When former Bond University business student Tara Khan wrote a paper on employee retention for Queensland Airports Limited (QAL), they liked it so much they decided to retain her.
Ms Khan secured an internship with the Human Resources team at QAL during the final semester of her degree.
One day a week for 12 weeks, she ventured into a real corporate environment and put the skills she learned during her studies into practice.
Before she graduated, QAL offered her a full-time role.
“(The internship) was a combination of shadowing HR duties that a generalist HR professional does day-to-day, and then the other piece was project work,” Ms Khan said.
“I did a research paper that I submitted to Bond and Queensland Airports at the end and that was on employee retention following the 2021 ‘Great Resignation’ phenomenon.”
This internship program is a QAL and Bond University partnership, originally created in 2016. It has just been renewed for another two years.
So far 13 Bond students have interned with QAL, while the company also helps develop Bond University coursework so that it remains relevant to students and employers.
Bond University Vice President Engagement, Catherine Marks said: “We pride ourselves on producing industry-ready graduates here at Bond, and this partnership is a prime example of how we give our students all the tools necessary to enter the workforce.”
Marion Charlton, QAL Chief Operating Officer said, “As an airport operator we’re committed to supporting future leaders to enter the aviation industry and our partnership with Bond University not only gives students an opportunity for hands-on experience but also provides a gateway to an aviation career; and in return our business gets the benefit of attracting amazing young people helping to set us up for the workforce and customers of the future.
“Aviation is a broad and dynamic industry. Our team works across many areas from operations and safety, to human resources, through to marketing and communications, so there’s always great opportunities for students looking to enter the workforce,” she added.
Ms Khan is now the People and Culture Coordinator at QAL which she balances with her other passion, equestrian jumping, as she aims for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.
She recommends the internships to current students seeking to finish their degree on a strong note.
“I’ve already recommended this program to people I know who are still studying at Bond,’ she said.
“I found it was a really good opportunity to practice the skills you learn in class in a real-world environment.
“You also get a chance to network and make relationships and that’s how I got my full-time position here at QAL.
“It was really valuable, and the program helps with that transition from university to the real world.
“Seeing an internship on a resume certainly makes graduate candidates stand out more in a big pile of applications.”