Jobsite’s November 2010 recruiter newsletter is available to read online.

November’s headlines include:

• New Jobsite TV ads filmed for January 2011
• Double Jobsite win at NORA Awards
• RecruitRank Awards Winners announced

Click here to view the November 2010 newsletter online.

Continue reading “Recruiter News, November 2010” »

With a background in HR, Laurell McManus has conducted hundreds of job interviews – here she gives us her exclusive insider knowledge on what impresses – or depresses – the interviewer…

1. What are you looking for from an interview candidate?

Someone who is committed, can work under pressure, is flexible and has a can-do attitude. This might sound like the same old thing but businesses are going through lots of changes at the moment and employers need people who can multi-task with little fuss.

2. What has impressed you in the past about some interviewees?

What impresses me is someone who had gone a step further than other candidates and shown they know their subject inside out. For example, one of my clients went for a role and without being requested he prepared a presentation and a 100-day action plan – he got the job. The feedback he received was that it was his pro-activeness and thinking ahead that got him the job. Continue reading “Interviews: What an Employer is Looking For” »

This article is the third in a four part mini-series looking at what you should expect at Assessment Centres, some of the tests used and how to show that you should be the one they offer the job to.

Read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4 in the series.

Role Play Exercises – how to overcome feeling awkward or uncomfortable

In this type of exercise you will be given a brief where you have to meet with someone to achieve a particular objective. For example, if it is a management position you may have to meet with a demotivated staff member where the task will be to find out what problems they have and steer them back towards good performance. If the job you are applying for is in sales or customer service it is likely that you will have to meet someone who is role-playing a customer. If the job you are applying for involves working mainly over the phone then you may have to deal with someone over the phone.

Many people struggle with the contrived, unreal nature of a role play exercise. The way overcome this is to simply treat the exercise as a task you need to cope with in order to perform well at the assessment centre and get the job.

Continue reading “Assessment Centres: Survive Role Play Exercises” »

This article is the second in a four part mini-series looking at what you should expect at Assessment Centres, some of the tests used and how to show that you should be the one they offer the job to.

Read Part 1, Part 3 and Part 4 in the series.

How to perform well in a group exercise

This is a widely used assessment technique. Normally between 4 and 8 candidates will be given a task to work on together while assessors observe their performance. After observing the performance, once the exercise has finished, the assessors will evaluate the performance against a pre-determined set of competencies. The most common competencies to be measured in group exercises are:

• Communicating and influencing
• Relationship Building
• Team working

Actively show the assessors what you are doing in order to get credit for your actions

Remember when you passed your driving test. You didn’t just need to look in your mirror before you made a manoeuvre; you had to move your head to show the examiner you were looking. It’s the same in an assessment centre. In a group exercise you not only have to listen to what other group members are saying, you have to show the assessors you are listening through body language and feedback.

Continue reading “Assessment Centres: How to perform well in a group exercise” »

Whilst his latest film, Another Year, receives great reviews, award winning film director, Mike Leigh, is busy working on his latest project – a great script encouraging people to seek out the job they really want.

This is no feature film, but our latest TV adverts, starring British actor Max Beesley (Survivors, Hotel Babylon). Whilst the details of scripts are firmly under lock and key, we can reveal that the new ads build on the themes of our previous ad campaign – we’re here to help take the frustration out of your jobhunting – but with a little extra Mike Leigh magic.

The final day of filming is underway today, with the ads set to air for the first time on 10th January next year.

You don’t have to wait that long to catch a glimpse, as we managed to grab some sneaky photos on set. Click on the thumbnails for a closer look…

Continue reading “Award winning film director Mike Leigh’s new project” »