ProGrad Brisbane is a blog designed to assit graduates with the process of finding a job. ProGrad are the leading graduate recruitment company in Australia, servicing Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and New Zealand

ProGrad Brisbane



Finding the right job is like finding a good book 1

Posted on November 04, 2011 by ProGrad

 

Have you ever felt defeated by the job hunting process?

Have you ever questioned if you will ever get the right job?

Do you spend an endless amount of time on seek?

 

ProGrad can help you! Let ProGrad be your librarian who guides you to the right book.

ProGrad can help take the stress out of trying to find the right job for you by:

  • Showing you the full contents of what is expected by each role
  • Can guide you to the right page number that has the most relevant information for your interview
  • Can provide an index of understanding that explains all the questions you may have about a company or a role

If you would like to find out more on how ProGrad can assist you on providing employment opportunities, please give us a call on:

(02) 82358300

Alternatively, you can email Prograd on:

info@prograd.com.au

Prograd can help you write your next chapter in your career that is always guaranteed to have a happy ending!

Ghastly Ghosts and Ghouls at ProGrad! 2

Posted on October 27, 2011 by ProGrad

 

ProGrad celebrated Halloween in style this year as we all got our best costumes on to celebrate!
Everyone in the office enjoyed some horror movie trivia, followed by some seriously competitive apple bobbing!

 

To see more photos of the Halloween dress up day at ProGrad, please go to our ProGrad Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/ProGrad/126475642525

 

If you would like to discuss any ProGrad opportunities, please do not hesitate to contact ProGrad on (02)8235 8300 or email us at: http://info@prograd.com

 

Dress to impress the ProGrad way 0

Posted on October 10, 2011 by ProGrad

ProGrad dressed to impressed Here at ProGrad we see the importance of dressing well for interviews every day. The first impression is the most critical part of the interview, it only takes one instance to make a good first impression, however it takes 21 meetings to undo a bad impression.

With these stats in mind, it’s important to really pre-plan an outfit for an interview.

Here is a friendly ProGrad criteria that will help guide you:

For men:

  • If you look in the mirror and think ‘should I get a haircut?’ YOU SHOULD.
  • If you are thinking:’should I iron my shirt?’ YOU SHOULD.
  • If you are thinking: ‘should I have a shave?’ YOU SHOULD.

For women:

  • If you are thinking: ‘is my skirt too short?’ IT IS.
  • If you are thinking: ‘should I take my ear brow piercing out?’ YOU SHOULD.
  • If you think, am I wearing too much eye makeup? YOU ARE.

If you follow this fool proof ProGrad checklist, you are guaranteed to have an impressive first impression!

If any more questions on first impressions and ProGrad interview tips, please send all questions to: info@prograd.com.au. Alternatively, you can call ProGrad on (02)8235 8300.

Setting Sale 1

Posted on July 13, 2011 by ProGrad

So you have finished your degree, maybe travelled a little, are well and truly sick of your part time job and decided you are finally ready to bite the bullet and get into full time work. But what job is that?

If you are a recent graduate looking to get into the business sector, it can be daunting knowing where to start, especially if your studies haven’t necessarily directed you into a one stop job.

One angle you may want to consider is a role in sales. 

No not tele-marketing, and don’t worry I’m not talking about standing on the street corner trying to get people to sign up to the latest scam.

I mean genuine corporate sales, working within a well established company on a competitive salary, getting that all important foot in the door and gaining the valuable experience that can take you from new comer, to old pro.

Sales provides graduates a unique opportunity to learn about a business from the inside out. Working in correspondence with all other parts of a business, the sales department gives you the best exposure and often a great head start into avenues usually closed to entry level positions.

It might not be an option you had ever considered before but for graduates who are ambitious, eager to work and wanting to get some hands on experience in a role that will help them progress in their career, Sales may be the yellow brick road for you.

ProGrad specialize in placing recent university graduates into business to business sales roles. For more information or to apply for any of our roles, contact the ProGrad Graduate Management team on 02 8235 8300 or alternatively email us at info@prograd.com.au

ProGrad Brisbane Assessment Days are on the Rise 0

Posted on August 17, 2010 by ProGrad

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.Group Dynamic Exercise

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 Day Team 1

Posted on March 11, 2010 by ProGrad

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 Assessment Day Hints 0

Posted on March 08, 2010 by ProGrad

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.

Personal Interview Questions 0

Posted on March 08, 2010 by ProGrad

Whilst the norm is to ask Behavioural Based interview questions, some organisations will interview in a different way.  When dealing with University Graduates where experience is limited, interviewers will often ask a series of personal questions in an interview to establish the core values of an individual. 

Here are some examples of what to expect in this area:

Tell me about yourself, from aged 11…

 

What are the decisions you have made from aged 11 to where you are now?

 

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?

 

What are your defining moments?  Good/ Bad?

 

What are your core values?

 

What is your family like? 

 

What are the relationships within your family like?

 

What was the hardest thing you have ever had to do? 

 

What was your biggest failure?

 

What was your biggest regret?

 

What are you scared of?

 

What do you want from life?

 

This style of questionning is designed to really get to know the individual you are hiring, yet not everyone likes to be so public!  Most interviewers will establish the initial boundaries prior to asking such questions, just to ensure you are comfortable with them.

This style of questionning is becoming increasingly popular with our candidates who are being hired based on their potential, as opposed to their experience level. 

ProGrad organise hundreds of interviews each week for graduate job seekers, who are looking to start their career in the business to business sales teams of our client partners.  For more information about ProGrad, please contact our office on 02 8235 8300.

Approaching a face to face interview 0

Posted on March 05, 2010 by ProGrad

Face to Face interviews need to be approached as though they were a business meeting.  In a business meeting, each party would arrive with preparation, and armed with pens and paper to take notes. 

Please ensure you aren’t arriving empty handed to an interview.  Please have the following:

1)      Your resume (don’t assume the employer will have it already)

2)      Your preparation

3)      A notebook and a pen to take notes

We often advise candidates to take with them a list of questions they would like to ask in an interview.  We’re not suggesting you consume too much time with your questions, but probing for information demonstrates a genuine interest in a company and the role.  That said, please be aware not to ask questions about holidays, hours of work or salary.  These can sometimes produce an awkward moment in an interview. 

Feel free to take any other “props” that might assist you in an interview, such as transcripts, written references, examples of relevant work etc.  But please only do this if it is relevant for the role you are being interviewed for. 

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.

Applying to ProGrad again 0

Posted on March 05, 2010 by ProGrad

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 0

Posted on March 05, 2010 by ProGrad

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”.

After the ProGrad assessment day 0

Posted on March 05, 2010 by ProGrad

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.

Email from a graduate 0

Posted on March 05, 2010 by ProGrad

Yesterday was a good ProGrad assessment day in Sydney, seeing 18 graduates make it through the process.  Naturally, we were impressed with the calibre of all graduates, and with over 45 people in attendance it was certainly competitive.

We have a number of clients present at the assessment day yesterday and are anticipating many successful graduate placements to follow this week. 

One email was sent to me this morning, which I wanted to share in this post.  It was written by a graduate that attended the day yesterday:

“Dear Davina,

 

Thank you kindly for your time and for having me sit in today. I quite enjoyed the assessments as a whole, but in particular found your input with the CV/application process/interview tips/Proposal documents to be immensely helpful.

 

I will call you tommorrow morning for a debrief, if I can.

 

Again, thank you for your time and help.

 

Sincerely, “

The key thing is that graduates find the process valuable, even if they are not successful through the process.  We aim to provide an insightful presentation which is aimed at increasing the success levels of our candidates in the interview process. 

ProGrad assessment days are running weekly in Sydney and fortnightly in Melbourne.  If you would like any more information about the ProGrad opportunities, please contact ProGrad on 02 8235 8300.

ProGrad on slideshare 0

Posted on March 03, 2010 by ProGrad

ProGrad can be found on slideshare where there are a few presentations to view.

This unique website provides the opportunity for companies to upload their presentations to be accessed by viewers at their leisure.  www.slideshare.net has become a popular website for a number of organisations, and can also be used as a great source for research purposes prior to interviews.  For ProGrad presentations click here.

If you’re a job seeker then this is definitely a good place to start researching on companies, markets, products or even competitors.

Sending an email after interviews 0

Posted on March 03, 2010 by ProGrad

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.

Are GenY fickle? 0

Posted on March 03, 2010 by ProGrad

GenerationY are an interesting audience to target.  Regardless of the product, it seems everyone wants to sell to these consumers.  Marketers seem to have had a preconception that GenY hates advertising, which isn’t necessarily the case.  They aren’t as fickle as some Marketers would have you believe, they simply don’t like bad communication.  GenerationY are actually highly receptive to advertising and they actively want brands to know who they are.  The key is in building interests, interactions and connecting with them.

If they have a bad experience however, they are less forgiving of these brands.  Emma Bennetto was interviewed for B&T Magazine and commented, “They are a lot more decisive than other generations and aware of the other options open to them.  If you blow it with them, you bloe it with them.  If you try to act cool and mess up the transaction, they will run a mile.  They’ll call you out on any inflated promises.”

She also makes the point that the smartest companies let young people handle the product.  She explains that GenerationY want freebies and they want to trial things.

I work with a team of generationY in this office and I have every confidence they would agree.  A freebie seemingly goes a long way.  Which now begs the question, if we’re targeting GenerationY ourselves – what kind of freebies can we give away?!

ProGrad welcome Jon Kerr to the team 0

Posted on March 02, 2010 by ProGrad

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.

Interview tip – be honest 0

Posted on March 01, 2010 by ProGrad

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

Behavioural Based Questions 0

Posted on February 19, 2010 by ProGrad

It is becoming more and more common for candidates to encounter behavioural based questions during the interview process, particularly at a graduate level where it can be hard to assess work experience from a resume.

 

Our recommendation to all graduates is to learn what is expected from these questions and try to prepare answers in advance of the interview.  There are a few key areas which job seekers need to be aware of in order to prepare suitable answers in advance. 

Here are some examples of these questions:

 

Time Management / Planning & Organising:

  • Describe your involvement in a task or project that had to be done within an agreed time frame and be of an excellent standard.
  • Tell me about a time when you were in charge of a project which fell behind schedule. What did you do?
  • Tell me about a time when you had to prioritize tasks? 

Attention to Detail:

  • Give me an example of how do you stay organized?
  • Can you provide some examples of a time when you discovered errors in your work?
  • How do you know if a project you are working on is going successfully?

 

Initiative:

  • Can you give me an example of a time that you showed initiative and took the lead?
  • Tell me about a time when you identified that a policy or procedure needed changing. Explain what you did in order to bring about your suggested changes.

Communication:

  • Tell me about a time when you had to convey complex information to someone.
  • Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone else’s opinion.

Customer-service orientation

  • What was the most difficult customer service situation you ever had to deal with?
  • How did you handle the situation with the difficult customer?
  • Describe a time when the customer was aggressive towards you.  How did you handle it?

 

Conflict Resolution:

  • Give me an example of a time when you had to resolve conflict.
  • Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.  

Teamwork

  • Describe a situation where others you were working with on a project disagreed with your ideas. What did you do?
  • Tell me about a time when you worked with a classmate or colleague who was not doing their share of the work. How did you handle it?
  • Describe a situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise or help others to compromise. What was your role? What steps did you take? What was the result?
  • Tell me about a time when you had to work on a team that did not get along. What happened? What role did you take? What was the result?

 We’re certainly not suggesting that you rehearse answers for each and every possible question, but do familiarize yourself with the types of questions that are likely to be asked and try to think of how to handle them.

 

Interviews are about being honest and so always be truthful about your examples.  For graduates, these examples might not be work related but rather related to your experiences at University.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  It is merely evidence that employers are listening for.

 

ProGrad are a specialist graduate recruiter and offer practical recommendations to job seekers at a junior level.  If we can help you in any way, please let us know!

Experienced people are guilty of bad interviews too 0

Posted on February 16, 2010 by ProGrad

When I’m looking to fill senior roles, we naturally look to recruit experienced people who can bring an established skill set, with a proven track record. 

And so we do the same as many companies, and we advertise online, receive lots of resumes, conduct telephone screening and invite people in for interviews.  With experienced people there is an expectation particularly in interviews that they will perform in a more superior manner to graduates.  The good news for graduate job seekers, is that this isn’t always the case.  With experience, comes confidence and sometimes laziness around preparation and performance in interviews. 

The common mistakes that experienced people make are as follows:

1) A lack of preparation which they are quite often honest about.  They might be “experienced professionals” but they miss the basics of preparation and research.  It comes across as lazy.  If this is how they approach an interview, how will they approach the role?

2) A lack of questionning ability.  This is one of the saddest things to see from an experienced person as it is a fundamental part of any interview, regardless of your experience.

3) Talking too much.  Perhaps this one is more prevalent with experienced people as they have so much more to say.  Talking too much is a crucial error for anyone in interviews. 

The bottom line is that no one is perfect in interviews…but there are some fundamental principles to be aware of when you’re meeting someone in this environment.  Regardless of your experience levels, always research the company and be sure to articulate this knowledge.  Such a basic thing to remember, and yet so rarely so we see it in a face to face interview.

If you’re a recent graduate who is new to job hunting and interviews, take some comfort in what is being revealed here.  Experience doesn’t necessarily lead to a great interview, trust me.  Even with a lack of experience, just stick to the basics and you’re likely to outperform even those with 15-20 years in the industry! 

Davinia

Davinia is the Sales Director of ProGrad Pty Ltd, and is responsible for the sales division within the organisation.  ProGrad is a graduate assessment, placement and training company and specialises in the placement of graduates into B2B sales careers across a number of industry sectors.  For more information about our unique model, please call 02 8235 8300 or visit www.prograd.com.au



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