A Guide for SWEP Success

Business Economics and Law Student Employability Team

Student work experience program
Contents
SWEP – Program Outline 3
Applying to SWEP 3
Process 4
SWEP application 5
Cover letters 5
Resumes 6
Assessment Centre 7
What is an assessment centre? 7
How do I demonstrate my skills at the assessment centre? 8
How do I prepare? 10
Work Experience 11
What types of organisations and industries are involved with SWEP? 11
What types of organisations are not involved with SWEP? 11
What do I do if I am unsuccessful? 11
What do I gain from doing work experience? 12
What do employers expect from me during work experience? 12
How do I behave during work experience? 12
SWEP – Program Outline
The Student Work Experience Program
(SWEP) is a competitive recruitment
and work experience program for
mid-degree business, economics and
law students.
You will have the opportunity to practise participating in a
competitive recruitment process similar to those used by
large organisations. The knowledge, experience and
feedback you gain will give you a competitive edge when
entering the job market.
Successful participants will secure an unpaid professional
work experience placement, either full-time for two to
three weeks during the semester break or part-time during
semester. These work experience placements will be with
small, medium and large Brisbane-based organisations
across a wide range of industries relevant to your studies.
As a SWEP participant, you will learn:
• what to expect from a competitive recruitment process
that includes an assessment centre
• what employers are looking for during the recruitment
process
• how to stand out from other candidates and impress
recruiters and hiring managers
• how to articulate and present yourself within an
Applying to SWEP
To qualify for SWEP, you will be expected to meet certain
eligibility criteria and submit an application.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible, you must:
• be a student of the Faculty of Business, Economics and
Law
• be graduating in the relevant year as stated on
StudentHub
• not be in your final semester at UQ
• have a GPA of 4.5 or above
• be available during the vacation period as detailed in
the Application Form
• meet the additional eligibility criteria as stated on
StudentHub (if you have previously participated in a
SWEP Assessment Centre).
If you secure a work experience placement, you must
complete an Unpaid Work Experience Registration Form
to receive approval from UQ. UQ can only approve up
to 30 days of work experience per student per calendar
year. If you have completed more than 20 days of UQ-
approved work experience this calendar year, you cannot
apply for SWEP.

What do I need to know before doing work experience? 13
Insurance 13
Important information 13
assessment centre setting. If you are unsure about this criteria, please contact the
Business, Economics and Law Student Employability Team
(BEL SET).
If you secure a placement, you will also have
the opportunity to:
• explore relevant career options
• build your professional skills in the workplace
• expand your business networks
• gain a potential professional referee.

2 3
Application Process SWEP application
The first step is to apply to the program by submitting an application form, which will require you to attach a cover letter
(or optional application video), resume and a copy of your academic transcript.

SWEP application opens Cover letter (or optional application video) • Especially for Question 2, examples should be used to
on StudentHub support statements e.g. “I have good leadership skills as
Your cover letter (or optional application video) provides
shown by...”
you with the opportunity to tell BEL SET why you would
like to be considered for SWEP. To be successful, you are • Research the “S.T.A.R. interview response technique”
required to address ALL of the following 4 questions in and use it in Question 4
your cover letter:
Student submits an application • Check your grammar and spelling
which includes 1. What is your motivation for applying to SWEP? (Tip:
1. Cover letter or application video don’t only focus on needing work experience, what
other benefits are there to participating in SWEP?)
Optional video cover letter instructions
2. Resume
3. Academic transcript • SWEP applicants now have the choice to film a short 3
2. What knowledge, skills and experience would you bring
minute self interview / presentation (instead of a written
to your work experience placement? (Please support
cover letter) answering the above 4 questions. This
your statements with short examples.)
process reflects the video interview process used by
3. What type of industry / career do you want to enter many large firms.
Application assessed by BEL SET Unsuccessful when you graduate and why? (Tip: what research have
• Please note, this is optional only - you can choose to
you done that demonstrates your commitment to your
submit a written cover letter instead if you prefer.
preferred field?)
• The points in the ‘Cover letter instructions’ section
4. Please provide a specific example showcasing your
regarding answering questions separately, using
teamwork skills. (This question must be answered using
examples and STAR technique still apply.
Student invited to set up the S.T.A.R. interview response technique.)
Successful
consultation and apply again • The video file should be saved in the online file storage
site of your choice.
Cover letter instructions
• The link to the video should be included in the
• Use a business letter format, check the layout and
application form.
ensure you are using an appropriate font style and size
Student invited to and attends • Please do NOT attach the large video file to your
• Address your cover letter to “BEL SET”
assessment centre application. All we require is a link to view your video.
• Do not write more than 1 page in length
• Address all 4 questions in separate paragraphs (do not
use the questions as headings)

Student invited to debrief session

Successful student Waitlist student Unsuccessful student

Student put into a work experience

Student gains work Students invited to set up
pool where they can be contacted
experience opportunity consultation and apply
for potential opportunities within six
from BEL SET again next SWEP
months of SWEP

Student invited to set up consultation

and apply again next SWEP

4 5
Resume
Your resume is a marketing document and one of your first points of contact with an organisation. Your chance of
progressing in a recruitment process is much higher if you have a well-written and well-presented resume which
highlights your education, skills and experience.
Essential information to include in your resume:
• Name and contact details
• Education
• Work experience - your title, the company, dates and
key duties. Also include your workplace achievements.
(1-2 examples where you have completed tasks above
and beyond your normal day to day duties such as
training new staff, being trusted to open and close the
store etc.)
• Technical and IT skills
• Interests
Additional optional information to consider
including in your resume:
• A career objective (2-3 sentences about your proven skills
and studies, how they relate to your 5 year goal and add
value to an employer) OR a profile / personal summary
(2-3 sentences highlighting what you have to offer)
• Key or additional skills
• Volunteering or community involvement
• Awards / achievements
• References – a statement similar to “References are
available upon request” is sufficient
Additional resume instructions:
• Ensure your resume is clear and straight-forward. Do
not use complicated layouts with headers, footers and
tables; keep it simple and use one modern font.
• Be concise; restrict your resume to one or two pages in
length – do not write unnecessary information or use
large spaces to try and make your resume seem longer.
• Check your grammar and spelling – first impressions
are crucial.
• Save your document in PDF or Word format with an
appropriate file name, e.g. your name and the date.
Assessment Centre
An assessment centre is a recruitment selection process used by many large
organisations to assess a group of candidates at the same time. It determines your
suitability for a role by assessing your demonstrated behaviours against set criteria.
Assessment centres are highly structured and at the beginning, you will be briefed
on how the session will play out. You will be observed by an assessor while you work
through various tasks and activities.
Typical assessment centre activities include: 5. Role plays
1. Group activities • You will be invited to act out a role to illustrate how you
would handle a work situation.
• You will work with other candidates to resolve a
• This activity will assess your communication, customer
case study. This process might involve icebreakers,
service, and problem-solving skills.
discussions, or leaderless tasks.
• This activity will assess your interpersonal skills,
6. Presentation
including teamwork, leadership, negotiation, and
problem-solving. • You will be asked to prepare and present on a topic or
do an impromptu presentation based on a performed
exercise.
2. Case studies
• You will receive a case study to work on individually. • This activity will assess your timing, creativity, persuasive
ability, and analytical and public speaking skills.
• This activity will assess your ability to analyse complex
data and issues, plan projects, seek solutions, and
present findings. 7. Interviews
• You will be asked to participate in an interview. This
3. In-tray / inbox exercise interview could take on several different formats,
including a one-on-one interview, a panel interview, or a
• You will be asked to assume a particular employee’s role group interview.
and work through your in-tray / inbox.
• This activity will assess your knowledge, team fit,
• This activity will assess your analytical, delegation, motivations, and ability to meet the role’s requirements.
and written communication skills, and your ability to
organise and prioritise work and communicate with
team members and customers. 8. Social events
• Throughout the day there will be opportunities for you
4. T
 echnical skills assessment or psychometric to have a break and socialise with other candidates,
assessors, recent graduates, and senior management. It
tests
is possible that you will be assessed during these breaks,
• You will be asked to complete specialised tests that so it is important that you behave accordingly.
measure accuracy, speed, numeracy, and written
• This activity will assess your social confidence and ability
communication.
to relate to different people.
• You will not be expected to complete everything before
the allotted time runs out.
7
How do I demonstrate my skills at the assessment centre?

1. Verbal communication 5. Presentations

Your ability to speak clearly, concisely and appropriately
to an audience will be assessed throughout the entire
assessment centre process, including during your
social interactions. The assessment centre activities will
demonstrate your verbal ability and whether you can
adapt to different situations.
Verbal communication not only transmits your message,
but it also communicates your reactions, opinions, and
2. Leadership
Assessors will not expect to see someone who could
confidently step straight into a leadership position within
their organisation; however, they will be looking for positive
indicators and development potential in candidates.
Leadership typically involves:
emotions through your tone, tempo, pronunciation, register
(formality of language), emphasis on certain words, and
use of humour. Remember that listening is as important
as speaking, and you should always demonstrate active
listening.
During group exercises, you should speak calmly and use
unemotional language to help keep the group focused.
Remember to be courteous and considerate of others.
You can demonstrate leadership skills without being the
team leader or giving orders. For example, you can help
establish what needs to be done, invite team members to
contribute, and provide direction when decisions need to
be made.
You might be required to make a presentation during the
assessment centre. You could be assigned a topic, asked
to choose your own, or asked to present your conclusions
from an exercise. You could also be asked to present on
your own or in a group.
During a presentation task you will be assessed not only on
your presentation skills but also on how well you structure
your work.
Therefore it is essential to maximise your preparation time
and ask yourself the following questions:
• Why are you making this presentation and what is the
task asking you to do?
• Who is in the audience and what is their level of
understanding?
• What are your priorities and objectives and what
structure will you use?
A lot of people are apprehensive when it comes to making
presentations, so it is useful to remember the following
presentation structure:
• Introduction – briefly explain what you are going to say.
• Core – provide further information and develop the
topic or argument with evidence and your rationale.
• Conclusion – summarise what you have said and ask the
audience for questions.
If you feel nervous or unsure, keep your presentation
simple. If you are required to choose your own topic,
choose one that you know well so you can answer
questions with confidence.

Positive examples of leadership Negative examples of leadership 6. Planning and organisation

Setting objectives and targets for teams, encouraging
communication and cooperation, and playing to the
strengths of each team member
Motivating team members
Checking on progress
Delegating and negotiating responsibilities
Creating a positive work environment
Taking control of the team and the task unnecessarily and
imposing your ideas
Allocating tasks with no follow up
Checking on progress Giving directions that are unclear or
irrelevant
Micro-managing and not allowing team members to
complete their own work
Making decisions without consulting other team members
Each of the assessment centre activities will have a
time limit, so you will need to demonstrate good time
management. You will also need to demonstrate that you
can take responsibility for your work, set objectives, use
resources, and anticipate difficulties to ensure that you
complete each task.
At the start of each activity, spend time planning and
allocate a time limit for each individual task – and try to
stick to it. When faced with a complication, maintain your
composure and adjust your plan accordingly.

3. Group and team work

During an assessment centre, you will be assessed on
your contribution to your team and how well you establish
working relationships. To succeed, you will need to
demonstrate that you are adaptable, an active listener,
sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, encouraging
and supportive of your team members, and willing and
able to help the team achieve a common goal.
You will also be assessed on how well you handle criticism
or rejection, your level of self-confidence, and your ability
to remain calm and objective when the team disagrees.
The only guaranteed way to fail this task is to make little
to no contribution or try to dominate the group with
aggressive or critical behaviours.

4. Interpersonal awareness
In a typical work setting, you will get on very well with You should avoid negative behaviours such as being
some co-workers and find it more difficult to relate to aggressive when challenged, cutting team members out of
others. During the assessment centre you will be evaluated the decision-making process, being too submissive when
on how well you handle these interpersonal interactions. To faced with a difference of opinion, or using negative verbal
succeed, you should demonstrate that you have the ability and non-verbal language.
to treat others with respect, establish credibility, and build
rapport with your team members regardless of personality
clashes.

8 9
How do I prepare?
Good preparation is vital to ensure you get the most out of the assessment centre process. Here are a few suggestions
on how to prepare before and during the assessment centre.
Before the day
• If you are unclear about anything, contact BEL SET.
• Research and practise potential activities. Do not
underestimate the difference this will make to your
confidence and performance on the day.
• Choose your outfit the night before, ensuring you will be
dressed formally.
• Get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol consumption.
• Plan your journey and aim to arrive at least 10 minutes
before the event begins. You will not be allowed into the
assessment centre if you are late.
On the day
• Arrive early so that you do not feel rushed and can
familiarise yourself with your surroundings.
• Ensure you eat a healthy meal before the assessment
centre and avoid consuming too much caffeine or
sugary foods.
• Read all instructions carefully. Are all of the listed
resources available and working?
• Be yourself – bring your own experiences and
personality to the table.
• Take all of the exercises seriously. The hypothetical
scenarios will require you to play along and come up
with real solutions.
• Do not attempt to guess what is being assessed as this
may affect your participation and assessment.
• Be professional. Behave as if you are at the workplace.
10
During the tasks
• Remember that you are being assessed the entire time,
so try to be assertive during all activities and maintain
a friendly and polite demeanour. Try to relax and be
yourself as people generally warm to individuality.
• Always focus on highlighting your own skills. Do not be
concerned with what other candidates are doing.
• Do not dwell on any mistakes, instead concentrate on
performing well in the next activity.
• Draw others into group discussion, especially the
candidates who seem shy and withdrawn from the
conversation.
• Ensure the assessors can see your working
methodology.
• Try to grasp the requirements of each task quickly by
reading the brief. Revisit the brief once you have an
understanding of the entire challenge.
• Participate in discussions, even during the breaks. If
you are struggling to make conversation, ask other
candidates about their university experience.
View the assessment centre as a positive learning
experience and an opportunity to showcase your best
self. Assessment centres are designed to assess your
behaviour during certain activities, so do your best to
demonstrate what you are capable of when assessors are
talking to and observing you. Avoid only speaking to your
group or existing friends; use this as an opportunity to
network and meet new people.
Work Experience
The top third of SWEP participants each semester (circa 50 – 65 students) will
progress to a work experience placement. BEL SET will make the arrangements
for each student.
It is worth noting that students apply to SWEP itself, not What do I do if I am unsuccessful?
to a specific host company (students cannot choose a
If you do not receive a work experience placement after
host). If an applicant decides not to take the opportunity
the assessment centre, BEL SET offers the following
that they are matched to (as described above), this is
learning activities:
their prerogative. No further opportunity will be sourced
for them and the opportunity will be offered to a Individual feedback on SWEP performance
different student.
You will be encouraged to arrange a BEL SET consultation
to go through your assessment centre results. This process
What types of organisations and industries are will help you understand what you can do next time to
involved with SWEP? improve your performance.
Most of the participating organisations are:
BEL SET programs
• small businesses
You will be encouraged to participate in other BEL SET
• government organisations programs to build on your knowledge and skills in certain
areas. The BEL SET Career Success Program is strongly
• not-for-profit organisations.
recommended – you will learn more about the recruitment
process and what employers expect.
SWEP targets the following industry types:
• business, which may include marketing, HR, business Reapply for SWEP next semester
operations, entrepreneurship, and project management Unsuccessful SWEP participants will have one opportunity
• commerce, which may include accounting, finance, and to reapply for the program the following semester as long
information systems as it isn’t your final semester at UQ. This will give you a
chance to learn from your previous experience. You can
• economics only participate in SWEP a maximum of two times.
• tourism Secure your own unpaid work experience, volunteer work,
• law. or paid employment
Please refer to the BEL Student Work Handbook for more
What types of organisations are not involved information.
with SWEP?
• Big, top tier legal firms
• Big 4 firms or top tier organisations which include
banks, insurance companies, and consultancies
• Organisations that run paid internship programs
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What do I gain from doing work experience?
Work experience is an important part of career planning as it provides you with practical skills and experience that
you cannot gain from lectures. Employers really value work experience on your resume as it demonstrates your
understanding of a particular role and helps you to stand out.
Other benefits of completing work experience include:
• gaining structured, supervised, hands-on experience
which will give you a real sense of the industry and the
job
• learning transferable skills such as communication and
team work
• building confidence in your own ability to learn and
master new skills and tasks
• showcasing your commitment, reliability, enthusiasm,
and ability to make substantial contributions in the
workplace
• expanding your professional networks and making
meaningful contacts who could help you step onto the
career ladder.
What do employers expect from me during
work experience?
Employers will expect you to fit in with the team, get
involved in the day-to-day activities of the business, and
demonstrate professional behaviours including:
• intelligence and business acumen
• good communication skills
• the ability to interact and network with clients and
colleagues
• enthusiasm for the industry, the work, and the
organisation
12
• ambition and initiative
• effective workload management and prioritisation of
tasks.
How do I behave during work experience?
• Work hard, efficiently, and to the best of your ability.
• Manage your fatigue and ensure that you are getting
enough sleep.
• Dress professionally.
• Arrive at work on time and do not be a clock watcher;
always ask your team if there is anything else that needs
to be completed before you leave.
• Be friendly and sociable. For example, have lunch with
your team, get to know them, and go to social events
and after work drinks – but always be professional.
• Keep your phone on silent and do not check social
media during work hours. Some organisations have a
strict culture on the use of phones in the office.
• Do not be afraid to ask questions, but respect your
colleagues’ time. Do not interrupt them every five
minutes and do not ask questions you know the answer
to. If your question is not urgent, write it down and
return to it later. If you still need to ask the question,
arrange a time to discuss it with your colleague.
• Do not get involved in office politics.
What do I need to know before doing work experience?
Insurance
The work experience that you complete during SWEP is not
a course requirement and is different from work integrated
learning (for credit placements) and volunteering. UQ can
approve unpaid work experience for students as part of
their education. Schools/units are under no obligation to
approve work experience.
Requirements for approval and insurance cover include the
following:
• You must be currently enrolled at UQ and not have
completed your studies.
• You must not undertake work experience for more than
30 days in a calendar year.
• The work experience must be relevant to your
education.
• The work experience must be unpaid.
• The work experience provider must not provide work
experience to more than the permitted number of
students at the same time.
• The work experience provider must not provide work
experience to you at a time other than
• during the ordinary working hours of the organisation.
For more information visit UQ Course Placements and
Work Experience.
To obtain approval for work experience and confirm
insurance cover, an Unpaid Work Experience Registration
Form needs to be completed and signed by yourself, the
work experience provider, and UQ Insurance. You must
do this before you start your work experience placement.
[Please fill in all fields on the form (e.g. work experience
period, number of days, activities and tasks, and learning
objectives). ‘N/A’ or empty fields will not be accepted.] You
can email your draft form to BEL SET for review before it
is signed.
After the Unpaid Work Experience Application Form has
been completed and signed by both yourself and the work
experience provider, you should email the form to BEL
SET. If approved, BEL SET notify you when your insurance
cover is confirmed.
Important information
What happens if I do not like my placement?
Your placement is designed to be a learning experience,
but if you are unhappy, please contact BEL SET as soon
as possible. If you do not have a legitimate reason to
withdraw from your placement and you still decide not
to continue, your placement will be offered to another
student and you will not receive another opportunity.
However, if you feel unsafe or harassed during your
placement, please contact BEL SET immediately.
What happens if I am sick or have an exam?
As in a normal job, please consult your supervisor as
soon as possible. It is important to be honest with the
organisation about the situation so that they can discuss it
with you and plan accordingly.
The company wants me to sign forms I do not understand
or undertake duties that make me feel uncomfortable,
what do I do?
If this scenario occurs and you feel comfortable doing so,
as a starting point speak to your supervisor or a member
of the company's HR team for clarification on what is
being asked of you. Please then contact BEL SET if you do
not feel that this resolves the situation, or if you do not feel
comfortable speaking to your supervisor or the HR team.
13
Business, Economics and Law
Student Employability Team
T: +61 7 3365 4222

E: careers@bel.uq.edu.au

W: bel.uq.edu.au/set

F: facebook.com/UQBELSET

A: Room 107, Level 1

Colin Clark (Building 39)
St Lucia Campus

CRICOS Provider Number 00025B