November 11 Newsletter

Welcome To Our Newsletter

Hi, November the month of mo's, the calm before the party season and freaky weather changes! Starting early on the party front we celebrated our 10th birthday party, great time had by all and thank you to everyone who braved the horrible weather to attend.

On the market front, contrary to media reports we are certainly not finding the market limping to the close of the year, there is in fact a very strong undercurrent of clients looking for standout employees and candidates wanting to make good on their new years resolution of a new career. Whilst the number of newly created jobs may have waned a little, the desire to move companies has rarely been stronger!

Perhaps a time for businesses to consider their levels of engagement of current staff and a rethink the onboarding process to ensure maximum early attachment. We will be covering this very topic at one of our events early in the New Year. Our complimentary 2012 events calendar is well underway with new keynote speakers and topics, plus our continued delivery of the Recruitment & Selection Essentials (R&S) Workshop due to be held in new locations throughout 2012 - these include Chatswood, North Ryde, Northern Beaches, North Sydney and Norwest. The first of the R&S workshops being held on the 2nd February in the City and the 9th February in Chatswood. We would also love to hear from you with your ideas on new topics.

November has also seen another Beaumont Baby born congratulations to Kamilla and Ben! Janine Runaghan of our Not For Profit got married in South Africa and the confirmation from Georgia Browning, Call Centre Specialist, North Shore that she will be returning from maternity leave at the end of January.

So lets look forward to the removal of the mo's, the start of the party season and hopefully not so freakish weather!

Dawn Toynton
Branch Manager

nine

Nine ways to survive the office Christmas party

Published on 18 Nov 2010 By Josie Chun

As the festive season approaches, so does a potentially perilous annual event of the office Christmas party. For some, it's a chance to let your hair down with your colleagues and talk about something other than work; for others, it's an ordeal more excruciating than dental surgery. Do you really have to make idle chit-chat with your fellow office drones, watch them get drunk and witness the inevitable embarrassing behaviour and then have to look them in the bleary eye on Monday morning? Bah, humbug!

There are some definite dos and don'ts when it comes to the office Christmas party. Here are some tips to help you navigate the dangerous festive waters.

1. Whatever you do, don't get drunk
Even though guzzling the free booze may seem like a good idea at the time it's not. You're bound to say or do something you shouldn't and will have to face the consequences afterwards. Making sure you stay sober and upright will ensure you're not the one everyones whispering about on Monday morning around the water cooler.
Workplace relations solicitor Amelia Peters is all too familiar with the consequences of too much booze at these functions. "In my experience, alcohol is the biggest risk factor for bad behaviour at these types of events. Most people would never even contemplate harassing or hassling a colleague until they get some alcohol on board and their judgment goes out the window," says Peters.

She also offers this caution: "We remind employees that their behaviour at these events is still considered to be on work time, that is, they still are at work even during social functions that take place after hours. Employees are often unaware of this or forget this."

Pace your drinking and make sure you eat something beforehand or during the party so you're not drinking on an empty stomach. Alternate alcoholic drinks with water, juice or soft drinks. As tempting as it may be and as easy as it is to do, getting drunk could cost you your credibility, reputation and, in the most extreme cases, your career.

2. Lust and other catastrophes
Despite the convivial surroundings and dose of Dutch courage, the Christmas party is not your opportunity to pounce on the office spunk or tell your secret crush what you'd like to do to them behind closed doors. You risk regret, rejection, humiliation, or worse, just ask ex-David Jones CEO Mark McInnes, who made unwanted sexual advances on publicist Kristy Fraser-Kirk at an office Christmas party and was slapped with a career-destroying sexual harassment lawsuit.

Be careful, very careful about taking your flirting too far. Just because you're feeling lascivious doesn't mean others are sharing your mood and even if they are, this is not the time or place for drunken hook-ups, unless you don't mind being the subject of salacious post-party office gossip.

3. Dress appropriately
Even though this is a social affair, these are your colleagues and your boss and it's simply not appropriate to wear anything too revealing. Save those sexy clothes for when you're clubbing with your friends but keep them away from the office party.

4. Mingle
The office Christmas party is a great opportunity to talk to people you otherwise wouldn't have much contact with, like mousey Michelle from the corner cubicle, as well as the CEO and other senior staff. Try to mingle and chat with everyone, including partners and spouses.

This is a great networking opportunity, so use it wisely without being an obvious schmoozer. This is your chance to make yourself known, but hopefully not for all the wrong reasons.

5. Don't talk about work
The Christmas party is just that, a party. That means it's a social event, and not the place to get into the minutiae of the latest project. Leave your professional baggage at the door and try to relax and have a good time. Show your colleagues that you're more than just an office bore and you really do have a personality buried somewhere beneath that power suit.

This is most definitely not the time to ask your boss for that promotion or pay rise. Such discussions are for office hours only.

6. Find a party buddy
If possible, tee up with a party buddy who will watch out for you while you watch out for them, you can keep an eye on each other and tell one another if it's time to bundle yourself into a cab.

7. Keep it clean
Even though this is your chance to relax with colleagues, don't get too loose with your language or behaviour. Avoid foul language and off-colour jokes, and maintain your manners.

8. Don't be a pig
While Christmas is all about indulging and it's a good idea to eat if you're drinking alcohol, making a beeline for the food table and stuffing your face before you even grunt hello to your colleagues is never a good look. Save yourself the embarrassment of being labelled the office pig.

9. Have fun
It is possible to have fun at the office Christmas party while keeping your dignity and remaining professional. Allow yourself to let your hair down, talk about something other than work and get to know your colleagues in a more relaxed context. After all, you're more than mere cogs in the office machinery, just make sure you maintain certain standards of behaviour and you should be able to eat, drink and be merry.

know

Getting to know you - Michelle Maye

1. What is your role in Beaumont Consulting?
NFP Recruitment Consultant

2. What was your first job?
I worked in advertising for a national newspaper in Ireland

3. What was your favourite subject at school?
Biology

4. If you were stuck on a desert island, what is the one thing you could not do without?
Music

5. What is the first thing you notice about people?
The tone of their voice

6. Who is someone that inspires you and why
My mum is the strongest, most beautiful woman I know

7. What do you do in your spare time?
Running, socialising and lots of swing dancing!

8. What was the last book you read?
Wild Swans

9. If you could be famous for anything what would it be?
Nobel Peace Prize winner

10. What's the best decision you have ever made?
To give my number to the very cute guy in the Lord Dudley 6 years ago. He will be my husband very soon

temp

Temp Of The Month

Our temp of the month goes to Claire Coyle at IPAC.

This is what are client had to say:

She is great. Claire has such a great attitude to work, she never complains, she's an absolute delight. Everyone here is really impressed with her.

market

Market Update

After a stressful month the Australian share market has moved into positive territory as bank shares recovered after a weak month of uncertainties. RBS client advisor Bill Bishop has said that "I think once again we are waiting to see what Europe is going to come up with, though it looks like running into January, we are going to come into some positive certainty".

And the good news keeps coming in with the Federal government announcing that employment rate has increased in October/November after 5 consecutive months of decline. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has said that its monthly leading indicator of employment rose 8% in October and has continued to rise and the department is predicting a growth in the business cycle.

Economists have said to be tentative and aware of the market in particular the European markets, but to not lose hope as predictions are showing that 2012 will NOT be doom and gloom.