Seasons Greetings

After a fabulous and rewarding 2011, the festive season is once again well and truly upon us.

For us here at the University of Sydney Business School, it’s a great time to reflect on the outstanding academic performances and groundbreaking programs that have defined the past 12-months, particularly in relation to our internationally recognised Master of Management program. It’s also the perfect opportunity to reflect on the success of this very blog and to thank you, the reader, for all the support you’ve afforded it since its inception back in June.

From its very first instalment, the Big Opportunity Blog has been an initiative enthusiastically embraced by a wide range of students, academics, and industry representatives, who have utilised the forum to highlight the issues and ideas important to them. Judging by the response and patronage of this site, we think it’s fair to say that you’ve found their entries just as interesting and insightful as we have. For all those that have not only visited the blog each week, but also spread the word to friends and colleagues via Twitter, Facebook, and even old-fashioned word of mouth, an additional thank you is definitely warranted.

The good news is that we’ll be doing it all again next year. Starting in February, the Big Opportunity Blog will once again be open for business. As usual, you can expect it to constitute a regular sounding board for some of the leading thinkers and participants in the academic and business fields. Until then, it only remains for all of us here at the Business School team to wish you all a happy, safe, and wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Oh… and for those of you who want to get a jump start on some big career opportunities in 2012 we’d love to see you at our postgraduate information night on January 31. Register now

Author: The team at the University of Sydney Business School

Hitting The Ground Running

Summer break might be a perfect time to unwind after a tough year of study, but it’s also the prime opportunity to get yourself job-ready as the start of your 2012 academic campaign approaches.

That’s because from day one of week one, potential employers will be on campus either recruiting for 2013 gradate positions (12-months in advance), or summer vacation programs. If you want to get your foot in the door early, you’ve got to be ready. The problem that a lot of students have is thinking that they’ve got a couple of weeks to get back into the swing of things. But the reality is that the switched-on people are starting to apply for jobs from the outset.

So, what steps can you take to place yourself in the best possible position? The number one priority should be spending time researching the types of industries you’re interested in working in, as well as the types of organisations you may want to work for. Alternatively, if you harbour aspirations to work for, say, a large accounting firm, you might try going directly to the websites of companies like Deloitte or KPMG and ascertaining what they may have to offer. Checking out the websites of professional bodies or organisations is also a great way to garner relevant information.

If you haven’t already done so, the break is the perfect time to make sure your resume is in order. While you’re at it, take time to think about the type of skills and qualities you could offer a potential employer. Work experience, meantime, is another great way of getting job-ready. And while most students will by now have their summer programs organised, there could still be invaluable opportunities available through personal or family contacts.

Finally, we’ll also be sending out a regular e-newsletter to students from around the end of January. It’s a great resource to be aware of and look out for.

Author: Sarah Fletcher – Career Services Manager – Employer Relations - University of Sydney Business School

First Year Uni - New skills, new friends, and a coffee addiction!

My first year of university has ended all too soon….yet not soon enough….and has finished just as it began, with a bundle of mixed emotions.

I began my first year overwhelmingly excited, but terrified by the prospect of the never-ending campus and the stampede of older students who seemed to know exactly what they were doing. Trying to defrost my brain after the HSC summer holiday, my first few weeks are a blurred memory of juggling the campus map, choosing from what seemed like millions of subjects, over-eagerly reading ahead and learning the ropes of the envied uni lifestyle.

I finished my last exam breathing a sigh of relief and with a sense of achievement. The disappointment that the year had come to an abrupt close - just as I was getting into the swing of uni life - was far outweighed by the freedom of the university summer break. Now I’m waiting for my final results with a strange sense of idleness, with my fingers crossed (with superglue!) but with confidence that I studied more than I thought was humanly possible.

I have achieved some significant milestones in my first year, including my well-overdue discovery of public transport, learning that results are actually directly contingent on hours of studying (who would have thought!) and that coffee is the key to surviving 8am stats tutes and late night study. Although my first year was somewhat frantic, I think it equipped me with all the essential lessons I needed to thrive at uni. I’ve become more accustomed to the fast paced uni style of learning, learnt the standard of work required and know where to turn if I’m struggling.

The thought of entering second year is exciting as my cohort takes its first step up the food chain. I’m in my element now. Uniforms and chronic HSC sleep deprivation are happily a thing of the past and now striking a balance between the academic and social dimensions of uni life has become routine. I’m looking forward to beginning studying subjects for my majors next year and being able to focus on the areas of study I am intrigued in. I’ve surprised myself in emerging from my first year not just intact, but with confidence in my new skills and knowledge, a love for studying at the University of Sydney, a passion for Commerce, many new friends and perhaps inevitably, a caffeine addiction.