Finished school? Stuck in a university rut and don’t know how to get out? Confused about where your life is heading?

Deciding your future can be a difficult and stressful task. The endless amounts of options these days can make a final decision impossible. If you’re one of these people that are struggling to make a decision, or want to quickly obtain certification and get into the workforce, then Passmores’ Business College is the place for you!

Why Passmores’ ?  Not only do they have an outstanding employment rate since their establishment, offer one on one tutor support and promote excellent ethics amongst their students, but they get you where you want to be…in just one year!

Passmores’ Business College was first established in 1982 and to this day has continued to train students to become hard-working, dedicated businesspeople that excel in their field. Their double diploma courses allow students to gain knowledge in many different aspects of the business world in areas such as Human Resources, Event Management, Public Relations and Business Management.

Passmores’ is not like other business colleges; they have almost 100% employment rate from their students who have graduated. Some of the organisations which have employed past students include the Crowne Plaza, Prime Television, Peach Advertising and Hamilton Island Resort. These employers have said that they’re “…pleased with the professionalism and initiative showed by all Passmores’ students.”

So if you’re struggling for a plan of the future, make an appointment with Passmores’ Business College and have a Career Guidance Interview free of charge and see how Passmores’ can lead you in the right direction.

by student, Jess Buchan

In the past college was very different to how it is now at Passmores’ Business College.  The skills required of business people have changed as society has progressed into a more technological society.

In the early 1980’s my mother attended Metropolitan Business College in Sydney.  The course she learnt whilst at the college was very different to that learnt here at Passmores’ Business College.  At the college there were only three main subjects and these included typewriting skills, learning to write short hand and deportment.

At Passmores’ Business College however, there are three majors to choose from; marketing and media, hospitality and tourism and real estate and legal.  Each of these majors consists of fourteen different subjects.  The knowledge and information that is expected from students now, is far greater than it was in previous times.

In the 1980’s women still did not have equal rights in the work place and the jobs that young women could aspire to  were not that varied.  Young women could aspire to be a secretary, a school teacher or a nurse.  These were roles that were seen as predominately feminine.  The class that my mother attended had no young men whatsoever, but here at Passmores’ Business College 10% of attendees are male.  No longer are the days where women have less rights in the workplace, young women can now aspire to be on par with every other male in the business.

Women have a chance to progress and develop to be anything they want to be, and here at Passmores’ Business College they are inspiring us to do so.

by student, Melanie Fraser

Real estate course student, Danielle

Danielle Wiggins, one of our real estate course students, came into the Passmores’ Business College smiling from head to foot as she described her practicum experience at Property Management Systems (PMS).

Danielle was at PMS for two weeks during which time she gained experience in completing property condition reports, building rapport with potential clients, presenting services to clients and gleaned a wealth of experience in how to be a good real estate agent.

When asked if the content of her  real estate course, Newcastle had proven to be useful she immediately commented on how helpful it had been to look at the different legal/real estate documents in class.  Danielle reflected that, ‘knowing what I was looking for when asked to get different documents was really important, it made my job so much easier’.  She was also able to put into practice her lectures on ‘how to deal with clients’ and ‘property management’.

Danielle was so pleased that she’d been able to go on practicum because it had enabled her to gain some firsthand insight into the real estate industry.

I asked Danielle if real estate was for her.   ‘Absolutely, she quipped, I loved it and am really hoping that a position opens up in property management.’

I can’t wait to catch up with some of the other Passmores’ real estate course students to hear how their practicum went!

Jaclyn, Real Estate student

Recently I had a chat with one of our students regarding what she had learnt from attending  an open house as part of her assessment for the Real Estate course, Passmores’.

Jaclyn made the following observations:

1.  The open house could have been run a lot better.  In class we were told to greet inspectors with a smile, ask questions and point out features, not the obvious (i.e. ‘Have you noticed the new  slate floors in the kitchen?’     Not . . . ‘here is the Kitchen’).  At the open house I attended the agent didn’t even get my contact details, let alone say hi.  He didn’t point out any of the features of the house. 

2. Throughout our Real Estate course we were taught that first impressions are everything!  At the open house I attended we were asked to take off our shoes and walk around on really cold tiles – I couldn’t wait to get out of there.  It was a cold day and yet there was a lovely gas burner sitting there turned off. I would’ve asked the client to turn on the heaters.  They also had all the curtains closed which made it feel very gloomy; opening the curtains could’ve brightened things up a bit.

3. The agent didn’t seem very interested in selling the property.  One of the things that’s been impressed upon me in class is that we need to remain impartial when selling a property.  If we don’t like a property that certainly shouldn’t come across and we should appear engaged and interested in the property we are selling.

4. As we left we weren’t given any further information about the house.  We’ve been taught that it’s really important to have a flier/brochure ready to give the inspector as they leave.

5.  As we left the realtor didn’t ask any qualifying questions such as, ‘Is this the kind of property that you’re looking for?’

Overall, Jaclyn found the experience very worthwhile as she’d never been to an open house before and realised the importance of much of what she’d been taught while completing the Real Estate course at Passmores’.

Over the past few weeks students have been working on their CV’s so that they’re ready to apply for jobs once they have completed their course at Passmores’.  However, experience has taught the staff at Passmores’ that getting called in for an interview is only the first step – to secure the job you need to impress in the interview.  That is why, for the last couple of weeks, Passmores’ Office Administration Course Students have been put through their paces with mock interviews and impromptu questions.

The Office Administration Course students are encouraged to think about the types of questions that they may be asked in an interview and to have ready concise, relevant answers with real life examples.  Statements like, ‘I have excellent interpersonal skills’, are pretty hollow if they can’t be backed up with an example. 

To help the students learn to cope in an interview situation they are given a mock job description which they then interview for in front of the class.  The Office Administration Course students are assessed by teachers in terms of how they conduct themselves, how they answer questions and how they respond to the unexpected.  The students find the feedback from these sessions invaluable and respond well to suggestions on how to improve their interview techniques.

Of course, it is also vital that the students make an excellent initial first impression.  To prepare students for this, they complete a professional development course which educates them in the areas of grooming, attire, conversation and body language.

Once again, as employees start contacting the college requiring graduates for vacancies, we are pleased to be able to send through students who are well prepared for an interview.

Night-time visit of the Melbourne Gaol

Students from Passmores’ Business College had the pleasure of experiencing one of Melbourne’s most haunted buildings on a recent excursion to Melbourne. Visiting the Old Melbourne Gaol on a cold winters evening, the Business College students were shown through the iconic landmark in an entertaining and chilling way with their guide illustrating what life was like for some of Australia’s most notorious villains.
Newcastle Hospitality course students were surprised to learn about the Gaols most famous prisoner Ned Kelly and his final moments as he uttered the legendary words “such is life” before being executed. As the Business College students made their way through the historical gaol they were shown stone walled cells that were decorated with replicas of the equipment that were used during the gaols peak in the early 19th century. When students were asked whether they enjoyed the tour, one quipped that they thought it was going to be a lot more frightening but overall they enjoyed the theatrics of the tour.
The tour served a great purpose for students as it allowed them the opportunity to experience one of Melbourne’s greatest tourist attractions whilst also helping them to understand key aspects of the tourism course curriculum studied within the Newcastle Hospitality Course at Passmores’ Business College. Most of the students agreed that the Old Melbourne Gaol tour was a valuable experience and that they would recommend the tour for future Hospitality Course students and for anyone who has an interest in experiencing one of Melbourne’s most historical buildings in a unique and entertaining way.

by student, Trudie Corrie

Some of our hardworking Office Administration Course students

As an office administration course teacher it comes as a constant surprise to me how much the students don’t know at the commencement of their year at Passmores’.

A lot of the students have come to us from school but, even those who’ve been working for some time, have some gaps in basic office administration skills. 

It’s a challenge to turn the students around in nine months however, in conjunction with the other subjects being offered at the College, it’s possible.

Throughout the office administration course, Newcastle we focus on teaching the students how to develop their time-management, inter-personal and attention-to-detail skills.  We spend some time looking at how to proof work, set out letters properly, send out mail correctly and how to cope with various scenarios that commonly arise in the workforce.  Students are challenged to complete everything to a high standard and to react in a calm, professional manner – no matter what is thrown at them.

It’s so rewarding to see the office administration course, Newcastle producing students that graduate with these essential skills under their belt!

Management Course students getting ready for the photo shoot

Last week, Passmores’ Management Course students had the opportunity to sit for a photo for their CV’s.

This term the students have been learning how to compile an excellent CV and how to present it in a professional way;  an important aspect of presentation is to include an up-to-date photo.  To ensure that all the students have an appropriate photo, Passmores’ organizes for a professional photographer to come to the college and take a portrait of each student.

It’s always a long, but fun day. 

The students arrive at the College bright and early with no make-up on and their hair washed, but unstyled, ready for the competent staff from Mask Academy to work their magic.  The Management Course students take turns having their make-up applied and then their hair done, to help them achieve a very professional, polished look for their photo. 

Each year, the staff from Passmores,’ are impressed by the quality of the end result.  As to, are the Management Course students – it’s a great confidence booster to have such a fantastic shot on your CV.

Business College Students gaining valuable insights from Crowne Plaza Management

There’s much to be said for Newcastle. It’s well known for great beaches, fantastic restaurants and cafes, and some of the best views in Australia. But have you heard about the scores of employable, gold-plated employees being created every year, from Newcastle’s very own Passmores’ Business College Newcastle?

Through accelerated learning courses, students at Passmores’ Business College Newcastle learn a myriad of skills needed to enter the workforce. The list isn’t a small one either. In just one year, students obtain specialised management diplomas by proving themselves in a range of subjects:

• Business Management
• Tourism Management
• Event Management
• Human Resource Management
• Advertising / Consumer Behaviour
• Real Estate / Property Management
• Marketing Management
• Hospitality Management
• Sales Management
• Public Relations
• Bookkeeping 

Founded in 1983, Passmores’ Business College Newcastle prides itself on achieving an outstanding employment history of virtually 100% of graduates gaining employment, or entering further education, within three months of graduation. Satisfied employers include Royal North Shore Hospital, Star City Casino, Channel 9, QANTAS Airlines, Ernst & Young, David Jones, and many more.

by student, Simon McMillan

The students of this exceptional course are offered a lot of on the job experience in their year at Passmores’.  Excursions to television and radio stations, advertising agencies and to Melbourne and Sydney, are just some of the exciting experiences the students are involved in—making Passmores’ a step ahead of other Newcastle Management Courses. Along with this, the college also incorporates on-the-job experience with a six week practicum unit which assist’s students with the transition into the workforce.

Corporate attire is to be worn each day and punctuality is a must. Aside from the professional development aspects, Passmores’ aims to guide each student to attain a high level of ethical values to carry over into the workforce.

After just one year, students achieve a diploma in both administration and business management with a major in marketing and media.  Students are now job ready and are let out into the big wide world to find employment. Over 95% of Passmores’ Business and Management College graduates find employment before the beginning of the new year. Very few, perhaps no other Newcastle Management Course, can offer such a guarantee.

by student, Haley Roberts