ProGrad Melbourne

Playing the Name Game

One of the worst feelings in life, apart from tripping over in public and wondering how many people saw you, is forgetting someone’s name when you know you were just told it.

In the world of first impressions when you are trying to assert yourself as a “real professional”, feeling yourself stammer and avoiding calling someone by their first name is tres awkward not to mention obvious.

The situation goes from bad to worse when you join a new organization and meet a hundred different people from a hundred departments and can’t remember the name of your boss over the sandwich guy.

Forbes (the fancy business people) have some great hints for remembering names in a corporate setting and these simple tricks  may go a long way in the campaign against being the awkward new person who has to call everyone “mate”.

1^st- Repeat the name. As soon as you hear it say it in your head and try to say it out loud again in a sentence as soon as possible.

2^nd- Use word play or word association. Think of a mnemonic device or alliteration to go along with the name so you can associate something with them to help you remember in the future.

3^rd- Make up a nickname. Try to keep this in your back pocket as a last resort and if you must do this, please make it something plausible. Don’t call anyone Slagathor.

For help getting graduate interviews and more information on how to ace them, contact ProGrad’s Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300 or email us at info@prograd.com.au

What we can all learn from Kanye and GaGa…

Kanye West and Lady GaGa. Apart from being musical superstars, they don’t have a huge amount in common. Something they do share is their unbridled self confidence – which, coupled with their ceaseless self promotion, undoubtedly made them the successes they are today.

Love him or loathe him, it cannot be denied that Kanye is one of the most confident men on the planet. He once called for a revised edition of the bible, because he felt he should be a character in it. Way back in 2002, Yeezy met Oprah at a chance meeting after she took an interest in his car. After they chatted about his wheels, cocky confident Kanye promised the media queen that he would one day appear on her show. The rapper grew up not far from Winfrey’s Chicago, Illinois TV studio and would often eat at a restaurant across the street, so he could dream about an appearance. He added, “I’d come over and just look at the studio and go, ‘One day I’ll be inside that studio.’”

Sure enough, he appeared on her show just three years later. Winfrey remembered the 2002 meeting: “People say that to me all the time – they say, ‘Hey Oprah, I just wrote a book,’ or ‘I’m a singer,’ but you’re the first person who ever made that true.”

It may feel like Lady GaGa has been around for decades, but it is only since 2008 she released her first single. She is officially the most followed person on twitter, the first person to ever break the eight-million-followers milestone, and also leads the Facebook race with a whopping 28,347,356 likes at the time of writing this article.

Although many people believe that Lady Gaga’s rise to fame is an overnight success, it has taken her years to become the absolute pop phenomenon of the new decade. In her high school days, GaGa was made fun of by her classmates. She left her family, went to live at a cheap apartment and wrote music until she would convince an agent to listen. Her rise to the top can be attributed to her complete self belief.  She claims Madonna is her fan and she really believes it.

Both Kanye and Lady GaGa knew what they wanted, worked incredibly hard, and let nothing stop them from reaching their goals.
So how can this help you get the job of your dreams?

Well, it isn’t recommended to wear a dress made of meat to an interview, or interrupt during the interview and say “Yo interviewer, I’m really happy for you, I’ma Let you finish, but I am the best graduate of all time!”. But having the self belief and knowing that you are the right person for the job WILL get you the job of your dreams!

For information on how ProGrad can help you get that all important interview, take a look at the website www.prograd.com.au, contact one of our friendly team on 02 8235 8325, or email ellen.giebels@prograd.com.au

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

A Handy Hint

A Handy Hint

Two hands, one shake and a whole lot of potential.

 A handshake may seem trivial but we all know the importance of a good first impression and with around 60-70% of communication being non-verbal, it is important physical cues like this that can contribute to likeability and success in a first meeting.

A strong handshake can tell someone many things about you without you even realising you have said anything. Respect, warmth, confidence and trustworthiness can all be helped or hindered when giving a handshake. This simple gesture is a business tradition and may take you a long way to building good rapport in a short time.

On meeting your interviewer for the first time, remember a strong firm handshake with good eye contact and a smile. Practice this handshake with friends and family, they know you well enough to tell you if it needs work! You might feel stupid but your employer will never know you practised, they will only see the benefits of your forward thinking.

For Men:

If shaking hands with a man, allow him to twist your hand slightly. This is a sign of power, don’t try to twist back as it will represent a power struggle. Do not try to crush his grip, but match it. If shaking hands with a woman, allow her to lead with how firm the grip is and match it.

For Women:

If shaking hands with a man, don’t be afraid to have a firm grip. This shows confidence. If shaking hands with a woman, allow her to lead with how firm the grip is and match it.

Making a good first impression is the easy part… the hard part is making a LASTING impression! The first part of making a lasting impression lies in building rapport. So put your best hand forward.

For more help in meeting prospective employers contact the ProGrad Graduate Management team on 8235 8300 or email us on info@prograd.com.au

Just for starters

Just for starters

Writing a resume isn’t rocket science; but it can be a somewhat delicate art. Especially as a recent graduate when you’re trying to boost your high school CV in order to pitch yourself to corporate high flyers.

So what are some basic do’s and don’ts for the resume writing process? While there are many helpful (and some not so) articles on the internet giving you all sorts of practical advice, it can be difficult to sort through the rubble to find the hidden diamonds.

Some of the best and most crucial pieces of advice can be summed up quite simply and should be enough to get you started, or put the finishing touches on your masterpiece.

Tailor your resume as well as the cover letter to each job you apply for. It can be tedious, but if an employer requests a cover letter, this is your first impression you want it to be the right impression. Your resume is your job application so make sure it fits the bill.

Do NOT title the document with the word ‘RESUME’. You wouldn’t call someone and say “PHONE CALL” when they pick up- there is no need to state the obvious.

Include a career objective. This speaks to the specific requirements of the role you are applying for but also should appeal to the industry and level of role you are seeking.

Be brutal on your employment history. This isn’t your life story, just the relevant roles or employment history that has given you transferable skills.

Keep it short and sweet. Realistically no more than 2 pages are needed to sum up your experience and career objectives at this point in your career.

Finally- it seems obvious but so often is overlooked. Make sure there are NO spelling mistakes at all. There will be no bonus points awarded for “prefectionists” who have littered their resume with grammatical or spelling errors.

Is your resume a little on the thin side? Looking for a graduate position? Contact ProGrad’s Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300 or email us at info@prograd.com.au

Closed For Christmas

Here at ProGrad, we have enjoyed some exciting success in 2010. Many additions to our team, an office move to accomodate this growing team, along with meeting many exceptional graduates and placing them in amazing roles have been just some of the highlights of 2010.

To all of those keen graduates looking to get a head-start on their graduate career – we can’t wait to hear from you in 2011. The first assessment day we will be running in Melbourne for 2010 will be the 21st January.

We will be closed over the Christmas & New Year break from the 24^th December. We will be open again from January 10^th so don’t hesitate in contacting us by phone on (02) 8235 8300 or email at info@prograd.com.au at this time when we are ready and roaring to go for 2011.

Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year,

from the ProGrad team.

How To Deal With A Difficult Boss

Bad bosses can be found in all types of organisations. Whether they micromanage, have no idea, are floosy and flaky, or are straight out monster-like control freaks, it is a sad reality that the job of your dreams could be completely bull-dozed by the actions of a bad boss.

Bad bosses pop up quite frequently in movies and television as the feature of humorous story lines. When Sandra Bullock played a demanding and difficult boss, and made her assistant’s (Ryan Reynold) life miserable in “the Proposal,” their relationship ended in romance and happily ever afters. However the cold hard reality of a work relationship gone wrong often ends with being fired or resigning and in the worst case scenarios – law suits.

So what could constitute a bad boss? Maybe it is one who takes all your hard work and turns it into reward and credit for him or herself. Maybe your boss thinks you have no life outside of work and you end up staying late every day.  You may be given impossible tasks to complete with little guidance or you may do everything right and still not receive positive feedback.

So what are the best ways to deal with a difficult boss?

• Find a mentor or someone you can depend on. If you love the company, it is likely that you can develop a solid relationship with another manager. They might be able to give you the guidance you require and have the pull and power to do something about your bad boss if the situation escalates.
• Stay professional. You can not like your boss and remain professional. Try to refrain from reacting to verbal abuse or criticism with emotion – this will only make things worse.
• Evaluate your own performance. Look at each area of your performance and see if there is room for improvement. In some instances a boss’s poor attitude may be due to a frustration in even the smallest thing you are doing wrong, and changing it could be revolutionary!
• Take note of everything. If things get drastic and your boss starts discriminating against you, keep a journal of what is happening. If the worst happens and the issue becomes more serious it will be crucial to have those details. It is also a good way of keeping track of what you achieve to bring up in performance reviews.

It is only natural that in any social environment some people will clash, and it is also important to consider that the attitudes displayed by your boss might be directly in proportion to the stress they are under from their boss!

Don’t Miss The Boat…

Here at ProGrad, we want to send out the message to everyone planning on job hunting in the New Year… It is not too early to get started now!  Many graduates are of the belief that job prospects are slowing down as 2010 draws to a close, but this is simply not the case. Now is the ideal time to apply for any of the roles available at ProGrad. Why?

It is a chance to get a head of your competition. If you are of the belief that now is a useless time to get on the job hunt, chances are you’re not alone! Solution? Apply now and get ahead of everyone else. See what’s out there, look at your options and possibly secure your dream position whilst everyone else is sipping pina colada’s on the beach and getting busy eating plenty of ham and turkey. What better Christmas present is there than to know you’re entering 2011 with an exciting prospect for the future.

Contrary to popular belief, businesses are recruiting into December, and here at ProGrad we are certainly not short of roles to fill! In fact the amount of roles available seems to be ever growing. Why? Now is the perfect time for a business to find that perfect candidate, lock in dates for the New Year and potentially get some training in so that they have a keen and enthusiastic employee ready to go in January. We also find that current employees are finishing up with their current positions, so businesses are wanting to fill these positions ASAP!

So essentially, don’t miss the boat on the roles sailing out in December 2010! If you are interested in applying for any of the roles available with ProGrad, or you simply want more information, call us on (02) 8235 8300.

Don’t Let Your Resolution Be Rusty

So summer is here and Uni is out, Christmas is only sleeps away and the promise of a New Year and a fresh start is gleaming brightly. Whilst “taming the bulge,” “enjoying life more,” or “quitting smoking,” are at the top of the list for New Year resolutions, kick-starting your new career or getting the most out of your new job could be one of the most rewarding, realistic (and achievable) goals.

A vague “get a job,” or “do well in my role,” just won’t cut it though if you want to have a cracker of a 2011! So what are the best strategies for having success with your career in the new year?

Increasing your network: Get in touch with old Uni colleagues, or even past co-workers. If you’re undecided about what path to take with your new career or the best ways to maximize it, simply talking to peers about what they are up to and how they went about it could be quite enlightening. Even mentioning that you’re looking for a new role, or just finished up university so you’re keen to get into the workforce could open up a new prospect when someone exclaims, “I know just the opportunity for you!”

Take note of the things that make you irreplaceable: Why should a company continue to employ you? Or why should one hire you in the first place? Highlight your best attributes and be aware of what you do well. Interviews are the obvious place to sell yourself to a prospective employer, but what counts even more is putting those words into action and conducting yourself in a manner that would make a company never want to ever let you go. If you are not aware of your better attributes, kicking back over the summer break could be the perfect time to reflect!

Update your resume: a completed and professional resume is your metaphorical map in the journey that is the job hunt, so make sure it’s up to date and ready to go when you click “apply” on that ideal job.

Brush up on your skills: while offices are closed for Christmas, the holiday break and leisurely days could be spent developing a new skill. Companies seem to love individuals who can manage stress, have a passion for life and a good work-life balance, so brushing up on a skill or developing a new hobby could be the perfect way to show your current or prospective employer you’re the unique candidate they’re looking for.

Get off the couch: don’t just sit around waiting for that perfect opportunity to be sitting under the Christmas tree. Scouring the job sites, picking up and reading newspapers and business reviews to get the insight on industries and actually getting active and picking up the phone and calling possible employers – even turning up on their door if you are not having much luck will probably work in your favour. After all, it is probably the keenest applicant who will get the job!

If your interested in how ProGrad can help you to kick-start your career call us on (02) 8235 8300.