The Wanderer Returns (Part 1)
August 3, 2006 12:57 PM
Aloha! Huge apologies for this way overdue entry but things have been pretty hectic at Jobsite over the past weeks (more about this later). I've also been away sunning myself in Gran Canaria for a week, a very well deserved break I feel!
I have to say that I'm a little hurt that there weren't any messages of concern about my absence from the blog page! I realise that I'm not always the most regular of bloggers but I thought perhaps one or two people may have enquired as to my whereabouts. However, the other bloggers do such a fine job that it is understandable that I was not missed too much. I'm hoping you'll give me a warm welcome back though with lots of messages to this blog.
Where to start? Well in the few weeks (ahem!) since my last blog both inside & outside of work has been a hive of activity. I don't know about you but I find it so much easier to be productive at work when you've got cool stuff going on outside it as well. Some people say they find it hard to work during the summer as if you're office bound, watching the sun outside can be a little depressing. However, the upside is that the evenings stay light until way later and so if you arrange stuff to do it after 5.30pm it encourages you to leave work on time & go enjoy the rest of the day.
So what exactly has been happening in work? Well...
* An exciting new search is now in place and it's gone down a storm so far. Candidates are saying that it returns more relevant jobs to them & makes the site easier to use. You can read more about this in Tristan's latest blog.
* We've had almost 500 requests for our White Paper, which looks at the difficulties faced in the recruitment process from both the candidate and recruiter side. It also has helpful advice on how to overcome these. These requests have come far and wide, from candidates to HR Directors to agency recruitment consultants.
A lot of hard work went into this White Paper and we're so proud of the end result that we're using it as the basis of an industry panel debate at two upcoming HR Seminars. There are loads of other interesting speakers at the event too, so if you're in the HR community & are free on either the 26th September in the London area or the 28th September in Leeds check out this link:
www.engageevents.com
* We've been running a survey across our partner European sites looking at how different people view work-life balance. This is a pretty hot topic at the moment but we're looking at it in a slightly different way. Many people think that work-life balance means working less hours, taking a sabbatical, working from home etc but that depends on the individual's view of work & life. For some people the best balance for them would be a 70 hour working week and relatively little 'free' time as they get their biggest enjoyment from the challenges at work. There have been some pretty interesting results coming back so far but as this hasn't completely finished yet I'll save these findings for a later entry.
* There was some desk movement activity in marketing. At first I wasn't too happy about packing all my stuff and being uprooted but I have to admit that it was quite helpful in the fact that it forced me to recycle practically a whole forest of documents/magazines/newspapers etc that I'm never going to need again. However, my back is now to the window & I'm not sure how I feel about that, if anyone knows anything about Feng Shui I'd like your opinion on this. I'm also next to the Artic air con vents but as some of you may be reading this in boiling offices I'll shut up complaining about this!
Stay tuned for my next installment which wil be live on Monday and will focus on my out of work shenanigans.
Enjoy the sun, but not too much as sunstroke & leathery skin are not good for anyone! If you have any questions you would like to ask me, get writing now!
PS Oh and if you know anything about Feng Shui can you tell me about it?!
Comments
Sounds like you've been busy, Cheryl!
You're right about 'work - life balance' by the way. I have no problems working extra hours, because I love my job and I get rewarded well for doing it. I get told I need to spend more time doing things out of work, that i need more balance, but i feel i have the balance just right. And I'm happy in my job,
Well done on pointing out that its fine to be yourself and do things your way.
I look forward to hearing about the survey results - the white paper was a good read.
I hope the leathery skin is not a lesson learned from your holiday??!
James Logan - August 3, 2006 02:28 PM
Hi!!!
Steve - August 5, 2006 06:50 PM
Hi Steve, hope you're well.
I'm so glad that you get where we're coming from James. What you've just said is exactly what we are researching in our new survey. I'm glad that you love your job too, I don't think there are enough people that feel that way. Seeing as we all spend significant hours in our jobs it'd be great if we could enjoy being there. I have mucho respect for people that leave jobs they're unhappy in, to search for something that will suit them more - even if that means a cut in wages or longer hours.
Glad you liked the White Paper too, we think it's got some pretty good advice in there.
On the skin front, my skin is as smooth as a baby's! I'm very much a sensible tanner now, factor 15 all the way. Unfortunately I wasn't always this way and have suffered the hell that is sunstroke.
Cheryl - August 8, 2006 10:47 AM