Real Life of Students – NOTHING like the movies
Chapter 8
It’s marketed as a time of learning, partying, and discovering who you are as a person, but university life for many International students is anything but what you see in films or on television shows. Fact is, many students are not there to “party” as they are there to get a head start on their lives and careers and many more need to work during their times in university as not everyone can count on scholarships, government subsidies, or parent financial support for everything they need in life.
The real challenge in a student’s life is getting the work-study-life balance just right so that we are not pulling out our hair. This can be challenging as in Australia, a student can work up to 40 hours a fortnight. Most students, like myself, worked 20 hours each week. I must have applied for over 300 accounting related jobs before I got my first job as an accountant. I would like to state that’s not a creative embellishment; I was responsible for a small deforestation, just for my CV, lol. I was also responsible for a significant drain on the internet while emailing CVs and using online portals, so if you had troubles while going down a YouTube binge, I do apologise.
It wasn’t until much later that I learned about the great job agencies that are out there ready to help students get some employment while studying. Yes, they do get paid to place you, but in some cases, it’s a one-time payment taken from your first cheque but for the amount of work that they save you; it’s worth it. One of the biggest tips I was given by an advisor, is that when you are applying for a large number of jobs, keep a job journal. A journal that details each job you apply for, what the job involves and the name of the person’s contact details advertising the position, if you can find that information or if it is listed on the advert. Why? When you do get the call from a job, you don’t want to start the conversation with “Sorry, what job is this?” It might give the impression that you don’t care.
Having this ace up my sleeve, when I finally got a call back from my tsunami of applications, I was prepared. I had to go through the normal obstacle course. The interview, the reference check, the dance-off and swordfight with all applicants in the Thunderdome. Eventually, I was informed that I got the job. I later learnt it had a lot to do with my attitude, my preparedness, and the lucky chance that I managed to find a matching suit to wear to the interview. Ok, they didn’t mention the last part, but I only assumed it had played a part. The skill set required now for jobs focusses a lot on attitudes, communication skills, flexibility, work-ethic and it is no longer just based on your transcripts. Life can seem impossible when you are a student looking for part-time work but know that you will get there, there is a job for you, and things will work out. I know that seems obvious, but sometimes in the university life, you need to hear that.
