December Newsletter 2009

Beaumont News

Well, we have almost made it to the end of an interesting year! Like most businesses, we have certainly been on the roller coaster ride that has been the global financial crisis. While this year has provided us with many challenges, it has also encouraged us to think “outside the square” with both our clients and candidates to ensure we can continue to provide the best service possible.

As a business we have been fortunate enough to continue our growth, with four new starters over the last four weeks.

We've had a number of reasons to celebrate in the North Shore office over the last two months and a significant increase in job flow is definitely one of them! Our vacant job listings have doubled over this quarter and we are now starting to see a talent shortage in particular areas. To ensure that we are working across all areas of our client base the branch has been successful in adding a specialist accounting recruiter to the team - O-Cher Hon. O-Cher is degree qualified with a major in Accounting, and with a solid background in this field. O-Cher made the move across to recruitment 2 years ago, so if you have any requirements in this area O-Cher is the consultant to call!

Our Recruitment & Selection client workshops in both Chatswood and City have been extremely popular this quarter. Our MD - Nikki Beaumont has taken over the training and we've been running additional sessions due to popularity, in addition to offering our Not for Profit clients a session tailored to their needs. Among those that attended this session were representatives from McGrath Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis, The Smith Family, World Vision and Catholic Healthcare. We will continue to run the half day course next year, with the first session booked for the end of January 2010, so make sure you book in early to avoid disappointment!

In line with supporting our valuable Not for Profit Clients, October was the month for the McGrath Foundation High Tea held at The Ivy, which raised needed funds for Regional Breast Care Nurses - this was attended by our Not-for-Profit Consultants, Janine Runaghan and Helen McNairney.

For those of you that have worked closely with Georgia we've had another reason to celebrate and that has been with the birth of Aiden James Browning! Both are doing well and Georgia is still planning to return to work early next year.

We would like to thank our clients and candidates for their support over the past year, and wish you all and safe a happy Christmas and a prosperous 2010.

The Beaumont Teamwar

War for talent: Staff on the move

We’re moving out of the global financial crisis (GFC), and we’re back to saving the planet. But, the next fight is already on our hands – and it’s the war for talent.

After having the upper hand for the last 18 months, with staff too frightened to make waves, employers are now faced with a work force ready to move. Some believe the GFC had an upside for certain businesses. There is nothing like uniting in the face of crisis, doing more with less, soldiering on, sieving the business of all things surplus and all that good stuff. For the first time in a decade, we saw the power pendulum swing back towards the employer as skills shortages softened and employees became thankful they had a job. But is that about to change? Apparantly, the critical month to watch will be February.

Pre GFC, employees could ask for the salary they wanted, they received multiple job offers, resigned with little loyalty and worked wherever they pleased. But in 2009, 42 per cent of employees who started a new job took a pay cut compared with just 28 per cent in 2008. The picture changed and times got tougher for those looking for work – online recruitment ads fell by 50 percent. After a re-calibration over the past 18 months are we now swinging back to an employee upper hand? And how will that affect us as business owners? And in consideration of that, although unemployment figures are rising amongst the young, the dollar is strong meaning consumer spending power is rising – so will business pick up to exacerbate the issue?

A joint Australian and British survey released a few months ago by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development reveals that more than one-third of employees want to change their careers once the global economic crisis is over. That is about NOW according to business reports - so is it happening sooner than anyone predicted? This was backed up alarmingly, by the principal of an American think tank, the Human Capital Institute, who told a Melbourne HR conference last month that 80 percent of employees are ready to resign once the employment market picks up. Price Waterhouse Coopers are also claiming the war for talent is about to increase in volume.

Is it true that those of us who continued to focus on investment in and employee engagement, while staving off the global financial crisis, are emerging as clear leaders in the war for talent? Are you at a competitive advantage by investing in your people or did the GFC change all that for you personally? Are you recruiting now? Do your staff have itchy feet? Have you checked in?

Whatever your skills strategy is for the next 12 months, be aware that Australia faces a potential skills shortfall equivalent to 1.4 million workers by 2025 - unless the workforce participation rate increases, according to new research that recommends raising the retirement age and boosting skilled migration.
So think of strategies that include mature workers, part time workers and disadvantaged groups participating in the workforce. And a handy hint for business owners, remember to use your networks to help find the right person as well as the usual routes to recruiting new skills.

Article by Sharon Williams; Chief executive of Taurus Marketing

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Magic Moments

The Staff at Beaumont Consulting will once again be volunteering at the Magic Moments packing day on Saturday 19th December, known as the “Basket Brigade”. Magic Moments Foundation brings relief and a bit of sunshine into peoples lives at Christmas. Last year was so great we have decided to help out again in preparing and delivering thousands of hampers to people in need.

To find out more information on the Magic Moments Foundation, visit their website www.magicmoments.org.au

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Christmas Opening Hours

With the festive season almost upon us, we wanted to let everyone know that it is business as usual in the Beaumont camp.

We will be open throughout the Christmas period for normal trading hours of 8.30am until 5.30pm, except for the following:

24th December - 8.30 - 3.00
28th December - Closed
29th December - 9.00 - 4.00
30th December - 9.00 - 4.00
31st December - 9.00 - 3.00

We have fantastic candidates available with wonderful skills, who can start immediately. You can rest assured that Santa's little helpers are only a call away!

You can contact our City Team on (02) 9279 2777
You can contact out North Shore Team on (02) 9413 1311

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Top Ten Do's And Don'ts For The 2009 Office Christmas Party

With the silly season just around the corner, December is the month when careers can be made or broken at the annual office Christmas party; so here is a list of top ten Do's and Don'ts for your office Christmas function this year.

Do attend if you can - it's a great opportunity for everyone to engage with each other in a less structured and busy environment and build those relationships that are so important to enjoying our time at work.
Do make sure you enjoy yourself, but also conduct yourself professionally at all times. Although office parties are intended as social events to reward employees and raise morale, they remain strictly business events and your colleagues will have long memories!
Don't use the office party as an excuse to blow off steam, serve a log of complaints or compare the boss to Santa because he only works one day per year! It's still a company function, so proper etiquette and decorum matter.
Don't get into your favourite nightclub outfit for the event -- and do ask whether the dress is formal or casual. The party is still a business function, so conservative party clothes are a good choice - nothing too revealing - the best thing to show off is your style and good taste.
Do keep your hands to yourself. The office party is not the time to end your career with the company by doing something inappropriate or illegal.
Just because it is a business event, don't spend all evening talking business - you'll end up with a reputation as the office bore.
Do keep all conversations positive and upbeat. Don't spend the evening complaining, bragging, correcting, whining, or ridiculing. And do avoid controversial subjects (such as religion, politics, etc.)
Do be gracious and thank co-workers and team members for their help and hard work during the past year. And don't even think about gossiping about others.
Do be tolerant and respectful of those who don't celebrate Christmas - pick a more appropriate time for a religious or philosophical debate.
Finally a great thing to remember at the office party is to keep your drink in your left hand, so that your right is dry and free to shake everyone's hand

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Temp of the Month

The Temp of the Month Award is to be shared in December as both our winners have done such a fantastic job, we really couldn’t choose. Therefore the Temps of the Month for December are… Hala Shafik and Linda Buckingham! Congratulations ladies!

Hala takes pride in her job, performs at a consistently high standard, has a cooperative attitude and is flexible yet committed to her job and the company she is working for. Her manager is very impressed with all of the hard work she has put in and loves that Hala “approaches each task with an open mind and makes suggestions for improvements”. Thanks for all of your hard work and dedication Hala!!!

Linda’s manager has said that Linda “exemplifies all that you would expect from a temp. She is enthusiastic, professional and proactive. Linda’s presence in the company has seen a marked improvement in our work environment”. What lovely praise! Once again, Linda, thank you for doing such an impressive job!

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Whats on

Our Christmas 2009 – 26th Nov – 25th December

Carols at Darling Harbour – throughout December

Moonlight Cinema – 3rd December - 6th March 2010

Sydney Telstra 500 – 4th – 6th December

Homebake – 5th December

Carols in the Domain – 19th December

Sydney - Hobart Race – 26th December

New Years Eve - 31st December

We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.