Recruitment Lessons from our Favourite Christmas Films

It’s officially December which means we are beginning to feel very festive here at JR Personnel! Christmas is always a busy time for us with placing lots of candidates ready to start new careers in the New Year and supplying temporary workers to cover those busy Christmas shifts!

At such a busy time of year it’s important to find the time to unwind and what better way than with a Christmas movie! Here are some recruitment lessons from our favourites!

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington poses a difficult recruitment problem. His skills and experience are in Halloween Town, however he is adamant to take on the role of Father Christmas. We believe it’s very important to be honest with candidates. We encourage them to look at the skill set they have and focus on roles that are good opportunities for them, and are also realistic. Luckily, Jack eventually realises that his true passion is Halloween and returns to his role as Pumpkin King with enthusiasm. 

2. Love Actually 

This heart-warming film reassures us that there is someone for everyone and in the world of recruitment, there is a perfect role for everyone. At times it can seem like your job search is taking too long and you’re experiencing rejection after rejection, JR Personnel can help share this burden by sourcing roles which match your skill set perfectly, notifying you of any important feedback from interviews and give you hints and tips to make your CV stand out from the rest; don’t be disheartened, the right role could be just around the corner. 

3. The Grinch 

The Grinch is an outcast who isolates himself from others and harbours negative feelings about everything and everyone! Eventually The Grinch learns the true spirit of Christmas and teaches us the importance of being social and personable and maintaining a positive outlook even when life can get you down. This is a great tip for attending interviews; you may have had a negative experience with your previous employer, be feeling disheartened by your job search or just be in a bad mood; try and put it aside and focus on positivity and team work, let your Christmas spirit shine through!

4. Home Alone

When 8-year old Kevin is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation, he must use all his best pranks to protect his home from a pair of burglars. The recruitment lesson we can take from this film is the importance of being organised. The McCallisters are an example of terrible organisational skills… after all, they forgot their son. Recruiters need to ensure they know what job roles they’re trying to fill for the client, which candidates they’ve discussed those roles with, and to keep the details confidential; all this multi-tasking requires organisational skills the McCallisters can only dream of.

5. A Christmas Carol 

Even though everyone is excited about Christmas, Ebenezer Scrooge thinks it’s all humbug. Scrooge is visited by three spirits who take him on a journey through his past, present and future in the hope of transforming his bitterness. Scrooge shows us the importance of a positive attitude. Recruiters need to be empathetic and encouraging towards candidates in order to build good relationships. Not only is this important from a recruiter’s perspective, but also for candidates. When looking for work, candidates needs to be proactive and positive, able to bounce back from rejection and onto the next opportunity.

We hope you enjoyed our Christmas Movie Countdown and we wish you a Merry Christmas!

Get to Know Us: Meri Allen - Temporary Recruitment Consultant at JR Personnel

It's always nice to put a face to a name - especially when dealing with something so personal as finding yourself a new career or perfect employee for your business, that's why we are continuing our blog series where we offer you an insight into our team here at JR Personnel. 

This week we meet Meredith (Meri), Temporary Recruitment Consultant and soon-to-be new mum! 

What is your position at JR Personnel? Temporary Recruitment Consultant and occasional blog-writer!

How long have you worked at JR Personnel?     Over two and a half years!

What do you enjoy most about your role?           For me the most enjoyable aspect of the role is definitely placing candidates in a new position whether it be their dream job or something interim to tide them over. Being able to call a candidate and tell them they have been offered a new position is so exciting and rewarding - notifying the client that the job has been accepted is equally as special.

What do you see as a big challenge in recruitment and how do you resolve this issue for candidates/clients? How quickly the market moves is a huge challenge we face on a daily basis, so we have to be really proactive in managing both client and candidate expectations – that means always being well informed and keeping both parties up to date with any changes whether that be advising the client the candidate has other interviews to attend and may be snapped up quickly or letting the candidate know that the hiring manager is on holiday so it’ll be two weeks before we hear anything back. Recruitment can change in an instant so it's vital to be one step ahead. 

Professional & educational background? Prior to becoming a recruitment consultant I’d always worked within the student sector in Sheffield in independent, family businesses – I thought I’d stick with this theme as I joined JR Personnel and love working for a tight-knit, family-run, Loughborough institution.

Unusual fact or story? I studied Fashion Design at University and was fortunate enough to meet and work alongside some British fashion icons including Christopher Bailey, various Saville Row tailors and Vivienne Westwood!

Greatest Achievement either personal or professional? In 2017 I raised £2000 in the space of 4 months for British Lung Foundation by skydiving in honour of my dad who passed away from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2016.

The nights are well and truly drawing in, it's getting colder and we seem to be suffering from a LOT of wet weather at the moment. It can be hard to stay motivated at this time of year; going to work in the dark and coming home from work in the dark can be very draining and uninspiring, especially on a Monday when the weekend feels a million miles away!

Here are some tips on how to boost your motivation and to have a Happy Monday!

1. Rest and Relaxation
It might be tempting to try and cram in as much social activity as possible into your weekends but it's important to make sure you find a good balance and allow some time to rest and relax properly;maintaining regular sleep patterns and taking the time to "put your feet up" will really help recharge your batteries leaving you fresh as a daisy for Monday morning.

2. Know your purpose
Your commute into work on a Monday morning is the perfect time for reflection on your job role, try to remind yourself of what appealed to you when you first accepted the role you are doing, what makes you care about your job, what do you find particularly rewarding? Understanding the true purpose behind your role can be very fulfilling and make you re-evaluate how you feel about your career.

3. What do you want to achieve?
If you're struggling with the Monday blues on a regular basis it could be you've lost your sense of direction. Feeling stagnant in a position or company can have a negative effect so taking time to think about a clear path and idea of progression can really help with feeling motivated, what do you want to achieve? What's your long-term goal? What can you do to get there? Be proactive in speaking with your employer to see what they can do to help you achieve your goals.

4. Be specific
If you're consistently feeling negative about your job, it's important to assess the root of your unhappiness. Are you feeling stressed and overworked or undervalued and not challenged?
If concerns are left unaddressed, they may continue to grow and only add to your disengagement with your work. Employers will want you to be happy, motivated and productive and a good employer should take any issues seriously and help to rectify them with your input.

5. Consider a change
If Monday morning represents an ongoing problem for you, perhaps it's time to consider a career move. Speaking to a recruitment specialist could help you to identify what you're looking for in your career. A chat with one of our consultants could help you to take the necessary steps towards achieving job contentment. Call the office now on 01509 211 211 or email your CV to [email protected]

Get to Know Us: Henry Marvell – Permanent Recruitment Consultant at JR Personnel

So often as recruiters we hear from candidates and clients alike who have worked with agencies before but have never met or known specifically who it is working on their behalf.

Sound familiar?

Here at JR Personnel we believe in the personal approach, after all, the better we know you and the better you know us, the more likely we are to be able to place you in your dream role or find you the ideal candidate.

So, we continue our “Get to Know Us” blog this week with our in-house musician, general tormentor of the team and Permanent Recruiter: Henry Marvell.

What is your position at JR Personnel?

As a consultant, I focus on running permanent recruitment processes for our clients.

How long have you worked at JR Personnel?

"Two and a half years"

What do you enjoy most about your role?    

"That full 360 element, so finding opportunities that I know will be challenging to appoint and being able to target the market to search for those rare candidate skillsets. Knowing I’ve delivered where both the client and candidate feel like they have found what they were looking for, is incredibly fulfilling."          

What do you see as a big challenge in recruitment and how do you resolve this issue for candidates/clients?   

"From observing the industry, the value and quality of service being delivered can often be compromised. Consistently delivering a high level of service to both my clients and candidates is always my priority. Faced with some challenging timescales at times, one could easily be tempted to let that high service level drop, but I never allow that to happen. Being open, clear and honest with all parties always ensures I’m managing the expectations of the client and candidate effectively."

Professional & educational background?

"Degree educated having studied Music & Business."

Unusual fact or story?

"Wherever I am, I always carry a foldaway pocket sized coat hanger. Being well presented is a form of good manners after all."

Greatest Achievement either personal or professional?

"As a self-taught jazz drummer, I’ve played in numerous venues across Europe, once playing at the Royal Albert Hall, something I feel very privileged to have done."

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!

-          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!

Half way through October already and what a month it has been so far!

We started the month with our shores being battered by wind and rain as we felt the effects of Hurricane Lorenzo – letting us know that autumn has well and truly arrived and we will end the month with Brexit, deal or no deal on the 31^st October…or will we?

If you’re looking for some inspiration in these uncertain times a good place to start is with the Rugby being battled out in Japan, each team is united with a common goal, focused upon their aim, with national pride and patriotism urging them on to work together as a team. 

It’s a shame we cannot rely on our leaders to provide us with a show of unity and solidarity in the Nation’s time of need but rest assured, here at JR Personnel, we always unite well as a team to ensure our clients and candidates alike get the best possible service, and we are having a successful October to date with permanent and temporary jobs aplenty despite the Brexit uncertainty.

And, with time edging ever closer to the festive season we are already getting enquiries with regards to Christmas and New Year temporary cover, so if you need any additional office staff please contact us on 01509 211 211 or [email protected] and we will be happy to help.

Get to know us: Natasha Ridewood – Director and Permanent Recruiter at JR Personnel         

Here at JR Personnel we pride ourselves on our personal approach to recruitment; whether you’re registering with us as a candidate or speaking to us as a client we like to make sure we get to know you and vice versa.

We will be running a series of blogs with interviews from members of the team here at JR Personnel so if you’re already a registered candidate or client or thinking about using our agency for the first time, you can have an insight into who it is working on your behalf.

See below from our esteemed Director and Manager, Permanent Recruiter and office-dog-handler Natasha:

What is your position at JR Personnel?

“Director and Permanent Recruiter”

How long have you worked at JR Personnel?     

“Over 13 years! Time has flown!”

What do you enjoy most about your role?          

“Changing people’s careers and lives – helping them achieve their goals.

I also love working with the JR team as we have such a cracking bunch of personalities.”

What do you see as a big challenge in recruitment and how do you resolve this issue for candidates/clients?

“With so much competition out there, attracting the right talent is crucial but by being a family agency who take prides in our level of service, we combat this by getting many recommendations and people coming back to us – both candidates and clients alike.”

Professional & educational background?

“Degree in French and a Member of the Institute of Recruitment Professionals.”

Unusual fact or story?

“I volunteer at a Dogs Home so help rehome rescue dogs into new families.”

Greatest Achievement either personal or professional?

“Set a world record by walking across Great Bear Lake in NW Canada – temperatures dipped to – 50 degrees! If anyone has seen Ice Road Truckers the lake is often featured. We were on skis and pulled sledges - we walked 119 miles over the frozen water and could not shower for 10 whole and very long days!!”

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.

So far in September we have had an amazing EIGHT temporary to permanent success stories! Eight candidates who took the opportunity to try temping now have secured a permanent role within a company they love and enjoy working within. 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 consider temping today, who knows the opportunities it may bring! 

Are you, or somebody you know, looking to start a fulfilling career within Financial Services?

We are recruiting for an amazing opportunity for a recent school leaver to start an Apprenticeship within Financial Services.

Due to the location you must be a driver, have recently completed A Levels and be excited about starting a career with plenty of opportunity to progress and develop.

If you'd like to know more please email your CV to [email protected]

Our Head of Executive Search, Henry is having a well-earned day off today at Ragdale Hall Spa courtesy of Directors Juliette and Natasha for his hard work and target-hitting achievements over the past few months! Sure he is feeling pampered and relaxed by now!

It has left the girls in the office though feeling the pressure but we are busy registering talented office candidates – so if you would like to book a registration appointment, why not register your CV with us on our website and a member of the team will be in touch!

Likewise if you are a client looking for an excellent new team member please ring us 01509 211211.

Have a happy weekend!