Sydney Life

People always ask me why I chose physiotherapy, and invariably my response is ‘I like sport and I like science so it seemed like a great way to combine the two and plus it’s easy to get a job at the end’. In the past four years I’ve learnt the exercise component and the science component. Now as I finish off my degree I need to start thinking about the job part!

And I did not lie. We have it pretty darn good. I can think of no other degree that offers you a graduate job on a silver platter – this job is not dependant on your marks, an interview or your resume. All you have to do is graduate and apply (but not necessarily in that order). Physio graduates from all NSW universities can work in the public hospitals for one year with no strings attached (well maybe a couple of strings – we have to do a rotation of weekend placement and a country placement.) Pretty sweet. All I have to worry about is what my preferences will be.

However, the thought did occur to me that someday I will have to apply for a job and fix up my high school resume (I realise that being on the debating team in year 7 might not be so applicable!)

So when I got an email from the Careers Centre offering some workshops at Cumberland on how to write your resume and prepare for an interview, I decided to go.

They turned out to be very beneficial. Here are some tips I picked up:

* At our age a CV should be called a resume as CV stands for curriculum vitae which is Latin for ‘the story of my life’ and well, as a uni graduate I guess our story is just about to begin!

* Although I may sound immodest and boastful, I do really need to sell myself and talk about all the good qualities I possess (whilst not being too arrogant!)

* I learnt about the formatting and lay out of a resume, and that the Careers Centre will go check it for free. What service!

* There are different types of jobs interviews ranging from a friendly coffee to group interactions to a scary 3 person panel.

* I will need to go clothes shopping before a job interview because I don’t possibly have any outfit which spells out presentable, keen but not too pretentious!!

Moral of the story – check out the Careers Centre www.careers.usyd.edu.au/. They can help you find the right degree, job and prepare you for the big wide world. Or you can just live in denial and continuing working at McDonalds*.

*No offence was intended for any persons who have or may currently work at McDonalds. I know they have a nice healthy breakfast order!