What did Ollie, the Training Octopus Fairy, say to the student and graduate?

Let me set the scene. A graduate is at home looking through a newly polished CV. Please bear in mind that this could easily be a student as this story is based on real life events, but I have altered some names and other details to protect the privacy of certain individuals. Obviously there is no such thing as Ollie the Training Octopus Fairy...unless of course you want there to be!

[Enter Ollie. Confused and scared graduate hides behind a tin of beans]

Ollie - Don't be afraid. I am Ollie the Training Octopus Fairy and I've spent many nights watching you. No! Not in that way! I have noticed you have been tossing and turning in your sleep and so bring you news about the features & benefits of training with Graduate Advantage.

Graduate - Wow! I had never considered training. You see I am still trying to get my foot in the door in the world of work.

Ollie - Getting your first lucky break into your choice career can sometimes seem like a difficult trick shot leaving you feeling slightly snookered. Graduate Advantage believe in getting ahead of the game and following their training you will be able to improve the odds and make your career less like snakes and ladders and more like chess!

Graduate - You mean I can improve my employability and develop skills outside of my degree?

Ollie - Yes! Don't get me wrong, a degree is great, but now you have to add to it and learn how to market your skills and abilities. What you really need to do is focus on the skills that will help differentiate you from other applicants when applying for jobs.

Graduate - Well I already have lots of skills. I can open a tin of baked beans with one hand and play the nose flute. Would you like to see?

Ollie - Err..maybe later. I actually meant strong people skills, team working, presentation skills and communication skills. Often it's these kinds of work-related and practical 'people' skills that employers really value and Graduate Advantage can help you develop them on their fun and fast-paced training days.

Graduate - But I hear people say it's not what you know it's who you know? Despite being very popular I can't see anyone I know doing me any favours on the career front.

Ollie - Everyone who is anyone networks these days! Don't worry if you've done little outside of the university societies, Facebook or your nose flute class! Our networking training will soon have you opening new avenues of contacts, exploring opportunities through chance encounters and awakening the inner entrepreneur in you! Graduate Advantage will show you what networking is and isn't and why it's important to your future career. You will be able to bounce ideas off each other and find renewed encouragement and enthusiasm that sharing problems and experiences bring.

Ollie - Use the site to check out the exciting training on offer. Choose from:

• undefined undefined undefined undefinedundefined undefined Gradskills - one day course for consortium students and graduates
• Graduate Impact - two day course for all students and graduates.

Please bear in mind that students and graduates must complete an online booking form and be living in the West Midlands. Graduate Advantage will let you know if you have been offered a place on your requested course as soon as possible. Courses can fill up quickly so don't ponder about it for too long; but if you do miss out this time don't panic! They will add you to the waitlist for the next available course.

[The graduate stands and begins to slow clap. Yes, that really cheesy slow cap that appears in many films of the 80s. Anyway Ollie soon gets bored and disappears into a mist of vapour]

The moral of this story is that slow clapping will get you nowhere fast but our Gradskills and Graduate Impact will!

The End