Any Case Studies?
July 31, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
ProGrad are looking to update their case studies and is calling for any candidates who have recently been placed, looking to take part.
If you have been placed through ProGrad and would like to be covered for one of our case studies, please let us know by contacting the ProGrad Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300.
Feel free to share information about your ProGrad experience as it may assist other graduates thinking of applying.
Davinia
Feedback from the ProGrad Assessment Day
July 31, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
ProGrad will see hundreds of candidates each month through our assessment days in Sydney and Melbourne. We value any feedback provided to assist in improving the sessions, and would like to welcome your feedback on this site.
Recent feedback we have had includes:
“I really had a great experience yesturday and gained valuable knowledge and insights.
I would really appreciate it if I could get some feedback about my assessment, my strenghts, weaknesess, area’s I need to improve and information as to why I wasn’t successfull.
It would also really appreciate if I could acquire informaton on how to close successfully from a job interview, and how to create a strong job prospect.
Thanks again for your time.”
ProGrad - Why do we offer Training?
July 31, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
ProGrad are a unique offering. We not only assess and place graduates, but we also offer training during their first year of employment to guarantee their success. Why is this?
We have proven our model to be hugely successful. The training serves many purposes - we not only skill people in new areas, but we ensure the courses are motivational and supportive. We ensure the content is relevant to any business career that you embark on.
Areas such as professional presentation skills, negotiation and key account management are all covered as topics. Whilst they might not be areas of responsibility covered in your frist 12 months of working, they are certainly aspects which you will benefit from over the years.
The training is of no cost to our candidates. The training is paid for by the employers as an investment in their team. It is simply facilitated by ProGrad because that is one of our core activities and we’re incredibly well equipped as a training company.
if you’re interested in hearing more about ProGrad, please contact one of the ProGrad Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300.
Davinia
What to take to an interview?
July 31, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
During a ProGrad Assessment Day, we will make a few recommendations about interviews. One of the key things to remember is preparation.
Whilst there is a lot of research and preparation you can do at home…it is rather pointless putting all of that effort in, if you’re not going to demonstrate it in an interview.
We recommend to all candidates to take in a physical notebook to the interviews. In this notebook, have your research already written down. Also, we recommend having a list of questions you would like to ask. Take in a pen too, and write down any relevant information covered off in the interview itself.
Not only does this show good preparation, but it demonstrates professionalism. If you were to attend a business meeting, you would arrive with a notepad and a pen. An interview is no different. In essence, it is simply a business meeting. So treat it with the same level of respect. Take a pen and paper, and write notes to contribute to any other preparation you have completed. Not only will you feel more confident, but you will look far better too.
ProGrad help many graduates with interview preparation and even provide a presentation during the assessment days, all about how to be successful in interviews. If you would like to learn more, please contact ProGrad on 02 8235 8300.
Davinia
The Wonderful World of Economics
July 29, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
Mark Arbib, the federal Employment Participation Minister made headlines for telling Australian kids not to be so picky about taking jobs they didnt think paid enough, weren’t cool enough or didnt give them good vibes enough.
His message, which might offend some…was quite simply,
“Welcome to the wonderful world of economics, kids, and for the moment, it sucks.”
Fair point, wouldnt you say? It does suck. The “cool” jobs…they don’t exist right now. I’m not entirely sure they ever did…but if they once did, they certainly don’t now.
Ignorance is still sweeping some…with lots of candidates still playing the waiting game for their “dream” jobs. Our forecast is that things are still likely to be tough for a little longer yet, and the job market is still fiercely competitive. Whilst I’m not suggesting candidates accept jobs for the hell of it, I do think its time we started to look more realistically around potential opportunities, and what may need to be sacrificed. Not all roles will offer flexible time, playstations, “cool” offices and perks, particularly not for recent graduates with limited experience and a lack of value-add for an employer.
Think about what IS important:
Exposure, Experience, Development, Training and the opportunity to start in a role where you can demonstrate your worth before rising the corporate ladder. Things won’t be handed on a silver platter…you’ll actually have to work for it. And the work will undoubtedly be long, tedious, mundane, difficult…much like most jobs I imagine.
Davinia
ProGrad work with recent University graduates to kick start their corporate careers in a business to business sales environment. To be considered for any of our roles, please contact ProGrad on 02 8235 8300.
ProGrad Attend the IAB Awards, Sydney
July 21, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
Held at The Ivy in Sydney, the IAB awards are to recognise and reward interactive advertising campaigns that have met or surpassed their goals. With many ProGrad employers sponsoring these awards, we felt it was a great opportunity show our support and hopefully bump into some of our ProGrad candidates.
We weren’t disappointed! After a few short minutes, we had bumped into many of our candidates, placed within the media industry with companies like News Digital Media, Sensis and B&T Magazine.
We’re looking forward to the next awards event…and the free food/ drink that will come with it!
Davinia
We’re loving Linkedin.com
July 21, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
For any recent University graduate at the start of their career, we strong recommend joining www.linkedin.com in order to start generating your business network. It doesn’t happen overnight, and you can’t expect that you’ll have hundreds of contacts straight away, however it has proven to be a fantastic tool for ProGrad employees in order to track their client base and liaise with clients and candidates using it.
It works in a similar fashion to Facebook or Myspace, however it is geared towards a more corporate audience. With a business focus, you set up a profile (which ressembles a resume) and start to build on it with recommendations from peers/ clients/ coworkers. You then start to add contacts to your network. Upon adding them, you then have access to their networks, providing you with an opportunity to be introduced to new business contacts. Perfect for any strong networker!
So have a look, and if you’re not part of it now - then you should be. There is even a ProGrad Graduates Group on the site, where we would love to hear from you. We always like to hear what you’re up to and would value your input in the group.
ProGrad Business Information: http://www.linkedin.com/companies/prograd
Davinia
JOKE VOICEMAILS - change them!!
July 21, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
At ProGrad, we’re primarily dealing with “generation Y” (yuk, I’m really starting to dislike that term). Regardless, these are recently graduated individuals about to embark on their graduate career. Great news! Although…there are a few things to be aware of…
1) Voicemail: expect that prospective employers will be calling you upon receipt of your resume. With that in mind, REMOVE those “joke” voicemails. Record a new, corporate sounding message. If a potential employer calls your voicemail and is less than impressed, you can probably expect they won’t be a) leaving a message or b) calling back.
2) Email address: if your email address on your resume is that same one you registered in your school days, and represents something like sillychick1986, my professional recommendation is to CHANGE IT! Goes without saying, right? You’d be surprised…we see it all here.
3) Public Facebook/ Myspace profiles: just make them private. Please!
That should help for starters…assuming the rest of your resume is free from grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and photos.
For more information about structuring your resume, you are welcome to attend a ProGrad assessment day. If you would like to find out more, please contact one of the ProGrad Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300.
Davinia
Confidence must be increasing
July 20, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
As we approach August 2009, we can certainly report an increase in graduate opportunities which have been available over recent months.
with a slow start to 2009, companies were reluctant to grow their teams, simply wanting to see what might happen with the global economy. By May/ June, we started to see an increase in the confidence of companies, still realising the need to sell and therefore grow their teams using ProGrad.
Currently the majority of roles lie within FMCG, and Technology companies, proving their resilience to the recession. We are still actively working with recent graduates to place them in corporate careers. ProGrad have and always will specialise in the business to business sales teams within organisations, which again has proved to be a hot-spot for graduates opportunities. With marketing roles deemed a “luxury” spend for companies, the emphasis is definitely back on the sales teams.
If you are a recent University graduate, looking to kick start your corporate career within one of our client organisations, please contact ProGrad now by calling us on 02 8235 8300. Alternatively, you can apply online, by clicking on www.prograd.com.au
Building Rapport
July 17, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
Everyone has heard the saying “its not what you know but who you know.” This sentence couldn’t be more spot on, especially in the business world. Rapport building is all about finding a connection with someone and using that to build a strong relationship.
At the end of the day, people like people like themselves and people buy from people they like.
Here are some tips I have found quite useful when building good rapport:
- Always make good eye contact
- Be professional, yet personable
- Ask open ended questions
- Use positive and open body language
- Find out as much as you can, without being intrusive
It’s important not to come across as fake, strong rapport is best built when people are open, honest and friendly.
Sophie
Call us at ProGrad for more information on our services. Our Sydney phone number is 02 8235 8300 or visit our website at www.prograd.com.au
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ProGrad are on Flickr
