Work experience and internships
Commerce students are encouraged to obtain work experience through vacation work, cooperative placements and internships. Often referred to as Industry Based Learning, these opportunities enable students to obtain paid, professional course-related work experience over a specified period of time.
For example, vacation work maybe offered for 4-12 weeks during the holiday breaks, internships maybe offered during vacations or in conjunction with a student's academic studies, whereas cooperative placements usually require the deferment of the course for between 6–12 months. The majority target penultimate year students from particular disciplines. A large proportion of vacation work programs are advertised in 2nd semester. Employers often assess the students' work performance during their employment for their potential as graduate employees.
Other opportunities include cadetships (when a student is employed full-time or part-time whilst completing their course) and employer scholarships, which involve paid work experience and are usually based on academic merit.
The University’s Careers and Employment Service supports students with resources, assistance and advice. Students can seek help with resumé writing, interview skills, career planning and career mentorship. Careers and Employment runs Careers Online, a jobs database for students and recent graduates. The jobs advertised range from part-time/casual work through to full-time employment including positions in graduate programs, with some being exclusive to the University of Melbourne.