The ACS Foundation facilitates relevant industry experience placements for students with large and small technology companies. Sponsor organisations range from IBM, CBA, Dell, Microsoft and Adobe to growing SME’s such as eCorner, Dataweave and Clear2Pay. Here, they answer our top questions that impact ICT grads.

Remaining responsive to industry standards and trends…

The explosion of Cloud Computing and Mobility are major trends in the ICT industry where students and graduates can equip themselves as the industry opens the opportunity for younger professionals to drive these projects.

The need to have access to information anytime, anywhere through different devices such smartphones, tablets and laptops is transforming the way a lot of organisations do their business. The requirements to support and protect data means the demand for skills in security, web and mobile application development continue to be sought after.

What they look for in graduates…

In ICT, it is expected that students, especially graduates, are equipped with the relevant technical capabilities, but what most students don’t recognise is that organisations give equal value to an individual’s soft skills when they join an organisation. These are important skills that students often leave out of their resumes, and even on interviews.

Cultural fit, good communication and teamwork continue to rank high in an organisation’s hiring priorities. Graduates who are able to develop a good balance of both technical and soft skills will have greater chances of success.

79% of ACS Foundation’s interns secure ongoing employment – what do these career pathways look like?

We have been providing internship opportunities for more than 10 years now, and since then, our students have gone into various successful IT roles not just in Australia but around the world, as Security Architects, Software developers, Database Administrators and Business Analysts to name a few.

Some of our previous student interns who now run their own IT companies and are leaders in their field come back to us and provide internship opportunities through the Foundation. There are amazing stories of giving back to the industry and helping young people start their careers.

If you’d like to hear more of these success stories, you can visit the ACS Foundation YouTube Channel.

If you can make it on campus, the ACS Foundation will be attending the Curtin Careers Fair, March 5, 11am – 2pm