Understanding Work Experience

Work Experience offers you the opportunity to integrate academic theory and ‘real world’ practice. You will enhance your technical and leadership skills whilst gaining experience in the workforce and insight into professional practice. For our undergraduate Engineering students and postgraduate Applied Cybernetics students, Work Experience is required as part of your studies. Students must organise their own work experience. When there is an ANU-sourced work experience opportunity, you will be notified.

Who has to complete work experience and why?

Work experience is a compulsory component of your degree if you are studying:

  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (R&D) (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Software Engineering
  • Master of Applied Cybernetics or Master of Applied Cybernetics (Advanced)

For undergraduate engineering students, the completion of Work Experience course ENGN3100 is REQUIRED to graduate from your engineering degree program.

For students enrolled in the Master of Applied Cybernetics programs, Work Experience is listed as CYBN8005 Applied Cybernetics Professional Experience. It is a compulsory course of your program.

The difference between work experience and an internship

Work experience is a mandatory requirement of your degree but does not count for any credit units load. Work experience is mainly organised by YOU! ANU will inform you when there are any ANU-Sourced placement opportunities.

  • ENGN3100 – Practical Experience (Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Engineering R&D (Honours) and Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Software Engineering - compulsory)

Undergraduate Engineering students are required to undertake 12 weeks (420 hours) practical work experience. A minimum of 8 weeks should be in an engineering environment, under the supervision of a suitably qualified engineer/ software engineer. The remaining 4 weeks can be in any sort of employment.

For full details about ENGN3100, please refer to the ENGN3100​ page for more information.

Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours)(ASENG) students are required to complete COMP4800; however, COMP4800 is no longer on offer. Please contact studentemployability.css@anu.edu.au for further instruction.

Internship courses offered at CSS are not compulsory courses and they have units load (e.g. 6 units, 12 units, 18 units, 24 units). Standard course fees will apply for enroling in for-credit internship courses.

How to enrol in work experience?

To complete your Work Experience placement, you will need to enrol in one of the following courses via ANUHub:

Remaining students in the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours)(ASENG), the required course COMP4800 is no longer available. Please contact studentemployability.css@anu.edu.au for further instruction.

All work experience courses are zero units, and therefore do not attract a course fee.

How to secure a placement?

By searching for your own work experience opportunities, you are gaining valuable insight into the job application process. Applying for jobs can be tricky, but luckily, there are many resources and support services available to help you find work, develop resumes and cover letters, and practice for interviews.

STEP 1: Understand the type of work experience you would like to get. Consider what industry, functions, location you would like to work in. This information can guide your job search.

STEP 2: Look for advertised opportunities or approach companies directly. Common places to look include:

Job search hint: don’t just search for ‘work experience’. Jobs advertised as part-time, casual and internship programs can often meet the requirements for work experience so don’t limit your options.

STEP 3: Develop a professional looking CV (resume) and cover letter. Utilise the resources available through ANU Career Central for developing a professional and tailored application that clearly showcases your interest in gaining experience in a company or an organisation.

  • Complete ‘Internship Essentials e-Learning Pathway’, specifically the ‘Securing an Internship: Application Tips’ section. It will help you with the resume and application process.

  • Complete ‘Find and apply for jobs e-Learning Pathway’. This pathway covers everything you need to know about the job applications process – from finding opportunities to how to prepare your application till interview preparations.

STEP 4: Prepare for interviews and other selection activities. Go to ANU Career Central. Complete ‘Internship Essentials e-Learning Pathway’, specifically the ‘Securing an Internship: Application Tips’ section. It will help you with the interview process.

Career Central is a specially designed space, which provides resources for job application process. Please take your time to review the pathways and resources there.

I've completed ENGN3200 Engineering Internship. Do I have to submit a report for ENGN3100?

Work hours undertaken for ENGN3200 Engineering Internship can be counted towards ENGN3100 Practical Experience requirements. However, you do still need to submit a report and required evidence for ENGN3100.

To understand what you need to do, see How to claim work experience completed in ENGN3200 towards ENGN3100.

Need Help?

Contact CSS Student Employability team at studentemployability.css@anu.edu.au.

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