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May 26, 2017

Networking after 5 event connects students with business

Students expand their interpersonal skills and broaden their career prospects. 

More than 250 UOW students and over 60 Illawarra business representatives had the opportunity to enhance their professional pathway at the bi-annual Networking After 5 event held at the University Hall Foyer last night (Thursday 25 May).

Organised by the University’s Student Life and Wellbeing department in partnership with the Illawarra Business Chamber (IBC) and the Junior Chamber Illawarra (JCI), the event facilitates a relaxed yet professional networking environment for postgraduate, mature-age and later year undergraduate students and regional business representatives.

This semester’s theme, ‘Meeting the Challenge’ was chosen to reflect the challenging and continually changing work force whereby resilience is needed to succeed. This provides a realistic outlook on situations that students may need to face when transitioning through their career.

Participants heard from two guest speakers, UOW Director of Financial Operations, Matt Wright and UOW Media and Corporate Communications Coordinator and Life Coach, Sarah Vickery.

The pair shared their personal experiences including the opportunities, challenges and successes as employees and entrepreneurs.

Matt Wright, who has worked at UOW for almost 10 years and has extensive experience in finance and commercial management roles, shared his story as an indigenous person and highlighted the need to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people.

"The challenge to bring the opportunities for Indigenous Australians up to the same standard as the rest of the community is enormous and I certainly don’t have all the answers. However, to meet that challenge, I have always thought it my responsibility to get out there and have a go – not just because I am aboriginal, but because I can.

“I feel, for me, as one person, the best way to serve the cause of the indigenous community is to defy the stereotypes and set an example," Mr Wright said.

Sarah Vickery, whose career spans multiple senior media and communications roles and more recently, Life Coaching, attributes her personal connections to opening most doors professionally.

“Life is just one big networking experience. Success as an entrepreneur is very much about the rapport you can build with someone in a short space of time," Ms Vickery said.

"In both my communications consulting and life coaching businesses, my clients are buying me; my services, my skills and my wisdom. In addition to having the skills required to fulfil a job, it’s largely about how someone feels when they meet you which determines whether they want to work with you."

Senior Manager of Student Life and Wellbeing Programs, Fran Walder, said the evening presented a great chance for students to get business ready.

“We like to be able to provide our students with real life opportunities where they’re exposed to prospective employers in the local area and give them the chance to flex their networking muscles in a supported University environment,” Ms Walder said.

The next Networking After 5 event will be held in the Spring Semester.