Tag: Contracting

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Candidate

Why Short-Term Roles Can Be the Perfect Career Reset

The new year is all about fresh starts. For many, that could mean rethinking your career. Maybe you’re ready for a change, are feeling stagnant, or just want to try something different. But making a big change can feel risky, particularly if you’ve already put down roots in a particular speciality. So, what’s the smart way forward?

Temporary roles offer a way to explore, expand, and reach further without locking yourself into a long-term commitment. There are often opportunities in areas you wouldn’t have thought of  that offer new perspectives and experiences, without having to learn a whole new skillset. Here’s why temporary opportunities make sense:

 

Discover What Fits

If you’re feeling antsy but feel like you’ve already locked yourself into a career niche, short-term roles let you explore different environments and job types before making a big decision. It’s career exploration with less pressure.

 

Broaden Your Horizons

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Temporary positions often require quick adaptation, which means you’ll be able to expand your knowledge quickly. This hands-on experience can boost your confidence and allow you to apply your wealth of experience and growth to new ideas and processes.

 

Expand Your Network

Every new role introduces you to fresh contacts who can open doors to future opportunities. Networking happens naturally when you step into new spaces. By connecting with new people with different interests, you can start to broaden your view of the job market, learn from others, and build on ideas.

 

Keep Moving Forward

While you plan your next big step, temporary work keeps you active, earning, and building experience. It’s progress without pause, allowing you to move forward without fear.

 

If your New Year’s resolution is to try something new or make a change, short-term opportunities could be the perfect starting point. By working with CBR Recruitment to secure future work, you can feel safe knowing you won’t be left in the deep end. Reach out to us at 02 6103 7000 or hello@cbrrecruitment.com.au to discuss how we can help.

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Candidate

The Role of a Scribe in Public Sector Recruitment

When most people think about public sector recruitment, they picture interviews, resumes, and reference reports. But behind the scenes, there’s a role that ensures fairness and accuracy throughout the process. Often overlooked, scribing is a critical function that demands skill, good judgment, and professionalism.

To give you an insider’s perspective, we spoke with Anne Burnett, one of our scribes at CBR Recruitment since 2023. Here’s what she shared.

 

What Does a Scribe Do?

A scribe documents the discussion during interviews, ensuring decisions are recorded clearly and fairly. This involves summarising key points, interpreting feedback, and linking responses to selection criteria or to frameworks such as the Integrated Leadership System (ILS).

Anne explains that “it’s definitely not just transcribing. You have to listen, understand and put the information together.”

 

Skills of a Good Scribe

Anne highlights three essential skills:

  1. Strong Writing Skills

“Writing skills are the most important thing.” The ability to interpret information and provide meaningful feedback is vital, as is the ability to write concisely.

  1. People Skills

“You need to make people feel comfortable and relate to them.” Building positive relationships with panel members can completely change the dynamic.

  1. Active Listening

“Not just hearing, but really understanding what’s being said… and what’s implied.”

Confidence matters too. Anne notes that scribes sometimes need to gently guide panels back on track without overstepping.

 

Why Choose Scribing

Flexibility is one of the biggest advantages. Anne explains, “I love being able to work when I want. I don’t have to stick to nine-to-five. And the work is interesting… I’ve learned so much about different roles in the APS.”

She can also own her work. “My product in the end is my product, and I want it to be good.”

 

Scribing is far more than note-taking. It’s about ensuring transparency, fairness, and clarity in recruitment decisions. For those with strong writing skills, a keen ear, and the ability to work well with people, scribing offers flexibility and a unique window into the public sector.

If you’re a job seeker looking for a diverse role where you can combine your writing people skills, scribing might be the perfect fit. Contact us to connect and begin your journey to becoming a scribe with CBR Recruitment.

 

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Candidate

5 Benefits of Working as a Contractor: Why More Professionals are Embracing Contract Roles

5 Benefits of Working as a Contractor

In today’s evolving job market, working as a contractor has become a highly appealing option for professionals across industries. Whether you’re seeking more control over your schedule or looking to expand your skill set, contract work offers numerous benefits. From higher pay to flexibility, many are finding that short-term projects can provide the career advantages they’ve been searching for. Contracting might be the perfect fit for you for a range of reasons:

1. Higher Pay

One of the most attractive aspects of working as a contractor is the potential for higher pay. Contractors are often compensated at a higher hourly or daily rate compared to permanent employees. This is because contractors typically don’t receive the same benefits permanent staff do, such as annual leave, personal leave and public holiday pay. In addition, many contractors can negotiate their rates based on their expertise and the complexity of the work. If you bring unique value to the table, contracting can be a financially rewarding option that enables you to maximize your earning potential.

2. Diverse Experience

Contracting allows professionals to work on a wide range of projects, often in different departments or with varied responsibilities. This diversity of experience can be a major career booster, as you’re constantly exposed to new challenges, technologies, and workflows. Not only does this keep your work life interesting, but it also helps you build a robust portfolio and enhances your adaptability. Over time, contracting can make you a versatile expert, which can also position you for consulting roles or even leadership positions, as you develop a broad understanding of different sectors.

3. Flexibility

For many, the flexibility of contract work is one of its greatest attractions. As a contractor, you have more control over your schedule, and you can often choose when and where you work, allowing you to achieve a better work-life balance. This flexibility is ideal for those who want to travel, pursue personal projects, or simply enjoy a non-traditional career path. If you enjoy the freedom of taking time off between assignments or working remotely, contract work is perfectly suited to this lifestyle.

4. Networking Opportunities

Each new contract introduces you to different teams, and departments. As a contractor, you’re constantly building a professional network, and these relationships can be incredibly valuable, leading to future projects, partnerships, or full-time job offers. Contractors who consistently deliver quality results can quickly develop a reputation as go-to experts, further enhancing their career prospects.

5. Quicker Recruitment Processes

In many cases, the hiring process for contract roles is a lot faster and less structured than for permanent positions. This means contractors can often start a new role within days or weeks, as opposed to going through lengthy interview processes typically associated with permanent or ongoing roles.

If you are interested in learning more about a contract roles available through CBR Recruitment, please contact us on 02 6103 7000 or email hello@CBRrecruitment.com.au.

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Client

How to Effectively Manage Temporary Staff

Effectively Manage Temporary Staff

Using the services of temporary staff can be hugely beneficial to a wide range of organizations, and can be useful for either filling a “resource gap” created by a permanent staff member being on unplanned or long-term leave; or as a way of bringing specialist skills or experience into your organization for a finite period of time. It can also be a really good way of trialling a candidate in a particular role before offering them a permanent employment opportunity. Effectively onboarding and managing temporary staff is crucial to ensure they seamlessly integrate with your team and contribute to your organizational objectives. There are several key practical differences in how you would manage a temporary staff member:

Revise your onboarding process

If you already have a clear onboarding process, consider condensing it to accurately convey the essential information about your company culture, goals, and tasks. This approach will help your temporary staff member to understand the procedures they need to follow, office protocols and so on. The most important aspect is to undertake a WHS induction with the temporary staff member to ensure they are working within a safe working environment. While the recruitment agency is technically the employer of the temporary staff member and has the ultimate responsibility for any injuries that occur in the workplace, the host employer also has an obligation to provide a safe workplace and support the management of this risk.

Provide clear guidelines

Getting temporary employees up and running quickly is always most effective if the guidelines and expectations are clear, and this comes down to open communication. Providing them with a detailed understanding of their role and tasks ensures they can deliver outcomes and have a positive impact within a short period of time. Working with a skilled Recruitment Consultant is also very beneficial as they will identify a high calibre candidate who meets the job brief; often they will also be able to communicate the expectations and deliverables before the temporary staff member commences and throughout the duration of the contract.

Be transparent

It’s important to be transparent about the temporary nature of their employment and the potential for permanent opportunities. Clearly outline their role trajectory to manage expectations effectively. Whether they have aspirations for permanent positions or prefer to work on a contract basis, clarity around their role progression, or the extension or early cessation of their contract is essential. This is usually done either directly by, or with the support of, your Recruitment Consultant.

 

CBR Recruitment has a pool of high-calibre temporary staff who are interviewed, reference checked and vetted, who can commence in temporary positions at short notice. We look after all of their employment obligations and work in partnership with you to ensure the engagement is successful and you have the utmost flexibility. If you’re thinking about taking on temporary staff, please do not hesitate to contact us on 02 6103 7000 or email hello@cbrrecruitment.com.au.

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Client

Three reasons why getting a temp makes good sense…

Three reasons why getting a temp makes good sense

There are a range of benefits to engaging temporary staff, who can be a huge asset to your organisation to increase capacity through periods of staff leave, or as a way of bringing in additional expertise to support growth or special projects. Gone are the days when temps were engaged to “fill a seat” – they can bring a raft of valuable skills and experience to your team without the ongoing employment obligations.

Flexibility

Temporary staff offer a flexible approach to challenging situations. This can include things such as staff leave, long recruitment processes and resourcing crunches. In the current employment market sometimes, it can take a long time to find the perfect candidate to fill your vacancies, and engaging someone temporarily during that time can help you and your team manage the workload. Temporary staff are there to start instantly and won’t need the time to adjust and work their way into the team that someone permanent would. As there are no ongoing employment obligations it’s also a good opportunity for you to “try before you buy”. If they prove to be a valuable asset to your team, you can always extend them or employ them permanently.

Skills

There are often times when you get a new project that needs a very specific skillset, and engaging someone temporarily or on a contract can offer you the ability to find those skills and deliver your project. At the same time, having someone specialized on your team can offer a fresh perspective and new ideas. This can give you the opportunity for change and improvement for the future.

Capacity

Similarly, large projects or transformations in your business might need a larger team to meet the deadline or objective. Temp staff offer you a quick solution to scale up your workforce. Having more staff for these high-pressure moments can help your team evade burnout and stress, boosting morale and ultimately giving you a better end product.

 

In any workplace, adaptability and agility are key to success. Temporary staff offer a multitude of benefits that can significantly impact your team’s performance and overall outcomes. Our Consultants understand the importance of finding the right temporary staff to meet your evolving needs. All of our temporary staff are extensively vetted, and on top of that we look after all of their employment obligations, giving you peace of mind and complete flexibility. For more information on our temporary recruitment services, please do not hesitate to contact us on 02 6103 7000 or email hello@cbrrecruitment.com.au.