Cram Time with GradConnection

GradConnection

Cram Time with GradConnection is a podcast about the graduate job search and broader early careers experience. Hosted by Karen, come along with a special guest each month to explore the advice and stories out there that could make your job search journey that little bit easier to navigate. This podcast is produced by GradConnection. Find all your graduate, internship and entry-level opportunities in one place at au.gradconnection.com

  1. 04/09/2023

    Ep 12 | The Creative, the Technical & the Top100 Experience

    What happens when you sprinkle a little bit of creativity into something highly technical? For the big season finale of our podcast, we're joined by Natalie Leroy, Computer Science & Media Arts student at UNSW and 2023 Top100 Winner (Coles IT Top100 Future Leader Award). We chat about her unique combination of majors and how they come in handy, how she's made the most of her uni life joining student societies while also becoming an academic tutor, and of course all the insider tips on her Top100 Awards experience. CHAPTERS: (Jump to (00:27) to skip the intro!) (00:42) From article writing to Minecraft - getting involved in the student society life (02:23) Animation and Computer Science - an eclectic combination (04:49) Teamwork and learning to code for a game - benefits of gaining both soft and hard skills in student socs (06:25) Actively look out for opportunities - growing up as a woman in tech (08:43) Write that down! (Tips on managing multiple priorities) (09:35) You're never too unqualified - don't be afraid to get your foot in the door! (10:33) 'Can you hear me?' Podcasting tips and interview anecdotes (13:01) Maybe I can do this! (Why I applied for the Top100 Awards) (15:58) You are going to be heard (Advice for future Top100 applicants) (16:16) All different ages, all different degrees, all different journeys (The most valuable Top100 takeaways) (17:44) Applications for the 2024 Top100 Future Leaders Awards are NOW OPEN! - bit.ly/top100-24-apply (18:28) How do you become a tutor at your university? (20:47) That 'aha!' moment - the best part of being an academic tutor (21:38) Sometimes it doesn’t always click the first time - and that's ok! (22:28) You can't really teach something you don't know (Top skills you should have as a tutor) (23:38) The best of both worlds - academia or animation? (24:55) What I can learn from as well as what I can bring to the job (What are students looking for in grad employers?) (25:48) 'It depends' (Another unanswerable round of This or That) (28:04) You can do it! - it's really that simple (29:06) 'Things will get better' - From current to first-year Natalie (30:15) Interesting for all - a relevant plug for UNSW Security Society! (30:40) Bidding adieu to Cram Time Season Two ------ APPLY FOR THE 2024 TOP100 AWARDS HERE: bit.ly/top100-24-apply ------ MUSIC & SFX: Tape Star (Shane Ivers) - silvermansound.com Light and Minimal Background (Coma-Media) - pixabay.com/music ------ Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @gradconnection! This podcast is produced by GradConnection - au.gradconnection.com Like what you hear? Don't forget to give us a follow and leave a review or rating - we really appreciate it!

    32 min
  2. 02/08/2023

    Ep 11 | Straight Into the Entry-Level

    What if your first job is not what you expected? How do you find a role that's a good fit for you personally and professionally? In the penultimate episode of the season, Asaf Ben-Or (National Business Development Manager) spills the tea on all the thoughts you'll probably have on your first job. Am I really allowed to take leave? Is the 9-5 routine all there really is to life? Plus, we chat about how authenticity plays a part in sales and what it's like to work in a client-facing role. CHAPTERS: (Jump to (00:37) to skip the intro!) (01:34) Actuarial in the actual world - not what I expected? (03:18) Graduating without a full-time job lined up (06:40) Who knows what they want to do at 18!? (07:19) What do you do when the shoe doesn't fit? (10:01) Life is stranger than fiction - being offered a job on the spot (14:00) More than just a stat - why a flexible recruiting process is a good thing (15:45) Thriving both personally and professionally - why a job in sales was the right fit (17:21) Authenticity & Sales? - a day in the life of a Business Development Manager (22:30) When you thought you were an introvert, but Myers Briggs disagrees (Top 3 skills someone working in Business Development should have) (26:35) Apply now for Summer Internships! (Quick Picks) (27:05) Don't suffer in silence - how can you best transition from uni into full-time work (30:48) Sometimes it's lonely…but people are just a message away! (How to connect with your team when you work remotely) (33:33) Am I allowed…to take leave? Taking extended leave in your first year on the job and why you shouldn't feel guilty about it! (38:57) How to get over post-holiday blues (43:01) Bali, Europe, Middle East, Japan - careers journeys from all walks of life (45:38) A very indecisive game of This(ish) or That(ish) (50:21) Not a single source of truth - the importance of getting advice from a diverse range of sources (52:20) Get involved in student societies (before it's too late!) (54:36) A grad job = a coming of age film? (Plugs and other Concluding Thoughts) ------ APPLY NOW FOR INTERNSHIPS (Quick Picks 26:35): au.gradconnection.com/internships ------ MUSIC & SFX: Tape Star (Shane Ivers) - silvermansound.com Light and Minimal Background (Coma-Media) - pixabay.com/music ------ Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @gradconnection! This podcast is produced by GradConnection - au.gradconnection.com Like what you hear? Don't forget to give us a follow and leave a review or rating - we really appreciate it!

    57 min
  3. 05/07/2023

    Ep 10 | A Recruiter Reveals - An Early Career in Law

    Law clerkships are undoubtedly competitive - but they're also supposed to be fun! Hear the recruiter's side of the story with Emma Taylor, National Resourcing Consultant - Early Careers at King & Wood Mallesons. How many law clerkship candidates are you really up against? Are grad offers for clerks guaranteed? We cover it all in part-two of our podcast series on an early career in law. CHAPTERS: (Jump to (00:40) to skip the intro!) (01:05) What's different about law recruitment? Working at McDonalds, sports teams and other transferrable skills (02:47) Over 600 applications - how many candidates are you up against really? (03:31) It's a conversation, not an interrogation (Top 3 tips when applying for law clerkships this year) (06:05) Soccer, netball, bushwalking…be passionate about things both in, and outside of law! (08:39) Dispute resolution, tax, banking and finance…which areas of law catch your eye? (09:53) What are recruiters *really* looking for in clerkship applications? (12:01) Are grad offers guaranteed? Why clerkships are your main pipeline to landing a grad role in law (13:26) The start of your long term career - how to stand out as a clerk to get hired as a grad (15:14) It's also about having fun and making friends! (16:10) Meet the Employers is BACK this July! (Register Now) (16:45) What happens if you miss out on clerkship offers? (19:55) What can you start doing now to get a head start? And other first-year law student FAQs (22:13) Manly day trips, joining the netball team and other things to look forward to (25:12) How to stand out as an introvert in law (Listener Qs) (28:08) Don't be afraid to put your hand up if you ever need help (29:05) A plug for the pod! And other concluding thoughts ------ REGISTER NOW for Meet the Employers (16:10): au.gradconnection.com/meet-the-employers/schedule LAW CLERKSHIPS ARE NOW OPEN - Apply Here: au.gradconnection.com/clerkships ------ MUSIC & SFX: Tape Star (Shane Ivers) - silvermansound.com Light and Minimal Background (Coma-Media) - pixabay.com/music ------ Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @gradconnection! This podcast is produced by GradConnection - au.gradconnection.com Like what you hear? Don't forget to give us a follow and leave a review or rating - we really appreciate it!

    32 min
  4. 31/05/2023

    Ep 9 | All You Need to Know - STEM Recruitment & Advice for International Students

    How different is the hiring process for International Students? How relevant/technical does your degree need to be for a grad role in STEM? Hear all the answers in this episode with Steven Nield, Graduate Recruitment Lead at GHD. We discuss whether the solution actually matters in group AC tasks, sponsorship and visa FAQs and why not hiring International Students means missing out on a valuable talent pool. CHAPTERS: PART ONE - STEM RECRUITMENT: (Jump to (00:41) to skip the intro!) (00:49) Engineering + HR = the perfect match? (02:57) Do grades actually matter? Should you specialise in electives? How relevant does your degree need to be for a technical role? (Top 3 tips for STEM students when applying for grad roles) (07:47) Internships vs Grad Roles - what's the difference in what recruiters look for? (09:09) Noting the numbers - how to ace the psych test for STEM roles (12:12) When do most candidates get culled? (13:27) Keep calm and carry on - don't lose your chill in one-way video interviews (16:09) The loudest voice isn't always the best - red flags to be aware of during Assessment Centres (20:09) Technical group tasks - Does the solution actually matter for STEM candidates? (21:06) Speaking of STEM - see current opportunities with Ventia! (Quick Picks) (21:36) Change for the better? Gender equity in STEM recruitment over the years (26:04) "I need a job, but I need a job that is for me" - changes in broader student sentiment PART TWO - TIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: (29:30) Is it really that different? Grad applications for International Students and how it works (32:46) "You would be mad not to do it" - why not hiring International Students means missing out on a valuable talent pool (36:58) Transparency and background checks - what can International Students and employers do to make the process easier (40:10) Sponsorships and permanent residency - debunking FAQs (41:58) Keep at it - words of advice for those still on the job hunt (44:44) Swearing in video interviews…and other anecdotes (48:46) Stay present and stay connected - why output doesn't always equal success (50:39) More of the same or something different? It's ok to let go of the things you love in your job (52:07) "They know their stuff" - PSA: engage with your university career services teams! (53:48) Going down memory lane (Concluding Thoughts and Plugs) ------ QUICK PICKS - Live On Air (21:06): Apply for Graduate Opportunities at Ventia - au.gradconnection.com/employers/ventia ------ MUSIC & SFX: Tape Star (Shane Ivers) - silvermansound.com Light and Minimal Background (Coma-Media) - pixabay.com/music ------ Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @gradconnection! This podcast is produced by GradConnection - au.gradconnection.com Like what you hear? Don't forget to give us a follow and leave a review or rating - we really appreciate it!

    55 min
  5. 03/05/2023

    Ep 8 | Surviving the Law Clerkship Hunger Games

    Missed out on clerkships in your fourth year? How can phone etiquette from your retail job help you in your professional career? How do you build clout (professionally) with senior lawyers? We answer all those questions and more in our latest episode with clerk-turned-graduate lawyer, Hannah Hurst (Graduate Lawyer, MinterEllison). Tune in to hear about the importance of first impressions while networking and how sabotaging your fellow clerks really is *not* the way to land a grad role. CHAPTERS: (Jump to (00:43) to skip the intro!) (01:17) From Wagga to Sydney - culture shocks, competitiveness and adapting to city life (04:44) Linen and law - how customer service calls can help you in your professional career (07:06) 'A whole dance' - all about the clerkship application process (08:26) Can we retake that? The challenge of one-way video interviews (10:05) Do I spy a standardised template? Top 3 clerkship application tips (13:30) They know that you don't know - importance of first impressions, networking and where to find events (16:05) (Non) Competitive Clerk Sport - a day in the life of a clerk (19:02) Don't make others look worse to make yourself look better - how to land a grad offer (23:51) Work with Oral B and Herbal Essences (Quick Picks) (24:13) Sweating, coffee and client calls - transitioning from a clerk to a grad (26:48) 'Big Kid Jobs' - top 3 things about being a law grad (28:06) A little bit more clout each time - connecting with senior lawyers as a grad (29:34) Being a pillar of support - opportunities in pro bono (33:22) Doing anything (within reason) for your client? Busting legal grad myths (Fact or Fiction) (37:38) What happens when a case doesn't align with your person morals? (39:04) Full steam ahead to being an equal with everyone - biggest challenge as a grad (40:50) Missing out on offer day - and why it's not end all and be all! (43:10) Why go that far if you don't care? Importance of asking for feedback (45:04) Being genuine to yourself (and not ChatGPT) (47:34) Mind-numbing TV shows and the Allens Podcast (Plugs & Concluding Thoughts) ------ QUICK PICKS - Live On Air (23:51): Find out more and apply to P&G's 2024 Graduate Program - au.gradconnection.com/employers/pg ------ CLERKSHIP APPLICATIONS: Keep an eye out for opportunities opening on GradConnection - au.gradconnection.com/clerkships ------ MUSIC & SFX: Tape Star (Shane Ivers) - silvermansound.com Light and Minimal Background (Coma-Media) - pixabay.com/music ------ Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @gradconnection! Like what you hear? Don't forget to give us a follow and leave a review or rating - we really appreciate it!

    50 min
  6. 05/04/2023

    Ep 7 | A Grad Tells - Perspectives from an Engineering Grad

    In this episode, we finally get to hear from the source itself - a current grad! Join us as Sydney Daelo (Graduate Civil Engineer, AECOM) shares all about her experience going from an engineering internship to successfully landing a graduate role in the same company. We chat about tips on getting your foot in the door with only retail experience, the top three benefits of being a part of a grad program and knowing when (or when not) to ask for help! CHAPTERS: (Jump to (00:37) to skip the intro!) (01:44) 'But I only have retail experience…' - how to land that first internship (03:45) Acing the application process - psych tests, panel interviews and ACs (05:45) So…do you like your job? Questions YOU should ask the recruiter! (07:38) Stay positive! How to stand out as an intern to be hired as a grad (10:56) Building bridges and train stations - A day in the life of a structural engineer (14:15) Someone to ask awkward questions to! Top 3 benefits of being in a grad program (16:23) Make your hours of endless scrolling productive - apply to TikTok's Graduate Program! (Quick Picks) (16:55) Responsibilities, deadlines and autonomy - challenges of transitioning from an intern to a grad (18:15) How do you solve a problem like a grad? Knowing when or when not to ask for help (20:24) Being the only female engineer in your internship - what it's like to be a woman in STEM (22:50) Where to next? Enjoyment > everything else (25:46) Not a rotations fan (This or That) (29:29) The learning never stops - why it's important to keep an open mind! (30:57) Good luck! And other concluding thoughts ------ QUICK PICKS - Live On Air (16:23): Learn more and apply now - TikTok Graduate Roles: au.gradconnection.com/employers/tiktok ------ MUSIC & SFX: Tape Star (Shane Ivers) - silvermansound.com Light and Minimal Background (Coma-Media) - pixabay.com/music ------ Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @gradconnection! Like what you hear? Don't forget to give us a follow and leave a review or rating - we really appreciate it!

    32 min
  7. Ep 6 | Applying for Grad Programs 101 - Top Tips from a Recruiter

    27/02/2023

    Ep 6 | Applying for Grad Programs 101 - Top Tips from a Recruiter

    Did we interrupt your graduate or internship program browsing? Then this podcast episode is for you! In our Season 2 premiere of Cram Time with GradConnection, we're joined by expert grad recruiter Kelly Pfeffer (Graduate Talent Lead, Suncorp Group), who shares all you need to know this peak recruitment season. Should grads ask for a higher salary? Are you at a disadvantage if you haven't already done an internship? What ARE recruiters really looking for in psych tests? Tune in as we answer all these questions and more! CHAPTERS: (Jump to (00:54) to skip the intro!) (01:44) Why graduate recruitment? (03:18) Top three must-knows when applying for grad programs in 2023! (06:32) Resumes vs Cover Letters - what to put and where (08:50) Don't meet all the criteria? Don't dismiss yourself! (10:34) Radio silence - when can you expect to hear back from employers? (13:43) Meet top grad employers this March!  (14:17) There's no 'right' answer - psychology behind Psychometric Tests (17:04) Dialling it up or down - how to ace the Group Task (20:12) Reneging respectfully, or rather, not at all (23:56) YOUR questions answered - making a good first impression on the job and more (27:12) Busting grad myths - Should you settle or ask for a higher salary? Are you at a disadvantage if you haven't done an internship? (Fact or Fiction) (33:43) It might go right, or it might not - the importance of self-belief (35:35) Chris Hemsworth, overcoming fear and concluding thoughts MEET THE EMPLOYERS - Virtual Networking Event (13:43) Don't miss out - register here: bit.ly/meet-the-employers_pod23 ------ MUSIC & SFX: Tape Star (Shane Ivers) - silvermansound.com Light and Minimal Background (Coma-Media) - pixabay.com/music Figure It Out - Bass - freesound.org/s/253938/ ------ Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @gradconnection! Like what you hear? Don't forget to give us a follow and leave a review or rating - we really appreciate it!

    39 min
  8. Ep 5 | Grad Recruitment Through The Years

    19/12/2022

    Ep 5 | Grad Recruitment Through The Years

    Ever dreamed of starting your own company? Are you start-up curious? In our final podcast episode of the season, GradConnection's co-founder and General Manager, Dan Purchas shares the story of how GradConnection came to be. Tune in to hear how the rise of the internet changed the grad recruitment market, the importance of resilience when building your own company and having the confidence to reach out even when you have zero credibility. CHAPTERS: (Jump to (00:43) to skip the intro) (02:41) Beginnings as a Westpac Grad - doing excel for old guys, managing IT projects and being seconded from NZ to Australia (04:15) GradConnection - The Origin Story (08:40) Have you heard of this thing called online job search? (10:05) Weta Digital, Lord of the Rings and ways employers advertised grad programs (11:00) Helpful naivety, zero credibility and the process of building a company from the ground up (14:01) What type of mindset do you need to launch a successful start-up? (14:43) Don't be scared to share - the importance of an iterative process (16:17) NewsCorp, SEEK and interested investors - is it too much too soon? (18:46) Is a grad job or internship on your Christmas wish list? (Quick Picks) (20:08) Goodbye phonebooks - the rise of the internet in graduate recruitment (23:54) Getting over the job search hurdle - changing student sentiments and how GradConnection has helped (27:34) How our merge with SEEK helps you! (32:48) Should you accept your first offer? A higher salary ≠ a better position (34:38) We're all friends here - being a leader and the importance of fostering a great team culture (37:22) Hard lessons are part of the journey (39:27) Sneaker side hustles, 'bad' job advice and concluding plugs ----- QUICK PICKS - Live on Air (18:46) BCG - Graduate Consultant: au.gradconnection.com/employers/bcg Cisco - Site Reliability Engineer Intern: au.gradconnection.com/employers/cisco Ampol - Electrical Engineering Graduate Program 2023: au.gradconnection.com/employers/ampol ------ MUSIC: Tape Star (Shane Ivers) - silvermansound.com Light and Minimal Background (Coma-Media) - pixabay.com/music ------ Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @gradconnection! Like what you hear? Don't forget to give us a follow and leave a review or rating - we really appreciate it!

    44 min

About

Cram Time with GradConnection is a podcast about the graduate job search and broader early careers experience. Hosted by Karen, come along with a special guest each month to explore the advice and stories out there that could make your job search journey that little bit easier to navigate. This podcast is produced by GradConnection. Find all your graduate, internship and entry-level opportunities in one place at au.gradconnection.com