ProGrad Brisbane

1)      You spent 3 or 4 years getting this degree, you may as well put to use:

Unless you got an amazing scholarship, a university degree is not cheap to come by, and if you have a HECS debt, then the sooner you jump into a job the sooner you can start paying that bad boy off. It makes sense then that you go out into the world and begin to use the qualification you have worked so hard for!

2)      You can put to bed the ebb and flow of casual/part time work and get some stability:

One undeniably reliable aspect of full time work is that it is, full time. Having fixed days, regular working hours and a regular schedule not only means you can better plan your time but you know you won’t have those hectic over the top weeks followed by crazy dry spells that wreak havoc with your social life. Working full time means your weekends are your own and best of all, your pay cheque is regular too, which leads me to my next point…

3)      A decent income:

The thing with having a degree is that it usually entitles you to a higher potential income. When you start your career in the corporate sector you can bet you will be doing better than you were your retail salary or that unpaid internship. Whether it’s travel, a car or even a house, you’ll get there quicker with a grown up pay packet!

4)      New friends:

When you start a graduate job you not only begin the invaluable process of networking, making the all important connections to aid your career and progression but you also get to make new friends. If you are lucky enough to work in a team or group setting you will inevitably befriend and end up enjoying the time spent with a new group people.

5)      Greater exposure to YouTube classics:

Anyone who works in an office has at some stage received an email or link with some entertaining subject matter that helps break up the day. The best YouTube referrals inevitably come from co-workers so you can either spend your time alone on the couch laughing at your laptop or in the office laughing alongside the rest of the team (during a lunch break of course..)

Here are some of our favourites, conveniently edited into a 4 minute package:

 If you are a graduate after a career, contact ProGrad’s Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300 or alternatively email info@prograd.com.au and let us help you take the first steps to your new career.

They say the best salesman is the one who can sell you something without you even realizing you’ve heard the pitch. If this really is true (which seems unlikely), then the world’s best sales people may be celebrities.

Aside from their endorsements (Katie Perry and Justin Bieber are currently pitching ProActive to us while Tiger Woods shows off Nikes latest get up), there are the movies, television and music they produce. And on top of this we see the continually growing world of celebrity branding and merchandise. Everything from fragrance and fashion to cookware and credit cards, you can pretty well establish a life furnished entirely by celebrities.

Perhaps for some celebs this sales drive comes from their roots, many having a background in sales.

Some well known celebrities who dabbled in the world of sales before heading to the Hollywood Hills include Johnny Depp (who was a pen salesman), Ellen DeGeneres (sold vacuums) and even the lovely Jennifer Anniston did her time as a telemarketer (yuck, we definitely don’t endorse that) before hitting the big time.

Now this is not to say that a career in sales will lead to on screen fame (though there are definitely abounding opportunities for progression into other areas) but are there links between these two seemingly separate worlds?

Common factors:

·         Self confidence- while many celebrities (and salespeople) may come across as arrogant, having the confidence to get up and speak with authority is something that encourages people to listen.

·         Strong communication skills- being able to explain yourself persuasively and to a range of people is key to getting them to believe your message.

·         Motivation to succeed- in fame, much like sales, you are only as good as your last success. Being driven to achieve again each time is key to ensuring you stay on top.

·         Empathy- this last one may seem strange but an actor like a salesman needs be able to understand someone else’s situation. In acting it’s crucial to being able to convey that emotion on stage, in sales so that you can help find a solution and meet their needs.

If a graduate career in sales is something you have been considering, or want more information about, contact ProGrad’s Graduate Management team on 02 8235 8300 or alternatively email us at info@prograd.com.au

Ted Mosby is an all round nice guy. He has a good group of friends and he has definite direction in his life. In fact we all know where Ted’s story leads; the two kids on the lounge show us how it ends up. What we don’t know is how he gets there?

In fact it’s this element of uncertainty that means Ted Mosby (Architect), has a lot in common with many university graduates right here in Australia. For both lovers of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and many recent graduates, the question is not the destination but how on earth you get there.

Knowing where you want to be in 5 or even 10 years time is a great inspiration to start your career, having something to work towards is often the motivation for many workers, both graduates and those more experienced. The questions often arise when figuring out how to take the first steps. There aren’t many 22 year old CEO’s of multinational companies. (Despite what you saw in The Social Network)

For Ted it involves many dates and a few failed relationships before he finds “the one”. For job seekers, you may need a similar approach, putting yourself out on the market attending numerous interviews and gaining experience before the right opportunity comes along.

A job interview really can be like a first date and it’s as much about having the right fit for the relationship as it is fitting the criteria on paper. This unfortunately means you don’t always get what you want the first time and there may be a few failed attempts along the way. But as in life, you learn from your mistakes and can change your approach for next time.

For graduates trying to get their dream job, you usually have to work your way up from the bottom. It sounds unappealing; understandably you wouldn’t flirt with someone who you knew you didn’t want to end up with? But this is where dating and job seeking part ways, getting your foot in the door of a company and learning about them, yourself and the industry is the best way to join the fast track to success. (After all, we knew Ted and Robyn weren’t made for each other but it was good while it lasted).

Launching your career in the right industry can be a helpful way to approach the task. If you want to end up as a Marketing Director, Project Manager, Senior Account Manager or President, then kicking off in something entry level like business to business sales, that has room for growth in the relevant company may be the first step!

To find out more about graduate roles and the potential for career growth visit ProGrad’s website www.prograd.com.au or contact ProGrad’s graduate management team at info@prograd.com.au

Everyone is looking forward to the Christmas holidays, where the only thing we have to work on is our tan. This is particularly true for recent graduates, where university holidays were once frequent and seemingly never-ending. A couple of weeks of freedom, wining, dining, and fun in the sun are something we work towards all year. But how do you deal with the reality of going back to work after the holidays?

For many, the thought of heading back to work after the Christmas holidays is somewhat reminiscent of a hangover. Something inevitable and not to be warmly welcomed upon it’s arrival. One Facebook user even started up a group entitled “Going back to work after christmas sucks!” which certainly sums up a lot of workers attitudes towards the end of the festive season.

It is that time of year where we put away all of our Christmas presents, fold up the board shorts and start ironing those corporate shirts once again. With the New Year comes new opportunities, and there are some simple steps you can take to avoid the back to office blues and settle back into working.

A big reason many people feel down when they get back into work is the fact they finished work in a hurry towards the end of the year, and have to spend a huge amount of time working out what they had left off on and figuring out what they should be doing.  Use the first few weeks back at work as a genuine opportunity to get organised and set yourself up for a successful year! Think about your own personal development for 2011.

Holidays are an essential tool to help recover, refresh and recharge. Grab your diary and start planning ahead. Lock in your next break and this will give you something to look forward to on the harder days. Also try and lock in two or three mini-breaks throughout the year, as you have a much greater likelihood of this happening if you physically enter it in your diary.

Don’t make major life decisions in the first couple of weeks back from the summer break, accept that your brain might still be on holidays for the first few weeks and go easy on yourself.  Make a pact to keep looking after yourself now you are back to work; don’t go from one extreme to another. Make yourself accountable and walk or swim with a work colleague a couple of mornings a week, eat healthy foods that help you think and concentrate throughout the day, get plenty of sleep.

Most importantly, build some fun into your life; just because you’re back in the office doesn’t mean the fun police have to hit you hard for the rest of the year! A positive attitude goes a long way. Try your best not to dread the upcoming year; think of the possibilities the year holds! And remember, it could be worse. Charlie Sheen got arrested last Christmas and still went to work the next day.

Merry Christmas all, if you have any questions regarding this article or if you would like to apply for one of our roles, please give us a call on 02 8235 8300 or email ellen.giebels@prograd.com.au

Since opening our current office on Clarence Street in 2005, ProGrad is pleased to announce the location of our new office! As of Friday the 29^th of October 2010, ProGrad will be located on Level 12, 10 Barrack Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

As the ProGrad team continues to grow in both sales and operations, the move was definitely prompted by unprecedented growth. Our client demand is also continually increasing with more and more roles and opportunities opening up for undergraduates.

ProGrad’s new Barrack Street office was selected for a variety of reasons, including its many amenities. Boasting a brand new assessment centre which was custom made for our assessment days, the building also has an extensive open plan office for our friendly team.

The central location is also of real importance for overall efficiency. Just two minutes walking distance from the current office, ProGrad’s choice to remain in the area limits the impact the relocation could have on our graduates, clients and employees.

Moving to the new office reflects ProGrad’s commitment to our highly successful operation and practices, which will continue to develop in the future.

“This is a really exciting time for ProGrad,” said Davinia Noble, General Manager of ProGrad. 

“The move to a larger, more modern office supports our plans for future growth, and will be a great location for our expanding team to service our graduates and clients even more effectively.”

For more information about our new location please contact the ProGrad team now on 02 8235 8300 or email ellen.giebels@prograd.com.au. All contact details and web addresses will remain the same for ProGrad after the move.

Since June 2010, ProGrad have felt the demand of Graduate vacancies grow within QLD, which has prompted our focus in the market.  Historically, ProGrad have focused primarily in NSW and VIC and only worked in QLD occassionally depending on the roles made available.  In June, ProGrad made a company-wide committment to offer more dedicated and more proactive resource to the area, to ensure we have a heavier presence amongst the graduate community.

Since June 2010, we have already seen over 100 graduates attend our ProGrad Assessment Day in QLD, and have already successfully conducted interviews for them with over 30 organisations in the area.  “This marks a new chapter for ProGrad and one that we’re all excited about.  We’ve always wanted to work more closely

with Universities and Graduates in Brisbane, however we didn’t ever experience the same level of interest from our corporate clients here.  This has definitely changed in recent months, and we now forecast significant growth in QLD over the next 12 months.”  Davinia, General Manager for ProGrad explains.

Davinia continues, “Our initial focus is to work alongside our existing client base, who might have a presence in Brisbane.  We would like to ensure current clients are given primary focus for their recruitment needs at a junior level.  We’re currently sourcing roles for QLD companies in Sales, Lead Generation, Marketing, Research, Analysts, and Project Managers to name a few”. 

If you have an office in QLD which you think might benefit from a ProGrad discussion, please contact our Business Development Team in Sydney on 02 8235 8300.  Alternaitvely, you can email us sales@prograd.com.au

ProGrad will service QLD from the NSW office for the remainder of the year, however based on company demand, we may open an office in the not too distant future.

For any information about ProGrad, our proposition, and our process – please view our website www.prograd.com.au or contact us for a more in-depth discussion 02 8235 8300.

ProGrad Assessment Team:

The ProGrad Assessment Day Team will consist of 5-10 people depending on the day.  The team is a combination of our Graduate Managers, our Business Developers and our Facilitators. 

During the Assessment Day, each candidate will have a series of score sheets.  These score sheets are for assessment purposes which are scored against a competency based framework.  During the session, it is not about your academic qualifications.  We are looking to highlight key competencies which are listed below:

1)      Confidence

2)      Verbal Communication Skills

3)      Drive and Dynamism

4)      Ability to Influence and Persuade

5)      Structure and Logic

Following the ProGrad Assessment Day, each candidate is welcome to contact ProGrad for feedback about their performance.  We are happy to share all feedback with you as it may assist with further interviews being attended.

Our ProGrad Graduate Management Team can be contacted on 02 8235 8300.

ProGrad Clients:

ProGrad have been in Australia since 2005 and in that time we have developed strong relationships with over 600 companies. 

Our Client list is attractive and provides graduates with access to employers such as Dell, Microsoft, News, Fairfax, McCain, Mars, Nestle, Fujitsu, Cisco, Heinz, Hasbro, Dow Jones and SEEK.

We have placed thousands of graduates over the years and are proud to have some incredible success stories.  ProGrad are actively selling our graduate model each day to more and more businesses with the aim of creating more graduate positions. 

Prior the assessment day, we would recommend that you look at some of the Clients we work with and look at many of the roles available. 

Business to business sales is an umbrella term and really covers a wide variety of positions available.  Essentially, all businesses have the need to build and maintain relationships with other organizations in order to generate sales. 

When an advertising agency “pitches” for new business, they are selling their organization and their concept.  FMCG companies will often sell to large retail outlets at a business to business level.  Media companies will often have a variety of clients which are sold to in a business to business capacity, in order to generate revenue.   Technology companies produce software and hardware used by almost every business (large and small) in existence today.  Business to business sales exists in every organsiation.  The types of role may alter depending on the business.  Most of our graduate positions will be:

• Business Development
• Territory Management
• Account Executive
• Account Manager
• Sales Coordinator
• Inside Sales Representative
• Field Sales Representative
• Lead Generator
• Business Consultant
• Sales Representative
• Sales and Marketing Coordinator
• Marketing Assistance
• Campaign Coordinator

The nature of the roles will again vary depending on the company and their industry.  We will discuss all options with you during the assessment day, however if you would like to discuss anything sooner, please call us directly on 02 8235 8300.

More and more graduates are leaving University each year and it seems to be getting increasingly competitive for graduates to find suitable employment.  Online jobs portals like SEEK or MyCareer are very popular with graduates when looking for roles, and are viewed as a good advertising method for employers.  It is low cost to post an advertisement online, and employers are aware they will receive a huge amount of applications.  However this is the challenge for you.  Too many applications mean that your resume has less chance of being read.

An average recruiter will spend less than 30 seconds looking at your resume.  This is your window to make an immediate impact and so ensure your resume follows the basic guidelines below

1)      Only include relevant information

2)      The resume should be specific to the role you are applying for

3)      Less than 2 pages in length (most graduates shouldn’t require more than 1 page)

There is a basic structure for you to follow which we will outline here.

Personal Details:

Naturally, this piece is key but limit how much information is provided.  You really only need to include your name, your contact number and an email address (which should be “professional” looking)

Career Objective:

It is essential that you specify a career objective in your resume and it must be relevant to the role you are applying for.  With that in mind, you may need to alter this part of your resume for each application.  This way you can ensure it is well tailored to each role you are applying for.  It should be approximately 4-5 lines in length and must provide a decent snapshot of why you’re applying for the role.

Education:

There is no need to get carried away here.  Simply list your University and degree as your most recent Education.  Feel free to list your school, but only if you feel it carries relevance.  Many employers are not too concerned about which school you went to.

Work Experience:

Think carefully about your work experience.  Employers are looking for loyalty with an employer and they’re looking for the transferrable skills that you have developed in specific positions.  Don’t list the tasks you did in each role, but rather discuss the skills and competencies you developed.  Again, ensure that the language you use, is well aligned to the language used in the advertisement.  Don’t feel you need to list every job you ever had from the age of 15.  Simply choose the most relevant positions that demonstrate your fit for the role.

Achievements:

Employers like “achievers”, particularly at a graduate level.  Awards you may have received can be listed here.  Not necessarily “awards” such as the one you received in Year 10 for good attendance, but rather a Duke of Edinburgh Award, or an Award for Debating etc

Hobbies and Interests:

This is a section to demonstrate that you’re an active person and have interests outside of University/ work.  Sports are well received by employers, along with reading/ socializing/ music interests and technology.  Please avoid discussing travel as an interest as this can sometimes work against you.  Employers may develop a concern that you will leave a role to “travel” at a later date. 

References: 

Simply make these available upon request.  There is no value in adding personal contact details of friends/ family/ colleagues or co-workers on a resume.  If they are needed, an employer will simply request them.

ProGrad is a specialist graduate recruitment company working with over 600 companies across Australia.  For more information about our process, please contact our ProGrad Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300.

Assessment Day – Hints and Tips for success!

What is the Assessment Day?

ProGrad assessment days are by invitation only and competition is high between graduates wishing to secure their place on the day. At ProGrad, we assess your competencies to help you find a suitable graduate position that can offer you the support and development you will need to be a success. You will be at our assessment day for approximately 6 hours, during which time we will be evaluating your skills and attitude.

The assessment day also offers you the opportunity to gain access to our top graduate recruiters, careers advice and tips for successful interviews. We also provide you with feedback on your performance.

Becoming a ProGrad candidate will give you a head start over other graduates in the market place. We only represent candidates that have been selected at our assessment days, who have demonstrated a real focus to launch their graduate career with a leading company.

In attending the ProGrad assessment day, you will:

• Experience a graduate selection process

• Have access to top graduate employers

• Gain information regarding careers from our graduate recruitment team

• Feedback regarding your performance

If you’re successful through the process

• You will be represented by ProGrad for interviews with our Client partners

• Gain unlimited access to your graduate recruiter who will provide you with

assistance,training and feedback during the interview process

• You will be eligible to take part in certain personal development programs

• You will stand out from other less prepared graduates in the job hunting market

What to expect at the assessment day

• Psychometric testing

• Self introductions

• Group dynamic exercises

• Feedback sessions

• Business Case Study

• Feedback sessions

• Group Presentation

• One to one interviews

• Verbal and numerical reasoning tests

• Individual presentations

The exercises are designed to enable us to assess you against a competency based framework.

We are not concerned with whether you got the answers right, we’re more interested in how you deal with the challenges in front of you. We want to understand your drive, your motivation, how you respond to pressure and how you deal with people around you.

We also invite some of our Client partners to the assessment day who are looking for ProGrad candidates to start in their teams. This is often where many of our graduates are “scouted” by graduate employers.

What to wear at a ProGrad assessment day?

This is a formal interview process, and so you will be asked to attend our Assessment Day in “formal business dress”.

Remember: First impressions count.

General rules for “formal business dress”:

For men: wear a dark suit, with a plain shirt and tie

For women: try to keep your suit as conservative as possible. Dress for business, not for fashion.

Shoes must be polished and plain black or dark brown.

What are we looking for?

We will be measuring you against a competency based framework at the assessment day. We are looking for:

• Confidence

• Verbal Communication skills

• Drive/ Dynamism

• Ability to Influence and Persuade

• Structure and Logic

How to prepare for the assessment day:

“Fail to prepare and you prepare to fail!”

You must prepare a 3 minute presentation prior to the assessment day, titled “Why should we select you for a career in business to business sales?”

We are not only testing your presentation skills – we are testing your ability to prepare. Do not underestimate the importance of preparing for this!

General Guidelines for your presentation:

i. Keep to the 3 minute time-frame (you will be timed on the day).

ii. Answer the question posed in the title

iii. If you require notes, ensure they are tidy

iv. You are welcome to use visual aids or props to enhance your presentation

v. Practice makes perfect!

What is business-to-business sales?

Business to business sales, is the transaction from one business to another. Business to business sales involves building and maintaining high level business relationships with key decision makers. Your role may be a combination of dealing with existing Client relationships and forging new business contacts. High-level business to business sales can involve a number of activities to include:

• Managing key Client relationships

• Generating new business opportunities in new and existing accounts

• Booking business meetings

• Attending business meetings, generating requirements

• Assisting with pitches, marketing campaigns, exhibitions etc

• Assisting with proposals/ tender responses

• Forging strategic relationships with key decision makers

• Dealing with Clients both on the telephone and face to face

Why start my career in business to business sales?

There are 4 key things that all graduates want from their career:

• Training

• Autonomy

• Progression into Management

• A good salary

A business to business sales career is the only career where your hard work will be instantly rewarded with quick progress, increased earning ability and unrivalled training. ProGrad graduates are put into the most important part of any organisation, the business to business sales team. They are immediately part of the success and growth of the company and this forms a key part in their importance to the business.

Salary expectations are progressive with most candidates earning $40-60k in year one and moving that to the $50-90k mark in year two.

It has been reported that over 70% of Chief Executive Officers began their careers in business to business sales. The two most important facets of any organisation, are the strengths of its financial departments, and its ability to generate revenue through the business to business sales teams.

Graduates entering into either of these divisions, are exposed rapidly into the business world, and are able to add tangible value to a company’s growth and development. It is due to this, that Graduates statistically speaking, enter senior management quicker than their peers – because they understand the mechanics of the organisation.

What kind of company could I work in?

ProGrad has become the partner of choice for not only the best graduates in the country but also the best companies. We work across a variety of sectors to include:

• Information Technology

• Telecommunication

• Media

• Publishing

• Advertising

• Finance

• Industrial

• Events

All of our roles are in the business to business sales teams of our Client partners.  For more information about ProGrad and our positions, please contact one of the ProGrad Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300.  Alternatively, you can view our website for more informaton.

ProGrad do allow candidates to attend an assessment session more than once.  That said, we do have a waiting period of 12 weeks prior to re-attendance. 

If you have attended an assessment centre with ProGrad already and would like to attend another session, please contact our Graduate Management Team.  Our internal team can discuss your feedback and options moving forward.  Our core activity is placing graduates into Business to Business Sales roles across a variety of industries (such as technology, media, FMCG, finance and events).  From time to time we do work on other opportunities such as Consulting, Admin, HR, and finance.  If ever we find another role that might be more suited to you, we will definitely be in touch.

ProGrad run a number of other graduate related websites which are worth looking into for other opportunities, and even more interview recommendations:

www.graduatejobs.com.au 

www.progradsydney.com.au

www.progradmelbourne.com.au

www.progradbrisbane.com.au

www.progradsalesrecruitment.com.au

www.progradgraduate.com.au

We can also be found on various other websites including Twitter, Linkedin, Flickr and Facebook.

For any questions you have about ProGrad, please contact the ProGrad team on 02 8235 8300.

First Impressions

Shake hands with a firm handshake. Make sure you maintain eye contact. Smile! When you sit down engage with the interviewer. Don’t let your eyes dart around the room like a wild animal. Of course you will be nervous, but the ability to mask how you are feeling and project confidence shows the employer that you will be able to handle yourself in difficult business situations.

Choose your words carefully – If you are asked what your weaknesses are, don’t say you are a perfectionist which can be construed as a weakness. Seriously, every second person uses it and it tells us nothing! Unless of course you really are one. Say the fact you don’t have experience but you are eager to learn. Just make it interesting because the employer wants to know about you. They aren’t looking for generic answers so don’t waste their time.

If you are asked about your personal interests get excited! If you love soccer, tell them how you go to games with your friends and cheer until you lose your voice. Show them you have a personality and can have fun outside of work. If you love reading tell them about the book keeping you up until 4am. Find a common interest and talk about it. It will make you both more comfortable. Remember this isn’t an interrogation but a way for you to show how your skills will benefit an organisation. So be ready to discuss your strengths and long term career goals.

Finally, a good employer is bringing you on board on the basis that you have the ability and willingness to learn. They want to ensure you will be of value, honest, reliable, and dependable. Be clear and specific in your answers and don’t go off on tangents. Practice with friends or family and go through all the standard interview questions. Remember, “fail to prepare and you prepare to fail”.

Whether or not you’re successful at the ProGrad assessment day, we do aim that the experience is a positive one and relevant information is provided to job seekers which can assist for future interviews.  We acknowledge that time is being spent at our offices conducting a long interview process, and therefore we dedicate over an hour to a presentation on “The Importance of First Impressions”.

This presentation covers a number of topics, around resume writing, cover letters, the application process for jobs, preparing for interviews and even how to approach different interview styles.  Whilst it may not all be relevant to every job seeker, we do aim to provide an insight which will add value to the job hunting process.

Here is an email we received this morning, from a candidate who was present at the ProGrad assessment day yesterday:

Hi Davinia,

Just wanted to say thanks for giving me the opportunity today. The presentation given today about resume writing was invaluable!! It would be great if you could send me the presentation as I remember hearing you say we could request them. Also, feedback would be great too! I Which number can I ring?

Thanks once again for the experience, it was very helpful in many ways,

yours sincerely,

Carmen

Prograd is Australia’s leading graduate placement organisation and we’re expanding each month which in turn is providing more and more graduate opportunities to our candidates.  If you would like to know more about attending a ProGrad assessment day, either in Sydney or Melbourne, please call us on 02 8235 8300.

Sadly, as a recent Graduate you have to get used to starting at the bottom and working your way up.  It’s not ideal, and you didn’t go to University to make coffee, we know.  That said – being the new kid in the office will carry an element of that until you put a stop to it. 

The best way to avoid being the coffee go-to is to distinguish yourself.  Set the expectation that whilst you might lack experience, you don’t lack ability.

Firstly, dress to impress.  That old saying “dress for the job you want, not the one you have” is a cliche, but does carry some weight.  Naturally this isn’t going to work for every given environment.  Most creative agencies will laugh you out of the building for arriving in a suit – but in more “corporate” environments it will all start with how you dress.

If you dress like the coffee kid, you might be treated like the coffee kid.

Secondly, take initiative.  Drive your own activity, set your own goals, and exceed expectations.  It is a simple thing, but head to work early, and stay in work late.  Typically, senior management are the first ones in the office, and might be the last to leave.  They will soon notice you if you’re spending a lot of time hanging around.  And don’t use the time to look on Facebook.  Use the extra time for something prodcutive which will add value to the company.  Take it upon yourself to do some competitor analysis, make recommendations for new processes.  Demonstrate how your changes can add value to the business. 

Sometimes this is easier said than done, and will come with practice.  The bottom line is that you need to create your worth within a business and earn it.  It won’t be there from day one.  Think about how you are perceived and aim to ensure that you set a high benchmark.  You’ll find yourself climbing up the corporate ladder in no time.

ProGrad specialises in training graduates in their graduate careers, and have placed thousands of graduates in Australia since 2005.  For more information about our business, please call our ProGrad office on 02 8235 8300.

One of the most powerful tools following an interview with a prospective employer, has to be the email.

It is such a basic principle to follow and yet can add huge amounts of value to the job seeker. Not only is it an opportunity to reinforce your enthusiasm for the role and the organisation – it is also a great opportunity to persuade an employer to see you again.

I’m currently going through the interview process with four recent graduates who are applying for roles within ProGrad.  Despite a good interview with a particular candidate, I left the interview feeling as though I could have seen more.  I still had a hesitation.  Within two hours of leaving the office, the candidate had sent through a very impressive email.  So impressive, that it did change my mind.  It left me doubting my initial impression – which is a very powerful tool to have on your side if you’re attending interviews.

More than anything, I like the courtesy it demonstrates when a follow-up email is sent out after a meeting.  This is the norm in the business arena and why should an interview be considered any differently?

So, there it is – a nice easy piece of advice to follow when attending interviews.  Do the courteous thing, and follow-up.  Be creative in your approach and ensure you are remembered.

If you’re coming to a ProGrad assessment day any time soon, you will be asked to prepare a three minute presentation in advance of the day.

Firstly, be aware that you will only present this presentation in front of a panel of assessors (not the entire room of graduates!).  You will be given three minutes to present on the topic “why should we select you for a career in business to business sales?”

Naturally, the aim of the presentation is to sell yourself!  Most importantly, you must answer the question posed, “why should we select you for a career in business to business sales?”

The easiest way to prepare this presentation is to break it into three parts, as you would usually. 

1) An introduction, setting an agenda

2) The content, providing evidence of your argument

3) Summary and conclusion

In organising the preparation so that each piece lasts approximately 1 minute you will find it easy to complete the presentation in the allocated time with a strong structure to boot.

Think about the competencies you have, and provide exmaples of where you have demonstrated these competencies.  Ensure your skill set is transferable and meets the criteria of a business to business sales person.  ProGrad are not looking for experience in this area, however we would anticipate that suitable candidates are confident, strong communicators, driven, dynamic, motivated, tenacious, persistent, methodical and persuasive.

It is all about having a raw aptitude and a lot of personal drive and ambition.  We can provide the training and development, all we ask for is that the indvidual is focused on achieving a career in this space.

We’re on hand to help with your preparation and so please don’t feel alone.  You should have been allocated a Graduate Manager who is on-hand to assist you and your preparation in this space.

If you would like any further assistance, please call the office on 02 8235 8300 and I’m sure there will be someone on hand to help.

All the best!

ProGrad have recently recruited another ProGrad graduate to join the team in a business development capacity.

As a business, we rely on proactive sales in order to drive graduate opportunities on behalf of our candidates.  As part of Jon’s role as a Business Development Executive, he will be driving new business opportunities with a view to placing multiple graduates across a variety of businesses.

Jon’s background is unique, and as a graduate of Aviation Management he left University with a few interesting options.  Passionate about business, Jon applied to ProGrad and shortly after he attended a ProGrad assessment day.  Having passed with flying colours, he was invited to attend an interview with ProGrad and soon after accepted a role within our business development team.

Everyone in the team wishes him the best of luck, and we look forward to following his success here.

Today was a refreshing set of interviews which ended nicely when the candidate (a recently graduated 21 year old) explained that he felt honesty and integrity was an important quality for him.  He then followed the statement by explaining that he was planning a trip abroad in 3-4 months and he would be away for approximately 2 months travelling. 

I liked this honest approach.  We chatted about the challenges an employer would have with this and the impact it would potentially have on the business.  The end result was simple, a transparent conversation between two parties that will result in a win-win for both.  Our recommendation is simply that he focuses on temporary work placements until the travel comes around.  Once the travel has been completed, he is slightly older, well travelled and an all-round “better bet” for an employer.

And so, the tip is simply to be honest during the interview process.  There is no point in either party lying, after all.

Davinia

Almost 20,000 employees, in more than 120 countries around the world, this large organisation enthuse their customers and build a better future across the globe.

The corporate culture is founded on integrity, courage, teamwork and commitment.

Our client excels through outstanding innovation, top quality, direct customer relations and effective marketing.

Two-thirds of the employees work directly for the customer in sales organizations and in engineering, which means a total of more than 200,000 customer contacts every day.

Our client is looking to bring a graduate on board who is a fast learner, has strong verbal and written communication skills, and has the desire to progress through the business into a management role, within the Cairns location, QLD.

What we are looking for:

• Recent University Graduates who are ambitious and passionate about sales and management
• Graduate candidates from Business, Marketing and Engineering Disciplines are desired
• Construction Industry knowledge desirable
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure
• Strong verbal and written skills

If you are interested in this opportunity please apply now by sending your CV to jenna.daly@prograd.com.au