Australian Experiential Learning Centre

#geny #generationy Lately I have been attending many networking functions and strangely enough I have noticed that it is generally the same people at each one. There is obviously a small percentage of Sunshine Coast business people who care to mix and mingle with each other. The other interesting thing I have noticed about a lot of people at these events is that they don’t really know HOW to network. This may seem like a silly statement but it’s true.

About a month back I attended a networking evening for a magazine launch and met many people. Most of which I can’t remember at all because they didn’t bother to spend the time talking to me and they didn’t ask me the right questions or respond to my questions with an answer I found satisfying. Needless to say I don’t remember them and they probably don’t remember me either. We didn’t even exchange cards (mainly because many of them had run out of cards or simply forgot them).

Although, on the flip side I did meet a man named Paul who works for a company called MiKi Kard. We were chatting for quite a while and DID exchange cards. He was a good networker and clearly I must have been the same because just the other day I received an email from Paul with an offer for some ongoing work.

We met for a very informal lunch meeting (food and beer at Hogs Breath – love it!) and he actually told me a story about the lack of good networkers and how his new business hopes to change this! According to Paul, apparently statistics show that when networking just 2.4% of people you meet will actually do some form of business with you!

Pretty small amount really and I believe this is largely due to the lack of knowledge surrounding networking especially within Gen Y and people relatively  new to the networking scene.

Believe it or not networking is an art and it certainly pays to learn.

#generationy #geny #internship #intern I meet so many young people with big fancy degrees and not a single clue on how to actually do the job they think they want!  Not to mention the number of graduates who are constantly complaining to me that they can’t get a job and are now working at McDonalds!

This is not a dig at anyone who’s been to Uni (I am studying myself and have been for years) but the thing I am noticing is that it is the experience to back up the degree that now counts the most.

Funnily enough it was a Uni assignment that brought me to this conclusion about experience. I study Communications and at present I am doing a unit called ‘Organisational Behaviour and Communication’ and my assignment was to research Media Manager positions within Government and develop a recruitment package to suit. I had to write an advertisement similar to what you would find on a job website or in a newspaper and as I was researching I noticed a common trait within the ads I used for examination. Every single one said you needed “experience” to qualify. Degrees were merely preferable.

So basically it says that even though someone may have spent three or four years studying to become a Media Manager or Advisor, they have the preferred degree, but they won’t be picked for this job because of lack of experience. Hmmmm.

I suppose my point is that many positions are becoming so popular, to be considered you must possess both the piece of paper that says you are worthy and the skills and experience to back that up. One or the other is not enough.

Luckily I worked this out quickly and for the past three years I have been offering myself to companies for work experience and learning as much as I can ON THE JOB!

My advice to anyone who is studying or just finished studying is to get yourself some work experience or an internship because without it, you just won’t cut it!

Read up on the importance of unpaid internships (and get an info packed e-book on the subject)  in the AELC newsletter .

#geny #generationy On a recent business trip over to Perth I was sitting in a meeting with “The Boss” (or so says his pretty pink coffee mug) munching away on peanut M&M’s talking about Gen Y and the stigma attached to this generation. He made some interesting points.

Yes Generation Y can be selfish and yes we often act like prima donnas wanting everything and greedily snatching up what we want without so much as a second thought but as “The Boss” pointed out to me during this meeting; this is not such a bad thing!

By being selfish we demand the best and settle for nothing less: by taking what we want we become ambitious in our lives and this is why Gen Y is on the rise. He also reminded me that in general we are tech savvy go getters who will become the next leaders because of our ‘stigma’. The Boss is a 26 year old General Manager; I am a 23 year old business owner; we are both Gen Y! Guess he made a good point!

But, then there is the other side of the story and there are a few of us who don’t like being attached to this stigma. Another young lass in the office (who has just recently left to pursue a career overseas – ambitious Gen Y????) hates the stigma and hates being put in a “box” with everyone else her age. Fair enough but that does not necessarily mean she doesn’t fit into that box with the rest of us.

The stigma attached to us is a good thing I think (wow I am agreeing with “The Boss” – so unlike a Gen Y to agree with authority).  It sets us aside and allows us to stand out.

I always find it interesting and almost exciting when I turn up at a business meeting with a bunch of 50 something year old males and they automatically judge me on my age; then I open my mouth and suddenly I have earned their respect.

One time I was at a meeting with a hard business woman who is well in her 60’s with a lot of experience in her field.  I was nervous before the meeting and then during it, she sat there and told me to my face that she wasn’t really interested in dealing with me because all young people were useless and couldn’t be trusted. Being a smooth talking Gen Y I managed to change her mind; this same lady now seeks me out to chat at functions and recommends me to her colleagues!

Just goes to show that being an egocentric, determined youngster isn’t such a bad thing after all – if you do it right!

Well well well, I have an IPhone 4! Who would have thought it; little miss technically retarded is playing with the big boys (and big toys) so to speak. Mind you I am yet to use it but my partner has had a great time playing around with the applications and attempting to explain to me how it works.

Until now I have had only 3 phones in my life. The first was a big bulky Nokia 3210 which did nothing but call and text pretty much and allow me to play snake. My Nokia was followed by a Sharp flip phone which was surprisingly the most durable thing I’ve ever seen. Five years later it still goes pretty strong. My third phone (thanks to Telstra) was a Nokia 6720 and a great little companion it made; I could finally check emails and facebook and even use a gps. But apparently I was missing out and thanks to a lovely employer; I now have my very own piece of what is becoming electronic history. I am in the cool group!

When I start using this slim looking sexy gadget I know it will be everything I have always never known I’d want from a phone. I will be able to flick my photos across the screen, write myself notes and calendar entries all on a big screen.

But… for those who do know a thing or two about the infamous IPhone you will also know that there is much more I will be able to do (once I learn) such as phone business budgeting, use quick office, scan and read business cards, create spreadsheets, create folders and invoice people! Yes this little machine is a business person’s best friend which probably explains why every business person and their dog has one. They are extremely convenient.

As a young business woman, I am certain that in time my new toy will become more like a third hand and something I can’t live without. To be perfectly honest, this is just fine with me because in this day and age, anything that makes business and communication easier really is something you can’t live without!

I was at Hogs Breath restaurant for dinner last night and I ordered a burger and chips. Really weird choice for me as I rarely indulge in take out foods but it was delicious… however it was a process to achieve this deliciousness and I find that this is a common affair. I’m not a fussy person and I’m not a complainer but when my meal came out my chips were cold! Not just a little cold, but the kind of cold when you know they have been sitting there for ages before they were put on your plate. So I decided I no longer felt like putting up with restaurant disappointment and I asked for new chips! It was a truly liberating feeling and I must add that it was no problem for the staff to change my chips; this time.

It seems as though people are getting lazier in their work and no one seems to take pride in what they do anymore.

Often I’ll go out for a coffee and it’s burnt or weak or something is wrong with it and really it’s not so hard to make a coffee if you put a little effort into it so why do I always walk away disappointed, never say anything and feel crap about it.

Another example was at breakfast Sunday morning; my bacon was so rubbery it physically choked me! My bread was stale and my egg barely even cooked. This all comes down to a simple lack of energy and lack of caring in my opinion and it is happening more and more. Not only has good customer service flown out the window in many places but now the quality has too.

I have two points here. The first is do not get lazy! On the job, in your life, in your relationships, anywhere! Always strive to provide quality in whatever you do. The second point is don’t put up with crap. If you are unhappy with a service or a product, tell someone. Often they will be happy to fix the problem (or at least they should be) and if not then it’s a lazy thing again! Work and life can be measured in similar ways when it comes to quality and happiness so please strive for these things in both!