RETURNING TO WORK UNDER COVID-19 GUIDE

RETURNING TO WORK UNDER COVID-19 GUIDE

As Coronavirus restrictions are being lifted across Australia, Altitude has compiled a practical guide to assist you with your planning as you return your workforce to the office and prepare for your new operating normal.

Our attached guide includes useful information to enable decision making around reopening your office. These guidelines address health and safety considerations, the mitigation of travel risks, HR policies and how to prepare your facilities for your employees’ return.

We hope our guide assists you and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss any aspects of this with you whilst we all navigate this new territory.

 

For more information please contact us on 1300 95 16 59 or info@altituderecruitment.com

Don’t forget to follow our Altitude company page on LinkedIn for futher updates.

HOW TO QUALIFY YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY

HOW TO QUALIFY YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY

The last thing you want to do when changing organisations is to leave one for another and regret it. With this in mind, how do you ensure that your next move is the right one?
 
It can be helpful to take a step back and consider why you have decided to explore your career options. There are usually two main reasons:
 
  • Something is lacking in your current role / organisation e.g. there is little/no career progression opportunities, low/no commitment to professional development 
  • Something is wrong e.g. your salary is below market rate, a culture of bullying, unreasonable workloads, poor leadership behaviours etc.

It is here that I would encourage you to work out the ‘Top 5’ attributes that you are seeking from your next role / employer and then use this list to assess opportunities as they arise.
 

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE ‘TOP 5’ AND HOW YOU CAN USE THEM TO QUALIFY AN OPPORTUNITY:

Under 30 min commute  
This should be an easy one to assess by confirming the location of the company and if you can get there within 30 mins by walking, public transport or by driving. 

Flexibility  
Firstly work out what flexibility means to you. Is it the ability to work your own hours e.g. early start / early finish? Or is it being able to work from home where business needs allow for it? Once you know the answer, you can ask the employer whether they can offer you the flexibility you are seeking.

Professional development
This can take many forms such as formal education/qualifications, on the job training, a mentor or job shadowing. Work out what gaps you have or skills you want to acquire, and find out if your potential employer is able to support and facilitate that.

Structured career path
Knowing that you’re working towards your next step/promotion can be really motivating so ensure that an organisation can provide this for you. Find out about their current team(s), who has progressed their career, what steps were involved and what timeframes applied. Ask if they have a formal succession plan in place for their senior roles.  

Positive culture 
This can be a tricky one as culture means different things to different people. You can ask your interviewers about how they define and measure the culture of their business which should provide a good insight into their cultural objectives and how closely aligned they are to yours. Make sure to ask about average tenure of staff as this is a good indicator of how employees feel about working there.

IN SUMMARY:

  • Consider what is working and what is not in your current role and organisation
  • Make your Top 5 list of attributes that you are seeking
  • Do your research and ask questions to qualify whether a prospective employer is a strong match
A good recruitment consultant will be able to give you a detailed overview of an organisation and answer any questions you may have, which can of course expedite the qualification process. The recruiter can also provide you with a list of businesses known to them that tick your ‘Top 5’ boxes, and could develop a reverse marketing strategy / make a strategic introduction to them on your behalf.  
 
Please reach out if you’d like help in ascertaining your ‘Top 5’ or putting together a list of prospective employers to approach. Contact me on 1300 95 16 59 or info@altituderecruitment.com

VIRTUAL MEETINGS – TIPS FOR THE ‘NEW NORMAL’

VIRTUAL MEETINGS – TIPS FOR THE ‘NEW NORMAL’

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual meetings are now the rule and not the exception. For people who do not like the camera (…me) this ‘new normal’ can feel challenging but by becoming aware of virtual meeting etiquette and reading the tips below, I hope I can assist you in easing into this.

 

1. CHECK YOUR TECHNOLOGY 

Conduct a test of your technology before the meeting begins as you don’t want a delayed start because no one can see or hear you. If you are a technological whiz kid, please try to be kind and patient if people aren’t so adept. I am still a believer in turning my PC off and on again if anything goes wrong – which is the extent of what I know about computers. 

2. DRESS ACCORDINGLY

One of the best things about working from home is being able to dress more casually. There is probably no need for a suit, tie clip and shoes but do put on professional clean clothing and check your appearance in the mirror before your video meeting begins.
Tip: if you are wearing activewear shorts, make sure you ‘leave meeting’ before standing up!
 

3. FIND A SUITABLE PLACE AND SUITABLE BACKGROUND 

Ideally, you’ll be in a room by yourself where you can close the door. If this isn’t possible, find a room with limited foot flow through it. Depending on your situation, it could be worth explaining to roommates, spouses, children or pets that you’ll be participating in a work meeting and asking them to keep the noise (and barks) down to a minimum. The best background for video meetings is a relatively blank one that won’t be distracting. 
 

4. USE THE MUTE BUTTON

If you can’t find a quiet place, most virtual formats allow you to enter meetings on mute. During the meeting, when you’re not speaking, mute the microphone so people can talk without hearing background noises. Also, if there are numerous people on a call, by muting your microphone it can also allow for better signal to prevent a lag…. and… people… sounding… like… robots!
 

5. SPEAK SLOWER THAN USUAL 

During online meetings, speak clearer and slower than usual. There is nothing worse than you speaking for a few minutes with some William Shakespeare-esque monologue, only for nobody to understand you.
 
Internet speed quality can vary from your location to strength of mobile/wifi connection. Keep in mind that there’s often a short delay when someone talks, so pause after asking a question or listening to someone’s response. It’s all too easy to inadvertently interrupt other speakers. 
 

6. CONNECT ON A PERSONAL LEVEL

In times like this where solitary isolation is common, it is important to display empathy and to connect as human beings not just in a professional capacity. A simple question of ‘how are you coping?’ can help people open up.
 

7 . DON’T MULTITASK

Good virtual meeting etiquette means resisting the temptation to check the news, social media or your email inbox. It’s clear when a participant isn’t paying attention during a video meeting and it’s distracting for others in the meeting. Also, while you are at home it may be convenient for you to eat but please don’t! Save the snacks for later, as you would do in a normal face to face meeting.
 

8. DON’T PLAY MUSICAL CHAIRS

If you join the meeting on a mobile phone, try to avoid walking around as it can be off putting to others. If people see you shuffling around your house, trying to step over children’s toys and then falling over, it will detract from the topic being discussed and people on the call will be distracted. Sorry, what were we talking about?
 
In conclusion; this is a new situation for everybody and most people have had more virtual meetings in the last few months than they would ever have had in their whole career. Start using these pointers in your virtual meetings and wow your colleagues or interviewers. If there are hiccups, just remember that this is new for most of us. We are all in this together!
 

Contact our specialist recruiter team on 1300 95 16 59 or info@altituderecruitment.com

SUCCESSFUL YEAR-END REVIEWS DURING COVID-19

SUCCESSFUL YEAR-END REVIEWS DURING COVID-19

What a financial year it has been! As well as the impact that Coronavirus has had on organisations, this time of year can create pressure due to heightened work-load and expectations, as well as the tight deadline of the End of Financial Year.

As we reach June 30th, year-end appraisals and salary reviews are due, although this year expectations and outcomes may differ due to the uncertainty that many organisations still face. In order to still harness year-end reviews as an opportunity, employees must analyse and strategise to finetune their goals for the next financial year.

This may not be the time to discuss an immediate pay rise but you can construct a plan of action with your employer to work towards a promotion or pay rise in 3-6 months’ time, or for the new calendar year.

The conversation around pay rise is only one element of an End of Financial Year performance review. Here are a number of other questions to consider before speaking with your employer:

  • Evaluate your role from a business / employers’ perspective – how can you strengthen your position and offer more value to the organisation?
  • What skills do you want to develop? Emotional intelligence, leadership or management skills? Research courses that could progress you in these areas, for example, Altitude runs Emotional Intelligence Leadership courses – please contact us for more information.
  • Why did you choose your profession? Are you fulfilling your purpose and what you set out to achieve?
  • What areas do you want to focus on in your sector or organisation – what would you enjoy more exposure to?
  • What are your goals at your current employer? Is there anything your current organisation offers that you have yet to make the most of?

For more information to help you progress your career, contact our specialist recruitment team on 1300 95 16 59 or info@altituderecruitment.com for more information.

IS LOCKDOWN GETTING YOU DOWN?

IS LOCKDOWN GETTING YOU DOWN?

It is true to say that we have never been through anything like this before and the impact of these lockdowns are not to be underestimated.

MISSING YOUR OLD LIFE?

Whether it’s supporting your favourite team or just catching up with your mates, there are things we all miss. Individually, the little things we miss they may seem small, but they add up and over time, many are left feeling anxious and uncertain about the future.

Talking to someone can be the first step to feeling better.

“It’s okay not to feel okay. When we reach out and talk about our mental health, we are taking the first step toward recovery. When we talk to someone who listens, we enter a place where we are no longer alone.”
Meredith Dalton, Lifeline

For those who feel like they have no one to talk to, you can talk to a ‘buddy’ at The Male Hug. If you could do with someone to talk to in a non-judgmental and safe environment where you can talk about what is important to you then Let’s Chat. After all, it starts with a conversation.

START YOUR CONVERSATION AND CHAT WITH US AT HTTPS://LNKD.IN/GEC5SAW

 

#LETSCHAT #ITSOKNOTTOBEOK #THEMALEHUG #BUDDY #LOCKDOWN

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/themalehug_letschat-itsoknottobeok-themalehug-activity-6686380965285240832-eyuD/