Develop your skills and experience

University is a unique time, where exclusive experiences are available to you! Don’t miss out, sign up to programs and start building the skills you need to succeed when you graduate.

Do you know what skills you already have?

Do you know what your strengths are? And what skills you need to develop? Take our strengths assessment and find your untapped strengths, your skills gaps and get advice on what you can do next to develop your skills.

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What skills do employers value?

While academic knowledge is important, employers want more than knowledge from graduates, they need employees that can fit in and do the job. They want to see you have experience working with others, meeting competing deadlines, compromising and adjusting to the demands of a real-world environment.

These skills are called employability skills. And they matter to employers.

What’s the difference between technical and employability skills

  • Professional or technical skills: these are specific skills required by your field of interest, acquired through study and related work experience.
  • Employability skills: are transferable skills common to all work roles and workplaces, acquired through study and work experience, but also through a range of work and other life experiences. Examples include: taking initiative, the ability to negotiate and influence others, empathy, flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing situations and demands.

How can I improve my skills?

  • Choose from more than 120 experiences and programs exclusive to University of Melbourne students.

    Melbourne Plus provides a gateway for you to find opportunities to engage in activities outside of the classroom. Connect with others, build your skills and contribute to the University and broader community.

    Each activity will help you develop your capabilities in a particular area. After you’ve successfully completed an activity, submit a reflection on your experience to earn your Melbourne Plus digital credential.

  • A mentor can help you identify the skills gaps you have and give you ideas on ways to improve your employability.  Mentors can also help you explore career ideas and jobs you may have never considered or heard of.

    If you’ve had a mentor in the past, you might also consider becoming a mentor to support others in your community or industry.

    Mentoring is an effective way to develop empathy, active listening, and rapport-building skills, which are relevant to a range of professional opportunities requiring interpersonal and communication skills.

    All students can find a mentor through Ask Alumni. Simply create a profile and start connecting with graduates.

  • Extracurricular activities provide great entry-level skill development and networking opportunities, and many of them are on campus.

    Groups like the Student Peer Leader Network and student clubs can help you develop skills such as event organising, project management, teamwork, communication, leadership and more.

  • Studying overseas can be a life-changing experience—providing you with new insights into your preferences, choices and ideas about your future.

    Other benefits include gaining cross-cultural communication skills, greater cultural awareness, new connections, as well as skills in self-management, planning and resourcefulness.

    These skills all contribute to developing your ability to thrive in today's diverse global market. We offer a range of options if you’re interested in studying overseas.

  • Internships are a great way to gain insights into an industry or a specific organisation while developing your professional network.

    They also provide an opportunity to demonstrate how you contribute to a workplace and may lead to an employment offer.

    Internships can help you develop critical technical or vocational skills that you can add to your resume and speak to in future interviews or applications.

  • Volunteering is a chance to gain new skills and build your professional network in the industry of your choice. Volunteering roles are often diverse and will give you the opportunity to take on more responsibility than in an entry-level paid position.

    Before you choose a place to volunteer, it's good to learn about the organisation you’re interested in working with.

    • Find out what the organisation does: research website information, previous projects or annual reports to find out whether the organisation can offer the experience you’re looking for.
    • Assess whether they match your skills and interests and whether there’s opportunity to develop transferable and professional skills related to your area of interest.
    • Think about how much time you can commit to the position. Are you looking for a position that’s long term or short term, a one-off event or a continuing role?
    • Understand insurance: does the organisation have appropriate volunteer policies in place and insurance to cover you for the volunteer work you complete?

    Volunteering on campus

    Volunteering opportunities are available through a range of organisations on campus, including:

    Find out about opportunities in your industry or discipline by enquiring with your faculty.

    Volunteering off campus

    We regularly advertise specific volunteer positions on Careers Online. These positions are directly linked to potential employment pathways and usually require you to complete and submit a formal application to be considered.

    Volunteer rights and responsibilities

    Volunteering Australia outlines the basic rights of a volunteer, as well as providing a volunteer checklist.

  • Many career paths require further study or additional certifications for entry level roles. Developing specific technical skills that are directly related to a potential role can be highly valued by employers and workplaces.

    Formally recognised qualifications offered by universities and other registered training providers can help you to develop your skills through study.

    Visit our further study page for more information.

Learn how to develop your skills in the LMS

Explore the free self-paced learning modules in our Careers LMS Community on everything from finding the right career path to preparing for interviews. Visit the community now to start building your employability skills.

Explore the LMS community