Welcome

Welcome to 2010, the year of the Tiger. By now you must be implementing your plans for the year ahead.

It would be prudent before diving into the new year agendas to take a brief look back at 2009 and what an exacting and challenging year it was for businesses - small and large and many of our candidates who unfortunately lost their jobs due to economic circumstances.

Congratulations on making it through and if you were one of the many that had to endure restructures, downsizing or were forced to change roles or companies, we hope that you have landed in a brighter spot.

Much of 2009 was devoted to damage control so now is a good time to devote to your personal and professional goals in 2010 and Cameron Recruitment would like to help.

Best wishes for 2010,
Diane Humphries, CPA
Director | Cameron Recruitment

New year, new growth

We believe 2010 will bring much more activity in the recruitment sector and Cameron Recruitment is expanding its executive team in order to deal with the pending increased business and emerging opportunities.

Cameron Recruitment is delighted to introduce our new team member Kulwinder Perhar. Kulwinder joins our team in the newly created position of Candidate Manager.

Kulwinder has extensive experience in the recruitment and financial services sector and is a perfect fit for Cameron Recruitment's specialised practice.

She most recently served as finance planning manager and prior to that held senior roles as a recruitment consultant. Kulwinder spent her early career holding accountancy roles in various large organisations.

Cameron Recruitment founder and Director Diane Humphries welcomes Kulwinder and her highly sought after skills to the organisation. "In my recruiting experience finding an executive with the astute accountancy knowledge and experience of Kulwinder's standard is rare, but coupled with her natural 'recruitment' skills and deep understanding of our marketplace, she is a true find. I look forward to working with Kulwinder and introducing her to our clients and candidates."

Initially Kulwinder will focus on consulting with both established and new high quality candidates and ensuring that they find the most rewarding role. "Joining Cameron Recruitment allows me to indulge both sides of my career strengths as a recruitment professional with a passion for the accountancy sector. I was attracted to the business for its combination of a great culture, passionate colleagues, and the opportunity to build and explore new business opportunities in an exciting emerging location," Kulwinder said.

If you are considering a career change for 2010 or recruitment advice please send in your curriculum vitae to Kulwinder:

The outlook - some key indicators

Australian businesses have started the New Year with a significant restocking of inventories as expectations of a strengthening economy fuel confidence about 2010 sales and profits.

In another positive sign for the economy, firms are also reporting improved expectations for capital investment.

The new year has begun with a relatively positive business outlook which has been backed up by the latest findings from the first Dun & Bradstreet Business Expectations Survey for the New Year.

According to Dun & Bradstreet's CEO Christine Christian, "the increase in business confidence is a stark turn around from mid year when most indices were mired in negative territory. 2009 was a challenging year for many businesses with the impact of the Global Financial Crisis hitting heavily across Australia and the globe. Executives will be hoping that their expectations for 2010 are met and they can enjoy a far more positive business environment than they have experienced over the past eighteen months."

The report found that during the September quarter capital investment remained positive for a second consecutive quarter with 12% of firms spending more on capital investment. While a total of 9% decreased capital expenditure.

The September quarter also brought an increase in sales for 30% of firms, and 9% of businesses increased staff. However it must be noted 13% reduced employee numbers in the last quarter of 2009.

Inventory expectations are now at their highest level in more than four years with 14% of executives expected to increase inventories in the March 2010 quarter.

The retail sector has seen the greatest improvement returning to positive territory, 43% of firms expect an increase in sales and only 15% expect a decrease in sales in the March quarter.

In terms of employment expectations 7% of firms are planning to increase staff levels and 7% are planning to reduce employment numbers. While these figures seem low they represent a 26% improvement on the June quarter index off an all time low of minus 26 percentage points. However, with the Federal Government closely watching employment levels as a key indicator of the strength of the economic recovery this number would be of some concern.

According to Dr Duncan Ironmonger, Dun & Bradstreet's economic consultant, the survey results indicate a much stronger business performance in 2010 than in 2009.

"Although expectations for growth in staff numbers are weak, expectations for growth in sales this quarter are at their highest level in six years. Businesses are backing up these expectations with intentions to make relatively strong increases in capital investment and inventories," he said.

He added that in the three months to November employment grew by 100,000 which sets 2010 up for more growth. Meanwhile 38% of executives rank wages growth as the primary influence on their business in March quarter, 33% expect interest rates to be the primary influence and 13% believe fuel prices will be their main concern in the quarter ahead.

Time to think about social media at work

A recent global survey conducted by Manpower Recruitment found that 75% of employers have no social media policy.

Australian employers however rated better than most, with 67% of employers failing to keep social media practices in check across the organisation.

The study was based on a survey of 34,000 employers in 35 countries, including over 2000 Australian respondents, which gauged employer attitudes toward social media in the workplace.

The research revealed that 76% of Australian companies that did have formal social media policies in place, had found them effective in preventing productivity loss and 37% found them effective in protecting intellectual property and proprietary information.

Given the immense growth in usage of Facebook and Twitter, it is clear that managers and HR Directors need to look at management strategies for the use of social media.

2010 may be the year that business leaders will have to recognise that social media is redefining the way we work and play, and that those lines are often blurred in the work environment. Businesses will need to learn how to harness its power while managing its risks and not alienating staff.

The report found that Australian employers acknowledged the positive potential of social media with 31% claiming it can boost brand building, and 21% viewing it as a promising method to foster collaboration and communication.

Whatever your personal view on its usage it is time that it was addressed within the workplace in a constructive way to benefit the business and avoid embarrassing or costly social media blunders.

Seeking Speakers

As part of Cameron Recruitment's regular breakfast series we are holding a seminar on "Selling HR to the Board". We would love to hear your experiences and now seek board members, senior managers and HR professionals as speakers who have been successful in "selling" HR to their organisation.

Please contact Kylie Petroff
on or call 8853 7838.