You’ll be pleased to know as recruiters we hate asking this question just as much as you probably can’t stand answering it. If you’ve ever been to a job interview, there’s a good chance you’ve been asked ‘What’s your greatest weakness?’

Many of us struggle to answer this and end up pointing out something that’s not really a weakness, such as ‘I’m a perfectionist’ or ‘I work too hard.’ But it really pays to give a more honest and authentic answer.

Look we do get a lot of valuable information with how you respond to this question which is why it has hung around for so long! It allows us to get a good grasp of whether you’re self-aware and committed to ongoing professional and personal development. No one wants to manage someone who thinks they’re perfect, so it’s always better to admit to weaknesses rather than pretending you don’t have any.

Here, we look at how to have an open, genuine discussion about five common weaknesses – and how to prove you’re working on them in a way that’ll impress your interviewer.

1.      I have a fear of public speaking
A lot of people offer this as a weakness but phrasing it in a different way can help you talk about it more personally. For example, ‘I haven’t had great exposure to speaking in front of large groups, but this is something I’m committed to improving over time.’

You could then offer examples of how you’ve already started working to overcome this weakness, such as volunteering to deliver training or speak at smaller group gatherings to build confidence. Hiring managers are also impressed by things you may be doing outside of work to improve a weakness, such as reading professional or personal development books, listening to podcasts, or – in the case of public speaking – joining a group to develop public speaking skills.

2.      I lack confidence
Many people are more on the introverted side, and that’s not a problem unless you’re applying for a sales position that requires extensive networking and cold calling. However, often introverts who are also quite shy lack confidence in an interview and when they start in a new role. If this is you, we recommend acknowledging “that you’re more on the introvert side, as it shows that you’re self-aware.”

You can then continue to explain how this may shape the way you approach a new role by saying something like, ‘I’m an introvert, which means that I may be a bit more reserved when I start in a new position. I may not contribute as much to team meetings at first as I tend to sit back and listen until I’m comfortable with the team and the subject matter.

3.      I can be overly self-critical
This is one way to describe ‘perfectionist’ tendencies more authentically. Saying something like, ‘I have very high standards and put pressure on myself to deliver work of the highest quality. At times this means I can get stuck in the details and can also get frustrated when working with others who don’t have the same set of standards.’

It’s then important to provide evidence of what you’re doing to overcome this weakness in your current role, such as taking a step back to look at the big picture and recognising that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses that they bring to a team.

4.      I have a hard time saying no 
Sometimes we overload ourselves by saying yes to every opportunity or request for help, out of a desire to be a team player or simply because we’re passionate about our work. This is commonly known as the “people-pleaser” mentality and it can lead to burnout when you don’t set boundaries.

If this sounds like you, talk about how you’re aware of this need to set boundaries and what you’re realistically capable of. You can then also talk about how you’ve taken measures to ensure that you’re managing or setting more realistic expectations for yourself, your co-workers, and your manager.

5.      I can struggle to ask for help.
Whether it comes from pride or an inability to let go of control, some of us can find it hard to admit when we need a hand at work. Being aware of this is one step, another is acknowledging it in an interview.

You could provide an example of where you possibly went down the wrong path because you didn’t ask for help or spent too much time on something for fear of appearing ignorant. You could then explain what you learned from this situation and how you applied these learnings since that time.

Demonstrating that you’re aware of your biggest weakness and that you’re working to overcome it shows strength, self-awareness, and maturity – all positive attributes employers are looking for. Making sure you’re prepared for this question can help you leave a great impression at your next interview.

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Well, our family’s discussions this week started with my Mum saying “what, a picnic did Gladys just say that”? I said, “yes Mum I believe the word picnic was used”, Mum “I’ll tell Glady’s where she can shove her picnics”, I said “I concur with that statement”. Look it hasn’t been a good week for picnics and if you’re a picnic lover please forgive us if we have offended you 😊. But come on, what week are we in now week 11 of lockdown? I’m going to need a bit more than a picnic, not too crazy just a movie, or dinner out at a restaurant, or the ability to work from my office! With so much going on in our individual worlds it does offer me comfort knowing we’re all in the same boat when it comes to our movements or lack thereof which I know is incredibly tedious and frustrating, so I’m grateful to all the lovely people I have spoken to in the last couple of weeks who have helped bolster my mood and I hope I have done the same for you. Little history, we started adding these stories to our standard “Positions on the Peninsula “a while ago now because the culture here at PP is one of “giving back” or in this week’s topic of discussion “adding value” and we hope you will find it beneficial. If you don’t find it helpful at all, no judgement but I will warn you once my Mum is done with Glady’s she will come for you! 😊 Here are 5 Ways to Learn and Add Value Explore uncharted territories — Find what you want to learn. It could be something for fun or a strategic skill to add to your resume. The goal is to be curious and see what’s interesting. It could lead to a new opportunity or even a new career. Build your learning path — Become a self-directed learner by learning how to build your own curriculum. Being able to find the resources, consume the content and assess your progress is invaluable. When you become a self-directed learner, you are unstoppable.  Create a learning project — Research & Development is not just for companies but for anyone interested in learning. Learning by doing is a great way to get experience quickly. Teach what you know — This is one of my most favourite things to do (as if you can’t tell). Being able to share your knowledge with others, whether in a blog, a book, a collaborative session, or a facilitated course is gift. As you give part of yourself, you also learn something new along the way.  Solve a problem — This is how you bring value to others. People who are subject matter experts are coveted because they help solve problems that others can’t. Become a problem solver and watch your stock go up with colleagues and friends.  So How Do You Add Value?  You add value when you invest in your skills, and along the way you share your knowledge with others. Learning is a reciprocal process, the more you learn and share, the more you learn.  Here are some resources to get started learning: Be Curious: 100 Things to Do in 2021 — Have you ever stopped and written down a list of things to do in a year, a month, or a life that will propel you into a positive direction? Check out this list that’s safe to try during a pandemic.  Build Your Own Path: How to Become a Self-Directed Learner — Let’s look at some of the steps you can take to achieve becoming a self-directed learner. Here are 20 ways to put yourself first when it comes to your education. Create a Project: How to Make Things People Love — Sometimes the best ideas are so obviously staring us in the face that we miss them. We can’t see them because we’re looking at things from the outside in, instead of looking at things through the eyes of the end-user. Teach Others: Why You Should Teach What You Know — By teaching what you already know about your profession or hobby, you’ll learn more, potentially gain some notoriety as an up-and-coming expert, make new connections with people, and find new opportunities. And you’ll have some fun. Solve a Problem: What are the 5 Steps of Problem-solving? Whether you run a business, manage a team, or work in an industry where change is the norm, it may feel like something is always going wrong. Thankfully, becoming proficient in the problem-solving process will alleviate a great deal of the stress that dealing with business issues can create. “Positions on the Peninsula” (check our website job board for more information and to apply online) Position: Category Manager Position: Merchandise Assistant Position: Office Administrator Position: Client Services Officer Position: Warehouse Assistant Position: Production Assistant Position: Office Administrator Position: Chartered Accountant Position: National Account Executive Position: Logistics Co-ordinator/Customer Service Position: Customer Service/Logistics Coordinator Position: Product Manager Position: Experienced Care Manager-Aged Care

Our client feedback.

“Kate is a self-starter who has transitioned to working from home whilst in a temp role exceedingly well.  No job is too big, complex or small for Kate to undertake. Kate is extremely efficient and always meets timeframes set for tasks to be completed – always with a smile. The most impressive part of Kate’s approach is her can do attitude and ability to pick up new processes and systems extremely quickly, making her an ideal addition to the team.”

Kate says.

I started working for this NFP organisation back in March, the office environment is great, we all work well together and the role itself is varied and interesting. The original assignment was only for a couple of weeks and in another department, so I feel lucky to not only to still be here but also WFH especially with home schooling I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Congratulations Kate, in such trying times it’s a credit to your work ethic and adaptability. A gift pack and certificate are coming your way.

Ok so I will admit, its starting to feel a little like Groundhog Day (I hated that movie), I miss my office, my desk, my whiteboard (no judgement), my beautiful Boss and my colleagues. Bouncing ideas off each other, meeting and talking to new people, visiting clients, checking in on new starters to see how they’re settling in the LIST.GOES. ON! The last couple of weeks the job market has taken a hit again, with the Covid numbers ever increasing and the extension of the lockdown period to the end of September has made a lot of our clients hit the pause button on active roles. I know that is equally as frustrating for you as it is for us, but most businesses have their people working from home or they have skeleton staff in the office. They want to ensure that any new starter has the best possible induction into their business, and they really feel they can’t do that under-lockdown conditions. I have no doubt mid-September we will see this turn around again as these roles become active again and we gain a bit of traction. Until then I hope you all will keep checking in with us as you have been doing, those of you who have expressed an interest in the roles now on hold as I have discussed with you individually, I will come back to you when they’re officially back on but I and the clients all appreciate that between now and then you might find something else. Here are 5 Ways to Learn and Add Value in 2021 Explore uncharted territories — Find what you want to learn. It could be something for fun or a strategic skill to add to your resume. The goal is to be curious and see what’s interesting. It could lead to a new opportunity or even a new career.Build your learning path — Become a self-directed learner by learning how to build your own curriculum. Being able to find the resources, consume the content and assess your progress is invaluable. When you become a self-directed learner, you are unstoppable. Create a learning project — Research & Development is not just for companies but for anyone interested in learning. When I self-published my first book on Amazon, that was a learning project. Learning by doing is a great way to get experience quickly.Teach what you know — This is one of my most favourite things to do (as if you can’t tell). Being able to share your knowledge with others, whether in a blog, a book, a collaborative session or a facilitated course is gift. As you give part of yourself, you also learn something new along the way. Solve a problem — This is how you bring value to others. People who are subject matter experts are coveted because they help solve problems that others can’t. Become a problem solver and watch your stock go up with colleagues and friends.  So How Do You Add Value?  You add value when you invest in your skills, and along the way you share your knowledge with others. Learning is a reciprocal process, the more you learn and share, the more you learn.  Here are some resources to get started learning: Be Curious: 100 Things to Do in 2021 — Have you ever stopped and written down a list of things to do in a year, a month, or a life that will propel you into a positive direction? Check out this list that’s safe to try during a pandemic.  Build Your Own Path: How to Become a Self-Directed Learner — Let’s look at some of the steps you can take to achieve becoming a self-directed learner. Here are 20 ways to put yourself first when it comes to your education. Create a Project: How to Make Things People Love — Sometimes the best ideas are so obviously staring us in the face that we miss them. We can’t see them because we’re looking at things from the outside in, instead of looking at things through the eyes of the end-user. Teach Others: Why You Should Teach What You Know — By teaching what you already know about your profession or hobby, you’ll learn more, potentially gain some notoriety as an up-and-coming expert, make new connections with people, and find new opportunities. And you’ll have some fun. Solve a Problem: What are the 5 Steps of Problem-solving? Whether you run a business, manage a team, or work in an industry where change is the norm, it may feel like something is always going wrong. Thankfully, becoming proficient in the problem solving process will alleviate a great deal of the stress that dealing with business issues can create. “Positions on the Peninsula” Position: Category Manager Our client markets and sells in Australia, New Zealand and Asia communicating directly with its customers through online, print, television, and digital publishing. They are a leading direct to consumer retailer with a portfolio of online, social and catalogue brands. As the Category Manager you will plan to maximise a product category/brands, programming, web, and catalogue opportunities on budget meeting deadlines through sourcing a range and mix of product that is in line with the Company’s strategy. Location: Frenchs Forest Status: Full time Hours: 9am-5pm Salary: $110,000.00-$130,000.00+Super (based on skills and experience) To be successful in this role you should have the ability to be flexible, enjoy working in a fast pace, ever changing environment and be able to make decisions quickly and accurately. You should also be able to work to deadlines and be able to supervise and manage staff as well have an advanced level of Word & Excel. FMCG experience preferred. Position: Merchandise Assistant The Merchandise Assistant is responsible for the administrative support to the Category Manager including product set up, purchase order entry, and follow up, OTB maintenance, programming, internal and external partner communication. In the absence of the Category Manager the Merchandise Assistant takes on their responsibilities. Location: Frenchs Forest Status: Full Time Hours: 8:30am-5pm Salary: $60K+Super To be successful in this role you should be able to hit the ground running, be able to pick things up quickly & work autonomously, be methodical and organised, have a can-do attitude and I would think be able to remain unflappable as well you absolutely need an advanced level of Excel as you could be doing pivot tables. Position: Finance Manager (Coming Soon) Ideally the client wants someone to have previous Inventory/retail exp with large accounting system experience a must i.e., Oracle or SAP Location: Northern Beaches Status: 12 Month Fixed term contract Hours: 9am-5pm Salary: $100-$110K+Super (based on meeting the criteria) Position: Office Administrator-ON HOLD A small team of professionals who are dedicated to the growth, management, and protection of people’s wealth. They help you to achieve your financial goals by providing advice on major areas of wealth management such as tax and investment strategies, as well as superannuation and risk. Location: Manly Status: Full Time/Perm Hours: 9am-5pm Salary: $60-$65K+Super  Position: Office Administrator/Perm Part Time-ON HOLD An established, professional building maintenance contractor who provides high quality services to commercial and residential properties across Sydney, are looking for an Office Administrator who knows how to Hussle! Location: Frenchs Forest Status: Perm Part Time Hours: 9am-5pm, but will consider 9am-4pm or 9am-3pm Salary: $60K+Super (pro-rata down) Position: Executive Assistant We specialise in providing sophisticated and holistic advice generally to individuals & families and not for profit institutions. Having started out in 2010 as a single adviser practice, we have grown to a firm with nine partners, 22 staff and funds under advice more than $1.2bn. Our team with a very contemporary, ‘next generation’ approach to advice. We believe we are setting new standards in professionalism and how we engage with and add value for our clients. We have always maintained an intense focus on culture and growing our business with the right people. Location: Mosman Status: Full time Hours: 9am-5pm Salary: $70K+Super-Negotiable Position: Warehouse Assistant A busy local organisation needs a Warehouse Assistant to join the team where you will be responsible for ensuring all goods are received, processed, and despatched to deadlines within company standards of service, quality and safety as well as complying with company quality control and WHS procedures. Location: Frenchs Forest Status: Full time Hours: 8am-4pm Salary: $50K+Super-Negotiable Position: Production Assistant A busy local organisation needs a Production Assistant to join the team where you will be responsible for assembling electrical components where you are likely to be using some basic tools like an electric screwdriver. To be successful you need high attention to detail be organised and have a can-do team attitude.  Location: Frenchs Forest Status: Full time Hours: 8am-4pm Salary: $43K+Super Position: Warehouse Assistant An established, professional remedial building maintenance contractor, providing a responsive and high-quality service to commercial and multi-residential properties across Sydney. Location: Frenchs Forest Status: Perm Part Time-Full time Hours: 9am-5pm Salary: $25 +Super per hour

People dread asking for help from colleagues and strangers in the best of times. They worry about looking bad, being rejected, imposing on others juggling family and work responsibilities or taking up valuable resources.

Now that we are working through a pandemic, many of these fears feel supersized. But the reality is that many of us need flexibility and support like never before — to reschedule a meeting at the last minute, to gain an extension on a deadline, or for a referral to someone who might be hiring. Although our impulse right now may be to hold back from asking for or accepting help unless it is absolutely necessary, thinking this way can create norms where people are even less likely than usual to seek help and that’s counterproductive during these challenging times. Instead, we should be creating a culture of help-seeking.

But comfortably and confidently asking for help requires refuting a number of misperceptions that have been uncovered in research – myths that are likely to be heightened as a result of the ongoing crisis.

Myth 1: Asking for Help Makes You Look Bad

We often worry that asking for help at work is a sign of incompetence or weakness. Plus, in a crisis it might feel safer to keep your head down and not make waves. However, the research finds such worries to be largely unfounded. In one study, asking for help with a simple task had no negative impact on perceived competence. More than that, in the same study, asking for help with a difficult task resulted in higher perceived competence. So, not only is it a myth that asking for help makes you look bad, in some cases it can even paint you in a more positive light. While it’s true that seeking help can expose our vulnerabilities and limitations, people are less likely to judge us negatively for revealing our imperfections than we think.

Myth 2: If I Do Ask for Help, I’ll Be Rejected

Another reason we may refrain from asking for help is the fear of hearing “no.” This concern, as well, may be exacerbated by the current crisis, as we assume others have too much on their plates already.  But again, the research shows that people regularly surprise us, both with how willing they are to help, and how much effort they are willing to put into helping us. In one study, participants underestimated both the number of people who would agree to help them complete a trivia task for which they could earn a bonus and how hard each person would work at doing so (i.e., how many questions they would answer). In another study, participants underestimated how much effort a former colleague would theoretically put into writing a recommendation letter for them. All of this means that not only are people more likely to say “yes” than we think, but when they do agree, and counter to expectations, they tend to go above and beyond.

Myth 3: Even if Someone Agrees to Help, They Won’t Enjoy Doing So 

When we think of asking someone for help, we tend to focus on the costs we are imposing on them — the effort and inconvenience — that seem like an imposition. At the same time, we tend to overlook the benefits to the helper of supporting a colleague. Research finds that the good feelings that come from doing someone a favour, what is sometimes referred to as the “warm glow of helping”, can help lift someone out of a negative emotional state, and that helping others can also contribute to wellbeing. This means that having the opportunity to help someone else right now may have a mood-lifting effect.

Asking someone for help provides another benefit, to both you and the helper: feelings of social connection. Even though we’re physically distanced from people, we can maintain and even strengthen our relationships by asking for support. Research finds the emotional support of helping are even greater when they foster social connection. Having the opportunity to help a specific individual can sometimes be more emotionally rewarding than even donating to a charity since it involves a personal connection.

And if you do ask for something and get a “no,” don’t fret. While our knee-jerk reaction is to attribute “no’s” to something negative about ourselves, what we’re asking, or the other person’s general helpfulness, more often than not “no’s” are a product of circumstance. This is likely to be even more true during a crisis. If you ask another time, or ask someone else, research shows you are eventually likely to get what you need.

This is a time when we should feel more, not less, comfortable asking for and accepting help. There’s plenty of evidence that others are less likely to judge us and more likely to help us (and enjoy doing so) than we think.

Temp of the Month July 2021 goes to hard working and dedicated temp Marietta who displays such professionalism is a real team player. Marietta says, it is such a privilege to be able to find work rewarding and to feel things are a good fit. I don’t take that for granted at all and it just motivates me to work harder. This team are hands down the nicest people I have ever worked with, and that has been such a delight. 

Our client, her manager said, Marietta has become an integral and crucial part of our team very quickly. She goes above and beyond in everything she does, not just delivering the task in hand but always striving to improve how things are done and taking it to the next level. Her positive contribution to the campaign has already been significant.

Congratulations Marietta, a gift and certificate are coming your way.

p.s. what a cool photo

Four more weeks, Eeeek was my first thought and for those who know me well there was a few expletives that followed suit 😊. Look, not the news we wanted to hear and the team here at PP are suffering withdrawal symptoms from not being in the same room as each other as we’re all working from home now. BUT we wanted to let you all know we’re STILL HERE! Clients are still hiring regardless of the situation, so the jobs are there if you want them. Ready to take that leap? Come on, I’ll jump with you!

Today’s job market is mostly all online. At least that is what we always hear. However, that is not always the case and even when looking online you need to know where to look. Some of the traditional job-hunting methods still have a good track record and are worth your time to pursue in addition to the newer methods. Others have seen better days and are not worth you spending your time and energy on.

So, to help you on your way to a successful search and particularly if you want to work local here are some tips!

DEFINE YOUR GOALS

• To help you clarify your goals and get energized for your upcoming search, start by assessing what you’re looking for and why you want to do that type of work. Knowing what you are looking for will help you determine where to look. Different jobs and industries will be advertised in different ways and will respond to different approaches by job seekers. Some industries have moved all online and will only accept candidates via online applications. Others (like some Ma and Pa businesses) still prefer a resume brought in person and a handshake (although rare).

RESEARCH

• Research your options and make a list of local companies you want to work for based on your goals. Depending on what you are looking for and where you want to be in your career will narrow your search. If you have specific businesses you are interested in working for (you may not, and that’s okay) you can research that company’s hiring procedures and potentially contact the hiring manager directly.

Local Radio

• Believe it or not, this still happens. Businesses, especially those in smaller markets, will advertise their jobs through radio ads in the hopes of getting the attention of a broader audience. This typically happens when they have tried other methods but have not had success in finding the right candidate. This could indicate that it is a hard position to fill or that they are overly picky in their hiring preferences.

Newspaper Advertisements

• Much like radio, this method is still used by some employers. However, the jobs section of most newspapers is nothing like it used to be. This is a result of the newspapers, much like the hiring process, have moved more and more online. Most newspapers do offer something along the lines of a job board to cater to those advertising open positions which means rather than picking up an actual newspaper, you may find more success in visiting the website of your local paper to see if they have a designated page for job postings.

Ask Around

• Referrals and word of mouth still proves to be one of the best ways to develop serious job leads. Spreading the word that you are looking for work to others around can get the word out exponentially. Your family and friends may know someone who is hiring, or their friends and family may know someone. When following up on a job lead that comes from a “warm” referral like this your chances of finding a job are almost five times better than just sending your resume.

Networking Events

• When it comes to job hunting at networking events, you have to be very careful. If the networking event is not specifically designated toward job seekers and hiring then those attending are most likely not interested in spending their time discussing potential opportunities with you. If the networking event is specifically geared toward job seekers, you may find yourself spending a lot of time talking with other job seekers rather than employers. Typically, these and “job clubs”, where job seekers meet to discuss their job searches, have shown themselves to be of very little benefit. Your time would be better served looking for work rather than talking about looking for work.

Social Media Sites

• Social media can be a great way to find job leads. Similar to asking family and friends, social media can get you exponential results in getting the word out that you are looking for work. Because there are so many social media options today, you will want to choose carefully where you spend your time looking. Sites like Snapchat and Instagram will generally result in less leads than sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. LinkedIn is unique in that it is social media geared specifically to professionals and information sharing. Many employers are using it for job postings, but you must know your market. Smaller, more rural markets will tend to use LinkedIn less than your larger, metropolitan markets. Facebook has recently added the jobs feature to their site that allows not only employers to post jobs, but job seekers can submit their resume through the site as well. This gives you the option to see all the job postings in one place rather than trying to seek them out. This was previously unrealistic unless you go to specific business pages and happen to see their posting about an open position.

School Resources

• If you’re still at school/college, you have a great resource in your school’s career centre. This applies to alumni as well. Many employers, particularly those looking for a specific, higher-level skill set, will post their jobs at local universities or colleges. If a company is looking for engineers, they are likely to post at local universities that have engineering programs. At the same time, universities and colleges will often promote posting jobs to local employers to have their graduates placed in jobs. Having their graduates gainfully employed helps their recruitment efforts for future students. Everyone can win in this situation.

Attend Job Fairs

• Job fairs can be a great resource for candidates but much like other job-hunting methods it depends on what type of position you are looking for. Job fairs can be targeted to certain industries, positions at a certain level, or general positions that cover a large spectrum. This can be a great chance to get facetime with multiple employers in a short period of time. Often the host of the job fair will require that employers have multiple openings just to participate so you have an even better opportunity to discuss multiple positions.

Knocking on the Door

• Even in this day and age of online resources and hiring methods, walking in the door to deliver your resume in person to an employer works 47% of the time. It tends to work best with small employers. While they may not have an opening at that moment, if you impress them, they are likely to hold on to your resume for future openings or even create an opening for the right candidate. This applies to you sending your resume to companies you might have admired  from afar. Do your research find out if they have a HR department, contact details etc of the relevant parties and with a punchy covering letter send your resume in.

Recruitment Agencies

• While recruitment agencies have existed for a long time, the market has seen a significant rise in employers using them to fill positions at all levels. The hiring process takes longer and is more involved than it used to be so more and more businesses are outsourcing to employment agencies. Like any other resource, you need to research the agencies to make sure that they fit with your goals. If you are looking for a professional position, you won’t want to apply with an agency that specializes in day labour. Similarly, if you are looking for temporary or entry level position you won’t want to spend your time working with a head-hunter to find a position. You can use the web site for the RCSA it is the governing body of all good agencies. All the team at PP are members and our Director is a fellow,members need to sit the Code of Conduct test which ensures you’re in good hands and your applications and information will be treated with the utmost of respect and care.

Online Job Boards

• Possibly the easiest way to start searching for jobs in today’s market is using online job boards. These have become increasingly common and are used by employers in almost every market. You will need to research which ones are most used in your market as it can vary. The large employers will have job boards of their own that are used to post all their open positions and are regularly updated. This allows you to see their current postings and watch for the one you feel is the right fit for you.
• Employment agencies will usually have their own job boards as well. This can be a perfect place to start your job search and see a variety of positions that are available in your area. You can check out our job board at https://www.peninsulapersonnel.com.au/for-job-seekers/job-finder/

I read a great article (at 1am 😊) that there is a proven scientific formula for happiness? Now given we are all in lockdown number 4,376 (feels like it) I thought we all might need to be finding our “Happy Place” right about now! Apparently 50% is determined by your genes and 10% stems from what happens in life. This means folks, if I do the math correctly that a huge 40% of our happiness is UP TO US!

So here are some suggestions on how to guide your 40% to happiness and not (cue heavy Darth Vader breathing) the DARK SIDE!

Try to embrace a new way of thinking- accepting that the only certainty in life is that there is no certainty might just be the most important approach to happiness. Flexible thinking can be tricky but if you can push through the challenge of doing things differently, you could find your happy! That might mean considering an alternate point of view on a topic you are passionate about, or even something as random as switching to online banking, even if it is a bit fiddly at first, because it will ultimately make your life easier.

Get off the worry wheel- sometimes worry works in our favour, think about wearing seatbelts, buying insurance, brushing your teeth, writing your Will, these are a few precautions worth taking. BUT- sometimes it goes against us like when you feel bad for forgetting to post a B’day card, not calling someone back when you said you would (and now you feel you have left it too long), made a huge, colossal, C4 explosive error at work (not mentioning any names) and worry about how you will correct it. Worry, worry, worry.

Once you have done everything reasonably within your control to remedy a problem, its time to let go of it. Break that pesky worry wheel through action and distract yourself by doing things you enjoy.

Say goodbye to physical tension- the article suggested that the old saying and doing of “put your feet up” might be the quickest way to increase your happiness. Think about it, if you’re regularly stressed then the muscles throughout your body will be tense. To counteract this just do some simple form of exercise, while you have your feet up do some meditation anything that will relax you enough to let the happy in!

Finally, celebrate your victories (no matter how small)- studies have shown its often small, day to day events; like missing the bus-that wear at us, not getting that job, why has my application not had a response. Even if the rest of your life is going swimmingly overall these little things (much like a mosquito buzzing around you) take an overall toll. To counteract that (aside from smashing the mozzi into oblivion with a swatter) is to be aware of every small victory as well as the big ones, celebrate them, be proud of them and what you will find is that will end up strengthening your ability to see the “happy”!

Elaine Hall – June 2021

Elaine is someone who is repeatedly requested back by many of our clients, and this has been the case for a number of years now. Elaine simply gets on with her work and can easily work autonomously & with very little training or direction. I wish I had lots more “Elaines” working as part of the PP temp team, her work ethic is second to none, this award is well deserved, thank you Elaine! The Clients always have great feedback, with the latest one adding some lovey words “Elaine has been working with us as a contract temp for a number of years now and I have personally worked with her for the past 10 months.  Elaine is always very positive about the duties allocated to her and never fails to provide a cheerful greeting when returning to work each morning.  What I love about Elaine is her versatility as she is able to work on both the production side of our business as well as the warehouse.  It is a pleasure having Elaine working with us and I think everyone around her is energised by her enthusiasm and positivity.

With another adding similar sentiments ”We always really enjoy having Elaine here. She is a great culture fit and does a great job”!

Julia Hunt – June 2021

Julia tells us she is incredibly happy in her current role and with her magic Manager, so patient, supportive but, more, so fun. She looks forward to going to work and learning a lot and feels trusted to work alone and do a good job. Client says: Julia has been with us for approximately 2 months now and she has already received great feedback from our customers on the exemplary service she has given them. Julia is a hardworking and a dedicated customer service representative who loves a challenge. She is a true professional and has a pleasant and calm manner that is shown in everything she does, her team mates find that she is always willing to help and never shy’s away from issues no matter how complex. Julia has made such an impact on our team and we are very happy to have her working for us. Keep up the great work Julia

Congratulations ladies, a certificate and gift pack is coming your way.
With thanks from team PP 🙂