The effect that technology has had on the UK’s jobs
Posted in Blog Posts, Candidate News, Client News
Tagged Jobs, Recruitment, Technology and Job, Uk Jobs Market
The 3 most common reasons candidates turn down job offers
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Unfortunately it happens to even the most desired employers but still, there’s nothing more upsetting than spending valuable time and money on a lengthy recruitment process to have your top candidate reject your job offer. It can be difficult to understand why this happens – especially if you have a big brand name behind you.
Below are some of the most common reasons candidates turn down jobs and how you can prevent this from happening to you.
Timing
Believe it or not, the timing of your job offer can have a huge impact on whether someone accepts the position or not. This is particularly the case if your candidate has been headhunted because they’re not actively looking to leave their current role. This means that they could potentially be open to an offer if it’s the right job but chances are that they’re not going to be as keen as someone who chose to apply for the position themselves.
If you’ve found your dream candidate but get the feeling that they may be struggling to make a decision, let them have some time. Don’t pressure them into giving you an answer straight away because chances are they’ll panic and stay put. Remember, just because they need time it doesn’t mean they won’t be a great or enthusiastic employee – the fact they feel loyal to their current employer and like their job is a good sign because it shows they will treat your company the same way.
If you find yourself in this situation let the candidate know that they can take their time before giving you an answer. Be patient with the notice period as well – if their current employer has treated them well they will want to work their full notice and you can always hire a temp in the meantime.
Better counter offer
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Competition for high quality candidates is incredibly high so if you’ve found one, you can bet that other companies and recruitment agencies are chasing after them too. If this is the case you are going to have to be prepared to negotiate a bit. Increasing your initial offer may sound like something you don’t want to do but think about the additional recruitment costs you will face if you have to start the whole process again.
Other perks such as offering flexible hours, working from home occasionally, early finishes on a Friday, company days out, training, promotions and bonuses can also tempt a candidate to choose you over a competitor. It’s important to remember however that people want to work for a company that values them, will present them with the opportunity to grow and has a culture that they fit in with. If none of these things are there then all the perks in the world won’t make a difference.
Bad interview process
The only thing a candidate can judge you on is what they have experienced during the interview process. If it has been rushed, disorganised, too drawn out, too strict, too unprofessional and generally a mess, then people are going to think that this is what working for you will be like.
Remember that interviews aren’t just for recruiters to see if they like the candidate. It presents just as much of an opportunity for applicants to assess whether or not you are someone they want to work for.
If you would like more information about recruitment or need help hiring your next employee, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be more than happy to help.
The rise of flexible working in the UK – Infographic
Flexible working has been a hot topic in the UK in recent years. With technology continuing to advance it means that businesses are more adaptable than ever before and both business owners and their employees have been keen to take advantage of this.
Have you embraced the changes to the working world or are you still reluctant to let your staff work from home and choose their own hours? The infographic below highlights the importance of flexible working and exactly how it can benefit your company. Please click on the image to zoom in.
Source: http://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/cdn0.virgin.com/uploads/images/story/flexible_working_infographic-19523.jpg
Posted in Blog Posts, Candidate News, Client News
Tagged Flexi Time, Flexible Working, Flexible Working Hours, Remote Working, Staff Motivation, Staff Retention
How to beat the back-to-work blues
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With the summer nearly over it means that wonderful time of year where we jet off on our much-needed holidays has come to an end. The reality of being back from a few weeks of complete bliss combined with nothing to look forward to anymore can make the back-to-work blues pretty difficult to deal with. Below are some great ideas to help you get back on track and ready for the world of work once again.
Ask for a new project
Embarking on a new challenge is the best way to boost morale once again. It gives you something to focus on and the excitement you get from achieving something will make you feel just as good as your holiday did.
Arrange something to look forward to
Having something to look forward to is a great way of getting over the holiday blues. Even if you can’t afford to book another two week getaway so soon think about a weekend break or even arrange to attend a new gym, cookery or arts and crafts class.
Set yourself a goal
People often start to lose interest in their job when they have nothing to work towards and every day becomes the same. If coming back from a holiday has highlighted to you that this is how you feel about your job, set yourself a work-related goal. Whether it’s setting your sights on that promotion, picking up a new skill or attending a training course, having something to work towards is sure to keep you motivated.
Take an extra day off
The thought of being on the beach one day and then back at your desk the next is very depressing for many people – regardless of how much you love your job. Rather than heading straight back into the office why not book an extra day off? This gives you a bit of time to get back to reality and that journey back home won’t seem so bad after all.
Be prepared for your return
The main reason why so many people dread going back to work after a break is the thought of the madness they will be going back to. In order to prevent this, try to prepare as much as you can beforehand. Finish off any outstanding tasks, ask colleagues to deal with any enquiries that come through in your absence and although you should always set an out-of-office, consider giving someone in your team access to your emails so that tasks can be dealt with as they come through rather than building up while you’re not there.
Keep your out-of-office on
It might sound a bit strange but it can be a good idea to say that you’re away for a day longer than you actually are in your out-of-office message. This means that upon your return you have a day in the office to catch up on everything without being bombarded with non-stop phone calls and emails.
Posted in Blog Posts, Candidate News, Client News
Tagged Back To Work, Back to Work Blues, Staff Motivation, Work Advice, Work Help
Which type of boss are you?
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All managers have different leadership skills and methods of managing their team. This will mostly depend on the type of person you are but the way your employees are can also have a huge effect on the direction you take them.
Officebroker has put together this light-hearted list of the different and most common types of managers. Which one are you? Alternatively, do you recognise any of these qualities in your boss?
The 24/7 Boss
You put everything into your job, you’re always ‘taking one for the team’, you can’t remember the last time you took a holiday, sick days aren’t an option for you and come rain or shine you will make sure you’re in that office every day. A fantastic example to set but the downside is that you expect the same level of commitment from your staff.
The David Brent Boss
You want to be both a friend and a mentor to your employees. You like to think that your team finds you hilarious and that they love your company but still look up to you. Although it’s great to establish a good relationship with your team, if you’re always playing the joker then they might not take you as seriously as they should.
The Barely-There-Boss
This may be because you prefer to ‘work from home’ or are genuinely always busy attending meetings and seeing clients but you’re barely ever seen in the office. Although some people love the fact that they’re not micro-managed, it can make it difficult for staff to have a clear understanding of what they should be doing if you’re not there to help them.
The Stresser
You’re always running around like a headless chicken, panic when something goes wrong and you find yourself stressing out rather than finding solutions. There are no positives about having a boss like this. You’re likely to pass on your stress to your employees and the office will become a horrible place to be.
The Grumpy Boss
Do you find that nobody manages to do anything quite right? Lunch breaks are too long, work is not produced to a high enough standard, there is too much chatter in the office and the place looks untidy? Chances are that you’re the grumpy boss and the problem is that over time this will start to wear on employees. Mood, goodwill and confidence will all suffer and you’ll end up with a very unhappy workforce that is unlikely to stick around for long.
The Nice Boss
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You praise employees for a job well done, you’re happy to pull your weight, you get on well with your team and are very approachable but your authority is respected. Everyone wants to have a nice boss so if this sounds like you then well done. Chances are that you have a happy and motivated team who wants to work hard and will stick with the company for many years.
Posted in Blog Posts, Client News
Tagged Careers Advice, Employee Management, Employees, Employers, Management, Management Styles, Staff Motivation, Staff Retention, Work Advice
Which jobs make you the happiest?
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There’s no doubt that we’ve all dreamt of doing a more exciting, challenging or even less demanding job from time and time and have wondered if the grass really is greener on the other side.
Earlier this year, the Cabinet Office decided to find out exactly which jobs make people the happiest. They looked into the relationship between different jobs and levels of life satisfaction and the results make for some interesting and somewhat surprising reading.
Do you think you would be happier serving pints or serving God? We bet most of you quite fancy the idea of working in a pub befriending all the locals and enjoying the social aspect of it. Believe it or not however, publicans and managers of licensed premises featured at the very bottom of the list with a job satisfaction rating of just 6.38. Despite earning on average £5,000 less than pub owners and managers per year, members of the clergy topped the list with a satisfaction rating of 8.2.
Coming in as the second most satisfying job in the UK is chief executives and senior officials. No doubt this has something to do with the fact that the average salary for those in these positions is a healthy £117,700 per year.
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Completing the list of the top ten most satisfying jobs includes:
3) Managers and proprietors in agriculture and horticulture
4) Company secretaries
5) Quality assurance and regulatory professionals
6) Health care practice managers
7) Medical practitioners
8) Farmers
9) Hotel and accommodation manager and proprietors
10) Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trade supervisors
A number of finance and accounting jobs featured on the list and although none of them made the top 10, some achieved an impressive score. Out of 274 occupations finance jobs were rated:
37) Financial Managers and Directors – average salary: £76,986 – satisfaction score: 7.6
45) Chartered and Certified Accountants – £37,850 – 7.5
49) Financial and Accounting Technicians – £44,038 – 7.5
52) Finance and Investment Analysts and Advisers – £46,797 – 7.5
77) Financial Administrative Occupations – £18,323 – 7.49
86) Financial Accounts Managers – £40,952 – 7.4
89) Taxation Experts – £45,360 – 7.4
102) Credit Controllers – £19,724 – 7.4
107) Bookkeepers, Payroll Managers and Wages Clerks – £20,646 – 7.4
156) Finance Officers – £22,090 – 7.2
What emerges from the study is that while there is a definite link between earnings and life satisfaction, there are some incredibly well-paid jobs that are linked with low satisfaction levels. This is more than likely because impressive salaries are often associated with high-powered jobs which will naturally come with a lot of stress and pressure.
Occupations that incorporate a lot of the outdoor life are associated with greater personal wellbeing however. Despite being on the lower end of the salary scale, farmers and managers in agriculture all feature in the top 10.
If you’re looking for a new role then feel free to check out our job vacancies or contact us for more information.
Posted in Blog Posts, Candidate News, Client News
Tagged Happiest Occupations, Job Satisfaction, Jobs, Recruitment
How to land your first finance job
Whether you’ve just acquired a finance degree, completed your accountancy exams or are completely new to the world of accounts, landing your first job in the industry can be tricky. Below are some great tips for getting your foot in the door and securing those all-important job interviews.
Networking
When you’re looking for your first finance job networking is without a doubt one of the best things you can do. Join professional organisations and keep an eye out for local networking groups because the events they hold provide the perfect opportunity to get to know people in the industry. If you make the right impression on these people then there is a good chance that they will remember you if they or someone they know has a vacancy.
Make the most out of the experience you have
Even if you have limited work experience it doesn’t mean that you can’t have a great CV. If you have any relevant work experience whatsoever then make sure you put it in. Also draw upon your education and put in any classes, knowledge and projects you have done that might appeal to employers. Also mention any achievements as this will show you are hard-working and any skills you have that will transfer well into an office environment.
Use your current job
If you are currently employed then try to use this to pick up any relevant experience that you can. Is there a finance team you can sit with for a couple hours a week? Are there any new responsibilities your employer can give you? No matter how small or insignificant it seems, anything you can add to your CV will look great.
Put all your effort into finding a finance job
Finding a new job can be difficult and time consuming and this is especially the case if you’re looking to get into a new industry with limited or no experience. Think of it as a part-time job and be prepared to spend time on it every day. Set up job alerts, search job boards, contact job agencies, network and contact companies directly. It might take some perseverance but it will pay off in the end.
Use an agency
If you’re a little bit lost on your job search then recruitment agencies are great. If you find one that specialises in your industry they can give you tips and pointers and will of course have plenty of contacts. They might not have your dream job on their books straight away but if you build up a good relationship with them then they will remember you when the right vacancy comes up.
If you would like more information about finding your first finance job then please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be more than happy to help.
The most common reasons companies hire the wrong people
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It happens to all companies from time to time. You go through the entire recruitment process, hire someone you think is going to be great but then within a few weeks they’re either not working out or have already handed in their notice. Unfortunately this is all part of running a company but if you are finding this is starting to happen more often than not, then chances are that there is something fundamentally wrong with your hiring process.
To help you identify where you may be going wrong, below we have listed some of the most common reasons why companies end up recruiting the wrong people despite their best efforts.
Job Description
If you have been using the same job description to fill a role countless times then perhaps it’s time to think about revising it. Perhaps this is the reason why you’re attracting a certain type of candidate and it’s very possible that your job advert doesn’t actually state what you’re really looking for.
If it’s a new role that has been created then take the time to have a good think about what it is you want your new recruit to do. What skills and assets have worked out across other departments in the company? What skills are lacking amongst other team members?
If you’re re-filling a position then think about the last employee who was doing that role. What worked, what didn’t, could they have done more, was too much being asked of them and were they generally happy in their job?
Cultural Fit
Even if someone has the most perfect CV in the world with some top qualifications and brilliant experience, if they’re not the right cultural fit for your company and the people you have working for you, it simply will not work out.
Whether you do your recruitment through an agency or in-house, be completely honest with whoever is in charge of hiring about the type of person you are looking for. If your team is full of loud and very outspoken people then don’t think that a shy person will balance things out. They are only going to feel intimidated and like they don’t fit it and will undoubtedly want to get out of there as fast as they can.
Remember, skills can be taught but a person’s character and personality can’t.
Failed Promises
A few years ago candidates were in abundance and jobs were not which meant that recruiters had the pick of the bunch. Now that the UK’s job market is steadily growing once again however, the opposite is the case. There are plenty of jobs going and not enough candidates which means that competition is fierce amongst employers.
If you are struggling to fill a position don’t be tempted to make all sorts of elaborate promises that although you very well may intend to keep, in reality you can’t. Be perfectly clear during the interview about what the duties will be, any career progression that will available and how often salary reviews will be conducted. Being perfectly clear from the beginning prevents any misunderstanding from occurring and you are much more likely to build an engaged and contented team.
If you would like any help or advice with your recruitment process then please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.
Tips for succeeding in any job interview
Job interviews can be difficult to master and although at the end of the day a lot of how you perform will come down to whether or not you click with the interviewer, being as prepared as possible is always a sure-fire way to increase your chances of success.
The infographic below offers some handy interview tips and even explains how you can ensure you bond with the most common types of interviewers that you are likely to encounter.
What makes candidates want to work for your company?
Finding the right candidate is a tough job but believe it or not it’s only half the battle. Ensuring that top quality employees want to work for your company requires a lot of hard work. After all, there is plenty of competition out there and smaller companies frequently struggle to win the recruitment battle against the larger, more well-known businesses out there.
You don’t have to be an international multi-million pound company to attract the cream of the crop however. Read below to find out exactly what is in employees look for in a new employer.
Purpose – nobody wants to go into work every day feeling like they’re not achieving anything or that nobody would really miss them if they weren’t there. In order to stay motivated we need to know that we have a sense of purpose so make it clear to potential recruits that being there will really make a difference to the company and that they will be a valued member of the team.
Goals – although targets, goals and objectives can seem scary when you’re learning the ropes at a new job, to ensure long-term happiness, they are crucial. They can increase motivation, keep employees interested in their jobs and help to achieve that sense of purpose everyone is looking for. If you really want to impress candidates at interviews then introduce a reward scheme if you don’t already have one. Being recognised for a job well done is a sure fire-wire to guarantee a happy workforce.
Flexibility – we live in a world where advancements in technology enable companies to be as flexible as they like. With so many businesses offering their staff flexi-time and the option to work from home nowadays, this is something that all recruiters should seriously consider if they want to attract top quality candidates. The majority of your team are probably struggling to cope with children, long commutes and heavy workloads so being able to choose their hours or work from home occasionally will be seen as a massive perk.
Innovative – once again, technology has had a huge impact on how companies are now run. Emailing, social networking, video marketing, online portals…. the list goes on and unless you have only entered the corporate world in the last few years, you will know from first-hand experience just how much things have changed. When looking for a new place to work you can guarantee that candidates want to work somewhere that is fresh, innovative and happy to embrace these changes. So if you’re yet to jump on the digital bandwagon, make sure you do so soon because you could be losing out on some of the best candidates.
Open-minded management – nobody wants to work for a boss they are too scared to approach or be friendly with. Employees want a manager who will be honest with them but also listen to any new ideas they put forward. In order for issues to be rectified quickly and before they turn into something bigger, it’s also vital that your staff feel like they can talk to you without being judged or getting into trouble. Yes you are an authority figure but that doesn’t mean that people have to fear you.
If you would like more advice about attracting top quality candidates or need help with any of your recruitment needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be more than happy to help.
Posted in Blog Posts, Client News
Tagged Candidate Management, Candidates, Employees, Finance Recruitment, Interviewing, Interviewing Advice, Interviewing Techniques, Job Interviews, Recruit, Recruiters, Recruitment, Recruitment Process, Running a business, Staff Motivation, Staff Retention, Staff Training, Work Advice
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