The BA is your pathway to the future

Presented by: Fred D’Agostino – DOS Faculty of Arts

and Jacqui Rochester – Careers Counsellor

Student Support Services

Welcome! Are you a proud Arts student? You should be!

UQ BA graduates express more satisfaction about skills acquisition than other Group of Eight BA grads.

Nationwide, Arts students outperform almost all other student cohorts in these skills.

What skills?

the ability to work as a team member analytic skills problem-solving skills skills in written communication confidence about tackling unfamiliar problems the ability to plan your own work

These are the skills you’ll get doing a BA.

And why should these skills matter?

They’re needed in every human enterprise.

These skills never “date”. Every organisation wants its personnel to

have them

Who needs these skills?

Recruiters want graduates with

Communication skillsProblem solving abilitiesMotivationGood academic recordAnalytic skills

Work experienceTime management skillsLeadershipAttention to detailCommon sense

From the UQ Graduate Recruiter Survey

Skills and getting a job

The skills that you get are listed by organisations hiring new employees.

These skills are your pathway to the future.

They matter more to potential employers than what degree or major you did.

Full-time, Fortitude Valley, Research Report Writer

THEY WANT YOU HAVE“The role would suit candidates who are mature, highly organised, can take initiative and have good attention to detail.

confidence about tackling unfamiliar problemsthe ability to plan your own work

Exceptional written self-expression, experience in interpreting and explaining data and

analytic skillsskills in written communication

the ability to work with and meet tight deadlines are other essential attributes.”

the ability to work as a team member

Full-time, Brisbane, Research Officer, Department of Energy

THEY WANT YOU HAVE“Demonstrated ability to undertake research …

analytic skills

problem-solving skills

Effective written communication skills …

skills in written communication

Sound interpersonal and oral communication skills, and the ability to liaise and consult…

the ability to work as a team member

Ability to deliver timely and effective results by working both independently and within a high performing team …”

the ability to plan your own work

Arts Graduate Employers in 2005(Some examples)

Bain International – Associate Consultant DoCITA – Graduate Program National Australia Bank – Graduate Program Pacific Film & TV Commission – Program Assistant Qld Resources Council – Project Officer Market Communication and Research – Research Report Writer Media Sales Cadetships – Cadet Program Attorney General’s Dept – Graduate Program Australian Red Cross – Social Research & Service Development Publishing Services Australia – Admin Assistant Roche Mining – Communications Assistant Queensland Transport – Project Officer

BA graduates get private sector jobs.

Government 14.7%

Health 3.0%

Education 15.0%

Private 62.6%

Other 4.7%

Real Grads, Real Jobs

Claire Gobe BA (Honours) in Art History,  now working at the Queensland Art Gallery. "Studying art history at UQ allowed me to explore alternative ways of viewing and experiencing the world around me. … Since graduating I have begun work at the Queensland Art Gallery assisting with displays in the Australian Art Collection …”

Alexandra CollieBA, (Media Studies) now living in Sydney and working at the World Movie Channel. "The film, television, and media courses I studied were invaluable to my current position. My studies at UQ have equipped me well for employment in the competitive field of film and television."

% Employed and Starting Salary 4 Months > Grad 2005

0102030405060708090

100 % Empl

Start Salary

Source: Graduate Careers Australia – GradFiles December 2005 report

Occupational Therapist

Project Officer

Research Assistant

Public Relations

Information Officer Market

Researcher

Govt Graduate Programs

Research & Policy

Arts Jobs

Administrator

PhysiotherapistSpeech

Pathologist

Audiologist

Public Relations/

Communicator

Teacher (General)

Gallery/Museum Officer

Teacher (TESOL)

Regional & Town Planner

Publisher/Editor

Lawyer

Psychologist

Social Worker

Translator/ Interpreter

Librarian

IT Professional

3-4 year degree

1-2 years’ post grad study

3+ years’ post grad study

Management (MBA)

Research& Policy Officer (Govt)

Academic (PhD)

Management Consultant

Special Consultant (PhD)eg Anthropologist,

Historian, Archaeologist

Museum Curator

Project Manager – Local Govt

Journalist

JournalistArt Sales/ Marketing

Arts Admin

The BA and career planning

It’s never too early to start planning for a career.

An important proviso:Be prepared for change and unexpected opportunities.

“Opportunity knocks”

“A lot of people want to know what’s around the corner in their life’s journey before they take the next step. That’s a shame …”

“As you excel, opportunities will often arise for you to go above and beyond what you may have had planned.”Justin Herald, Sunday Mail, 4 December 2005, body_soul, page 14

Your career’s going to look like this, probably

Not like this

Planning a career and planning your studies

You’re going to get career-relevant skills whatever your course choices.

But you still have to make course choices, and, next year, you’ll have to choose a major or majors.

How?

Choosing courses

First of all, figure out what you are or might be INTERESTED in.

It doesn’t matter what you study. What matters is how well you do.

And that depends on doing courses you’re interested in and good at.

How can I tell what I’ll be interested in and good at?

In first year, choose across a range. Sample first, then focus.

If you liked it at school, you might like it at uni. If you hated it at school, you might still like it at

uni. Ask around! Here’s some help.

RIASEC

Are you? Realistic Investigative Artistic Social Enterprising Conventional

If you figure that out, you might have a better idea what to study and what career(s) to be thinking about.

Realistic

For people who like: activities that are practical and tangible perhaps work outdoors or working with tools and machines using their physical skills. 

They often seek work relating to: nature and the outdoors machines or technology building or military service.

Investigative

For people who enjoy: scientific and intellectual pursuits  gathering information uncovering new facts or theories and analyzing and interpreting data 

They often seek work relating to: academic research, medical facilities or computer related industries.

Artistic

For people who: value aesthetic qualities and like opportunities

for self-expression, and/or prefer unstructured and flexible environments. 

They often seek work relating to: art, music, drama, writing, fashion, design, or in libraries, galleries or museums, or retail settings requiring creative expression .

Social

For people who enjoy: working with people to inform, help, train or develop them

in some way, working in groups, sharing responsibilities, communicating, solving problems through discussions and interactions with

others. 

They often seek work relating to: teaching, counselling, health, the community, or recreation.

Enterprising

For people who enjoy: influencing, leading or managing others for

organizational goals or for economic success persuading others to their viewpoint social tasks where they can assume leadership 

They often seek work relating to: business, sales, management or politics.

Conventional

For people who enjoy: systematic activities requiring accuracy and

attention to detail, often associated with office work working for large organizations and are comfortable

with an established chain of command or structure 

They often seek work relating to: financial institutions, accounting firms, or other large

businesses.

What should I study?

Each BA student must complete one “double major” or two “single majors”.

Remember: sample first - then focus. But what to sample? Try matching RIASEC categories with

majors.

Popular BA Majors

Psychology English Political Science International Relations Ancient History History Japanese Archaeology

Journalism Chinese Spanish Anthropology Religion Criminology Linguistics Drama

Mapping RIASEC onto majors

Interested in? Then you should considerRealistic Archaeology, Information Technology, Sports

Studies, Planning,

Investigative History, Archaeology, Journalism, Philosophy, Criminology, Anthropology,

Artistic Music, Art History, Architectural Studies, Writing, Drama, Communications

Social English, Media Studies, Peace & Conflict Studies, Psychology, Sociology, History,

Enterprising Philosophy, Economics, Journalism, Communications, Psychology

Conventional Information Technology, Economics, Mathematics, Governance & Public Policy,

Which career is right for me?

Internal Factors(“Self”)

External Factors(What’s happening in the

world-of-work)

Interests Abilities & Skills

Values & Personality(environment, culture,

lifestyle, goals)

What options exist

(that might suit me)?

Find out more:Research, read,talk to people,

do work experience.

RIASEC

RIASEC AND HUMANITIES CAREERS

www.careerhub.uq.edu.au

Where can I get more help with career planning?

Come to “Career Outcomes:Getting the Most from Your Degree”.

Friday 24th Feb at 10am in

Physiology Lecture Theatre 360 (Bldg 63)

Register with UQ CareerHub and check out the “My Career Planner” resources

Attend workshops at Student Support Services:“Your Career Roadmap” and

“Starting Your Career Roadtrip” (see UQ CareerHub for dates and times)

Speak with a Careers Counsellor at:

Student Support ServicesSt Lucia, Ipswich and Gatton Campuses

Phone: 33651704 or visit www.sss.uq.edu.au