How to land your dream job in health sciences straight out of uni
Why did you decide to take part in the mentoring program?
As a final year student, I wanted to partake in the mentoring program because I wanted to best prepare myself for my transition from University to the real world! The mentoring program was great due to the flexibility of the agreement with my mentor as they were able to guide me in the right direction and provide insight into their experiences.
What did you and your mentor discuss and/or work on throughout the program?
A lot of the sessions were focused around the questions I had, or the things I wanted to focus on, and the mentor would just provide their perspective on the issue and offer their advice.
Personally, I was quite curious to find out more about how I could best prepare myself to look for jobs upon graduating. Additionally, in the long term, my mentor helped me in establishing career goals to work towards.
What valuable skills and knowledge where you able to obtain from your mentor/the program?
The key points that I was able to obtain from my mentor were how to prepare for interviews, as well as things I should be doing as a new graduate to be able to become a great clinician. I also got some great tips on what employers generally look out for in an employee.
What benefits did you notice the program had in beginning your career and your career moving forward?
As a result of the mentoring program, I found the job hunting process a lot easier and I felt at ease knowing that I had prepared the best I could for my interviews.
Additionally, as a new graduate, the learning never stops, and I was able to gain a good understanding of things that I could be doing to assist my clinical skills.
What would you say to students who are thinking about applying to be on the program?
You have nothing to lose! Take the opportunity while it's there because there is just so much to gain from the program and each individual mentor will be able to cater to your individual needs.
The University will also do an amazing job in matching up students to their mentors, so when applying, provide honest responses about yourself and where you see yourself in the future.
This is the best time to reach outside and take every bit of advice that you can before stepping into the work force!
What did you and your mentor discuss and/or work on throughout the program?
We discussed my career pathway from initial stages of reflecting on placement experiences to applying for jobs, which involved knowing where to look, reviewing my resume and cover letter (she had helped me a lot with this process), practicing interview skills/questions and reflecting on past interviews to improve for next time.
What valuable skills and knowledge were you able to obtain from your mentor/the program?
Reflecting on experiences from my placements and part time work (disability support work) and improving my resume and cover letter were the most important skills and knowledge I gained from my mentor. Also learning about my mentor's career pathway choices was really valuable.
What benefits did you notice the program had in beginning your career and your career going forward?
The main benefit was the support and advice provided throughout the job hunting and application process as well as the feedback I received on completed applications and interviews to improve for next time.
I also benefited from the emotional support, opportunities for confidence building, advice and tips on what to consider in choosing the right first job. I will definitely be continuing to update my mentor on my career and seek her advice in choosing jobs going forward.
What would you say to students who are thinking about applying to be on the program?
Go for it for sure! I didn't really know what I wanted from the program but that was the best part - just taking what came my way and making the most of it. I truly gained a lifelong mentor and friend from the program and feel really lucky, so you never know which great individual you will get to meet and learn from.
Student testimonial
