Employment opportunities for students at CQU Melbourne International Campus have been expanded with the introduction of the Industry Exchange Program.

The program has been designed by the Melbourne TECC (Training, Employment and Careers Coaching) Unit to provide mutual benefits for students and employers.

Within the exchange, students are given the opportunity to work in their specialised field for a one-month period, with scope to move into ongoing positions.

The program works to support international students facing difficulties due to “lack of experience” when entering the workforce.

Students are able to apply the knowledge they’ve learnt in the classroom, while also gaining insight into Australian business practices.

They are also given experience within the application and interview processes.

The businesses involved benefit through the recruitment opportunities provided by the program.

Employers can see the skills and attributes of potential long-term employees first hand.

Through the relationship established with CQU, businesses are also able to ease their fluctuating personnel demands by recruiting CQU students to assist with specific projects.

Four CQU Melbourne Accounting students have recently become the first to benefit from the exchange.

Sheila Wangari Wandue (Master of Accounting); Harsh Vardhan (Master of Accounting); Nadia Novikova (Bachelor of Business [Accounting]) and Liliana Prada Guzman (Master of Accounting [HR Management]) have completed one month’s work with PKF Chartered Accountants during their spring/summer break, with the possibility of ongoing work in the new year.

Harsh says the experience has been extremely valuable and he is grateful for the opportunity to work with such a reputable firm. “It is very beneficial for a student to get a head start in their career... it’s a professional environment so you get to see how things work in the corporate world," he said.

Harsh also says he found the interview and selection process quite different from that in his home country of India, describing his series of interviews as “friendly”.

“It’s basically your qualifications that get you into an interview ... then you have to sell yourself.

“I would recommend this to each and every student - you have to do it.”.

Photo (left to right): Student Harsh Vardhan, Anne Roubin (TECC), Tim Draffen (HR Manager, PKF Chartered Accountants), student Sheila Wangari Wandue and student Liliana Prada Guzman.