Author: susancarson

4 Tips To Pass Your Probation


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The New Year is a time for us all to reflect and reassess our goals in life, and a US survey reported that more than half of workers look for a new job after January 1. In my book, 101 HR Hot Tips: Handy Secrets for Success in the Workplace, I discuss passing your probation in HR Hot Tip #34, but I thought it an opportune time to extend on this HR Hot Tip! So if you’re starting your new role about now, or in the near future, here are four more tips to ensure you maximise your chances of passing your probation: Continue reading →

by Categories: Candidates, Conduct, PerformanceTags: , , , Leave a comment

Clive Clive Clive: It’s a wonder you’re still alive

Clive PalmerIt’s a tough gig being Clive Palmer right now. I wonder, was being Queensland’s most hated man part of his plan? Was life meant to turn out this way?

One can only assume it was, considering he has let go 237 workers from his nickel refinery which shut down in Townsville, Queensland this week, as a direct result of his immoral and irresponsible spending. Continue reading →

by Categories: Conduct, Integrity, LeadershipTags: , , , , Leave a comment

Essendon – a perfect example of why you don’t settle for second best.

Australia: One of our most beloved AFL teams has been seriously impacted after the Essendon Bombers Football Club was issued suspensions for 34 of their past and present players, twelve of which are currently on the Bombers’ list, for taking banned supplements at the direction of their fitness coaches and sports scientists.

Whilst the blame game continues as to who is truly at fault and why, what stands out to me in this case is that the administers in this instance were not the preferred candidates for appointment by the Club. Continue reading →

by Categories: Candidates, Interviews, Job Applications, Recruitment Leave a comment

Who will you be, or who will you see, at this year’s Christmas Party?

Christmas party time! Silly season time! Whatever you wanna call it time! HR Hot Tip #56 in my book 101 HR Hot Tips: Handy Secrets for Success in the Workplace discusses appropriate behaviour including keeping your clothes on at the Christmas party. And now that the silly season is upon us, now is the time to augment this HR Hot Tip for your benefit.

These are the personality types that come out at Christmas parties. Who will you be, or who will you see, this year? Continue reading →

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Do you jump off the sinking ship? Three reasons not to…

I want to share a conversation I had with a friend earlier this week. Let’s call her Dot:

Dot: “Susan! Help me re-do my resume. My company just laid off 20 people today so I need to look for a new job right away!”

Me: “Yes, but have you been let go?”

Dot: “No, but I might be!”

Me: “True, but what have you been told about your job”

Dot: “That it’s safe for now”Me: “So why are you fretting?”

Dot: “Because I might lose my job and I need one!”

Me: “Don’t jump off the sinking ship!”

I have supported four companies through their restructures, which resulted in the termination of employment from six to 500 people. I am always fascinated by the variety of people’s reactions to such adversity. Whilst it is understandable to be concerned about your future liv
elihood when it’s happening in your company, here are my three HR Hot Tips to help you not fret and to try and stay calm during what is a very stressful time: Continue reading →

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Are you the victim of office gossip? Ten Hot Tips to assist with constructive confrontation

7 pictureThe focus of a recent coaching session with one of my protégés was the treatment of her by two other colleagues, who had been allegedly spreading rumours about her perceived extra-curricular relationship with a senior member of staff.

Naturally, my protégé was terrified of confronting the situation. In fact, I believe most people don’t confront issues that are bothering them, for fear of retribution or worsening the situation. So people go on to tolerate unfair and unreasonable treatment, which, in truth, can negatively affect someone’s reputation, performance, self-esteem and consequently, life in general. Continue reading →

by Categories: DevelopmentTags: , , , 1 Comment

Are you an aspiring leader? Three questions to regularly ask yourself early on in your leadership journey

After a month away from the office and travelling around Canada, and back to Australia, it got me thinking about the presence of leadership in all of our travels. And we all travel. It may be to the store, it may be to another town or it may be to the other side of the globe, but one consistent thing across town, borders and continents is the importance of leadership. From the grocery store, to political parties, to your school, university or workplace, it is leadership (good and bad) that is ever-present and what mostly drives us to want to succeed.

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Leadership doesn’t necessarily come naturally to people who are in positions of managing other people, and people are promoted to leadership roles on the basis of their technical skills, rather than on their leadership skills, all the time. If you’re an aspiring leader, here are three questions to ask yourself daily – that you must answer “yes” to daily – in order to provide a solid foundation and boost your chances of early success, as you travel through towns, industries and even borders in your leadership journey:

Continue reading →

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Are your goals setting you up for success?

Workplace goals exist to move the business forward in line with the organisation’s vision and strategy. They can come in varied forms but the SMART acronym (the letters of which have many interchangeable versions with the same idea) is one basis often used to assist with goal creation and setting. Generally, your SMART goals will be set for you either by direction from your leader, or collaboratively, in line with what the business wants to achieve. But what about what you want to achieve?

Continue reading →

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Is your social media activity helping? Or hindering?

In today’s age of social media, information about prospective candidates is more readily available online, and recruiters will go beyond the traditional reference check phone call in search of anything about you. This involves accessing and scrutinising your social media activity, and gathering as much information to use to gain an idea of your character. Furthermore, this research probably occurs before they have even met you. It’s important to ensure that you manage your social media activity in the right way, to support your brand and not inadvertently damage it in any way.

Continue reading →

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Seven Tips to Conducting a Memorable Interview

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I have experienced many interviews where upon completion, the panel and myself have been truly ecstatic that we have found the right person, and hope the feeling’s mutual. Others, we look around for Ashton Kutcher because we think we’re being punk’d. Seriously.

This is it: the make or break stage of your job application. The interview is pretty much what it comes down to. Interviews can be daunting, but at the same time they are simply a two-way conversation, with each party assessing the other’s suitability for their needs.

So how can you make your interview the most memorable? Continue reading →

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