6 ways to boost your employability

1. Careers Central is all about boosting your employability

If there is one thing you need to do after reading this, make it a visit to the Careers Central page. Careers Central exists to help you recognise your career path and find employment.

There are online and offline workshops, career expos and even personalised career support meetings with employment staff. Invest in your future by taking advantage of all the resources and services available to you. Trust us, you'll thank yourself later.

2. UOW offers accredited subjects to get you career-ready

UOW offers elective subjects that are designed to help you with life beyond university. These are called Work Integrated Learning (WIL) subjects and are worth credit points, just like any other subject.

UOW's Careers Central Manager of Learning and Teaching, Tracey Glover-Chambers, says "these subjects help students learn what the world of work is like, so they can make informed decisions about their future".

Getting an interview for a job can be quite difficult, let alone the job itself! WIL subjects will teach you skills for writing an effective job application and how to impress the interview panel once you get there. You'll also gain real-world experience through a professional placement, or work in a team to consult on a business challenge posed by a local employer.

UOW Bachelor of Commerce (Management) student Cassie Green, says "Internships and placements give you a chance to immerse yourself into the working world. From my experience, I have gained so many skills in the areas of teamwork, collaboration, communicating with a diverse group of people and most importantly, leadership."

3. Have your extra-curricular activities recognised with UOWx

UOWx recognises the additional commitments that you make outside of your degree. These co-curricular activities not only expand on your academic coursework, but as Glover-Chambers says "they build your confidence, the skills and experience that are valuable to employers... They can be vitally important for you to stand out as a graduate and allow you to develop personally and professionally in preparation for your life after university".

UOWx recognises over 236 co-curricular activities, meaning that you can engage with the program in many different ways. Each activity is categorised within the seven different Learning Streams that match up with the skills employers are looking for. These include; leadership; mentoring and wellbeing; innovation and creativity; global and cultural awareness; collaboration and communication; community and social change.

The program consists of the UOWx Record – a transcript of your co-curricular involvement throughout your time at uni. At graduation, you'll receive this record alongside your official graduation documents, making you stand out.

UOWx is a huge benefit for employers too, as it gives them an extra reason to ask you in for an interview. "When employers attend the UOWx Award recognition event, they are gaining access to the University's extraordinary graduates" says UOWx Coordinator, Amy Thompson.

Although the focus of the UOWx program is to make you stand out to future employers, it's also a great way of connecting with other students, getting involved in the community, identifying your passions, and developing your 21st century skill set!

UOW Bachelor of Psychology (honours) student Georgia Zentrich says, "I felt more confident in my own abilities as a result of my involvement. UOWx is great for all students because it provides them with the opportunity to become immersed in real life experiences."

4. Collaborate and boost your employability with Univative

Univative is a collaborative student consultancy program, designed as a team-based challenge for UOW students to exercise their skills and provide solutions to a business challenge. Students work within multi-discipline groups who research, solve and prepare a business plan to present to their host organisation.

If you're bright, enthusiastic, a good team player, and willing to commit 25 hours per week to the program, this is for you! A former Univative participant says, "it made me realise that I can do a lot more than I thought and my skills are quite broad...the experience clarified and helped me put into words some of my skills."

5. Get part-time employment while studying

Having a part-time job while studying is great for both professional and monetary gains. There are plenty of hospitality or retail job opportunities in and around Wollongong and better yet, there are jobs available to UOW students right here on campus.

Jobs on Campus is a program available to all UOW students and is designed to connect you with campus employers.

UOW Jobs on Campus Coordinator Cara Dobinson, says "Students know how the university works, they're familiar with the system, the layout of the campus and the semesters … so there is a lot of training that doesn't need to be done, because they already know how the uni operates. At the same time, students get a chance to make themselves more employable by practising in a safe environment."

Aylin Yagmur, Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences student facilitator of the student-run project Global Facilitator Program, says, "I strongly recommended students try different things, whether it's on or off campus. Apply for things, volunteer and engage in different workshops and conferences."

6. Get a LinkedIn and Network

Networking doesn't have to mean being a confident conversationalist. Networking can be as simple as commenting on someone's post on social media or attending events, conferences, launches, public lectures etc. that you're interested in. It can even be the friends you make at uni.

Create a LinkedIn so you have a professional way of keeping in touch with your contacts, while also sharing all of the awesome experience you have! Glover-Chambers says, "Build networks and stay in touch with them, including contacts that may not be degree related. Remember, everybody knows somebody! LinkedIn offers an excellent platform for this."