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Why have an Employee Value Proposition (EVP)? Meh, is it really that important? OK, so you want to attract top talent to your team. You put out a job ad saying, ‘Hey, work for us. We want you to do this, that, and everything else,’ but don’t add what’s in it for them. Why would a future employee want to work for you? You’ve made it all about you and nothing about them. ‘It’s not you, it’s me!' An Employee Value Proposition outlines the benefits, perks, and incentives a company provides to their staff in line with its values and culture. Like (here’s ours as an example)… ✅ Work anywhere, anytime → For up to 6 weeks a year after you've been with us for 12 months. ✅ Flexible Work → Our core office hours are 9.00am - 4.00pm. So hit the gym, spend time with your fam or manage your time in a way that works best for you. ✅ Day off for your birthday → Take the day off from work... or any day in that month. You choose! ✅ Family-friendly → We know that it's challenging for return-to-work parents, so we offer part-time and full-time roles so you can work with your family. ✅ Flexible attire → Yup, we're not about the suit and tie or stiletto heels (unless that's your thing). Wear your flip-flops or birks - we're cool with that - just not to in-person meetings. ✅ Career development → We want you to succeed, and we help you along the way. We will mentor you, give you support, and help you develop your personal brand. Ensuring your company is appealing to potential awesome candidates will help guarantee they are a good fit from the start. An EVP really is the secret to attracting top talent and you’ll have candidates fighting to work for you. The hardest part will be choosing the best fit. Contact the Team Need help? We can help market your Employee Value Proposition (EVP) to attract the absolute best! Get in touch with: Nicholas Koop - 📲 0426 180 254 📧 nick@vividrecruitment.com.au Lee Stevens - 📲 0406 470 020 📧 lee@vividrecruitment.com.au Annie Salter - 📲 0422 607 099 📧 annie@vividrecruitment.com.au You can also connect with Lee on LinkedIn and Nick on LinkedIn or follow the Vivid Recruitment LinkedIn page for more industry insights, news, jobs and general chit chat and tips!

It's getting to the pointy end of the year and I'm sure we can all taste those refreshments in the sun and the upcoming holiday. But what else should you do during this period? It's the perfect time to have a look at your CV. Has yours got digital dust and cobwebs on it? Do you have a million projects to update or even several promotions? Then why don't you cast your eye over your CV and/or portfolio and make sure it's ready for the new year, because who knows what opportunity is right around the corner. Here are just a few tips from someone who has looked at 10's of thousands of them. 1️⃣ Make it clear and concise, especially with your chronological work history. Recruiters generally make a decision off the first few seconds of scanning it so if it is difficult to follow or convoluted, it puts you behind the eight ball. 2️⃣ List projects you have worked on. In the construction industry, your work is measured by the projects you've been involved in, so naturally you'd want the world to know; especially the high profile or particularly complex ones. 3️⃣ Tell us what you did on those projects. Did you help design a small portion? Or did you lead a multi-disciplinary team? Make sure you give detail in this section so it backs up your level of experience. 4️⃣ Include all registrations, certifications, and licenses and make them stand out. If you have your chartership or RPEQ that's important for me to know and for my clients. 5️⃣ Perhaps contrary to others and also keeping in mind my first point, I don't mind a multi page CV. If you have a good history of work, then include it, especially if it is relevant projects/achievements. Obviously there isn't a need to include your first job in 1974 or your grade 6 maths awards but I think some curated detail is good. 6️⃣ I am someone who doesn't need a cover letter. I can't speak for everyone but if I am representing you to a client, I'd much rather meet with you to figure out your whole story so we can put together a summary together. 7️⃣ Provide a word copy ideally. There may be some things that need anonymising or a bit of formatting changed to accommodate our branding. Of course, if you can think of any major hints or tips I have missed, chuck them in the comments or drop me a line. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk. 😊 Or if you want to have a more in depth chat about your CV, a new role or a need in your team call me. Contact Nick 📲 0426 180 254 📧 nick@vividrecruitment.com.au You can also connect with Nick on LinkedIn or follow the Vivid Recruitment LinkedIn page for more industry insights, news, jobs and general chit chat and tips!

Four weeks in to fatherhood and you know what? It's still pretty bloody hard. The inconsistent sleep schedule, the massive bags under my eyes, the feeling of no light at the end of the tunnel, being vomited and pooped on, and the uncertainty of whether you are doing anything correctly. However, I am also grateful for a lot of things and thought I'd share those instead of having a big whinge. My dog not wanting to eat my baby. Was a real worry but he's been amazing so far. (He's hungrily looking at the food below, not her). Grandparents who are hooked on her like she is heroin. I'll gladly enable their habit so we can enjoy a few hours out for dinner each week. Having Vivid Recruitment with Lee Stevens and the flexibility it has provided. I can't imagine supporting my partner and raising our daughter if I was forced into an office all day every day. If you don't work for a supportive and flexible company, call us and we will find you one that is. An incredibly kind, patient and strong partner. Don't have kids with someone you don't like - it won't make things better. I'm definitely going to jinx it now, but our little girl is actually sleeping relatively well. The fact that dads can now talk about the mental challenges we face. I love her but it feels like I'm doing some things out of duty at the moment, and that's okay. They are the main ones for now but I would also be grateful if the engineering market could lift. Formula and nappies will send me broke if my clients don't have some pity and show me some more love 🙏😉 Final product recommendations from this wise, old dad: Proper car seat instead of capsule (do all capsules have their chin on their chest and give massive anxiety?). So many dummies, ideally with a gps tracker in them, which would be nice. Polynesian spa play list on Spotify is a life saver. Nappies with the blue line for wee. My child screams bloody murder being changed, so it's a relief to check quickly Owlet sock gives great peace of mind but is a pain in the arse when it is beeping in the middle of the night after losing connection. Still an 8/10. As always, if you have some more tips for this tired person, let me know. And if you are an engineer or an engineering consultancy, I promise I'm not too tired to help you out. Call me! Contact Nick  If you would like to have a conversation about your career or a job vacancy, give Nick a buzz or drop him a line via 📲 0426 180 254 📧 nick@vividrecruitment.com.au You can also connect with Nick on LinkedIn or follow the Vivid Recruitment LinkedIn page for more industry insights, news, jobs and general chit chat and tips!

For me this is extremely personal and something I wanted to share to get the awareness out but also for you to watch this incredible man's fight against life's curveballs with grace and humour. Yesterday I had the privilege to watch #STILL , a documentary/movie by #michaeljfox that tells the story of his life with #parkinsonsdisease For those of you who do not know, Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Essentially, it’s life changing with no current cure. My mum has had this horrible disease for over 13 years and to see firsthand the impact on her but also my family and in particular my dad, has been astronomical. Essentially my dad has been kick-ass and been her rock from day one. Being in Australia now for 9 years has sheltered me from the day-to-day struggles that my mum faces. Going home every 2-3 years and seeing the destruction of this disease, kind of selfishly makes me want to stay away. Knowing this is complete horseshit (and something I would never do), I send words of encouragement and try to take time out of my life to see how I can help. This issue I face is that my mum is has strong as they come, having 4 boys and being the foundation of our family, would never look or ask for support (to us directly anyway). Never once have I heard my mum complain, always saying "I’m fine", so we do not worry. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has raised over 1.7 billion USD since its inception in early 2000's and changed/supported many lives. I know we all have lots going on and our own personal battles but if you can spare 90 minutes, sit down and watch STILL . See if you can make a difference and try to help over 150,000 Australians and over 10 million people in the world who face this disease. If nothing else, just enjoy his strength and never give up (F-YOU) attitude. April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and Monday 11th April is World Parkinson’s Day . Contact Lee If you would like to have a conversation about your career or a job vacancy, give Nick a buzz or drop him a line via 📲 0406 470 020 📧 lee@vividrecruitment.com.au You can also connect with Lee on LinkedIn or follow the Vivid Recruitment LinkedIn page for more industry insights, news, jobs and general chit chat and tips!

Being a new dad is hard... Like really hard. And maybe I have been ignorant to it, but I feel like it isn't spoken about enough. I'm 2 weeks in and I thought I would share a few thoughts on my first full day back at work. - Mums are incredible. Pregnancy would be bloody awful to endure I reckon and then pushing out a whole human and then it being reliant on you. I have no words to describe my admiration for my partner and all the other women out there who just get it done. ❤️ - If you have support, use it. All the time. I naively thought we would glide through without needing people to be fussing over us, but I was wrong. We were so grateful to steal an hour of sleep while someone looked after the baby. - Be kind to each other. This is like the hardest group project ever and at 3am with a screaming baby it is easy to become snappy but they are the only other person with you in the trenches and if you aren't working as a team, good luck! - It's okay to feel different emotions about your baby. Whether it be overwhelming love or wanting to throw them out the window (don't actually do this), these are normal. I feel like it is hammered into everyone that as soon as they are born, you must fall in love and live happily ever after. I adore my daughter but I'm just learning who she is as a person and that's a normal process that can take a bit of time. - Try to soak it in. This is something I am struggling with but trying my best on. It's so easy to want to wish away the next few months so they are a little less crying alien blob and a little more interactive human, but I also want to take a moment when she is sleeping on me and looking angelic because from what I've been told, it won't last long. - Don't think you are useless as a dad. Whether it be bottle feeds, changing nappies (currently at about 12 a day! 😫 ), doing house work or even bringing your partner a coffee in the morning so she can have a shower. I think it all adds up and has really made me feel like I'm contributing in these early days. - Burp. Burp again. And again. Buy anti colic bottles. Sit them up. Do an anti wind/gas dance. Whatever you need to do to make sure there is nothing trapped in there because when she is writhing around like a snake for hours on end and just won't sleep, it is hell. - Buy zippies instead of buttons, a UV steriliser instead of steam, so many terry towelling cloths, and a special nappy bin. The Snoo is currently about a 6.5/10, the Bugaboo Fox is plenty big, Costco have bulk nappies, and I reckon formula has kept her asleep longer. I can't think of anything else right now but then again, I'm not trying to preach as an all-knowing father. Just a few things that I think a new dad might like to know. If there is anything you can pass on to me, I'd love to know them, or if you'd like to vent as a new dad as well, feel free.  Contact Nick If you would like to have a conversation about your career or a job vacancy, give Nick a buzz or drop him a line via 📲 0426 180 254 📧 nick@vividrecruitment.com.au You can also connect with Nick on LinkedIn or follow the Vivid Recruitment LinkedIn page for more industry insights, news, jobs and general chit chat and tips!

As architectural recruiters in Melbourne, we have a unique perspective on the industry and the job market. It's an exciting time to be in the business, with a range of opportunities and challenges to keep things interesting. The architectural and design industry in Melbourne is a melting pot of creativity and innovation, attracting top talent from around the world and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows - there are a few clouds on the horizon that are worth considering. First and foremost, there's the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a major impact on the industry. Many businesses have struggled with reduced demand and financial challenges, leading to layoffs and other workforce adjustments.

“We need to get 1 million Australians back to work” was the declaration by Scott Morrison this week after having a laser focus on ensuring the health of Australians was paramount since the rise of Covid-19. This is an important pivot in our approach and one that is hopefully a sign that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that we are on the way to fixing the economy and getting back to ‘normal’.

The last few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind, there’s no doubt! But if you're interested in learning a thing or two (and have some spare time), I highly recommend jumping on The Architectural Imagination from Harvard University. These courses are free! Why not give it a looksee and see what you can find. Vivid Recruitment is a specialist agency in the construction industry and it's our role to think and act like the industry professionals we find and recruit for. We will definitely be digging into these in our spare time to see what we can learn!

Being a manager is a difficult job. Whether you have a large team of direct reports or just a few, you still have to deal with various personalities and learning types, and you can’t always get it right. To have the best chance of success, it is important to develop your leadership skills rather than chase your tail with hands-on ‘micro-managing.’ Good management skills can be applied to nearly every aspect of life,from running a household to operating a multi-million-dollar business. The way you manage can be essentially broken down into two functions: macro-management (leadership) and micro-management. While one may be more effective in a certain field or situation than the other, nine times out of ten, leadership will come out on top. As a manager, I feel a lot of pressure to walk that fine line between being a well-liked senior colleague, and the authority figure who gets the job done. The line between being a driven leader and a micro-manager is one that can get blurry from management standpoint. When the buck stops with you, and your team hasn’t fulfilled their responsibilities, or has neglected to reach targets, it can be infuriating and stressful. This is when managers are up until 10pm finishing or re-doing a project,or playing catch up and taking matters into their own hands. This is when the micro-managing tendencies kick in, and it does happen. But when you’re conscious of when you do this and what behaviors you need to emulate to become a better leader, you can start to minimize these occurrences.