Setting yourself up for success: Tips from recent graduates

2 March 2022

So you made it through orienation and your first week of classes - what's next?

Now is the perfect time to set yourself up for success at UQ. As we kick off a new year of study, we asked some recent graduates for their tips and tricks on getting the most out of your time at UQ.


Emma Halliday making pancakes at the Welcome Hub at St Lucia with another Student Experience Casual staff member
Emma Halliday worked as a Student Experience Casual.

Emma Halliday (Bachelor of Journalism) graduated in 2020 and has since gone on to work as a TV Sports Reporter with 7News. While at UQ, Emma was a Resident and Senior Resident Mentor at Union College, worked as a Student Experience Casual, participated in various mentoring programs including the HASS Connect Mentoring Program, participated as a Student Partner with HASS and held a leadership position in the Journalism and Communication Society. About her experiences, Emma said, "everything I did at UQ helped provide me with all the skills and confidence I needed to start achieving my goals. I draw on something I learnt through the many activities and programs I did at UQ on the daily."

Meanwhile, Shrika Charbhe (2021 Graduate, Master of Counselling) explains that "being involved at UQ has helped me go beyond academics and develop skills and attributes that are key to a successful professional life". Her involvement in programs such as being a Get Set Mentor, UQU Volunteer, a UQ Mental Health Champion and as a UQ Respect Ambassador has given her the ability to "gracefully and confidently present myself in professional spaces or interviews". Her advice is to "definitely try to achieve the Employability Award if you can as it adds value to your portfolio and you also get to boast about it on LinkedIn!"

Taking advantage of a multitude of opportunities at UQ has given Maria Thring (2021 Graduate, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)) the start she needed to land a coveted position with the Australian Government. Undertaking the Employability Award helped her in job interviews as the reflection requirement made it easier for her to "draw from the experiences I had undertaken and gave me great answers to interview questions, because I had already been through the process of reflecting on my experiences". Maria has been a Student Experience Casual, UQ Volunteer and a Good Neighbour Mentee, along with participating in various programs including LeadHers with Ventures, an undergraduate Research Program and a Student-Staff Partnership Project.

Helen Stewart-Koster standing on a mountain in Indonesia
Helen Stewart-Koster undertook an international internship in Indonesia.

Leaderships opportunities as UQ helped Helen Stewart-Koster (2021 Graduate, Bachelors of Arts/Laws (Honours)) to "build meaningful rapport with people from diverse backgrounds and experience" that she applies to her work each day. She gained these through programs with Ventures, Student-Staff Partnerships and HASS. One of Helen's highlights included volunteering in Indonesia on an international internship.

Cristina Sheehan standing next to a sign for World Science Festival Brisbane
Cristina Sheehan served as a Science Leader for UQ.

Cristina Sheehan (2021 Graduate, Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)), who will soon being working with Ernst and Young as a Business Consultant, remarks that "the skills and experience I've gained has given me great confidence in my ability to work effectively with people from a range of backgrounds, problem-solve creatively and practically, and thrive in a busy work environment". Cristina undertook a variety of programs including volunteering, tutoring, Student-Staff Partnerships and as a Science Leader.

Top Tips

  • Look for opportunities that match your interests and not just ones that you think will look good on your resume.
  • Network. There is so much power in professional and social networking.
  • Accept good opportunities, just say YES to some and your university experience will be so much more rewarding.
  • Start early and reflect as you go.
  • Don't hesitate to ask for help and absorb as much as you can.
  • Take risks and try different things - sometimes the most rewarding and life-changing moments come from these challenges.

Find out more about the Employability Award and research some of the enrichment experiences available at UQ.

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