Notice a few glum faces on the train this morning? Finding it hard to motivate yourself this afternoon? There's an explanation - today is officially the most depressing day of the year. Waking up on a dark Monday morning is bad enough - it gets even messier when driving rain, hideous tube delays, and dwindling bank accounts are added to the mix...

The team at Hatty Blue are trying to stay upbeat (with a little help from bowls of homemade soup, slices of fruit cake, and mug after mug of milky tea). We'll also be taking inspiration from the latest issue of RM Magazine this week, which features top tips for surviving the credit crunch at work or play. Here are a few of our favourite...

1) Make saving money a game. Saving money doesn't have to be all about cycling to work and bringing in sandwiches. Sites such as Martin's Money Saving Tops (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/) are full of creative and novel ways to stretch those pounds.

2) Sharpen up your image. Nothing says "going out of business" louder than shabby offices and a down-at-heel appearance. Get a good deal on an office spruce-up from an under-employed decorator and hit the Christmas sales for bargains on quality tailoring and footwear - the boost in confident will be worth it.

3) Go Green. No-one can accuse you of being a miser when you're saving money by saving the planet. Fit low-energy bulbs and get used to turning things off at night. Cut down on paper waste by not printing out emails and printing double-sided.

4) Get Deals! It's time to make sure you're paying the keenest price for everything. Put your utility suppliers through their paces by using a comparison site such as http://www.utilitywatchuk.co.uk/.

If you are searching for a new job, you'll be pleased to hear that we have some fabulous new roles. Have a read below and let us know if you are the perfect person for the job. Email your CV and a covering letter to hello@hattyblue.co.uk

Graduate Sales Administrator - High profile Entreprenurial Co!
Permanent
Up to £25K plus 10% bonus
An excellent opportunity has arisen for a high flying graduate to join one of the UK’s most exciting, dynamic, and fastest growing data networking companies, based in South West London. The role is to provide contract and sales process support to the London and National sales team, ensuring that sales orders are processed accurately and efficiently and that service delivery and invoicing are achieved within set timescales. You will also be responsible for preparing contract documentation for simple sales, escalating more complex requirements to Legal, maintaining and updating sales databases, submitting monthly sales reports, and inputting new ideas on best practice. You will also be repsonsible for looking after leads from the website and analysing their company memberships and subscriptions). The successful candidate will have a minimum of 12 months sales administration experience, preferably in the IT or Telecoms industry, in a sales order process role. Knowledge of the CRM salesforce.com package is essential. You will have excellent communication skills and be comfortable dealing with staff from low level management up to senior management/director level. You will thrive under pressure, be a powerful influencer and motivator, and have strong skills in Word Outlook and Excel. Excellent career opportunity to develop within this high profile corporate.

Front of House - Slick Design Co!
Permanent
Up to £23K
An amazing opportunity exists for a professional Receptionist to join this buzzy, cool & funky Design Agency with a gorgeous client list and a uniquely cool culture! You will work as part of a happy and busy Reception team where your responsibilities will include Concierge, Switchboard and Administration support. Main duties include offering an amazing front of house service to the important top brand clients who visit every day, answering the switchboard, diverting calls, meeting & greeting clients, co-ordinating refreshments for guests, preparing boardrooms, organising travel arrangements, email correspondence and ad hoc duties including helping out the Marketing Department. You'll have excellent communication, organisation and co-ordination skills and a consummately professional telephone manner, a polished appearance and be able to work in a busy, demanding, yet fun and fruity environment! However, more important than experience is your personality - you will have the kind of positive energy and spirit which will breathe even more life into their organisation! They offer some excellent benefits and a cool social scene!

It’s been a week of plunging temperatures, frozen pavements, icy windscreens, and numb fingers… Despite the drizzle, the Hatty Blue team are relieved to finally be able to leave the house in the morning without dressing up like we’re embarking on an Arctic exploration.

The big freeze was, however, a rather fitting lead-up to the latest series of Dancing on Ice – another fabulous excuse to save our well-earnt pennies and stay in on the sofa! After visiting the ice-rink at Somerset House for our Christmas party, the girls at Hatty Blue will be watching the competition closely to get a few tips for our next trip to the ice.

Things have been busy for Hatty Blue over the last week. We’ve taken on lots of exciting new jobs – a very positive sign for the year ahead. Have a browse below and let us know if you are interested by emailing your CV to hello@hattyblue.co.uk.

PA/Account Co-ordinator – Branding and Marketing Agency!
Permanent
24-28K
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a funky branding and marketing agency in the heart of London’s West End. As the team PA/Account Co-ordinator, you will be required to provide excellent secretarial and administrative support across a wide range of client and house projects. The role will entail a broad range of responsibilities, including preparing documents, managing financial paperwork, project planning, organising travel, database maintenance, and meeting clients. You will be required to establish and maintain good client relationships, to set up and manage an information bank containing all key client material, and to provide regular research support to the client team. The successful candidate will have at least 18 months experience in an administrative/secretarial capacity within a client organisation or agency. You need to be an excellent communicator, highly organised, confident, sociable, and energetic. Solid computer skills are a must, with the job demanding advanced skills in Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel, plus a basic understanding of Photoshop/Illustrator and knowledge of Rebus would be ideal.

Corporate Development Exec – Graduate Trainee – Digital Marketing Co!
Permanent
18-22K
Fancy joining a fast-paced, expanding, and highly successful digital marketing company? Our client is a B2B lead exchange organisation who provides a common platform to bring lead buyer and sellers together. The company is looking for a bright, versatile, and ambitious graduate to provide support to their Seller and Product Development teams. As a Corporate Development Executive, you will be responsible for several key seller accounts – this will involve acquiring, integrating, and managing new clients to fulfill marketplace demand where required. The broad range of responsibilities will include managing Email Marketers, identifying gaps in the marketplace, compiling and maintaining a product wide seller audit to be published at the start of each month, being the first point of contact for new seller enquiries, and assisting with the release of three new products a quarter. The successful candidate will a proven interest or academic background in digital marketing, plus will be hungry for a challenge, confident, and excited by the prospect of making a tangible impact in growing a new media company. You’ll be articulate, passionate, competitive, driven, dynamic, and entrepreneurial. An ability to build strong relationships and work with senior level decision-makers in large and small firms alike is key.

Hatty New Year!!

The diaries and calendars might have been binned, but the Hatty Blue team has been spending today reminiscing about 2008. There have been lots of highlights for Hatty Blue – the launch of the company back in May, the day we pitched and won the WPP account, each and every time we got the chance to pick up the phone to a candidate with the news that they had secured a fabulous new job, our first ever Christmas party at Somerset House and the Buddha Bar….

We’re all feeling optimistic about the year ahead – the jobs are coming in and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we win a big piece of business that we pitched for just before Christmas. We can’t wait to celebrate Hatty’s 1st Birthday in May (the team are already planning the jelly and ice-cream…!)

If you’re looking for a new job or would like to join Hatty’s temping team, now would be a great time to email. Have a read of the adverts below and email your CV to hello@hattyblue.co.uk.

Calling all Temps!!
Up to £12 per hour
Currently seeking temporary employment? Hatty Blue’s busy temping desk is growing in 2009 and we’d love you to join our team. We are currently seeking candidates that have advanced skills in Microsoft Office, a fast typing speed, and the ability to quickly adapt to a new role. You need to be flexible, enthusiastic, friendly, confident, and willing to learn. In return, you will get competitive hourly rates and ongoing support from Hatty Blue. Interested? Please email over your CV and a covering letter to siobhan@hattyblue.co.uk specifying ‘Temp Work’ in the title. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.


HR Assistant – International Film Company
£25-28K
Permanent
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the HR team of a buzzing film company based in the heart of the West End. The role will be working across both the UK and International arms of the business, providing full administrative support to the HR department. General responsibilities will include assisting and supporting the HR Director and Manager, typing reports and presentations, managing team diaries, dealing with employee and external queries, and managing stationary and courier requests. Further responsibilities will be HR-focused and will include dealing with administration surrounding new starters, managing requests for temporary staff bookings, liasing with external recruiters, recording employee absence and sickness, and maintaining the HR section on the intranet. The ideal candidate will have solid administrative experience or perhaps PA experience looking to branch out into HR. You will be highly organised, confident in dealing with all levels of staff and management, and will have advanced skills in Word, Excel and Powerpoint. You will demonstrate a desire and ability to study for CIPD, which the company will actively encourage.