Chris Carlin

Third year, Bachelor of Commerce
Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus

Last summer I was one of 14 students Australia-wide who secured a summer internship in Wholesale Banking at NAB. I first came across the NAB summer internship program after attending a Deakin Internship workshop hosted by Careers and Employment in May 2010.

I wanted to learn more about obtaining internships because I feel this is the best way to build a network and possibly gain a graduate position. During this workshop it was suggested that I look on the websites of the major banks for summer internship opportunities. However, I was warned that these opportunities were very hard to secure.

I then went and spoke to the Careers and Employment staff about my résumé and cover letter, which when compared to the examples given by Careers, were terrible! Over the course of three one-hour sessions, we tailor-made a professional and persuasive cover letter and résumé for the NAB and other internships that I applied for. I also sought advice about interview techniques, assessment centres and psychometric testing.

Most major graduate positions and internships for 2012 will close before April 2011. It’s therefore essential that you organise your résumé as soon as possible. I have spoken to lots of friends who have completed three-, four- and five-year degrees and yet are unable to find a job. I doubt anyone reading this would be happy completing their degree and not gain a position afterwards. So, it’s essential that you start considering where you want to be employed and take the necessary steps to obtain your perfect job!

I highly recommend Careers and Employment to anyone who wants to dramatically boost their chances in achieving a graduate position or professional internship. I found their professionalism and their willingness to assist to be of a wonderful benefit to me and I truly believe that they helped me attain my internship.

My advice to all first year students is to take time and consider your future career prospects. Attend workshops provided by Careers on internships, résumé building and interviews. Check JobShop as often as you check your email or Facebook (daily), and finally, speak to the Careers team at Student Life so they can help you obtain your dream job.