ProGrad Brisbane

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.

Sophie, is a great example of a recent university graduate who came through ProGrad less than 2 months ago.

After success at her assessment day, she was quickly snapped up and placed into a large organisation in Melbourne. Sophie has recently completed her first of 4 training modules through ProGrad. Module 1, an introduction to Professional Communications was held for 3 days last week. Over the 3 days the graduates were taken through a diverse range of topics covering the basics of business, time management, goal setting and how to communicate effectively.  

The 20 graduates that attended were asked to leave a ProGrad workshop feedback form after they had completed the 3 day course.

“I found the training awesome – it was an enlightening course which will inevitably prove paramount in growing as a sales person. The content was pitched at a great level and I found the real life examples used very helpful.” Sophie, ProGrad graduate. Sophie will return back to ProGrad in another few months time to take place in the Module 2 course, which focuses on educating the graduates on Spin Selling.

More information on our training courses can be found by visiting ProGrads webpage on www.prograd.com.au or by calling the ProGrad Sydney office on 02 8235 8300.

What were you doing before applying to ProGrad?

“I am originally from South Africa however completed by school and university degree in New Zealand. Before ProGrad I had 2 years corporate sales experience for an inline accommodation company in Queensland.”

What was your experience at the ProGrad assessment day?

“ It was pretty nerve racking but was a good introduction to performing under pressure in a business environment.”

What is the role ProGrad helped you to find?

“I prospect, cold call, set appointments, close and manage accounts that specialise in mobile advertising, billing and solutions.

What is your advice for other graduates thinking of applying to ProGrad?

“There is no better way to begin your career”

If you are a recent university graduate looking to begin a corporate career, please call us and ask for one of the ProGrad Account Managers at our ProGrad Sydney office on 02 8235 8300 or visit ProGrads website at www.prograd.com.au

Like all Prograd candidates I did my time (it sounds like prison doesn’t it?) at New Zealand’s Auckland University of Technology where I majored in accounting. Due to the practical nature of our degree I was required to obtain a job related to my field and I commenced working as a Tax Investigator for the New Zealand Tax Department. After 2 years the travel bug bit and I began working as a Youth Counselor aboard cruise liners around the world. What was planned as a six week contract, turned into a five year stint allowing me to visit 59 spectacular countries. After calling in every possible port and realizing it was time to enter the ‘grown up’ world, my friends and I decided to move to Australia.

I started to job hunt online through seek.com.au and applied for several positions, one of which was through ProGrad. The ProGrad staff were quick to contact me and arrange my attendance at the upcoming assessment afternoon. I was fairly skeptical about what to expect after hearing horror stories from friends who had done similar things. I was very close to canceling last minute and am so grateful I didn’t.

The assessment day was full of similar people, nervous about not knowing anyone, being judged, and about the three minute presentation looming. After several group exercises the ice melted and we found our place in the groups allocated. The sigh of relief could be heard through the door as all those who ‘passed’ were told they were accepted onto ProGrads candidate list. The following morning I was contacted by ProGrad and put forward for an interview with Kimberly Clark. My consultant ensured that I was organised by suggesting I research the company online and prepare examples to be used.

Within a week I had completed two interviews, personality testing and had received an employment offer. The same day I received two equally great employment offers which left me with a large decision to make. I discussed all the options with my consultant who added any impartial insight she felt could help me make the most informed decision to benefit me.

After preparing the list of pros and cons, I decided to follow my instincts and accepted the role as a Territory Manager for Kimberly Clark. Kimberly Clark produces Australian made FMCG paper products found in the everyday home. Its common consumer brands include Kleenex, Viva, Kotex and Huggies. My role as a Territory Manager is to ensure compliance of promotions, check that pricing and ticketing is correct and look for opportunities to upsell and create displays of our products. The atmosphere and the people at Kimberly Clark are incredible. I have found such an inspiring role model and see a fabulous long term career with the company.

Six weeks after commencing employment, I spent five days completing Module One of the ProGrad course. I can not speak more highly of this course and the facilitator who ran the program. It covered a vast array of topics in an open forum which allowed all of us to feel comfortable to express our opinions and questions. I found it beneficial having started work and being able to relate the information to experiences I had encountered in the workplace thus far. In a recent sales meeting, our National Manager touched on some of the topics ProGrad had covered and I was able to relate the theory learnt to workplace practices. My experience with both ProGrad and Kimberly Clark has been nothing but rewarding and I am looking forward to attending Module Two and increasing my skill set. 

My recommendations for future candidates would be: *attend the assessment day and get involved as much as possible. *Be honest to your consultant about what you are looking for in a role and a company. *Take all the opportunities presented and use them as experience to improve your interview skills. *Take quality time to prepare for each interview.

Good Luck!

I was born in Malaysia, raised in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur until the end of High School. I am half malay, half australian. I swam and ran for school and state and absolutely love reading comics. I studied at Sydney University for 5 years, where it should have been 4 years but I went to Wesley College on campus, and between that and competing for Malaysia it took me a bit longer!

I graduated with a Commerce (liberal studies) Degree and majored in Political Economy and Management but my favourite subjects were usually Sociology.

I mainly did internships over the summer back in KL, advertising with Saatchi and then Market Research with TNS. Most of my work experience was bar work, I have been a bartender for about 4 years and it is by far the most fun job, up till now at least. I had been searching for a job for several months before I came across Pro Grad.

Initially the assessment day is very daunting, you think there are going to be a lot of egos and people shouting over one another but it was not like that, people were generally friendly but there was a definite air of competition. It is quite difficult to be heard and so you have to choose your timing and words very carefully. I found the tests to be interesting, there is no right or wrong way to go about them, but your personality will be exposed, whether you are a group leader, peacemaker, quiet and so on. I found the best thing to do was listen first and then try to resolve issues together, and even if someone wanted to be supreme leader it was beneficial to ensure everyone was heard.

Speaking in front of the clients made me a bit nervous so I gave up trying to read my speech and just went with it. It is definitely a good experience though.

Why did you select the role you did?

Books mainly, I jumped at the idea I could spend my days researching, purchasing and distributing books! My boss read all the same books so I knew we would get along. In the second interview I found that I may work with comics too and by that stage they pretty much had me hook, line and sinker. It was quite a junior role but since I had no real prior work experience it was great for me.

Tell us about the company…

Sorrento is a book company but I cannot say too much because I am bound by a lot of confidentiality oaths! On a day to day basis I help with operations, researching book prices (mainly tertiary), writing invoices, tracking their freight movements and finding new clients and suppliers worldwide. However just recently my time is moving to new markets and new products, mainly Comics and fiction books which is what I signed up for.

The ProGrad training was enjoyable, definitely interesting to be taken out of work and put in a room with people of similar situations. I made a lot of good friends and contacts and for me that was the greatest benefit of the training.

The first few days were good for life skills and self reflection, it definitely made me re think my life’s direction and how I may achieve certain goals; simple things, we learnt could make huge differences, you just have to work at it.

What advice do you have for other graduates thinking of using ProGrad?

Well, on the assessment day be yourself, just be yourself on your best day, don’t let people take charge, make sure you are heard and what you are saying is worth hearing! Don’t be intimidated and look the clients in the eye and be confident. 

Otherwise just DO IT! Save the hassle of scouring the internet day in and day out, looking for jobs which aren’t even looking for you! ProGrad, from start to ‘finish’ helped and worked with me every step of the way, taking into consideration all my thoughts and wishes and called me almost every day after the assessment to discuss job possibilities as well as following up to see what the next move is.

You get the extra benefits of training, meeting loads of interesting people and best of all Pro Grad got me a job in comics. So if you think you may have to settle for ‘some job’ right out of Uni just for experience sake… think again!

If you would like to apply for a ProGrad opportunity, please call our Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300, or apply online using the ProGrad application form.  To open the ProGrad Application Form please click on this link.