The last hurdle…the FINAL Interview!

By bordo | Published: May 9, 2013
bordo

This is it – the final interview, the only thing in between you and that dream job offer. If you’ve made this far through the interview process, then you have done extremely well and should be very proud of yourself!  But it’s not over yet – the final interview is your time to shine and show us what you’re really capable of!

Before we run through some tips, here’s what to expect on the day. Firstly you’ll be given the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of our current graduates so that you can calm your nerves and get first hand information of what it really is like to work at Telstra from a graduates prospective!  Following this, there will be a brief presentation (with other candidates and hiring managers), after which you will then break out and begin your final interview.

We all know that interviews can go either way : You can walk out of it feeling on top of the world or you can walk away feeling that you could have done a whole heap better. Whether you’re feeling super confident or a bundle of nerves, here are some firsthand tips on how to conquer the FINAL Interview!

Tip #1: Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses.

Think back to the feedback you would have received after your assessment centre – what did you perform well at and what can you work on? Our friendly recruiters are here to bring out the best in you and give you feedback on how you’re going. Really try to fine-tune those areas that you think would benefit with some improvement, and make sure your good qualities really shine through on interview day.

Tip #2: Prepare some answers.

Have a read over the interview tips we sent you prior to your assessment centre. Practice your responses using the CARE structure and remember to pay as much attention to your actions as well as the context and outcome of your examples. Try to come up with specific points that reveal your strengths and talents to complement how much success you achieved in the end. Remember that your responses should address the question being asked.

Tip #3: Research Telstra.

Part of the reason why you have come this far is because you know your stuff! Try to build on the knowledge you have of Telstra already and show us why Telstra is your employer of choice, but consider using this information in context and when necessary.

Tip #4: Arrive early.

We all know how stressful it is when we are rushed and aren’t quite sure where we’re going. Avoid this by finding out exactly where your interview is and by giving yourself plenty of time to get there. This will also give you an opportunity to relax, shake away the last of your nerves and take a breather before the interview.

Tip #5:  Dress to impress.

It’s true what they say about first impressions – they do count! Make sure your first impression is a good one. Come on the day looking professional (business attire) and remember…you’re never fully dressed without a smile! : )

Lastly, be confident and be yourself. You have come a long way to make it to this last stage so hold your head up high and stand proud. Use this as your motivation and confidence on the day and remember that if you are unsuccessful this time around, there  will be plenty of other opportunities out there for you. Use this as a positive learning experience and you will go a long way.

So from all of us here at the Telstra Graduate Team – get out there, show us what you have to offer and do your absolute best.

See you at the finish line – Good luck!!

Posted in Graduate Interview, Graduate Interviews, Graduate Offers, Telstra Option City, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Get ready for your Assessment Centre!

By bordo | Published: April 11, 2013
bordo

First up, great work for getting through to our Assessment Centre!

This is our favourite part because this is where we get to put a name to a face and see those superstar qualities in person. Whether you’re a seasoned AC goer or brand new to the scene and feeling overwhelmed, our Graduate Coordinator Vivienne Erikson and our Awesome Grad Recruitment Team have put their heads together on what you can expect.

 

What is an Assessment Centre and why do you use it?

An Assessment Centre is your opportunity to meet us and some of your fellow grad candidates and more importantly, showcase those skills and talents that we have only seen a glimpse of so far. We get to see how you work in a team, how you work on your own and you also get an idea of what we want to see in our grads.

I’m nervous! What can I expect?

Following a quick meet and greet, we will ask you to take part in a group activity which will get you all to put your thinking caps on. You’ll then perform a short case study presentation followed by a behavioural interview with one of our friendly assessors. If this sounds like your idea of fun, that’s because it is, and we’re loving that positive energy and enthusiasm already!  

If the butterflies are already starting to flutter just by reading this, don’t worry – we have some advice so that we can put you more at ease.

And so here they are, our top tips!

Tip #1: It’s ok to be nervous

Trust us, you won’t be the only one feeling the nerves and slightly on edge when you arrive. Just breathe and try to relax – we’re friendly, not scary! It can also help to introduce yourself and chat to your fellow AC goers who are likely to be just as nervous as you.

Tip #2: Arrive early so you don’t feel rushed

Please arrive 15 minutes before your Assessment Centre – this means you can avoid starting the day on the wrong foot by coming in late.  It also allows you some quiet time before the excitement begins. Make sure you know where you’re going – Google map it, think about the traffic, catch an earlier train or tram – whatever you need to so that you’re sitting down, relaxed and meeting the others before you head in.

Tip #3: Look sharp!

Remember that saying, first impressions count? They really do. We’d like you to be in Business attire on the day – because if you look good, you feel good! So go on and admire yourself in that snazzy suit.

Tip #4: Join in!

Don’t be shy – we want to hear your great ideas and see your enthusiasm. But remember to be a team player – let others speak and really take in what they have to say.

Tip #5: Preparation is the key

We love it when you do your background research on Telstra, as it’s one of the ways we see how much you want to work with us! Look at the Telstra website, industry reports and articles where you can; read up about our impact on the telecoms industry and our influence as a social business enterprise in Australia. Knowing that extra bit of info will help ease the nerves and will ensure you’re not left behind during group discussions.

Tip #6: Think about why you want to work for Telstra and ask questions while you can

Really think about what makes you passionate about your field of study and how you can transfer that passion to working with us. Also consider some questions you have for us because this means you can receive the response right there and then and it shows us that you’re interested in Telstra and our Grad Program.

Tip #7: Have fun with it!

Meet, chat with and get to know your fellow candidates. This is about you coming along and giving it your best shot – it’s not about getting caught up competing or comparing yourself to them. You’ve made it this far, and it’s all about us seeing more of you!

Ok I’m feeling better now…

Good to hear! We know that for many of you the idea of your first Assessment Centre seems daunting but we promise that it’s not so bad.  This is your chance to meet other grads who may be your future workmates so put yourself out there and make some friends.

Regardless of the outcome, you should be proud of yourself for getting to this stage and take this away as a great learning experience and above all remember to smile, have fun and enjoy the day.

Good luck everyone – we’re wishing you all the best! :)

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It’s time for your Phone Interview!

By bordo | Published: March 28, 2013
bordo

Have you received an invitation for a phone interview with one of our friendly recruiters? Here, Senaya Aden our Lead Graduate Recruitment Specialist shares her top tips on how to win us over!

If you’ve successfully progressed through audio screening and online testing, excellent work! Welcome to the next stage of graduate recruitment- the phone interview!

Cast your mind back to the audio screen where we asked you a few pre-recorded questions. If you successfully got through that, you should have no trouble with the phone interview at all!

Of course this time around you’ll be speaking directly with one of our friendly recruiters who may ask you to talk more about who you are and further explain any information you’ve given us. But don’t worry – this means we liked what we’ve seen from you so far and would like to get to know you even better!

That sounds great, but what should I expect?

To help you along, here’s what to expect. You will or may have already received an e-mail inviting you to arrange a suitable time for us to call you for the interview – once you receive this, please schedule us in as soon as you can. The earlier you complete this stage, the sooner we can move you through to the really fun part: the assessment centre! Arrange a time that is convenient for you – don’t squeeze us in on a busy day as we will need some quiet time to chat.

The interview will take approximately 10-15 minutes and you will be asked a combination of behavioural and motivational questions. Also be aware we may ask you to expand on any responses you’ve given in your application.

Naturally, we’d like you to do as well as you possibly can at each stage of the process, so here are some tips to ensure you are well prepared for the phone interview:

Tip #1: We probably sound like a broken record by now but this is an important point: make sure you are in a quiet and comfortable place during the interview.

We want you to be as focused as possible and would like to hear you loud and clear! Also keep away from anything or anyone that may distract you.

Tip #2: If you want to stand out from everyone else, really think about your answers.

 We love it when you come prepared and have put great thought into your responses! Really think about why you want to be in our graduate program and what great qualities you can bring to Telstra.  Perhaps have your CV in front of you in case our recruiters want to run through some points with you and have a pen handy as well to jot down any info.

Tip #3: Do your research and write down any questions you have for us.

This is your first chance to ask questions and receive feedback in real time, as well as bring up any personalised queries. It also shows you are keen to work with us!

Tip #4: We’re looking for passionate, enthusiastic graduates to join our ranks at Telstra who are well-rounded and professional. Use a professional tone; try to avoid ‘ums’, ‘ahs’ and rushing through your answers. Practice with a friend or family member and get them to shoot some questions at you!

Understandably, you may be nervous during the interview but try to relax. Our recruiters are there to help you and bring out the best in you. Breathe and remember to smile – your bubbly personality will shine through even if we can’t see you and will leave a positive impact with us!

Hopefully now you are ready to welcome the phone interview with open arms – best of luck and see you on the other side!

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Preparing yourself for that Online Psychometric test!

By bordo | Published: March 26, 2013
bordo

Are you a nervous wreck just thinking about this test? Vivienne Erikson and Senaya Aden from our Grad team are here to give you some advice and tips so you can get through the test smoothly.

So now that you’ve nailed your audio questions, you may have an invitation to our online testing sitting in your inbox. Despite having the word “psycho” in it, it really is nowhere near as scary as it sounds. Your audio screening probably sounded scary at first, but you got through it – and it wasn’t so bad, was it? :)

So what is this test exactly?

Now that we’ve gotten to know you better, we’d like to see how you go in solving some verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning problems. This is stuff you practice every day – there aren’t any tricks to it! It’s a 20 minute test containing 51 questions and it’s best if you complete the test within 48 hours of receiving the invitation (so that we can progress you through faster), and you will only have one opportunity to complete it.

Then let’s hear your top tips already!

Tip #1: Make sure you’re in good testing conditions.

Find a quiet, comfortable place away from possible interruptions from people, noise or objects (so that’s a no to your local Macca’s or Starbucks) and it’s important to have a secure internet connection that will be unlikely to drop out.

Tip #2: It’s a 20 minute test, it’s timed – and it won’t stop for anything!

Put your phone out of sight to avoid distractions – those calls and texts can wait, and are you comfortable with the room temperature? Because running for an extra jumper or fan is a definite time waster!

Tip #3: There are practice questions available before the actual test – do them!

Again and again if you have to. No matter how pumped up you are, roaring “let’s do this thing!! I’m gonna get it over and done with!!” Doing these questions will calm your nerves, build your confidence and give you a better idea of what to expect in the real thing.

Tip #4: While we’d like you to answer as many questions as possible, don’t rush to answer them all.

It’s better to submit fewer answers which are correct, than to guess your way through to the end.  In an emergency, the advice is to always remain calm. Try that here! Don’t let yourself descend into a red sheen of panic where you blindly click your way through the questions in a mad frenzy, just to have an answer for everything.

Tip #5: If by chance you are disrupted during the test, or the session is lost, don’t freak out!

Your email will contain a link where you can get in touch with online support – a technical specialist will get back to you once you’ve sent your query through. Remember though, this is only for those having technical difficulties and not those who have completed the test and would like to re-sit it.

Tip #6: Arm yourself with your tools of success beforehand.

We recommend pens, paper and a calculator (yes a normal one will do – steady now, you can put that dusty and scary looking graphics calculator down) and if you’re anything like us chocoholics, your food weapon of choice (ours is peanut M&Ms).

What happens when I complete it?

You will receive a feedback report on how you went – this will be emailed to you once you’ve completed the test, which will compare your results to other grads in your field. It makes for some pretty interesting reading! There is no hard and fast cut off score – and we will take into account your test result along with your application.

Ok, I think I’m ready…

Great to hear! Try to relax – we all know tests can be daunting and stressful at times, but it’s ok to be nervous. Hopefully our tips mean your heart won’t need to ricochet around your chest when you sit down to complete it now – just try your best and have confidence in yourself :)

Good luck everyone!

 

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First hurdle – Audio Screen

By bordo | Published: March 22, 2013
bordo

Firstly, congratulations on making it to the next phase of recruitment for the Telstra Graduate Program! We had a look at your application and loved what we saw – now is your chance to put a voice to your application and help us get to know you better.

In order to do this, we’ve set up a few pre-recorded questions that will give us a glimpse into your personality as well as what qualities you can bring to Telstra. If you’ve ever had a phone interview before, this isn’t really much different. The main differences are that you are speaking to an automated machine rather than a person, and you have the ability to hear the question again before you respond. Be prepared for a mix of behavioural and motivational questions and take note that you will only have one opportunity to answer. And don’t worry too much about the difficulty of the questions – we’re quite confident that you will tackle them with ease! We’d love it if you could carry out your audio screen within 48 hours of receiving your email invite – the faster you finish, the faster we can push you through to the next stage!

Whether you’re an audio screen expert or a first-timer, we’ve got some tips on how to nail your answers.

Tip #1: Write down the PIN given to you in your e-mail, or make sure it is showing in front of you as you’re making the call. Scrambling around for your PIN before answering the questions might throw you off or make you nervous during the call.

Tip #2: Make sure you are in a quiet place.   We would hate for you to give brilliant answers and for us not to hear it because of background noise. Going somewhere quiet also means you will be away from noisy distractions and can focus on your answers a lot better.

Tip #3: Be succinct with your answers. Remember it’s not how much you say, but what you say that counts! Include as much detail as possible in your responses but avoid less relevant information. On that note, however, take your time and try not to rush your answer.

Tip #4: Listen to the question carefully. You will have the opportunity to listen again before you answer. Since you only have one opportunity to answer the question, we would hate for you to forget or mishear the question by the time you hit record.

Tip #5: Make sure to relax and have fun! Like we said, the questions you’ll be asked are fairly easy and we’re positive you’ll have no trouble answering them at all! What’s most important is to let your energetic and enthusiastic personality shine through!

If you do have any more questions,  hit up our Facebook page (facebook.com/telstracareers) for any queries.

Best of luck everyone!

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How do I stand out? Our top tips for your application!

By bordo | Published: March 11, 2013
bordo

One of the most popular questions we always get is “How can I stand out from everyone else?” Here, our Graduate Coordinator Vivienne Erikson dishes out her top tips before you press that “submit” button!

Grad programs are extremely competitive and an employer can receive hundreds, even thousands of applications for what in many cases are a limited number of roles.  I always say though that it’s never about the numbers, it’s just about you – and the preparation you give yourself.

What are we looking for?

Along with most employers, we’re looking for grads who can balance achieving good grades with skills like leadership, teamwork and communication. We love seeing past work experience (this can be either a casual retail role or an internship), extra-curricular activities (like volunteering, student societies, sports, music, travelling, community involvement) and genuine passion and motivation.

We want you to wow us from the beginning – and this starts with your application, so here are our top tips:

Tip #1: ALWAYS include a cover letter

Even if you’re not asked for one! This is your one real chance to stand out from all those thousands of resumes. Here you can show your genuine passion for Telstra and our Grad program and highlight the skills, education and work experience that makes you one of our future grads.  Don’t have the time? Make the time! This letter can mean all the difference.

Tip #2: TAILOR your cover letter

Try to avoid sending generic cover letters where the only thing you change is the company in the title. Make your letter specific to Telstra and our Grad Program and check twice before you send. It has happened where the wrong letter has been sent to the wrong employer – don’t let this be you!

Tip #3: Be honest

Don’t try to make yourself something that you’re not. If you have fails, include them – don’t hide them. We’ll need to see your official academic transcript later and you can have the chance to speak about your marks. And wouldn’t you rather we chose you for who you actually are, and not who you wished you were?

Tip #4: Does my resume look good in this?

As fabulous as you think your resume is, get fresh eyes onto it! Book in a time with your friend, family member, uni careers service or careers counsellor to look it over. A 10 minute chat could let you know you’re on the right track and set you on the next step to that Grad program you’ve been dreaming of!

Tip #5: Don’t leave it to the last minute

We receive around 70% of our applications in those last days before the closing date, just as the final bell rings. It’s last minute uni assignments all over again! But you deserve to give yourself more than this. Start the application early, print the questions out and look at it to gather your thoughts and construct your answers over a few days. Get your friends or family to look over it if you can, because the worst feeling is starting it last minute, panicking as time runs out and submitting something that you know just isn’t anywhere near what you’re capable of.  

We also conduct recruitment on a rolling basis, which means we don’t wait until our applications close to look at them all. If you get it in earlier, we look at it earlier – that’s a pretty good reason right there!

Tip #6: Spell-check is your friend

It’s there, it’s loyal and it wants to help you. Even without its friendly paperclip face, it can easily avoid those spelling and grammar mistakes no-one wants to see.

Tip #7: Passion and motivation are key

Whether it’s in your cover letter or your application, genuine motivation and passion is a major factor that makes you stand out. Show us that you’ve researched us, that you know who Telstra is and why you want us and our Grad program. Our people, team, past and current grads are all passionate and we know our future grads out there are too – so express it!   

Now that you’re pumped and ready, applications close midnight 4th April 2013, so get started soon if you haven’t already. Best of luck everyone :)

Posted in Telstra Option City, Uncategorized, graduate applications | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Coming to a Careers Fair near you – our tips for making the most of one!

By bordo | Published: March 5, 2013
bordo

As we head into the crazy month of March, our Graduate Coordinator Vivienne Erikson is here to give you some important tips on attending your Careers Fair!

As the music pumping from O Week fades, employers of all different industries and sizes are gearing up to promote our Graduate and Summer Vacation Programs at a Careers Fair near you.

The purpose for employers is simple – you want to meet us, and we want to meet you. It’s your chance to see us beyond our websites and a great place for us to meet our future grads and interns. 

It can be easy to feel overwhelmed amongst the colourful stands, smiling company reps and the noise levels of hundreds of students and employers talking all at once, but here are some key tips to help you set out to achieve what you want to.

Tip #1: Think about which companies you want to talk to

Look at your uni’s website or list of employers given to you as you walk in. Identify the ones you’d like to speak to (even better if you research their programs beforehand!) and look at which disciplines they’re targeting. This is the start of your game plan, and will helps you make a beeline for your preferred employers first.

Tip #2: Prepare a list of questions you’d like to ask

Think about what you want to know about these employers and their grad programs, and go for it. These might be questions around the length, training provided, role opportunities, benefits etc. Some grads come prepared with pens and paper to take notes – that’s dedication, and we love it! It will also help you remember different employers’ responses at the end of the day.

Tip #3: Introduce yourself before anything else

We are much more likely to remember you if you introduce yourself to us first before making conversation, then if you plant yourself in front of us with a “So tell me about your Grad Program”.  We want to know about you – your name, what you’re studying and which year you’re in. It will help us provide the best information, and who doesn’t want to leave a great first impression?   

Tip #4: How should I present myself?

It’s not about the clothes you wear, it’s how you present yourself. We’re looking for students who come prepared, enthusiastic and with a sense of purpose. One of the key things employers look for are great communication skills, so engage in a conversation with us and smile like you mean it!

Tip #5: Keep an open mind

If you know the employers you want to talk to, great! Remember though that a Careers Fair is your smorgasboard to Grad Programs so why just hang around at the dessert table? Take your time to sample everything and you might just find an opportunity you never imagined possible.

Have fun everyone and find us at your closest careers fair by checking out our timetable on our website. We hope to see you at one soon!

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Driving Telstra into a world of tomorrow – My part in the picture

By bordo | Published: November 29, 2012
bordo

Bryce sharing his views with Telstra employees

Back in August I was invited to the Telstra Executive Team Summit as part of the Future Ways of Working (FWOW) program. At the time I had no idea what FWOW was about, but as a graduate a chance to mingle with senior executives meant I was keen to help in any way I could! On the day I was given one simple challenge – to look at Telstra’s future ways of working with our leadership crew.

Not long after the summit, my inbox lit up with an invitation to take part in the FWOW two day workshop - in SYDNEY! I get enough excitement travelling from one end of Melbourne’s CBD to another. So as you can imagine, I was super keen.

Finally the day came, the first day of the FWOW workshop, and time to visit (drum roll please!) Google. Our tour began in the reception but it wasn’t like any reception I’d ever seen. Razor Scooters, which we thought were just a display, soon turned out to be a mode of fun transport that employees were encouraged to use to get around the building because it’s so large – neat!

Google (in my opinion) is every bit as cool as you’d expect; they have sleeping dens and breakout spaces – because the staff like it the way! They also have a Tech Stop, which is basically a room full of monitors, laptops, chargers etc. And all this equipment is up for grabs; no need to fill in forms, or wait for approval – just go in, scan your ID and take it. So simple!

Our other field trips included visits to Microsoft, Cisco, Commonwealth Bank and The Office Space, all very different companies, all with very different ways of working. Notepads went crazy with observations and ideas! As just one example, Cisco prides itself on the number of employees that work from home – there’s only enough office real estate to seat 70 per cent of its employees at any one time. Instead, they use cutting-edge video conferencing tools to collaborate in virtual teams. As this style of working was described, I was initially sceptical; after all I love travelling into the city every day. But I saw many people around me light up at the thought – the same way I did at some of the work practices we saw at Google. That’s when it hit me; neither organisation was better or worse; they were just different.  For someone like me who can’t cook, goes crazy sitting at home by myself, and can get caught experimenting with an idea for hours at a time – Google sounds like the perfect workplace. But for someone with kids who wants to spend as much time with their family as they can, Cisco is a dream come true.

Day two came and we took everything we’d learnt and worked to turn it into a one, three and five year plan for moving Telstra into the world of tomorrow. As I looked around the room, I noticed there were people from all across the business – everybody from  Group Managing Directors, to graduates (like me) – working out what could be done with our funding, our vision for cultural change, and how we could make some changes that kept the  customer at the centre of everything we did…whew!

At the end of the day, we presented our vision; I won’t go into all the details (otherwise I’ll be blogging for the next century!) – but basically we’ve got a great plan to make Telstra the best place to work. There was a great sense of accomplishment in the room, with hours of video, pages of notes and hundreds of visuals -all stored digitally so we could  continue our journey. And the work hasn’t stopped – we are Future Ways of Working ambassadors; responsible for thinking of ways to improve our workplace, and drive this new way of thinking. 

I’ll leave you with that thought as I sign-off.

Bye for now,

Bryce

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Welcome to Telstra! An inside view into the official Corporate Induction Workshop…

By bordo | Published: November 19, 2012
bordo
Josephine Palermo (Customer Community Lead, Telstra Operations) and Nicola Jackson (Legal Counsel, Telstra Wholesale) working together at our Corporate Induction Workshop.

Pictured (from left): Josephine Palermo (Customer Community Lead, Telstra Operations) and Nicola Jackson (Legal Counsel, Telstra Wholesale) working together at our Corporate Induction Workshop.

This entry looks at Telstra’s Corporate Induction Workshop as experienced by our newest recruit to the Telstra Careers team – Denise Osman.

Those of you who’ve ever had the pleasure of attending day long workshops, only to walk out with a certificate of attendance, know only too well the levels of cynicism that form in your mind at the mention of  corporate training. And we’ve all been there; your tangible token of participation screams, “Hey look everyone, this mug on my desk proves I’m a champion of [insert buzz term here]” but let’s face it, it’s business as usual from the next day onwards. Or is it?

[Progressive] organisations are only too aware of the grudges born from the corporate powwow, and by the same token, they’re shifting their practice so that training is more like a simulated university tutorial; open discussion and a mutual sharing of ideas. And even more so, it’s a chance for you to tap into the talents of your work mates and wider team; the tempo of a good training day should incite this behaviour from the crowd.

I recently had my initiation into the Telstra family with my official Corporate Induction Workshop, and guess what – I loved it. Aside from being encouraged to think for myself and work in unity with a team, I was proud to be a part of an organisation whose core values and vision are in line with my own. And before you think to yourself that I get paid to say this or, worse still, that I’m brainwashed (you cynic you!), hear me out…

Just like every single one of you, I’m a customer of one organisation or another. And as a paying patron I expect my interactions with the company to be meaningful. Look, that doesn’t mean I want the salesperson to hug me. What it means is that I want to be heard. I want promises to come good; if you say you’re going to call me tomorrow, act on it! Put simply, I want   the person I’m speaking with to take ownership.

Telstra’s Corporate Induction is geared entirely at viewing our operations from a customer-centric lens. Fleshing out the pillars of our company culture (Customer Driven, Collaborate & Innovate and Winning Culture), we applied them to the projects we’re working on. And using our own experiences as a guide – you know, putting yourself in someone’s shoes and all –we plugged into our practice and looked at how each of us could change the experience for our customers. If you think this sounds heavy, well you’re right – being part of something meaningful (and cool and totally focussed!) means getting your hands dirty.

So, I can honestly tell you that a big part of my pride stems from what I learnt at my initiation; I wasn’t just talked at, I was talked with. I know that I’m a part of team who’s putting the customer at the centre of everything we do.  And yes, in many ways I get to be that person who creates an interaction of meaning.

But here’s my tip to you folks, I wouldn’t have walked away feeling like this if I left my open mind and sense of thrill at the door. It really does take two to tango (oh how daggy, but you know what I mean!). The reality is that business tutelage is unavoidable. But before you run for the hills —butcher’s paper and markers in tow — heed my advice. Shed the baggage, go in with an open mind and just be you. A business worth its weight is going to have a clear vision – and you’ll play a big part in it.

Posted in Graduate Onboarding | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Three tips to nail networking – the old school way

By bordo | Published: November 9, 2012
bordo

Our resident writer Denise Osman has some tips and tricks on how to nail networking…

Resident Writer

Denise Osman - Resident Writer

I don’t want to get all pre-millennium on you, but there’s a lot to be said about face-to-face contact. Look, I’m not discounting the contemporary adage; “Let’s connect on LinkedIn” (or Facebook, or Twitter, or Instagram or Flickr or…!) – bolstering your network is about varying your approach.

So, in the spirit of mixing it up, here are three quick and simple tips for networking outside the digital world…

Hi my name is… (Speaking of pre-millennium is it just me or is anyone else humming the beat to a rap when they read this line?)

So we’re stripping it back to absolute basics here. A simple, “Hi I’m…” and an outstretched arm is the first step to expanding your connections. No witty lines or gags needed. This one’s about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone; often the hardest move in the pursuit of expanding your network. Once the conversation’s started, and you’ve uttered the obligatory: Who do you work for? What do you do? You can use their answers to get the conversation rolling.

Topics to discuss: Upcoming projects, business insights and trends, news and general interests – keep it conversational. People will relate to you if you’re being real.

Keep away from: Politics, religion and salary – instant networking fails.

Listen

OK, so this one goes hand-in-hand with the basic introduction. Everyone loves to talk about themselves – human nature 101– and while you’re just dying to express your talent, ambitions, drive, here’s your opportunity to take interest in your contact and make them feel valued.

Writer for the Daily Muse, Diane Kulseth suggests you stop highlighting your latest accomplishments and start listening instead. It’s here that you can really make an impact on your contact. So once you’ve asked about their job, and jump-started the conversation (see “Hi my name is…”) you can build your connection by delving deeper and discovering how they got their start, what they love about their job and what they wish they could change.

But be warned, this is not an interview! The idea is to pick up on cues from your contact’s answers, and validate what they’ve said. It’s called the question-question-free information technique, and it goes like this:

You ask a question (Have you been to any worthwhile industry events lately?), after they’ve answered, you validate (“So you attended the ….last week?”). Then you explore (I read about that event on … did you find the speaker engaging?”). Remember, it’s at this stage of the conversation that you’ll build a relationship of mutual benefit.

Location, Location, Location

So we have the basics down pat – now it’s time to get you practicing. In an article published in Entrepreneur, Richard Branson suggests you expand your network by frequenting out-of-the-norm events. By attending industry events in geographical locations you wouldn’t have considered –by joining regional associations – you can start to learn about local market conditions and get grass-roots insights. You can also meet contacts at schools, clubs and local / community business groups; at the very least, smaller scale events will help you to build your confidence before moving onto the big guns. And hey, if it’s good enough for Branson…

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