Branding your Graduate CV...simple and effective

To get the graduate job you want, first of all, you need to create an amazing resume and covering letter that sets you apart from all the other candidates. Every HR leader is looking to eliminate as many of you as possible before they get to the interview stage so…make sure it instantly reflects your personal brand and promotes your strengths.

Inline with our other Branding suggestions, follow these unique branding tips and you’re a real chance of not landing one, but several interviews:

1. Come up with a sales pitch to sell your qualifications. Define who you are, what your value is and why you’re the best (and only) person for the position. Cover off:
• Your unknown magic as an employee - eg. you speak five languages.
• Your challenges, achievements, goals, and successes – eg. Created strong brand awareness in a new region in less time than any other team.
• Your expertise on a specific area or an unusual job you have performed – eg. I am an exceptional public speaker and was once MC for an event of over 3000.

2. Add a catch phrase at the top of your resume that best describes your unique skill or qualifications – “Social Media Guru” or “Automotive Genius”

3. Whether you are delivering your resume, a cover letter, or even a thank you note, you need to ensure that the measure you are delivering is consistent throughout.

4. By this stage you’ve asked for reference letters, right? No!? Get them..and quick! Then take a couple of the best plugs from them and include them as testimonials. eg “Sharee was an exceptional member of our team. She was eternally energetic and driven towards company goals.” Ceo McBoss, Big Deal Engineering.

5. There can be no substitute for a quick, accurate and punchy snapshot of yourself. Remember to keep it short and simple throughout but do your best to make it jump off the page with the above.

For more information, visit unigrad’s CV builder to help you create a powerful resume. [read full article]

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Graduate Students dreams...

We have collected all the responses from our "Grown Ups" competition on unigrad.com.au and let me tell you, there have been some beauties.  Some of you out there must have had some awesome childhoods!  We have selected the winners and will be getting in touch with you all, if we haven't already, to get your movie tickets out to you.  Just so we can all have a little bit of a chuckle at the results, here are a few snippets from some of the better ones:

"I wanted to be the captain of boeing 747's, and whilst flying my passengers i would also provide the inflight entertainment and sing Tom Jones. I went to all the trouble of learning all the words to every Tom Jones song in anticipation."

"When I grow up I want to be the world champion at connect four. I've never been beaten. I reckon I have what it takes."

"I wanted to be as cool and famous as the Spice Girls, and be in an all-girl pop group. Funny thing was I can't sing nor dance! ...Dreaming was fun though... better than reality of Accounting exams!"

"A Transformer. I'd be a transformed Batmobile or DeLorean from Back to the Future with: massive guns (which I've now got), Laser Eyes, flamethrower, Wolverine claws, jet wings, a mean roundhouse kick, lightsaber, nun-chucks and the hidden ability to turn into a Super Saiyan Transformer"

"I always wanted to be the bulldogs mascot in the NRL, girls free footy and getting to bash other mascots - it was like the everyday super hero that had a free pass to do what ever he liked instead of saving people all day!"

"I literally wanted to be a tyrannosaurus rex. Being a competitive little tomboy, I thought it'd make me FAR cooler than all the smelly boys!"

and one of my personal favorites...
"A Fireman, cause they get the ladies..."

 Thanks again to all our participants and keep your eyes open for the next competition to come down the pipeline!

Want to ensure you get updates about upcoming competitions?  Sign up now!

 

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unigrad student feedback IPAD is gone...sniff

The brief tryst that unimail had with a new ipad is over...and we never even got it out of the wrapper.  As part of our user feedback survey on our new website, we were giving one lucky student a new IPAD just for taking part.  As a result, we pre-ordered one months ago and much to our pleasure, there were no delays and it was delivered right on time.  This meant there were a couple days between the draw and the delivery..which meant we were all salivating with the new technology just sitting there.  We did take it out of the box but resisted the urge to unwrap and play with our/someone else's new toy.  At 5 pm on June 1st we drew to see who was the winner and Daniel Cooper from Victoria is the big victor. 

"That's fantastic!!" spouted Cooper when he was informed of his prize.  "I don't know that much about them yet so I can't wait to have a play" he continued.  

We are all excited for Daniel but secretly jealous of his win.  Stay tuned for more competitions in the very near future!!

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Free Stuff for students...

The secret is out....the way to a student's heart (and mind) is through their ever eager stomach.  Okay, so not necessarily noteworthy but definitely true.  I was on campus at University of Sydney today and saw a massive line up for a sausage outside the Economics and Business faculty.  Is it wrong that I considered lining up as well? 

Correction to the previous, the pathway to ANYONE'S heart is paved with food.  Perhaps its the innate desire for survival..perhaps its the 17 schooners you drank instead of buying groceries..either way, the scent of a grilling sausage will bring the masses flocking like moths to a flame.  The fact that it's free will have said moths stepping over their trampled partners just to jump the line a few places.  Interested in getting your next society event off the ground??  Wake up and smell the chargrilled goodness...deliver a little sizzle and you will have butts in the seats!

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Got Graduate interviews?

It is the time of year where employers start making their calls from the thousands of applications they've received.  Have you cracked the list?  Will you be sitting in the waiting room in a couple weeks sweating it out?  Many of you will get the call and after smashing a few celebratory libations you may ask yourself, "know what?"  Rest assured we have you covered with our student resources section.

While there are an infinite number of ways you can sell yourself, there are some really simple and basic guidelines to adhere to...check the video!

Also pay close attention to your body language as this can responsible for 80% of your communication!

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Student grads Shooting yourselves in the foot

I have spent some time in the past week putting some ideas together to go out to our distribution clients as the first Annual Distribution and Logisitcs Awards or the ADLA's, as no one calls them.  Not only are we giving awards, but we also asked the employers for some feedback on the student group this year.  One of the areas that we have decided to touch on were some of the unbelievable things employers heard while they were at the fairs.  As you can imagine, this has delivered some astonishing results but, I suppose MOST astonishing, are the lines that were repeated by a number of employers.  Either way, you mention these and you are likely to be crossed off the list...here were the top 3:

Number 3: "No, I'm not interested, I only came for the free $%&@"

Number 2: "I'm not sure what year I graduate but I know I'm in my third year"

And the best line mentioned: "I would ride to work naked on a tricycle for $84K my first year out!"

Who knows, maybe the last one would work.  Shoot me an email with some of the better one's you've heard at adam@unimail.com.au.

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Graduating but think the grad job market is bleak??

So, you graduated top of your class, were Chair of all the right boards, went to the right school and now you've finally got the interview of your dreams with the most prestigious company in the world, with the most prestigious and competitive staff in the world. Now imagine a guy is sitting next to you in the assessment centre and is looking a little nervous and a touch solemn.  Since you are a caring and inquisitive person, you spark off a conversation that goes something to the effect of, "wow, lot's of people here, huh?" "Is this your first one of these?" "Have you read up much on the company?".  After some prodding, he proceeds to tell you that he hasn't even considered anything to do with his profession the past 5 months, has lost millions of dollars, and has had his personal life crumble like the Berlin Wall.  After a little more relationship building, you get more and more comfortable with the fact that this joker has somehow stumbled into this group of the 80 or so best candidates in the world at this moment and he is going to be 80th in the selection process, if he isn't booted before that for even turning up.

Next thing you know, this "joker" is one of the 5 candidates selected and not only is he NOT dead last, he was the fourth candidate selected and was only away from the number one spot by a couple small errors in the interview!  How can that be?  Well, I suggest you ask every player that finished 5th or worse at the Master's golf tournament in the United States this weekend because that is what Tiger Woods did by finishing only 5 strokes behind a blistering Phil Mickelson.  He finished 4th amongst the best golfers in the world, under the most pressure and at perhaps the most prestigious tournament in the world.  Some of those guys have to be asking themselves, "what the hell is it going to take to beat this guy?"

Moral of the story, while the long term remains to be seen for Mr. Woods, you can still make mistakes, not have every single box ticked in your resume and still come out on top.  It requires dedication, commitment and hard work, but the hard yards may sometimes be the ones that help the most.  Good luck this grad season and don't be afraid to be your best!!

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Graduate Employers going viral

I spent an hour or so yesterday taking part in a brainstorming session for one of our clients looking to ramp up their branding both in house and on campus.  I won't say who the client is but I will give you a hint..it rhyme's with bunsfeel.  It is a great new format that is looking to put the "funny" in recruiting...which you will note, is currently not there.  Stay tuned for some great new stuff coming out! [read full article]

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Grad Careers Fairs: Are you a post box?

After the first few weeks of career fairs I have noticed one consistent activity.  Many students are stand-offish and unable to communicate with the employers on site.  If you are going to head to a career fair, make sure you have your best smile and your best personality on display!  Employers really won't get too excited about applicants who can't string two solid sentences together when faced with an opportunity for success.  They want to see a student walk up, look them in the eye, shake their hand and tell them a little about themselves.  After that, let the employer tell you about them...that's why you are both their after all!  It is a feeling out process and just like a first date, you don't want someone who is as engaging as the post box on the corner, but at the same time, you don't want someone who is constantly trying to get you back to their place...well, maybe you are...either way, you see the point.  Be confident and secure in why you are there.  Engage a potential employer with some wit, a little banter and some legitimate knowledge about your field.  Take notes on what they had to say and head off to the next one.  And while you are there for the opportunities, don't be afraid to grab a chocolate milk, a lolly or even a calculator for your trouble.  Good luck out there!!

 

 

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Digital Tattoo

Have you ever asked someone if they have a tattoo? If they would get one? Have they asked the same of you? Well, I know your answer. If you have ever sent an email, logged on to facebook, joined and online group or basically surfed the internet, you have already have one. Your digital tattoo is basically the impression you leave behind you on the web. It is everything from your facebook profile to your email address. If you want to get a quick idea of what’s available, start by googling/binging yourself...be vain! Click through and see what comes up! [read full article]

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