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Life is better with friends – why not introduce yours to JR Personnel!
If you have a friend or a work colleague who is feeling undervalued in their current role, or you know someone who wants to try a new career path or is out of work and wanting a fresh start, why not recommend them to come and register with us here at JR Personnel – we always love to hear from existing candidates friends, colleagues and family and will be happy to help them with finding their new dream role!
They can register their CV on our website or send it to [email protected] or alternatively they can call the office on 01509 211211 to speak to a member of staff.
It’s national apprenticeship week this week, from 6th to 12th February the nation celebrates, learns and has the opportunity to explore the world of apprenticeships.
At JR Personnel we take a look at what it means to be an apprentice and what it means for the recruitment industry.
There are so many perks to being an apprentice, not only for school leavers who don’t want to carry on with higher education and be burdened with the hefty debt, but for people later in life who are looking for a new career direction or vocation.
If you’re straight out of school and dread the thought of having to attend an educational setting again, apprenticeships are a fantastic way to learn new skills and have the security of working in an organisation where you can grow and progress. It’s also an excellent chance for employers to “home grow” their talent, saving potentially thousands of pounds on recruitment and training of new employees.
You might be thinking that apprenticeships are low paid and only temporary positions lasting 3-5 years and this has been proven to be a barrier when people are considering applying for apprenticeships. This isn’t correct, particularly with the UK (and the rest of the world) facing a huge skills shortage, companies are desperate to create a young work force with the right skill set to succeed, and keep them for a significant period of time, so think good salaries and lots of perks post training!
A New Year often means new starts for many of us which is why it’s no secret that January and February are the most popular and busiest months of the year for job seekers and employers alike.
For candidates the first two months of the New Year is a great time to be applying and interviewing for a new job. You’ll find that January is the time of year when the greatest number of decision makers are in office so you’re more likely to get a speedy response from sending your CV in for a role or for an interview. For many companies, new hiring budgets come into force in January so all those roles which were put on the backburner in November and December are finally getting recruited for!
If you’re a candidate looking for your next step this New Year here are a few tips to help make the process more efficient and smoother.
1. Make your CV work for you
January is often a time for reflection and making new resolutions and that old cliché of “New Year, New Me”. That means that whilst you have made the decision to start afresh and look for a new career, potentially so have many others which is why it’s vital that you make your CV stand out from the rest. Simple tasks such as ensuring your CV is spell-checked and your employment history is listed chronologically (most recent role at the top) will make your CV easier to read by potential future employers.
2. Be Prepared
So you’ve done the hard part of getting your CV noticed and you’ve been invited to interview; don’t fall at the final hurdle by not preparing properly for the interview. You can find handy hints and tips for the interview process on our website here: https://www.jrpersonnel.co.uk/career-advice and finally, remember: research, research, research! The more knowledge you have on the hiring company the more equipped you are to succeed at interview stage.
3. Don’t assume it’s in the bag
If you’ve gone new-start-crazy in January like so many do and applied to lots of different roles it may be that you are waiting to hear back from several positions at once. If you’re offered a position and it’s not your 1st choice, think long and hard about if it’s an opportunity you can afford to miss out on – so often we see candidates delay their response to a job offer because of this and end up missing out altogether. Employers will lose faith and confidence in candidates who take time to respond to job offers.
We know particularly at the moment with the cost of living crisis and job uncertainty it can be a daunting and scary time to be looking for a new role, that’s why we are here to help. At JR Personnel we do our best to make you feel at ease and take our time to find a role and company which is a perfect match for you. Unlike many agencies our recruitment consultants are not targeted which means we work hard to find a role that’s right for you, not for our figures. If you’d like to know more about our recruitment process you can find out more on our website or call the office directly on 01509 211 211.
Happy New Year from all of us at JR Personnel, may 2023 be healthy, happy and full of opportunity
It’s the week before Christmas and all through the JR Personnel House not a creature was stirring not even a mouse…Not! The recruitment industry definitely slows down at this time of year but there is always plenty to be done, a great time of year to register and source new candidates, touch base with existing and new clients and catch up on all those niggly admin tasks which we never quite have time for in a normal week.
The past year has finally seen us return to a standard of normality we were used to before the pandemic, albeit we are still not taking walk-in registrations. Whilst hybrid, flexible working is still favourable to many we are seeing more and more candidates wanting to return to the office environment, after two years of working from home in your PJs actually getting up for work and being amongst other adults is starting to look appealing again! Clients too are expecting staff to return to the workplace but with the rising cost of energy prices many are still offering hybrid working where staff can work 2 or 3 days a week from home.
What can we expect from 2023 in recruitment? With the candidate market still remaining very much the same as unemployment remains extremely low, we as recruiters will need to continue to work extra hard to source suitable candidates for positions. This means more proactive candidate engagement and active head hunting which has usually been reserved for highly skilled roles, we will need to continue to put in to force for entry level roles.
Enter Gen Z! That’s right, Gen Z will be gearing up to enter workplaces throughout the world and most likely will not be happy with the way many companies do things currently. They’re the first generation who were born into a full-blown technical world and will expect everything to happen quickly and virtually. If you’re still using paper in your office, expect some reluctance and eco talk from the newbies!
It’s now time to say goodbye for the final time this year, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and we will see you on the other side, from all of us at JR Personnel!
Wow, what a year it has been when it comes to recruitment; with unemployment being at an all-time low there has been a considerable lack of candidates to fill available roles. Counter-offers have been rife with many candidates being offered more money, better benefits and flexible working to encourage them to stay in their existing roles.
It’s not unusual for companies to stop recruiting all together in the month of December, often company recruitment budgets have run down and let’s face it, nobody wants to be doing the admin which comes with recruitment so close to Christmas.
BUT
Here at JR Personnel we cannot recommend enough to not put your recruitment on hold, here are some reasons below:
Less Competition:
With so many companies not recruiting in December it means there will be more candidates to choose from, in our experience the demand for work actually increases in December, with candidates who are out of work desperate to have the opportunity to earn some money in the run up to the most expensive time of the year, Christmas. For those in work, it’s very appealing to end current employment at the end of the year, ready for a fresh start in January.
More Free Time?
Maybe the industry you work in quietens down during December, it’s not unusual for typical “office based” industries to slow down in the run up to Christmas, as a hiring manager maybe you have more time to recruit, interview and train new candidates?
More candidate applications:
The year is coming to an end and people start thinking about the future and their next steps, with many industries winding down employees have more time on their hands, more time to see what else is out there, more time to apply to roles and register with agencies. December is the perfect time to take advantage of the quiet and advertise those roles you’d thought about putting off until the new year.
Wow, what a year it has been when it comes to recruitment; with unemployment being at an all-time low there has been a considerable lack of candidates to fill available roles. Counter-offers have been rife with many candidates being offered more money, better benefits and flexible working to encourage them to stay in their existing roles.
It’s not unusual for companies to stop recruiting all together in the month of December, often company recruitment budgets have run down and let’s face it, nobody wants to be doing the admin which comes with recruitment so close to Christmas.
BUT
Here at JR Personnel we cannot recommend enough to not put your recruitment on hold, here are some reasons below:
Less Competition:
With so many companies not recruiting in December it means there will be more candidates to choose from, in our experience the demand for work actually increases in December, with candidates who are out of work desperate to have the opportunity to earn some money in the run up to the most expensive time of the year. For those in work, it’s very appealing to end current employment at the end of the year, ready for a fresh start in January.
More Free Time:
Maybe the industry you work in quietens down during December, it’s not unusual for typical “office based” industries to slow down in the run up to Christmas, as a hiring manager maybe you have more time to recruit, interview and train new candidates.
More candidate applications:
The year is coming to an end and people start thinking about the future and their next steps, with many industries winding down employees have more time on their hands, more time to see what else is out there, more time to apply to roles and register with agencies. December is the perfect time to take advantage of the quiet and advertise those roles you’d thought about putting off until the new year.
Throughout the past year I have written on many occasions about the lack of staff shortages, not only in the UK, but globally and how this is affecting recruitment, it’s now on individual companies and organisations to up their game and stand out from the crowd to appeal to candidates looking for work. So what will companies be doing in 2023 to ensure candidates are attracted to roles and keep their current staff happy?
#1 invest, invest, and invest!
With available, skilled candidates being hard to find these days companies are focussing on investing in their current employees. So what does this look like? Research shows that since the pandemic employees are feeling more insecure in their skills and abilities but are also more motivated than before to improve upon their skills. Offering regular appraisal meetings with staff to discuss job direction, growth and development is a good way to begin this, companies can then investigate training routes to further skills. With technology advancing at a pace even the most tech-savvy can find hard to keep up with, many employees find they are lacking in basic skills including email and Microsoft Office packages, giving refresher training on IT systems is another simple way to improve productivity and employee confidence
#2 Benefits, benefits and benefits!
Companies are turning to company benefits to make it harder for employees to leave; who wants to leave a position which offers holiday increases year on year and matches your pension contributions? These don’t have to be purely monetary, benefits can be simple office adjustments like allowing a “bring your pet to work day”, allowing employees to take a certain amount of paid time off each year to carry out charity work, or encouraging occasional “mental health days”.
#3 Flexibility, flexibility and flexibility!
Since the pandemic, we are no strangers to hybrid working and flexible working options and this will only continue in a bid to keep employees happy. Gone are the days of the 9-5, with options for working from home, more part time roles available and the opportunity to start earlier and finish later and vice versa are appealing options, particularly for those with dependents at home, long commutes or additional roles.
Never considered temporary work? Here are some reasons why you should!
So often we register candidates who are hesitant to consider temporary work.
“There’s no stability with temporary positions”
“I only want to focus on permanent roles”
“I won’t get the proper training!”
These are just some of the phrases we hear on a regular basis here at JR Personnel when in fact temping can be an excellent way to “try before you buy” or to get a foot in the door of a reputable company.
Over the years we have placed countless candidates in temporary positions, here’s what some of them had to say about their experience temping with us:
- “Whenever I find myself between jobs I have turned to JR to help me find temporary work, and they have never disappointed – I was usually working within days of contacting them.”
- “I was offered a temp role with a local company via JR. After a period of time I was made a permanent member of staff and although I felt sad to be leaving JR, who had always supported me and given me good advice, it was wonderful that the company saw the potential in me to make me permanent.”
- “Temping is a good way to learn new roles, gain experience and learn different software packages, I would recommend it to anyone. You accrue holiday pay so you don’t have to worry about losing money if you wish to take a break. JR Personnel have the friendliest staff you could wish for.”
- “After a month out of work, JR called to say there was a role they thought I’d be interested in, initially for one month temping – I said yes and started the next day. Six months later, I’m still here and was taken on permanently 3 months after starting. I was so pleased about being made permanent as I’d settled down happily in the job and didn’t want to leave.”
- “I started temping with JR following redundancy, I was nervous at first as I’d never temped before but everyone at JR soon put me at ease with everything. I secured a temp role in Leicester and loved the role. They made me feel like a permanent member of staff straight away.”
Why not get in touch today if you are thinking of exploring a new industry today and see what we have available, you can call our office on 01509 211 211 or send your CV to [email protected]
So that’s it, the end of a very short era – Liz Truss has resigned from her position as Prime Minister making her officially the UK’s shortest serving Prime Minister. She is by no means the only person in the country to start a new job and resign so quickly; many of us have been there and it is nothing to be ashamed of. So how do you move onwards and upwards?
If you’ve started a new role and it’s turned out to be such a colossal disaster you’ve had to hand your notice in immediately you may be wondering what to do next. Don’t fear, if you’re sat at home twiddling your thumbs – stop! Get straight back to it and apply for your next role.
But what about my CV?
As a recruiter there’s nothing we (and employers) like to see less, than unexplained gaps in your CV. It’s important to list the role, no matter if you only stayed there a month, detailing your role and duties as usual. If you have several months where you are actively seeking work, simply write this on your CV.
I’ve had my confidence knocked, I’m afraid I won’t like the next role too.
It’s normal to have your confidence knocked in this scenario and be worried about starting your next role. But remember, not all roles or companies are the same and you may have a wonderful experience the next time around. Ensure the next role is something you really feel comfortable doing. Remember too, that interviews are not just an opportunity for the hiring managers to assess if you will be right for the company, it’s your opportunity to make sure they are the right fit for you. Make sure you have plenty of questions prepared about the role, the staff and office culture and to see where you will be working if successful.
What do I say in the interview about my last role?
It’s important to be honest about why you have left a role after such a short time but it’s also important to not be TOO honest. For instance, if you had a really bad relationship with your line manager which resulted in you handing your notice in, a new employer will not find it favourable to hear you slagging them off. Try to stay relatively vague and not go into too much of a tirade about the despicableness of your previous employer, “the role wasn’t challenging enough” or “I felt I was misled about what the role actually involved” are reasonable enough reasons to leave a position without being derogatory to your previous employer.
And of course, we are always here to help with any problems you may have relating to moving forwards and can guide you with interview prep and CV help.
Halloween is the second most celebrated holiday after Christmas in the UK and here at JR Personnel we are definitely not going to miss out, that’s why we’ve decided to take a look at some of those CV horror stories that make recruiters and future employers tremble in their boots! Read below to find out if your CV is a Trick or a Treat!
Recruiters and employers will, on average, spend 5-7 seconds looking at a CV – scary thought hey? So how can you make sure your CV stands out from the crowd and make those first impressions count?
- A personal statement – always try to include a brief introduction to yourself at the top of your CV but make sure to avoid generic terms like “hard-working”, “organised”, “good time keeper” and draw more on specific skills you may have picked up from previous jobs, education or life experiences, include your ambitions and detail the types of roles you’re applying for and why it interests you. Keep it short and sweet!
- Scary Font – when writing your CV don’t think using a comic/themed font is going to make it stand out from the crowd, it just looks unprofessional. Make sure you opt for something classic and easy to read.
- Make sure your CV is relevant to the position you’re applying for! This may mean having variations of your CV for different sectors or industries but definitely worth it, employers will be looking to match aspects of your CV to the job you’ve applied for so if a key element of a job is providing excellent customer service, make sure it’s on your CV!
- Layout and Order! Make sure your CV flows well and ideally that it’s no longer than two A4 pages, use bullet points when describing job roles and duties rather than long paragraphs and list your employment history in order with your most recent position at the top!
- Bad Grammar is truly terrifying – double check, triple check, quadruple check your spelling and grammar, get somebody else to check it for you, those zig-zag red or blue lines on Microsoft Word mean that something is incorrect!
Hopefully these top tips will make your CV a Halloween treat to read but if you want any further guidance feel free to get in touch with one of our recruiters here at JR Personnel on 01509 211211 or email [email protected]
Happy Halloween!