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Amida London does the Battle of the Boroughs 5k Race for our chosen charity Article 25

20/05/2013

The London team decided to take on the Battle of the Boroughs 5k challenge on Saturday around Greenwich park to raise money for our chosen charity, Article 25.

After an early rise on Saturday I must admit I was slightly regretting organising a 5k race I'd done no training for but as soon as we got in to Greenwich park and started warming up it turned out to be pretty good fun.

Aaron took the lead and raced passed Troy and me as soon as we started and finished in an impressive 24 minutes and 10 seconds in 11th place. Troy and me were slightly behind but still proud of our finishing time of 35 minutes. Troy, would've thrashed that time but ran with me to make sure I didn't take any short cuts! Leanne and Savannah finsihed in 51 minutes and 59 seconds which is a pretty impressive time for a four year old, well done Savannah, you ROCK!

Big thanks to Sam and Maggie who came down to cheer us on and for everyone who has made a donation on our Just Giving page. We have raised £60 so far to get to our £250 target, you can still make a donation here: http://www.justgiving.com/Amida-Recruit

UWC Southeast Asia (Tampines Campus)

17/05/2013

We did a site visit at UWC Southeast Asia (Tampines campus) to see how a non-profit organisation promote the idea of sustainability from the layout of the building to the operation of the school. It may not be the most aesthetically impressive building but the thought process invested to conceptualise the building is impressive.

Sustainability that Simon, our tour guide (Director of Operation and Facilities) anchored on are common sense and nature. To have a efficient and cost saving air conditioning system in the school, he altered the positioning of water pipes to take out the sharp bends and allow water to flow like a river. This allow them to use a smaller pump, reduce on capital and maintenance cost. It is simple things like this where sustainability comes in place, it definitely does not cost more but just a little more effort. At the end of the day, it allow them to complete the project below budget and in long run, save on main operation cost.

The product of sustainability in UWC SEA has not only ensure the students have a safe and creative environment and also allow the public to access this knowledge of creating a sustainable culture.

Zhaoqi Neo

Amida Singapore

Writing a Cover Letter

30/04/2013

With some roles, a cover letter is asked for as part of the application. Even if it is not specifically asked for, it is highly recommended to at least write a short covering email (if sent electronically) or letter.

The purpose of a cover letter is twofold:

1. To describe to the employer what attracts you to their company and to that particular role.

2. To describe selected experience, skills and your proudest achievements in greater detail than the bullet points on your CV.

Your cover letter should be formal and state clearly how you came to the conclusion that you are the best candidate for the role, in a logically structured manner. Whilst it is a formal letter, it is best to use simple words and phrases that you would normally use, rather than flowery ones for appearance sake.

There are many articles offering advice on how to avoid sounding cheesy or using buzzwords in cover letters that recruiters will see through. One of the most common in sustainability is passion; of course if you have the evidence to back this claim up and it is genuine then it can be valuable. Advice is to make this cover letter your own and think about how to link your experiences with the skills you developed, your key learnings, and what that led onto next. Below are some key phrases that may help these linkages.

My interest in ... stems from...
Since...
it has been a deeply held ambition to...
My time at ... has equipped me with strong...skills
This has been augmented through exposure to...
I have devised...
Similarly, it has fostered an ability to...
Moreover...
Evidently...I have extensive experience in...
I have worked with a diverse range of...
I have a natural affinity for...as well as an ability to...which has been developed through...
My project work has required highly developed...skills
This affords valuable insights into...
In my role at...I have produced...
Adept at...
I have developed a strong...
I am confident in my ability to...

Amida Singapore's First Breakfast & Networking Event

26/04/2013

The Sustainability desk of Amida recently organised its first ‘Breakfast & Networking Event’, gathering key decision makers of the Energy Management sector in Singapore, from ESCOs (Energy Services Companies) and Engineering Services firm.

The intention was to keep it selective and with a high quality panel of discussion. We have been able to gather no less than 25 attendees, among them Directors & CEOs of active MNCs and strong local SMEs. The event started with a welcoming word from Andy followed by a 25 minute presentation from our guest speaker Nigel Grier, about ‘The Green Economy to the next stage, integrated Sustainable solutions for the Building industry’.

Everyone has been really enthusiastic about both the presentation and the event. Both a great way to meet up with other peers whilst enjoying a nice coffee with breakfast. We have received lots of positive feedback regarding the panel of attendees, the content of the talk and the format of the event. This is obviously a good start for us, strengthening our network whilst building our brand recognition across this Energy Management sector.

We are now looking forward to organising the next one! Some interesting ideas and various fascinating speakers have already been suggested for our next event which we are really looking forward to.

Top Ten Tips for Success in a Job Interview

23/04/2013

1. Make sure you go into the interview fresh and clean - avoid having a cigarette or coffee immediately beforehand.

2. Arrive early. It can be a good idea to look at company material in reception and have a quick, friendly chat to reception about the company to both relax you and make you feel more comfortable with your surroundings.

3. Greet your interviewer(s) with a firm hand shake and make eye contact.

4. Be relaxed and confident in your ability and adopt a position to reflect that early on. Try not to use closed body language like folded arms or crossed legs.

5. Enjoy the interview! This is your chance to show them that you really are the best person for the role so relax, smile and listen to what they say before you answer carefully and confidently.

6. Be truthful, thoughtful and concise with your answers.

7. Try not to talk for the sake of talking. If you have said all that you wanted to say, or that they may have wanted to know, do not be afraid to stop it there. They can ask you further questions if they need to.

8. Avoid being critical (of yourself, of their company, or of your previous companies).

9. Thank the interviewer(s) for their time and let them know that you enjoyed learning more about the company. State that you look forward to feedback from them.

10. Send a short and genuine follow-up email thanking them for their time and referencing something you particularly enjoyed or found interesting about the meeting.

Amida Singapore Giving their all at the 10th J.P.Morgan Corporate Challenge Race

22/04/2013

Our Singapore team participated in the 10th JP Morgan Corporate Challenge last Thursday joining 16,730 people to take on the 5.6km run.

The race kicked off at 5:30 p.m. on the Esplanade Bridge, surrounded by tropical beauty and modern steel and glass architecture.

The individual entries and the total number of companies, 404, were both Corporate Challenge records in this Southeast Asian city. The weather was still super hot at 6pm but we all managed to cross the finish line!

Congratulations to our Amida Podium!
1st : Andy Clapham – with 30’
2nd: Greg Brooks – with 31’
3rd: Chris Harris – with 33’

Winning at Interviews

06/03/2013

So how does a Recruitment Consultant turn a quality candidate into an exceptional interviewee?

Going through some practice questions is useful but the key to success is technique. Smart candidates, the ones who get the job, have mastered the art of interviews and do the following:

Just checking out a company website is not enough: As early as possible in the interview you need to understand your interviewer and why they are hiring. One way or another they are seeking a resource as a solution to an identified problem. Just checking out their website, report and accounts is not enough.

Work on understanding the organisational need and how you can add value. Look at the challenges and opportunities they face and word your answers to show that your experience and expertise are relevant. Explore their market, competitors and the changes taking place in the industry.

Use your network to find information about the interviewer and his preferences, the company and its culture. Use LinkedIn and ZoomInfo to gather all the intelligence you can.

Focus more on delivery rather than giving off-the-cuff replies: Think about your body language (sit up, feet together, look keen and engaged) and voice (tone, speed, volume). Rehearse some questions and answers. I'm talking about what you say when anyone asks you what you do, why you left, what you have achieved and so on. Can you talk about yourself comfortably, with confidence, concisely with clarity? Practice so that you have the right words, don't get flustered, talk at the right pace and, crucially, know when to stop. Remember the need for consistency between words and body language.

In an interview you have to know your CV by heart. None of it pops into your head at the last minute; you know what you are going to say and what spin you are going to put on it. A good interviewee has learned his or her lines in advance and is focussing much more on delivery than on off-the-cuff replies. Practice the “SAY” model when describing your examples: Scenario, Action and Yeald, so outline the scenario, explain what you did and what the result was.

It's not a solo performance: aim for a 50/50 dialogue: make the interview interactive. Employers trained in interview techniques are told to use the 70/30 rule. That is to say the interviewer aims to talk for about 30% of the time allotted and the candidate talks 70% of the time, in response.

The smart candidate actually wants a 50/50 dialogue. You should aim for a conversation and positive interaction which will help build rapport. Create dialogue not monologue.

Positive Outlook is crucial: Whether you call it confidence, self-esteem or self-belief, to shine at interview you need to show that you will make a good employee. Show that you are good at interacting and reading your situation, good at selling yourself and your ideas. Practicing your interview technique will make it so much easier to shine. There's no need to be nervous if you believe you are a good candidate for the role. If you believe you can do it, then you can do it.

Troy Voss
Principal Consultant

Webinar: Unlocking the mysteries of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index

22/02/2013

It is the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) season again. Not listed last year? Worried about maintaining your position this year? Know you need to do more, but don’t know what or how? Our webinar will answer your questions.

DJSI is the most recognized sustainable investment ranking. More companies are vying for a spot on the list. Only the top companies within each industry group are included. Producing a strong application is important. It requires more than just ticking boxes and including general answers. Moreover, an effective approach to the DJSI application process can provide real value to the company. It can be used as a driver for continuous improvement, lead to sharper targets, more robust policies, and more effective measurement. It boosts internal engagement and embeds corporate responsibility/sustainability across the business.

Corporate Citizenship, a global corporate responsibility and sustainability consultancy, is offering a free webinar to provide insights into DJSI. Megan DeYoung, Director, US Office and Peter Truesdale, Associate Director will leverage their experience advising companies on responsibility activities and DJSI applications to discuss the following topics:

• How DJSI works.
• Internal benefits of DJSI.
• Tips to creating a strong DJSI application.

The free webinar will be offered two times on Thursday 14th March 2013:

 First offering: Thursday 14th March 2013 is at 9:00 AM EST / 1:00 PM GMT.
Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/726478041

 Second offering: Thursday 14th March 2013 is at 12:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM GMT.
Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/418532856

About Corporate Citizenship
Corporate Citizenship is a full service corporate responsibility management consulting company, with offices in the US and the UK. Since 1997, we have advised leading, multinational corporations on how to enhance and align their citizenship and traditional business activities to create strategic business value. Our clients are international and domestic companies from many industries including Unilever, Abbott, HSBC, Verizon, National Grid, Golden Agri, and Diageo.

For more information, contact Megan DeYoung at megan.deyoung@corporate-citizenship.com or Peter Truesdale at peter.truesdale@corporate-citizenship.com.