2010 with all it's hype and excitement are already underway. We have already been assigned a large number of quality positions in all major centres.

2009 was a difficult year in the recruitment field, with many positions being frozen by the Global companies either because of the recession or because of pending mergers.

Nontheless, we had a very good year, although at times, it was frustrating to our Consultants, our candidates and the Managers, who often were on the point of offering to a chosen candidate and then the position was frozen.

We placed positions ranging from Business Unit Managers, National Sales Managers, Product Managers and Regional Managers. At sales level we placed candidates in a wide range of positions from Oncology, Wound Care, Renal Dialysis, Molecular Biology, Diabetes, Orthopaedics and, of course, many GP and OTC positions.

2010 promises to be year of zip, zest and zing. The world cup in the middle of the year may prove to be a recruitment challenge for both companies and our candidates. Please approach us sooner, rather than later, so we can navigate our way round the mid-year Foodball mania. Hotel and flight bookings will be both difficult and expensive.

With our many years of experience we can promise you professionalism, confidentiality and fast and efficient service.

We wish you your own personal zip, zest and zing for a successful and satisfying 2010.

Kind regards

 Eta Lyons

"The companies that survive the longest are the ones that work out what they uniquely can give to the world not just growth or money but their excellence, their respect for others, or their ability to make people happy. Some call those things a soul." - Charles Handy

Compliments of the season to you. We wish you a safe, fun and happy Season. It is the time when most of us in the industry take a break and catch our breath.

This quote from Leonardo da Vinci is so true - several hundred years later. "Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen."

2010 is the year of teams, goals and success. Are you in the right team to achieve your goals, do you have the right team working with you? If not, contact us or send an updated CV. Have you set your goals for 2010 - career, personal, spiritual, relationship and sporting. If not, think about them and commit them to paper early in January. Remember, a goal that is not specific, measurable with a realistic timeline is just a dream.

We achieved most, but not all, of our goals for 2009. Our goals for 2010 are in line with our industry, the Equity goals of our clients and the career advancement of our candidates.

We have worked hard to achieve our reputation as the Leading Medical Recruitment company in South Africa, but we have our excellent candidates and clients to thank for their support.

So, A BIG THANK YOU to you. Our offices will be closed from 21 December until the 4th of January 2010.

Our clients all have my cell phone number for urgent positions all round the country. If you require help or assistance you can email me and I will reply eta@etalyons.co.za

Travel safely, rest well and have a Fabulous Festive Season.

Kind regards

Eta Lyons

The past year has seen the recruitment industry under pressure. Indeed, many recruitment agencies have closed their doors.

In an attempt to hold on to good candidates and clients, some recruiters give the candidates and clients advice that is really self serving. To try and prevent the client and candidate from going to other recruitment companies, they promise to give special service to the candidate or client.

Sure, they will give them special service BUT, no single recruiter has all the best candidates or all the best clients. Recruiting is a personal service and, for no particular reason, some clients and candidates do not like a particular recruiter. Therefore, will not give them the opportunities.

In the past few months, we have seen clients and candidates who have missed WONDERFUL opportunities through this very practice.

My honest, heartfelt advice, if you are a candidate or a client, is to give your business to two respected recruiters, to ensure that they have covered all bases.

If your recruiter sends out your CV without telling you the name of the company and without interviewing you, they are doing you a great disservice. There is no way that they can do you justice and they will decrease your chances of getting that plum position.

Be discerning, sensible and professional in your search and you will have the success that you desire.

Good luck,

Eta Lyons

I am pleased to say that there has been a definite upturn in recruitment. We are getting more job specifications in, and have some excellent UPCOMING POSITIONS FOR 2010. If you are planning to make a move early in the New Year, come and see us now. In many cases, positions come in, and the client wants CV's within a couple of days. Apply now - January appointments are made in October and November.

Our Consultants are there to consult with YOU and the client. We will advise, counsel and assist you to decide what is best for y ou. In many cases, we find Representatives applying for positions without understanding exactly what is required. For the Moms wanting to get back into the surgical field, you must be aware, you need to be scrubbed and in theatre several times a week by 07h00. Most creches only open at 07h30. Be aware of that.

Assess what is really important for you and plan a new position accordingly. There is nothing worse than being in a position that does not suit you. It is stressful and ultimately, wears down your energy and self-esteem.

There are many wonderful companies out there, but not all of them will suit YOU.

Good luck and we look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Eta Lyons

We work very hard for our candidates and clients to make sure that we match the two together very carefully. I know that some candidates are frustrated at the moment because placing them seems to be taking a long time. This is very much due to the recession. Also, many of the large multinational companies have frozen their headcounts, despite the fact that their SA branches are doing very well.

There are several mergers and acquisitions in process. GlaxoSmithKline is buying Stiefel Laboratories. Mercke Sharpe and Dohme and Schering Plough are in the middle of a merger. Pfizer is in the process of buying Wyeth and in SA, Adcock Ingram have made an offer to purchase Cipla Medpro. I believe that that offer has not been accepted. We will hear more in due course.

If you are in the industry and wanting to make a move it is imperative that you send your CV and come for an interview ASAP. We do not advertise all the positions that we get in and often our clients will send us a spec on Tuesday and want to interview on Friday. If you have not been interviewed and reference checked, you may miss out on a "dream" position.

Our Johannesburg branch has a huge need for Product Managers.

We have another long weekend and short week ahead. Please drive safety and take care.

Kind regards

Eta