4 Ways To Make Sure Your CV Is As Stacked As Possible When You Graduate Uni
Here's how to *actually* make yourself stand out from everyone else.
Not just a university of technology, but a university of real industry experience.
Let’s just say what we’re all thinking: writing a CV is kind of the worst.
The pressure to get it right can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re applying for your first big job after uni. How are you supposed to stand out from other applicants?
Luckily there are a few things you can include to make yourself look amazing. Most unis, for example, offer something called “work integrated learning”: special programs or placements that give students real-life career experience while you’re studying. These can show your potential new employer that you’re serious about what you do.
For more tips we went to Dr Sean Gallagher, Director of the Centre for the New Workforce at Swinburne University of Technology. He told us what you can do at uni to prepare for the future and how work integrated learning can help you land a job.
#1 Be specific
It’s more important to show off your skills than it is to tell an employer what you studied or what results you got.
“The five most in-demand competencies are communication, teamwork, sales and customer service, leadership, and problem solving and critical thinking,” Dr Gallagher says.
This is where work integrated learning comes in. Dr Gallagher explains that you’ll have more opportunities to develop these skills in the workforce than in the classroom, which is the kind of experience employers are looking for.
When you’re writing a CV, try to discuss specific examples of the times you used these skills. Being able to tell employers how you contributed to a team, solved a problem, or used something that you learned in your degree will give them an insight into how you’d fit into their team.
Image: Christina @ wocintechchat.com / Unsplash
#2 Develop your skills
The best way to develop these skills is to complete a work integrated learning program. This is a great way to get experience like communicating with co-workers, working in a team, and staying productive throughout a workday. It’s so much more comprehensive than taking notes in a lecture hall.
Most unis have a few options, but Swinburne is renowned for its real industry experience. There are lots of opportunities to choose from and you can get involved straight away if you start a bachelor degree in 2021.
Depending on your course, you’ll be able to participate in industry or community projects, internships, or professional placements. It’s Swinburne’s little present for students who had to complete Year 12 in a pandemic.
That means you can start uni knowing that one big thing is already sorted. After all the uncertainty of 2020, that’s a welcome comfort.
Image: Annie Spratt / Unsplash
#3 Get creative
If you live in a regional area or you’re just struggling to find experiences that are relevant to your degree, Dr Gallagher says you’ve got to get creative.
“One of the unexpected outcomes of the pandemic is the rise of the distributed workforce – you can work from anywhere.”
You can look for opportunities outside your local area, freelance for websites, or even start your own project. If you do, just ask your university how it can support you as you go.
And remember: don’t be afraid to talk about it in detail in your CV. Employers read lots of applications for each job listing, so give them something memorable to read in yours.
Image: Zan / Unsplash
#4 Start early
Good universities will help students build their CV because they want you to do well even after you graduate. For instance, at Swinburne you can easily get help writing a job application or preparing for interviews.
Don’t be afraid to use these resources early on in your degree. You’ll be much better prepared to join the workforce (and more likely to be hired) if you start thinking about your career while you’re still studying for it.
“Don’t wait to be an expert on something,” Dr Gallagher says. “You will learn so much by being immersed in the dynamic environment of the workplace that it will give you a much richer understanding of the ‘why’ of your degree, not just the ‘what’.”
Ready to start stacking your CV with experience employers will notice? You can apply today to study at Swinburne in 2021. All the info you need to apply for a degree – and to take advantage of real industry experience – is up on the university’s website.
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Swinburne isn’t just a university of technology, it’s also a university of real industry experience. If you (and your CV) want to crack the employability code, here’s where you need to go.
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(Lead image: Seyi Ariyo / Unsplash)