It’s certainly not easy being a jobseeker at the moment. New jobs are being created, but not quickly enough for those who are looking for work and the numbers of candidates applying for each role is still very high.

A job market like this puts as lot of pressure on specialist 3rd party recruiters, who have to balance the care and attention shown to candidates with the need to find new roles and keep the shortlists they present to clients relevant.

Niche recruitment agencies are still a main port of call for the majority of jobseekers, whether they are newly on the market, or have unfortunately been looking for some time. Applications tend to come in 2 ways…direct application to an advertised role or speculative application to be considered for a range of roles. Additionally recruiters will also approach candidates directly, either sourced through social media or candidate database, or by referral. Continue reading “Getting a good experience from your recruiter” »

When it comes to talking about themselves, no one does it better than The Apprentice candidates. As the new series hits our screens, is it time we took a leaf out of their book and told our next job interviewer exactly how great we are?

Overly confident, boastful and arrogant – yes, the new series of The Apprentice is back on our screens and when it comes to talking about their achievements, these young hot shots don’t hold back. The majority of us might find their boasting excruciating to watch, but it certainly gets them noticed. And when it comes to job interviews, getting yourself noticed is key.

There is, of course, a difference between boasting and talking about your achievements in a professional manner, and it’s about finding the right balance. While The Apprentice hopefuls are at one end of the scale, most of us are right at the other end where we find it so painful to talk about our achievements that we often don’t bother. But the bottom line is, to get that job, we need to stop being so modest. Continue reading “Don’t sell yourself short!” »

We all do it. Sometimes it can be positive and other times it can be quite negative. But the ability to judge someone in a split second based on their appearance is a common human condition. How someone looks, the way they speak and the way they dress are just some of the many details we use to form our opinion. Similarly, during the recruitment process interviewers can quickly make their mind up whether the potential employee will ‘fit’ or not. If you’ve been invited for an interview or you’re currently in work, your appearance does say a lot about you. From how you look to how you conduct yourself, everything counts. And when you take control of it, you’ll give the best impression of yourself and inspire those around you.

Cut to fit

Every career and job has certain expectations with regards to dress code and physical appearance, and this varies from company to company. While a design agency may be completely comfortable with a more relaxed and casual approach, other organisations like a firm of Solicitors will expect a higher level of professionalism. Find out what is common and make your impact accordingly.

If you have an interview lined up, we suggest you take time to get your appearance just right. Most interviewers will make snap judgements and base their opinion to hire or not on this. This might sound daunting but this is actually your opportunity to shine, so try to make a professional appearance from the go. In most cases, this will be a dark coloured suit and shoes. No jeans and trainers! How colourful and personalised you make your look is your call. From a smart hair cut to keeping jewellery to a minimum, your approach is down to you and what you think will show you in the best light. Continue reading “Appearance : It’s all in the detail” »