Jobs Report – South of England

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Confidence has started to grow in the job market, Permanent placements have increase at the fastest pace since 2014 and temporary roles are growing at their quickest for the last 23 years.

This is a great opportunity for candidates unhappy in their employment to make a new start and make the best of the market, as the downturn in candidate availability is intensified.

A bigger light has been thrown on the skill shortage that already existed in the UK, with Covid-19 and Brexit making things worse. Candidate attraction and employee engagement needs to be at the forefront of employers minds.

Take a look at the KPMG and REC jobs report for the South of England GB-South_Jobs_ENG_2106 for more information.

 

Training and Upskilling for Furloughed Staff

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Furloughed Staff

A recent REC live poll showed that 60% of our industry have furloughed all or some of their employees, and this reflects conversations Highpoint have been having with our clients.

Maintaining the moral and engagement of furloughed employees will be key to the success of businesses once lock-down starts to be lifted.  Our clients are maintaining contact with their staff via daily video calls via teams and other platforms, and weekly quiz’s etc.

These are positive steps to engage with your employees, however, is it intellectually stimulating, does it have a purpose and value for the individual?

Whilst furloughed staff cannot actively participate in the business, there is a risk of disconnect.   However, they can complete job related training CIPD (2020). 

You can use this as an opportunity to upskill your staff and keep them engaged with the business.

Training and Development

Employers can take this opportunity to support furloughed employees, not just financially but also from a personal development perspective.  Line managers can encourage individuals to identify skills they would like to develop or learn, and put a plan of action in place for the furlough period.

Many employers and employees have regular discussions in 1-2-1’s regarding personal development and training.  However, because of commercial pressures employees can struggle to pull themselves away from work, resulting in learning and development needs and aspirations not always being actioned.

Use this time to your advantage, look at how you can train and support your staff, what resources are available or required, how progress will be monitored and how outcomes will can be measured.

Training and personal development can take a variety of different forms, it does not necessarily mean taking a qualification or attending classroom based training courses.

Highpoint has a range of on-line training tools from MS Office training to sales, customer service and sales and management training, which is being made available to our clients and their employees.

Also included in the suit is a range of testing tools including psychometric testing, verbal and numerical reasoning, etc.

Email: Rebekah@highpointrec.co.uk for information.

Learning and development can be a meaningful way for line managers to engage with furloughed individuals, providing additional purpose to catch up calls and an opportunity for feedback.  It can also encourage departmental collaboration, communication and involvement.

Social Media Training:

Marketing departments could put together basic training and information tools regarding social media, such as planning, writing short form content and blogging with links to on-line content.

This would provide a pool of skilled contributors when business resumes and goes a long way to solving a regular gripe from comms professionals that they don’t get enough relevant and timely contribution from their colleagues.

Mentoring:

This is an opportunity to identify individuals with skills and expertise who are generally too busy to share this in a structured or organised manner.

There are a plethora of Ted Talks and YouTube videos on the subject which can help them understand the value of their knowledge and provide tips and hints on how to share with colleagues.

Conversely HR or Line Managers could identify mentees who would benefit from mentoring and start a discussion with them.  Sow the seeds by putting a plan together with links to articles and tutorials around how working with a mentor would be valuable to them.

For example, some line managers responsible for budgeting and forecasting find this is not their strength.  Aligning them with a mentor from the finance team to explain and identify what they find a challenge could help them turn a weakness into a strength, which will strengthen their performance on their return.

Maintaining employee engagement using positive interventions during these unprecedented times will strengthen businesses when the lock down is lifted.  Retaining and developing valuable talent is essential for the future performance and success of the businesses.

For more information on mental health and working from home check out some of our latest blogs in what’s the latest?

Coronavirus and Working from Home

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Amidst the current coronavirus pandemic, we would like to offer you support and advise on how you can make working from home a positive experience.

Highpoint are here to support candidates and clients, and will be providing updates on Government Policy and advice on how to support staff working remotely.

We are remaining proactive and are available to provide advice on CV writing, preparing and planning for job searches for candidates, and for clients, we are keen to hear how you are managing your workforce and any initiatives you are deploying to support employee welfare.

Working from home

Your team, your managers and your colleagues are very important during this time. But you are just as important.

If you feel that you are not coping well, it is best to be open and speak to a member of your team for support. Not everyone is suited to working from home, so look for ways to make it work for you.

Make yourself business-ready

  • Try to stick to your normal morning routine, make sure you get dressed, it will help you get ready for the working day.
  • Find a nice space to work, if you have a home office great, if not a dining room or comfortable space will also work.
  • If you are in a busy household, try and find a quiet space.

Set daily targets

  • Plan your day and set targets for before and after lunch.
  • If you feel yourself slipping or missing a target, look at what’s causing it. There are a variety of distractions when working from home and it takes a different kind of focus to working in the office.
  • If you are currently teaching children, whilst working from home, like may of us are! Set up a timetable that fits around your working day.
  • Try to set the children tasks they can work on themselves, whilst you are on business calls or have a particular task that involves high levels of concentration.

work from home

Positive distractions can help

  • Background noise, a good radio station or playlist on quiet, can help break the silence of a keyboard and make you feel less isolated

Keep in regular contact with your team

  • It’s important to keep feeling like a team even when you are working from home.
  • Keep in regular contact via e-mail and phone and utilise free virtual meeting apps such as MS Teams, WhatsApp, etc.

Exercise

  • When working from home it can be tempting to sit at your laptop all day and eat there, but that’s how cabin fever and exhaustion sets in.
  • Set aside time for lunch and move about, go into the garden and soak up some of the spring air or take a walk (keeping to social distancing guild lines). Anything to stimulate your mind in a different way.

Keep safe and well.

The Highpoint Team

Mental Health Week | Combating Stress in the Workplace

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As mental health awareness increases and while dealing with stress at work is a real problem, it’s definitely solvable. Outlined here are 5 ways to help bring your stress levels down, so that you can continue to experience breakthroughs and create some real magic for yourself in both life and work.

  1. Form Positive Relationships

Stress we experience can often be alleviated simply by talking about it, which is why forming positive relationships at work is so important. Even if they can’t solve your problems, the simple act of talking about them with someone you trust can help to reduce the severity of the problem.

  1. Start Exercising

Regular aerobic exercise is a natural stress reducer due to its mood bosting and endorphin releasing properties. Exercise also helps get your mind off your stressful thoughts, by being in the moment and focusing on your body’s movements when training, exercise can be a form of active meditation and have a calming effect on the body and mind.

You should aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of activity each day.

  1. Eat More Healthily

Many people turn to unhealthy “comfort foods” as stress management. Unfortunately dealing with stress in this manner is not good for you. Sugar or fat-laden foods like pizza, burgers, and ice cream make you feel lethargic, and less likely to tackle your problems which in turn only increases stress levels.

It is important to eat healthy foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates, to fuel your brain and support concentration and focus.

Healthy food options:

  • Whole wheat bread or pasta and vegetables
  • Foods high in fibre like fruits and vegetables
  • Superfoods like Kale, Dark Chocolate, and blueberries, which contain antioxidants
  • Lean proteins like chicken
  1. Get Enough Sleep

Lack of sleep can inhibit your ability to cope with even normal amounts of stress, and can negatively affects your mood and outlook on life. Trying to reduce stress whilst tired and irritable from lack of sleep is like fighting a losing battle.

Tips for a successful sleep pattern:

  • Aim for 8 hours sleep a night. There used to be a stigma, that “sleep is for the weak” but to be productive you need to regenerate your body with an effective night’s sleep.
  • Stick to a schedule. Set your body’s internal clock by going to bed at the same time every night. You should be aiming to be able to fall asleep fairly quickly and wake at the same time each day without an alarm clock.
  • Avoid sleeping in on weekends. While it may be tempting, sleeping in can throw off this schedule and undo the progress you’ve made.
  • Turn off screens 1 hour before you want to go to bed. Screens keep your brain engaged and make it difficult for you to fall asleep.
  • Take micro naps. A 15-20 minute nap can help you regenerate your body and push on through the day.
  1. Break Bad Habits

Your outlook on life and work can have a huge impact on your ability to cope with everyday stress. Keeping bad habits in check is vital to avoid them become major sources of negative stress.

  • Stay positive. It’s surprising how much difference your outlook is when you make a point to recognize the people and things in your life that you’re lucky to have.
  • Resist perfectionism. Don’t fear mistakes, learn from them. The desire to be perfect can make your stress spike and your self-worth plummet. Failures don’t define you, they’re just opportunities for learning and growth.
  • Focus on what you can control. Much of the anxiety we experience is over the uncertainty caused by things outside your control. The best way to combat that is to focus on the things you can control – like your effort, your attitude, and how you treat people – rather than the outcomes you can’t.

Successful Interview Preparation

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Interview preparation and research is key to a successful interview, there is nothing worse than meeting a candidate with a great CV but they cannot articulate why they want the role, or have not researched the company and what they do.

First Impressions – Body Language Counts

You are on interview as soon as you pull into the car park or walk into the reception area.

  • Present yourself with confidence.
  • Be warm and friendly to the receptionist, they are often asked their opinion.
  • Shake hands firmly when introducing yourself to the interviewer and make eye contact.
  • Don’t sit down until you are invited to. If you are being interviewed by more than one person and you have an opportunity to, choose a position that allows you to face all interviewers directly.
  • To demonstrate your enthusiasm and that you are actively listening, lean slightly forward on the seat and nod in agreement at appropriate moments and maintain eye contact with the interviewer.
  • Remain alert with good posture – don’t slouch or cross your arms.
  • Be aware of nervous habits – don’t doodle on notes, click a pen, run hands through hair, etc.
  • Do not chew gum in interviews.
  • Pause before answering questions.
  • Don’t worry about silences from the interviewer they give you time to think.

Make Sure You Do Your Research

  • Make sure you know the nature of the company’s business and when it was established.
  • How many locations they operate from – UK and internationally.
  • How many people they employ.
  • Visit the office location before the interview.
  • Plan where to park and the journey time.
  • Visit their website but also use other sources for information e.g. Search Engines, local press, ask friends and colleagues.
  • Establish what the interview processes will be.
  • Prepare for any assessments

Review the Job Description

  • Read through the job description and your CV
  • Highlight areas in your CV which demonstrate skills and experience required in the job description
  • Make a note of any areas which you feel you do not have specific skills and experience in, and know how you would address this if questioned in the interview.
  • Prepare scenarios which demonstrate your skills and experience.

Typical Interview Questions to be Prepared for

Being interviewed is a little like playing a role in a play. Rehearse your answers and you will feel more relaxed on the day.

Most Common Questions Asked

  • Tell me about yourself?
  • Why do you want to work for …….?
  • Why do you want this job?
  • Why do you want to leave your current job?
  • Which job have you enjoyed the most and why?
  • What don’t you like about your current job?
  • What relevant experience do you have for this position?
  • What motivates you?
  • Do you think ambition is a good thing?
  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
  • What are your strengths & weaknesses?

More In-depth Questions

  • What is the most enjoyable aspect of your current job?
  • How would your current line manager describe you?
  • How would the team you manage describe your management style?
  • How do you feel you would adapt to a new working environment?
  • What particular skill do you have that your current employer will miss if you leave their employment?
  • Give an example of how you have dealt with a problem or conflict within the workplace?
  • Is the customer always right?
  • What is the most difficult decision you have had to make?
  • What mistakes have you learnt from and why?
  • Sell me this pen?
  • Why should our company offer you the position?

Please see our other blogs for information on CV writing, Social media Tips, working with Recruiters and more or follow on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

If you need further assistance or have any questions on this article please feel free to contact us on 01252 734848 or email us at info@highpointrec.co.uk.

Making a Quality Job Application

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Be Transparent

When making a job application you want to make sure your CV is up to date and includes all the relevant information.

When writing your CV it is important to bear in mind that withholding information or not being transparent about your skills could cause problems with your application further down the line and possibly ruin relationships for yourself, the recruiter and their client and run the risk of a job offer being withdrawn.

For tips on how to write your CV and make sure it stands out see our article on “8 Ways to make your CV Stand Out”.

Be Selective

When you begin your search really think about what role you are looking for.

Are there particular sectors you want to avoid?

Are there certain tasks you know you do not want to do?

Do you want a role that offers progression?

Do you want to work for a small or large company?

What are your salary expectations?

If you know what you are looking for then you can avoid wasting time applying for roles that are not quite right for you.  Take the time to read the content of the role so that you can really understand what is going to be expected of you, if there is something you are unsure of then call up the employer or agency to find out more about what the role will entail.

Only apply for roles that are within your skill set and experience level, there is no point in making a job application for a role that you are under qualified for or have no relevant experience of.

Be Realistic with you Salary Expectations

Be realistic with you salary expectations – of course there is nothing wrong with aiming high but be realistic.

Roles are often advertised with a salary range, if you have previous experience in all the tasks/responsibilities listed on the advert then you may be looking at the higher range of the salary however if your experience is limited or not quite up to date then you may have to compromise on your expectations.

When making a job application if you are unsure about what to expect with your experience then speak to the recruiter or HR department and discuss where you would sit within the range.

Build a Relationship with your Recruiter or HR Department

Once you have applied for the relevant roles if your CV is successfully shortlisted by the recruiter or HR Department hiring the position they will try to get in contact to find out a bit more about yourself and why you are interested in the position.

If you are not available at the time to talk then ensure you call them back as soon as you can, alternatively if they email asking you to call and you are not available email back saying you are interested and arrange a time to call so they know you are keen and aren’t left waiting.  Similarly if you have found another job or decided that actually the role is not for you let them know! – You may need their assistance in the future, so always try and build positive relationships.

When the recruiter or HR Department call this is their first impression of you.  Ensure your voicemail is up to date – you don’t want to sound unprofessional (see our article on Social Media and Tech Tips for advice!).

When you do speak to them express how keen you are on the job and ask any relevant questions, it may be once you have asked some questions you are no longer interested – be honest if this is the case, there is no point in wasting theirs or your own time.  When the recruiter or HR department calls be prepared in case they ask you for an interview – if you don’t know your availability arrange a time to call them back with dates and times and ensure you get back to them within the arranged time frame.

Screening Questions

Once you have carefully read through the job advert and you decide that you would like to make a job application there may well be screening questions attached to the advert.  If the role requires a minimum number of years’ experience then the screening question may ask if you have this experience – be honest if you don’t have the experience don’t say you do!

It may sound obvious but so many candidates say they have 5 years’ experience but when you read through the applicants CV they only have 3-4 years.

Be honest it may be that not having the experience is not a dealer breaker but by stating you have the experience and not being quite truthful it may put off the recruiter or HR Department hiring.  If the company or client requires 5 years’ experience it will mean that there will be some complex tasks that require this level of experience, if you apply for the role but only have 1-2 years’ experience then chances are you will not be suited for the role.

For Interview preparation tips see tomorrows article on “Preparation for Interview” or follow on Facebook and Twitter.

If you need further assistance or have any questions on this article please feel free to contact us on 01252 734848 or email us at info@highpointrec.co.uk.

Why Candidates Should Use A Recruiter Over Job Boards?

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Recent research of the attitudes of more than 1,000 employees who had either used or would use recruiters found that 92% of people trust recruitment agencies to find them suitable employment.  But why use a recruiter rather than just applying for jobs via a job board.

It will open up more opportunities

It is a recruiter’s full time job to be looking for new job opportunities and finding candidates for there clients.  Being registered and on their database means that as soon as the recruiter receives a new position from a client to fill they can suggest you straight away and can mean you’ll be the first person that the client will interview and consider for the position.

Clients trust their recruiters

When searching for a job you might choose to send your CV to the HR department and rely on this to get you an interview for a job, however, there are good relationships built between a recruiter and their clients so when a recruiter says to the client “you must meet this candidate” it’s more than likely they will.  Working with a recruiter who has met you and can personally recommend you may give you opportunities that otherwise you may not have gotten.

You are guided through the entire process

From picking up on issues with your CV, to helping you find out what research you will need to do before your interview, from interview tips, to applying and accepting an offer a good recruiter will take you through the entire recruitment process and give you constructive feedback throughout.  A recruiter will look out for you throughout the whole process –something a job board cannot do.

It’s free!

Recruiters do not charge candidates the fee is paid for by the client – so what do you have to lose?

Tips when using a recruiter:

Do they want to meet you face to face?

A good recruiter will want to meet you face to face.  If a recruiter wants to take the time to meet you face to face then it is more than likely they will have met the their clients they are recruiting for too.  This means they will be able to advise you on the work environment and the culture of an office.  By meeting the recruiter you can speak openly about why you are looking for a new position and express concerns you may have that you perhaps would avoid expressing with a potential employer.  Recruiters will also be able to advise on what the client is looking for and what potential there is in the future.  Plus – it’s also a great way to gain feedback on how you interview before the real thing!

Be open and honest with your recruiter:

When you meet the recruiter make sure you clearly express your goals and what you are looking for so that they have a clear understanding of what is important to you when searching for a position for you.  They do not want to advise you to go forward with a role that will not suit your needs as it will be a disappointment to you as a candidate and also it will potentially damage their relationship with their client.  Withholding information or not being transparent about your skills with probably be discovered this can be awkward and potentially ruin relationships for yourself, the recruiter and their client as well as lead to a job offer being withdrawn.

Make sure you give the recruiter your availability:

Making sure you give your recruiter your availability is important so if asked by a client when they can see you they will have some potential options, if it is hard to get hold of you or you are never available for an interview this could hinder your job search or limit your opportunities.  Your recruiter understands that it can be tricky getting time off work without your current employer getting suspicious and will be as accommodating as possible even try to arrange times outside working hours but sometimes with clients this is not possible, try to be as flexible as you can

Give them your feedback after your interview:

You may feel like your consultant is being a nag, but they always prefer to get your feedback before speaking to the client.  If the client calls and asks for the candidate feedback and the recruiter has to say that they haven’t been able to get in touch with you the client can sometimes take this that the candidate is not interested in the position.  Call your consultant at the earliest convenience after you have got out of your interview so they can let the client know how keen you are on the role.

Remain positive – even if you don’t get the job:

If you do not get the job that a recruiter has put you put for then remain positive, take on the feedback that the client has given about why you will not be progressing in the recruitment process and feel free to discuss them with your consultant it may uncover something that could be important in finding you a new role.

Social Media Tips For A Successful Job Search

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Social media is a great tool for communicating with peers but it can also become an “Achilles heel” when you start your job search.

Would you want your future employer to be aware of everything you do in your leisure time; your social habits and what your journey in life has entailed?  Your digital footprint could be something that prevents you being short listed for an interview or from receiving a job offer – few people think of this when posting pictures or comments on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  What seems fun, perhaps a little revolutionary whilst you are at College or University may have ramifications in the future.

Take the case of Paris Brown who was appointed as the UK’s first Youth Police and Crime Commissioner.  She was forced to resign within days of being appointed after the press researched her background as part of the publicity surrounding her appointment.

Miss Brown was described as an “enthusiastic young woman with exceptional skills” who had performed well in a “very tough” interview process.   She was appointed at the age of 17 but the research unearthed Twitter posts she made between 14-16 years of age which were described as racist and homophobic, something she denied represented her genuinely.  She added: “I have fallen into the trap of behaving with bravado on social networking sites. I hope that this stands as a learning experience for many other young people.”

Your anonymity is not spared when posting on social media channels and it is worth thinking “would I take an advert in the press or write a letter to the editor with my comments if the subject matter is particularly controversial”.

The danger of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter posts that are made in the moment; people often forget and would likely regret putting up comments or some images.  Photographs of your antics as a student might not reflect the person you are today, the person who is applying for their 1st job, Graduate Placement Scheme or Apprenticeship.  Indeed even further along your career path your history can be researched.

There are mixed views amongst HR Professionals and Recruiters about researching candidate social media profiles.  That said, it is a regular occurrence for Line Managers involved in the interview process to research interviewees.

If you are starting a search for your first job or a new position, in terms of your career journey I would recommend the following:

Twitter

Consider the reaction you received to posts and how this may affect your future employment chances.   Close the account if you think the content could be considered as contentious and is not a true reflection of your current views.

Facebook

Look at the content but most importantly look at all the photographs you have posted.  My advice is to change your privacy settings and most importantly ensure that you can’t be tagged into photographs.

Instagram

Review what you have posted and also if there is a positive trend about your postings be confident to discuss at interview it if is raised.

LinkedIn

Not something we have talked about much but make sure the dates and educations seats reflect what appears on your CV and MOST IMPORTANTLY the employment dates match the dates on your CV.

Professional Image

If you are going to have an open profile on social media it is essential to have a professional profile picture.  Your picture should reflect the audience.  A picture you might have chosen at University or College to reflect your fun, party animal self is not the image or profile a future employer would look for, so no “tied to lamp posts”, “wedged into shopping trolleys”, “partying on tables”, “beach bar bikini” or “just out with the girls”! shots.  Portray yourself as you would want a future employer to see you.

Finally.  Do I review the social media profiles of every candidate I interview? The answer to this is No.  I want to interview an individual as a blank canvass.  However, many hiring companies use this as a tool in their short listing process and I would also say that if I have question marks I go straight to social media and nearly always check LinkedIn Profiles to check employment dates and employers reflect a candidate’s CV after I have conducted my interview.

7 Quick Tips

  • Post an appropriate photograph
  • Set the privacy settings so you can’t be researched on Facebook.
  • Review images on Facebook and Instagram. Close the accounts if appropriate.
  • Twitter – check your Tweets. Close the account if you don’t think they reflect your current views and might jeopardise your future career.
  • Set up an email address specifically for your job search.
  • Mobile Voicemail – is your message clear and professional.