CAREERS
BY RACHEL WHITWORTH & CHAUNTELLE WOLFAARDT (CAREER ADVISORS)
Post-School Study Pays Off: Open Day Season Kicks Off This Weekend!
Did you know that 90% of future jobs will require post-school training, and 50% of the jobs advertised today call for a VET qualification? University isn’t the only pathway to a great career! Earn-while-you-learn apprenticeships and flexible dual-sector study are in higher demand than ever.
With Victorian Open Day Season officially launching this Sunday at Swinburne University of Technology, now is the perfect time to explore your options, tour campuses, and map out your next steps!
A few tips on How to approach OPEN DAYS:
Getting the most out of an Open Day:
Most institutional Open Days are held in late July and August (see over the page for Open Day dates). However, you are more than welcome to contact an institution to arrange a visit any time.
What happens on an Open Day?
On Open Day you can visit an institution when it’s at its best. Everyone is there – academics, lecturers, current students, and information officers. More importantly, you can talk with academics, lecturers, and current students about what certain courses are actually like, and what is required to get into them.
Who should attend an Open Day?
Anyone who is considering studying at a tertiary level in the next few years should attend.
Why should you attend an Open Day?
Apart from the opportunity to obtain course information there are many other reasons why attending an Open Day is a good idea:
You are going to feel more comfortable arriving at a university or TAFE institute on the first day of classes if you have been there before.
You can see what is really involved in the course or courses you are interested in.
If you have to move away from home, you can see where are you will live.
You can evaluate if you will be happier studying in a large metropolitan institution or a smaller, perhaps rural institution.
You can experience the atmosphere. What does the place ‘feel’ like? Is it a bustling environment with lots of activity or a quieter, more relaxed campus set in landscaped grounds?
You can work out how you going to get there. Is it close to public transport or should you start saving now for a car?
How to make the best of Open Days
To make your Open Day visits fun and informative, here are some pointers:
Write down a list of questions you would like to ask about particular courses.
Be there early. Crowds tend to develop as the day progresses.
On arrival, get a map from a central point and ask for directions to the relevant faculties or schools.
Ask questions!
Don’t spend the day collecting printed information only. Use the opportunity to speak directly with academics before applications close.
Introduce yourself to selection officers if you feel it is appropriate, but don’t be pushy.
Check out the residential colleges, if available. After all, it is you that will be living there.
Walk around the campus. Have a good look! See what sporting facilities and other services are available.
Enjoy the visit!
Not everyone can attend every Open Day, and various Institutions hold their Open Days on the same date! If you can’t attend an Open Day and you are interested in a particular institution, you may visit at other times. If you wish to speak to a particular person, it is essential to make an appointment first.
See the full Open Day Schedule:
