A Guide for SWEP SuccessBusiness Economics and Law Student Employability Team

Student Work Experience Program

SWEP – Program Outline 3

Applying to SWEP 3

Eligibility criteria 3

Application process 4

SWEP application 5

Cover letter instructions 5

CV advice 6

Assessment Centre 7

How do I demonstrate my skills at the assessment centre? 8

How do I prepare? 10

Assessment Centre Results 11

What do I do if I am unsuccessful? 11

Work Experience 12

What types of organisations and industries are involved with SWEP? 12

What types of organisations are not involved with SWEP? 12

What do I gain from doing work experience? 13

What do employers expect from me during work experience? 13

How do I behave during work experience? 13

What do I need to know before doing work experience? 14

Insurance 14

Important information 14

Contents

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SWEP – Program Outline

The Student Work Experience Program (SWEP) is designed for early to mid-degree students to provide you with the opportunity to participate in a competitive recruitment and selection process.

The valuable knowledge, experience and feedback you gain will give you a real advantage when entering the job market as an intern or graduate candidate. SWEP is ideally aimed at students who have little or no relevant industry work experience, to provide you with a helping hand to get on the first rung of your career ladder.

As a SWEP participant, you will learn:

• what to expect from a competitive recruitment process

• what behaviours and soft skills employers are looking for

• how to stand out from other candidates to impress recruiters and hiring managers

• how to articulate and present yourself within a recruitment process

• how to reflect and act on constructive feedback to improve for future recruitment processes.

Students who successfully pass the SWEP process will also:

• receive a certificate of achievement, and

• be considered for an unpaid work experience placement.

Please note that not all successful students will be eligible for a placement. The number of placements in the Brisbane area is limited and subject to business requirements. The top scoring students from each degree program will be offered a placement first, with remaining students considered, should further suitable opportunities be identified. Please be reassured that BEL SET will endeavour to identify multiple opportunities, in order to offer as many placements as possible. Historically, we have secured between 50-60 placements per semester.

Applying to SWEP

SWEP is open to both domestic and international students, at undergraduate or master's level. To qualify for SWEP, you will be expected to meet certain eligibility criteria before submitting an application.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for SWEP, you must be a current business, economics or law student and not in your final semester. Undergraduate students must also have a current GPA of 4.5 or above.

• You must be graduating in 2020 or later.

Please also ensure you are applying at the recommended stage of your degree program:

Program level Length of program

Recommended time to apply

Undergraduate

3 yearsYear 1 – Semester 2 Year 2 – Semester 1

4 years Year 2 – Semester 1 or 2

5+ yearsPlease contact BEL SET for advice

Master’sYou can apply at any time except your final semester

If you would like to be considered for a work experience placement, you must be available to work on a full-time basis for the entire winter semester break between 22 June and 17 July, 2020.

In addition, before undertaking an unpaid work experience placement, you must complete an Unpaid Work Experience Registration Form to receive approval from UQ. UQ can only approve up to 30 days of work experience per student per calendar year. If you have already completed or committed to more than 20 days of UQ-approved work experience this calendar year, you may still apply for SWEP but you may not be eligible to be considered for a placement.

If you are unsure about these criteria, please contact the Business, Economics and Law Student Employability Team (BEL SET).

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Application Process

February 2020Attend Information Session

21 February 2020Applications open on StudentHub

Successful student

Feedback Consultation with BEL SET

Work Experience Placement Confirmed

Submit application, including

1. CV2. Cover letter3. Studies report

Application deadline: 31 March 2020

SuccessfulInvited to Assessment Centre in

April or May 2020

May 2020Group Debriefing Session

Results Released

Waitlist student

Feedback Consultation with BEL SET

Student to be considered for additional work experience

placements that become available

Application assessed by BEL SETUnsuccessful

Feedback provided and invited to reapply before the deadline

Unsuccessful student

UnsuccessfulStudent advised to book a

consultation with BEL SET to discuss alternative programs

and opportunities

Feedback Consultation with BEL SET

Student invited to reapply next semester if they meet the criteria

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SWEP applicationSWEP is a great opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and experience and learn how to differentiate yourself from your peers. SWEP is looking for students who possess and can demonstrate some of the following skills and qualities:

• strong communication skills, both written and verbal

• teamwork and leadership skills

• passion and energy

• problem-solving ability

• creative thinking

• initiative

• resilience

• flexible attitude and ability to adapt to change

Industry is always looking for well-rounded candidates, which means that a strong academic background is important, but we really want to know what makes you, you? Think about your personal qualities, outside interests and achievements, and any part-time work or volunteering you have undertaken.

Your application must be submitted via StudentHub and must include your CV, your studies report and a cover letter (in written or video format).

After you have submitted your application, it will be assessed by the BEL SET team. We highly recommend that you submit your application early and do not wait until the deadline. If your application is not at the standard required, you will be provided with feedback and allowed a second chance to submit. If your second application is not at the required standard, you will be encouraged to meet with a BEL SET Employability Specialist to discuss alternative options to SWEP.

Cover Letter (or Video Application) Instructions

Your written cover letter (or video application) provides you with the opportunity to tell BEL SET why you should be considered for SWEP. Imagine you are sending this letter to your dream organisation. You want to make the best possible impression by putting a lot of effort into both the appearance and the content. To be successful, you are required to address ALL of the following 4 questions:

1. Why are you applying for SWEP and how do you believe SWEP will benefit your employability?

2. Think about some of the qualities listed above and tell us what makes you, you. Demonstrate, with specific examples, what skills, knowledge and qualities you could bring to the program.

3. What career are you hoping to pursue when you graduate? Explain your motivation and what research you have done so far to demonstrate your commitment to this career.

4. Describe a time when you couldn’t meet a goal. How did you handle the situation (please use the STAR technique to address this question)?

You only need to submit one cover letter, either in a written OR a video format.

Written Cover Letter

• Use a professional, business letter format. Research what this means if you are unsure.

• Address your letter to the BEL Student Employability Team.

• Check the layout for consistency.

• Ensure you use a professional font style and size.

• Do not write more than 1 page.

• Address all 4 questions in separate paragraphs (do not use the questions as headings).

• Check your grammar and spelling.

• Save your file in PDF or Word format with an appropriate file name, e.g. Name_SWEP2020_Cover Letter

Video Application

• Make it no more than three minutes long.

• Ensure you are dressed professionally and the background in your video is appropriate.

• Check the sound quality and any background noise.

• You may save the video file in a format of your choice but it should be commonly used software.

• The link to your video file should be included in your application form.

• Please do NOT attach the file to your application form.

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CV adviceA CV is your marketing tool and is often your first impression with an organisation. Think about how you would present yourself in person to a future employer and try to replicate that thinking into your written document. Your chance of progressing in a recruitment process is much higher if you have a well-written and well-presented CV, which highlights your education, skills and experience.

What to include in your CV

• career objective or personal summary

• name, basic contact details (and LinkedIn profile url if you actively use it)

• education

• work experience

• volunteering experience

• awards and achievements

• technical skills, e.g. IT, languages

• co-curricular activities, e.g. student societies

• extra-curricular activities and interests

• references

Helpful Hints

• A career objective or personal summary is not mandatory. If you include one, it should be concise, have impact and make the reader want to know more.

• Do not include any personal details, e.g. date of birth, photo, etc.

• All of the entries in each section should be listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first.

• All work experience, including part-time or casual roles, is relevant, but keep the details concise. What duties have you performed and what skills have you developed that would be useful for a future employer to know? Also include any achievements (e.g. where you have completed tasks above and beyond your normal day to day duties such as training new staff, being trusted to open and close the store etc.).

• You do not need to include the names and details of referees. A statement such as, “References are available upon request” is sufficient.

• Ensure your CV is clear, logical, structured and simple. Do not use a complicated template and be wary of unprofessional colours or formatting.

• Your CV should be no longer than 2 pages in length – be concise.

• Check the layout for consistency.

• Ensure you use a professional font style and size.

• Check your grammar and spelling.

• Save your file in PDF or Word format with an appropriate file name, e.g. Name_SWEP2020_CV

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Assessment Centre

An assessment centre is a recruitment and selection process, commonly used by large organisations to assess a group of candidates in a short timeframe. It provides a fair and objective recruitment process, as you are assessed on your performance across various activities and against set criteria, which allows you to demonstrate your strengths and areas for development.

The SWEP assessment centre runs for approximately three hours (half the time of a typical industry assessment centre), and will include some of the following activities:

1. Group activity

• In this type of activity, you will typically work with other candidates to resolve a problem. The activity may involve icebreakers, discussions, or leaderless tasks.

• This type of activity assesses your interpersonal skills, including teamwork, leadership, negotiation, and problem-solving.

2. Case study

• You may receive a case study to work on individually.

• This activity assesses your ability to analyse complex data and issues, plan projects, seek solutions and present findings.

3. In-tray/inbox exercise

• You may be asked to assume a particular employee’s role and work through your in-tray/inbox.

• This activity assesses your analytical, delegation, and written communication skills, and your ability to organise and prioritise work and communicate with team members and customers.

4. Technical skills assessment or psychometric tests

• You may be asked to complete specialised tests that measure accuracy, speed, numeracy, logic, reasoning and written communication.

• You will not be expected to complete everything before the allotted time runs out.

5. Role play

• You may be invited to act out a role to illustrate how you would handle a work situation.

• This activity assesses your communication, customer service, and problem-solving skills.

6. Presentation

• You may be asked to prepare and present on a topic or do an impromptu presentation based on a previous exercise, either independently or as a group.

• This activity will assess your timing, creativity, persuasive ability, and analytical and public speaking skills.

7. Interview

• You may be asked to participate in an interview, which could take on several different formats, including a one-on-one interview, a panel interview, or a group interview.

• This activity assesses your professionalism, personal attributes, team fit, motivations, knowledge, skills and ability to meet the role’s requirements.

8. Social events

• Throughout the day there are often opportunities for you to have a break and socialise with other candidates, assessors, recent graduates, and senior management. It is possible that you will be assessed during these breaks, so it is important that you behave accordingly.

• This activity assesses your social confidence and ability to relate to different people.

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1. Verbal communication

Your ability to speak clearly, concisely and appropriately to an audience will be assessed throughout the entire assessment centre process, including during your social interactions. The assessment centre activities will demonstrate your verbal ability and whether you can adapt to different situations.

Verbal communication not only transmits your message, but it also communicates your reactions, opinions, and emotions through your tone, tempo, pronunciation, register (formality of language), emphasis on certain words, and use of humour. Remember that listening is as important as speaking, and you should always demonstrate active listening.

During group exercises, you should speak calmly and use unemotional language to help keep the group focused. Remember to be courteous and considerate of others.

2. Leadership

Assessors will not expect to see someone who could confidently step straight into a leadership position within their organisation; however, they will be looking for positive indicators and development potential in candidates.

Leadership typically involves:

Positive examples of leadership

Setting objectives and targets for teams, encouraging communication and cooperation, and playing to the strengths of each team member

Motivating team members

Checking on progress

Delegating and negotiating responsibilities

Creating a positive work environment

Negative examples of leadership

Taking control of the team and the task unnecessarily and imposing your ideas

Allocating tasks with no follow up

Checking on progress Giving directions that are unclear or irrelevant

Micro-managing and not allowing team members to complete their own work

Making decisions without consulting other team members

You can demonstrate leadership skills without being the team leader or giving orders. For example, you can help establish what needs to be done, invite team members to contribute, and provide direction when decisions need to be made.

3. Group and team work

During an assessment centre, you will be assessed on your contribution to your team and how well you establish working relationships. To succeed, you will need to demonstrate that you are adaptable, an active listener, sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, encouraging and supportive of your team members, and willing and able to help the team achieve a common goal. You will also be assessed on how well you handle criticism or rejection, your level of self-confidence, and your ability to remain calm and objective when the team disagrees.

The only guaranteed way to fail this task is to make little to no contribution or try to dominate the group with aggressive or critical behaviours.

4. Interpersonal awareness

In a typical work setting, you will get on very well with some co-workers and find it more difficult to relate to others. During the assessment centre you will be evaluated on how well you handle these interpersonal interactions. To succeed, you should demonstrate that you have the ability to treat others with respect, establish credibility, and build rapport with your team members regardless of personality clashes.

You should avoid negative behaviours such as being aggressive when challenged, cutting team members out of the decision-making process, being too submissive when faced with a difference of opinion, or using negative verbal and non-verbal language.

How do I demonstrate my skills at the assessment centre?

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5. Presentations

You might be required to make a presentation during the assessment centre. You could be assigned a topic, asked to choose your own, or asked to present your conclusions from an exercise. You could also be asked to present on your own or in a group.

During a presentation task you will be assessed not only on your presentation skills but also on how well you structure your work.

It is therefore essential to maximise your preparation time and ask yourself the following questions:

• Why are you making this presentation and what is the task asking you to do?

• Who is in the audience and what is their level of understanding?

• What are your priorities and objectives and what structure will you use?

A lot of people are apprehensive when it comes to making presentations, so it is useful to remember the following presentation structure:

• Introduction – briefly explain what you are going to say.

• Core – provide further information and develop the topic or argument with evidence and your rationale.

• Conclusion – summarise what you have said and ask the audience for questions.

If you feel nervous or unsure, keep your presentation simple. If you are required to choose your own topic, choose one that you know well so you can answer questions with confidence.

6. Planning and organisation

Each of the assessment centre activities will have a time limit, so you will need to demonstrate good time management. You will also need to demonstrate that you can take responsibility for your work, set objectives, use resources, and anticipate difficulties to ensure that you complete each task.

At the start of each activity, spend time planning and allocate a time limit for each individual task – and try to stick to it. When faced with a complication, maintain your composure and adjust your plan accordingly.

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How do I prepare?Good preparation is vital to ensure you get the most out of the assessment centre process. Here are a few suggestions on how to prepare before and during the assessment centre.

Before the day

• If you are unclear about anything, contact BEL SET.

• Research and practise potential activities. Do not underestimate the difference this will make to your confidence and performance on the day.

• Choose your outfit the night before, ensuring you will be dressed formally.

• Get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol consumption.

• Plan your journey and aim to arrive at least 10 minutes before the event begins. You will not be allowed into the assessment centre if you are late.

On the day

• Arrive early so that you do not feel rushed and can familiarise yourself with your surroundings.

• Ensure you eat a healthy meal before the assessment centre and avoid consuming too much caffeine or sugary foods.

• Read all instructions carefully. Are all of the listed resources available and working?

• Be yourself – bring your own experiences and personality to the table.

• Take all of the exercises seriously. The hypothetical scenarios will require you to play along and come up with real solutions.

• Do not attempt to guess what is being assessed as this may affect your participation and assessment.

• Be professional. Behave as if you are at the workplace.

During the tasks

• Remember that you are being assessed the entire time, so try to be assertive during all activities and maintain a friendly and polite demeanour. Try to relax and be yourself as people generally warm to individuality.

• Always focus on highlighting your own skills. Do not be concerned with what other candidates are doing.

• Do not dwell on any mistakes, instead concentrate on performing well in the next activity.

• Draw others into group discussion, especially the candidates who seem shy and withdrawn from the conversation.

• Ensure the assessors can see your working methodology.

• Try to grasp the requirements of each task quickly by reading the brief. Revisit the brief once you have an understanding of the entire challenge.

• Participate in discussions, even during the breaks. If you are struggling to make conversation, ask other candidates about their university experience.

View the assessment centre as a positive learning experience and an opportunity to showcase your best self. Assessment centres are designed to assess your behaviour during certain activities, so do your best to demonstrate what you are capable of when assessors are talking to and observing you. Avoid only speaking to your group or existing friends; use this as an opportunity to network and meet new people.

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After the final assessment centre is complete, all participants will be invited to a group debriefing session where BEL SET will run through the positive behaviours observed and some general areas for development. You are also strongly encouraged to book an individual consultation with BEL SET to run through your detailed scores and feedback across the whole SWEP application and assessment centre process.

Students who successfully reach the required standard following the assessment centres will be considered for (but not guaranteed) an unpaid work experience placement. The number of available placements in the Brisbane area is limited and subject to the business needs of the individual organisations. The top scoring students from each degree program will be placed first with remaining students considered on a case by case basis, should suitable opportunities be identified. Please be reassured that BEL SET will endeavour to identify as many opportunities as possible in order to offer as many placements as possible.

What do I do if I am unsuccessful?

If you do not reach the required standard to successfully complete SWEP, either at the initial application or the assessment centre stage, the following options are available to you:

Individual feedback

You will be encouraged to arrange a BEL SET consultation to go through your feedback, allowing you to reflect and build on areas of success and improve your areas for development for future participation in SWEP or industry recruitment processes.

BEL SET Programs

You will be encouraged to participate in other BEL SET programs to build on your knowledge and skills in certain areas.

Reapply for SWEP next semester

Provided they are eligible, unsuccessful SWEP participants will have one further opportunity to reapply for the program the following semester. This will give you a chance to learn from your previous experience. You can only participate in SWEP a maximum of two times.

Student who successfully passed SWEP, but did not obtain a work experience placement are unfortunately not eligible to reapply. SWEP is a valuable program designed as a learning and development opportunity, which allows you to make mistakes in a ‘safe’ environment and receive feedback so that you can reflect and improve for your real-life recruitment processes. We expect you to take this learning and use it to secure your own work experience opportunity or formal internship outside of the program.

Assessment Centre Results

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Work Experience

The top performing students from each degree program (circa 50–60 students in total) will be eligible for an unpaid work experience placement. BEL SET will make the arrangements for each student.

Students apply to the program itself, not to a specific host company (students cannot choose a host). If you decide not to take the opportunity you are offered, no further opportunity will be sourced for you, and the opportunity will be provided to a different student.

What types of organisations and industries are involved with SWEP?

Most of the participating organisations are:

• small businesses

• government organisations

• not-for-profit organisations.

SWEP targets the following industry types, in line with the different degree programs:

• business, which may include advertising, marketing, HR, real estate, business operations, entrepreneurship, and project management

• commerce, which may include accounting, finance, and information systems

• economics

• tourism, hospitality and events management

• law.

What types of organisations are not typically involved with SWEP?

• ‘Big 4’ professional services firms

• large banks, law firms, insurance companies or management consultancies

• small or boutique organisations with few employees

• organisations who already run paid internships.

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What do I gain from doing work experience?Work experience is an important part of career planning as it provides you with practical skills and experience that you cannot gain from lectures. Employers really value work experience on your CV as it demonstrates your understanding of a particular role and helps you to stand out.

Other benefits of completing work experience include:

• gaining structured, supervised, hands-on experience which will give you a real sense of the industry and the job

• learning transferable skills such as communication and team work

• building confidence in your own ability to learn and master new skills and tasks

• showcasing your commitment, reliability, enthusiasm, and ability to make substantial contributions in the workplace

• expanding your professional networks and making meaningful contacts who could help you step onto the career ladder.

What do employers expect from me during work experience?

Employers will expect you to fit in with the team, get involved in the day-to-day activities of the business, and demonstrate professional behaviours including:

• intelligence and business acumen

• good communication skills

• the ability to interact and network with clients and colleagues

• enthusiasm for the industry, the work, and the organisation

• ambition and initiative

• effective workload management and prioritisation of tasks.

How do I behave during work experience?

• Work hard, efficiently, and to the best of your ability.

• Manage your fatigue and ensure that you are getting enough sleep.

• Dress professionally.

• Arrive at work on time and do not be a clock watcher; always ask your team if there is anything else that needs to be completed before you leave.

• Be friendly and sociable. For example, have lunch with your team, get to know them, and go to social events and after work drinks – but always be professional.

• Keep your phone on silent and do not check social media during work hours. Some organisations have a strict culture on the use of phones in the office.

• Do not be afraid to ask questions, but respect your colleagues’ time. Do not interrupt them every five minutes and do not ask questions you know the answer to. If your question is not urgent, write it down and return to it later. If you still need to ask the question, arrange a time to discuss it with your colleague.

• Do not get involved in office politics.

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What do I need to know before doing work experience?

Insurance

The work experience that you complete during SWEP is not a course requirement and is different from work integrated learning (for credit placements) and volunteering. UQ can approve unpaid work experience for students as part of their education. Schools/units are under no obligation to approve work experience.

Requirements for approval and insurance cover include the following:

• You must be currently enrolled at UQ and not have completed your studies.

• You must not undertake work experience for more than 30 days in a calendar year.

• The work experience must be relevant to your education.

• The work experience must be unpaid.

• The work experience provider must not provide work experience to more than the permitted number of students at the same time.

• The work experience provider must not provide work experience to you at a time other than during the ordinary working hours of the organisation.

Important information

What happens if I do not like my placement?

Your placement is designed to be a learning experience and we try to take into account your interests as much as we can. Each placement may involve a variety of tasks relevant to your studies, including general work experience and project work. If you do not like the opportunity that you have been matched to, the opportunity will be offered to a different student (and no further opportunity will be sourced for you). If you feel unsafe or harassed during your placement, please contact BEL SET as soon as you can.

What happens if I am sick or have an exam?

As in a normal job, please consult your supervisor as soon as possible. It is important to be honest with the organisation about the situation so that they can discuss it with you and plan accordingly.

The company wants me to sign forms I do not understand or undertake duties that make me feel uncomfortable, what do I do?

If this scenario occurs and you feel comfortable doing so, as a starting point speak to your supervisor or a member of the company's HR team for clarification on what is being asked of you. Please then contact BEL SET if you do not feel that this resolves the situation, or if you do not feel comfortable speaking to your supervisor or the HR team.

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Business, Economics and Law Student Employability Team

T: +61 7 3365 4222

E: careers@bel.uq.edu.au

W: bel.uq.edu.au/set

F: facebook.com/UQBELSET

A: Room 107, Level 1

Colin Clark (Building 39)

St Lucia Campus

CRICOS Provider 00025B

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