CANDIDATE CORNER
Doug Hicks
HR Manager, Bedford Industries
Best career advice ever received? An HR manager I worked with encouraged me to do further study in Human Resources, which led to a Masters degree.
Tips for work/life balance? Make sure you have it! Set a routine so that you start and leave at a certain time each day and stick to it. The sun always comes up in the morning and the work will still be there for you the next day whether you leave at 5pm or midnight.
Ideal career in five years time? A combination of university lecturing or working as a tutor so I can pass on my experience and learning to others, plus my own business in human resource consulting.
Most unusual job? I was in the army for 20 years, so I’ve done a lot of unusual tasks. I was a peacekeeper for 12 months in the Sinai Desert between Egypt and Israel – it was a great experience and certainly different to an office job!
Who has inspired you most at work? Gayle Adams was the HR manager at Saab Systems in the defence industry, where I worked after leaving the army. Gayle really took the time to coach and guide me – she invested time in her staff. I try to model myself on how she treated people.
NETWORKING ON TOAST
Corus Adelaide has met a need within the market for a HR Networking Group which at the same time has provided Corus with a niche marketing opportunity.
Susan Manuel, Business Development Manager, says Corus’ popular HR Networking Breakfasts began with a request from a client.
“A CEO spoke to our Senior Consultant, Helen Wearing-Smith, about networking opportunities for their HR Manager, who had recently been appointed but had no one internally to mentor her or bounce ideas off,” Susan explains.
“We couldn’t find any suitable events, so decided to start our own HR breakfast forums on the first Wednesday of the month.
“Twelve months ago we had 40 on our contact list, now we have more than 100. Our events are so popular all spaces are usually filled within hours of the email invitations being sent,” says Susan.
Attendee numbers are kept below 20 to create an informal atmosphere where people can talk openly and ask questions, creating a free exchange of information across the table. The events position Corus as a recruitment group that adds value. Corus has also introduced a team of senior HR professionals willing to be mentors.
The breakfasts feature a topic specialist who discusses issues relevant to HR managers including Work Choices, salary packaging, immigration, retention and superannuation. A recent breakfast on performance management was so popular Corus is now holding a one-day seminar of particular interest to all HR professionals and senior executives.
How can Corus and the HR Networking Group help you in supporting your business?
Contact Susan Manuel on 08 8221 7111 or susanm@corus-sa.com.au.
NEWS IN BRIEF
CORUS PARRAMATTA GROWS
Corus Parramatta has responded to the strong job market by adding four new staff in as many months! Peter Green has joined as Account Manager, Dana Bachour and Sherif Ibrahim will work as consultants, and Anu Talwar has arrived to look after temporary candidates.