Zygaverse Blogs Helping you understand the power of your personal brandhttps://app.zygaverse.com/BlogUniversity Freelancers and the Gig Economyhttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/24/freelancersBlog &amp; Latest NewsWed, 23 Aug 2017 04:53:30 GMT<p id="e05f" name="e05f"><strong>Why you should consider becoming a University Freelancer</strong></p> <p id="56fd" name="56fd">Most of us have experienced or are experiencing what it&rsquo;s like to be an undergraduate or fresh graduate. It&rsquo;s hard. You are time poor as a result of university requirements and have to work part-time to support yourself. Usually, your job is in a completely unrelated industry to the one you&rsquo;re studying because it&rsquo;s hard enough to find employers that work with your university schedule, let alone finding ones that align with your studies.</p> <p id="a3dd" name="a3dd">If you&rsquo;ve graduated you realize the difficulty associated with getting a job. Majority of employers advertise for people that have previous experience. This leaves you on the daunting hunt for a job, a qualified graduate working part-time at a supermarket, wondering when your golden opportunity will come. In a recent survey by Graduate Careers Australia, 50% of graduates were still looking for a full-time job 12 months after graduation.</p> <p id="1809" name="1809">The Gig Economy refers to the transition from formal employment modes such as part-time or full-time work, to engaging people on a freelance or service basis. This means that companies and businesses are starting to look for freelancers that they can outsource to. It&rsquo;s estimated that in 2020 40% of the US workforce will become freelancers.</p> <p id="3b94" name="3b94">Freelancing, or working independently while you study gives you real-world experience in your industry that is synergistic to the theoretical knowledge you learn at university. This actually reinforces what you are learning. Freelancing also allows you to learn many other business skills and gives you the opportunity to build a portfolio which can make you more employable. Other freelance benefits include:</p> <p id="505c" name="505c">&middot; Generating real-world client networks;</p> <p id="ce48" name="ce48">&middot; Developing your knowledge of real-world business practices and;</p> <p id="f3c3" name="f3c3">&middot; Providing services that you can charge for.</p> <p id="6e0d" name="6e0d">Certain undergraduates can set up as a freelancer depending on the degree they are studying. Graphic design, social media management, web development, and content creation are some examples of services that can be provided by undergraduate freelancers. Services that require formal qualifications including medicine, law, and engineering would require a freelancer (or independent contractor) at a graduate level.</p> <p id="9950" name="9950"><strong>Setting up as a University Freelancer:</strong><br /> To set up as a university freelancer there are a few things you need to know. Essentially you are an independent contractor working for yourself which means that you have to set up as your own business. This is easily done and ABN registrations cost no more than $40 a year. You will need to complete your ABN registration online and then you can link a business name to your ABN.</p> <p id="0a6e" name="0a6e">Working for yourself gives you freedom, independence and can become a very good source of income. This can become your full-time income or some after-hours work that you can it into your spare time.</p> <p id="1714" name="1714">By doing this you will effectively be creating your own personal brand, generating real-world experience and charging your own price for services that you are a specialist at.</p> <p id="92fc" name="92fc">We are promoting university freelancers on our website&nbsp;<a data-href="http://www.internme.com.au" href="https://zygauni.com/Contact-Us1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">contact us</a>&nbsp;to generate opportunities for people that want to capitalize on the Gig Economy movement.</p> <p id="6bc9" name="6bc9">Jayden Kafanelis,&nbsp;<br /> ZygaUni Australia</p> 24Emotional Intelligence: Don’t Concentrate on IQ, Focus on EQ.https://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/20/emotional-intelligence-dont-concentrate-on-iq-focus-on-eqBlog &amp; Latest NewsTue, 25 Apr 2017 11:07:43 GMT<p><em>&ldquo;Your EQ is a bigger predictor of your success than your IQ&rdquo;</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Empathy Quotient (EQ) is distinct and unrelated to your Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and relates to an individual&rsquo;s emotional intelligence (EI). The term emotional intelligence was first coined by Michael Beldoch in a 1961 paper submitted to a Psychotherapeutic Journal. Since then many psychologists have published research adding to this body of work in an effort to ascertain the importance of EQ, quantify it and develop it, and it turns out that EQ is kind of important.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>EQ and Financial Success</strong></p> <p>Studies by the Carnegie Institute of Technology revealed that 85% of your financial success is related to your skills in &ldquo;human engineering&rdquo; which includes your personality and your communication, negotiation and leadership abilities. 15% of this financial success was attributed to technical knowledge. Interestingly the former qualities in relation to earning potential are heavily associated with a person&rsquo;s EQ.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>EQ and Business </strong></p> <p>Daniel Kahneman, an American Psychologist found that people would rather do business with someone that they like and trust over someone they don&rsquo;t, even if the likeable person is offering a lower quality product at a higher price. This finding demonstrates the impact of emotional intelligence in the form of relationship management throughout the business setting and proves that high EQ interpersonal skills are essential if not necessary for successful business.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>EQ and Negotiation</strong><br /> Research done by Shapiro &amp; Fisher (2005) demonstrated that negative emotions can impede the negotiation process whereas positive emotions can enhance it. Negotiations without emotion are empty transactions and can be unfulfilling. In legal dispute settings (Kelly and Kaminskiene, 2016) highlighted the use of positive emotions with regard to negotiation outcomes stating that emotions such as happiness, joy and acceptance enhanced decision making, stimulated creative problem solving and increased joint gains. High EQ individuals naturally engage in the use of their &ldquo;emotional tools&rdquo; and as such are universally effective negotiators.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>EQ and Leadership</strong></p> <p>High degrees of emotional intelligence have been associated with effective leadership. A study conducted by Mittal and Sindu (2012) explored the extent to which emotion is involved with leadership qualities. Their findings highlighted the integration of emotion with leadership which involved qualities such as empathy, communication, decision making, self-awareness and the ability of a leader to relate with people. All of these are traits of emotional intelligence.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>EQ and Performance</strong></p> <p><strong><em>Academic</em></strong><br /> In a study done by Parker et al. (2004) the relationship between student&rsquo;s academic achievements and their emotional intelligence was explored. No significant relationship between the two was observed however subscales of emotional intelligence including intrapersonal, adaptability and stress management were moderate predictors of success. &ldquo;These variables were better predictors of first-year university GPA than high school GPA&rdquo;.</p> <p><strong><em>Work:</em></strong></p> <p>Emotional intelligence has been positively correlated with job performance in research conducted by Shahhosseini et al. (2012). Increases in job performance were attributed to an individual&rsquo;s emotional intelligence which contributed to innovational creativity and the facilitation of communication within the organisation. TalentSmart also conducted a similar study and found that EQ accounted for 58% of job success.</p> <p>EQ&rsquo;s significance becomes apparent through its implications in all forms of success including financial, job-related, business development, negotiating power, leadership and interpersonal relationship satisfaction- it even promotes healthier marriages (Schutte et al., 2001).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>So&hellip; What is Emotional Intelligence?</strong></p> <p>Emotional intelligence refers to a person&rsquo;s ability to manage, control and understand their own emotions as well as being aware of the emotions of the people around them. In doing so this allows individuals to adapt and change their behaviour to suit the environment they are in and to guide their thinking toward a more beneficial outcome. This outcome may relate to a difficult decision, job performance, interpersonal relationships or even better self-management (etc.). Another point to note is that EI is a branch of social intelligence which refers to the ability of getting along well with others and promoting co-operation.</p> <p>Daniel Goleman, a leading psychologist developed a model that broke EQ down into 4 quadrants in an effort to quantify EQ and allow individuals to self -assess.<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p><strong><img alt="" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.psychometric-success.com/images/EI0201.gif" style="width: 520px; height: 404px;" title="" /></strong></p> <p><em><strong>Source: Daniel Goleman (Emotional Intelligence)</strong></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>The Significance of Emotion</strong></p> <p>In my previous article &ldquo;You Don&rsquo;t Always Say What You Say and Here&rsquo;s Why&rdquo; I highlighted the phenomena of facial mimicry and emotional contagion which alluded to the fact that you can change someone&rsquo;s physiology through emotional expressions. To add to this, Frijda &amp; Mesquita (1994) demonstrated that emotions may join people together, repel people from each other, promote strong interpersonal bonds and are important to maintain co-operative relationships.&nbsp; Further research by Clark et al. (1996) implies that emotional expressions influence individual&rsquo;s character judgements about a person. Van Kleef et al. (2004) even demonstrated that emotional expressions evoke complementary and reciprocal attitudes and cognitions in others.</p> <p>It&rsquo;s undeniable that emotions play a significant role in interpersonal interactions which are a fundamental and unavoidable part of life. As such developing your emotional intelligence is a necessity. Understanding emotion is of paramount significance if you wish to maximise the positive relationships or encounters that you engage in. Professional opportunities and business prospects arise within personal networks and chance encounters. As mentioned earlier people have a higher affinity to do business with someone they like.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Developing your Emotional Intelligence</strong></p> <p>Luckily, due to neural plasticity EQ is something that can be developed. An article published in &ldquo;Mindful&rdquo; cites neurobiologist Richard Davidson&rsquo;s work which demonstrates the relationship of the Left Prefrontal Cortex (LPC) and the amygdala (integrative centre for emotions). As such emotions are linked in with consciousness giving them the capacity to be somewhat &ldquo;managed&rdquo;. &nbsp;</p> <p>There are many positive traits associated with emotional intelligence including but not limited to extraversion, confidence and conscientiousness as determined by studies. However to increase EQ universally we will look at Salovey and Mayer&rsquo;s four proposed branches of emotional intelligence: Perceiving Emotions, Reasoning with Emotions, Understanding Emotions and Managing Emotions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ol> <li><strong>Perceiving Emotions:</strong><br /> To understand emotions you first to have to perceive them. Since majority of communication is non-verbal (See &ldquo;You Don&rsquo;t Always Say what You Say and Here&rsquo;s Why), this can be improved by becoming aware body language cues and emotional expressions. Next time you are with someone practise observing how they are carrying themselves and what they are doing with their body. Also pay close attention to their facial expressions as this is a by-product of emotion. Becoming conscious of these non-verbal cues will help to bring awareness to people&rsquo;s underlying emotional states.</li> </ol> <p><br /> Other emotions that need to be perceived are of course your own as they can significantly affect how you interact with other people and how you navigate your own life. Practise introspection and take time to become aware of your own emotional states as they are happening. The more you know about yourself and your habits the easier it is to improve in this area.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ol> <li value="2"><strong>Reasoning with Emotions:</strong></li> </ol> <p>The perceptions of emotions allow us to determine best how to deal with them or use them in a positive way. Emotional responses occur to things that we give attention to, but more importantly can be mediated by conscious thought. Knowing this it&rsquo;s important to promote logical thinking and cognitive activity which shifts the emotional cascade down a different path. For the emotions that may not easily be overcome it is important to accept them for what they are and acknowledge the reason for them existing. Emotions are temporary and the bad will inevitably pass, this is where patience does prove to be a virtue. Interestingly, a book called &ldquo;The Power of Now&rdquo; attributes many negative emotions to irrational thoughts relating to the past or future. Becoming aware of how emotions are affecting you in the present moment allows you to better reason with yourself and the circumstances you are in.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ol> <li value="3"><strong>Understanding Emotions:</strong></li> </ol> <p>Emotions that we perceive can be due to many different underlying reasons. Being able to detect what emotion someone is expressing, or even emotions that you are experiencing is one thing. Understanding them is another.</p> <p>Self-Analysis will help to give meaning to your own emotional states and this is something only you have the power to do. Taking the time to focus on yourself and understanding what brings about the emotions you experience is invaluable if you are to ever change the emotional loops you experience. &ldquo;Know thyself&rdquo; was a common aphorism amongst Greek philosophers. If, however you feel that you need a bit of help understanding them don&rsquo;t hesitate to call on professionals. Objective feedback in the realm of subjectivity may prove to be the most valuable insights that you come across.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Understanding the emotions of others is just as important. This is where building empathy is a must. Putting yourself in their shoes is the simplest way to understand another. If you are unsure of why a person is experiencing certain emotions take the time to engage with them in a conversation and listen to what they have to say. Becoming sensitive and understanding to them and their feelings will not only develop rapport but will also allow you to effectively navigate this interaction.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ol> <li value="4"><strong>Managing Emotions:</strong></li> </ol> <p>Being able to manage your emotions and the people around you effectively is arguably one of the most valuable abilities someone can have and is a hallmark of emotional intelligence.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Emotional regulation refers to the capacity to regulate your own emotions and the people&rsquo;s emotions around you. Examples of this include making yourself happy by thinking of a pleasurable experience or causing someone to become angry by criticising them. Common strategies used to shift or negate personal emotional states include changing your perception of the current situation or engaging in pleasurable behaviours to occupy yourself. A good way to &ldquo;reset&rdquo; is to completely focus your attention onto your senses (ie. touch, vision or hearing) which forms the basis of the well-known emotional regulatory tool- meditation. Other strategies include varying your posture and facial expressions. In fact, research demonstrates that different facial expressions cause physiological changes in your body, meaning that you can theoretically influence your emotional state by changing the expressions on your face.<br /> <br /> Managing the people&rsquo;s emotions around you has a lot to do with empathising and understanding them as a person. By knowing this you are able to work with them toward a more positive outcome.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Emotions contribute immensely to our behaviours, mentality and the interactions we engage in. By understanding and acknowledging them you are able to dramatically benefit many aspects of your life.</p> <p>&ldquo;Rule your mind or it will rule you&rdquo; &ndash;Buddha</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Jayden Kafanelis</p> <p>Jayden@internme.com.au</p> 20Why First Impressions are More Important Than You Thoughthttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/19/why-first-impressions-are-more-important-than-you-thoughtBlog &amp; Latest NewsTue, 25 Apr 2017 11:01:36 GMT<p><strong>&ldquo;First impressions only happen once and you don&rsquo;t get a second chance&rdquo;</strong></p> <p>We meet people every day and are constantly crossing paths with strangers. The initial observation of someone, even if only made briefly can have long lasting effects. The science behind first impressions proved to be significant when research presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) annual conference demonstrated that someone&rsquo;s appearance when you meet them can potentially alter the subsequent relationship you develop with them. Interestingly, the extent to which you end up liking someone and even how trustworthy we perceive them to be were all linked back to the all-important first impression.</p> <p>Research conducted by Rule and Colleague also implied that our gut instinct of someone, that we base off their appearance, initially over-rules what we already know about the person. Even though your resume may compare your intelligence with Einstein and liken your motivation and organisation to Elon Musk, if you arrive to the interview looking shabby with messy hair, ill-fitted pants and worn out shoes be prepared to sway someone&rsquo;s judgement of you. Recent findings in psychology just highlighted that what you know about someone doesn&rsquo;t matter when you first observe them and are forced to make a quick judgement based on their appearance.</p> <p><strong>Perfecting your appearance:</strong></p> <p>Knowing the importance of this, we can and should capitalise on our first encounters by assessing and improving on our physical appearance (Also see &ldquo;You Don&rsquo;t Always Say What You Say and Here&rsquo;s Why&rdquo; to understand what your body language conveys).</p> <p>Obvious targets of these improvements are fresh haircuts, cleaning up facial hair, dressing formally with well-fitted ironed clothes, polishing up your shoes and even add-ons such as jewellery and wristwatches can help to portray some potentially beneficial information about the type of individual you are to the employer (maybe that&rsquo;s why they call it&nbsp;<em>smart</em>&nbsp;casual).</p> <p>Another thing that females can manipulate concerning their physical appearance is their make-up. It&rsquo;s no secret that pretty girls get what they want, but it may come as a surprise to you that science also backs this up. Social psychology experiments on attractiveness were carried out in court-rooms where a jury rated the physical attractiveness of a person on trial and then went on to note down the results of the hearing. It was found that there was a correlation between the degree of someones physical attractiveness and favourable outcomes that went their way in court hearings. This wasn&rsquo;t due to chance.</p> <p>Your physical appearance combined with how attractive you can make yourself has the ability to completely sway another person&rsquo;s view of you while simultaneously giving you more influence over decisions involving you.</p> <p><strong>Colours</strong></p> <p>Colours are also interesting in that they have their own associated psychology surrounding them. Within 90 seconds, people usually make up their mind about a product or a person and 62&ndash;92% of their assessment relates to colours alone. The importance of colours stems from their ability to influence feelings and moods, both positively and negatively.</p> <p>Have you ever realised that fast food chains like McDonalds, KFC and Hungry Jacks all contain red and yellow in their logo and plastered around their buildings? This is because marketers have studied the impact of colour when branding companies and products. Red is used because it stimulates appetite, hunger and attracts attention. Yellow is used because it elicits feelings of happiness and friendliness.</p> <p>Colours are another thing that can be altered concerning your physical appearance when taking into account the importance of first impressions.</p> <p>Black is associated with authority, strength and power which in turn when worn as clothing may give off the impression that you are unapproachable and can be intimidating. It can however be seen as sophisticated and convey to people that you have leadership qualities which is necessary for some industries.</p> <p>The colour blue is associated with calmness, stability and reliability, is seen as non-threatening and has even been demonstrated in experiments to elicit the most pleasurable emotional reaction when compared with other primary colours. Knowing how different colours are perceived by people is important and can ultimately affect the dynamic of an interview or encounter.</p> <p>Navy blue is thought to be the best option for the majority of interviews as it also conveys confidence, trust and still maintains a degree of authority. It makes sense. Have you ever walked past someone in a black suit and felt like they wanted to be left alone, are unapproachable and potentially intimidating? Whereas walking past someone in a navy blue or blue suit gives off a friendlier vibe and it feels like they are more approachable and likeable? Take note of how the physical appearance of individuals you walk passed affects your perception of them and use this introspection to guide the way you would like to present yourself to interviewers, colleagues, strangers or even friends.</p> <p><strong>Broader Implications</strong></p> <p>Be aware that wearing black suits with $10,000 wristwatches along with an overly forceful handshake and a 10 second unflinching stare may give off the impression to your employer that you&rsquo;re gang banging with Al Pacino and can potentially intimidate them. Don&rsquo;t intimidate your employer, befriend them. Navy Blue suits, perfect handshakes, nonchalant jewellery, appropriate eye contact and open body language makes you a lot more approachable and likeable to an employer, and if they like you they are going to want to keep you around.</p> <p>There&rsquo;s more to meeting someone than a simple hello, keep this in mind.</p> <p>Jayden Kafanelis</p> <p>Executive Director of InternMe Australia</p> <p>E: info@internme.com.au</p> 19What University Doesn’t Teach You https://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/18/what-university-doesnt-teach-youBlog &amp; Latest NewsTue, 25 Apr 2017 11:00:22 GMT<p align="center">&ldquo;The best University is the University of Life&rdquo;</p> <p>University is the globally recognized body for higher education with infinite amounts of knowledge in the form of books, libraries, coursework and access to some of the smartest people you will ever cross paths with. But there&rsquo;s a few lessons it doesn&rsquo;t provide and that is real world experience and exposure to the practical aspects of what you learn. Also, it&rsquo;s important to note that university doesn&rsquo;t teach you what it doesn&rsquo;t teach you. Fundamentals of life from communication skills, networking, the development of interpersonal relationships, autonomy and even understanding emotional intelligence arguably contribute much more to a person&rsquo;s success than that HD you received for Advanced Nerve and Muscle Physiology.</p> <p>In the educational realm high course marks and academic awards are of paramount significance and prove that you are in fact a distinguished individual with the capacity to learn and understand any theory you come across. As a result these marks may give rise to some potential real world opportunities and will give you a chance or a foot in the door so that you can prove yourself to an interviewer, prospective employer or business partner.</p> <p>However this is as far as these marks will probably take you. The next steps after this are completely dissociated from anything that university ever taught you. In the real world academic achievements and high distinction averages are silenced. It may come as a surprise to realise that George Bush, the former president of the United States of America was a C student in college.</p> <p>It&rsquo;s important to recognise that university is not the be all and end all with regards to the ultimate amount of success you end up achieving in life. If anything though, high marks and awards are a testament to some positive attributes that you have already developed. These include persistence, a willingness to learn, passion, motivation, discipline and a degree of baseline intelligence which are definitely a value add to any other journey you pursue in life. The person that can utilise these skills in every other aspect of life is a person that will do remarkable things.</p> <p>Self-directed learning on topics that you may not get formally taught (eg. How to successfully network) and doing something you are passionate about are the foundations required to achieve anything extraordinary. Initiative and creativity can be developed if someone is willing and these are among some of the things that will separate you out from the conforming masses.<br /> <br /> Interestingly the most valuable lessons in life are taught by yourself, to yourself. You are surrounded by knowledge, novel events and diverse life experiences every day and what you get out of this is ultimately what you want to get out of this. Be curious, be passionate and always challenge yourself. Always take note of the real world lessons that life bestows upon you and never be scared to try something new. To fail in anything is a gift, because under that failure is a lesson that can only be taught in that way.</p> <p>If people studied life like they studied their degree their ultimate success would far exceed the paper certificate awarded upon degree completions.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Jayden Kafanelis</p> <p><a href="mailto:Jayden@internme.com.au">Jayden@internme.com.au</a><br /> &nbsp;</p> 18Developing Your Ability to Learnhttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/17/developing-your-ability-to-learnBlog &amp; Latest NewsTue, 25 Apr 2017 10:57:33 GMT<p name="e088">Learning is one of the most important aspects of life and takes shape in many forms,whether it is motor learning in the form of skill development or knowledge acquisition through cognition. As such an emphasis should be placed on the development of this ability. Provided below are some proven techniques associated with memory retention and techniques that can be used to extract a deeper level of knowledge from information presented.</p> <h4 name="1156"><strong>Handwriting and&nbsp;Drawing</strong></h4> <p name="d999">Experiments done in 1979 by Hulme showed the extent of a child&rsquo;s learning in two different scenarios. In one group children were presented with abstract graphic forms which they observed and were told to memorise. Another group was presented with the same abstract forms and instructed to trace them with their finger. The tracing group demonstrated better memorisation of the abstract graphics. Handwriting has also been proven to facilitate the memory of graphic forms (Naka and Naoi,1995). These results may be due to the integration of sensorimotor input as documented research highlights the strong neural associations of vision and proprioception between perceiving, reading and writing (Mangen and Velay, 2010); Meaning that engaging in handwriting and drawing may add another layer of integration to information stored in the brain therefore strengthening neuronal connections involved in memory retrieval.</p> <p name="b82c"><strong>Tip:</strong> Handwriting out notes and drawing diagrams may boost learning through a combination of sensorimotor input and selective attention which results in stronger neural networks that strengthen memory.</p> <h4 name="ae10"><strong>Study Partners and Peer&nbsp;groups</strong></h4> <p name="49e8">In one of my previous articles on academic excellence I interviewed 4 very high achieving students and questioned them on their study techniques. Studying with a group, teaching friends and being able to shoot a quick message to a peer for some help were all techniques they had utilized. Benefits of having a network of studious peers to work with include:</p> <p name="a3b9">&middot; Having the ability to test each other&rsquo;s knowledge through elaborative interrogation and practise testing techniques.</p> <p name="4f00">&middot; Learning content from peers that you may struggle with</p> <p name="a040">&middot; An ability to teach others, which can help you learn</p> <p name="7b4f">&middot; Discussing concepts and information with each other- keeping in mind that memory retrieval strengthens retention.</p> <p name="0a12"><strong>Tip: </strong>Investing time in people that are motivated and like-minded will pay off academically.</p> <figure name="6355"> <p><img data-height="750" data-image-id="1*hm2b6Oe0c5kzOK-UWLgGhQ.jpeg" data-width="1000" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*hm2b6Oe0c5kzOK-UWLgGhQ.jpeg" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </figure> <p name="7ae7">Some other well-known study methods are explored in Dunlosky et al.&rsquo;s review &ldquo;Improving students learning with effective learning techniques&rdquo;. Educational psychologists conducted this research in an effort to improve learning outcomes. Highlighted below are some evidence based techniques that improved cognitive learning.</p> <p name="f1bb"><strong>1.</strong> <strong>Elaborative Interrogation: &ldquo;Why?&rdquo;</strong></p> <p name="0ee0">Elaborative Interrogation is a process of learning relating to the questioning of explicit facts that results in a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Explanatory questioning has been shown to promote learning (measured via test scores which showed on average a 20% increase in test performance) across many age groups and is thought to work via integrating new information with prior knowledge. This learning technique is concerned with the understanding of &ldquo;why&rdquo; an explicitly stated fact is true. For example, in science it is well known that electrons orbit the nucleus; Elaborative interrogation would pose the question &ldquo;Why do electrons orbit the nucleus&rdquo;. By applying this theory to content you are trying to learn you will understand your content better and therefore be able to semantically organise it more efficiently allowing for better recall and learning.</p> <p name="4d65"><strong>Tip:</strong> Understanding your content is different to knowing your content</p> <p name="78bd"><strong>2.</strong> <strong>Self Explanation</strong></p> <p name="3cbd">Self explanation is a similar learning technique to elaborative interrogation as it involves individuals explaining to themselves aspects of their learning process as they are doing it. Berry (1983) proved its effectiveness through a logical reasoning experiment in which the self-explanation learning group performed better than the control groups measured by problem solving accuracy. In abstract testing conditions individuals that utilised concurrent self explanation performed roughly 55% better than those that did not. Like elaborative interrogation it strengthens learning through integrating new information with existing information. Self explanation prompts learners to work through their material in an organised and meaningful way. Prompts like:</p> <p name="532e">- Explain what the sentence means to you</p> <p name="1ca7">- What new information does the sentence provide for you?</p> <p name="80d7">- How does it relate to what you already know?</p> <p name="1c81">Can be used to develop a deeper understanding of the content you are trying to learn which increases your ability to organise and recall the new information.</p> <p name="67ae"><strong>Tip:</strong> Extract as much as you can from information presented to you to improve semantic organisation of content.</p> <p name="648c"><strong>3.</strong> <strong>Summarisation and Note Taking</strong></p> <p name="a74e">Summarisation is a technique used to break down large chunks of text and has been shown to improve the understanding and learning of presented content. In studies done by Bretzing and Kulhavy students that were asked to write down three main summarising points per page of text; or take three lines of notes per page performed better in tests than students that only read the text or copied out important areas of the text. This was demonstrated by a 10% increase in correct responses for students employing the former. The proposed mechanism of summarisations learning potential is attributed to an individual becoming attentive to the information presented and extracting a higher level of meaning.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<strong>Tip:</strong> Summarise large chunks of information as concisely as possible by using 3 dot points to extrapolate the main content of the text.</p> <p name="cc9b">4. <strong>Highlighting and Underlining</strong></p> <p name="f2f2">Studies mentioned in the Dunlosky et al.&rsquo;s review showed that highlighting vs. no highlighting as study techniques to recall information in a test scenario yielded similar results. There were no advantages for highlighting. In circumstances where the students highlighted material that subsequently appeared on the following test, responses were more accurate however this was at a cost as test items that referred to content that had not been highlighted were answered poorly. Conversely students that participated in Fowler and Barker&rsquo;s (1974) test group demonstrated that too much highlighting was correlated with lower test scores, however this was not statistically significant. Further studies reviewed by Dunlosky et al. showed that marking one sentence or one line per paragraph resulted in better recall of the content (thought to be due to students selectively attending to and processing information), however did not translate to better overall performance.</p> <p name="333f"><strong>Tip:</strong> Over-highlighting may prove to be detrimental and highlighting in general may cause you to lose out on other important information; however highlighting 1&ndash;2 lines per paragraph can benefit the recall of content.</p> <p name="a1dd"><strong>5.</strong> <strong>Rereading</strong></p> <p name="4168">Rereading is a widely used study technique by many students and undergraduates. A study done by Rothkopf (1968) demonstrated that cloze test performance improved as a function of the amount of rereading that an individual undertook. No rereading resulted in 35% correct test responses whereas 2 rereading&rsquo;s improved correct responses to 45%.</p> <p name="96d7"><strong>Tip:</strong> Read important content twice over to increase retention.</p> <p name="fdd1"><strong>6.</strong> <strong>Practise testing</strong></p> <p name="2c0c">This includes using flashcards to test the recall of information, participating in practise tests or answering questions at the end of textbook chapters. Utilising these techniques betters the mental organisation of information and helps to distinguish characteristic aspects of information. Studies done on practise testing showed a 17% average increase on test performance across a diverse group of students that employed practise testing one day or one week after learning the initial content. This learning technique not only involves benefitting memory retention but also comprehension Butler (2010).</p> <p name="d21e"><strong>Tip:</strong> Actively participate in learning through challenging stimuli</p> <p name="cdbe"><strong>Frequency of Study</strong></p> <p name="4d48">Another aspect of studying that can influence learning is the mode of study. Groups of researchers sought to find the optimal study mode that ensured better retention of information. Highlighted below is the spacing effect.</p> <p name="7cd9"><strong>The Spacing Effect</strong> (Ebbinghaus)<br /> &nbsp;The spacing effect refers to revisiting study material after a delay opposed to learning in a once off single bout (massing) and revisiting in a cramming session. It has been shown to improve long term memory for the learning of educational content and a variety of other information. Mechanistically it increases memory retention by activating memory retrieval pathways and solidifying them. Pyc and Rawson (2009) proved that increasing the successful number of retrievals related to an increase in long term retention. Evidence in Kang&rsquo;s (2016) paper highlighted that the optimal delay is 10&ndash;20% of the testing interval, meaning that if you were being tested in a week a one day lag would be sufficient whereas if your test was in one year a 1&ndash;2 month spacing gap before reviewing material produced the best results. Multiple revisions at equally spaced intervals yielded the highest test results.</p> <p name="a692"><strong>Tip:</strong> Knowing this it may be useful to develop a study plan template where you can organise and categorise the studying of information you would like to learn, whether it is information for a presentation, exam or assignment.</p> <p name="0492">Learning is an infinite and timeless process and to reap the rewards, is a process that must be engaged in regularly despite reaching an academic end point. There are many lessons taught from life that are generated from outside the classroom and far away from university buildings. Although this article focuses purely on study techniques for academic environments the implications of the research below are widely applicable to all areas of life as it provides tools for understanding and memorizing information that may prove to be significant, whatever its personal relevance.</p> <p name="3e5a">Jayden Kafanelis&nbsp;<br /> Executive Director of InternMe Australia</p> <p name="4331">Jayden@internme.com.au</p> 17Your Network is Your Worth, Invest in Ithttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/16/your-network-is-your-worth-invest-in-itBlog &amp; Latest NewsTue, 25 Apr 2017 10:55:37 GMT<p>Networking is one of the most valuable aspects of business and professional development. Everyone you converse with regarding business advice always seems to suggest the importance of networking, networking and more networking. It may seem superficial and underrated but when you delve into the benefits that arise from it, the significance becomes apparent.</p> <p>After reading the following list your perception on networking will inevitably change as you begin to realise that it is a necessity, not an option if you plan to be associated with any substantial form of success.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;Listed below are some key elements of networking:<br /> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<strong>1. Connections</strong><br /> &nbsp;Every individual you meet has something to offer whether it be proverbial wisdom or thousands of dollars of revenue. Initially their purpose in your life may not be apparent but if you can see good qualities, potentially valuable personality traits and can align them somewhere in your future, formulating a professional, sincere and caring relationship with them provides an optimal environment for a symbiotic exchange of information, assistance and even referrals to companies or other influential people.</p> <p><strong>2. Advice</strong></p> <p>Another important aspect of networking is meeting people that can give you advice. Congregating with like-minded individuals with similar goals and repertoires of business and corporate related skills that they have developed over years provides you with human scaffolding that can take your subject knowledge to the next level. For example attending a networking event with fifteen IT experts houses more IT knowledge than a four year university course could ever teach you and to find the answers to any questions you may have, all you need to do is ask.</p> <p><strong>3. Opportunities</strong></p> <p>Business and professional opportunities never come to the unprepared, and rarely come to the people that lack networks and exist in isolation. You will be amazed at the opportunities that present themselves through people and strategic relationships that you have developed along your way. All it takes is some conscious effort and kindness to consolidate a respectful relationship with an individual that you have crossed paths with. These relationships foster the generation of new opportunities which may present themselves in the form of client lead generation, partnerships, guest speaking roles, write-ups, referrals, increased brand exposure, mentors, the addition of collaborative team members and in many other largely beneficial ways.</p> <p>To prepare for opportunities you must first prepare your network.</p> <p><strong>4. Positive influences</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s no secret that the people you spend the most time with rub off on you. There&rsquo;s a reason that parents are vigilant with their children in regards to keeping them away from the &ldquo;bad eggs&rdquo;. Understanding the contagious implications of physical and emotional proximity with people, this aspect of your life should be carefully evaluated and scrutinised. Time and your mental integrity is valuable and as such should be invested in people that will provide beneficial attributes, traits and attitudes that will inadvertently form part of your character and life goals.</p> <p><strong>5. Reputation</strong></p> <p>Networking is one of the tools in your arsenal when relating to building your reputation. Becoming well known for your expertise, nurturing nature, support and integrity is invaluable. People will want to know you, want to help you and be the first to refer you to any opportunities that may arise. A person that trusts you and knows what you are about will bat for you again and again and having a supportive network creates a ripple effect that will propel you to where you want to be.</p> <p>After understanding the importance of networking it is necessary to generate an action plan.</p> <p>When entering a networking environment you must know exactly what you want to get out of it. What people do you want to meet? What opportunities do you want to generate? What presence do you want to radiate and what perception of yourself do you want to instil in the minds of the people around you? All of these will shape the experience you have at the events you attend. Other things to think about are icebreakers that can be used to ignite conversations with strangers, where to source more networking events and following up with notable people you connect with.&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;Your network is what you make of it. Investing time and effort to foster the growth of a supportive team environment with people on the same wavelength as you will pay off tenfold and your network is in reality a reflection of you.</p> <p><strong>Jayden Kafanelis</strong><br /> <b><strong>&nbsp;</strong><br /> <strong>&nbsp;</strong></b>Executive Director of InternMe Australia<br /> &nbsp;Jayden@internme.com.au</p> 16How To Persuade Your Interviewer Through Your Resumehttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/15/how-to-persuade-your-interviewer-through-your-resumeBlog &amp; Latest NewsTue, 25 Apr 2017 10:54:26 GMT<p><strong>The importance of your resume:</strong></p> <p>Your resume is the only advertising medium you can use to impact your prospective employer. It is your first point of contact and is a fundamental stepping stone in securing an interview and progressing through a company&rsquo;s recruitment process. These 1-2 pieces of paper can ultimately determine if you secure employment and progress along your career path or end up back on the street looking for work. Don&rsquo;t let your resume let you down.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Resume statistics: </strong></p> <p><strong>Recruiters spend as little as 6 seconds on resumes.</strong><br /> A study released by TheLadders an online job searching site used eye tracking technology to track eye movements of recruiters and found that the average time spent looking at a resume was 6 seconds.</p> <p><strong>Average applicants per graduate role.</strong><br /> An article in the telegraph reported results from a survey of the top 100 leading graduate employers. Average applicants for graduate jobs is 39.2 per open position (pp), however there is a larger demand placed on media (86.2 applicants/pp), consumer goods firms (186.6 applicants/pp) and oil and energy companies (97.8 applicants /pp).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Think of your resume as a selling tool.</strong></p> <p>Resumes are essentially a selling tool. You&rsquo;re the product and the HR manager and company you are applying for are your target audience. For you to market yourself effectively it is necessary to put some thought and effort into your resume. This includes taking the time to understand the value you can provide to the business and the employer, understanding the industry the business works in, understanding the needs of the role and knowing what information will stand out to the employer. &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Think about why you are the best person for the job. What values do you have that align with the company and role? What experience have you gained along your journey that is transferrable and relatable to the role you are applying for?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Resume red flags.</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:308px;"> <p><strong>Recruiter pains</strong></p> </td> <td style="width:308px;"> <p><strong>Solution</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>1. Incorrect grammar</p> </td> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>Proof read your resume and get a colleague or friend to check it for you.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>2. Irrelevant information</p> </td> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>Don&rsquo;t include irrelevant information and ramble on about anything that isn&rsquo;t completely related to the role you are applying for.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>3. Generic resumes and cover letters</p> </td> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>Personalise your resume to the company, role and HR manager.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>4. No research on the job role or company</p> </td> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>After talking to many HR managers one of their biggest frustrations is when candidates apply for roles yet know nothing about their company and have done no background research whatsoever on the job role or industry. Research it.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>5. Not qualified or relevant to the role</p> </td> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>Don&rsquo;t apply for a job if it&rsquo;s in a completely different industry from what you have studied or have experience in. It&rsquo;s okay to want to change your career path but a HR manager wants the most talented, suited and knowledgeable candidate for her job role. Not a banker that wants to learn graphic design.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>6. Overcomplicated fonts and designs</p> </td> <td style="width:308px;"> <p>Keep it simple and make sure to present the information clearly and concisely. Employers don&rsquo;t want to spend unnecessary time trying to find the information they are looking for.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Personalised Resumes and Cover Letters</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s no secret that companies are bombarded with resumes when they advertise an open position. On LinkedIn it&rsquo;s not uncommon to see 100&rsquo;s of applicants for an open role at a reputable company. One way to make your resume and cover letter stand out is to tailor it to the role you are applying for! Many of these resumes are generic and it is obvious that these individuals are looking for any job they come across, not because they are excited and passionate about the company and open role that they are offering.</p> <p>Cover letters are highly valued by HR managers and recruiters because it provides them with a lot of information about you. For starters they are able to gain an insight into your expectations of the role and what you think you can offer. Secondly they can tell if you have researched the company and if you have any knowledge about the open position which can help them determine if you will align with their company values and the role criteria.</p> <p>Another subtle yet important aspect of your personalised resume is to make it personal to the HR manager or person that you are pitching yourself too.&nbsp; Taking the liberty to find the name of the person you are dealing with will help to get their attention. Ways to do this can be as simple as thoroughly looking over the advertisement for their name, calling the company or even utilising LinkedIn to source the HR manager&rsquo;s name.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Add in a header and footer with the company logo and make sure to mention the company name and HR manager&rsquo;s name at the top of the resume and cover letter.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>The perfect resume and cover letter</strong></p> <p><br /> The perfect resume and cover letter should:</p> <ul> <li>Be personalised to the HR manager, company and job role.</li> <li>Clearly demonstrate the research that has been done on the company and role and link it to why you are a perfect fit and how you could provide value to the company.</li> <li>Include relevant information early on about you while highlighting key attributes about yourself that illustrates why you are the best suited candidate for the job role.</li> <li>Include and draw attention to awards and achievements relevant to the role in order to help differentiate you from the other applicants.</li> <li>Provide a clear and concise work history. Dot points should also be used for the key aspects of that role that are relatable and relevant to the job you are applying for.</li> <li>Provide quantifiable results to the employer when you can (eg. If you exceeded your sales margin specify exactly how much you exceeded it by).</li> <li>Keep the font and format simple keeping in mind the elements of your resume that you want to stand out (ie awards, achievements, career objectives and how your values align with the company and job role).</li> <li>Be 1-2 pages in length, no one wants to read a thesis.<br /> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <p style="margin-left:38.25pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p>Jayden Kafanelis<br /> Executive Director of InternMe Australia</p> 15The Paradoxical Problem of a University Student https://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/14/the-paradoxical-problem-of-a-university-studentBlog &amp; Latest NewsTue, 25 Apr 2017 10:52:25 GMT<p>Every university student embarks on their journey by undertaking a degree in their desired area of study with the goals of securing a future job in that industry. Attainment of this job is significant and marks the transition from education to employment and the beginning of a new chapter in your life. Once you have secured a job in your industry you are able to concentrate on professional development and work towards all of the life goals you have set yourself. Promotions, holidays, houses and dream cars are now within reach and all of your hard work has finally paid off! But will it?</p> <p>The path from the start of your university degree to attainment of your first job is well known, yet realistically it is a difficult process, one that some people never complete. A friend of mine has a Bachelor in Animation and Interactive Media, a degree that took 3 years. Yet years later he is still working as a KFC store manager because he cannot break into the animation industry. This story is not an isolated incident and is applicable to most university degrees, as I&rsquo;m sure you all know. This article is here to shed some light on how to navigate your way through the employment struggle and better your chances at securing valuable opportunities that will slingshot you in the right direction.</p> <p>The problem associated with securing relevant industry jobs is multifaceted.</p> <ul> <li>On one hand the number of graduates and students far outweighs the number of available jobs .This means that not only will you need to be qualified enough and fit the criteria for the role, but you will also need to be the best candidate from a sea of students that have swarmed the open position with applications. We will discuss points of difference below to help you standout.</li> <li>On another hand, jobs are hard to come across and hard to source. Often job positions are advertised internally in companies or are peppered across a variety of social media and online platforms that you may not be familiar with. After dealing with companies regularly I have noticed that a lot of them only deal with specific people or institutions when they are recruiting for positions meaning that they have completely road blocked anyone outside of this category (not good for you).&nbsp;</li> <li>Lastly, one of the biggest reasons why you will not get a job after your degree is because you have NO EXPERIENCE. As part of my directorship role for InternMe Australia I have talked to many companies regarding academic recruitment and the general consensus is that they want someone with previous experience. That&rsquo;s right, you can be a HD student that is a theoretical genius but if you haven&rsquo;t done a day placement at your local butcher and watched Craig junior carving up some meat, then companies don&rsquo;t want you! No experience means No job.<br /> &nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>I&rsquo;m sure that you can now see that there is a very real problem that at some point you will have to face. When you do though make sure you remember the tips outlined below.</p> <p>As mentioned above there are multitudes of hungry students looking for work but only a few positions to be filled. To increase your chances of securing a position you need to become marketable and find your point of difference. What separates you from the rest and how will the employer benefit from it?</p> <p>For starters, achieving good academic grades shows that you have the technical ability for the role. Furthering on from this, opportunities for professional development are always present throughout your life, people just never realise. Due to the masses of job seekers trying to break into the professional world it is completely necessary for individuals to be proactive and vigilant when trying to locate opportunities and engage in resume building activities. Whenever there are chances for you to do something that can contribute to your professional development make sure you take it. These will all add points to your resume which provides a transcript of your personal worth and is something that showcases your points of difference to an employer. Apply for any positions that allow you to demonstrate certain skills, apply for any leadership positions you come across, volunteer for university roles and approach businesses and companies to offer your assistance even as a volunteer. Although initially the roles you come across may not be your dream job or positions at reputable companies, they will allow you to showcase your abilities and highlight exactly how your unique attributes and skillsets can add value to someone else&rsquo;s business.</p> <p><br /> As for locating hidden jobs, familiarize yourself with professional networking platforms. LinkedIn is a very good networking tool and allows access to employees at large multimillion dollar international companies. Once you are connected with an employee it is a lot easier to find the right person to contact and to get your foot in the door. Also be receptive and always act on opportunities when they present themselves. If you are talking to someone that works at a reputable company ask for a contact there. Use family, friends and associates to break into the real world and to better your chances at securing a highly sought after job position. Generally if you can name drop someone at the company or get an internal reference your chances of being employed dramatically increase. &nbsp;<br /> <br /> Lastly, the paradox of needing experience to get experience is something we are specifically targeting with our company InternMe Australia. When we approach companies we showcase the benefits of taking in fresh university students and graduates. The companies we work with are student and graduate advocates as they have signed up with us knowing that we have a niche population in these two areas that do not necessarily have experience. To help with finding entry level jobs we created InternMe Australia for all students, in all degrees, at all study levels. Since we are students ourselves, we aim to remain a free service for our fellow Australian students.</p> <p>Hopefully some of the information above can help you when you inevitably face the transition from education to employment. We are more than happy to help in this process as much as we can so feel free to email us at info@internme.com.au&nbsp; and shoot us any questions you may have.<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Jayden Kafanelis<br /> Executive Director at InternMe Australia</p> 14You Don't Always Say What You Say and Here's Whyhttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/13/you-dont-always-say-what-you-say-and-heres-whyBlog &amp; Latest NewsFri, 21 Apr 2017 05:34:09 GMT<p><strong>Be Aware of your Body Language:</strong></p> <p>Definition- the conscious and unconscious movements and postures by which attitudes and feelings are communicated.</p> <p>A study at ULCA determined that when communicating feelings and attitudes:</p> <ul> <li>7% of the message pertaining to feelings and attitudes is in the words that are spoken.</li> <li>38% of the message pertaining to feelings and attitudes is paralinguistic (tone).</li> <li>55% of message pertaining to feelings and attitudes is in facial expression.</li> </ul> <p>This means that body language and auditory cues can dramatically alter an individual&rsquo;s perception of you. The importance of body language and facial expressions stems from the fact that it is controlled subconsciously and therefore&nbsp;<em>speaks</em>&nbsp;the truth, so to say. People are very good at picking up on inconsistencies that present themselves when people are lying or not being genuine.</p> <p>For example if someone was engaging with you in a conversation telling you how much they liked you and wanted to help you but had closed body language (ie. Folded arms) and didn&rsquo;t look you in the eye. Their closed body language would suggest that they are uncomfortable (defensive, angry) and their lack of eye contact would suggest that they are being deceitful. Their words say one thing, but their body says another.</p> <p>The example above was used to demonstrate the significance of body language. In an interview or professional environment such as a workplace, maintaining your integrity and being respected by peers and other individuals is necessary if you are to ever embark on a successful career path. It should also be noted that everyone is different and their baseline behaviour has to be determined before you can make judgements on their body language (Ie. Some people are genuinely shy and may lack some social skills and therefore may not look you in the eye, but this doesn&rsquo;t mean they are necessarily being deceitful).</p> <p><strong>Interviews:</strong></p> <p>The whole point of an interview is to meet you and understand what type of person you are. Are you a capable individual? Are you ambitious? Are you the type of person that lacks passion, motivation and integrity which will detriment their company?&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;Interviews are run to analyse you as a person and determine if you will provide value to their company. Traits like confidence, independence, honesty and passion are viewed favourably and although you can say every buzz-word they are looking for, if your bodily behaviour doesn&rsquo;t back it up they will see right through you.</p> <p><strong>Applying Body Language to Interviews:</strong></p> <p>Before the interview even starts you are under the spotlight. When you walk up and introduce yourself to the interviewer 3 things happen that already give away what type of person you are.</p> <p><strong>1. The handshake:</strong></p> <p>Handshakes convey more information about you than you may ever realise.</p> <p>There are many types of handshakes and each of them tells the receiver something about you.</p> <p><strong>Weak</strong>&nbsp;handshakes are a sign that you lack confidence and therefore lack capability in what you do. It indicates to the receiver that there are mental weaknesses present.</p> <p><strong>Strong</strong>&nbsp;handshakes (overly forceful) indicate that you are overcompensating for a lack of something or have delusions of your superiority and power. No one likes these people.</p> <p><strong>Long Lasting</strong>&nbsp;handshakes give the impression that you are desperate and needy, keep it short and sweet.</p> <p><strong>Rushed&nbsp;</strong>handshakes give off the impression that you don&rsquo;t care about the person and essentially it&rsquo;s the same as brushing someone off. Try again.</p> <p><strong>Incomplete</strong>&nbsp;handshakes occur when you give a handshake but don&rsquo;t acknowledge the person via eye contact or a welcoming smile. Inconsistencies ring alarm bells, remember body language.</p> <p><strong>Perfect</strong>&nbsp;handshakes happen when you have a firm grip, make eye contact, smile and repeat their name. This assures them that you are confident, are capable and are independent. The makings of a good employee.</p> <p>An experiment conducted by John Mayer (PhD) correlated firm handshakes with increased chances of employability. Can&rsquo;t argue with science.</p> <p><strong><em>Take home message:</em></strong>&nbsp;Even if you are nervous and shy, don&rsquo;t let your handshake betray you.</p> <p><strong>2. Eye Contact:</strong></p> <p>Eye contact is a key player in developing good relationships and understanding people. It conveys to a person more information about you than you realize and you subconsciously process information from the eye contact of other people. Ever met that&nbsp;<em>shifty</em>&nbsp;person that you didn&rsquo;t quite like or weren&rsquo;t too sure about but you couldn&rsquo;t pinpoint exactly what it was, maybe your subconscious picked up and processed some information about their eye contact that you weren&rsquo;t aware of at the time.</p> <p>Looking people directly in the eye shows them that you are confident in what you say and have nothing to hide. It reinforces your verbal message with coinciding non-verbal actions. It is also a sign of respect as it shows that you value what they say and that you consider them important.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;Irregular eye contact whether it be brief or prolonged periods of gaze-like behaviour convey different messages to the receiver. Brief eye contact suggests that you do not care about them and therefore do not respect them and gaze-like eye contact can be viewed as slightly aggressive and domineering. None of these will work well in professional environments.</p> <p><strong><em>Take home message:</em></strong>&nbsp;Be aware of your eyes and what they may be conveying to the receiver.</p> <p><strong>3. Smiles:</strong></p> <p><em>&ldquo;Monkey see, monkey do&rdquo;.</em></p> <p>Facial mimicry is a process that occurs when individuals mimic the emotion of people they interact with. Experiments carried out by Drs. Ursula Hess and Slyvie Blairy proved that after subjecting participants to images of people that conveyed different emotions, electrical activity in facial muscles of the viewers activated muscles involved in expressing the emotions they were viewing.</p> <p><em>&ldquo;Smile and the world smiles with you&rdquo;</em></p> <p>Emotional Contagion is a process that is a continuation of facial mimicry and refers to the ability of emotions to be transferable to other people. Facial muscle activation interlinks with the brain and causes neurotransmitters and hormones to be released that are associated with the emotion (eg. Serotonin released with smiling and adrenaline released with frowning and narrowed eyes). A researcher at Lund University in Sweden conducted experiments on emotional contagion and concluded that mimicking a person&rsquo;s bodily state or facial expression had a spin off effect which resulted in physiological changes in the receiver&rsquo;s body identical to that of the senders.</p> <p>Your emotional state is transferred to people you interact with and the importance of smiling when you meet someone just got backed by science.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;However don&rsquo;t try to fool people, genuine smiles relating to happiness, joy, amusement and excitement include activation of the zygomatic major muscle and involuntary activation of the orbicularis oculi muscle. The oculi muscle is involved in the movement of muscles around the eye and can&rsquo;t be faked. If someone is faking a smile you can always tell by looking at their eyes, in the absence of wrinkles or &ldquo;crows feet&rdquo; around them take heed in the fact that they may be hiding something or attempting to deceive you for one reason or another.</p> <p><strong><em>Take home:</em></strong>&nbsp;Smile at your interviewer with good eye contact and a firm handshake and be genuinely happy that you have got a chance to prove how good you are to them.</p> <p>Next time you&rsquo;re in an interview don&rsquo;t forget the importance of non-verbal communication. Sometimes you&rsquo;re not saying what you&rsquo;re actually saying.</p> <p>Jayden Kafanelis</p> <p>Executive Director of InternMe Australia</p> 13How to succeed at work *A Five Step Guidehttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/10/how-to-succeed-at-work-a-five-step-guideBlog &amp; Latest NewsMon, 08 Feb 2016 00:47:08 GMT<p>As University students, or recent graduates, we are all hunting for experience. Internships, as we all know, provide opportunity to gain experience, and let&rsquo;s face it we are all striving for that glowing reference we can take to job interviews. &nbsp; Really when we think about it, we are working to gain the skills and knowledge to become functioning employees, and influential members to the working team. However, we are all more importantly, attempting to reach our goals, our full potential and to achieve. &nbsp; The hard part of achieving our goals (a part from the work and dedication necessary, obviously) is that as an intern, how do you do this? What opportunities do you have in a workplace? &nbsp; Well, that mentality is what stops us from achieving and succeeding within our career, even when you are still an intern! Our attitude towards anything in life can hurt us or help us. Being positive, inspired and motivated about our journey and current situation, will allow for high results and positive outcomes. &nbsp; So, you&rsquo;re an intern? That&rsquo;s great, let&rsquo;s make sure you are the best intern you can be! &nbsp;</p> <ol> <li><strong>Understand your goals. </strong> To be able to succeed, you need to have a goal. How do you arrive somewhere if you don&rsquo;t know the destination? This isn&rsquo;t to say you can&rsquo;t change your mind over time, but you need to know a direction to follow, in order to achieve your goals.Try writing out your plans and ideas, to be able to clearly identify what are you goals and ideal &lsquo;end point&rsquo;.</li> <li><strong><strong>Positive mind, positive life.</strong></strong>Negative thoughts don&rsquo;t really do anything for you, except ensure that you have a bad day, week or really however long you hold onto these bad thoughts and feelings.</li> </ol> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong> There are aspects of all jobs or responsibilities that don&rsquo;t seem so appealing and can cause you to want to rip your hair out. Allowing it to affect you, or complaining to other co-workers about your boss only adds more road-blocks on your way to success. Don&rsquo;t fall into the trap of negativity, you will lose sight of your direction and goals. <strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <ol start="3"> <li><strong><strong>Volunteer</strong></strong>Whenever you can get more involved in a project at work, the better. Being pro-active is not only a great trait to display to your bosses and managers, it also provides you with opportunities, rewards, the prospect of meeting and working with new people and it ensures that you are noticed (for the right reasons) at work.</li> <li><strong><strong>Manners Matter</strong></strong>Did you ever wonder why we were taught manners and how to be polite as children? Well, the reason is, so you can be a respectable, nice human. This does not change in the workplace.</li> </ol> <p>Being friendly, kind and speaking to all of your co-workers and managers with respect and dignity, only increases your chance of receiving that treatment in return. Being an easy-work-with member of the team, always goes a long way. &nbsp;</p> <ol start="5"> <li><strong><strong>Punctuality</strong></strong></li> </ol> <p>Being on time, is an extremely important habit to get into. Whether it&rsquo;s for each day of work, a meeting, a lunch catch-up or a deadline, lateness is not a quality that inspires or reassures anyone of your abilities. Being late can encourage people to view you as less motivated, not dedicated, unorganised and lazy. These are traits that you do not want associated with your name. Your image can have a huge impact on your abilities and opportunities to grow and achieve, don&rsquo;t allow your image to be tainted with people&rsquo;s views of your punctuality and etiquette. In any work-environment, you are constantly under a microscope, being judged, marked and unfortunately picked apart for your behaviour, and most commonly your mistakes. This guide is designed to help you navigate through a few of the common mistakes people make within a workplace, that can limit their abilities to grow and reach their goals. &nbsp; For more information, email us at <a href="mailto:info@internme.com">info@internme.com</a></p> 10Insider Story: PR and Communications Internships – PART TWO – COMPLETING THE INTERNSHIPhttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/9/insider-story-pr-and-communications-internships-part-two-completing-the-internshipBlog &amp; Latest NewsThu, 14 Jan 2016 04:00:58 GMT<p>I GOT THE INTERNSHIP! I was so excited, after months of looking and waiting for &rsquo;call backs&rsquo; and replies, dealing with disappointment and difficult employers, I had found an internship. The business was a digital brand agency, named Branched, based in St. Kilda. Branched represented several brands of fashion accessories that were from overseas. They dealt with the brands&rsquo; social media, online stores, stockists in Australia and worked to gain media exposure for the products and brands. &nbsp; I went into Branched for a trial, I was so nervous<em>. What if I didn&rsquo;t pass the trial? What if I wasn&rsquo;t good enough to get the internship? How embarrassing if I&rsquo;m not good enough to be an intern?!</em> These were the thoughts running through my head, the morning of the trial. &nbsp; After meeting everyone in the office I had a meeting with the marketing manager, Tam, she was organising the internship programmes. I was assigned the task of re-doing their entire media contact list, verifying all contacts and eventually I would be creating look books, press and media releases and then distributing them in an effort to gain some media coverage for the brands. &nbsp; WOW, I was nervous, I had never done most of these things in a real-life situation before. Uni really prepares you for the theory of communication and provides you with opportunity to trial some hands-on exercises through certain assignments, however the most part was theory. I was officially nervous. &nbsp; I sat down at my desk, and started to work. I wasn&rsquo;t given too many strict instructions, Branched was happy for me to just start working and ask questions as I needed to. I decided that I needed to stop worrying about what everyone was going to think and just do the best I could. I began dividing the media list into more sections, I am a pretty organised, perfectionist so I thought I would make it cleaner and easier to use. To my surprise, later that day when Tam and one of the owners of Branched checked on me, they were thrilled with what I was doing. <strong>My first day had been a success.</strong> <strong>&nbsp;</strong> With more self-confidence about my position as the intern, the next three months of my internship were fantastic. The people in the office were all great and I was able to develop personal relationships with them all (as it was a small office). There were other interns at the same time as me, however I never really worked with them as we were all assigned different days of the week. I found that not working with other interns was actually a positive as it meant I could form my own personal relationship with the other employees of Branched by myself. &nbsp; I learnt that being an intern in such a positive workplace meant that I was able to ask questions freely if I needed to and eventually offer my own suggestions and ideas regarding work. Everyone at Branched was happy for me to try out my ideas and execute the tasks assigned to me, my way. This provided a learning experience and an opportunity to really mature and grow as a professional. &nbsp; &nbsp; My task of creating, sourcing and verifying the marketing contact list was complete (after several weeks). It was time to start the press releases&hellip; I was <strong>TERRIFIED! </strong>I had never had to write a press or media release for a real-life business to be sent off to <em>actual </em>journalists and publications before. A few days before, I began looking through all my notes and past lectures from University, trying to find as many points, templates and drafts of press releases I had done. I went over them (and over them) to ensure I knew what I was doing and I could provide them with a high quality piece of work that would hopefully get some results for the business. &nbsp; I did everything I could to ensure my work was at a professional level, I took my time editing it and re-editing, aligning the logo into the perfect position, changing the title of the piece a few times (probably around five times) and completely over-doing the spellcheck! I was finally happy with it, so it was time to start sending it off and see how well it could do. I had created the look-book so everything was ready to go. &nbsp; At the time, it was the middle of winter and all of the brands and accessories I was trying to market were really more summer items. I decided that I wasn&rsquo;t going to be able to gain much coverage in this situation, so I decided to speak to my boss about a few of my ideas. My ideas included contacting travel and holiday publications as the products fit with their market and content. &nbsp; The other employees loved the idea and allowed me to try it out. It was a success!! I was over the moon that an Australian travel magazine contacted me to tell me they were going to include the products in their upcoming issue. Branched was thrilled that were able to gain some more exposure for the certain brand. &nbsp; I ended up staying at Branched longer than my required &lsquo;Internship&rsquo; 3-month period as I was enjoying the experience whilst studying and the business was happy to keep me on. Since I have left, I have always valued my time there and the relationships I was able to form. I use the owner of the business as a reference on my CV, which is always a positive, especially when you are recent graduate. &nbsp; I can&rsquo;t promote internships enough to anyone studying, no matter what course you are completing. The real-world skills I was able to learn during my internship were invaluable to me as a budding communications professional. &nbsp; If you have any questions regarding internships, or any questions based off my experience as a communications intern contact <a href="mailto:info@internme.com.au">info@internme.com.au</a></p> 9Insider Story: PR and Communications Internships: PART ONE – GETTING THE INTERNSHIPhttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/8/insider-story-pr-and-communications-internships-part-one-getting-the-internshipBlog &amp; Latest NewsThu, 14 Jan 2016 03:59:33 GMT<p>As a PR and Communications student I knew that I needed some real-world, hands-on experience, so that I was ready once I had finished my course. With my intentions to enter such a competitive field in mind, as well as being constantly reminded by my University lecturers, I knew there was no options, experience was a necessity! &nbsp; But how do you get it? Everyone speaks about it and warns you of what will happen if you don&rsquo;t get that precious experience, but no one really explained the best way to go about it. Unfortunately for me, InternMe was not up and running when I was a University student, so it meant I had to find internship opportunities on my own (I know, totally annoying). &nbsp; So, I started the only place I knew to go&hellip; the internet! Searching online for &lsquo;internships&rsquo; and &lsquo;work experience&rsquo; opportunities was tedious as there were not many options out there for the type of experience I was looking for. A lot of business&rsquo; have become paranoid about employing and allowing interns in their workplace as there have been crazy situations where former interns have taken their employers to court for mistreatment, and won! &nbsp; As there was really no business or body to regulate internship agreements and employment situations, these incidents have caused the already small opportunity pool, to gain experience, even smaller. Well, thankfully we have InternMe now, which as you know becomes the mediator, connector and regulator for all internship situations that happen through our platform. &nbsp; For weeks I looked through all the potential internship options and advertisements out there, applying for the ones that I felt were the most beneficial and appropriate for myself. It was a little like trial and error! I received numerous replies, and some times all it took was a reply email from the business and I knew&hellip; this internship and business was not going to work well for me. &nbsp; I went to a few interviews, some of them I came out with a positive attitude and a calmness, because they seemed like a great company and team to work and intern for, others I came out terrified. A few business&rsquo; I had gotten into contact with scared me off with unprofessionalism, rudeness, their conditions of the internship, etc. I really think internships as well as any other form of employment is a personal thing, you need to feel some form of comfort within the place you work at and with the other employees, to be able to really succeed and enjoy your work. &nbsp; I understand, we are all in a desperate position of trying to gain experience, however I can&rsquo;t stress enough how important I believe finding the RIGHT internship is. The business, the values, the working team &ndash; these are all factors that should be taken into account when you are looking for an internship (and job) as they can really determine what you will be able to do, learn, achieve and enjoy whilst you complete your internship. However, it is also important for me to note that, you get what you put in, so make sure you always put all of your effort into each task. &nbsp; It is important to remember that even though you are attempting to receive an internship position, you still need to take the interview and the work seriously! Professionalism stands for a lot and is also a great habit to get into, earlier rather than later. Remembering to act, look and communicate in a professional and polite manner will only help you, no matter the situation. &nbsp; So, as a young University student I wanted to attempt to show my initiative, work-quality, work-ethic and maturity. Instead of going into an interview with years of real-life and work experience to show and to discuss with the employers, I only had my University history and one previous work-experience employment to show. With that in mind, I made a small portfolio in a display folder, in the folder I put: -CV -Reference from my work-experience employer -Pieces of work (essays and assignments from University) -Pieces of work from my work-experience &nbsp; It wasn&rsquo;t much, however it allowed the interviewer to have a look at my writing styles, creativity, dedication to my work and it gave them an idea of the type of person I was, in terms of my abilities and attitudes to work. The interviewer was very impressed with my little portfolio as it showed them a lot more than what could be said about me in a cover letter or CV. I now take a portfolio of my work to every interview I go to (however, the portfolio has evolved with actual pieces of work). &nbsp; And&hellip; I got the Internship! &nbsp; To find out about my experiences whilst completing my internship, read the &lsquo;Part Two&rsquo; blog post, next week. If you have any questions regarding internships, please feel free to email <a href="mailto:info@internme.com.au">info@internme.com.au</a></p> 8Everything you need to know, to become a successful internhttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/7/everything-you-need-to-know-to-become-a-successful-internBlog &amp; Latest NewsThu, 14 Jan 2016 03:57:36 GMT<p>As difficult as it is to find an internship, once you have found one, the real work begins! The need to prove your abilities and execute all roles and responsibilities of your internship, is imperative! You want to make an awesome impression. An internship proves your experience to a future employer, the use of references from an internship can stand for a lot during the job-hunt. The only way to receive a GLOWING reference, is to become a positive member of the working team. There is a lot of helpful-tips on the internet (if you do your research) regarding the best ways to get through your internship and to achieve success. To save time, I have done the research for you, and have created a list of things to remember and try, when completing any form of internship, volunteer or work experience opportunity.</p> <ul> <li>Ensure your employer and yourself have the same understanding of the opportunity. Everyone involved in your internship should share expectations and ideas regarding the opportunity, E.g. Your responsibilities and jobs, times and dates and the duration of the opportunity.</li> <li>Request for regular meetings with your supervisor/manager during your time as an intern. This provides an environment where you can monitor that all parties&rsquo; expectations are being met, and you can also receive feedback regarding your abilities and work-performance.</li> <li><u>Always be on time!</u> Better yet, be 10 minutes early. If for some reason you are going to be absent or late, ALWAYS call or email atleast an hour before you are expected at work. This is <em>being professional. </em></li> <li>Use the &lsquo;transition&rsquo; and &lsquo;introduction&rsquo; period of your internship well. Ask as many questions as you can, learn as much as possible. Not only will it demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for the position, but it will allow you to gain a better understanding of the business and the role.</li> <li>Dress, speak, write, listen and behave like a professional, <strong>at all times.</strong> No one will hire the intern that acted like a fool.</li> <li>Develop all relationships with co-workers and managers, by being polite, a helpful employee and by being a positive team-member. You never know when one of your co-workers could be in a position to hire you! Leave the best impression you possibly can, you never know when it will pay off.</li> <li>When your internship is over, always request a reference! A reference is an invaluable document to keep and use when applying for jobs. It&rsquo;s best to request one ASAP, you don&rsquo;t want to wait 6 months as the employer will most likely not be totally accurate, by then. Trying to stay in touch with an internship employer is always a positive, as well. It&rsquo;s all about <em>&lsquo;who you know&rsquo;!</em></li> </ul> 7Insider Story: Internships as a volunteerhttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/6/insider-story-internships-as-a-volunteerBlog &amp; Latest NewsThu, 14 Jan 2016 03:55:30 GMT<div class="inner clearfix"> <div class="twelvecol " id="content">Ever thought about gaining experience within your field as a volunteer? Ever wondered if it is really worth it or what the benefits are? <div class="hfeed"> <article class="post-13175 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-weeklyblog tag-internme-australia tag-jobs-in-australia tag-internships tag-weekly-blog tag-graduates tag-uni-students tag-interviews tag-job-seekers tag-australia tag-university-students tag-careers" id="post-13175"> <div class="entry-content clearfix">I have mentioned it before, and will mention it again &ndash; Experience is essential! To attain jobs and opportunities in the future you need to be able to build the foundations of your career, TODAY! The only way to show potential employers that you are perfect for the job is to have a track record of experience, and with no experience (yes, we know it sounds strange), the solution is internships, volunteering or work experience. If you have doubts about what a volunteer position or internship can do for you then read Stephanie&rsquo;s story. <em>Stephanie Fiteni</em>, a graduate Law Student at La Trobe University, shares her story and experiences, and why she values volunteer positions, with InternMe. <strong>Starting out &ndash; When? Why? How? </strong> I joined the Family Court as a Referral Attendant in March 2015, shortly after commencing a Bachelor of Laws at La Trobe University. Previously, I volunteered at a Family Law firm while completing a Bachelor of Legal Studies. While volunteering at the firm, I realized that I wanted to gain entrance into a law degree and pursue a career within the Family Law sector. The complexity of family law was interesting to learn, especially how the law affects society. Not long after I was accepted to do a law degree and classes had begun, I became concerned that Internship opportunities would be scarce and there may not be enough positions. However, not long afterwards, La Trobe Law School published a Referral Attendant position with Victorian Family Law Pathways Network (VFLPN). VFLPN has a kiosk at the Family Court, assisting family law clientele to locate a service such as family consultancy, mediation and financial assistance. Accordingly, volunteers are required to promptly assist the Court&rsquo;s clientele to locate a service that best suits them. <strong>Networking and engagement </strong> One of the many things that I have learned as a Referral Attendant is the importance of networking. I can&rsquo;t stress enough how often someone you have met within your employment or Internship becomes beneficial to you. Engaging with others within VFPLN and at the court has provided me with meaningful insights about various fields of work. As part of the opportunity, VFLPN provides information sessions for students to enhance their knowledge on how the law affects those around us. This knowledge has assisted me to think about what specificities I would like to practice in (or not practice in). Similarly, whether you&rsquo;re a law student or not, engaging within your network opens your perspective that may result in affirming or re-steering your career goals. You may even meet someone who can provide you with helpful employment advice on gaining an Internship for a particular place of interest. <strong>It&rsquo;s all a learning curve </strong> As I have been once told before, volunteering and Internships are all a learning curve. Some students tend to be nervous that they are not &lsquo;ready&rsquo; for an Internship. Are my grades high enough? Can I complete an Internship to my best capabilities? Will I fit in with their work culture? These sorts of questions do more harm than good, if you let them get to you, and employers can often tell during an interview. When I applied to become a Referral Attendant, I had the same questions floating in my mind. However, I aimed to display a sense of self-belief, as should all students. Confidence is the key. While it is easier said than done, do remember that employment opportunities are all a learning curve. Mistakes do happen. A student doesn&rsquo;t know the same depth of knowledge as their future boss and that&rsquo;s okay. Students should seek Internship opportunities because it develops their capability to place theory into practice. So, if a mistake does happen, you can learn from it and become better within your position. As long as you are willing to learn, your career should be moving in an upward direction. I value my volunteer opportunity because I have been able to network within my field, gain an insight about various Internships and places of interest, and learn how theory can be used in practice. This sort of knowledge can&rsquo;t be found elsewhere &ndash; it&rsquo;s a part of my own personal experience, which will always be invaluable. If you have any further questions regarding Stephanie&rsquo;s story or a similar story you would like to share, please feel free to email us at <a href="mailto:info@internme.com.au">info@internme.com.au</a>.</div> </article> </div> </div> </div> 6Attach a Cover Letter? No Problem! 6 Tips to Help You Write an Unbeatable Cover Letterhttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/5/attach-a-cover-letter-no-problem-6-tips-to-help-you-write-an-unbeatable-covering-letterBlog &amp; Latest NewsThu, 14 Jan 2016 03:53:50 GMT<p>Applying for jobs and internships can be exciting and interesting (especially when you are in one of those motivated moods), however the moment you need to &lsquo;send your CV with your cover letter&rsquo; that mood can change. For me, writing a cover letter can sometimes seem like such a tedious, time consuming task, especially because you want THAT job so you need your cover letter to be amazing! Cover letters are your chance to demonstrate your personality and character to a potential employer, and sometimes that is what will be able to set you apart from your competition and the other applicants. So, to help you produce the best possible cover letter, to ensure you have the best possible chance to get that job I have created (through a lot of trial and error and research) my &lsquo;six tips to write an unbeatable cover letter&rsquo;. <strong> 1. Don&rsquo;t just regurgitate your resume!</strong> The potential employers have received your CV, and they will study it harder than your cover letter as it holds all the information regarding your study history and relevant work experience. Majority of hiring managers will keep your cover letter and CV together, so don&rsquo;t repeat your information! Use your cover letter as an opportunity to showcase your personality, your passion for the industry you are applying for, your interest in the available position and your ability to become a positive influence to the working team. Be creative and individual when writing your cover letter, don&rsquo;t just create a resume in paragraph-form&hellip; BORING! <strong>2. To whom it may concern&hellip;. Is not concerned!</strong> To whom it may concern, shows inexperience and never sets a good impression for a hiring manager who is beginning to read your cover letter. Always try your hardest to find the proper name and contact of the person who is most likely going to read your cover letter. If their name is not listed anywhere on the job advertisement, try researching the company (look up their website&hellip;Duh!) to see if you can find the person you should address your application to. Once you have done what you can to track down the correct contact details, and you are unsuccessful try dear sir/madam, or just jump straight into your cover letter, and forget addressing anyone&hellip; focus on the important part of your cover letter, which is the body of the letter. <strong>3. Less is more!</strong> You do not need to make your cover letter too long&hellip;. Surveys have shown that most hiring managers prefer shorter cover letters, 3-4 paragraphs, or if you can express everything you need to tell the company in half a page, that&rsquo;s even better! Long drawn out cover letters, usually don&rsquo;t get read, all the way through. Just jump in to the important things straight away, don&rsquo;t waste any time or space. <strong>4. We know your name; we know what position you are applying for!</strong> Hi my name is *whatever and I am applying for the *whatever position. NO THANKS. The reader of your cover letter is aware of your name and the position you are applying for. Re-writing this information in such a bland, plain and boring way and just sets alarms off in the hiring manager&rsquo;s head. Try to incorporate those messages in a more creative, individual way or don&rsquo;t include them at all, as it is not that necessary. <strong>5. File format: PDF</strong> Always save your resume and your cover letter in PDF form. Some file formats can&rsquo;t be opened on other computers, depending on the brand and the software of the computer. So, to ensure your application is accessible to the potential employers, always save your file as a PDF, as it can be opened on every computer. PDF files also allow the layout of your file to never be altered, so what you see (and save) is what the business will see. <strong>6. Finish strong!</strong> Make sure you finish your cover letter well! Clearly express your interest for the business and the position (but don&rsquo;t repeat information) and don&rsquo;t take too long to portray this information, either. Good luck and happy job-hunting</p> 5Pharmaceutical Internships – Everything you need to knowhttps://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/4/pharmaceutical-internships-everything-you-need-to-knowBlog &amp; Latest NewsThu, 14 Jan 2016 03:30:06 GMT<p>As you know, internships are a fantastic opportunity to gain further, hands-on experience in the industry you have studied in. Internships provide insight into what working in that industry will actually be like and it works as an opportunity to develop and enhance your skills and knowledge within that field. Being able to showcase, real-life abilities, skills, references and knowledge enhance your resume, profile and chances of attaining employment. Employers look to see which applications jump off the page and tell them the person is keen, dedicated and interested to work and are passionate about their work. Internships can do that! Bin Chen (postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University), has created a guide for all Pharmaceutical students to help navigate your way through the transition between studying and employment. The article is titled: Ten Simple Rules for Internship in a Pharmaceutical Company and has been published in PLoS Computational Biology. Chen has designed a &rsquo;10 rule&rsquo; process for Pharmaceutical students to follow and apply when they are applying for internships. Chen&rsquo;s belief is that internships, within this field, are extremely important and necessary as a learning experience for Pharmaceutical students. Chen states that Pharmaceutical internships allow students to see, first-hand how the industry operates and what life is like when working in Pharmaceuticals. Chen also notes the importance of being able to &ldquo;learn the process of drug discovery and development, and build a strong network with experts and fellows in the pharmaceutical field, which can positively contribute to future career development.&rdquo; I have summarized Chen&rsquo;s &rsquo;10 rules&rsquo; for you, so that you can take away all the relevant information you need.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Start Preparing for and Internship early</strong>-Start applying for internships as early as possible, as spots can be limited and positions are hard to attain. -The more you apply for, the better chance you have of acquiring an internship. -You can start preparing the basic skills and knowledge you need to complete the internship, when you have the appropriate time to plan and prepare for it.</li> <li><strong>Leverage All Your Sources to Be Selected for an Interview</strong>-Networking, networking and networking. -Basically Chen verifies the belief that it&rsquo;s sometimes more about &lsquo;<em>who you know&rsquo;. </em>-Name dropping of professors, mentors and industry professionals that you have a relationship with can be a great indication of your abilities and your interest in the industry.</li> <li><strong>Survey the Interviewer(s) before and during Interview</strong>-Know the managers of the business and know their background. Chances are they will be interviewing you, so showing a clear understanding of what they have done and what they do is great to start conversations and shows your commitment.</li> <li><strong>Specify Your Target at the Beginning of the Program</strong>-Internships are a great stepping stone to your future, however a lot of them only run for a 3-month period. So, know what you want to be able to achieve during your time at the internship and chances are the business might be interested in helping you achieve it.</li> <li><strong>Keep to Your Timeline</strong>-Make the most of your time in your internship, you want to be able to get things done and produce some high quality work so make sure you use your time effectively. -Ask your manager/mentor for a weekly meeting to be able to track your progress in a positive manner.</li> <li><strong>Don&rsquo;t Hesitate to ask Questions</strong>-Teamwork is in important in most industries so open communication with not only your mentor, but your other colleagues is imperative in achieving results and completing tasks to the best of your ability. -It also decreases room for error and demonstrates your ability to be a positive team member.</li> <li><strong>Have the Confidence to &lsquo;&lsquo;Sell&rsquo;&rsquo; Your Project</strong>-Take advantages to talk about your work with other staff-members and managers.</li> <li><strong>Expand Your Horizons beyond Your Project</strong>-Involve yourself in every aspect of the company, you can. -Team meetings, seminars, workshops, etc. are all relevant and valuable experiences so don&rsquo;t hold back in attending and being a part of anything and everything.</li> <li><strong>Be Social, Open-Minded, and Curious</strong>-Be friendly, polite and social with everyone you meet. -Lunch time situations are great for developing more connections and creating lasting work-relationships.</li> <li><strong>Finishing the Program Does Not Mean the Ending</strong></li> </ol> <p>-Even though your internship is over, your colleagues will still be working so ensure you save and document all relevant work for them. Chen&rsquo;s rules are not only applicable to Pharmaceutical students, but can be used as a positive guide for all students looking to gain more experience, through internships. To see Chen&rsquo;s full article, go to the PLoS Computational Biology Journal (www. journals.<strong>plos</strong>.org/<strong>ploscomp</strong>biol/)</p> 4“How did your interview go?” Four tips to help you nail that interview!https://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/3/how-did-your-interview-go-four-tips-to-help-you-nail-that-interviewBlog &amp; Latest NewsThu, 14 Jan 2016 03:28:06 GMT<p>Applying for jobs can be a stressful, long process, especially when you are unsuccessful, or sometimes you don&rsquo;t even hear back from the potential employers. However, you have to continue striving to reach your goals. Rejection goes hand in hand with success. Nothing is more exciting during the job search process, then receiving a job interview. It&rsquo;s your chance to show your character, personality, work ethic, morals and further demonstrate your knowledge and skill base, all during one meeting. To be able to take full advantage of an interview opportunity you need to ensure you are prepared. First impressions count for a lot, so you want to make sure you leave a lasting, positive one. To stand out amongst the other applicants, who presumably have all the relevant experience and skills for the job, you need to <strong>NAIL</strong> that interview! Here are four necessary tips to help you give an outstanding interview.</p> <ol> <li><strong>Research</strong></li> </ol> <p>Did you think that after Uni the days of having to do research would be over? Unfortunately, that&rsquo;s not the case. Doing research for job interviews is a critical step. It allows you to be prepared for anything you could potentially be asked. Researching the available position and business is simple, yet extremely important, however a lot of people don&rsquo;t do it (we forget, or think we can &lsquo;wing it&rsquo;). Knowing all of the key responsibilities and roles of the job, as well as what the business requires of the applicants is imperative as you can be sure, the interviewer will ask you &ldquo;what is your understanding of this position?&rdquo;. Being unable to answer correctly will definitely send a negative message to the interviewer. As a potential employer they want to know that you are interested in the job and have a good understanding of the position and its duties. &ldquo;What do you know about our business?&rdquo; or &ldquo;what do you think our clients require from us?&rdquo;, are questions used constantly in an interview situation. Employers need to weed out the weak, non-capable candidates to get closer to hiring the person their business needs. Knowing the business&rsquo; services/products, clients, vision, aims and their culture will provide you with the knowledge to answer any and all questions, confidently and correctly. Not only will you obviously be able to answer the interview questions with confidence and accuracy but doing the research about the potential employer and the role and showcasing that throughout the interview will definitely send positive messages to the interviewer. Being prepared with this type of information will tell the interviewer that you are: diligent, intelligent, dedicated, hardworking and committed. That is an excellent first impression!</p> <ol start="2"> <li><strong>Dress the part</strong></li> </ol> <p>No matter what type of job you are applying for, make sure you dress up! Unfortunately, our generation is a little different from our parents&rsquo; and we sometimes get a bit caught up in the &lsquo;fashion&rsquo; of our time. However, when it comes to an interview a professional look is always the best bet. Even if you think the business you are applying for, does not have a strict corporate dress code,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; an interview is usually one of the first times you get to meet the potential employers face-to-face, so we need to make sure that when they see us they are impressed. Remember, you can never be over dressed but you can be UNDERDRESSED. Dressing up for an interview shows you understand professional life, corporate situations and environments and also works as a way to tell the employer how interested you are in the position and how serious you are taking the process. Leave the tank-tops, t-shirts and singlets at home guys! Boys should always wear a suit, or at least a shirt and girls make sure you are respectively covered and presented. No one wants to hire the girl in ripped jeans or the boy in a t-shirt.</p> <ol start="3"> <li><strong>Confidence and Courtesy</strong></li> </ol> <p>It is important to appear confident in your interview (not arrogant). You want to highlight your ability to communicate clearly in an interview, because let&rsquo;s face it.. all employers want to know that you are able to communicate in a mature, confident manner if you become their employee. Eye-contact is critical! Looking someone in the eyes when talking to them is not only polite, it shows your confidence and professionalism. Don&rsquo;t fidget! Moving around, dodging eye-contact or fidgeting just represents a lack of experience, focus, confidence and maturity! <u>Sit up straight and deliver a killer interview</u>. Another important factor to the interview process is courtesy. Manners matter (yes, we all heard that one from our parents, but it&rsquo;s true). From the moment you enter the building to the moment you leave remember to be polite, to whom ever you meet. Remember to greet everyone, say please and thank you, do not swear (Duhhhh) and ensure you show the interviewers and their colleagues that you are a genuine person. Personality and character is a big aspect as to why businesses conduct face-to-face interviews. When you send out your CV and cover letter during the application process the business can assess your skills, knowledge, spelling, grammar and study experience, however they can&rsquo;t know for sure what type of person you are. The interview process provides the business with an opportunity to assess if you are someone they would want to work with them and for them, and no one likes a rude colleague, so make sure you present yourself in the best way possible.</p> <ol start="4"> <li><strong>Ask questions</strong></li> </ol> <p>At the end of almost every interview you will be asked &ldquo;did you have any other questions?&rdquo;, this is your chance to show that you have really put a lot of time and thought into this job! Make sure before you go for your interview you prepare a few questions to ask the employer. Questions about their business (not generic ones that you could answer yourself off their website, because that will show that you didn&rsquo;t do enough research), try to ask questions to demonstrate your interest in the position and the business. This will finalise your awesome interview! An employer wants to feel as though their employees care for the business and the job that they perform, asking insightful questions helps highlight your willingness to go above and beyond. The employer will leave the interview confident that you will put effort and thought into the job, and that way they will have a strong belief that you will produce high-quality work, with integrity. <em>Sometimes we get a little bit caught up after applying for a job, once we find out that we have passed into the next round of the interview process it&rsquo;s easy to get over-excited and forget that we still need to prove ourselves to the employers. Ensure you have the best possible chance of getting that job you want, by following these simple steps. </em></p> 3But…. Do I have to be an intern? The reason internships are more valuable than you think!https://app.zygaverse.com/Blog/PostId/2/but-do-i-have-to-be-an-intern-the-reason-internships-are-more-valuable-than-you-thinkBlog &amp; Latest NewsWed, 16 Dec 2015 22:39:18 GMT<p>The idea of an internship can seem intimidating, time-consuming and sometimes useless. Our minds can sometimes run a little wild and cause us to second guess our plans. You start to question if you &ldquo;<em>need&rdquo; </em>that internship or experience and we rationalise it by thinking &ldquo;well, I have great grades, so I don&rsquo;t need it&rdquo;. Unfortunately, <strong>that&lsquo;s not enough!</strong> Don&rsquo;t get me wrong, having great academic results is a great achievement (and you should be proud of those marks). It can show potential employers your intelligence and your dedication to your course, which is a positive! However, fantastic academic results do not always translate into &lsquo;employee of the month&rsquo;. A potential employer wants to be sure that you will be able to competently perform all duties and responsibilities of the available position, and that goes beyond good grades. Studies have shown that employers have found experience out-weighs most other achievements and the employees who have had experience find more success in a position, in comparison to the employees who were hired due to their pristine academic transcript. Employers need to know that you can cope, contribute and ultimately succeed in a job. These types of factors can only be considered when the applicant can prove their abilities, through experience. Do you find yourself thinking, &ldquo;Oh well, I can just worry about that when I graduate?&rdquo;. Unfortunately (again), that&rsquo;s not the case. You need to think about the amount of people who will graduate from University the same year as you, you then need to think about the amount of them that have studied a similar course to you and then think about how many jobs there are available in Australia, each year. This is the logical way to look at your future, because unfortunately the number of students and graduates greatly out-weighs the amount of jobs (especially graduate positions) that are available in Australia each year. So, how do you attain the best chance of landing one of those (rare) jobs against a sea of other capable graduates? EXPERIENCE! And how do you get experience, without already having experience? INTERNSHIPS! So, don&rsquo;t put your future off anymore, start doing something today, that will help you tomorrow!</p> 2