Career insight
Getting the most out of the jobs boom
Skill shortages, an ageing population and career-savvy students are keeping employers on their toes when it comes to attracting graduates.
By January last year, 13 employers had registered to attend UniSA’s Employment and Careers Expo, which took place in March. By January this year, more than 70 employers had confirmed their attendance at South Australia’s biggest single university careers event.
Career Services manager, Anna Lee, says that while this increase is a reflection of her team’s success in developing strong employer relationships, it is also indicative of a nationwide trend.
"Employers are acutely aware that their future success depends on attracting graduates who can fill the shoes of the baby boomers - many of whom will be retiring over the next decade," Lee says.
"As a result, employers are being very proactive in engaging with students, through work placements, on-campus workshops, and events such as our Employment and Careers Expo."
Kathryn Anderson, newly appointed coordinator of industry engagement says UniSA has developed an excellent reputation for industry responsiveness and sees this as an important point of difference for students and employers alike. A critical part of Anderson’s role is to ensure that the team continues to respond effectively to employer and industry needs.
"It is an exciting time to join the University and to focus on innovative and meaningful ways to engage with industry," Anderson says. "Linking students, academic staff and industry is of key importance at UniSA, which has a strong focus on educating for the professions. I look forward to contributing to this."
In addition to holding a range of industry events, Career Services also offers a free advertising service to employers. The MyCareerPlan vacancies database was launched in 2006 and allows employers to advertise postgraduate, part-time and work placement positions. Lee says the response from employers to the new system has been overwhelmingly positive.
"‘We’re now advertising more vacancies across a wider range of industries and disciplines than ever before," she says. "Many employers use us repeatedly because they’re so happy with the graduates they’ve recruited through MyCareerPlan. Because we email every job directly to students in relevant discipline areas, employers can be confident that they’re reaching the right people."
To find out more about the 2007 UniSA Employment and Careers Expo or to view MyCareerPlan, go to www.unisa.edu.au/careers