Menu Close

Blog

  • We are all in this Together
    We are all in this Together Last night, the President of our country addressed the nation to introduce stringent new measures in the effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 across South Africa. Whilst not entirely unexpected, the immediacy and breadth of the required action reflects the seriousness of the situation facing all of us, both on a personal and business level. The timeframe to implementation of the national lockdown, is one which may leave many companies racing to sustain their business operations. In light of the pandemic in which we are amidst, we would like to notify you, our…
  • The importance of a friendly working environment
    The importance of a friendly working environment The idea that working environments should be integrating stronger social dynamics is one which has captured a lot of momentum in recent years. Obviously there is a clear distinction between a social environment and a working environment, however, many argue that a working environment benefits greatly by incorporating more relaxed, personal, and friendly influences  Not only does research suggest that having a more friendly working environment results in higher job satisfaction among employees, but it also leads to increased productivity and a higher rate of engagement. With low employee engagement being a hot…
  • Asking for a precise number during salary negotiations can give you the upper hand
    Asking for a precise number during salary negotiations can give you the upper hand It’s a question that many job seekers ask, especially in the early years of their career: “How much should I ask for?” Naturally, it’s a difficult question to answer, and there are a host of variables which need to be taken into consideration. One thing, however, that seems certain, according to researchers at Columbia Business School, is that you should request a specific salary amount, as opposed to a ballpark figure. According to Professor Malia Mason and Daniel Ames, asking for a specific number can give…
  • Happy managers are good managers
    Happy managers are good managers A recent report published by the Institute of Leadership & Management showed, unsurprisingly, that there is a clear correlation between being happy at work, and performing well. This was particularly true of people involved in managerial positions. Furthermore, all of the lowest performing managers were also the least happy, and many were openly ambivalent about their roll within their organization.   Happiness at work can be a difficult thing to maintain. Managers in particular are often under massive pressure to achieve important goals, and in many cases operate without having the required resources or staff contingent to meet…
  • The importance of making mistakes
    The importance of making mistakes One of the most difficult challenges associated with running and growing a business is managing staff. Specifically, good leaders know how to get the best out of their employees. They know how to take a person’s raw talent and facilitate their professional growth. A big part of this is allowing each staff member the freedom and space to grow. Often, this means letting go of the reins a little bit. As a business leader, it is natural to care deeply for the integrity and performance of your company. As a result, it’s easy to become…
  • Modernise Your CV: A Few Tips
    Modernise Your CV: A Few Tips In highly competitive job markets,  when looking to hire employers are typically inundated with countess CVs. Often, many of these CVs do not meet the basic requirements of the job description, and sorting through piles and piles of applications can be exhausting  and frustrating. One easy way to give your CV the best chance of being noticed, is to spruce it up. CVs are typically far more concise and punchy now than they were five years ago. Make sure you CV matches modern standards if you want to make it as easy as possible for…
  • Practical experience a stumbling block for local graduates
    Practical experience a stumbling block for local graduates According to Catherine Wijnberg, Director and founder of the Fetola Foundation, the recent reported decrease in local unemployment figures of 0.1% does not actually reflect a decrease in unemployment in South Africa. The 2012 fourth quarter labour survey reports that unemployment figures in South Africa dropped from 25% to 24.9% in late 2012. This figure suggests that around 50,000 previously unemployed people in South Africa found jobs in the final quarter of last year, but Winjberg suggests that actually this perceived improvement is due to an increase in the number of discouraged work…
  • Pranks in the Office
    Pranks in the Office Sometimes, it’s impossible not to have a little fun at work. Most of us spend the majority of our waking hours stuck in the office. Sometimes, it’s impossible not to have a little fun. We’ve compiled a few of our favourite office prank videos for you to enjoy. What’s your favourite office prank story, or are you usually the one being tricked?  The Bait and Switch   I need space!  Faulty Elastic Bands
  • 5 simple steps to improve your job satisfaction
    5 simple steps to improve your job satisfaction Job satisfaction is an incredibly important thing, given that most employed people spend the majority of their waking lives at work. Often external factors are blamed for professional discontent, but in reality, how fulfilled and happy you are at in the office comes largely from your own attitude and approach to the situation. With that in mind, here are 5 basic tips towards improving your job satisfaction! Think positive thoughts It might sound like a cliché, but your emotions are governed at large by your own internal thought processes. While we may…
  • How Successful People Spend Their Weekends
    How Successful People Spend Their Weekends Sometimes it can be hard to wind down when the week is over.  The daily pressures associated with work, family and living in a connected society often worm their way into our weekends, eating at time which should be spent recharging our batteries. The strangest thing is that many of the most successful people in the world know when it’s appropriate to ‘switch off’ work to focus on other pursuits. According to Caz Pollock, Chief Executive Officer at Pollock & Associates, this unique skill is often disregarded as ‘slacker mentality’. In fact, the opposite…
  • Three Personality Types Who Struggle to Get Hired
    Three Personality Types Who Struggle to Get Hired Millions of South Africans struggle to find employment, and there are almost an infinite number of reasons for this. You might be under qualified or over qualified. You might not have the experience the employer is looking for, or maybe your skill set just doesn’t quite match up to the requirements of the job. Often the case, however, is more personality orientated. It’s easy to get caught up in how you feel about yourself, at the expense of how you come across in person. The reality is that employers will consider the type…
  • Preparing for an Interview: Part 2
    Preparing for an Interview: Part 2 Even the most level-headed candidate can expect to be nervous when walking into an interview, and that means that if you haven’t given some thought to some of the questions that are inevitably going to be thrown your way, you might not be able to come up with your best answers on the spot. So take some time to go through these, and give some thought to what your answers would be if you were asked them in an interview environment. • Have you applied for any other jobs/internships? If so, where?• What made…
  • The Ever Evolving Role of the Modern CFO
    The Ever Evolving Role of the Modern CFO In the past, number-crunching, public accounting, technical accounting and quantitative thinking were the chief domains of the CFO. Their modern counterparts are now required to think in a far more strategic manner, a task which requires a deep understanding of the business in question. Now more than ever, CFO’s are required to exercise vision in order to fulfil their roles effectively. The modern CFO must be skilled leader, manager and communicator, as well as be able to handle more intricate levels of finance and risk. “Previously the CFO was concerned with budgeting,…
  • 3 Basic Job Interview Tips for Graduates
    3 Basic Job Interview Tips for Graduates Pollock & Associates Chief Executive Officer, Caz Pollock, believes that “contrary to popular belief, lack of preparation for an interview, not lack of work experience, is one of the most common reasons Graduates do not get the position they are applying for.” So how does one ensure that this entry barrier is not limiting your potential? Here are three basic tips to get you started: Be prepared Many candidates will go into an interview with a firm grasp of their own skills, experience and personal accomplishments. While this is obviously necessary, those that…
  • Scope for Retired Professionals in Business
    Scope for Retired Professionals in Business According to Pollock & Associates Chief Executive Officer, Caz Pollock, this situation could potentially be remedied by being creative with employment solutions. Put more simply, South African organisations should seriously consider making the most of senior professionals before sending them off into retirement with a gold Rolex on their wrist. “Retired engineers and financial executives have a wealth of experience gained at senior management level and are often ready and willing to share their knowledge with younger, up and coming professionals”. To that end, it is vital that organisations take care to nurture senior…
  • Striking a Healthy Balance
    Striking a Healthy Balance Globally, an increasing number of professionals are beginning to give precedence to their family lives over and above 60 hour work weeks spent at the office. According to the Gordon Institute of Business Science, “the French have reduced the legal work week to 35 hours. The Australians have added paid parental leave of 18 weeks for the primary caregiver of new-borns and the United States requires larger employers to offer unpaid leave to employees with seriously ill family members”. With this in mind, how can we as South Africans follow suite? Here are a few important…
  • SA Skills Shortage – Are Quota Work Permits the Answer?
    SA Skills Shortage – Are Quota Work Permits the Answer? Although the government has put in place measures which, if effectively implemented, are expected to alleviate these challenges in years to come, local businesses are continue to suffer from a lack of qualified expertise in key growth areas such as mining, construction and financial management. In order to alleviate these challenges, many organisations are turning to executive recruitment specialists such as Pollock & Associates as a means towards identifying potential candidates. Although agencies of this nature have succeeded in connecting prospective employers with the right individuals, a preference for equity…
  • How to Prepare for an Interview
    Research the Organisation. Prepare Questions. Dress for Success.
  • We are all in this Together

    We are all in this Together Last night, the President of our country addressed the nation to introduce stringent new measures in the effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 across South Africa. Whilst not entirely unexpected, the immediacy and breadth of the required action reflects the seriousness of the situation facing all of us, both on a personal and business level. The timeframe to implementation of the national lockdown, is one which may leave many companies racing to sustain their business operations. In light of the pandemic in which we are amidst, we would like to notify you, our valued client,…
  • The importance of a friendly working environment

    The importance of a friendly working environment The idea that working environments should be integrating stronger social dynamics is one which has captured a lot of momentum in recent years. Obviously there is a clear distinction between a social environment and a working environment, however, many argue that a working environment benefits greatly by incorporating more relaxed, personal, and friendly influences  Not only does research suggest that having a more friendly working environment results in higher job satisfaction among employees, but it also leads to increased productivity and a higher rate of engagement. With low employee engagement being a hot topic at…
  • Asking for a precise number during salary negotiations can give you the upper hand

    Asking for a precise number during salary negotiations can give you the upper hand It’s a question that many job seekers ask, especially in the early years of their career: “How much should I ask for?” Naturally, it’s a difficult question to answer, and there are a host of variables which need to be taken into consideration. One thing, however, that seems certain, according to researchers at Columbia Business School, is that you should request a specific salary amount, as opposed to a ballpark figure. According to Professor Malia Mason and Daniel Ames, asking for a specific number can give you…
  • Happy managers are good managers

    Happy managers are good managers A recent report published by the Institute of Leadership & Management showed, unsurprisingly, that there is a clear correlation between being happy at work, and performing well. This was particularly true of people involved in managerial positions. Furthermore, all of the lowest performing managers were also the least happy, and many were openly ambivalent about their roll within their organization.   Happiness at work can be a difficult thing to maintain. Managers in particular are often under massive pressure to achieve important goals, and in many cases operate without having the required resources or staff contingent to meet demands. These…
  • The importance of making mistakes

    The importance of making mistakes One of the most difficult challenges associated with running and growing a business is managing staff. Specifically, good leaders know how to get the best out of their employees. They know how to take a person’s raw talent and facilitate their professional growth. A big part of this is allowing each staff member the freedom and space to grow. Often, this means letting go of the reins a little bit. As a business leader, it is natural to care deeply for the integrity and performance of your company. As a result, it’s easy to become obsessive…
  • Modernise Your CV: A Few Tips

    Modernise Your CV: A Few Tips In highly competitive job markets,  when looking to hire employers are typically inundated with countess CVs. Often, many of these CVs do not meet the basic requirements of the job description, and sorting through piles and piles of applications can be exhausting  and frustrating. One easy way to give your CV the best chance of being noticed, is to spruce it up. CVs are typically far more concise and punchy now than they were five years ago. Make sure you CV matches modern standards if you want to make it as easy as possible for your …
  • Practical experience a stumbling block for local graduates

    Practical experience a stumbling block for local graduates According to Catherine Wijnberg, Director and founder of the Fetola Foundation, the recent reported decrease in local unemployment figures of 0.1% does not actually reflect a decrease in unemployment in South Africa. The 2012 fourth quarter labour survey reports that unemployment figures in South Africa dropped from 25% to 24.9% in late 2012. This figure suggests that around 50,000 previously unemployed people in South Africa found jobs in the final quarter of last year, but Winjberg suggests that actually this perceived improvement is due to an increase in the number of discouraged work seekers…
  • Pranks in the Office

    Pranks in the Office Sometimes, it’s impossible not to have a little fun at work. Most of us spend the majority of our waking hours stuck in the office. Sometimes, it’s impossible not to have a little fun. We’ve compiled a few of our favourite office prank videos for you to enjoy. What’s your favourite office prank story, or are you usually the one being tricked?  The Bait and Switch   I need space!  Faulty Elastic Bands
  • 5 simple steps to improve your job satisfaction

    5 simple steps to improve your job satisfaction Job satisfaction is an incredibly important thing, given that most employed people spend the majority of their waking lives at work. Often external factors are blamed for professional discontent, but in reality, how fulfilled and happy you are at in the office comes largely from your own attitude and approach to the situation. With that in mind, here are 5 basic tips towards improving your job satisfaction! Think positive thoughts It might sound like a cliché, but your emotions are governed at large by your own internal thought processes. While we may not…
  • How Successful People Spend Their Weekends

    How Successful People Spend Their Weekends Sometimes it can be hard to wind down when the week is over.  The daily pressures associated with work, family and living in a connected society often worm their way into our weekends, eating at time which should be spent recharging our batteries. The strangest thing is that many of the most successful people in the world know when it’s appropriate to ‘switch off’ work to focus on other pursuits. According to Caz Pollock, Chief Executive Officer at Pollock & Associates, this unique skill is often disregarded as ‘slacker mentality’. In fact, the opposite is…
  • Three Personality Types Who Struggle to Get Hired

    Three Personality Types Who Struggle to Get Hired Millions of South Africans struggle to find employment, and there are almost an infinite number of reasons for this. You might be under qualified or over qualified. You might not have the experience the employer is looking for, or maybe your skill set just doesn’t quite match up to the requirements of the job. Often the case, however, is more personality orientated. It’s easy to get caught up in how you feel about yourself, at the expense of how you come across in person. The reality is that employers will consider the type of…
  • Preparing for an Interview: Part 2

    Preparing for an Interview: Part 2 Even the most level-headed candidate can expect to be nervous when walking into an interview, and that means that if you haven’t given some thought to some of the questions that are inevitably going to be thrown your way, you might not be able to come up with your best answers on the spot. So take some time to go through these, and give some thought to what your answers would be if you were asked them in an interview environment. • Have you applied for any other jobs/internships? If so, where?• What made you decide…
  • The Ever Evolving Role of the Modern CFO

    The Ever Evolving Role of the Modern CFO In the past, number-crunching, public accounting, technical accounting and quantitative thinking were the chief domains of the CFO. Their modern counterparts are now required to think in a far more strategic manner, a task which requires a deep understanding of the business in question. Now more than ever, CFO’s are required to exercise vision in order to fulfil their roles effectively. The modern CFO must be skilled leader, manager and communicator, as well as be able to handle more intricate levels of finance and risk. “Previously the CFO was concerned with budgeting, forecasting, internal reporting…
  • 3 Basic Job Interview Tips for Graduates

    3 Basic Job Interview Tips for Graduates Pollock & Associates Chief Executive Officer, Caz Pollock, believes that “contrary to popular belief, lack of preparation for an interview, not lack of work experience, is one of the most common reasons Graduates do not get the position they are applying for.” So how does one ensure that this entry barrier is not limiting your potential? Here are three basic tips to get you started: Be prepared Many candidates will go into an interview with a firm grasp of their own skills, experience and personal accomplishments. While this is obviously necessary, those that really shine are the…
  • Scope for Retired Professionals in Business

    Scope for Retired Professionals in Business According to Pollock & Associates Chief Executive Officer, Caz Pollock, this situation could potentially be remedied by being creative with employment solutions. Put more simply, South African organisations should seriously consider making the most of senior professionals before sending them off into retirement with a gold Rolex on their wrist. “Retired engineers and financial executives have a wealth of experience gained at senior management level and are often ready and willing to share their knowledge with younger, up and coming professionals”. To that end, it is vital that organisations take care to nurture senior talent by offering competitive…
  • Striking a Healthy Balance

    Striking a Healthy Balance Globally, an increasing number of professionals are beginning to give precedence to their family lives over and above 60 hour work weeks spent at the office. According to the Gordon Institute of Business Science, “the French have reduced the legal work week to 35 hours. The Australians have added paid parental leave of 18 weeks for the primary caregiver of new-borns and the United States requires larger employers to offer unpaid leave to employees with seriously ill family members”. With this in mind, how can we as South Africans follow suite? Here are a few important tips. Identify the Source If…
  • SA Skills Shortage – Are Quota Work Permits the Answer?

    SA Skills Shortage – Are Quota Work Permits the Answer? Although the government has put in place measures which, if effectively implemented, are expected to alleviate these challenges in years to come, local businesses are continue to suffer from a lack of qualified expertise in key growth areas such as mining, construction and financial management. In order to alleviate these challenges, many organisations are turning to executive recruitment specialists such as Pollock & Associates as a means towards identifying potential candidates. Although agencies of this nature have succeeded in connecting prospective employers with the right individuals, a preference for equity candidates has added…
  • How to Prepare for an Interview

    Research the Organisation. Prepare Questions. Dress for Success.