Case Study, Karolina
During my last year of studying marketing at university in Melbourne, I did not apply for any graduate positions like the rest of my peers as I wanted to travel the world before embarking on a full-time workload. I knew I would have difficulties searching for a job on my return to Australia, but I needed to experience the different lifestyles, cultures and history of other countries. On my return to Australia, I had a sinking feeling of reality – I am broke and I need to find a graduate position. The very next day, after a 26 hour flight, I frantically searched the web for marketing positions and applied to nearly every ad in a glimmer of hope.
I clearly remember the day ProGrad called me for a phone interview, as this was a huge turning point in my life. After successfully completing the phone interview and assessment day I was automatically contacted in regards to four prosperous interviews. Unfortunately for me at the time, I was stubborn about receiving a marketing position, not a sales position. This is due to the fact that there are no sales units at university so the perception of sales most graduates have is that of tele-marketing /call-centre atmosphere and the like. I remember a lecturer once told us ‘you will be lucky to get your first position in marketing. You will have to settle for a sales career first’. These words daunted my whole perception of sales as it embraced my thoughts with a negative notion towards this area.
ProGrad supplied me with four interviews for a sales position and one interview for a marketing position. Naturally I applied all my effort into the interview for the Marketing position at Southern Cross Computer Systems and to my wishes I was offered a second interview. One week later, the CEO of Southern Cross Computer Systems called me personally to offer me the position. I was ecstatic! I accepted without even waiting to hear from other companies that I had been interviewed with. Southern Cross Computer Systems is an integrator and consultant. Its services bring together diverse technologies, multiple manufacturers and the need to produce an appropriate solution to the customer. The environment here is friendly, helpful and professional. I was in charge of corporate events, website development, marketing plans for our funds with blue chip partners, sales analysis and much, much more.
After six months in the Marketing position and observing the Sales team, I realised that my perception of sales was completely wrong! It is all about relationship building and making sure the customer is happy. I realised I wanted to be like the sales guys, work on tenders, regularly meet with clients, have the freedom of not being stuck at a desk and most of all the challenge! To my surprise, the Managing Director and the Sales Director were waiting for me to approach them with my interest in sales as they remembered in my interview I was adamant about marketing and not sales. As soon as I showed my interest, I was quickly given the opportunity to finish up with my Marketing duties and move into the sales area. I am now an Account Representative and I cannot explain the extent of my motivation – it is incredible. I honestly owe my success today to Prograd and the wonderful company that I work for. I hope my story helps other Marketing Graduates who hold the same perception as I did about sales. My advice now is – give it a go! With a guardian angel like ProGrad, anything is possible.
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ProGrad have offices in both Sydney and Melbourne. For more information, please email us at info@prograd.com.au