Link: http://www.acetalentnet.com.au/role_application_tips.php

as published in the Professional Edge April08...

There is no doubt that it is a candidates market, with job ads and role vacancies still at historical highs. There is also little doubt that in the main, the recruitment industry can do better when it comes to managing candidate applications, feedback and the selection process in general.

aCE talentNET certainly strives to be different in this regard, having very clear service standards for both clients AND candidates. However, from our experience over the years in reviewing thousands of candidate/consultant/contractor applications we are constantly amazed and frustrated by a number of recurring practices from role-seekers.

The following identifies a few tips to help guide you when you next find yourself putting your CV out there for that next golden opportunity.

Always provide a covering covering letter or paragraph
- identifying why you are interested in the role and broadly summarise your skills and experience relevant to the specifics of the job ad or opportunity.

Provide a comment on availability / notice period
- particularly for contract opportunities.

Don't enter the process if you are not comfortable with the advertised salary / daily rate range
- it is rarely a good idea to head down the selection path on the basis that you will be able to negotiate a higher salary / daily rate at offer stage.

Ensure you have an up-to-date Professional CV
- you would be surprised how many times we advise applicants that they do not meet the pre-requisite role requirements for XYZ reasons, only to then be told they have done this but it's not in their CV.

Be flexible
- even if the diary is full!

Be prepared and dress appropriately
- should be a given, but alas, not.

Follow Up
- immediately following an interview contact the recruiter to get feedback re your performance and any next steps.

We hope the above helps...many of you reading this will think these all quite obvious points. But we're here to tell you we see these mistakes being made daily and not just by the younger generation. The majority of applicants for aCE roles would be aged 30+ so it seems we all have something to learn.

Click Here to get more detail around these 7 steps.

Link: http://www.hcamag.com/hca_aus/index_email.cfm?articleID=1074

As reported in the Human Capital Magazine...

There are some changes in the economic winds with Australia's economy at what many think is a turning point. With inflationary pressures and increases in interest rates, we look at the potential impacts on some industries and their demand levels for HR professionals this year.

Whilst the Fairfax Employment Forecast does indicate some softening may occur, many industries are still expected to remain strong throughout the next 12 months and it suggests that there will not be much let up for talent acquisition professionals in the battle for talent.

Even if a specific industry is in decline, there is still expected to be a strong demand for HR practitioners as the profession happily rides both sides of the economic cycle these days!

Even if companies are affected by a downturn, HR will still be in demand to drive organizational restructuring.

To read all about it, click here...

Link: http://www.contractworld.com.au/reloaded/ica-news.php

Independent Contractors of Australia report...
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Huge changes in workplace relations are affecting every worker and business.

In many respects the political differences have gone. Ken Phillips¹
'Independence and the Death of Employment' provides a key insight into the
change. Once thought to be radical, it¹s now considered central to
understanding the new environment. Available in September in paperback.

What is your career? Who defines your work life? What does it mean to manage or be managed? What is the firm? How do organizations achieve their objectives and make profit? How are these things---and you---controlled and regulated? These are just some of the questions which flow from this book. Professional managers, national and international policy makers, economists, labour lawyers and entrepreneurs will find much in here of deep interest.

More importantly, it's the individual that will resonate most closely with the ideas that Ken presents.

Click here to find out more...

Link: http://acetalentnet.com.au/enews/advantedgemay08.html

the latest and greatest aCE talentNET AdvantEdge is out...
learn about what you can be doing to create your own Professional Edge by doing the following:

• Employer Brand Summit
• Resilience Mastery
• the Asia HRD Congress 2008
• Corporate NLP
• Australian Events Expo

• Every Day is Mothers Day Special 2 for 1 book offer
  "Secrets of Inspiring Women Exposed"
• Employment Law Handbook

Check them out here now...

Link: http://www.recruiterdaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&nav=1&selkey=36631

As reported in RecruiterDaily.com today...

New research has found that overall, women have a stronger personality type for senior executive and management roles.

The study, conducted by Peter Berry Consultancy, involved more than 1800 Australian male and female executives and managers. It used the Hogan Assessment System to rate the leaders in eight profile areas known to contribute to successful business leadership: strategic drive; risk taking; people skills; emotional stability; hot buttons; innovation; control and command; and bottom line dollars.

According to the report, Female leadership in Australia: What does it look like and how does it differ from their Male counterparts?, in both groups of leaders, females scored highest in five key areas, while males scored higher in two areas and scores were even in one.

click here to read more...