Do you have an elevator pitch?
- How comfortable are you networking in a room of business people?
- Are you confident your soft skills set you apart from other graduates?
If you think you could improve in any of these aspects, then the UNSW Graduate Advantage Program (GAP) might just be the thing for you.
The UNSW Co-op Program partners with some of Australia’s leading companies to deliver an intense and unique professional development program for students, designed to give you the “graduate advantage” and to set you apart with employers. GAP will help you to develop personal and professional skills, give you a better understanding of the business world and has the potential to boost your employability.
If you are looking to get a foot in the door with one of Australia's leading companies and are interested in securing a summer internship – then don’t wait, apply for GAP and invest in your future.
Program dates
GAP is delivered in an intense one week format at the end of your summer break.
Date: February 2023 (exact dates TBC)
The program will be delivered as a hybrid model with some days taking place at UNSW and other workshops being delivered virtually. Final times and locations of the GAP sessions will only be shared with successful students selected for GAP. To be eligible for the program, students must be available during business hours for the entire week.
Our industry partners
GAP workshops are designed and delivered by industry experts sharing their wealth of knowledge and giving you insights into the corporate world and an advantage and first foot in the door for the internship recruitment period.
From recent graduates to Partners, GAP gives you access to network with all levels of the business.
Benefits for students
GAP is a career and professional development opportunity not to be missed. Fully resourced by the UNSW Co-op Program and our industry partners, GAP is a free program for students.
Skills upgrade
Employers are looking for graduates that have the edge; good technical skills with the business aptitude to match. Our industry partners are interested in your professional development and aim to improve skills in communication, leadership, problem-solving, initiative, presentation, enterprise, organisation, and time and self-management. This program will help you get a step ahead of the competition.
Recognition
Upon successful completion, students will be awarded a certificate recognising the achievement. This is a great addition to a CV and will be highly regarded by industry partners. GAP will also be recorded on your supplementary transcripts as an extracurricular activity.
Networking
Learn the importance and power of networking. Networking does not only play an important part in your job search, but will follow you throughout your entire career. There will be plenty of opportunities for networking with peers and industry representatives from all levels – first year graduates, hiring managers through to Partners. By the end of the week, networking is truly a skill you will have improved on through plenty of practice.
Internships
All of GAP’s industry partners are offering internships over the summer break. GAP students are strongly encouraged to apply for these internships and can get relevant information on the recruitment process and requirements directly from the recruiters on the last day of the GAP program.
Student testimonials
Adrena Kandiah, 2021
GAP is an extraordinary week full of enhancement activities that can only better you as you come towards the end of your degree. I found the week to be far more insightful than I expected, with plenty of activities to challenge and improve yourself, as well as many opportunities to not only network with your peers within GAP, but also potential employers and recruiters. I highly recommend GAP!
Domenic Maselli, 2021
It is a high intensity self development program that is really beneficial if you want to improve your employability.
Will Stanley-Davies, 2021
GAP was a great week that opened my eyes to many opportunities. It taught me so much about soft skills and how important they are to employers, and gave me the knowledge and skills to significantly raise the quality of my applications.
Julienne Le, 2020
It is an incredible experience for students who wish to get firsthand experience with the industry partners to see what their company values are and determine whether or not they want to work there. GAP is a great program that motivates and empowers students in their professional development.
Emily Ramsay, 2019
The best fun you will have at uni - a week of meeting new people, learning skills that would have scared you before (like networking!) not to mention dressing up in corporate outfits and visiting your dream offices!
Jennifer Shen, 2019
An intensive one-week program tailored for individuals who don't understand much about work culture and what it means to have a graduation position in a company. Where every job-getter guide tells you that "being yourself" is the most important, GAP gives you a rare insight into what makes companies "themselves" and how they differentiate themselves from their rivals in what they do and how they perceive themselves.
Nelson Cheng, 2018
Interactive, intense, fun, and throws you in the deep end. The program really takes you out of your comfort zone and pushes you to take initiative.
Application
Who can apply
Places are limited to 60 students.
Our Industry Partners employ a range of students from a variety of disciplines and have expressed an interest in seeing a diverse student pool, so if you are not a Business student, but are interested in professional development, then please don't hesitate and apply.
ACCESS students are also strongly encouraged to apply.
To be eligible you must be:
- Entering your penultimate year (second last year) of study in 2023.
- An undergraduate student in any discipline.
- A credit average or above student.
- Able to demonstrate a strong interest in securing an internship role with one or more of the GAP Industry Partner organisations.
- Able to demonstrate a strong interest to pursue a career in business.
- An Australian citizen or Australian Permanent Resident.
- Available to attend all scheduled dates and times.
How students are selected
Students who meet the eligibility criteria are then selected based on the quality of answers in the application form. There are no interviews and all GAP participants are selected from their written application.
Who is not eligible
Even if you meet the basic eligibility requirements, students currently on a cadetship, Co-op Scholarship or who have already secured a summer vacation placement/internship are not eligible for this program. If you receive a GAP offer as well as a summer placement offer you must inform the GAP coordinator ASAP and decline your place in the program.
Are you interested but not ready / eligible to apply?
Register your interest by emailing your contact details to: [email protected]
We are always keen to find out students' needs for development of the program in future. To assist us, please register your contact details, reason for being not ready/eligible and your comment on why this program is of interest to you.
How to apply
- The first step is to submit this pre-qualifier survey to ensure you are eligible for the program.
- If you are deemed eligible for the program, you will be given a link to proceed to the GAP application.
- It's strongly recommended you preview the Application Questions (for preview only).
- Draft, review and finalise your responses to the questions in Word first.
Additional criteria
In addition to your online application you will also need to add the following documents:
- Current resume (maximum two pages).
- Copy of your academic transcript (no need to order an official copy, just send a PDF of your transcript from myUNSW).
Your application will not be considered complete without submission of these documents. Once you have sent these documents to [email protected], please do not ask for confirmation of receipt, you will be contacted if we have received an application without the supporting documents.
If you need resume advice see UNSW Employability.
Applications for 2023 program will open in September.
Contact us
For more information about GAP, please email: [email protected]
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