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What is a Business Insight Program |
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The Business Insight Program is a new initiative by Careers and Employment to provide another opportunity for students to develop and enhance their ‘business acumen’, thereby enabling them to be more responsive to the current needs of industry and business. Such an experience can best be gained from real life practices in commercial settings.
Students are increasingly aware that employers are seeking graduates who have some relevant professional experience, have undertaken some exploration of their career options and have some familiarity with the workplace. They have expressed an interest in becoming involved in workplace exposure and experiential learning while at university. In turn, employers are also making hiring decisions based on student’s academic performance, previous employment experiences and an understanding of workplace issues. |
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The program |
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The program gives a team of 8 to12 students the opportunity to attend a workplace to experience a two day program. An outline of suggested topics is listed, but the host organisation has the flexibility in the content of the program.
The presenters could either be a number of junior members of staff (who could benefit from the experience of planning and presenting to an audience) or if preferred, senior staff may wish to be involved in speaking to the student group. The following is a suggested program. |
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Day 1 Presentation |
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A series of presentations on such topics as:
 Overview of the organisation’s structure and operations
The administrative structure
Manufacture/ production /services
Marketing department
Finance department
Research and development
Human resources department
An outline of what the recruitment staff look for in prospective candidates, including qualifications, resume and interview process
Questions from students
Any other topics considered relevant by the host organisation
At the end of Day 1, each student should be introduced to the employee that they have been assigned to shadow the following day. |
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Day 2 Career Shadowing |
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The student will meet with their assigned mentor and proceed to shadow his/her activities throughout the day. There are no expectations of the mentor, only to allow the student to observe. If applicable, they may carry out some informational interviewing.
The student will watch and learn how a particular employee works, and observe the interaction between departments and various stakeholders during the day. |
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At the conclusion of the program |
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Students will submit a one-page structured report detailing their experience of the program, together with any relevant comments about the day’s activities. Students would be asked to include comments on the following issues:
What is the title of the position held by your mentor?
Briefly outline your mentor’s activities during the day.
Overall, what was the most valuable experience you gained during the last two days?
What was the least relevant part of the proceedings?
What is the most significant fact you found out about your host organisation?
Has this experience increased your knowledge of business and if so, how?
Suggest any changes you would make to enhance this experience for your particular host and future students
This report will be handed to Careers and Employment in order to receive the ‘Business Insight’ Certificate. These reports will be made available to you for consideration.
Each student will be informed about the importance of confidentiality and if needed can be asked to sign an agreement before the shadowing takes place. |
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Contact |
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Telephone Kristine de Nava on 9214 8676 |
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