Month: January 2020

You might have an impressive CV and engaging cover letter, but finding those roles and being invited to an interview is still a challenging task. Recruitment agencies might sound scary and unpromising, but they can seriously fast-track the recruitment process and help you find the perfect role! Many think that recruitment agencies are only for those looking for temporary, short-term positions, however depending on the agency you choose they provide services within different sectors.

As a recruitment agency we provide support to local companies within Wiltshire and Somerset. We work with a large selection of industries and can help find you a role within the following sectors: office, engineering, manufacturing, catering & hospitality, accountancy and driving. 

Working with a recruitment agency can be a great option for many job seekers. We have outlined some of the most important advantages of working with a recruitment consultant. 

1. In-depth job search.The advantages of using a recruitment agency are clear when you look at how they can help tailor your job search. Skilled recruiters will know their clients well – and the roles they have available. As a result, they will be able to target the vacancies they can put you forward for.With a recruitment agency helping you with your job hunt you will be put forward for roles that are right for you, as oppose to applying blindly to companies with only the job description to have a look at.
2. Variety of positions and duration.Depending on the recruitment agency, they can provide temporary, contract and permanent positions which offers you the flexibility whether you’re looking for a temporary role when in between of jobs or when you would like to move on in with your career in a permanent position. Also, you can find a job in almost every industry through an employment agency.
3. Support throughout.A recruitment agency is built on the skills of its recruiters – they know the job market, they’re experts in interviewing and skills assessments, they know their client’s requirements and they know how to help you shine in the eyes of the employers.A great recruitment agency will be able to help you strengthen your interview skills, tidy up your CV and focus on your career goals.  
4. Feedback.

Finally, a recruitment agency will help you go onwards and upwards by providing constructive criticism and feedback. If you didn’t quite get that job after an interview, recruiters will be able to help you understand why and then help you strengthen your interview skills or otherwise in time for your next attempt.

Recruitment agencies can turn a month-long search into one that lasts just a few days. Knowing when and how to use them effectively can not only reduce the stress of recruiting, it can help you guarantee a long-term hire. Don’t be scared – call one of our friendly recruitment consultants now for more information and advice. 

In this week’s blog we will focus on how recruiters (or future employers) can create a great candidate experience. What is candidate experience? In its most simple definition, it is how job seekers see your brand throughout the hiring process –from job description, interview through to final offer. Is the process easy and comfortable? Or is it difficult and frustrating? Their experience will not only inform whether or not they take the job, but also how they portray the company to their network of other prospective talent.

What are the biggest mistakes when recruiting? How to improve the recruitment process? If you want to find out then keep on reading. 

1. Time We all know that hiring new talent is a time-consuming and costly process, but you need to make the effort and be as responsive as possible. This is because the demand is higher than the supply. In other words, there is a shortage of talent on the market and candidates expect better treatment if a company wants them on board.55% of candidates will give up on a position if they don’t hear back from the company after two weeks of applying. It’s simple – there are lots of opportunities and jobs to apply to, and if you’re taking too long, the candidates will go to an employer that appreciates their time moreThere are plenty of ways to cut down on your time to hire, but the first step is to analyse your current processes and find out the biggest time drains, so remember time is precious for both you and the candidate! 
2. Application process60% of job seekers have quit an application in the middle due to its length or complexity. A lengthy application process weeds out the candidates who aren’t as invested in or committed to working at your company. But top candidates have plenty of choices, and they won’t jump through hoops just to apply.Do you know what your application process is like? Try going through it as if you’re a candidate. See how long it takes, and if you’re asking questions that you could easily find out later. A good idea would be to add a simple and relevant question whenever someone applies for your job e.g. Do you have your own transport? This will be a quicker way for you to shortlist candidates.  
3. Communication

At the center of providing a great candidate experience is good communication. In surveys, candidates rated communication as the number one way to engage talent. For example, significant numbers of respondents reported that:

• Not receiving a basic application confirmation email created a bad experience.
• If they did receive an email, the communication was weak and inconsistent.

So how can you up your communication game? The best recruiters provide candidates with consistent communication – whether the news is good or bad. What you might do is create a well-written confirmation and follow-up emails so applicants remain interested in your company, regardless of the outcome of their application.

Finally, remember that a candidate experience shouldn’t end the moment they become an employee. Provide new hires with resources to succeed on the job. Your current staff can help with referring other applicants, which can increase your talent pool. 

It’s that time of the year when people often start looking for new positions or a new career. The first step is to create an impressive and unique CV or to update and improve your current one.  Recruiters receive dozens, even hundreds of CV’s, so it is vital you make a great first impression with your resume.

A CV has to include both relevant information and be presented professionally in order to catch a recruiter’s eye. And although your formatting may change depending on your industry, there are a few simple rules which you should always follow – how your CV looks can dramatically change your chance of success. 

Have a look at our list of Do’s and Don’ts below:

DO’S

1. Use bullet points. This is a great way to break up text and make it more readable for employers. You don’t want to end up with long and detailed sentences that take half of the page, so use bullet points to outline your duties/responsibilities in a simple and neat way. 
2. Keep it to two pages.The most effective CVs aren’t just informative, they’re also concise. Try and get straight to the most important points, and ideally take up no more than two sides of A4. 
3. Include a personal statement. A significant number of people neglect to include this at the start of their CV which is a big mistake, as this can be the selling point. Write few sentences right at the top of the first page, illustrating your unique skills that make you a perfect match for the role. Ensuring you update this for every role that you apply for. Clearly outline the kind of role you are applying for and why and try to include the top three most relevant skills very briefly.  
4. Work in chronological order.

Whether you are writing about your experience or your education, the most recent information is the most important. Always put it first.

DON’TS

1. Choose inappropriate font and size.Times New Roman is one of the most commonly used fonts, but you may find that Cambria or Calibri are better options for you. The ideal font size is 11 – remember, the hiring managers will be scanning your CV, so it needs to be nice and easy to read. 
2. Include irrelevant person information.You don’t need to include your nationality and you definitely don’t need to mention your age. Although employers aren’t legally allowed to dismiss your application based solely on how old you are, you’ll never know if that’s the reason they rejected you, so it’s best to avoid mentioning these type of details.  
3. Include negative information.If you are thinking of putting on your CV reasons why you left your previous positions, or perhaps that you have driving licence points or that you failed exams – forget it now. This is something you can explain in a job interview, so make sure you don’t include any negative information that would discredit you.  
4. Forget to double check.

This may seem obvious but a mistake on a CV could be the difference between an interview invitation and not. A survey found that there are around 5 typical errors put on most CVs. Since any mistakes put you at an immediate disadvantage to other potential candidates, don’t forget to read through and ensure that there are no mistakes and that the style is consistent throughout.

Once you have finished reviewing your CV ask you friend of family to have a look and check for grammar or spelling mistakes. When done, you can send your CV and wait for employer’s invitation for an interview!

We wish you the very best of luck!