I have been in recruitment for many years operating in specialist industrial sectors that require specific skills. The skills shortage in the UK is still a reality however, one place I know that I can find the people I need to support our clients’ continued growth during the recovery is Jobsite.co.uk.

Their search is easy to use, as are the processing tools that our agency needs to use  in the handling of our candidates’ and applicants’ CVs. Their network of integrated job sites means that all industry verticals are tapped into.

Jobsite.co.uk simply provides skilled people from the recently trained to the most experienced consultants and engineers. Support tools and contact are both efficient and maintained at just the right frequency.

For a new Agency like TG Resourcing Ltd, Jobsite was the sole choice of candidate resource specifically selected for the launch of our company. This has proved to be a wise decision, as we have already made numerous placements from their register of job seekers.

Toby Goddard, MD
TG Resourcing Ltd

Continue reading “TG Resourcing Ltd Testimonial” »

Friday’s normally have an extra buzz about them in the Jobsite offices with people gearing up for the weekend but today there is definitely a more sombre air. This is a result of the news that Pompey Football Club have officially gone into administration. As a local company and main club sponsor we’ve got a lot of PFC fans working here, some that have supported them for years, and others that have become fans since we partnered with them last summer.

Whilst there’s been speculation for a while I think we were all hoping for a last minute resolve and so the news that it’s official is still extremely disappointing. It’s a bitter blow for all of the fans and the people behind the scenes at PFC who have worked so hard at keeping the club operating successfully. Our main thoughts at this time are with them and with the local community, who are so closely entwined with the football club.

Continue reading “Sad day on the South Coast” »

You’ve seen a job you like being advertised, sent off your application and because you tailored your CV and covering letter to that specific role you’ve been shortlisted; now you need to make sure you’re the one that gets the job offer.

You may be asked to attend an interview or it could be a full blown assessment centre including psychometric testing, group exercises and more. Understanding what to expect and careful preparation will increase your chance of success.

1. Preparation

Once you get the invitation letter, review everything you’ve already sent and see what more you can find out about the company and industry. You need to stand out from other candidates, so demonstrate that you’ve done your research – you understand the company’s problems and how you can solve them and you will be able to ask intelligent questions. This isn’t just for people applying for senior management jobs – it makes a difference at all job levels.

2. Psychometric tests of ability

• You can increase your chance of doing well through careful preparation – do practice tests from books and online sites. You must do these under timed conditions, so you get used to working to tight timed constraints.
• It is good practice for companies to send out practice test material. So, if you don’t get them, ask!
• It’s very easy to do worse than you are capable of, so understand the type of approach you need to take and make sure you really understand the instructions. Sometimes you will be penalised for wrong answers, but not always, so ask the test administrator.
• Many companies will ask you to take psychometric tests in advance, using your home computer. It can be tempting to cheat but don’t! You may well need to do a second version of the test at an assessment centre.

3. Personality questionnaires
Continue reading “Now you’ve been shortlisted…” »

There’s a new drive to encourage people to learn languages, but just how useful are they in the workplace today and can they really help you get a job?

Parlez-vous Francais? Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Parlate Italiano? There was a time 20 years ago when everyone wanted to study a language. Excited by the creation of the EU, many new employees were keen to show an aptitude for languages that would put them above other candidates in the battle for jobs. A new era was beginning for a united Europe, and that meant getting to know our neighbours in a way we hadn’t had to before.

In reality, the creation of the EU meant that European workers were simply given the roles that required languages, and we all got lazy. Languages were too much like hard work when you’ve got other people to speak them for you and besides, don’t most people in business speak English anyway?

Evidence suggests that this kind of attitude is changing – and not before time. With the rise of the internet, our business world has gone global in a way we could never have anticipated. According to a recent survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the importance of languages to UK firms is set to grow as companies operate in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. 72% of UK international trade is with non-English speaking countries – but it is estimated that only one in ten British workers can speak a foreign language.

So, can having a language up your sleeve really improve your job prospects? Continue reading “It’s all foreign to us! Time to learn a language?” »

With the recent allegations of bullying coming out of No.10, it has thrown the issue of bullying at work into the spotlight once again. The true extent of bullying at work is more widespread than people realise, mainly because employees are afraid to report it. This needs to change, says Philip Landau, employment law solicitor and partner of law firm Landau Zeffertt Weir, who explains how you can most effectively manage the situation if you find yourself being bullied at work. .

In a shocking survey by UNISON (the largest public sector union) and Company Magazine, it seems bullies are making life hell for a third of young working women.

Results further revealed that more than two thirds of those being bullied in the last six months say it is ongoing, and that the most common bully is an older woman in a more senior professional position. And yet only 22% of women will report the bullying, whilst the remainder will quietly accept it or ultimately tender their resignation.

I receive many enquiries from employees, both male and female, who are being bullied. I am surprised at the findings of the recent survey, not so much at the statistics of the bullying allegedly taking place, but that a large number of the perpetrators are female.  This is, however, in line with the indications from the survey that many incidents of bullying are not being confronted by the employee. Although the survey was in relation to females, it is clear from my experience that the male bully (against males and females) is also positively still alive and well.

Workplace bullying can be defined as offensive, intimidating, humiliating behaviour, or abuse of power or authority, which attempts to undermine an individual and which may cause them to suffer stress. This includes staff being constantly criticised, being the butt of jokes, having responsibilities removed, being given trivial tasks, or even blocking promotion.

Continue reading “Office Politics: Bullying at work” »