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.

With just days to go until Hatty Blue’s first ever Christmas party, the team have compiled a handy list of the ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ for the busiest party week ahead…

1) DO show up – it’s the right thing to do.
2) DO check that the rest of the team will be dressing up before arriving in the lurid green elf’s outfit…
3) DON’T assume that your other half is invited – make sure you consult the invite before dragging them along in a pair of felt reindeer antlers.
4) DON’T get too carried away with the free bar – alternating between soft and alcoholic drinks is sensible, vomiting over those lurid green tights is not.
5) DO stay away from photocopiers after a few too many…
6) DO assume that you are being watched every second – the next day at work won’t be much fun if girls are gossiping in the loos about you, especially if you hear them…
7) DO try and mingle with people in the office that you wouldn’t usually chat to – it’s a great way to boost your profile in the office.
8) DON’T call in sick the next day – and definitely DON’T update your Facebook status about what a wonderful day you’ve had Christmas shopping.


We have a fabulous new job to tell you about – have a read below and let us know if you are interested by emailing hello@hattyblue.co.uk.

With 2009 edging ever closer and lots of exciting new clients, Hatty Blue is also keen to extend our temping database. If you would like to temp, please email hello@hattyblue.co.uk with your CV asap.

Team PA - Exciting Consumer PR!
£28-30k
Permanent
A fantastic opportunity exists to join one of the world’s leading PR agencies, supporting the head of the company’s thriving consumer division who has an enviable reputation in the industry and a prestigious client portfolio! Working from slick & stylish offices in the heart of Soho, you will use your well-developed PA skills to coordinate a busy diary, produce accurate documents, maintain filing systems, and to manage a steady stream of emails, telephone calls, and mail. In addition, you will oversee general administration for the whole division of 50-60 people. You will have first-rate organisation skills and be confident at building and maintaining effective relationships with colleagues at every level. Intermediate PowerPoint skills are a must, along with 3 years experience as a PA within the media, plus a proactive, efficient, and enthusiastic approach. You will be lively, buzzy, polished, articulate, and love working in a team. No PR wannabe's please!

Take a step into Hatty Blue’s Office and you won’t be in any doubt that it’s December. The team arrived early this morning to turn the place into a winter wonderland and are now feeling really rather festive. An advent calendar – a fond relic from Jo’s childhood – now hangs on the wall. A nativity scene – borrowed from Shiv’s family home – sits proudly on the windowsill. A delicious cinnamon-spice candle – donated by Bubs to the festive mix – is creating a lovely warming glow. You’ll be pleased to hear that we’re holding off playing Christmas music, eating mince pies, and donning our jingle-bell earrings… but it’s only a matter of time.

We also want to wish one of Hatty’s best friends Vanessa a huge congratulations for her engagement in Kenya this morning. We’re looking forward to our first Hatty wedding and will be suggesting purple and pink for the bridesmaid dresses…

We've posted two new jobs below. If you think you're the perfect person for the job, email your CV to hello@hattyblue.co.uk.

Front of House - Funky Media Co!
Permanent
£16k
An amazing opportunity exists for an experienced Receptionist (12 months+) to join this buzzyy, cool & funky Media 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 hundreds of important media people 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!

Sales Administrator – Cutting Edge Telecomms!
Permanent

£26-£28k + 10% bonus
An excellent opportunity has arisen 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. The successful candidate will have a minimum of 2 years sales administration experience in the IT or Telecoms industry, in a sophisticated sales order process role. 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.

STOP THE PRESS! CALLING ALL FABULOUS HR CANDIDATES!
Its Tuesday afternoon in Hatty's HQ and we are excited to have been asked to recruit 2 HR positions for the most exciting and high profile Advertising Agency in London!!
If you're searching for your next move in HR and have a background in media, look no further!

Do get in touch if you'd like to hear more by emailing hello@hattyblue.co.uk or calling us on 02o7 240 1813. Also, remember that we offer a very generous 'Refer a Friend' scheme so please send this on to friends or colleagues........

HR Generalist - Global Advertising Agency!
£30k + benefits, London W1

Our Client is a pioneer of the Advertising Industry with an international reputation for award winning campaign excellence.Based in luxuriously stylish offices in the heart of the West End, you will join a team of 3. This is a generalist role with training to be actively involved in the training and development for the London Operation.You will work with the Director on training talent management and people development, help to provide advice, guidance and counsel to support the business line managers to enable them to achieve their business goals.You will have some involvement in junior level redundancies, terminations and maternity agreements and provide an independent advice point for their people in relation to career development. You'll manage the annual Summer Scholarship programme, coordinate the Work Experience programme, conduct Induction and Exit Interviews and update company policies.You will be a graduate or CIPD qualified or part qualified. You'll have sound professional generalist experience (3 years +)and experience of training, knowledge of employment law, good people management and communication skills and have a working knowledge of the Advertising world.You'll be a dynamic, upbeat, savvy individual with the ability to produce outstanding work every time!

HR/Accounts Administrator - Global Advertising Agency!
£26,000 + benefits, London W1

This is a generalist role for a smart graduate with a minimum of 12 months experience in an HR Administration or Accounts Assistant role.The position is split into 2 parts. As HR Coordinator you will undertake database management. provide admin assistance to the Directors including diary management and travel booking. You'll prepare contractual documentation and be the first point of contact for internal queries. You'll administer temps, freelancers and work experience placements.As Accounts Administrator you'll prepare and approve expense claims, review staff expense accounts, control petty cash, control foreign currency orders, order and distribute company credit cards and prepare daily cashier journals.You'll be a highly analytical, numerate gradudate with excellent IT skills including Excel spreadsheets. You'll be a commercially minded individual with the ability to multitask and prioritise in a frenetic and dynamic working environment.

It’s Monday afternoon in the Hatty Blue office and we have the heaters cranked up and the kettle working overtime to provide a steady stream of hot drinks. Feeling the cold more than most in the team is Bubbles, who arrived home from Australia on Saturday. After a week in Sydney living it up on Bondi Beach and another snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef, she’s cursing the cold weather for forcing her to cover up her tan with layers of thick woollies.

Hatty Blue is also welcoming two new arrivals this week. Firstly, we’re more than a little excited to welcome baby Kitty to the world – congratulations to Annie and Nick. We’re looking forward to welcoming her into the office soon!

Secondly, beautiful 9-week old boxer puppy Lily has finally arrived – and the team is already feeling a little frazzled by her endless energy! At least all the running around is keeping us warm…

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.

Part-Time Bookkeeper – Celebrity Model
Up to £130 per day

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a small dedicated team in West London, supporting the diverse international business interests of a celebrity model. The position is for a bookkeeper, working on a part-time basis of three days per week. The successful candidate will have experience in dealing with cash flow, invoicing, PAYE, and VAT reconciliations, plus will also have a good working knowledge of SAGE. You will be confident, highly competent, enthusiastic, and enjoy working in a small team. You will work closely with the celebrity and be given full training when you join the team, but will be expected to work from your own initiative and carry out tasks quickly and efficiently. You will be given the option of which three days that you work.

Temporary Office Administrator – Engineering Company
£8 per hour

Two opportunities have arisen to join a busy London-based engineering company as a Temporary Office Administrator. This is an ongoing booking. Both positions are based at depots – one in West London, at Ealing, and the other in North West London, at Stonebridge. The position is very admin-based, with responsibilities including faxing, manning phones, and ad-hoc office tasks. The successful candidates will be computer literate and very comfortable using Word and Excel. You will be enthusiastic, reliable, confident, and keen to gain experience in a busy office environment.

Feeling stressed? According to magazine Recruitment Matters, you are not alone. More than 13 million days a year are lost to work-related stress - that's more than those taken off for the common cold!

The magazine has compiled a list of top tips for staying calm and in control. The Hatty Blue team will be taking deep breaths and scanning their eyes over the list whenever the pressure hots up over the coming months...

1) Confront problems and unpleasant issues. Every 'live' problem at the back of your mind is a drain on your energies.

2) Be realistic. Accept challenges that are exciting and constructive - not those that are impossible - and practice saying no without feeling guilty.

3) Delegate/Prioritise. Delegate work that doesn't require your direct personal involvement and shelve work that can't be done now.

4) Accept occasional failure. See it as an inevitable, positive opportunity for developing, rather than a personal reflection on you.

5) Express your feelings. Let people know how their actions and decisions affect you, and how that makes you feel. Ask for help, avoid unnecessary conflict and look for win-win situations

6) Adopt a healthy lifestyle. A good diet, regular exercise and getting adequate rest means your body is better able to cope with stress should it occur. Avoid alcohol, nicotine and caffeine.

To subscribe to the magazine, visit http://www.rec.uk.com/press/recruitmentmatters

Fancy a new start? Cast your eyes over the jobs below and let us know if you are the perfect person for the job. Email your CV to hello@hattyblue.co.uk

Long-Term Temporary Positition – Cutting Edge PR
Temporary
An amazing opportunity exists to join this award winning & cutting edge public relations & events Co with a Celebrity client list and a passionate, dynamic culture!Based in gorgeously stylish offices in the heart of Soho they are looking to recruit an outstanding Office Coordinator to be their lynchpin. This is an extremely varied and interesting role. Your main responsibilities include overseeing office administration and upkeep,making guests welcome, dealing with post and couriers, banking cheques, dealing with IT issues, managing Health & Safety, liaising with suppliers and 101 other ongoing projects! Above all you'll be charged with creating a happy, positive, upbeat, hard working atmosphere. You will be a self motivated, highly organised individual with a fantastic customer service mentality with 12 months+ experience in a similar role in a funky media environment. You'll have excellent communication skills and masses of energy. You'll have the ability to quickly acclimatise to and add value to a fast-paced, dynamic and robust environment and have lots of fun along the way!


Graduate Account Exec - Healthcare PR!
Permanent
£19K
An exciting opportunity exists to join one of the world’s fastest growing healthcare PR agencies with a worldwide reputation for excellence and dynamic partnerships they have forged with some of the world's leading healthcare companies and organizations.
As a Graduate Account Exec your role will be to learn to Account manage from the bottom up! You will build an understanding of cleints, their products, PR Programmes and objectives. You'll provide administrative support for the account team, which will include making arrangements for meetings, providing accurate copy quickly and efficiently, setting up filing systems, and making travel arrangements. You will liase regularly with clients, participate fully in internal and external meetings and keep abreast of industry and environmental issues so that you can flag up issues and opportunities to the team. You will be degree educated in a science based discipline and have at least six months administrative experience under your belt preferably in Publishng or PR. You will be passionate about PR and ideally have an interest in healthcare and ethcial issues. Enthusiasm, great organisation skills, plus a good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint will set you apart from the crowd. Languages are also useful. There are excellent opportunities for progression towards Account Management and beyond so this really is a fantastic opportunity.