Graduate Recruitment Accelerator
The Graduate Recruitment Accelerator (GRA) prepares students to make competitive applications for graduate employment programs. The program is open to Western Sydney University students in their penultimate or final year.
The program introduces you to graduate programs, and the employers offering graduate employment programs. You will also explore the career benefits provided by graduate programs, and how to ensure your applications are competitive.
Throughout the program, you are guided through a combination of online and in-person activities teaching you about the common graduate recruitment techniques used by a wide range of companies in Australia.
Cost: No charge to Western Sydney University student or recent graduates.
Dates: Beginning December 2022 until End of March 2023.
Delivery mode: Online and face-to-face.
As part of the program, participants will receive:
- A personalised Resume and Cover Letter review by qualified Western Sydney University Careers staff, as part of the Building Your Resources module
- A personalised review of your Video Application as part of the Online and Video Applications module
- Practice in an Assessment Centre featuring top graduate employers*
- Access to face-to-face mock interviews with Western Sydney University Careers staff*
- Access to an exclusive face-to-face networking event featuring attendees from top graduate recruiters looking for Western Sydney University talent. *
- Exclusive LinkedIn credentials for completion of the program. *
*contingent on active participation in and completion of the GRA program.
PROGRAM OUTLINE
The program includes information, workshops, activities and assistance covering;
Part 1: Welcome to GRA & Introduction to Graduate Programs: What are they? When do I apply? Where can I find them?
Part 1: Welcome to GRA & Introduction to Graduate Programs: What are they? When do I apply? Where can I find them?
Starts: December 2022
The Graduate Recruitment Accelerator will start with a Welcome Session in the first week of December 2022 introducing you to the structure of the program, the online resources we will be using (WesternLife, ALPHA, etc.), and what exciting activities you can look forward to.
We will also do a crash course in what graduate programs are, why so many companies use them to discover and employ new talent, and how you as final-year students can find the ones that are best for you.
Part 2: Preparing to Interact with Employers: Linkedin and Career Fairs
Part 2: Preparing to Interact with Employers: Linkedin and Career Fairs
Starts December 2022 (after Welcome Session)
After our welcome session, you will explore the world of interacting with employers looking for graduates to join their teams! This will include building your own professional LinkedIn profile, finding out more about career expos, and strengthening your professional network. All of this will prepare you for the direct interactions with employers you will have later in the program.
Part 3: Building Your Resources: Resumes, Cover Letters, Selection Criteria responses for graduates
Part 3: Building Your Resources: Resumes, Cover Letters, Selection Criteria responses for graduates
Starts January 2023
You will start 2023 by building the essential resources that every graduate program application needs.
Resumes, cover letters, and selection criteria responses are the ‘bread and butter’ of applications. We will guide you through activities to build, review, and save your resources ready for when applications open.
Part 4: Online and Video Applications
Part 4: Online and Video Applications
Starts January 2023
Online applications are extremely common in graduate program recruitment, so we will also take you through the ins and outs of how these work. This will include what sort of questions you may receive in a standard online application, how you can prepare for video applications, and how to research a company’s online application process online.
Part 5: Aptitude & Psychometric Testing
Part 4: Aptitude & Psychometric Testing
Starts February 2023
Aptitude and Psychometric testing can be the biggest question mark in an online application, so we are dedicating a whole section of the program for you practice these. We have online practical aptitude and psychometric testing exercises for you to get experience before moving on to the next stage of the program.
Part 6: Assessment Centres
Part 6: Assessment Centres
Start February 2023
Assessment centres are a big part of many company’s graduate program recruitment strategies. As with most thing, practice makes perfect, so we have organised with a leading graduate employer of choice in Australia to deliver a face-to-face assessment centre, giving you experience straight from the employer’s mouth of why they use assessment centres, and what they are looking for from their applicants.
Not one to be missed! .
Part 7: Interview Skills
Part 7: Interview Skills
Starts February 2023
You will also spend some time practicing your interviewing skills, both for in-person and online interviews. Using a combination of online modules, as well as an exclusive face-to-face mock interviews workshop with experienced Western Sydney University Careers staff, you will be prepared to demonstrate your talent and passion in one of the most critical stages of the recruitment process.
Part 8: Interacting with Employers
Part 8: Interacting with Employers
Starts March 2023
The final stage of the program will give you access to opportunities to directly interact with employers from a variety of industries in Australia. Firstly at an exclusive Meet the Employers networking event in Parramatta, where you will interact with representatives from a variety of industries looking for Western Sydney University graduate talent.
Secondly, we will be provided free transport to and from one of the biggest careers fairs in Australia, The Big Meet 2023, on Thursday 23rd March 2023 at the International Convention Centre, Sydney.
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!
Applications are now closed for the Graduate Recruitment Accelerator 2022/2023. If you have any questions about the program or existing submissions, please contact us via CareerHub’s Ask a Question feature.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is the Graduate Recruitment Accelerator online or in-person?
Is the Graduate Recruitment Accelerator online or in-person?
The Graduate Recruitment Accelerator program is a hybrid program, meaning it has both online presentations/activities, and face-to-face events.
When are the program’s dates for; online activities, online events, face-to-face events, etc.
When are the program’s dates for; online activities, online events, face-to-face events, etc.
Online activities are completed on our ALPHA program, and can be completed any time during the program. Certain online activities will be required prior to relevant face-to-face events (eg. Assessment Centre modules prior to the mock assessment centre), but these will be clearly explained during the program.
Face-to-face events have set dates and locations that will be announced prior to the end of 2022. These events will happen in February and March 2023.
See above drop-downs for more information.
What if I’m not available all summer?
What if I’m not available all summer?
That’s okay, GRA is designed to be flexible around your other commitments such as work, summer study, holidays, etc. Online modules are released in bulk, and any deadlines will be announced well ahead of time for you to plan.
Not all these sections are relevant to me, do I have to do them all?
Not all these sections are relevant to me, do I have to do them all?
Yes, all of these sections are common practices used in graduate program recruitment, so we will be encouraging everyone to complete them in sequence.
Please note, participants who do not complete key activities might not be eligible to attend the exclusive mock assessment centre, mock interview, and meet the employer sessions if events are high capacity.
Will there be someone to help me?
Will there be someone to help me?
Yes – the Western Sydney University Careers team will be contactable the entire time during the program to provide technical and program assistance whenever and wherever necessary.
- There will be a weekly online drop-in session every week where participants can talk to a Careers Education Consultant about the program, and any difficulties or questions they may have.
- Students will be added to a WesternLife group where they can discuss with Western Sydney University Careers staff, and fellow GRA participants, about activities, events, and more!
Is there a fee to attend the program?
Is there a fee to attend the program?
No, the entire program is planned as a zero-cost experience. All online activities, face-to-face events, and external events carry zero planned cost for students.
Can anyone attend the program?
Can anyone attend the program?
Application are open for anyone who is interested in completing the program. The application will ask a few questions about your studies, your career ambitions, and what you hope to gain from completing the program.
This program is most suitable for:
- Students in their penultimate or final-year of study of either an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree.
- Students planning to join the workforce/apply for graduate programs in 2023/2024.
- Students studying; Business, Technology, Engineering, Law, Humanities, Science, Social Science, Health Science, and Psychology disciplines.
How are students selected for the program?
How are students selected for the program?
Students will apply via the application form on CareerHub, and answer the questions honestly about themselves. Students who provide all required information, and effectively explain their career goals and expectations in joining the program will be the most competitive.
Students will not be successful in joining the program if:
- Information supplied is inaccurate.
- Essential requested information is missing.
- Answers are short, or do not fully answer questions.
- Applications are high, and students do not fit key criteria for the program.
Are international students able to join the program?
Are international students able to join the program?
Yes! International students can apply.
What kind of employers will be at the events?
What kind of employers will be at the events?
Employers with graduate programs will be invited. Some niche industries might not have specific representatives at all events, but the skills gained in the program are still incredibly beneficial for graduates.
There are graduate program roles available now. Can I apply to those?
There are graduate program roles available now. Can I apply to those?
There are graduate programs who open their applications as early as December 2022 for late 2023/early 2024 starts. Whilst you are free to apply for these programs now, many of these companies also run additional recruitment rounds later in the year, and will still take graduate who have graduated even several years later.
I don’t have a high GPA, can I still apply to this program?
I don’t have a high GPA, can I still apply to this program?
Yes, GRA has no minimum GPA requirement for applications. Your application will be measured by the merits discussed in the ‘Can anyone attend the program?’ and ‘How are students selected for the program?’ drop-downs.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
Please use CareerHub’s Ask a Question feature to ask any additional questions, and a member of the team should respond in 1-3 business days.
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