For $2 per month you are entitled to the following with Cardplus:

• Savings of 5c per litre off the petrol pump price
• Free weekly delivery of the Sunday Star Times for 6 months
• Fly Buys points during launch offer
• Multiple cards linked to one account

Click the link below for more information:
New Shell Cardplus Fuel Card Offer for 2010

To receive the Shell Cardplus application form, email us on Solutions@crackerjacks.co.nz quoting “Cardplus offer” and we will send you the registration form.

So whatever you plan to use your fuel savings for, whether it’s subsidising your company vehicle, or carting the family around town, these savings will prove to be handy.

Until now, you’ve had to wait for your profile to be requested, or manually search for jobs to source work.  But this pro-active feature means you can now save job searches, and then be automatically notified when similar jobs are posted.

To set up a Job Alert:

Step 1:

Join or Log in to your contractor account and ensure your profile is complete – if it isn’t, it’s not possible to search for jobs and set up Job Alerts.  The reason why Crackerjacks works this way, is to ensure there’s a high level of quality amongst the candidate pool. We’re all about talent – this is a key reason why businesses hire Crackerjack contractors. It’s important for profiles and performance checks to be completed so that stand-out performers are highlighted and connected up with jobs.

Step 2:

Conduct an Advanced search, by selcting the Search tab at the top of the page (see screen shot below). Just a tip – keep your search quite broad to ensure you don’t miss out on any relevant future jobs.

Step 3:

When the results appear select “Add to Saved Searches” (the blue button in the screen shot below).

Then you are done!

You will automatically be emailed when similar jobs are posted on Crackerjacks.  To edit saved searches simply select the Saved Searches tab under in the Search category. You can have up to 10 saved searches functioning at once.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to send a reminder out – please update your contact details and career history if these have changed recently.  Simply Log in and select Your Profile to edit these.

Happy contracting!

The Crackerjacks team

To help you understand the differences between contractors and  employees – we have a handy resource from the Department of Labour for you.

The law is very different for employees and contractors, so you need to understand they key differences that define these groups.

Click here to find out who is an employee and who is not.

We’ve launched two major upgrades for our contractors on Crackerjacks…

After listening to your feedback, two key changes have been made to all contractor accounts, including; SMS alerts when you receive profile requests and the addition of a technical skills section in your Crackerjacks account.  To utilise these, we need you to do a few things and don’t worry – this will only take a few minutes.

1.    SMS Profile Requests
You can now receive text messages when your Crackerjacks profile is selected for a job.  Until now, the only notification was an email, so to speed things up – we’re giving you the option to receive a text message if a business wants to know more about you for a job.

We need you to validate your mobile number before you can receive SMS profile requests.  To get this underway:

1.    Log on
2.    Select the Your Profile tab from your Dashboard
3.    And select “Send Again” to have a code sent to your mobile phone, please note this can take up to 3 minutes to arrive.  Simply enter this code and hit “Verify” then you are good to go!

2.    New Technical Skills boxes
To help you market yourself more effectively to potential clients and employers, we have added a new “Technical Skills” section to your profile.  You can now enter your “Business Skills” and “Technical Skills” so businesses can clearly see what you have to offer.

To update this simply:

1.    Log in
2.    Select the Your Profile tab from your Dashboard
3.    Select the “Key Skills” blue link then enter your business and technical skills

Keep in mind that if you don’t enter any information in the technical skills area, you may be overlooked for roles.  This is a key section a business user will assess when deciding to contact you for a job.  For more information on what business and technical skills mean click here.

We encourage you to log in now and update your account, we don’t want you to get overlooked for what could have been your next contract.

Happy contracting!

The Crackerjacks team

A Knowledge Workout with Max Walker (AUS) CSP

Christchurch
Tuesday 8 December 2009, 9:00am – 12:00pm
La Vida Centre – Hansons Lane, Upper Riccarton

Auckland
Wednesday 9 December 2009, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Rendezvous Hotel – Mayoral Drive, Auckland City

Wellington
Thursday 10 December 2009, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Duxton Hotel – Wakefield Street, Wellington City

Purpose
Have you looked at yourself in the mirror and thought, “Everything is okay – I enjoy my work, I get paid enough to enjoy a reasonable lifestyle. The people I work with are nice enough and share my vision of success. My/our business is set to rapidly expand and own the marketplace”? Or are you scared of the future? Terrified of the great unknown?

If so, then it’s time for a change. Time to re-evaluate, re-invent, re-activate, re-energise, re-design and re-imagine the future. Sound a bit scary and a bit un-doable? Sure, it’s radical but it’s also possible!  An eraser is an essential tool if we are to expand the thinking of our neck-top computer.

In this invigorating Workout, Max Walker will show you, one step at a time, how you can construct a solid staircase to climb beyond these unpredictable times. Erase the vulnerability and begin this journey. Manifest your future. Remember… average never wins!

What Will I Get Out of This Workout?

• An appreciation for why you need to re-evaluate, re-invent, re-activate, re-energise, re-design and re-imagine your future.
• A growing confidence that education, success, leadership and fun is outside your familiar comfortable environment.
• An understanding of the ideal self versus the real self – and the ability to analyse the gaps and overlaps in your strengths and limitations.
• A toolkit to define who you are, what you are, what you want and what you stand for.
• The ability to turn unexpected and seemingly negative scenarios into new possibilities and growth.
• Invaluable skills to help you use graphic notes and mind mapping techniques to generate ideas and simplify problem solving.
• The ability to use the Sigmoid Curve as a tool for assessing where you and your business is on the bell curve of success and make this a catalyst for new ideas and a new growth curve.
• Ways to use the Change Pyramid to analyse where you are today and begin to manifest a future template.
• The ability to approach 2010 with gusto and a completely new focus.

Your Coach
Max Walker is a master of success. As an International Test Cricket player, AFL player, sports commentator, television and media personality, architect and well-known business speaker, Max’s unique mix of intellect, mischief and travel has made him a ‘must-see’ speaker around the world.
Max is a Certified Speaking Professional.  His attitude of being ‘best in your world’ is recognised worldwide as a common catalyst for all endeavours. After a lifetime or writing, presenting, commentating and performing in the spotlight, the name Max Walker has become a brand that is synonymous with integrity, credibility and success.

Agenda
Warm-up    8:30am       –     9:00am     (Registration & Networking)
Workout    09:00am     –    10:15am    (Seminar)
Stretching    10:15am   –     10:40am    (Morning Tea & Networking)
Workout    10:40am      –     12:00pm    (Seminar)

Investment – Individual Seat
Standard Price: $395.00 + GST
Crackerjacks Price: $330.00 + GST (Save $65)

Pricing Code:  CRACKERJACKSDEC

Special Offer
Register for this seminar and not only SAVE $65 as a Crackerjacks contractor but also go into the draw to win a FREE membership to The Knowledge Gym valued at $2420 + GST.

To Register
There are 4 easy ways to register.

1. 1.    Using your unique Crackerjacks pricing code (as above) simply click on this link and type in your pricing code on the registration page.
2. 2.    Email us at workout@theknowledgegym.com and quote your Crackerjacks code.
3. 3.    Phone us on 0800 WORKOUT (967 568) and register over the phone.
4. 4.    Fax us at 0800 967 570 and quote your Crackerjacks pricing code.

The system has already defaulted your account to the ‘both’ option – so if you have a certain preference make sure you log on and select your preferred work type. Simply log on and click on Your Profile, then Account Settings to adjust this.

It’s easy to tell whether you’ve been rated – simply log in, look at the image on the top of your Dashboard – and find out if you are a “New”, “0 Star”, “1 Star”, “2 Star”, or “3 Star” contractor.  If you’re still “New” this means you haven’t been rated yet and your details won’t be featuring prominently in business candidate searches.  To ensure you come up when an employer is looking for someone with your skills – make sure there are two relevant Referees added to your profile so you can be given a rating.  If you have already done this and are still “New” – our team is onto it and will be currently following up your outstanding reference check(s).  Click here for more information on our reference checks.

2.  Keep your information up to date
If you have completed a few roles since you first loaded your profile, or if you have new contact details – no better time than now to log in and update this!  You may want to ‘revamp’ your key skills too; this is the information a business user will see while searching for candidates.  Defining your technical and business skills is very important here because potential clients/employers will read this and then decide whether to request your profile for their role.

3.  Updating Availably
If you’re currently involved with another role, or not available for work, it would be great if you could block out your availability on your calendar.  Simply log in and you will see your calendar on the right side of your screen – click on this to manage.

4.  Entering Realistic Rates
It is important to enter a realistic rate range on your profile.  It may be that your rates have changed since you originally entered this information, so take this opportunity to log on and enter your current rate expectations; remember the tighter the ‘to and from’ range the better.  A business user can not see your rates – but they are notified whether these are within the range they are seeking.

Christchurch
Tuesday 17 November 2009, 9:00am – 12:00pm
La Vida Centre – Hansons Lane, Upper Riccarton

Auckland
Wednesday 18 November 2009, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Rendezvous Hotel – Mayoral Drive, Auckland City

Wellington
Thursday 19 November 2009, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Duxton Hotel – Wakefield Street, Wellington City

Purpose
It has become apparent in the 21st century that it is often easier to focus on doing business rather than doing life and focusing on people. The result of this shift in focus, is that our relationships both at work and at home suffer. Most people deeply desire to be understood and appreciated. Our ability to connect and effectively communicate with others affects the depth of our relationships with them.

In our business lives, our relationships and communication skills considerably influence our effectiveness and therefore our success level. Many people believe that confidence and competence in relating and communicating is something that that you either have or don’t have; when in reality it is a learned behaviour. No matter where you’re at, this Workout will fast track you to new heights and open up opportunities for breakthrough in this critical development area.

What Will I Get Out of This Workout?

• The ability to connect better with those around you, develop long term relationships and become a respected leader through knowing how to bring out the best in others.
• Tools to help you warm up cool relationships and turn a critic into a fan so that you can open new doors for business.
• An understanding of how to build the foundations for long term relationships and cohesive teams through effective communication.
• Skills to help you place boundaries and consequences on inappropriate behaviour.
• Tools to help you identify and turn around behaviours that create irritation, anxiety and stress.
• An understanding of how to engage in meaningful and real conversations and relationships in order to unlock the best in others.
• Insights into how you can gain respect in the workplace and be more loved at home.
• An understanding of how to become a centre of encouragement and a builder of lives.
• An appreciation of how becoming more balanced and calm can result in a deeper connection at work and at home.

Your Coach

Lisa McInnes-Smith is one of those inspirational people who has achieved great things in her quest to help other people and she was our top rated speaker in 2008. Raised in a family of sporting professionals, Lisa discovered a determination to understand why some people succeed while others do not. In a relatively short time, she has become one of Australia’s most loved conference keynote speakers and she has written five best-selling books.  In recognition of her outstanding speaking ability, Lisa was awarded a CPAE by the National Speaker Association. This peer assessed award is not handed out lightly and Lisa is the only speaker outside North America to ever receive one!

Agenda

• Warm-up:    8:30am     –     9:00am     (Registration & Networking)
• Workout:      9:00am     –    10:15am    (Seminar)
• Stretching:  10:15am    -     10:40am    (Morning Tea & Networking)
• Workout:      10:40am   –     12:00pm    (Seminar)

Investment
Individual Seat
Standard Price: $395.00 + GST
Crackerjacks Price: $330.00 + GST (Save $65)

Pricing Code – CRACKERJACKSNOV

Special Offer
Register and receive a FREE Developing People Skills Resource Kit valued at $630.  (Includes 7 1/2 hours of audio content).

To Register
There are 4 easy ways to register.

1. 1.    Using your unique Crackerjacks pricing code (as above) simply click on this link and type in your pricing code on the registration page.
2. 2.    Email us at workout@theknowledgegym.com and quote your Crackerjacks code.
3. 3.    Phone us on 0800 WORKOUT (967 568) and register over the phone.
4. 4.    Fax us at 0800 967 570 and quote your Crackerjacks pricing code.

Crackerjacks and CXC are now working closely to bring you more choices in how you structure yourself as a contractor. By working through CXC you can enjoy all the advantages of contracting without the administration burden or associated risks. You have the reassurance your administration and accounts are being taken care of in a fast, efficient and fully compliant manner, whilst retaining more of your income through the tax savings we can generate for you. And best of all, their fee is covered by those tax savings.

CXC acts as your ‘limited liability company’ and as such allows you to work as a contractor without having to set up or run your own structure.

Your timesheet is submitted to CXC at the end of each pay cycle and from there they manage your billing to agencies or end client, PAYE tax, ACC payments, take care of GST and make any other necessary deductions such as student loans or Kiwisaver. All as tax-efficiently as possible.

Along with their core service, they offer contractors a range of tools to use such as eTimesheets, ePayslips, $200 towards your annual tax return (if with the or 6 months or longer), plus many other benefits.

For more information please visit www.cxcglobal.co.nz, email info.nz@cxcglobal.com or phone 09 358 4133.