There are many misconceptions about career planning that can get in the way of reaching your career goals. Don't let a lack of information or faulty assumptions derail your career path!

1. The Truth
about your
Career Plan
Let’s separate fact from fiction…
1ST YEAR OR EQUIVALENT

2. We think it’s important to debunk some myths
about your career and your first year of uni.
You might just be surprised what you learn.
Ready? Let’s go!

3. True or False?
I’m only in my first year at uni, it’s too early
to start thinking about career planning…

4. False

5. It is never too early to
start thinking about
your career.

6. In fact, your career planning has already begun!
Attending university is a career decision and choosing a major is
a career decision.
Considering your career opportunities from day one, will
definitely pay off in the future.

7. So where do you start?
How do you maximise
new career opportunities
during your first year?

8. Talk to the professionals…
• It is recommended that you meet with a USQ Career Development
Practitioner at Student Services to discuss your study and career goals.
This will also enable you to start investigating where your degree could
take you, and which work experience opportunities might exist.
• Once you get to know your lecturers a little more, talk to them; after
all, they are experts in your field of interest and they too can help shed
some light on how your future career may look.

9. True or False?
It’s okay to take some time
to settle in to uni life…

10. True

11. While working on your career
planning during your first year
of uni is always important, it’s
also timely to remember that
Semester One is all about finding
your feet, exploring your courses
and experiencing uni life…

12. Let’s face it, coming to uni will inevitably push you
outside of your comfort zone in one way or another.
Whether you are studying on-campus or online, there are lots of new things to consider, from
navigating your way around USQ StudyDesk, to understanding academic terminology and
library lingo.
Semester One is about settling in, finding answers to your questions, and getting yourself into
a study routine that works for you.
And if you find that your course is not quite what you had in mind, don’t panic!
You can change direction in your studies and your major. The key is to speak up, ask questions,
yep, take a deep breath and seek help and know that you are not alone if you do find yourself
second-guessing your study choices. After all, coming to university is about discovering your
passion. From your Student Relationship Officer (SRO) to your lecturers, to USQ’s Career
Development Team, there are people here to support you all the way.
All you have to do is ask for help.

13. Let’s face it, coming to uni will inevitably push you
outside of your comfort zone in one way or another.
Whether you are studying on-campus or online, there are lots of new things to consider, from
navigating your way around USQ StudyDesk, to understanding academic terminology and
library lingo.
Semester One is about settling in, finding answers to your questions, and getting yourself into
a study routine that works for you.
And if you find that your course is not quite what you had in mind, don’t panic!
You can change direction in your studies and your major. The key is to speak up, ask questions,
yep, take a deep breath and seek help and know that you are not alone if you do find yourself
second-guessing your study choices. After all, coming to university is about discovering your
passion. From your Student Relationship Officer (SRO) to your lecturers, to USQ’s Career
Development Team, there are people here to support you all the way.
All you have to do is ask for help.

14. Let’s face it, coming to uni will inevitably push you
outside of your comfort zone in one way or another.
Whether you are studying on-campus or online, there are lots of new things to consider, from
navigating your way around USQ StudyDesk, to understanding academic terminology and
library lingo.
Semester One is about settling in, finding answers to your questions, and getting yourself into
a study routine that works for you.
And if you find that your course is not quite what you had in mind, don’t panic!
You can change direction in your studies and your major. The key is to speak up, ask questions,
yep, take a deep breath and seek help and know that you are not alone if you do find yourself
second-guessing your study choices. After all, coming to university is about discovering your
passion. From your Student Relationship Officer (SRO) to your lecturers, to Student Services,
there are people here to support you all the way.
All you have to do is ask for help.

15. True or False?
Meeting new people and making friends
at uni will waste valuable study time…

16. False

17. You know what they say,
all work and no play…

18. We suggest that you take advantage of the
awesome opportunities to make new friends and
meet new people during your study journey.
In fact, we totally encourage it as it is a great way to improve your
communication and networking skills. Fellow uni students will become the
future professionals in your industry and maybe able to one day offer you
employment.
You will gain confidence in the process and learn lots of new things from
meeting a diverse range of people, helping you to become a well-rounded,
valuable member to any team in the future.
When it comes to getting that job, great communication is one of the key
skills employers look for!

19. We suggest that you take advantage of the
awesome opportunities to make new friends and
meet new people during your study journey.
In fact, we totally encourage it as it is a great way to improve your
communication and networking skills. Fellow uni students will become the
future professionals in your industry and maybe able to one day offer you
employment.
You will gain confidence in the process and learn lots of new things from
meeting a diverse range of people, helping you to become a well-rounded,
valuable member to any team in the future.
When it comes to getting that job, great communication is one of the key
skills employers look for!

20. So how can you meet new
people and make new friends?

21. • Consider joining a study group, either on-campus or online, and
check out the different clubs and societies you can become a
part of here at USQ. These experiences will do wonders for your
communication and leadership skills.
• Don’t be daunted by “group assignment” tasks, embrace them. These
are great opportunities to put your negotiation and rapport building
skills to work.
For more great ideas on making friends and meeting people, have a
look at How to make friends in person, or if you are studying
online, check out How to make friends on-the-line.

22. True or False?
Semester Two is time to step outside of your
comfort zone and start pushing yourself!

23. True

24. After finding your feet and
settling in to uni life, now it’s
time to start pushing yourself
outside of your comfort zone...

25. We all know that experience is vital, especially in
a competitive job market.
As you come to the end of your first year, it is recommended that you start to explore opportunities
to gain some on-the-job experience and improve your employability skills.
Whether it be a casual job over the Summer, volunteering, or even some unpaid work experience,
the benefits of getting yourself out into the world of work are huge.
• Taking on a casual job or unpaid work experience, whether it be in your field of interest or not,
will give you the chance to practice important skills used in any workplace, such as teamwork,
communication, problem-solving, project planning, task management and organisation, to name
a few. It shows initiative and will help towards making your resume stand out from the crowd.
• Volunteering also offers many great benefits. Apart from the obvious feel-good rewards of
knowing that you have helped to make a difference, volunteering gives you valuable experience
in your field of interest, and allows you to speak with people in the industry.
• It is also recommended that you check out what industry experience programs may be available.
Talk to USQ’s Career Development Team at Student Services to find out more.

26. We all know that experience is vital, especially in
a competitive job market.
As you come to the end of your first year, it is recommended that you start to explore opportunities
to gain some on-the-job experience and improve your employability skills.
Whether it be a casual job over the Summer, volunteering, or even some unpaid work experience,
the benefits of getting yourself out into the world of work are huge.
• Taking on a casual job or unpaid work experience, whether it be in your field of interest or not,
will give you the chance to practice important skills used in any workplace, such as teamwork,
communication, problem-solving, project planning, task management and organisation, to name
a few. It shows initiative and will help towards making your resume stand out from the crowd.
• Volunteering also offers many great benefits. Apart from the obvious feel-good rewards of
knowing that you have helped to make a difference, volunteering gives you valuable experience
in your field of interest, and allows you to speak with people in the industry.
• It is also recommended that you check out what industry experience programs may be available.
Talk to USQ’s Career Development Team at Student Services to find out more.

27. We all know that experience is vital, especially in
a competitive job market.
As you come to the end of your first year, it is recommended that you start to explore opportunities
to gain some on-the-job experience and improve your employability skills.
Whether it be a casual job over the Summer, volunteering, or even some unpaid work experience,
the benefits of getting yourself out into the world of work are huge.
• Taking on a casual job or unpaid work experience, whether it be in your field of interest or not,
will give you the chance to practice important skills used in any workplace, such as teamwork,
communication, problem-solving, project planning, task management and organisation, to name
a few. It shows initiative and will help towards making your resume stand out from the crowd.
• Volunteering also offers many great benefits. Apart from the obvious feel-good rewards of
knowing that you have helped to make a difference, volunteering gives you valuable experience
in your field of interest, and allows you to speak with people in the industry.
• It is also recommended that you check out what industry experience programs may be available.
Talk to USQ’s Career Development Team at Student Services to find out more.

28. We all know that experience is vital, especially in
a competitive job market.
As you come to the end of your first year, it is recommended that you start to explore opportunities
to gain some on-the-job experience and improve your employability skills.
Whether it be a casual job over the Summer, volunteering, or even some unpaid work experience,
the benefits of getting yourself out into the world of work are huge.
• Taking on a casual job or unpaid work experience, whether it be in your field of interest or not,
will give you the chance to practice important skills used in any workplace, such as teamwork,
communication, problem-solving, project planning, task management and organisation, to name
a few. It shows initiative and will help towards making your resume stand out from the crowd.
• Volunteering also offers many great benefits. Apart from the obvious feel-good rewards of
knowing that you have helped to make a difference, volunteering gives you valuable experience
in your field of interest, and allows you to speak with people in the industry.
• It is also recommended that you check out what industry experience programs may be available.
Talk to USQ’s Student Services Team to find out more.

29. True or False?
Self-reflection is for psychology students only,
and it involves a big, shiny mirror…

30. False

31. Self-reflection is for
everyone, and there are
no mirrors required!
#relieved

32. This is not an airy-fairy concept…
Self-reflection involves asking yourself the tough questions so that you can develop a
deeper level of understanding about yourself, the way you study, and your career goals.
Taking yourself seriously now could save you valuable time in the future.
Some questions to consider at the end of your first year…
• What do I value?
• What are my strengths?
• What are my weaknesses?
• What skills do I have? What new skills can I develop?
• How do I measure my success?
• Am I heading in the right direction?
• Where do I see myself in 5-10 years’ time?
USQ’s Career Development Team at Student Services are here to help you through this
process, and assist you in identifying your career goals.

33. This is not an airy-fairy concept…
Self-reflection involves asking yourself the tough questions so that you can develop a
deeper level of understanding about yourself, the way you study, and your career goals.
Taking yourself seriously now could save you valuable time in the future.
Some questions to consider at the end of your first year…
• What do I value?
• What are my strengths?
• What are my weaknesses?
• What skills do I have? What new skills can I develop?
• How do I measure my success?
• Am I heading in the right direction?
• Where do I see myself in 5-10 years’ time?
USQ’s Career Development Practitioners at Student Services are here to help you through
this process, and assist you in identifying your career goals.

34. ‘We do not learn from experience…
we learn from reflecting on experience.’
John Dewey

35. So there you have it,
the truth about career
planning in your first
year at uni.

36. So, what are you waiting for?
It’s wise to start now, and remember, your first year is a time to:
• Find your feet, settle in to uni life and stay calm if your study choices
are leaving you feeling underwhelmed.
• Talk to the professionals, ask questions and not be afraid to seek help
• Make new friends and meet new people.
• Push yourself and look for opportunities to gain on-the-job experience.
• Self-reflect and take the time now to develop a deeper understanding
of yourself and your career goals.

37. CRICOS: QLD00244B NSW02225M TEQSA: PRV12081 29.8.2 04.2015
social.usq.edu.au
Online
usq.edu.au or visit the CareerHub
On-campus
Fraser Coast +61 7 4194 3125 frasercoast.studenthub@usq.edu.au
Ipswich +61 7 3470 4400 studentservicesspringfield@usq.edu.au
Springfield +61 7 3470 4400 studentservicesspringfield@usq.edu.au
Toowoomba +61 7 4631 2372 stsv@usq.edu.au
Connect with
USQ’s Student
Services Team