05th Mar2010

Preparing for Interviews

by ProGrad

“If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.”

Preparation is an interesting test, and not to be overlooked in an interview process.  Poorly prepared candidates are unimpressive to employers!

If you’re a technology-savvy individual, you should be using online sites such as www.linkedin.com to build an online presence as an individual yet also to assist in preparation prior to interviews.  It is a business networking tool which can be very helpful prior to interviews for researching.

We always recommend that graduates are reading business publications as much as possible in order to gain some base understanding about the business arena and what is happening within certain industries.  BRW Magazine is a great, easy read and perfect for any recent graduate to gain some commercial insight.

Prior to an interview, it is natural that you will look on a company website and conduct some basic Google searches.  Please don’t stop there.  Think about what you’re doing with that information.  Don’t simply assume that in reading it, you are absorbing it.  Write notes about the business, the market, any competitors, the clients and any key personnel you can find.  Please make notes and ensure they are with you in the face to face interview.

Outside of internet searching, we would also suggest that you contact the office directly and ask some questions on the telephone.  You will not only gain extra information, but you will also be making a good first impression with some of the employees. 

Many graduates fail to demonstrate their research skills in an interview, and rely on their natural charm to carry them through.  Whilst this is sometimes successful, it is far safer for candidates to do their research and take preparation with them to an interview.  Document your findings and be prepared to discuss your research.

ProGrad is a specialist graduate recruitment company working with over 600 companies across Australia.  For more information about our process, please contact our ProGrad Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300.

Category : ProGrad Melbourne
Tags : , , , , , , , , ,
0 Comm
04th Mar2010

A good graduate employer?

by ProGrad

We’re always keen to find out what you think makes a good graduate employer.  We conduct several surveys at ProGrad to identify what motivates a graduate to accept a role with an employer.

Is it because of the career progression on offer? Perhaps its because of the management team and the chemistry experienced there.  Perhaps it is the reward structure on offer.

The bottom line is, the reasons will vary depending on each individual and their key drivers to take a graduate position.  Each individual is driven by different things at the start of their career.  Ambitious graduates are looking for high levels of exposure, whereas a more cautious graduate is looking for structure and support from their employer.

It’s important that as a job seeker you are able to define what makes a good employer for YOU.  What is it that you’re looking for?  Once you have established this, you’ll find it easier to highlight the roles that suit your requirements.  In the interview process, you’ll again find it easier to identify which employer would be able to offer the right career path for you.

As a recent graduate myself, I remember being unclear about what I was looking for in terms of a job role and responsibilities.  I could however, identify the culture of the company I was looking for, and knew the amount of responsibility I wanted in a role.  I was able to identify the progression opportunity I was looking for also, and consequently was able to find an employer which could support my own goals. 

Working with graduates who are looking for jobs can be both inspiring and disappointing, all in the same day.  From a recruiter’s perspective, it is far easier to work with a graduate who is able to articulate and describe the environment which they need to be successful.  Once we can identify this, the rest comes a lot easier. If candidates themselves are unsure about their requirements, it makes our role as a recruiter even more difficult!

So, to summarise here are some tips:

1) Think about the environment you need (large, small, autonomous, supportive)

2) Think about the people you need around you

3) Think about the level of responsibility you are comfortable taking on

The content of the role is not something to be concerned about during an interview process.  If all of the other factors are in place, the role will prove to be enjoyable!

If you have any queries regarding this post, please don’t hesitate to contact the ProGrad office.

Virginia – Prograd

Category : ProGrad News
Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0 Comm