ProGrad Melbourne

update_me@embarrassing.email.com

Most recent university graduates got their first taste of email in the early 2000’s. When spending all night on MSN and ICQ, a killer email address was a must have and being cool meant that it usually contained some reference to your preferred sub-culture and a combination of numbers- the more risqué the better.

But email has long since become more than a novelty means of contacting your friends; it is an important and frequently relied upon means of communication in today’s world. So while an email address still hooks us up with Facebook and Twitter it is also important in a professional sense.

Your email can often be the first introduction or point of contact with someone, especially when job hunting so those few shorts characters before @something.com may be saying more than you want them to.

If you still have your embarrassing surfychick88 or punkmunkey69 up and running, it may be time to consider updating?

Creating a new account, specifically for work or professional purposes is often a wise choice, and can save embarrassment and hassle when trying to communicate.

Usually working with your name or initials can be a simple and straightforward approach.  Avoiding numbers or excessive underscores or additional characters can ensure it is easy to read and give. And trying to use a “grown up” host is also wise; usually something like Gmail, Yahoo or Live etc rather than your student email or a fan site may help in coming across as more professional.

For more hints and tips on how to approach the professional world or help with your graduate job hunt, contact ProGrad’s Graduate Management team on 02 8235 8300 or alternatively email us at info@prograd.com.au

The definitive How-To guide for group interviews. Or at least some helpful pointers.

The more the merrier!

Knowing how to conduct yourself in a group interview can often be a daunting prospect. But group interviews don’t have to be the end of the world. Employers often prefer them and they can be a great way to make your mark! 

Although most people dread them, the group interview actually provides you with a number of opportunities that a one on one situation doesn’t. A group environment not only allows you the chance to stand out from a crowd, it can also help you see who your competition is. You have the chance to bounce off other people and access perspectives other than your own.

But more than that it gives you the opportunity to show how you work in a group environment (which is usually what you will be doing in the role anyway). It can give an employer the means to see your great people skills in action, the way you are able to manage and deal with situations as well as your personality which is an important aspect given a good cultural fit is always ideal when job hunting.

So how to go about it? Some simple pointers to consider might be:

• Speak up but also be aware of the people around you and include them.
• Try to show leadership but don’t fight for the position, a dictator is no better than someone who is dead silent.
• Try to think outside the box, but make sure you aren’t just being different for the sake of it.
• Instead of viewing everyone as your competition try viewing them as your friends, this will make the situation more relaxed and easier to navigate.
• Consider the other people in the room as equal in skill and knowledge; remember for the most part they are in the same position as you.

If you are looking for interview opportunities, or advice on how to approach a prospective employer, contact ProGrad’s Graduate Management team on 02 8235 8300 or alternatively email us at info@prograd.com.au