Susan Dieu | Preparation to the workplace

Hi! My name is Susan.

I completed a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice / Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) combined degree at Flinders University in June 2021.
Not long after, I was fortunate to receive the opportunity to work as a graduate officer for the SA Housing Authority in their System Strategy and Analysis unit. Although the idea of starting work was a daunting prospect, the transition from studying to work was made easier by the skills and experiences I attained during my time at Flinders.

While studying law at Flinders, students are provided with the opportunity to complete Practical Legal Training which includes a six-week placement at any approved legal institution. Students are encouraged to source their own placement. Although it was a nerve-wracking to start with, looking for my own placement was great preparation for job applications. I had a lot of practice researching potential employers, communicating with their admin and hiring personnel, writing resumes and cover letters, and attending interviews. The process also taught me the value of persistence when looking for work opportunities, as I did not immediately get into my preferred placement provider. However, through continual communication and another round of applications, I was finally able to complete my placement at the Crown Solicitors Office. That placement itself was also a valuable learning experience in the standards and expectations of a professional work environment.

In addition to the preparation my specific degree gave me, I used the resources and opportunities provided by Flinders for its students. I was fortunate to work as a Student Ambassador for the Education Pathways team, who provided me with countless opportunities to work with a range of people within schools across the state and allowed me to develop many different and useful skillsets. I also joined the Horizon Professional Development program coordinated by the Flinders careers team. Through the program I attended various professional development workshops that challenged and built on how I would interact with, and conduct myself within, a professional workplace. I also completed an accredited Mental Health First Aid course through Flinders and the Horizon program.

I cannot fully express how valuable this past year has been in preparing me to transition from studying to entering and working within a professional environment. However, I am confident that the myriad of skills and experiences I gained and developed will put me in good stead as I move on to this next chapter.

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