ProGrad Brisbane

When employees have a financial or emotional stake in a certain thing they will take ownership of it. This is an integral part of employee motivation and increasing employee productivity in the workplace. If someone has sole responsibility for a task they will feel increasingly accountably for its results. This accountability is a motivation in itself as it provides the feelings of worthiness and potential.  

-       Jarrod, ProGrad

When starting a new job, it is essential to learn the tricks of the trade as quickly as possible, this may mean doing extra training, continually asking questions or finding a mentor.

“Mentoring as a formal business activity in Australia has blossomed in the past decade and is now mainstream. But as the country enters more challenging economic times, mentoring is at the crossroads: sitting between being seen as a luxury of better times and as an essential business tool during the financial crisis.” (Clive Hopkins, Tricks of the Trade 1/4/09 www.smallbusiness.smh.com.au)

Mentoring has a whole new meaning in times of an economic downturn. It involves spending more in-depth time on planning, reviewing and reorganising the business to add value where ever possible. As the economy struggles, most businesses are feeling the challenges and employers are now turning to any resource they can to assist the business in making it through these tough times.

Clive Hopkins stated that “If you have a good business idea and you’re passionate about it, you’ll make it work. It doesn’t matter what the climate is. You have to find the right customer and sometimes that’s hard. You have to do the cold doorknock.”

So, do businesses need mentoring during this downturn? Or do they simply need to understand their customers and adapt their products and services to ensure their success?

Sophie

ProGrad are a graduate assessment, placement and training company.  If you would like to be considered for our roles, or receive more information about the graduate market place, please contact us on 02 8235 8300.  Alternatively, you can visit our website at www.prograd.com.au

Part of my role is to work with graduates to place them into suitable job roles. One question I always like to ask candidates is “what is the most important thing you are looking for within your next career?” Some of the answers I hear over and over again is job security, training, progression and a good company culture.

From my experience a job can be much more if you feel comfortable within the workplace and if you form strong friendships and relationships with your colleagues.  Company culture continually changes along with the ups and downs of working within the business world. I have always found company culture is about fitting in, so it’s important to find common ground with different employees and grow the relationship through those mutual opinions.

Organising a social event outside of work such as dinner, drinks or a fun activity such as bowling can always assist in building a strong company culture and help employees to build relationships they may not have built whilst at work.

If you have any good ideas on how to build a strong company culture, please leave a comment below and let me know!

 Sophie

ProGrad is an assessment, training and placement centre that specialises in placing graduates into entry level business to business sales roles. For more information on ProGrad, or our services please call us directly on 02 8235 8300 or visit our website at www.prograd.com.au

Before applying to ProGrad I had studied a Commerce Degree with a major in Marketing and management at the University of Sydney. My only form of work experience was with an Ice Cream Shop and at David Jones.

I found the Assessment Day a good experience. I found out that it was very thorough and found myself begin tested and dragged out of my comfort zone. After I was successful at the Assessment Day I went out to a number of BDM and sales roles as well as one marketing position with Hasbro.

I was offered an Assistant Product Manager position at Hasbro, and was in charge of helping the product manager with administration duties as well as invoicing and assisting with promotional activities.

I have found the ProGrad training courses very thorough and once again dragged me out of my comfort zone. I found it great to be able to meet with other graduates at a similar point in their career.

My advice for other graduates would be:

1. Know that ProGrad is predominately sales
2. Know that the training is great!

Daniel, ProGrad Graduate

For more information on how to apply to ProGrad please call us directly on 02 8235 8300 or visit our website at www.prograd.com.au

I’m young. I’m inexperienced. I’m a slacker. I’m entitled. I have a short attention span. I can’t hold down a job.

At least, that’s how my elders see me – a member of Generation Y.

But that’s far from how I see the majority of my generation. We’re in a tough spot right now. Most of us who are lucky enough to have jobs don’t like those jobs and those who don’t are finding job searching impossible. Although we’re ready and willing to contribute, we’re faced with Baby Boomers who don’t understand us and Generation X, who’s stuck between two generations and thinks we’re trying to take their jobs.

Jennifer Carpenter – Blogger – http://www.cheezhead.com

I completed a Bachelor of Medical science and a bachelor of international studies at UTS and finished in 2007. Before starting at my current employer I worked in marketing and promotion on campus at uni.

The ProGrad assessment day was very intimidating and I was unsure of the expectations of the assessor and employers. I was pretty nervous and there were a lot of others in the room which made it seem fairly competitive.

After making it through the assessment day I had several interviews and was keen on one company as they seemed flexible and had a lot to teach. I wanted the opportunity to learn as much as I could in a small company with an interesting offering. My position is that of sales executive; however the company is fairly small so I am involved in all aspects of the business including managing the accounts that I develop for the company all the way to the technical aspects of our technology platform.

The ProGrad training modules were both thought provoking and relevant to my role, which I appreciate. I also enjoy bringing the sales theory I have learnt back into the business. It was also great catching up with the other ProGrad candidates through the training courses.

If I was to give advice for other graduates who were thinking of applying to ProGrad I would tell you to approach it with enthusiasm but also have you goals and ambitions set out. Make sure you have clear idea of what you want (and don’t want). Set your expectations and you will find a great role through ProGrad to kick start your career. Also, It doesn’t matter if you have business degree or not. All you need is the keenness and the ability to communicate effectively with all types of people.

- ProGrad Graduate, April 2009.

Looking for work anyone? Sent out some resumes? Been through the web sites? To no avail? Well some questions for you what time did you get up today? If you really want to get up close and personal what are you wearing? Many studies have shown that your approach and attire can affect your mindset and your behaviour. Finding a Job is a Job, invest the time and be persistent, it’s your career.

We take more time researching a holiday where we might spend 2 weeks a year; than we do researching a prospective employer where we might spend the next 5 years. 

Kingsley -Training Manager Prograd

ProGrad have been working successfully with organizations in both Sydney and Melbourne over the last 4 years. We have worked with over 500 organizations placing and training over 1000 graduates across a variety of industries.

If you are interested in finding out more about the training and opportunities we have available, please contact the Operations Team on 02 8235 8300.  Alternatively, you can email us at info@prograd.com.au for more information.

Published: 12 September 200, www.mycareer.com.au

Once upon a time, graduates could take their pick of top jobs. But with a degree now considered the minimum qualification by many employers, starting a career is more competitive than ever.

According to Cheryl Hill, national manager of business support at Mosaic Recruitment, the first thing graduate job seekers need to do is keep their career options open – your core knowledge and skills are likely to be suited to a range of jobs in today’s rapidly changing workplace.

“Take the time to evaluate your abilities, explore your career possibilities, and find out what you’re truly passionate about,” she says. “Then speak to your university career councillor or a recruitment agent to determine which career path and employers to pursue.”

When it comes to preparing a CV that stands out from the crowd, Hill recommends tailoring it to the job you’re applying for and emphasising your commitment, energy and enthusiasm.

“Details of part-time or casual jobs, extra curricular activities, and club or society memberships are all valuable achievements,” she says. “Don’t sell yourself short just because your professional experience is limited – give employers a well-rounded view of your talents by including all relevant experience to date.”

And for a head start in the CV stakes, try listing your volunteer history. “Committing your personal time to a cause you feel passionate about demonstrates your values, morals, and ethics,” says Hill. “It also shows your willingness to go that extra mile, which is something employers look for.”

These days, all employers want conscientious go-getters - so what you wear and how you present yourself is often as important as your grades. To this end, choose an outfit that’s appropriate for the job you’re interviewing for, and for maximum impact, pay attention to your facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.

“Research the company you’re applying for, or better still, anticipate the questions you might be asked and practice your answers in mock job interviews with friends,” says Hill. “Also consider your strengths and weaknesses in advance, and prepare a list of questions to ask your prospective employer.”

Finally, don’t forget that all job interviews are learning curves. “Professional rejection should never be taken personally,” says Hill. “After all, everyone’s had to apply for their first job at some point.”

Sophie

For more information relating to graduate careers, please contact ProGrad directly on 02 8235 8300 or visit our website www.prograd.com.au

Terence – Pearson Education                    

Terence is a successful ProGrad candidate who now works as an Education Consultant for the well known Pearsons Education. When asked of his experience with ProGrad he gave the following responses.

Prior to ProGrad - “I studies at the University of New South Whales, completing a Bachelor of Science. Before ProGrad I had no formal work experience.”

Assessment Day – “I thought the assessment was some different and something rewarding. The tips they gave were insightful resources that I can apply for the rest of my life.”

Interview Process – “My interview process happened very quickly. There was a telephone interview and two face to face interviews that all occurred within 7 days. The role seemed very appealing, interesting and challenging.”

Your Role – “Pearsons is the leading educational publishers in the world. We supply resources for students aging from kindergarten to university students. I work as an education consultant in the high education department of the organisation.”

Training Courses – “They are relevant, informative and fun.”

Advice for Other Graduates Thinking of Using ProGrad – “Apply now!”