31st Jul2009

What are your options right now?

by ProGrad

With fewer opportunities available on the job market, graduates are looking at their options:

Travelling, working abroad, or even going back to University are all options open to graduates right now.  But what is best for you to do?

Ultimately, if you’re toying with the idea of going travelling, my simple recommendation is just to DO IT!  Do it right now, because its far better to do it BEFORE starting work.  Employers aren’t being as flexible these days – they’re simply not offering to keep your job open while you go off and travel the world.  Employers would far prefer you to travel before you start employment. 

If going back to study is an option for you – then definitely look into it…however think about the value you will be getting out of a course.  Many graduates will spend more time in study, but might not find themselves any better off in the job hunt.  There is no substitute of hands on work experience – which is sometimes more valued than academic qualifications.

Weigh up all of your options, and speak to family and friends for advice.  Just remember, at some point..you will have to start work…and you’re probably going to start at the “bottom”, regardless of your qualifications or travel experience.  Don’t delay the inevitable for too long…I’d want to get it out of the way as quickly as possible.  The sooner you get in the work force, the sooner you start to rise and develop.

Davinia

ProGrad is a graduate recruitment company, and we specialise in placing graduates into entry level positions.  To be considered for any of our roles, please contact the ProGrad Graduate Managemen Team on 02 8235 8300.

Category : ProGrad Melbourne
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31st Jul2009

Keeping an Open Mind…

by ProGrad

ProGrad work with approximately 500 companies across Australia, all offering different opportunities for graduates.  Following any ProGrad assessment day, we make a strong recommendation to candidates to retain an open mind, and expose themselves to as many roles as possible. 

This is for a couple of reasons.  Firstly, it increases the amount of interviews proposed, the amount of exposure and broadens the list of potential roles available to a candidate.  Secondly, your dream job could be waiting for you, but simply in a different industry or location.

So…our recommendation is ALWAYS to keep an open mind.  Get out there for all interviews and see as much as you can…you never know – your dream job could be waiting out there for you.

If you would like to work with ProGrad to find more opporutnities, please contact the ProGrad team on 02 8235 8300.

For more information, please also visit our website on www.prograd.com.au

Category : ProGrad Melbourne
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29th Jul2009

Any feedback for your recruiter?

by ProGrad

ProGrad are always listening for feedback about your ProGrad experience.  Please feel free to post/ email or call with feedback to ensure we’re responding.

ProGrad have placed over 1500 graduates in the last 4 years in Australia and are continually looking for ways to increase our service levels and ensure positive feedback is received.

If you have any feedback to share with ProGrad, please let us know.

You can contact our graduate management team on 02 8235 8300, or leave a comment on this site.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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29th Jul2009

Be proactive!!!!

by ProGrad

More than ever, the message is “BE PROACTIVE”.

If you’re job hunting, GET PROACTIVE!  With everyone!!! 

Don’t simply sit around waiting for the phone to ring…get proactive and call people.  With such a competitive job market currently, its more important than ever to keep a competitive advantage.  Sitting around taking a lazy approach to job hunting will not encourage a recruiter to work for you.

At ProGrad we will always prioritise our most proactive candidates.  The more they call and email, the longer they stay at the front of our mind.  As soon as an opportunity becomes available, we’ll remember them and give them priority.  Any candidate that displays commitment and tenacity to their job hunt, will provide the same in an interview process, making them a more attractive candidate to any recruitment company.

Recruitment companies want to help – but in the current market there are more candidates than ever before and fewer requirements.  The relationship with your recruiter needs to be a two-way relationship.  Show them your commitment and you can guarantee they’ll be working even harder in your favour!

So get proactive…call/ email/ fax/ anything to get their attention….don’t take a lazy approach.  Lazy people are never going to get priority in such a tight market.

Davinia

ProGrad are always keen to hear from recent graduates looking to kick start their corporate career in a business to business sales environment.  To discuss our opporutnities, please contact the ProGrad team on 02 8235 8300.

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29th Jul2009

Giving Constructive Feedback

by ProGrad

At a graduate level, with limited interview experience, feedback is absolutely crucial to better understand what employers are looking for.  Not enough candidates ask for it, for fear of hearing something they might not like.  Take out of feedback what YOU feel is relevant.  Regardless, its all worth hearing and might help to improve your techniques for future interviews.

ProGrad offer feedback at several points to our candidates:

1) Following a ProGrad Assessment Day: Whilst it can be very detailed feedback, it is always worth asking for.  We will be happy to discuss the exercises completed, and make recommendations for future assessment sessions which might be of value to you.

2) Following interviews: This will be slightly more difficult as it is dependant on the feedback we’re given from employers.  That said, we always encourage total honesty from our clients.  Whether the interview was good, bad or ugly – we like to know about it.  We are happy to provide this feedback also on request

3) Once employment/ training as commenced: ProGrad are happy to provide this feedback also upon request, and we recommend getting proactive with it.  Ask your boss directly for feedback about your first week and month.  How did you perform?  What else would they like to see from you?  How else can you improve?

Giving honest feedback will always be tricky, as it is human nature to not want to offend someone.  That said, it is the only way we can learn during the interview process and we need to be ready to take some comments which we might not necessarily agree with.  Regardless, the experience will have helped you grow and develop in some way, the feedback is simply the icing on the cake.

Davinia

ProGrad is a graduate assessment, placement and training company.  To be considered for any of our roles, please contact our team on 02 8235 8300.  Or you can visit our website on www.prograd.com.au

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21st Jul2009

ProGrad are on Twitter!

by ProGrad

Finally, ProGrad are out of the dark ages, and we’re finally making it on to Twitter.  Its early days, however lets hope we generate some “followers” in our graduates and clients.

To find ProGrad on Twitter, please click our link: http://twitter.com/progradgraduate

ProGrad are a graduate recruitment company, if you would like to learn more, please feel free to contact our organisation on 02 8235 8300.  Alternatively, you can check us out on www.prograd.com.au

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21st Jul2009

ProGrad are recruiting for roles in QLD

by ProGrad

Since ProGrad started in 2004, we have placed over 1,500 candidates into a variety of roles across a number of vertical markets.  Primarily focusing on the NSW and VIC regions, ProGrad have recently been requested by a number of clients to recruit for the QLD offices.  We’re now representing a number of IT/ Manufacturing and FMCG companies looking to grow their team with graduate talent.

If you’re a candidate looking for opportunities through ProGrad in the QLD area, please contact one of the graduate management team in Sydney on 02 8235 8300.  Our roles are primarily within the business to business sales teams of companies.  Roles such as Territory Management, Account Management, Business Development, and Sales Representative roles are available to recent graduates looking for a graduate position.  All roles provide ProGrad graduates with comprehensive training to guarantee your success.

For more information, please visit www.prograd.com.au

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21st Jul2009

The Need to SELL YOURSELF in an interview

by ProGrad

This seems to be the area which lets candidates down the most during interviews.  The interviewer feedback is often “they just didn’t sell themselves well enough.”

Its a fair point, but what are interviewers looking for?  How are you supposed to “sell yourself?”

Here are some pointers from ProGrad to assist you prior to interviews:

1) Firstly, remember to PREPARE.  Preparation is essential prior to any interview.  Try to generate an understanding of what the company does, but more importantly, how do they add value?  Put it in your own words, don’t just copy what is written on a website.  Aim to understand it.  If in doubt, call the company and ASK.

2) Prepare your answers to the typical interview questions…but always be thinking…how will my traits add value to this employer.  Its fine to say “I’m a confident person”, but why is that relevant to the interviewer?  What does it mean for them?  “I’m a confident person.  An example of this is when I was at university, I had to lead a group project to completion and present our findings to over 300 people.  What this means to you, is that I can bring my confidence to the role and ensure I have no fear of speaking to prospective clients.”

3) Think of an interview as a sales meeting.  Only this time, the product is yourself…always think of structuring your answers like this:  Feature, Advantage and Benefit to the company.

4) Prepare QUESTIONS to ask.  If you don’t ask questions, you’ll come across as being disinterested and an ineffective communicator.  Prepare at least 15-20 questions to ask the interviewer.  You might not use them all, but definitely ask.

5) CLOSE the meeting (or in this case, the interview).  Ask what the next steps are!  Is there a second interview?  If so, when is it? 

Please stop thinking about interviews as being a one way street.  Candidates MUST sell themselves effectively in order to be successful in interviews.

ProGrad is a graduate assessment, placement and training company with an emphasis on working within the business to business sales teams of organisations.  To be considered for our roles, please contact the ProGrad graduate recruitment team on 02 8235 8300.

Davinia

Category : ProGrad Melbourne
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21st Jul2009

Prepare for the telephone interview

by ProGrad

Whether it is a phone call from ProGrad, or a phone call from a potential employer, be aware that from the moment you answer the phone you are likely to be in the midst of a telephone interview.

Within a few short sentences, a candidate can make or break their telephone interview.  This is primarily based on how their voice sounds on the telephone.  The minute we speak on the telephone, you cannot rely on your body language to convey your thoughts and feelings.

If you have a monotone voice, it says to an employer, “I’m bored and not interested in what you’re saying”.

A slow speed and dull pitch will say that you’re not enthusiastic and want to be left alone.

A high pitched voice will express your enthusiasm for a role and the potential opprotunity

Employers during the telephone interview process are primarily assessing for your attitude.  Within seconds, judgements can be made about whether they want to continue the conversation or not.

One potential way to change the inflection in your voice is to smile, especially when you first answer the telephone. Did you know that when you smile, the soft palate at the back of your mouth raises and makes the sound waves more fluid. If you are a singer, you would know that the wider you open your mouth and the more teeth you show, the better tone you get. The same applies on the telephone. Smiling helps your voice to sound warm, enthusiastic and friendly.

Don’t under estimate the power of your “telephone voice”.  In the first few seconds of picking up a call, smile and prepare to sound enthusiastic, clear and friendly!

ProGrad also use a telephone screening as part of the assessment process. Over 90% of candidates fail this process, mostly due to a dull, monotone voice with a level of disinterest. 

For more information about the ProGrad process, feel free to call ProGrad on 02 8235 8300.  Alternatively, you can visit our website www.prograd.com.au

Category : ProGrad Melbourne
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21st Jul2009

ProGrad run City to Surf…2009

by ProGrad

In several short weeks, the ProGrad team can be seen walking, jogging and running the 14kms from the City to Bondi to raise money for charity.

Many of the team have been training hard in preparation for the event…some taking it very seriously indeed!  A naturally competitive bunch, they’ll take any opportunity “win” against eachother.

Watch this space for the results…no guarantees that they will be impressive times.

Davinia

Category : ProGrad Melbourne
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