JobSquad

A high-energy employability activation helping students move from fear to courage to action.

JobSquad transforms the way students approach casual and part-time work by combining behavioural science, confidence-building and real-world employability practice in one psychologically safe experience.

Designed especially for students who feel nervous, uncertain or underprepared, JobSquad helps participants build confidence, complete practical employability tasks and practise real conversations with employers.

PIEoneer Awards Finalist – Employability Impact

60% of UNE students had interviews or secured jobs within 4 weeks

Research-backed confidence programs

Scalable from 80–800 students

THE PROBLEM

Students don’t need more employability information.

They need the confidence to take action.

Many students already know they should:

apply for jobs,
network,
speak to employers,
attend events,
and put themselves forward.

But fear, anxiety, self-doubt and uncertainty often stop them from taking the first step.

This is especially true for:

international students,
first-time job seekers,
shy or anxious students,
students lacking workplace confidence,
and students who fear rejection or embarrassment.

Traditional employability programs often focus on information.
JobSquad focuses on behavioural activation.

Students don’t just learn employability skills.
They actively practise doing it.

Behind the JobSquad experience

HOW JOBSQUAD WORKS

Confidence-first employability activation

JobSquad uses a psychologically sequenced approach that helps students build courage, confidence and momentum step-by-step.

1. Mission Brief

Students begin with energy, clarity and curiosity in a supportive environment designed to reduce fear and increase participation.

2. Courage Activation

Short confidence-building activities help students move from hesitation into action and create psychological safety within the group.

3. Squad Formation

Students work in small peer groups that create accountability, support and belonging throughout the experience.

4. Resume Sprint

Students create or improve their resumes using a unique and empowering storytelling process with practical templates, coaching and live support.

5. Job Pitch Builder

Participants develop and practise a short employer-ready introduction designed to build communication confidence.

6. Simulated Employer Practice

Students practise speaking with simulated employers, volunteers and industry partners in a safe, real-world environment.

7. Mission Complete

Students reflect on their growth, celebrate achievements and connect into ongoing confidence and employability support pathways.

Designed for real student behaviour

Many students approach employability programs with hesitation.

Some feel anxious about attending alone.
Some assume the experience will be awkward, boring or full of information they already know.
Others avoid careers events altogether because previous experiences have felt intimidating or disconnected from real student life.

JobSquad is designed differently.

Rather than expecting students to arrive fully confident and ready to participate, JobSquad uses psychologically safe engagement strategies that help reduce fear, build familiarity and create momentum before and during the experience.

Optional pre-engagement activities such as low-pressure networking events, confidence-building communications and peer connection opportunities can help students feel safer, more prepared and more willing to engage.

During a recent Study Canberra activation, students were invited to an optional networking event the evening before JobSquad. This relaxed environment gave students the opportunity to meet presenters, connect with peers and become familiar with the experience before the main event.

The first students to arrive at JobSquad the following morning had all attended the networking session the night before.

Why this matters

This layered approach helps:

increase attendance and participation
reduce anxiety and avoidance
improve engagement
create stronger peer connection
build confidence progressively through action

Because for many students, the biggest barrier to employability is not capability.

It is fear, hesitation and previous negative experiences with traditional employability programs.

JobSquad is intentionally designed to change that experience.

SEE JOBSQUAD IN ACTION

Real students. Real courage. Real activation.

Hear directly from students and staff about the impact of JobSquad.

What UNE said about JobSquad

Maria’s experience

Ambassador Vic’s insights

What I was worried about before I attended JobSquad

WHY JOBSQUAD WORKS

Confidence first. Skills second.

Many employability programs teach students what to do.
JobSquad helps students become psychologically ready to actually do it.

By combining:

behavioural activation,
experiential learning,
psychologically safe engagement,
peer support,
and real-world practice,

students build confidence through action – not just information.

OUTCOMES

Proven employability impact

60%

of UNE students had interviews or secured jobs within 4 weeks directly from JobSquad

172%

increase in confidence to find work

257%

increase in job-hunting skills

100%

participant recommendation rate

1 day

to build a resume, practise employability skills and activate confidence

Additional measurable outcomes can include:

attendance growth
repeat participation
employer engagement
faculty satisfaction
student confidence shifts

WHAT MAKES JOBSQUAD DIFFERENT

Traditional employability programs	JobSquad
Passive learning	Experiential activation
Information-heavy	Confidence-first
Resume workshops	Real-world practice
Individual pressure	Squad support
Theory-focused	Behavioural action
Fear of failure	Psychologically safe participation

WHO IT’S FOR

Designed for students building confidence for the world of work

JobSquad is ideal for:

Universities
Faculties & schools
Careers & employability teams
International student programs
Government & community initiatives
Student accommodation providers (PBSA)

Especially valuable for:

first-time job seekers,
international students,
shy or disengaged students,
and students lacking confidence in professional environments.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Students don’t just attend.

They participate.

JobSquad creates high-energy, supportive experiences where students:

build courage,
connect with peers,
practise communication,
and take meaningful employability action in real time.

“I breathed in confident air and breathed out negative air.”

Optional inclusions:

photo gallery
event snapshots
employer feedback
student quotes

FLEXIBLE DELIVERY

Scalable and adaptable

JobSquad can be delivered:

in-person
as a one-day activation
for cohorts from 80–800 students
with institution-specific employability themes
alongside employer and industry partnerships

Flexible pathways for different student cohorts

JobSquad can be adapted for both casual employment and professional employability pathways.

Casual employment pathway

Designed for students seeking their first casual or part-time roles in areas such as:

hospitality
retail
tourism
customer service

Focused on:

confidence-building
first-job readiness
communication
networking
practical action-taking

Professional employability pathway

Designed for students preparing for internships, graduate opportunities and professional industry engagement.

Focused on:

professional communication
networking confidence
interview readiness
personal branding
workplace confidence
career activation

Both pathways maintain the same confidence-first, psychologically safe and experiential approach that makes JobSquad unique.

Programs can also connect into ongoing confidence and employability pathways through Student Confidence initiatives including Confidence Crew and Preparise.

Trusted by universities, student accommodation providers and government initiatives across Australia

Ready to activate student employability with confidence?

Let’s create engaging, psychologically safe employability experiences that help students move from fear to action.

Let's chat

Download: fact sheet