work experience) and keep your long-term goals in mind. Working for free now could see you offered a reference, further work experience or even a job in the future! While it may not pay upfront, you’ll definitely reap the rewards of work experience in the long run.

You may be surprised what opportunities arise if you have a positive mindset.

Tip: Talk to USQ’s Student Services Team to find out how to go about getting yourself some work experience, and check out “How to make the most of your work experience”

A great way to take action towards achieving your career goals is to take on some unpaid work experience.Yes, unpaid! While it may not seem appealing at first, this is where a positive mindset is important. Reframe how you look at career opportunities (such as work experience) and keep your long-term goals in mind. Working for free now could see you offered a reference, further work experience or even a job in the future! While it may not pay upfront, you’ll definitely reap the rewards of work experience in the long run.

You may be surprised what opportunities arise if you have a positive mindset.

Tip: Talk to USQ’s Student Services team to find out how to go about getting yourself some work experience, and check out tips to help you make the most of it.

True or false?

The perfect job is out there waiting for me …I just need to focus on my degree, don’t I?

False

While your degree is a great starting platform, it will not guarantee you

your dream job.

You spend countless hours on your studies to get your degree, so it makes sense to invest some time into building your career management skills to help

you stand out from the crowd, and ultimately help you to get that job!

While your degree is a great starting platform, it will not guarantee you

your dream job.

You spend countless hours on your studies to get your degree, so it makes sense to invest some time into building your career management skills to help

you stand out from the crowd and, ultimately, help you to get that job!

After refining your communication skills during your first year, you should be ready to take things a step further and start to grow your professional network.

• It’s a good idea to start attending industry networking functions to help build your professional network. Chat with a USQ Career Development Practitioner at Student Services to find out what’s on, and ask them for some great tips to help you network effectively.

• You should consider joining a professional association or registration board in your chosen field, to help keep you abreast of what’s happening in the industry. It will look great on your resume, and also let’s prospective employers know that you are serious about your career. Often you can register at student rates which will save you $$$ and remember that registration fees are generally tax deductible, so keep your receipts.

Tip: Check out “How to network your way into a job” to hear a current student’s perspective on the positive impact that networking can have.

After refining your communication skills during your first year, you should be ready to take things a step further and start to grow your professional network.

• It’s a good idea to start attending industry networking functions to help build your professional network. Chat with a USQ Career Development Practitioner at Student Services to find out what’s on, and ask them for some great tips to help you network effectively.

• You should consider joining a professional association or registration board in your chosen field, to help keep you abreast of what’s happening in the industry. It will look great on your résumé, and also lets prospective employers know that you are serious about your career. Often, you can register at student rates, which will save you $$$ and remember: registration fees are generally tax deductible, so keep your receipts.

Tip: Check out “How to network your way into a job” to hear a current student’s perspective on the positive impact that networking can have.

After refining your communication skills during your first year, you should be ready to take things a step further and start to grow your professional network.

• It’s a good idea to start attending industry networking functions to help build your professional network. Chat with a USQ Career Development Practitioner at Student Services to find out what’s on, and ask them for some great tips to help you network effectively.

• You should consider joining a professional association or registration board in your chosen field, to help keep you abreast of what’s happening in the industry. It will look great on your résumé, and also lets prospective employers know that you are serious about your career. Often, you can register at student rates, which will save you $$$ and remember: registration fees are generally tax deductible, so keep your receipts.

Tip: Check out How to network your way into a job to hear a current student’s perspective on the positive impact that networking can have on your career.

True or false?

Employers take social media profiles seriously when they are assessing applicants.

True

Only 4% of recruiters don’t use social media during the recruiting process and LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are the most popular

channels used during recruitment.*

*Jobvite Recruiter Nation Survey, 2015.

It’s a fact that first impressions really count, and these days your first impressions to prospective employers are often made through social media, as opposed to the traditional handshake.

With this is mind, it is important to manage your online presence wisely, and even use it to enhance your career prospects.

It is possible to build a strong, professional and positive digital footprint that showcases your skills and experience.

Check out “Think about your social footprint” for some great tips to help keep your digital footprint job friendly.

It’s a fact that first impressions really count, and these days your first impressions to prospective employers are often made through social media, as opposed to the traditional handshake.

With this in mind, it is important to manage your online presence wisely, and even use it to enhance your career prospects.

It is possible to build a strong, professional and positive digital footprint that showcases your skills and experience.

Check out ‘Why you need to think about your social footprint’ for some great tips to help keep your digital footprint job-friendly.

True or false?

You have no control of how other people perceive you.

False

Like it or not, how other people perceive you comes down to the way you dress, your online presence, how

you communicate, and how you treat other people.

All of these things you can control. This is referred to as your personal brand.

Your personal brand is what differentiates you from others, and it exists whether you consciously create and develop it or not.Yes, that’s right, other people will inevitably form an opinion of you, so why not create a strong, positive and authentic personal brand that other people want to connect with?

Some questions to think about are:

• How you are perceived by others?

• How would you like to be perceived?

• What can you do to improve that perception?

• How do you need to be perceived to get the job that you want?

It is also useful to think about managing your personal brand as a continuous process, not a one-off event. You can adapt your personal brand throughout your career journey, to align with changes to your values and career goals.

Don’t forget, USQ’s Career Development Team at Student Services are here to help you every step of the way!

Your personal brand is what differentiates you from others, and it exists whether you consciously create and develop it or not.Yes, that’s right, other people will inevitably form an opinion of you, so why not create a strong, positive and authentic personal brand that other people want to connect with?

Some questions to think about are:

• how are you perceived by others?

• how would you like to be perceived?

• what can you do to improve that perception?

• how do you need to be perceived to get the job that you want?

It is also useful to think about managing your personal brand as a continuous process, not a one-off event. You can adapt your personal brand throughout your career journey, to align with changes to your values and career goals.

Don’t forget, USQ’s Student Services Team are here to help you every step of the way!

Your personal brand is what differentiates you from others, and it exists whether you consciously create and develop it or not.Yes, that’s right, other people will inevitably form an opinion of you, so why not create a strong, positive and authentic personal brand that other people want to connect with?

Some questions to think about are:

• how are you perceived by others?

• how would you like to be perceived?

• what can you do to improve that perception?

• how do you need to be perceived to get the job that you want?

It is also useful to think about managing your personal brand as a continuous process, not a one-off event. You can adapt your personal brand throughout your career journey, to align with changes to your values and career goals.

Don’t forget, USQ’s Student Services team are here to help you every step of the way!

As you can see, your second year at uni is a time for you to put your career plan into action. Some actions that we recommend you take during your second year include:

• having the right mindset to take action

• finding some work experience, remembering that unpaid work now will pay off in the future

• growing your professional network

• building a strong, professional and positive digital footprint to be proud of

• working on your personal brand … yes you can control how other people perceive you.

Now it’s time to embrace your career direction. Take it up a gear, there is no time like the present.

CRICOS: QLD00244B NSW02225M TEQSA: PRV12081 29.8.3 02.2017

social.usq.edu.au

For more advice, resources and support to help you plan your dream career, connect with the USQ Student Services team online or at your nearest campus.