Feedback from the ProGrad Assessment Day

July 31st, 2009 - 
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“First of all, I would like to thank you and the rest of the staff at Prograd that helped to see me through the Assessment day.

It was a very enriching experience and your talk particularly, left me very inspired. Job applications and interviews has always given me the jitters, but yesterday I got out of Prograd thinking  ‘Another interview?… Bring it on!’ I only hope I can maximize the tips you shared with us.”

ProGrad Graduate, July 2009

ProGrad are a graduate recruitment company working  with graduates to kick start their corporate career. If you are interested in becoming a ProGrad Graduate, please contact the Graduate Recruitment Team on 02 8235 8300.

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ProGrad Graduate Feedback

July 31st, 2009 - 
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As an organisation, ProGrad continues to gain feedback from graduates that have completed our training courses in order to continually change and adapt to ensure the modules are all helpful and effective. Out feedback forms allow graduates to comment on the workshop structure, relevance, effectiveness and whether it can be allied to their roles.

 

 

Leigh, a ProGrad graduate started his role within a business to business sales team over 9 months ago. After attending Module 4: Key Account Management he left with the following feedback: “I found the course to be very applicable to my role where I look after our bronze accounts. The use of real life examples in parts of the course help make the links between the topics and my role. Overall I think the training is a good indicator on what styles/techniques I do/should use and the associated results they can bring.”

 

Sophie

 

If you would like to know anything further about ProGrads training courses, please call us directly on 02 8235 8300 or visit our webpage www.prograd.com.au

 

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Give us some feedback!!!

July 20th, 2009 - 
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Forums are a great way for companies to access feedback about the “customer experience”.  Whether positive or negative, we need to hear it. 

Please feel free to write a post about your experience, we do value your feedback as its essential for our internal development as a company. 

If you’ve recently attended a ProGrad assessment day, or some ProGrad training, we’d love to hear from you. 

Davinia

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Why is everyone so scared of working in the IT sector?

July 20th, 2009 - 
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As graduate recruiters in the corporate sales environment, it stands to reason that we represent high-growth companies looking for recent graduates who can be invested in.  Companies state the primary reasons for using graduates are as follows:

* Graduates are in learning mode

* They have no bad habits or preconceptions

* Graduates are flexible to relocate for their career if necessary

* Graduates are intelligent people, having studied at such a high level

* As a generation, they are TECHNICALLY SAVVY, making them a perfect fit for IT companies

Working in the IT sector can be a lucrative career through ProGrad

The last point is probably the most prevalent reason amongst graduate employers.  Its also something that University Graduates take for granted.  As a generation, they have grown up around the internet, mobile phones, social networking online, and various other online mediums.  They understand the benefits around using technology, yet seem not to realise this.

We represent several hundred IT companies, all looking for graduates to join their business to business sales team.  Very rarely, is there ever a requirement to have a technical background.  Some of our most successful people in this field, often don’t have a technical background at all.  Its simply not relevant.  Any intelligent individual can learn the benefits around technology, and essentially that is the requirement for our clients. 

We’d always recommend that candidates are open minded about opportunities within IT companies.  Not only can they offer fantastic rewards, but they offer unparalleled training, and travel opportunities.  Only yesterday I met with one of our most successful IT employers who have over 8 ProGrad candidates (none from a technical background).  Later this week, three of them depart for a week in Singapore.  This follows a trip to the US and Ireland already this year! 

So…be open minded….don’t ASSUME you need to be a technical guru to take a fantastic role within an IT company…you might be closing the door to some of the best opportunities available to you.

Davinia

If you’re interested in applying for ProGrad opportunties, please contact one of the graduate management team on 02 8235 8300.  Alternatively, you can email us on info@prograd.com.au

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The Importance of Strong Leadership

July 20th, 2009 - 
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With so many employees feeling the pressures of working within an economic downturn, there has never been so much need for strong leadership.  A strong management team is essential to guide employees during these times.  It is too common during these times that employees feel the pressures to generate increased revenue, with limited guidance and shifting pay structures or commissions.

The teams are definitely leaner in the current market, employees are likely to be working harder than previously and therefore it is essential that they remain passionate, loyal and dedicated.  The way to ensure this is to unite them with strong management and leadership.

“Motivation” is an over-used phrase in the current market, as its place in the work force becomes more and more paramount.  The common misconception is that is costs something to motivate employees…when the truth is that is costs very little to unite a team and point them towards a common goal.  Regular group meetings, brainstorming sessions, group lunches and open lines of communication are some of the easiest ways to unite people and reinstill the common goals. 

Other great ideas include group training sessions, where team members are asked to prepare topics which they are passionate about sharing with others.  This is a great opportunity for new employees to demonstrate their worth within companies; opportunities to present will be harnessed by those individuals looking to impress their superiors.

Even within ProGrad we are guilty of not always communicating with the team.  As Managers, we want to protect our employees from the harsh realities of business, and the implications faced when we meet a drop in our revenues.  The feedback we received is that they WANT to hear this information.  Meetings behind closed doors only fuel insecurities from the team.  As a result, we are now implementing regular sessions in an open environment to communicate how we’re doing as a business.  We discuss what has been successful, and what we need to do differently the following month to enhance our success.

Sounds simple…naturally, it’s not.  It requires joint commitment from a senior management team to openly communicate with their teams.  Management need to unite first, then pass the theme down to the troops.  And remember, its not about spending money on employees to “motivate” them.  

Davinia 

ProGrad is a Graduate Assessment, Placement and Training company working with recent University graduates to kick start their corporate careers within the business to business sales/ marketing teams of organisations.  If you would like to speak to one of the ProGrad team, please contact them on 02 8235 8300.

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Finally…follow ProGrad on Twitter

July 20th, 2009 - 
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It’s early days…so please don’t get your hopes up!  We’re finally on Twitter…it was a long and slow process, yes.  There are no guarantees that our followers will increase dramatically, I fear it is a labour of love from our part.  Ironic that a company (like ProGrad) that works primarily with “Generation Y” can be so poorly equipped to maximise our online presence.

Slowly but surely, we’ll get there, just be patient with us!

http://twitter.com/ProGradGraduate

Davinia

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ProGrad Recommend Key Performance Indicators

July 17th, 2009 - 
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Key Performance Indicators are generally describes as success indicators. The smaller goals and objectives set by a business in order to assist in reaching an overall organisational goal.   At ProGrad, we are strongly commited to setting goals and KPIs for our team members to ensure they reach their personal and professional goals and objectives. 

In a sales environment KPI’s are generally the number of phone calls made, meetings booked or products sold.   This structure is still required in other areas of business.  Even for graduates that work within a marketing/ HR/ admin environment, it is essential they have short term and long term goals to work towards.  Graduates crave structure and discipline, and management need to provide this in order to maintain their interest and commitment.

When setting KPIs it is essential to ensure they are measureable and that they lead to long term goals. As an organisation gets closer to its long term goals, the KPIs may change or adjust accordingly.  It is simply required to communicate this to the teams.  Management need to be clear about their expectations of employees at all times. 

Overall, if KPIs are set correctly and monitored and changed when needed they can be used as a very powerful tool to target and acheiev long term organizational growth and success. 

Sophie

To find out more about ProGrad, call us directly on 02 8235 8300 or visit our website at www.prograd.com.au 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Negotiation Skills: Training Feedback

July 16th, 2009 - 
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A Module 3 course that was run recently was aimed at teaching the graduates different negotiation skills and techniques. Candidates were asked to complete feedback forms based on how effective they found the workshop. Below is the feedback from three of the graduates that attended the 2 day workshop.

 

“This was the best module so far. I really enjoyed it and found it very useful!”

 “This workshop had great content and great group interaction. I found the delivery very effective and the trainer was very knowledgeable and able to transfer everything into real life examples.”

 “I found this training and experience really valuable. The trainer used realistic examples that were relevant to all our workplaces.”

Sophie

 

If you are interested in finding out more about the ProGrad training modules, please call us directly on 02 8235 8300 or visit our website at www.prograd.com.au

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Refresh Your Attitude & Learn New Techniques

July 16th, 2009 - 
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Being in a sales role can lead you to forming your own preconceptions and bad habits. A few tips on how to change your attitude, and provide a fresh approach to selling include:

-                  Be confident and comfortable in what you are selling

-                  Be honest – prospective clients will know if you are lying

-                  Ask questions, probe customers and bring up emotions

-                  Don’t be afraid to close deals early in a conversation

-                  Learn from others around you

 

At the end of the day it’s important to establish what techniques work well, but to also ensure your attitude is constantly refreshed and you are trying new techniques to sell your product!

Sophie

Please call ProGrad if you would like more information on our services on 02 8235 8300 or visit our website at www.prograd.com.au

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Managing Your Sales Attitude!

July 15th, 2009 - 
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It’s no surprise that the attitude of a sales person is crucial to the success of the organisation. When the economy is low, like recent times, rejection is seen to increase dramatically. Objections are flying in, and consequently it’s easy for confidence and morale to drop as well. Employee motivation needs to be continually lifted. There needs to be incentives and a light at the end of the tunnel in order for these sales people to be successful.

At the end of the day, happy people work harder!

Sophie

ProGrad as an organisation that focuses on assessing, placing and training recent university graduates into business to business sales roles. Call us for more information on our processes, 02 8235 8300 or visit our other WebPages.

www.prograd.com.au

www.progradsydney.com.au

www.progradmelbourne.com.au

www.progradbrisbane.com.au

www.progradsalesrecruitment.com.au

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