June 07 Newsletter

What’s new?

Beaumont Consulting welcomes a new addition to the Banking and Finance Team. Sara Dawson has joined us to look after business support roles specifically within the banking and finance industries. Sara (pronounced Sarah!) has recruited for temporary and permanent business support roles both in the UK and in Australia since moving to Sydney in early 2005. Sara believes that an honest and open approach is essential in successful recruitment and strives to develop relationships which are based on trust and good communication. Whether you are looking for a temporary or permanent role in business support, or would just like some career/ recruitment advice then Sara would love to help.

You can contact Sara Dawson on (02) 9279 2777 or email sara.dawson@beaumontconsulting.com.au

Top Tips for Top Performers.

Dr Adam Fraser shared some useful tips to improve performance with the Beaumont Consulting staff.

Circadian rhythms play a big part in our performance and energy levels. To make sure that you are keeping in sync with these rhythms, try the following:

Try and get at least 10-15 minutes of sunshine everyday, this helps our bodies to know it is day time, and gives us a quick does of Vitamin A.

Try to wake up at the same time everyday, (Including weekends!), if you are tired, go for a short 20 minute nap later in the day. This will help to reduce that foggy Monday Morning feeling…Yuk! A bad nights sleep can reduce productivity by up to 30%.

Other useful tip are:

Consume less sugar! Sugar plays havoc on your glucose levels. Eat low GI foods, such as fruit, nuts, grains, etc. Anything dark and grown in the ground, or with a face is great! Ideally eat a smaller meal every four hours.

Take a break when you can. This may only need to be 2 minutes, while sitting at your desk. Just close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. After 2 or three minutes you should feel more relaxed and refreshed.

To find out more about Dr Adam Fraser, visit his website www.energyfactory.com.au

Book Review – Something for the bus/train ride to work!

This month Janine Runaghan reviews the 2006 Man Booker Prize winner for 2006; Kirin Desai “The Inheritance of Loss”

2006 Man Booker Prize winner Kirin Desai’s ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ is highly worthy of such accolade and trust me I’ve read a lot of Man Booker winners (and nominees) over the past few years – initially just because I felt like I should! I don’t know about you but when I browse through books at the local bookstore (and my, are books expensive in Australia!) I used to be drawn to the ‘charts’ section; Jamie Oliver & Jordan. NO MORE! Since I have started on prize-winning fodder I just can’t get enough. Less of the Mills and Boon thank you very much…

This book is great and equally impressive is the fact that Kirin Desai is the first woman to win the Man Booker since 2000 and interestingly Desai’s mother Anita has also been short-listed three times since 1980 although has never won.

‘The Inheritance of Loss’, is a radiant, funny and moving family saga set in the mid-1980’s and manages to explore just about every contemporary international issue: globalisation, multiculturalism, economic inequality, fundamentalism and terrorist violence. From Kalimpong on the Indian side of the Himalayas, to London and New York, battling insurgency, blossoming love, loss and yearning, Desai's has the ability to evoke all senses from describing the onset of the monsoon in the Himalayas or a rat in the slums of Manhattan. The character’s are rich – the Chef is my favourite and this has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he brews his own potent alcohol to sell in the local village, followed by Biju (the Chef’s son) and his comical friend who sings and dances like today’s Bollywood movie stars and who Biju looks up to with utmost reverence.

All in all I have lost many hours to Desai totally engrossed in the rich themes that span her latest novel. Needless to say it comes highly recommended!

Germs in the workplace

Work in an office environment and ever wondered why when one person gets sick, others are never far behind?

It's no surprise that germs get passed around. After all, we breathe the same air-conditioned air, share bathrooms and kitchens and when one of us catches a cold, chances are the rest of us will too, especially during this time of year!

Considering half us spend our lives slaving away at our desks, you may be wondering what exactly is passing the germs on?

The test

As seen on Channel 9’s “What’s Good For You” reporter Jessica Rowe collected swabs of all common office surfaces including: the phone, door handle, toilet door, toilet bowl, keyboard and mouse.
So what turned out to be the germiest place in the office responsible for passing all the nasties on from person to person? The toilet or desktop? The toilet door handle I’m sure most would think, but the results may surprise you…

Results

Turns out the keyboard is the winner! Although traces of E-Coli were found on the toilet door and cubicle door, an average desktop has 400 million times more bacteria than a toilet bowl and a more diverse range of germs and higher levels of e-Coli, which can cause severe abdominal cramping and diarrhoea (not the sort of stuff you want to be ingesting while eating at your desk, as many of us do!).
Other high germ areas to keep in mind showed to be the photocopier, door handles and lift buttons.
Respiratory disease can be transmitted through the phone, although not in dangerous levels, but still something to keep in mind.

Conclusion

Standard hand washing should be enough to keep these germs at bay although antibacterial desk wipes can also be helpful, as can remembering to avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes.
And you might want to keep these findings in mind the next time you drop a piece of food on your desk and pop it in your mouth!

Job hunting Tips and Techniques

Our very own Justine Dorrell shares some of the often forgotten parts of the job hunting process. Job Hunters, take note!

1. Always ensure that you have the date and the month on your resume work history

2. Consider your email address if you are emailing your resume. An email address like sexylady821@hotmail.com does not give out a very professional image. You can always set up an email account specifically for job hunting – but make sure you use an appropriate name!

3. Contact your referees to ensure that their contact details have not changed since the last time that you spoke to them

4. Ensure that you spell check your resume before sending it out and avoid use of coloured font

5. When applying for a role, keep a print out of the ad handy so that you can refer to it if someone calls you to discuss your experience

6. Mobile phones are to be off while in an interview

7. If you are running late for an appointment give the person a quick call so that they know where you are.

8. First impressions are lasting, so ensure that you do not have chipped nail polish or scuffed shoes

9. Before your interview, have a quick look at the company web site so you can pick a couple of interesting things to discuss in your interview

10. It seems silly, but black pants should be accompanied with black socks not white!

11. Lastly, enjoy yourself, an interview is your chance to shine, take a deep breath and try to be as relaxed as possible!

What's going on in Sydney?

By Blake Mason

Hey Mambo, Mambo Italiano!

Sydney's original Little Italy will become an Italian piazza on Sunday 3 June complete with a fountain, al fresco dining, fresh food markets, music, dancing, street performers, and wine tasting.

The City of Sydney's Primo Italiano is a free street festival which celebrates the Italian flavours and heritage of East Sydney.

Sample classic fresh Italian produce such as cheese, olive oil, bread and pasta, pick up fresh flowers, fruit and vegetables, or indulge in some of the best Italian food Sydney has to offer at stalls by premier restaurants.

Primo's resident DJ will play Italian pop music at the Primo Beer Garden of the Lord Roberts Hotel and popular Italian performers, big bands and crooners will entertain across three stages.

Where and When: Stanley and Yurong Streets, East Sydney. 3 June 2007, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Amusing facts

The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.

'Stewardesses' is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver and purple

The word "samba" means "to rub navels together."

A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second

More people are killed annually by donkeys than die in air crashes

Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny) was allergic to carrots.

Quote

“Life is like a blank canvas, throw all the paint you can at it” - Anonymous

Joke

If a turtle doesn’t have a shell, is it naked or homeless?