Image: Wil Koslowski
Wil is in his final year of a double Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Marketing) and Arts (Chinese and German). Throughout his degree, he has always tried to apply lessons from the classroom to the real world. Wil has created and run several businesses, worked in marketing everywhere from China to within an Indigenous community on the far south coast of Australia, and managed social media for student societies.
He aims to break into the marketing agency world after his graduation and plans to move back to Sydney in 2021. Outside of work, he is a self-described debating nerd, long-term surf lifesaver, and NBA tragic, who thinks he definitely could have made the league if he had tried.
What advice can you share with students who are in the first year of their degree about preparing for their career goals?
You’re in your first year, so the good news is you have time! Now is the time to start exploring different industries, doing your career research, and building up your network by getting out there and being involved – think student societies, volunteering opportunities, and sports. You’re not just a job robot, friends are important too. Also know that there’s no pressure to be a polished, internship-stacking candidate straight away. Don’t overlook the value of retail or hospitality work, the skills you learn there are invaluable and will honestly set you apart in interviews down the track.
Looking back on your experiences at ANU, what would you do differently and what advice would you give to new CBE students?
I wish I’d taken advantage of CBE services and development opportunities earlier in my degree.
I would strongly recommend booking an appointment with the CBE Careers and Student Employability team, who are incredible to work with on your personal goals and employability journey, as well as improving your resume and interview abilities. The CBE Internship Program was also such a useful way to develop my industry-specific skills.
Most importantly, not every opportunity is going to be handed to you. Find the confidence to go after roles and experiences you want. Email, make phone calls, set up informational interviews, volunteer and be passionate. Landing that first industry role can be all it takes to set you up for a path to success.