Being a student can be a trying time, and for the most part you are trying to figure out your path in life.
On top of that, there is pressure – felt in varying degrees – to have some work or internship experience under your belt. So, what if you could find one that embeds workplace learning and employability experiences into your program, while also gaining course credit?
Introducing the Practical Employability Experience course or PHSS2000 (‘PHSS’ pronounced ‘fish’).
So, you complete between 80 - 120 hours of work experience, placement, internship, or work-related project activities. This gives you the opportunity to apply your knowledge from the classroom to a practical setting. The course also runs four workshops, where you enhance your understanding of your potential to contribute to professional working environments.
I was placed with Voyage Control. They are a Software as a Service (SaaS) logistics company, whose services help track, manage, and organise work areas within the construction, port and event sectors. The Chief Marketing Officer and [our] supervisor was based in Los Angeles, while other department heads were in New York, London, and Australia.
The internship was conducted online through Microsoft Teams and sometimes Google meet. I attended a training session with the different department heads to learn about the company, the software, and the different sectors. I wrote weekly blog posts focused on the construction sector, and wrote a report analysing Voyage Control’s social media.
I have gained a better understanding of how to approach the workplace, navigate those dreaded job applications and interviews, and know how to better leverage my Arts degree so that employers know how valuable an asset I can be.
I was also working with four other students from UQ, who came from different Arts study backgrounds. This was really rewarding because we each brought our own knowledge and skillsets to the team. We organised rotating duties, had weekly meetings to check in with each other, and created collaborative documents on Microsoft Teams so each member had their input in emails, work tasks, and assessments.
From the workshops and assessments, I have gained a better understanding of how to approach the workplace, navigate those dreaded job applications and interviews, and know how to better leverage my Arts degree so that employers know how valuable an asset I can be.
The experience made me realise that my knowledge and skills can be transferred and applied to industries I had never considered before
Before beginning PHSS2000, I was scared and a little hesitant to be placed with Voyage Control. I was a journalism student who had no experience and knowledge of logistics software or the construction, port, and event sectors. I didn’t think that it would be a relevant practical experience to my study knowledge.
But, along with learning about the company, the blog writing connected to my journalism studies, and the social media report connected to my work as a digital communicator. The experience made me realise that my knowledge and skills can be transferred and applied to industries - other than journalism and communication - that I had never considered before. It opened up the idea that there are even more opportunities open to me, than I had previously thought.
So, if you have an elective space in your program, are feeling the pressure of gaining practical experience, or have nothing to do over the Summer Semester break, I recommend taking PHSS2000!
Savaira Ratukula is a final year Journalism student in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. She has previouly volunteered for HASS and lead the @uqhasslife Instagram account as a Student Partner in 2021.