It wasn't until my third year of Uni that I came to realise just how much you must do before graduation to secure a job. From my experience, I can't stress enough the importance of starting early (even in your first year) and being prepared. One of the key strategies that helped me find a job was doing as much work experience as possible. I found that employers really value this, and it had the added bonus of preparing me for the reality of a career.

What also stood out for me was the importance of putting together a professional resume and cover letter. This can take a lot longer than you might think and I wish I had started earlier (as final year is 'work overload' time). What really helped me was 'getting to know myself' (ie I did a skills audit and identified my skill gaps). Once again, the earlier you can do this, the more time you have to address your skill gaps. Then it is up to you to MARKET yourself! Another key tip that helped me was researching organisations and jobs of interest, and then tailoring job applications accordingly.

Check out Student Services for help with resumes and other job search issues - among other services, they run workshops, and give feedback on resumes/job applications. I found that I had to refine my resume over time, which was another good reason for starting early.

Another key strategy I learnt was the importance of networking. I didn't realise how valuable joining a professional association and participating in the Mentoring Program could be for networking opportunities. You will find professional associations on CareerBoard, along with a large number of other useful links (ie careersmarter, gradlink, seek, graduate oportunities...). Also, attending events like the GU Careers Fair and talking directly to prospective employers really helped me in making career decisions.

Ultimately you are in charge of your own career and what you do NOW can really pay off in the future.