Should you consider work experience this summer?

From volunteering to internships, work experience is a feature of many student summers. So how can you use work experience to enhance your career prospects in the tax sector?

If study commitments have prevented you from applying for a work experience placement during the year, it may be worth looking to the summer holidays to gain key professional skills.

Tempting as it is to head to the beach instead, work experience can accelerate your career and help you stand out from the pack of less motivated undergraduates.

It’s usually better to apply for work experience while you’re still at university. Firms tend to be more amenable when you have the backing of a degree program.

Finding work experience

If you’ve already decided the tax profession is the right career for you, you can start by searching for positions that require specific tax-related skills.

You can also look for broadly relevant roles on career sites and list recurring selection criteria in the various job advertisements. The closer your experience matches those required attributes, the easier it will be to transition from graduate to employee.

Don’t have a clear vision of your future? Consider roles that will enable you to experiment in a few areas. This will help you find your niche. Any related work experience – that shows you've worked in a tax environment – is beneficial.

Five ways to make work experience count

The value of work experience correlates directly with the skills you gain. In any position you should, therefore, aim to:

1. build technical expertise – particularly in terms of the applied technical skills you can only get on the job
2. network – you’re in the perfect position to meet influential people in the profession
3. observe – secure an understanding of the work environment and the different roles that contribute to the organisation
4. be curious – ask questions and be open to different experiences
5. add the experience to your resume – in subsequent job interviews, you can talk about how it prepared you for the ultimate role you seek.

Your summer holidays are a great time to ease into working in the tax profession. The busiest period has passed for most firms, which means your allocated supervisor or mentor can give you more attention.

Work experience can make a big difference to your career prospects. Not only will it give you a better understanding of the role you desire, you’ll also build the skills and contacts that will help you secure it.

Taking the initiative while others laze around is a positive career move. How will you make the experience count?

Give yourself the edge with free Student Membership

If you're a tertiary education student, The Tax Institute can help you in your career journey. Find out about Student Membership.

How to use semester holidays to boost your career

You don’t need to veg out to relax these semester holidays. Doing something different can be just as effective. Why not use the time to help your future career?

Ever heard the expression “change is as good as a rest”? In short, it means learning new things can be a great distraction from the semester you’ve just been through, equating to a holiday. You can use this time to catch up on bad TV, or you can make a small investment towards your career or internship prospects.

1. Work experience

One or two weeks is plenty of time to make headway either at an organisation that might take you on as an intern in the future, or one that will look good on your résumé because of the skills and experience it affords. Start ringing around at least two weeks before you want to start.

2. Volunteering

Along similar lines is volunteering. If you don’t usually have time to spare during the semester, use the break to do an intensive volunteer stint. Some volunteer roles can give you what you need to secure an internship or an entry-level position while others are just a good way to do something different to recharge your batteries. Any form of giving time is well regarded on a résumé.

3. Picking up complementary skills

If you have a few skill gaps that won’t be met through coursework, semester break is a good time to focus on bridging those gaps through external training or, because you now have the time, simply practising what you need to. Don't forget that hard skills and softs skills are both important in the business world. Read our blog post about why both skills are so important when landing your ideal job.

4. Looking for prospects

Time poor while studying? Semester break gives you the chance to do some career research. While you’re investigating the job market and taking a closer look at different organisations, pursue any promising prospects you come across. Being proactive during this period could pay off by summer break.

5. Refining your résumé

Having an up-to-date résumé on hand means when an unexpected opportunity comes your way, you’re ready to take it. Prepare yourself by spending time refining this crucial document in the semester break so when the job-hunting season opens you’re first out of the blocks. Have a quick read of our blog post detailing how to build your résumé while you are studying. 

6. Enhance your digital footprint

A digital footprint is the trail of data that users leave on digital services. From websites to social media profiles, your digital footprint can be used to showcase your career – so make sure you know how to optimise it. Visit our blog post about 5 ways to enhance your digital footprint. 

Your mid-year break needn’t be idle time. There is plenty you can do to boost your career prospects while still catching some R&R from semester one, so make sure you use the time to prepare. When you’ve set yourself up, it makes for a less stressful second semester!

Looking for that competitive edge? Look into completing The Tax Institute’s Programs, Single Subjects or Short-Courses. 

Find out more.

The benefits of on-the-job networking

Most job-networking advice follows the same script: hit the pavement, connect with industry peers on social media, get yourself known. But what can you do to advance your career without jumping ship.
Here are five tips on how to get all the benefits of networking without leaving your current company.

1. Join company clubs and groups

If you work for a mid-sized or larger firm, it’s likely they have clubs and groups that bring people together from different areas to share knowledge, skills and experience. Do they have meet-ups and team sports outside of work? This can be a good way to have fun while getting to know your colleagues better.

2. Polish your skills

One of the best ways to gain a competitive edge within your own company is to join a group or association. Workshops, seminars and conferences can give you a bird’s-eye view of industry trends and best practices. If the extra skills and knowledge you gain can benefit the company, your employer might even be prepared to pay for the cost of membership.

3. Volunteer

This is another good way to broaden your horizons – and career options – without joining the throng of job hunters. Unpaid or pro-bono work can show that you are sensitive to social causes while also raising your profile with colleagues and managers. If you can get them to join in as well, it can be a good way to bond with them.

4. Nurture relationships

Everyone wants to carve out a great career path, but some forget this can only be achieved by doing the right thing by their colleagues and the company. Getting ahead in your career depends very much on the relationships you build along the way. Polish your listening skills, look for opportunities to make other people’s jobs easier and provide a helping hand whenever possible. It will pay dividends later.

5. Be thankful

A quick ‘thank you’ email takes only a few seconds and shows the recipient you appreciate what they did for you. Other small gestures – such as treating a colleague to lunch or bringing a cake to the office – might seem a little cheesy, but they can go a long way towards making you a valued and well-liked person around the office.

Also keep in mind that hiring and training a new employee is expensive, and most companies are willing to invest heavily in retaining their best staff. If you can give them reason to do so, the rewards can be great.


Give yourself the edge with free Student Membership

If you are a tertiary education student, The Tax Institute can help you progress in your career journey.

Find out about Student Membership.

How to use semester holidays to boost your career

You don’t need to veg out to relax. Doing something different can be just as effective. Why not use the time to help your future career?

Ever heard the expression “change is as good as a rest”? In short, it means learning new things can be a great distraction from the semester you’ve just been through, equating to a holiday. You can use this time to catch up on bad TV, or you can make a small investment towards your career or internship prospects.

 

1. Work experience

 

The formal intern rounds have closed, but you can still angle for short-term work experience. One or two weeks is plenty of time to make headway either at an organisation that might take you on as an intern in the future, or one that will look good on your résumé because of the skills and experience it affords. Start ringing around at least two weeks before you want to start.

 

2. Volunteering

 

Along similar lines is volunteering. If you don’t usually have time to spare during the semester, use the break to do an intensive volunteer stint. Some volunteer roles can give you what you need to secure an internship or an entry-level position, while others are just a good way to do something different to recharge your batteries. Any form of giving time is well regarded on a résumé.

 

3. Picking up complementary skills

 

If you have a few skill gaps that won’t be met through coursework, semester break is a good time to focus on bridging those gaps through external training or, because you now have the time, simply practising what you need to.

 

4. Looking for prospects

 

Time poor while studying? Semester break gives you the chance to do some career research. While you’re investigating the job market and taking a closer look at different organisations, pursue any promising prospects you come across. Being proactive during this period could pay off by summer break.

 

5. Refining your résumé

 

Having an up-to-date résumé on hand means when an unexpected opportunity comes your way, you’re ready to take it. Prepare yourself by spending time refining this crucial document in the semester break so when job-hunting season opens you’re first out of the blocks. Remember to compose your résumé in a way that will make it easy to update when you have more skills and experience to add, and don’t forget to get started on platforms such as LinkedIn.

 

Your mid-year break needn’t be idle time. There is plenty you can do to boost your career prospects while still catching some R&R from semester one, so make sure you use the time to prepare. When you’ve set yourself up, it makes for a less stressful second semester!

 

Give yourself the edge with free Student Membership

If you are a tertiary education student, The Tax Institute can help you progress in your career journey.

Find out about Student Membership.

Turn your travels into a career opportunity

Whether it’s a summer holiday or gap year, travel can expand your horizons and boost your career prospects. You can have your fun in the sun (or snow) while adding some serious clout to your CV. Here are three ways to take your career to new places.

1. Work placements and internships

Spending a few months doing work experience may not seem particularly appealing, but what if that work experience was in the Bahamas? Work placements and internships help you get ‘on-the-job’ experience in a supportive environment, and help you find out whether a role or career path is right for you. It’s also a great way to live like a local at your destination.

Internship placement agencies or the Australian branch of a multinational company may be able to help you secure work experience in another country.

2. Volunteering

Working abroad as a volunteer is another valuable way to give your career a boost. Building houses in Cambodia has little to do with tax, but it shows initiative and a willingness to undertake hard work. Be mindful of the complementary skills this experience offers. Did you show leadership? Did you solve problems? Did this show your ability to collaborate?

Do your research and you’ll find a number of public, private and not-for-profilt organisations offering international volunteer programs, such as Australian Volunteers International. Pick a project that interests you and if it directly adds to the skills you need for your career, all the better.

The government’s Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program also provides skilled young Australians with the chance to volunteer in Asia, the Pacific and Africa, so it’s worth checking out whether you’re eligible.

3. Networking opportunities

You’ll meet a lot of new people when you travel and they will come from all walks of life. Don’t squander the opportunity to have a chat; the HR manager of the company you want to work for could be gazing at the Mona Lisa at that exact same moment.

Be friendly and polite, but also be prepared to leave them alone if they just want to get on with their holiday. Most people are more relaxed when they’re away, though, so you’re likely to gain an insight you wouldn’t otherwise. If you’re really prepared you might even have a contact card on you. Otherwise, it’s all good practice for dealing with a range of different people.

From acquiring international experience for your next role to simply showing a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, directly or indirectly, travel is a great addition to your CV; so don’t forget that what you’ve learnt while away can help your career. If nothing else, it’s a talking point that could help you bond with an interviewer – or your new colleagues.

Give yourself the edge with free Student Membership

If you are a tertiary education student, The Tax Institute can help you progress in your career journey.

Find out about Student Membership.

Should you do work experience this summer?

From volunteering to internships, work experience is the mainstay of many student summers, so how can it boost your career prospects in the tax sector?

If study prevented you from applying for a work experience placement, look to the summer holidays to gain some key skills. Tempting as it is to head to the beach instead, work experience will fast-track your career compared to less motivated undergrads.

It’s much easier to undertake work experience while you’re still at university, as you’re usually legally covered for workplace insurance by your institution (check with your provider), plus it’s easier to approach firms with the backing of a degree program.

Finding work experience

If you know the path you want to take, seek a position offering skills required for employment in the tax industry. If you’re uncertain of the specifics, search for the role on a career site and make a list of the recurring traits in job advertisements. The closer your work experience matches those attributes, the easier it will be to transition from graduate to employee.

Don’t have a clear picture of your future? Try for a role that will allow you to experiment in a few areas to help you find your niche. Any related work experience is valuable if you can show you've worked in a tax environment.

Five ways to make work experience count

1. Build skills: Particularly skills you can only get on the job.
2. Network: You’re in the perfect position to meet people in the industry. 
3. Make key observations: Secure an understanding of the work environment and the different roles that contribute to the organisation.
4. Be curious: Ask your supervisor/mentor questions and be open to different experiences.
5. Add it to your CV: In an interview, talk about how it prepared you for the role you seek.

Your summer holidays are a great time to ease into working in the tax industry. The busy period has already passed for most firms, which means your supervisor/mentor can give you more attention.

Work experience makes a big difference to your career prospects. Not only will it give you a firmer understanding of what role you desire, you will also have the skills and contacts to help you secure it. Taking the initiative while others laze around will always be a career-positive move. How will you make your work experience count?

Give yourself the edge with free Student Membership

If you are a tertiary education student, The Tax Institute can help you progress in your career journey.

Find out about Student Membership.