I AM…
April 22, 2010 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
“I AM…BORED!” by Nicola Christoffersen
Graduates who are new to the working world often face difficulties in adjusting to the work environment. During the adjustment and learning phase, it is natural to feel nervous; particularly while the work-load is low.
During these times, they key is not to get disheartened. One of the biggest challenges faced by new employees is a feeling of boredom. Boredom can simply be a mis-communication between employer and employee. Like any relationship, expectations need to be made clear from the outset. From the first few days in a business, both parties need to be clear about what they each expect from the other.
If you are new to a company, the first thing to demonstrate is a positive working attitude. Attidue is everything. Many skills can be taught, and employers will enjoy teaching a willing participant. The “go-getter” is likely to receive extra investment from an employer, often because they are vocal about their needs. Proactivity is key.
ProGrad have placed thousands of graduates over the years and we’re graduate employers ourselves. “Graduates require constant stimulation and fresh challanges. I don’t believe they get bored easily, however they do require some clear goals to achieve. More importantly than that, there needs to be a level of reward upon achieving those goals”. Davinia Noble, General Manager, ProGrad Pty Ltd
“Most employers recognise the value in recruiting young talent into the workforce, and are willing to invest heavily in the long term development and success of those individuals. That said, it is essential that candidates are being proactive in driving their own careers. Boredom is unacceptable in the workforce. If you’re bored, then change it. Take initiative, speak to your manager and set new personal and professional goals. Take a proactive and positive approach to changing the way you feel in the office environment”, Davinia adds.
Here are a few tips if you want to kick boredom in the workforce:
1) Be proactive and organise a time to meet with your manager to ask for more responsibilities
2) Set clear and defined goals to achieve and allocate time frames in which you would like to achieve them
3) During face to face meetings with management, approach them with clear, well considered plans which you would like to achieve. Most employers will be impressed by these actions and will assist to prepare something more formal ongoing.
4) Don’t dwell on it. Boredom is an attitude.
If you would like to speak to ProGrad about any of these suggestions, please contact the Graduate 
Management Team on 02 8235 8300
Alternatively, you can email info@prograd.com.au
CONGRATULATIONS!
March 15, 2010 by Nicola · Leave a Comment
We would like to congratulate everyone who has recently finished their degree and who will be graduating in April this year!
It is very exciting and you should be very proud to wear the robe and take that certificate!!!!
We also wish you all the best in the work force too!
Feel free to contact us if you would like our help. We work a little bit like a recruitment agency for graduate students. We aim to get your foot in the door of many organisations from a whole variety of different sectors such as IT, MEDIA, ADVERTISING, and FMCG. We do this by placing graduates into business to business sales roles in these organisations and after this head start you can progress from there!
If you would like to know more feel free to visit our website at www.prograd.com.au or contact us directly on (02) 8235 8300.
Sydney’s Assessment Day - being held today!
March 10, 2010 by Nicola · Leave a Comment
ProGrad is Australia’s largest placement, training and assessment centre for graduates. We give graduates the opportunity to get their foot in their preferred organisations and deal we with a whole range of sectors including:
Media/Advertising/Publishing
IT/Telecommunications
FMCG
Today we look forward to holding one of our assessment days in Sydney. We have approx 40 graduates attending and we look forward to meeting them all!
If you are attending the assessment day today, we wish you the best of luck!
If you would like to know about Prograd and our services, please feel free to visit our website at www.prograd.com.au or contact us directly on (02) 8235 8300
What exactly is a career in sales?
September 9, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
ProGrad have a core activity in placing graduates into business to business sales roles across a variety of industries….but what exactly is a sales job? Is it all about telemarketing and knocking on doors?
In a word…no. Its not about that at all. Many people have an exposure to selling at an early age, when sitting at home hearing parents tell the telemarketer to “bugger off”. That is what is called “business-to-consumer sales”, and is not our core activity at ProGrad.
Business to business sales is essential for all companies. Every organisation will have overheads (think about office costs, staffing costs, bills etc) and to cover these costs (and make some profit) they need to sell. Easy.
Everything around you is sold from one business to another. Look in a magazine, and you’ll see advertising. That advertising was sold business to business. At ProGrad, we utilise technology systems and telecommunications equipment. That was all sold to us from another business.
When you visit a retail outlet to do some grocery shopping, the merchandise has likely come from another business. When you go to the pharmacy, and pick up your prescriptions…they were sold business to business.
It truly is overwhelming, and just goes to show that businesses NEED to sell. All corporations need to sell their services or products in order to sustain turnover. It is the most important facet of any company…and one could argue, the most important department to be working within.
Many of the senior management teams of organisations (large and small) will have started their career in business to business sales. Where better to learn the fundamentals of buying and sales cycles, than in the role yourself.
At ProGrad, we work with over 500 companies and the majority of our roles are within B2B sales. These roles offer candidates an ideal grounding to launch into management roles or other areas within the business. That said, when you’re one of the highest earners in the business, its hard to understand why you’d want to move to another department!
For more information about ProGrad and the roles available, please contact us on 02 8235 8300. Or, you can email us at info@prograd.com.au
ProGrad looking for Graduate Account Exec - Media Company
September 9, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
- Recent University Graduate Required
- Diverse Roles and Responsibilities
- Opportunity for Fast Progression
Located in Chatswood, Our client is a market leader in developing sales aids and finance schemes for business equipment suppliers. Vendors including Leap Legal, Canon and Toshiba use this organization to assist in increasing their sales and profitability and most importantly customer retention.
As a ProGrad graduate, you will asume the role of an Account Executive and will be responsible for sourcing new business opportunities, engaging with customers and driving sales. Working closely with the Directors your key responsibilities will also involve:
• Identifying and qualifying new business opportunities
• Training and managing existing vendor partners
• Visiting customers
• Settling finance contracts
• Providing quotations
Our client is looking for a recent graduate who is commercially minded with strong numeracy skills. It is essential that the graduate has excellent communication skills and the ability to influence and persuade others.Having had great success with this organisation in the past, the manager is a ProGrad graduate themselves, ensuring you have a great mentor who has been through the process also.
The successful candidate will receive:
• Excellent support
• Industry and sales training from ProGrad
• Opportunity for careers progression
• Excellent remuneration skills
This is a fantastic opportunity for a recent graduate with an interest in media, publishing or marketing to join a market leading organisation. If you are looking for a role where building relationships, then this could be a great position.To be considered for this role, you need to have passed a ProGrad assessment day. To be considered for an assessment, please apply immediately by calling the ProGrad office on 02 8235 8300. Alternatively you can email us on info@prograd.com.au
The 80/20 principle
September 9, 2009 by ProGrad · Leave a Comment
During some analysis of ProGrad’s revenue stream, we came to realise very quickly that 80% of our organisation’s revenue is currently coming from our existing client base, and only 20% of the revenue can be seen from new business development.
It is a principle which has been utilised in business for years, and yet we have tended to assume it didn’t apply. ProGrad have always had a strong focus on new business development, and that will never change. That being said, it has certainly alerted us to the importance of effective account management, especially during the economic downturn. It is our existing account base which has really been an area where we have seen great growth opportunities.
ProGrad are an assessment, placement and training company with over 500 clients in Australia. We have had the pleasure of working with some of Australia’s leading organisations and ensuring their junior roles are filled with high calibre University graduates.
ProGrad certainly intend to ensure even higher levels of customer service can be delivered over forthcoming months, especially during these critical times of uncertainty.
A little bit certainly does go a long way.
If you would like to hear more about ProGrad, please contact us on 02 8235 8300.