Tag: personal growth

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What are SMART goals?

SMART is an acronym that you can use to set good goals, in order to ensure you will be able to accomplish them.

S: Specific
Specific goals set a clearer path to which you can focus your efforts and stay motivated. To set specific goals, ask yourself the five “W” questions.

M: Measurable
Measurable goals allow you to track and assess your progress. This way you can stay focused and meet deadlines.

A: Achievable
Achievable goals are realistic goals with constraints taken into account.

R: Relevant
Does the goal meet your needs? Is it the right time? Is it applicable in the current environment? Is it relevant to the people involved?

T: Timebound
Setting deadlines can help you focus and give you something to move toward. It also helps with prioritization.

𝗢𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲

CRICOS 03878K | RTO 45644

————————

 Phone: (+61) 261 018 650

 Email: enquiry.act@opc.edu.au

 Website: https://opc.edu.au

 Canberra campus: Mezzanine Level, 15 Moore Street, Canberra ACT 2601

 Melbourne campus: Suite 802, Level 8, 474 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000

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Graduate Program versus Graduate Job

At your university, you probably have heard about the Graduate Program and Graduate Job a lot. However, despite the similar name, what are they, and how they are different from each other? Understanding the differences between them might be very helpful for you to know what is more suitable for you while hunting for job opportunities!

Graduate Program

1. A structured learning, training, and mentorship program that gives graduates the opportunity to see multiple parts of the business. This is usually called a ‘rotation’ – graduates can then select which part they’re most interested in.

2. Aims to identify and foster future leaders for the organisation. It is a way to fast track these trained graduates into leadership roles within the organisation.

3. It is extremely competitive. Graduate programs attract the most applications per vacancy, but only provide positions to 30% of graduating students each year.

4. The program lasts 12-24 months and most often guarantees a transition into a full-time role after the program is completed.

5. They have a long and rigorous recruitment process, which is not surprising because there are so many applicants to go through. Programs can take months with very formal and automated steps.

Graduate Job

1. A specific entry level role that requires a university degree but little to no experience. They don’t have structured training, but still involve training practices used by the company to develop staff.

2. Aims to fill a specific position from day 1.

3. Relatively lower competition compared to graduate programs. The roles get less exposure to and hence less number of job applications.

4. A permanent contract with no fixed terms. But they usually do have probationary periods of 3-6 months.

5. Recruitment process varies but most tend to be up to 50% faster with less steps.

Source: GradConnection

 

𝗢𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲

CRICOS 03878K | RTO 45644

————————

 Phone: (+61) 261 018 650

 Email: enquiry.act@opc.edu.au

 Website: https://opc.edu.au

 Canberra campus: Mezzanine Level, 15 Moore Street, Canberra ACT 2601

 Melbourne campus: Suite 802, Level 8, 474 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000

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Where to find the right job ads in Australia?

If you are a job seeker, it would be very helpful if you know where to find job advertisements, so that you will not miss any opportunities. Here are some of the most common job search websites you could use in Australia:

– 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗞: https://www.seek.com.au
– 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻: https://au.linkedin.com
– 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀: https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/
– 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: https://au.gradconnection.com/
– 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮: https://gradaustralia.com.au/
– 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗵𝘂𝗯𝘀

Note that some opportunities may only be available/open to certain connections, networks and the company’s career site. In addition, your friends are also a good source of references, so remember to let them know if you are searching for a job so that they can keep an eye on any job vacancy.

Source: Opulence College

 

𝗢𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲

CRICOS 03878K | RTO 45644

————————

 Phone: (+61) 261 018 650

 Email: enquiry.act@opc.edu.au

 Website: https://opc.edu.au

 Canberra campus: Mezzanine Level, 15 Moore Street, Canberra ACT 2601

 Melbourne campus: Suite 802, Level 8, 474 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000

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How to write a winning cover letter

Here are some tips for writing your cover letter that may help you stand out from the crowd!

1. Address the letter directly to the relevant person
Usually, the addressee’s name and title are given in the job ad. If not, however, do a bit of research to find out – check out their website for employee profiles, search on LinkedIn, or even give them a call to find out.

2. Share what you love about the company
Why do you want to work in the company in the first place? What makes them stand out from all other companies? Is it their projects, values, and principles? Be genuine and concise.

3. Show of your skills and experiences that are mentioned in the job description
How can these enable you to make valuable contributions to the organisation? How do these make you unique from other candidates?

4. Avoid using empty phrases or flattery
Be specific and cut to the chase. Don’t use empty phrases like “I believe I am a great candidate and meet all the requirements of this position” and flattery like “It would be a great honor to…” or “Your esteemed organisation…”.

5. Keep it to one page
This is why you would want to delete empty phrases and save space for more meaningful content!

6. Avoid using the same template
Your cover letter should be unique for every company. Does it take too much effort? With effort comes results, it’s not fair to expect results with no effort.

How do you make your cover letter stand out?

Source: GradAustralia

 

𝗢𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲

CRICOS 03878K | RTO 45644

————————

 Phone: (+61) 261 018 650

 Email: enquiry.act@opc.edu.au

 Website: https://opc.edu.au

 Canberra campus: Mezzanine Level, 15 Moore Street, Canberra ACT 2601

 Melbourne campus: Suite 802, Level 8, 474 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000

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Maintaining Mental Health During Job Search

Rejection, increased competition and uncertainty, and lack of control over results during a job search may easily lead to stress, anxiety, and overwhelming feelings. Here are some tips that may help you maintain your mental health during your job search.

1. Focus on what you can control
Instead of worrying about things you can’t control (like application outcomes), focus on what you can control. This can include asking your friend to proofread your resume and cover letter and sending a friendly follow-up email.

2. Set milestones
Hold yourself accountable for certain things over certain periods by planning, budgeting time for plans and taking action. Celebrate little victories along the way to your bigger goal.

3. Set aspiration goals and realistic expectations
Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based) to structure and guide your career trajectory.

4. Balance job search with leisure
Make sure you have enough time to socialize and take a break from a job search. Work-life balance applies to even aspects outside of work.

5. Use Plan B to get plan A
Be prepared for times when you need to take a Plan B job to ultimately get your Plan A. Your first job won’t determine your entire career.

Source: Indeed Career Guide

 

𝗢𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲

CRICOS 03878K | RTO 45644

————————

 Phone: (+61) 261 018 650

 Email: enquiry.act@opc.edu.au

 Website: https://opc.edu.au

 Canberra campus: Mezzanine Level, 15 Moore Street, Canberra ACT 2601

 Melbourne campus: Suite 802, Level 8, 474 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000

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How to research a company before applying for a job

Good company research is essential to deciding who you want to work for when you are ready to apply, and acing your interview when your knowledge of the company is put to the test. Here are some steps you could take to research a company:

1. Make a list of companies that share your values
Read employee reviews about the company’s culture, salary, job advancement and work/life balance and make a list of companies that share your values.

2. Research the company’s employee benefits
Do they offer healthcare benefits, stock options, flexible work schedules, or onsite facilities like the gym and cafeteria? Read the job description, the company’s website, and employee reviews to find out.

3. Learn about the company’s business operations
Refer to the company’s website, their annual reports, and public financial documents to learn how the company makes money, what industry the company is in, who the target customers are, how long they’ve been in business and how good/bad the company’s reputation is.

4. Research the company’s leadership
Read the About Us page and employee bios on the company’s website to see what the executives and directors are like.

5. Research news and recent events
Refer to news and specific industry publications, customer forums and product reviews, to find out recent updates about the company and its competitors as well as the company’s reputation.

6. Seek opinions from others
Seek opinions from trusted and reliable friends and associates. If you lack the network, consider reaching out to relevant people for a quick coffee chat.

Source: Indeed Career Guide

 

𝗢𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲

CRICOS 03878K | RTO 45644

————————

 Phone: (+61) 261 018 650

 Email: enquiry.act@opc.edu.au

 Website: https://opc.edu.au

 Canberra campus: Mezzanine Level, 15 Moore Street, Canberra ACT 2601

 Melbourne campus: Suite 802, Level 8, 474 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000

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What are transferrable skills?

Each job has their own skill set, which is specific for that position, and only people in that area can perform the job sufficiently. For example, a Website Developer need to know about coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, while a Operation Surgeon needs to have excellent knowledge about human anatomy. Meanwhile, regardless which position you are responsible for, having transferrable skills are the skills you can use in every job position, which is helpful for you during job’s transition. Some examples of transferable skills are:

1. Communication Skills
Communication not only involves written and verbal communication but also includes using and reading body language and talking to people in different contexts.

2. Dependability
Dependability is what makes you a trusted employee. It could include punctuality, organization, and responsibility.

3. Teamwork
Effective teamwork requires qualities such as empathy, active listening, and strong communication.

4. Organization
Organized employees typically meet deadlines, communicate with others in a timely manner and follow instructions well.

5. Adaptability
Adaptability means being flexible when encountering change. There are an increasing number of employers look for adaptable candidates, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. Leadership
Leaders are people who can organize and inspire teams to reach shared goals.

7. Technology literacy
Technology literacy refers to comfort with and ability in navigating new technology.

Review the job description carefully and identify which of your transferrable skills are most relevant to the job!

 

𝗢𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲

CRICOS 03878K | RTO 45644

————————

 Phone: (+61) 261 018 650

 Email: enquiry.act@opc.edu.au

 Website: https://opc.edu.au

 Canberra campus: Mezzanine Level, 15 Moore Street, Canberra ACT 2601

 Melbourne campus: Suite 802, Level 8, 474 Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000