Gaining professional workplace experience while you're studying can be a great way to learn practical skills, get an edge in the job market and confirm you're on the right career path. Make the most of Open Day by finding out about practical work experiences that will set you up to soar.
Gain workplace experiences as part of your degree
The skills and experiences you develop in a professional work environment can be extremely important as you search for your future graduate role. You'll learn practical skills, build your professional resume, gain valuable networks and differentiate yourself from other job applicants.
Of course, work experience can also be a great motivator in your studies, as you develop a better understanding of the relationship between your course and future career. The experience can affirm your career direction or take you on an unexpected career pathway.
At Deakin Open Day, talk to current students and graduates about their unique workplace learning experiences. Did they have a positive experience? How did it relate to their course? Did it influence their future career pathway? Has it led to future work opportunities? Did their experience help secure their first job? |
How does it work?
A wide range of internship, community-based volunteering, work placement and work-integrated learning programs are available as part of Deakin’s courses. These programs are designed to get you out into the field gaining real-world experience.
There are programs where you can work just a couple of hours a week over a trimester (or year), programs where you do an intensive, full-time four-week placement, as well as opportunities to choose a three, six or 12-month placement, where you earn roughly 80% of your graduate salary. Some courses, such as teaching, nursing, occupational therapy – and many more – incorporate regular compulsory on-the-job learning, recognising the importance of practical learning and experience to your future career success.
Talk to staff and students in the Career and Course Information Centre at Open Day about the workplace learning opportunities available within your course(s) of interest. How does Deakin support these experiences? What programs are available to you? Which employers could you get access to? How can you go about securing placements? |
What are the benefits of workplace learning?
Getting the chance to work in your future industry while you’re still studying helps you to:
- apply theoretical learning in the workplace
- polish the skills and attributes needed for success
- develop your self-confidence
- gain credit towards your degree
- explore future career pathways
- experience workplace and industry culture
- develop professional work practices and networks
- be work-ready when you finish your studies
- have an edge in the job-seeking market.
Our industry connections lead to work placement opportunities
Industry connections help Deakin's courses stay relevant, both to current workplaces and the workplaces of the future. They also lead to interesting and varied workplace learning opportunities for students.
In addition to being talented teachers, many professors and lecturers also come from industry and remain active in their fields. This means that the courses they teach stay relevant and reflect changing workplace needs, setting you up on a clear path in the field of your choice, and guaranteeing a qualification that is widely recognised in the workplace.
Talk to staff in the Career and Course Information Centre about Deakin's industry connections and partnerships. Find out how these inform the courses you're considering. |
Find out how you can prepare for career success
At Deakin Open Days – at Melbourne Burwood and Geelong Waurn Ponds – attend the 'Building employability skills for the jobs of the future' information and networking session to find out why Deakin is home to the #1 careers service in Australia – DeakinTALENT. Chat to staff, current students and graduates about courses, internships, study tours, international experiences and award-winning graduate employment services focused on preparing our students for the jobs and careers of the future. At the Warrnambool and Geelong Waterfront campuses head to the general information stand to find out more about graduate employment and how Deakin will prepare you for career success.
Employers say that experience matters when it comes to recruiting graduates. Attend the ‘Building employability skills for the jobs of the future’ session to talk to future employers, staff and graduates about the importance of complementing your studies with workplace learning experiences. |
Check out our day planner to tailor your perfect Open Day at each of our campuses: