Kaplan Community Podcast

In this episode, KBS Work Integrated Learning Manager Kerri Watton discusses her role helping students find internships to further their careers. What is an internship, and why are they so valuable for career development? How are they seen in the eyes of employers? You can learn all about this and more from a seasoned expert, as well as the details of KBS' academic internship program.

In this episode, we delve into the details of how exactly you can perform well in an interview, from that first call through to the final round interviews. KBS Careers Advisor Kasia has conducted interviews throughout her career in hospitality management, and today she helps students improve their interview skills through preparation and practice.

Ever wondered what makes the perfect resume? Kaplan Business School's Adelaide Careers Advisor, Kim Goh shares her top tips in this episode, breaking down exactly how you should tailor your resume to win interviews. Stop sending out duds! Have a listen and take Kim's advice to put your best foot forward.

National Careers Manager Ramya has used LinkedIn since the platform was just gaining popularity- first as a recruiter, then as a careers advisor, and to build her own personal brand. She has held workshops and advised professionals and students on how to optimise profiles and get the most out of LI. Learn from Ramya how to use LI to its fullest, from starting out building a profile to the more advanced topics of branding and hashtag use.

Kaplan ANZ Talent Manager is the ultimate expert on the recruitment cycle, and she shares with us wisdom on  exactly how recruitment works, the difference between internal and external recruiters, what recruiters look for in candidates,  some honest and open tips for jobseekers. Listen and up your recruitment IQ for the next time you're talking with one!

Ben Dunk is an Australian professional cricketer who represented Australia in the T20’s from 2014-2017.  Ben has represented Australia; and played in the BBL (Big Bash League), IPL (Indian Premier League) and the PSL (Pakistan Super League).  Most recently in 2021, he plays for the Lahore Qalandars.  While playing cricket, Ben also studies in the MBA with Kaplan Business School.  Read more on ESPN about Ben's career.   

Kaplan invited Ben to speak with us about life as a professional cricketer.  We talk about career demands; physical heath and healthy mindset; travel and homesickness; emotional resilience; setting worthwhile goals; imposter syndrome; and building rapport with multicultural teams. 

Listen to Ben’s advice for overcoming self-doubts and keeping present. 

TIMESTAMPS
01:25  Professional athlete and KBS student
03:08  How Ben balances work, study, and wellbeing

PART ONE - Ben and wellness
06:02  What wellness means to Ben
09:24  Maintaining physical health while travelling
11:55  Maintaining a healthy mindset
15:14  Maintaining a wellness routine

PART TWO - Ben and career demands
17:36  Coping with homesickness
21:45  What's next for Ben?

PART THREE - Conversations with Ben
23:03  Staying present, focusing on goals
25:51  Having fun to balance work routines
28:45  Bouncing back from bad news

PART FOUR - Questions and reflections
30:13  Imposter syndrome
33:28  Pressures on a batter and wicket keeper
35:07  Plans to play in the Big Bash League (BBL)
36:09  How Ben finds A T20 team around the world
39:41  Setting new goals and starting over
42:25  Overcoming self doubts
45:14  Building rapport with multicultural teams
47:03 Perseverance, the takeaway message

Rafael Alves is an entrepreneur and founder of The Landlord.  Significant stressors for international students are finding a place to live and making new friends, especially when English is a second language.   Rafael assists international students in Melbourne to locate and settle into suitable housing in safe neighbourhoods.  Once settled, Rafael hosts social events that introduce students to each other, to living in Melbourne, and to experience multiculturalism in Australia. 

Rafael shares his experiences as an entrepreneur in Brazil and Australia.  He discusses how to raise start-up capital and the risk of servicing debt.  Listen to his strategy to manage the challenges of international border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

TIMELINE
0:48      The Landlord housing business venture
1:52      Serving the international student community
2:30      Connecting with international student groups in Melbourne
4:29      Combatting loneliness
6:32      Integrated services in Landlord Housing
9:01      Digital entrepreneurship and marketing
10:44   Entrepreneur's curse and crowdfunding for resources
13:04   Bravery of entrepreneurship
14:51   How to raise money for a start-up
17:08   Ease of start-ups in Australia vs Latin America
18:47   Advice to start your own business in Australia
19:38   Dilemma of growing the business or a career!
23:38   Rafael's experience in KBS MBA course
25:25   Memorable contributions of MBA subjects
27:15   Rafael's continuous learning objectives

John Kolotas is an experienced professional in Human Resources and Organisational Development.  Listen to John's insights on strengthening interpersonal relationships, establishing new social networks, and challenges for international students.

John notes options for establishing new social networks, such as social media and online gaming.  While gaming is productive option for some, others need more personal friendships.  Reaching out personally could require a deeper understanding of emotional intelligence and positive psychology.  John recommends the following self-help websites.

• Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
• The Greater Good Science Center and Resolve Conflict at Work at the University of California, Berkeley

John is in awe of the the resilience of international students and migrants, who speak English as a second language.  He discusses the difficulties  making new friends in Australia and fitting in with Australian culture.  He offers tips for self-help to maintain your confidence through the most challenging times.  Listen further.

TIMELINE
1:23  How social relationships evolve
6:15  Maintaining self-esteem in lonely times
8:30  Prioritising social settings - even online!
12:50 Communicating to build social relationships
15:26 Social mistakes and conflict, what to do now?
19:07 Understanding unresolved conflict
20:32 Pandemic and impacts on interpersonal relationships
22:20 Who to turn to for personal support?
23:00 Bore out, professional growth, and self-motivation
26:09 Career options in Human Resources

Adam Murphy is an Academic Head of Management, HR and Law in Kaplan Business School.  Listen to Adam's passionate discussion of leadership and mindfulness.  He says, 'We make a serious mistake when thinking that authority and leadership are the same thing.  While the vast majoring of us don't have executive authority, many of us are influential leaders.'.  Effective leaders are mindful of their influence.

Adam explains, 'Leadership doesn't come from the top of the organisational chart, but it can come from you. It starts by making a better choice. It starts by choosing to grow and pushing yourself to develop leadership, strengths and capabilities.'. 

Regarding mindfulness, Adam askes, 'Where is your focus? You can focus on something that's upsetting you or going wrong.  If you do, you're going to feel terrible. But look around! The contribution that you make to the lives of other people, the love that you get from other people, the companionship of your friends, the the privileges that you have.'.  Be grateful for the contributions you can make!  'Gratitude is certainly a much better state to be in than feeling upset, angry or frustrated.'

Gratitude is exemplified in Adam's story of Jonas Salk and the polio pandemic.  Find out what Jonas contributed!

TIMELINE
00:24  Introducing Adam Murphy 
02:02  Difference between leadership and authority
04:47  Leadership potential in you! 
08:31  Who is most effective, competitive or collaborative leaders? 
13:30  Ghost in the machine!  
16:28  Why solve problems if you don't get credit for the solution?  
18:40  Tackling new problems shapes tomorrow's leaders
21:15  Diamond in the pocket 
25:13  Conflict? Change your focus!  
27:40  International students finding meaningful jobs  
28:38  Adam's eulogy, thoughts from Stephen Covey  
30:02  Jonas Salk, polio - a huge contribution!  
31:05  Wrap-up

Vanessa Stafford is the Academic Learning Manager in Kaplan Business School.  Listen to Vanessa highlight excellence in teaching and the future of learning.   

In PART ONE, Vanessa discusses her passion for developing excellence in teaching.  A challenge conquered in KBS is the transition from classroom to online teaching.  The next big challenge is Education 4.0 with the use of gamification, and virtual reality.

Read more about Education 4.0 in The World Economic Forum's New Economy and Society Platform. 

In PART TWO, Vanessa explores Education 4.0, the future world of education.  Still emerging are the technology-enhancement of learning experiences in schools of the future.   Listen as Vanessa discusses how KBS is currently using gamification and virtual reality to motivate learners, and help graduates prepare for job interviews.

TIMELINE

00:39  PART ONE Academic Learning Manager role
02:44  Excellence in teaching
05:11  Transitioning from classroom to online teaching
06:52  Future of online learning
10:17  PART TWO What does the future look like?
12:42  Research new highs with learning science
16:16  Culturally relevant learning
18:36  World of Education 4.0
22:34  Gamification plus virtual reality
27:24  Wrap-up