Uni life is all-consuming. Sometimes we’re so busy worrying about failed assignments and pulling all-nighter that it’s easy to forget why we’re here in the first place.

For a lot of us, graduation is fast approaching. So to avoid the bitter disappointment of unemployment, here are some things you can do to ensure you’ll be killing life after uni.

Make Your Resume Fierce

Yep, it’s time to brush off the cobwebs on the Year 10 resume your mum probably wrote for you.

A free website called Canva gives you resume templates that look way more professional and cooler than a boring word document.

Keep it to one page, don’t blab too much and avoid putting your Maccas job on there if you’re applying for an engineering internship. Put down relevant information that will best demonstrate your skills.

Get Interning (Duh)

Unfortunately, there’s a chance you’re going to start your career with unpaid work to get the paying job you want. Now’s the time to put in the hard yards and apply for anything relating to your field of work.

If you can get an overseas internship, it’s even better. Internships abroad are scary, but you’ll come back with real world experience and connections in a different country. That’s not something a lot of people can put on their resume.

Think of unpaid internships as your foot in the door to bigger and better opportunities.

Volunteer Your Time

We can feel you guys rolling your eyes. And we know you’re thinking, ‘We’re already so busy, why should we give up our limited time to do something for free?’

Employers look favourably upon volunteer work as they can see you’re willing to sacrifice your time and money for the field you’re passionate about. Even if it’s not in your field, it demonstrates a diverse range of skills.

If you want to look like you’re serious about what you do, then you’ll make time for volunteering. Who knows? It might be the thing that scores you a job.

References, References, References

It’s time to call up the people who don’t hate you (or are good at hiding it) and ask them to make you seem better than what you are.

A written reference from the right person can mean the difference between a job and unemployment. Pick someone who you haven’t pissed off and is likely to say nice things. As in, don’t ask your old manager for a reference if you left the company on bad terms. Trust us, it’ll just be awkward.

Preparing your references ahead of time is a good idea because if employers ask for one, you’ll have it ready to shove in their face.

Get Profesh On Social Media

Delete that video of 16-year-old you sculling beer through a funnel. Or better yet, just make a new Facebook account altogether. Seriously, employers go creeping on your social media all the time and if you wouldn’t want your grandma to see it, then delete it.

It’s also a good idea to sign up to LinkedIn. LinkedIn makes you look professional and helps you connect with other people in your chosen field. Also, when some asks where they can contact you, it always sounds way cooler and grown up to say, “Find me on LinkedIn.”

Save Them Dollars, Boo

But just in case you did all these things and you’re still facing unemployment after graduation, it’s always smart to have a stash of cash saved up.

Start grabbing extra shifts and put away a bit of your income every week. And remember that you won’t be unemployed forever. Keep trying!

Get that successful career, you adult, you!

(Lead image: Happy Endings/ABC)

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Sophie Nicolas is studying a bachelor of arts in creative writing and is an aspiring writer, dog enthusiast and thrift shop fashion icon.