12 tips for new graduates from UC Alumni
Did you know that there is a whole world waiting for you once you graduate? For many graduates completing an undergraduate degree will mean entering the workforce for the first time after 16 years of schooling. While this is an exciting time, it can also be nerve-wracking and stressful.
To help our graduates and new alumni in their transition to the workplace or postgraduate studies, we asked some of our alumni for their best piece of advice.
Below are the 12 tips for new graduates that you can apply now to help you get off on the best possible start to your new career, whether you are moving into the workforce or beginning postgraduate studies.
“Talk to people! You have no idea who you are going to meet at university and what role they will play in your life. I met a great guy waiting to get into a tutorial – and six years later we have Quizling!”
Dion Oxley, co-founder of Quizling
“I’d say that university is just the first step in what should be a lifetime of learning. Be prepared to unlearn and relearn. Do things that scare you from time to time. My path to Lonely Planet wasn’t the most direct one, so take this advice with a grain of salt. Your mileage may vary. “
Jane Atkin, Online Community Manager at Lonely Planet
“It’s ok to not be 100% sure about what you want to do after completing university. The great thing about University of Canberra is that you have the flexibility and opportunity to study so many different topics within your degree. You never know what it is going to lead to. Don’t put pressure on yourself to have everything fall into place immediately. Things will happen as they need to.”
Natasha Cossetto, Resource Team Assistant at Momenta Operations London
“The business I am running today did not exist when I started in my career. So what’s important to note is that students need to be constantly looking at trends, emerging fields, emerging occupations and developing their skills accordingly. Increasingly, highly developed collaboration skills are required in just about very role. It’s essential to learn how to work with, respect and build on other perspectives and understand the behaviour of how complex systems work. Remain optimistic that you can actually create the future.”
John Body, founding partner of ThinkPlace
“I think it’s really important to network. If you’re not a natural networker like me, learn how to do it and practice. Only one of the jobs I landed was based on my skills, the rest I still got based on my skills but only after I was recommended for the position.”
Margarita Fourer, ARDU Supervisor for UNHCR
“Focus on one dream at a time and then do whatever it is you think will take you to that next level.”
Marianna Tolo, Olympian & University of Canberra Capitals basketball player
“For anyone wanting to work in the advertising and marketing industry, I’d say it isn’t easy. Professional creativity is incredibly demanding and takes courage, hard work and discipline. I know that sounds a bit melodramatic, but it’s also true. If that doesn’t frighten you, then it’s the ride of your life.”
Paul Nagy, Executive Creative Director at Clemenger BBDO
“When trying to find work overseas I would suggest reaching out and getting some experience at home first. Employers like to see that a person is really passionate and interested in their industry, rather than just looking to work overseas for the point of it. I would also advise people to look for internship and volunteer opportunities. Most people I work with have done unpaid work at one time or another. This type of experience is invaluable in terms of the work you will do and the people you will meet.”
Tahlia Dwyer, Resettlement Officer for UNHCR
“Make sure you tread the path less travelled at least some of the time. Some of my best experiences that have fundamentally taught me about life have come from areas OTHER than work – through travel, or talking with new people, or taking on a personal challenge, or continuing to study.”
Mark Mathieson, Extreme Psychologist
“One of my mangers once told me “Don’t take any shit.” Sport is a very male dominated workforce and this advice has come in handy a few times. I learnt to believe in myself and in my ability. I also started full time work quite young. I was 20-years-old at the 2012 Olympic Trials, some of the swimmers were my age or older! I learnt that my age and my gender doesn’t affect my ability to get the job done. My advice would be to ‘back yourself’. You never know what you are capable of until you try. I had a tough year in 2014 where I felt like I had been thrown in the deep end (excuse the pun). But I came out the other side more confident and with the realisation that I could do more and I was capable of more.”
Kathleen Rayment, Senior Media and PR Coordinator at Swimming Australia
“Be persistent. There are lots of clichés around this, though it really is about backing yourself and having thick enough skin to stay with it.”
Ben Stubbs, travel writer and published author
"Life isn’t some big corporate ladder where unless you make the right decision you snake down to the bottom. Life is a mad climbing frame where you side step and backtrack and end up down some side path you didn’t even know about in the first place. No-one really knows what they’re doing. We’re all making it up. The only difference with successful people is they commit to a project and they persevere."
Justin Heazlewood, comedian and author