Edition 14 - March 2009

A Word From The Editor:

Happy New Year!! Best wishes for a great 2009 from all of us at Access HR.  We hope that you enjoyed the festive season and for the lucky ones, the break from work. 

With all the negative talk of the global economy crisis, this newsletter will give you some tips on how to improve your outlook.  Included in this issue is an insight to Temporary Employment, and the benefits for both employers and employees, well worth the read.

We have also included some helpful tips to help you stand out from the crowd, by creating a     resume and covering letter to impress.  If after reading this newsletter you still wish to have further feedback, Access HR has introduced a Resume and Covering Letter writing service.  Who else would be better to get tips from than Consultants who study resumes for a living??? 

In June’s edition we will cover Interview Tips for both employers and employees, so keep an eye out for that.   If you have any suggestions for topics you would like to see covered in future newsletters they can be sent to info@accesshr.com.au or by telephoning Natasha on 9544 1899.

In continuing to improve our services, Access HR has developed a “Just What You Were Looking For” notice that will be circulating our database.  Each week the Top 4 Candidates will be sent out, with a brief summary of each one, providing employers with an opportunity to view some of the excellent candidates we are currently seeing.

We hope you enjoy reading this edition of Access HR News.  If you require any further information on any of the topics you have read in this edition, or for assistance with recruitment / employment please do not hesitate to contact one of the Access HR Team, as we are always happy to hear from you. 

The Access HR Team!

Think about Temporary Employees: A Worthwhile Solution

Definition of Temporary Employment

Different industries refer to a temporary position in different ways.  You may hear it referred to as ‘contracting’, ‘casual work’, or ‘freelancing’ to name a few.  In general terms, a temporary employee is someone who works for a company on a non-fixed term basis.  The employee’s salary is usually calculated on an hourly or daily rate and is paid through Access HR’s payroll.  Three hours notice period is required to terminate temporary employment by either party.

Why Employ Temporary Employees?

While the concept of hiring outside employees for a specific assignment has been around for years, there are many new reasons to contract with Access HR.  Unlike short term direct employees, temporary  personnel work for us.  As a consequence, when you use temporary staff instead of direct hires, all costs associated with processing and administering payroll and benefits are transferred from your company to the staffing firm.  This strategy assists you to control cost, improve production and manage risk. 

Benefits to Employing Temporary Employees

1.                  Employing professional temporary employees can assist with improving operating margins in your business, by ensuring effective staffing to maximize profitability.

2.                  Temporary staff enables businesses to be more responsive to fluctuations in workload by providing cover for temporary absences.

3.                  Hiring the wrong person can cost a tremendous amount of money.  At Access HR all candidates that register either for permanent or temporary work are rigorously screened, increasing your chances of getting the right candidate.  Not only do we provide candidates that possess the skills and experience you require, but also have the personality traits needed to flourish in your work setting.

4.                  Training is another expense that affects your bottom line, not only in dollars, but in lower productivity and poorer quality that result from employing inexperienced staff. By working closely with Access HR we can give you access to candidates who are well trained and have experience in the skills your company needs.

For further information on how temporary employees could assist you please contact Anna Lane or Kim White on 9544 1899.

Read More

Temporary Employment: Recognize The Opportunity

Why Temporary Employment?

There are many misconceptions about temporary employment, resulting in assignments being overlooked by job seekers.      Responses from people unfamiliar with temporary work usually sound like; “no I don’t want to be locked in”, “it will reduce my chances of gaining full time employment” and “it’s just a waste of time”.  However, temporary employment is often a great option for many people, and this article discusses the many benefits helping you to recognize those advantages.

Benefits to Temporary Employment:

• Good jobs don’t grow on trees, and with current economic downturn available    positions are not as common as they once were.  Temporary assignments can be used as a fantastic way to earn money whilst you are job seeking.
• Temporary positions are a fantastic way to gain experience within a particular industry.
• Students can access temporary employment, balancing study schedule with      assignments
• Temporary assignments are a quick way to pick-up new skills or to improve your existing.  Temporary employees are often required to use client’s software program, and proficiency in current computer applications looks great on a resume.
• Temporary positions are good for filling gaps in resumes, showing recruiters that although you were not working / studying full time you were doing something.
• Working for a variety of employers provides you with a greater exposure to different types of management styles, company cultures, products and services.
• Flexibility!  Temporary employees are often able to arrange their work schedule and     personal priorities.
• Temporary positions can turn into a position that needs to be filled permanently, even if you are not told that it is a temp to perm hire you may have a shot at the permanent position.
• Temping for Access HR provides our consultants with an opportunity to get to know you, rather than becoming a name on the database.
• Feedback from clients is sought by Access HR.  Favourable feedback places you in the “good books” with our consultants, and allows us to provide you with a recommendation to our clients.

How to succeed being a Temporary Employee?

1. Review the basic job duties and objectives with your Recruitment Consultant, but also clarify all aspects with your on-site   manager.  Avoid misunderstandings, and be more productive from the onset.

1. A temporary position is NEVER a carefree, zero responsibility job.  Access HR prides themselves on providing excellent service to all their clients, constantly seeking feedback on a temporary employee’s performance.  Feedback resulting in performance not at the required level, does result in the temporary employee being performance managed.

1. The more professionally you approach a temporary assignment and the greater value you add to the project, the more likely managers will be to comment favorably on your performance to Access HR or even make you an offer of permanent work.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for specific information that may be necessary for you to do your job.  This may be from your onsite manager or from a consultant at Access HR.

1. Keep in touch with Access HR whilst in and out of temporary assignments.

Many companies push staff to produce more with fewer resources, and as the stress increases so do problems with quality, output, non-attendance and ultimately turnover.  Employing temporary staff assists your permanent employees to avoid burnout, reduce the costs of defects, avoid productivity losses and limit turnover expenses.

For further information or to register for temporary employment please contact Anna Lane or Kim White on 9544 1899.

Read More

How to Write a Resume to Stand Out from the Crowd

The resume that you submit to an organization is the first impression the person recruiting has of you.  In that brief moment you need to get their attention, show that you are a professional and talented candidate, and most importantly get them to ring you.  Therefore, it is not just the contents of the resume which is important it is also the layout and how it is written.

Your resume is the key to getting your dream role, and is essential that you get it right. 

As with covering letters, Access HR has a service to assist you in standing out from all the rest, and receiving the longed for phone call.  If you would like further assistance with your resume or covering letter please contact Access HR on 9544 1899.

What is a resume?

A resume is a professional introduction that is used to encourage a face-to-face interview with a potential candidate established from the skills and experience portrayed in the resume.

What should I write in my resume?

• Begin with your contact details such as your name, address, phone number and email address
• Career Objective
• Education / Qualifications details.  Include institutes and dates attended and which course you completed
• Skills.  Any computer and non-technical skills you have
• Employment History.  Include company name, duration of employment,  position, duties/responsibilities and achievements.
• References: professional and business.  It is also acceptable to write “References available upon request”.  Although if you are applying to job criteria they may request references to be given with the application.

What should I avoid when writing my resume?

It is very easy to write “too much” when writing your resume.  Try to keep resumes to as little pages as possible, on average aim for 2 – 3 pages.

Leaving “gaps” in your resume is not a good idea, it allows for the person reading it to make assumptions on what you were doing in that time.  Instead of leaving gaps where you didn’t work, write what you were   doing for that period of time whether it is maternity leave or full time study.  E.G. 1995 – 1996: Full time parent.

How should I write my resume?

The Chronological format of a resume is a lot more preferred by employers than a Functional format.  Functional format is where you place the jobs with the skills needed for the position you are going for first under Employment History.  This way can be confusing to read and comprehend.   Chronological order is date order, from the most recent position you had.

When writing your employment history, try to list your duties and responsibilities in bullet points rather than big paragraphs.  It needs to be easy to read so that your potential employer can scan through and know your experience.  Bullet points also help key points stand out.

If you have several career objectives, then write one for each different employer you send your resume to.  They will appreciate a personalized    resume over a generic one.

Date of birth and other personal data such as marital status is your own preference.  Just keep in mind that your aim is to get the recruiter / company to call you.

Read More

How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter

Access HR receive many covering letters each day, and in discussions with our candidates we often hear many people say that they don’t know how to write an acceptable covering letter.  This article has been developed to assist you with your applications, by combining this with the ‘How to write the perfect resume’ you will be on the right track to accepting your dream role.

If after reading both these articles you still are not confident to write your resume and covering letter that will make you stand out from the crowd, please contact Access HR as we have a ‘Resume and Covering Letter’ service.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is sent with your resume in application for an advertised or an unsought position within a company.   They are a letter of introduction explaining who you are and why you are sending your resume through.

What should I write in my cover letter?

Your cover letter should state what position you are applying for, how you heard of the available position or the company, explanation of why you are the right person for the role, thank them for reading your application and a telephone number they can contact you on.

What should I avoid when writing a cover letter?

The following are some things to avoid when writing your cover letter:

• Never write negatives in your letter.  Keep information such as why you left / are leaving your current position to discuss in the interview
• Do not rewrite your resume in your letter
• Avoid writing your salary history in your cover letter
• Avoid long paragraphs
• If you can, avoid addressing your letters with Dear Sir / Madame.  Address the letter to the person who’s name is mentioned in the ad, if there is no name provided make a quick phone call to the company and find out.
• SPELLING & GRAMMAR MISTAKES!  This also includes “texting language”, it is not appropriate to write a covering letter as you would a text message.  For example: “I” instead of “i”, “people” instead of “ppl”, “thank you” instead of “thks/thanx”

How should I write my cover letter?

For the structure of the letter it should consist an introduction, a couple of paragraphs detailing why you are the right person for the position and a closing paragraph.

• Your cover letter should have the same font and layout of your resume.
• Be concise in what you write and try to keep the letter to one page.
• Make your cover letter personal to each employer you are applying to.

Read More