Why go to University?

We've all heard that competition for jobs is fierce. You can increase your employability, learn skills transferable to any part of your life, enjoy job satisfaction and earn a great starting salary by becoming a university graduate.

Employability

The concept of a job for life is now almost non-existent. Whilst in the past long-term employment was important, the focus has now shifted to long-term employability.

Employability is your ability to learn new skills, acquire new knowledge and develop competencies that are demanded by the professions and employers. Because information and knowledge continue to expand, the capacity for lifelong learning is vital for all graduates. Continual acquisition of new skills and knowledge enhances your employability and helps you to control and manage your career.

Transferable Skills

The contemporary workplace needs people with transferable skills in addition to professional knowledge and competencies, and through the course of their academic studies, graduates gain an abundance of additional skills.

Transferable skills allow graduates to move from job to job, perhaps even industry to industry, with ease. For example, your work may call on you to organise a team of people working on a project, coordinate special events, or manage a budget.

Transferable skills are not specific to the one job or one type of work but can be applied in any work situation.

Skills and qualities considered important by employers include:

• understanding of cultural diversity
• a second language
• computer literacy
• global perspective
• ethical understanding
• problem solving
• oral and written communication
• interpersonal understanding
• social responsibility
• critical thinking
• creative thinking
• collaboration
• teamwork
• analytical and conceptual skills
• a capacity to cope with complexity and ambiguous situations
• the ability to work in conditions where there is no rule book to be followed.

Whatever program you study at uni, you will develop these skills – it is part and parcel of what, and how, you are taught.

Negotiating with your tutor, participating in group work and discussions, and taking part in extra-curricular activities – particularly as an organiser – develop your interpersonal skills.

Mixing with teachers and fellow students from varied backgrounds or studying overseas for part of your degree enables you to cultivate your understanding of cultural diversity.

You can develop your leadership skills and establish links with others in your chosen field by getting involved in vacation and voluntary work, undertaking short courses outside your degree program, and joining professional associations.

Life-long Learning

Many people change their careers (not just their jobs) several times during the course of their working life. Once you have entered the workforce, you can expect to continue learning. On the job training, returning to study to gain additional qualifications, and keeping up with new developments in your field will enhance your employability.

Job Satisfaction

One of the main reasons why graduates are so successful in their chosen careers is the level of job satisfaction they get. It's common sense that we do best in the things we enjoy the most! Graduates are no different, and after carefully choosing their career and study path, they enjoy their jobs. Graduates get jobs that allow them to have more control over their working day and enable them to make innovative contributions to the workplace. Graduate jobs are often more varied, creative, and challenging.

Earning Potential

Graduates are among the highest paid in society. The average starting salary for new graduates is approximately $43,000 annually. Graduates are rewarded for their knowledge, contribution and hard work. Take a look at the starting salaries and typical areas of employment for different graduates on the Grads Online website.