Career planning steps to take at University
Employers look for a package of skills, work experience, qualifications and personal qualities when they are recruiting graduates. Here are some actions to take while you are at University. These are guidelines only.
Research suggests that the more you engage with your careers service, the smoother your transition to workplace will be. The following steps will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need and improve your chances of a successful job search in your final year. Depending on your situation, you may need to do other things as well.
Register on Auckland CareerHub
Auckland CareerHub is the University's student and graduate job and internship website. You'll also need to register on CareerHub before you can make an appointment with a Careers Consultant.
Learn about your work-related strengths and preferences
Do some self-assessment exercises using tools like Pinpoint or Career Voyage. You'll need to do these exercises with a Careers Consultant.
- Read about self-assessment tools
- Book an appointment with a Careers Consultant on Auckland CareerHub
Seek paid or voluntary part-time or summer work experience
The transferable skills you gain from work experience will help you when you are job hunting. The more relevant your experience is to your degree, the better. Student Job Search is particularly useful for finding part time and summer vacancies.
Develop your skills
Start developing team, leadership and communications skills. Get involved in student groups, clubs, sports, volunteering and cultural activities. You could also be a class rep, mentor or Uniguide.
- Clubs and societies
- Student associations
- UniGuides
- Mentoring
- Identify your skills
- Visit the AUSA website
Clarify your direction
If you are not sure where you are going or what options you have with your degree, you can discuss your career ideas with a Careers Consultant.
Stay informed
Make sure you know about the range of career information and support available to you from University Careers Services. Read Auckland CareerConnect, our monthly e-newsletter. It contains news, events, jobs and other information. The newsletter goes out by email to all undergraduates.
- Auckland CareerConnect
- Online career information resources
- How University Careers Services can help you
Write your CV
Read some tips on creating CVs and cover letters, or come to one of our CV workshops.
Learn about the skills you’ll need in the workplace
A degree is not always enough. Identify which skills, experience and qualities are needed for jobs that interest you and plan to develop those.
Network with people
Talk to your family and friends about their jobs, and carry out some informational interviews and career networking with professionals in the field.
Develop your job-searching skills
Explore job vacancy sources and learn about how to approach employers. Attend our job search and networking workshop.
Explore opportunities for overseas experience
Working or studying in a country with a different cultural background can give you new insights and perspectives. Many New Zealand graduates spend at least part of their careers gaining work experience overseas.
With the Auckland Abroad programme, you can study overseas for a semester or two while earning credits towards your University of Auckland degree.
Connect with potential employers
Come to employer presentations and careers fairs to talk to employers about job opportunities, internships, and what they are looking for in a graduate.
Develop your skills and work experience
For relevant part time and summer work experience opportunities, keep in frequent touch with Student Job Search. Learn about Spark, an exciting initiative that aims to help you turn your entrepreneurial ideas into real businesses.
Read our newsletter
Read the Career Services' Auckland CareerConnect e-newsletter when it arrives in your email box. View the newsletter archive online.
Develop relationships
Make sure you build your relationships with potential future referees - for example, employers and lecturers.
Develop job interview techniques
Learn about successful job interviews. Come to our job search and interviews workshops. Practise your interview techniques with a Careers Consultant
Network and research potential employers
Network with employers at careers events. Start identifying employers you would like to work for.
Monitor jobs
Read the advice on our website and come to our job search workshop. Follow the links to recruitment websites and check Auckland CareerHub regularly from the start of your final year. Some employers recruit up to a year in advance, so don't miss out. You will find recent postings in from Auckland CareerHub in our monthly e-newsletter, Auckland CareerConnect.
Apply for jobs
Tailor your CV for each application. Research the company you are applying to. Learn about job interviews, psychometric tests and assessment centres.
Explore options for further study
Book an appointment with a Careers Consultant to discuss your next steps — this could be work or further study.
Develop your professional networks
Take advantage of any opportunities to learn and network through the University, paid and voluntary work, community involvement and join professional organisations linked to your major.
Continue to use our services
You can use University Careers Services for three years after you graduate.
Network with other alumni
