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Top 5 Things I Wished I Knew Before Studying in Australia

by ClickStudies | Oct 3, 2018 | ClickStudies, Job Search

We recently caught up with Jane Tran, a Vietnamese student at Edith Cowan University who has been living and studying in Perth, Australia for a few years now.

Jane admits she has found studying challenging. However, by approaching these difficulties with a smile and positive attitude she has been able to get a part-time job and successfully move into the degree program following her Pathway course.

ClickStudies asked Jane about what she wished she knew before starting her studies in Australia. Jane’s top 5 are as follows:

1. How can I find a part-time job?

2. What do the subjects and assignments look like? (Some knowledge would help me to not feel overwhelmed)

3. How difficult is it to pack for study abroad? In other words, what types of things should I prepare to bring before coming to Australia?

4. Which Australian state should I choose to study? Which school should I choose for study abroad?

5. What should I do on my first day in Perth? (Set up bank account, contact the university, get the public transport Smart Rider)

Below are some comments from Jane in Vietnamese:

Mình tên là Trân, hiện đang là học sinh năm cuối của trường đại học “Edith Cowan University”. Đối với Trân “Clickstudies” chính là kim chỉ nam giúp sinh viên quốc tế có được những thông tin hữu ích về trường học, các ngành học mà các bạn muốn theo đuổi, cũng như là những định hướng sau khi tốt nghiệp phải làm gì để có thể có được một công việc tốt. Lý do mình chọn “Clickstudies” bởi vì cũng như các bạn sinh viên quốc tế khác, mình đã từng băn khoăn rằng Trân nên học gì? trường nào phù hợp, và sau khi tốt nghiệp mình sẽ tìm được việc hay không? Đó cũng là lý do Trân tìm đến với “Clickstudies”, bởi họ không chỉ giúp Trân tìm được một môi trường học tập tốt, mà còn giúp Trân tìm được hướng đi cho mình trong tương lai.

Chúc “Clickstudies” ngày càng thành công hơn.

15 Excellent Reasons to Study an Engineering Degree

by ClickStudies | Sep 11, 2018 | Engineering

Engineering is a very popular study choice for students from all nationalities. Here are the biggest reasons why students are choosing to study engineering at colleges and universities all around the world.

1. Engineers enjoy high levels of job satisfaction

When ranked alongside professionals in other areas, engineers often come close to the highest in terms of happiness at work. This is most likely because engineers are often responsible for innovative and new designs that are making the world a better place. By feeling like their work is meaningful, engineers gain the satisfaction that comes from making a difference.

2. Engineers enjoy highly paid jobs

Engineers enjoy a starting salary that is one of the highest among the modern workforce. While the amount of money a person earns is not the most important part of job satisfaction, it certainly helps to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle.

3. Engineers can choose from many different types of hob specialization

Students can choose from many areas of engineering. The most popular include: Chemical Engineering, Communications Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering.

4. Engineers can start work as soon as they graduate

Students who complete their undergraduate degree with strong grades will often find themselves employed by major corporations in entry-level positions. This has the advantage over other qualifications that often insist on postgraduate study and membership of other professional associations to ensure full-time employment.

5. Engineers often gain internships

It is common for recently graduated students to start with an internship at major engineering firms. While internships are mostly unpaid positions, they provide the graduate with excellent entry level skills in areas such as communication, teamwork as well as an understanding of the professional standards expected at work. Furthermore, interns that perform strongly are often offered full-time positions at the end of their period of unpaid work.

6. Engineers can enjoy variety at work

Unlike some professional jobs that are highly specialized and repetitive, an engineering career offers a significant level of variety at work. For instance, engineering project usually last for a set period of time, such as six months to two years. This means that engineers are seldom stuck doing the same job function year after year.

7. Engineers are engaged in both theoretical and ‘hands on’ work

While engineers in different areas will require different skill sets, one of the most interesting points of engineering work is that involves both theory and practice in the daily work. While calculations and scientific concepts can be tested on computers, successful engineers have to see the world in a very practical way, meaning they will often have to test their innovations with the own hands and eyes.

8. Engineers have a strong professional reputation

Most people have a favorable opinion of engineers. This is because their level of technical knowledge and skill is respected, and they are recognised as valuable members of society. Therefore, in a social situation, if you say you are an engineer, more often than not you can expect a positive reaction from the person you are speaking with, and possibly a few questions about the specifics of what you actually do from day to day.

9. Engineering offers travel opportunities

While there are any differences in cultures and languages between people in different countries, the same basic science and mathematical principles apply to engineering solutions, regardless of where the company is located. This means skilled engineers will enjoy career opportunities that may allow them to travel around the world, both for study and work.

10. Engineers often work in world-class working conditions

Major engineering companies often have their headquarters in modern buildings in the city centers. This means that engineers often work in impressive work environments, with the best facilities and benefits.

11. The field of engineering of always changing and evolving

New discoveries and scientific advances flow though to the field of engineering soon after their discovery, which adds to the excitement and interest in engineering workplaces. In fact, keeping up with the latest advances can be challenging, and presents great opportunities for further learning and research.

12. Engineers can feel like they are changing the world for the better

Engineers are truly the professionals that are shaping our world. From Computer Engineers who design complex networks and systems to mechanical engineers who are designing robots for the modern world, it is engineers who can claim to be the ones who are designing the world of tomorrow.

13. Engineers can work with multi-disciplinary teams

Engineers will work with a large range of people in the workplace. Often they will work in project teams that report directly to the company CEO or CFO. In other cases they will work with scientists or business development specialists. In any case, engineers can develop large networks that can bring added job satisfaction and career opportunities.

14. Engineers can be employed by private companies as well as government departments

Because of the wide-ranging duties that engineering professionals perform, there are fantastic opportunities in both the private (company) and public (government) sectors. As a result, engineers can work in different environments, depending on their career goal and the type of work conditions they find interesting.

15. Engineers are supported by a range of professional associations

Because engineering is a rapidly changing profession, most branches of engineering have professional associations that provide up-to-date industry information that can help engineering graduates get jobs and take further training where required. For example, in Australia, graduates can access the support of Engineers Australia, while in the United States, they can contact American Engineering Association.

So that’s it, if you are interested in a fantastic career with great rewards and benefits, start by looking at the article Get Ready to Study Engineering.

Top 9 Employability Skills Hiring Managers Expect and Want

by ClickStudies | Aug 15, 2018 | Employability skills, Job Search

The world of work is rapidly changing due to the forces of technology and globalization, which is having an impact on employability skills. What does this mean for the companies that are looking for the best new graduates to take graduate positions at their organization? It means employers are looking for the technical skills that are gained from studies, such as engineering skills or IT skills. However, they are also looking for other skills, that are sometimes known as employability skills, or soft skills.

Top 9 Employability Skills

Communication skills
Teamwork skills
Innovation and creativity
Problem-solving skills
Initiative
Planning and organization skills
Professionalism
Ability to use tools and technology
Intercultural understanding

When you study, consider how critical these skills will be for your future career. And think about how you might be able to get involved in volunteer or charity work that allows you to develop these skills while you study. In many cases, it will be the students who can demonstrate competence in these employability skills that will have the best stories to tell during the job interview and ultimately get the best jobs.

Top 10 Job Interview Tips for Non-Native English Speakers

by ClickStudies | Jul 11, 2018 | Business English, Employability skills, Job Search

Having a job interview in English can be challenging for people sho do not have English as a first language. Here are some job interview tips that can help you prepare the right way for this important moment in your career.

1. Turn your ability to speak another language into a positive

Focus on the advantages you have in being able to speak more than one language. At the same time, don’t spend too much time speaking about your home country or culture, as this may be considered small talk and will not be relevant for the position you are applying for.

2. Practice your pronunciation of essential vocabulary

Make sure you know how to pronounce names, places and relevant information related to the job you are applying for. If words that are seen as important are incorrectly pronounced, this can seem sloppy and unprofessional to the native speaker.

3. Write down a list of questions that you expect to hear

It’s essential that you try to predict some of the ways that the job interview will go. While preparing for the interview, write notes about how you will construct your answers, including the verb tenses you will most likely need to use.

4. Be mindful of grammar

Grammar mistakes during job interviews can make you seem unprofessional, so be careful when you are talking about past events. Also, look out for grammar issues such as subject-verb agreement when preparing your answers. For example, say ‘they initiate’, not ‘they initiates’.

5. Be prepared to ask the interviewer to repeat a question

If you are not sure about the question, it is far better to ask the interviewer to repeat what he or she has said. Smile and confidently answer the question once you are clear again.

6. Understand and practice the appropriate use of formal interview language

There are common phrases that are often used in job interviews. For example, when you meet the interviewer for the first time, it is a good idea to show your appreciation with a statement such as “thank you for the opportunity to meet with you today”. Make sure you learn these useful phrases and practice saying them, so they feel natural.

7. Avoid informal business language

You may have picked up some information language during your studies. Keep in mind that a job interview is very formal, so you should always use the more formal phrasing of your answers. For example, you should say the number ‘ten thousand,’ not ‘ten grand’ or ‘ten k,’ which sounds too informal in a job interview setting.

8. Role-play the interview with friends

Practice as much as you can before the interview, so you are prepared to speak on any topic. You can do this with a friend who is a native speaker so that you can ask for constructive feedback on your grammar, pronunciation and word choice.

9. Ensure you know how to sound polite

You need to be friendly and likable during an interview and smiling and good manners go a long way to help. It’s important to use phrases such as: ‘nice to meet you,’ ‘please,’ ‘thank you,’ ‘excuse me,’ ‘thanks for the opportunity for this interview’ and ‘enjoy the rest of your day.’

10. Don’t be overly concerned that you are a non-native English speaker

In the modern world, workplace diversity is regarded as a positive aspect in most organizations, and a small level of language inaccuracy will usually be tolerated, as long as it does not interfere with your job productivity.

Bonus Tip – Make sure you have a question for the interviewer

In most job interviews, the interviewer will finish by asking: “Do you have any questions for me?” At this point, you must ask a question. You could “Can I expect to receive any extra training while I’m doing this job?”, or perhaps “What will I be doing on a daily basis?”. Remember, if you have no question, it may make the interviewer think that you are not an independent thinker, which may leave a negative impression to complete the interview. So make sure you have a few good questions ready for the end.

So that’s it. Good luck with your next interview and remember to breathe deeply and smile. Looking confident goes a long way to interview success.

7 Tips for Giving Academic Presentations

by ClickStudies | Jun 10, 2018 | Academic Skills, Presentation Skills

Do you have to do academic presentations as part of your course? If so, you should consider the following 7 tips:

Tip # 1 – Be organized

Audiences like well-organized presentations because they are easy to understand. Therefore, make sure you divide your academic presentations into a clear introduction, body sections and conclusion.

If you have more than one presenter, make sure you and your partner interact with each other effectively and at the right time. This will take some practice to get right.

Tip # 2 – Engage the audience

Make sure people are paying attention to your information. You can do this by keeping eye-contact with as many people as possible throughout your academic presentations. You should also use gestures and friendly body language.

Asking questions at the start of your presentation will keep the audience interested and alert. Alternatively, you could start with a fun fact or statistic related to your topic.

Tip # 3 – Position yourself correctly

The way you stand is essential for the message you are presenting. You should have a confident, upright stance and not get in the way of the projector and slides.

Some body movement is fine, but you should not put your hands in your pocket, scratch your nose or lean against a chair. These are often signs of nervousness.

Tip # 4 – Practise your volume and pronunciation

The volume of your voice should be appropriate for the room and audience. If you are speaking into a microphone for the first time, make sure you practice before the actual presentation and get someone to give you feedback on volume. If possible, do some practice in the actual room where you will give your presentation.

It’s also essential to get familiar with the pronunciation of difficult words, such as names and places. You don’t want to stumble with poor pronunciation during the final presentation.

Tip # 5 – Use formal vocabulary

Academic presentations require formal language. While it’s okay to contract some words (e.g. I’m, not I am), you should aim to use language that is academic, rather than general.

An example of using formal language is not using the word ‘also’. Instead of saying ‘also’, you should use a more academic word, such as ‘furthermore’ or ‘in addition’. Using this type of formal signposting vocabulary will undoubtedly elevate the academic tone of your presentation.

Tip # 6 – Check your slides carefully

Do not overcrowd your slides. You should aim to have approximately 25 – 30 words on each slide, so that most of the information comes from you as you speak. This will keep the audience engaged with you, rather than the slides.

Make sure you use an appropriate and consistent background and stick to an appropriate font style and size. Include images, but make sure you keep the slides clean and consistent. You may need to include references, so check this with your instructor before you start preparing.

Tip # 7 – Practice by keeping to the correct timing

You must stick to the correct timing with presentations, as there are usually many student presentations to get through in a single class, so you don’t want to go over the limit.

As you practice your presentation, keep track of your timing. Presenters should speak for equal amounts of time, so make sure you practice together before the big day.

Finally, giving presentations is a nerve-wracking experience for most students so don’t worry if you feel nervous. Just keep practicing, keep smiling and take some deep breathes. Good luck!

For phrases you can use during your presentation, click this link for Useful Presentation Language.

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