2008 Monash University Summer Vacation Employment Fair

Thursday 7 August

Fair open 1.00pm to 4.00pm, Thursday 7 August
Recreation Hall, Monash Sport (Bldg 1), Clayton Campus

Before the event

The Monash University Summer Vacation Employment Fair is designed to give you direct exposure to a variety of course-related vacation programs and other opportunities by enabling you to meet employers face-to-face.

Attending will allow you to meet recent graduates, recruiters and senior managers from a number of organisations all in one day and is your chance to ask pertinent, probing questions that help you decide whether or not to apply for particular opportunities, or discover information which might enhance your application(s).

In order to get the most out of the Fair, you'll need to prepare in advance and do your research!
Researching participating organisations in advance and preparing well are vital and will help you quickly locate your chosen employers on the day and approach them confidently. You may only have a short time to speak with each employer in a noisy, busy, expo-style environment, therefore it is necessary to do your research beforehand.

Following are some tips that might help you:

• Visit the links to participating organisations for key details about the disciplines they are targeting and who is eligible to apply. The attached website link allows you to gain initial insight into the organisation, its activities, news, initiatives, culture and the type of opportunities it might offer.
  
  
• Consider the types of personal attributes and employability skills your targeted employers may value. Employers seek a range of attributes including 'motivation', 'enthusiasm' and 'ability to deal with pressure'. They also look for well-developed skills in areas like 'communication', 'problem-solving' and 'teamwork'. It is a good idea to practise your introduction skills, or rehearse the questions you hope to ask. Could you, in a brief discussion with an employer, describe examples of activities, experiences and behaviours that show you have these qualities to offer? (The Australian Department of Education, Science and Training's Employability Skills for the Future report defines the 'Employability Skills Framework' and can be found on the Department's website.)

• From your initial research, compile a list of organisations you wish to approach at the Fair. Make note of questions you might ask, aiming to expand on information you already know or have read, and especially to cover areas not addressed in published resources. Specific questions that demonstrate your research and interest in an organisation will come across well. Questions like "What does your company do?", "What disciplines are you seeking?" or "Do I have to be a Permanent Resident to be eligible?" highlight a lack of research and will generally NOT impress.

• Visit Monash University Career Gateway, where a number of participating organisations may advertise their vacation, co-operative year and other employment vacancies. Details, closing dates and how to apply will be included in each advertisement and again, where possible, should be used as a springboard for discussion with employers at the Fair before submitting an application. If you have not used Career Gateway before, you'll need to register on your first visit.

• Although employers do not typically expect to receive resumes at the Fair (and some prefer not to), it is essential that you do have a current, well formatted resume available. If you decide to apply for positions after meeting employers at the Fair, you can comfortably submit a high quality application by the due date. Monash University Employment and Career Development can provide sample resumes and resources and offers a resume checking service to help you (drop-in service).
  
  
• You should also make time to practise your interview skills, learn about assessment centres, psychometric testing and other commonly used selection techniques. Preparing in advance and practising in a supportive environment will boost your self-confidence and help you perform well when it's time for the real thing. Monash University Employment and Career Development provides interview practice, job seeker seminars, careers counselling, the Job Seeker's Guide and more to help you.

More information:

Tel: +61 3 9905 4170
Email: info@careers.monash.edu.au