Suzanne Lazaroo
22 October 2018: A group of University of Canberra students got a head start in the summer job hunt, with an industry-focused skills workshop to help amp up their employability.
A collaboration between the University’s Careers UC and Widening Participation departments, the full-day workshop was free for students and supported by HEPPP and SSAF funding.
Packed to capacity, the workshop began by equipping participants with the knowledge to boost their resumes and interview skills, as well as how to look for jobs.
“This is a great way to gain knowledge and confidence,” Widening Participation Manager Laurie Poretti said.
In addition, each participant received a voucher for barista training or Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certification training.
“The opportunity for that additional training was a key draw for me, because it’s important in finding a job in the industry,” Master of Business Management student Varoon Sharma said.
Students learned about what employers might be looking for at the recent skills workshop, as well as how to amp up their resumes and interview skills. Photo: supplied
Ms Poretti said that the University was always looking for ways to help students, particularly those from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in higher education, to upskill and be industry-ready.
“Also, many of these skills are highly transferable,” she said.
Available jobs on campus were outlined by a Student Ambassador, and Food and Beverage Manager of UC Union Ruwan Abeyratne spoke to participants about upcoming roles and practical skills in the hospitality industry.
“As an international student, I found that this workshop helped me gain really good insight into the hospitality industry here especially,” Mr Sharma said. “I’ll be looking for a job as soon as my exams are over, and thanks to the workshop, I have a better idea of what to do. I won’t be going in blind.”
The workshop featured Jordan Montgomery, the Media and Marketing Manager of ONA Coffee, Canberra’s largest speciality roaster and coffee supplier, and Project Origin.
From the importance of baristas being properly trained and understanding the bigger picture to add value, to the fundamental role of social media tools in business today, the ONA Coffee session provided a real world look at the working sphere – plus, a tasting of ONA Coffee blends.
UC Union Food and Beverage Manager Ruwan Abeyratne giving workshop participants valuable industry insight. Photo: supplied
“The fact that UC has such strong industry ties has really helped us put together a successful workshop,” said Employment and Work Integrated Learning Team Leader Erin Stacey.
For Bachelor of Science in Psychology student Aleksander Skotnicki, the information on how to write an effective CV was particularly useful.
“I thought the workshop was enjoyable, and a good introduction to working in the hospitality industry,” he said. “I’ve previously worked in the disability support sector, so it was useful to gain knowledge of what else may be available out there.”
“The workshop also allowed students to network with prospective employers,” Ms Poretti said. “We are really happy with how it turned out and will definitely look at having more of them.”
