March 09 Newsletter

Temp of the Month

Once again we have had some lovely feedback about our February temps, but it is Richelle Ramsay who is temping at the University of Western Sydney that has won us over this month.

The feedback from two of her separate supervisors at the University are just glowing:

Anne Ballard – “Richelle has an outstanding attendance record and always reports to work on time. She is very flexible and has a wonderful co operative attitude to her work. Richelle works very well both in a team environment and autonomously, has excellent attention to detail and we have enjoyed watching her improve her skills whilst working at the University.”

Maree Brown – “Richelle displays great flexibility in her work and is keen and co operative at all times. I would rate Richelle as an excellent performer who easily completes any task given to her. Richelle is a pleasure to work with and manage.”

A special mention must also go to Michelle McCarron.

Michelle performs to a ‘consistently outstanding standard. She always meets and exceeds her KPIs. Michelle does not hesitate to work overtime, she is efficient in all of her work and is helpful with new staff. What a good team player’.

Thanks Richelle and Michelle, we are proud to have you on the Beaumont Team!

train

Train your way to an improved position

An economic downturn can actually mean an upturn for education and training.

Training represents a way that you can take control of your career in a time when economic forces are working to reduce choice. “In uncertain economic times, one of the best ways to ensure your own security is to focus on your employability,’’ says Wanda Hayes, a career counsellor at Brisbane’s Career Spa.

“You can’t control what steps your employer will take to manage their own financial position, but you can take your own steps to ensure that you remain a sought-after employee. One of the best ways to do this is to keep your skills and industry knowledge up-to-date, so that you are able to anticipate, as well as meet, future needs.”

The smart thing to do at this point is to brush up your skills and do some research to keep yourself on the cutting edge of your field. Then, even if your current employer needs to downsize and you find your role may be on the line, you will be better placed to find another job quickly. For some, this may include gaining some formal qualifications or certifications, however, you should choose your training carefully.

Hayes warns “People should be cautious, about taking on training for its own sake. Whatever you learn will be lost very quickly and become outdated almost as quickly, in some cases, if you aren’t able to use it straight away. The best training is that which has some relevance to the job you are doing right now, or to other roles that are likely to continue to be needed by your current employer. If you take on training in a completely new area, try to make sure the skills and experience you already have are also valued and useful in that field.’’

Steps to a new career

Compile a list of all the skills you have. Identify hard skills, such as software programs or formal training. Identify your soft skills, such as being a strong leader or having good negotiation skills
Determine what type of work or what goal you would like to achieve.
Research what skills you would need to achieve your career goal.
Pinpoint your skills shortages by comparing the skills you have against the skills you need.
Find ways to obtain those skills or proof of those skills, such as a formal training course.

Article From: Career one

job

Stay motivated during the job search

We don't engage in a job search very often. Thus our frame of reference can quickly get out of focus and our whole job hunting effort can easily get derailed. Here are ten powerful tips to keep in mind as you work hard at your job search.

Don't let the negatives overpower you. In every job search there will be frequent rejections. Phone calls will not be returned. Resumes will fall into a "black hole," with no answer in sight. You may feel like a failure. You will be waiting on someone else to take action, so there is the constant feeling of a lack of control.
Don't take any of this personally or let these potential negatives sap your confidence or make you fearful of taking action. Remember, for every "no," you are one step closer to the desired "yes."
The future is where you should spend your time. Thinking about what you want and how you are going to get there is the most productive way to spend your time. You can't change the past except to learn from it.
Super size your job goal. What sort of job would be ideal? Think about the details of the desired job. Replay in your mind your mental picture of the ideal job. Do it several times a day. Don't let anything get in the way of your planned job.
Network to your advantage. Study how to make the best use of contacts. Feed off their positive energy. Since most jobs are found through some form of networking, it makes sense to spend the majority of your job hunting time in the networking area.
Resume writing is an art not necessarily a science. But one thing is clear; you have to make the connection in seconds. So design and format your resume to make the desired impression in those first few seconds. Be ruthless in deciding what needs to be important.
Focus writing the resume on your achievements. Prospective employers need someone to help solve problems. Experience and skills are important but not as important as quantifiable achievements. Highlight your achievements that match what the employer is searching for - this will help lead to the desired job.
Practice, practice and practice some more. The best athletes know that they will play the game like they practice. The field goal kicker, who makes the long winning field goal in the last few seconds, has practiced that kick hundreds if not thousands of times.
Practice the telephone and face-to-face interview. Use a video cam and tape recorder to your advantage. Get input on your resume and your overall job search. Look for ideas to make your job search more efficient and focused.
Use lists to your advantage. Write out your daily, weekly and monthly activity goals. Work hard at moving the job hunting project forward. Develop a winning job search strategy by realistically working full time daily in your job search.
Don't accept excuses. Don't listen to that voice in your head that is telling you you'll make that follow-up call when you are in the mood. Or perhaps you'll make the call tomorrow because no one is in the office on Friday or at noon. Or maybe you'll call a possible contact next week because today you've got to cut the grass or wash the car. Be ruthless about making the best use of your time-every day.
Giving up is not an option. Persistence will win the day. If you expect your ship to come in you have to put a lot of ships out on the job search ocean.

With these ten powerful strategies you can turn an unfocused job hunt into a productive project that will yield you, as quickly as possible, the ideal job. Good Luck

mar

Whats on in March

Mardi Gras – 7th March

International Womans Day – 8th March

Ultimo/Pyrmont UPTown Fesitival – 21st March

Young At Heart - 4th Sydney Seniors Film Festival – 19th – 22nd March

Earth Hour – 28th March