About this Book
This book serves as your practical guide to navigating workplace experiences during your internship and early career. Written specifically for students transitioning from university studies into professional practice, it provides evidence-based strategies and actionable frameworks to help you develop essential workplace capabilities.
The content draws from extensive research into intern experiences and organisational psychology, combined with real-world examples that illustrate how to apply theoretical concepts in practice. Each chapter builds your professional knowledge systematically, moving from foundational skills like resume development through to advanced capabilities like managing artificial intelligence tools in the workplace.
Throughout the book, you’ll find activities designed to help you reflect on your experiences and develop practical approaches to common workplace challenges. These activities encourage you to think critically about your professional development while building tangible skills you can apply immediately in your internship.
The book maintains a strong focus on supporting linguistically diverse students entering Australian workplaces. You’ll find clear explanations of workplace communication norms, cultural expectations, and professional practices that might differ from your previous experiences.
While aimed primarily at students undertaking workplace learning experiences as part of their degree requirements, this book also serves as a valuable resource for anyone beginning their professional journey in Australian workplaces. The frameworks and strategies provided will help you build positive workplace relationships, navigate organisational cultures, and develop the professional capabilities needed for career success.
Each chapter includes specific learning objectives, practical activities, and key takeaways that reinforce important concepts. The book’s structure allows you to either work through it sequentially or focus on particular topics relevant to your current workplace challenges. Remember to engage actively with the reflection activities and practical exercises. Your professional development benefits most when you apply these concepts thoughtfully to your own experiences.
AI was used in the development of this book. I have taken a ‘centaur’ approach (see Chapter 6), and engaged with Claude.ai to break any writer’s blocks and then rewritten the text in my own words.
Ben Archer
