Administrators Are Pointless

Posted by & filed under Blog, Jobs, Opinion, Uncategorised.

As an administrator, have you ever felt unappreciated in your job? Do you feel like you are the least important person in your office?

If I had a pound every time an administrator tells me this, I’d be a very rich woman.

Here are 5 reasons why your administrator is amazing:

  • They are your right-hand man. Anything you ask them to do, they do it. Without complaining and with a smile on their face and even if they have a list of 20 other things to do, they never say no! (even though they really want to sometimes)
  • They are always one step ahead. Everything is done a couple of hours before you have even got round to asking them to do it.
  • Every office needs a mum right? They keep everyone in check when you are not there. They see every romance blossom. They go through every break up with you. They always offer the best advice and a shoulder to cry on. They keep you calm and help you see reason.
  • Not only are they the office administrator, they are a doctor, counsellor, teacher, IT specialist, all round superhero, pretty much everything you can think of.
  • Lastly and most importantly they save you time! Something we could all do with a lot more of. A good administrator means you spend more time focusing on managing the team, making sales, meeting clients, winning new business whatever it is you need to do to run a successful office.

One of the biggest challenges I come up against in my job as a Property Recruitment Consultant is hearing from clients that they do not want to pay recruiters for administrators as they are not ‘fee earners’.

Yes, negotiators are ‘fee earners’, they bring in the money and are at the forefront of the business. But please do not forget about your administrator. They are the backbone of the office and keep things running like clockwork. Appreciate the work they do for you, pay them well, keep them happy.

Administrators salaries have risen drastically since I started specialising in Business support here at Cherry Pick People. To find out if you are being paid the right salary or are paying your staff the correct wage please take a look at our salary survey. http://www.cherrypickpeople.com/salary-survey/

If you would like to have a confidential chat about the next step in your career please contact me today on 0203587 7689 or georgie.barraclough@cherrypickpeople.com

Why being in the wrong job is like being in a bad relationship!

Posted by & filed under Advice, Blog, Jobs, Uncategorised.

Why being in the wrong job is like being in a bad relationship!

So a while ago I wrote a blog about how going for an interview is a little like going on a first date (Why a failed first interview is like a failed first date!!), and the more I think about it the more I believe the similarities to be true. I also believe that being at work is very much like being in a relationship… There’s the honeymoon period, the break ups and the make ups!… And there’s always that one colleague you would like to suffocate while they’re sleeping like you would your partner!

So how does being at work relate to being in a relationship, I hear you ask?…

 

The honeymoon period and making it last!

It’s great when you’re starting off in a relationship and things are very much rose tinted! Very much like starting a new job; you’re full of enthusiasm and getting to work early, getting involved and giving it 110%. But that day comes when you wake up (maybe next to your partner) and question the past three months and whether you have done the right thing! The trick here is thinking about the reasons why you took the job in the first place, giving yourself some space from work by perhaps booking a holiday and ensuring you have a good work-life balance.

 

Working through the good times and the bad

Like any relationship, there will be good times and bad times, but we tend to forget about the good times a lot quicker than we do the bad times… However being successful at work requires you to learn from both the good and the bad; why did things work out the way they did and could they still be improved? However, with the bad times can always be a time to learn but also reflect on why we took the job in the first place and the “honeymoon period”.

 

Taking it to the next level

Just like going from base to base (you know what I mean) you don’t want to be in a stagnant career. A lot of the time employees will wait for an appraisal or a review to voice their opinions or their desire to progress their career. As you would make a move in a relationship, there’s nothing stopping you from speaking to your seniors inside or outside of work and expressing your ambition to move up the ranks

 

Trying not to kill your colleagues (or partner)

Do you ever look at your partner while their sleeping, think how peaceful and great they look, but also at the same time how easy it would be to get a pillow and cover their face? I get that from time to time with my colleagues too! In a relationship either one of you can end up on the sofa for the night or give each other the silent treatment until one of you breaks the silence. The same goes with your colleagues, take some time out, have a chat about things, kiss and make up (if you’re into that sort of thing)

 

Staying faithful

Not that I’m condoning cheating! But there are bad days in our careers where we may think the grass may be greener on the other side. Change in role? Pay rise or better work-life balance? Before making the move to another company or entertaining a call, what measures have you taken to iron out any issues which you have with your current company?

With the debaucherous work Christmas party soon approaching are you going to remain faithful or do you want to explore how green the grass is? If it is the latter get in touch with us!

So there you have it, my overview on work and relationships.

Are you changing jobs for the right reasons?

Posted by & filed under Advice, Blog, Jobs, Opinion, Starting a new Job.

Handing in your notice can be a daunting experience that most people face in their working careers but are you changing jobs for the right reasons? I’ve certainly faced it during my career in estate agency in both my roles as sales negotiator and Assistant branch manager so I know how it feels.

 

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10 things to consider before handing in your notice

  1. Do you really want to change roles?
  • Is this just a knee jerk reaction to something that has happened in the office, can you speak to your director and resolve the issue.
  1. What are your reasons for changing roles?
  • Will changing companies actually benefit you or will it just be a short term solution to the existing problem?
  1. What can you bring to the role?
  • If you get the role, can you deliver on the promises made in the interview?
  1. Is Property the right industry for you?
  • Do you genuinely enjoy your role in estate agency or do you have a passion for another industry but may not be brave enough to take the plunge?
  1. What do you know about the company?
  • Have you spoken to other negotiators or managers who work in the company, have you done research and due diligence?
  1. What are their values?
  • How do they do things? Do you have similar values? Can you work in the same way that they do? Do you believe in the same things they do?
  1. How many deals do you need to do per month as a negotiator for the move to make financial sense?
  • Are the targets achievable? Will you be able to perform in the role?
  1. Will you make more money?
  • In the long term will the move leave you financially better off?
  1. Are you prepared to start from the bottom again?
  • Trust and respect is earned and you will have to earn this.
  1. What impact will the move have on your work life balance
  • What is the work/life balance like, are you prepared to put in the ground work whilst you establish yourself in your new role?

It seems like a lot to think about when handing in your notice, but these key questions will allow you to fully weigh up the pros and cons before you accept a role.

As property consultants specialising in the property sector, we have these conversations with Sales and Lettings Negotiators and managers on a daily basis to ensure that our candidates are making informed decisions about their future. We follow up with our candidates throughout their career, as we want to be on hand to help and offer advice at every stage.

Should you be considering your next move or just want some friendly advice, feel free to get in touch with me on 020 3587 7687 or email me at lisa.clarke@cherrypickpeople.com

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