Category : Recruitment

In an economy where every business is desperately trying to gain a competitive advantage, ensuring that you hire the most talented and capable employees can help to give your company that extra edge. However, this is a well-recognised fact; the issue is how to actually achieve this desired outcome.

Human resources departments are constantly searching for the top candidates for the positions they need to fill, and in a marketplace where labour mobility is greater than ever, there is a requirement for an almost constant stream of talent into the company hierarchy. Moreover, the task is made more difficult the fact that not only are you searching for top talent, but also the candidates most likely to fit seamlessly into the company culture and practices.

That’s where specialist recruitment agencies come in. While the task of hiring appropriate talent may seem daunting to in-house human resources departments, dedicated recruitment agencies have a wealth of market experience in finding the right candidate for the right job. Using such agencies can relieve a great deal of stress, as you know that the positions within your company are being filled by candidates who have been thoroughly tested to ensure they are the perfect fit. With that in mind, here are just a few of the benefits of hiring your employees through a recruitment agency:

1. Experience in identifying talent

Recruitment agencies are essentially the middle-men between employers and the talent that they are searching for to fill the positions within their company. As such, they have a great deal of experience in identifying the talent that employers are most interested in hiring to their companies. Furthermore, not only are recruitment agencies experienced in finding the most attractive talent; they also know how to spot the candidates who have the potential to cause problems within your company.

Due to their expertise in the recruitment industry, specialist agencies not only know which talent to select, but they also know where to find it. In many cases, the ideal candidate for an open position within your company may be someone who is already employed, and as such may not be actively searching for a job. A recruitment agency can access a wider pool of talent, as ambitious individuals are likely to subscribe to recruitment agencies to be aware of the potential opportunities in the marketplace. This allows your company to access potential talent who may not otherwise be aware that you even have a position available. Recruitment agencies therefore help to increase the quality and quantity of potential talent.

2. Industry expertise

Utilising a recruitment agency allows your company to access the acquired expertise that comes with years of specialisation in the recruitment industry. By learning how to select the right candidates across a wide spectrum of the modern economy, a recruitment agency can help you to actually ascertain which skills would be most appropriate for the position you are trying to occupy. This can be very beneficial for SMEs, who due to their size have in-depth experience in one sector of the market, but a surface level knowledge of the wider economy. Recruitment agencies can, therefore, help to develop recruitment strategies that select candidates who can offer unique insight and experience for your company, ensuring an increase in the diversity of talent within your ranks.

Furthermore, recruitment agencies’ industry expertise ensures that they not only have access to local and national talent, but have the ability to recruit internationally. This obviously increases the depth of talent available to a company, and the increased competition for positions within your company that accompanies a greater quantity of candidates will help you to truly identify who is the best person for the job. Recruitment agencies’ industry expertise helps to select the right strategies for hiring employees, and the ability to tap into previously unavailable labour pools.

3. Efficient use of budget and resources

With so many different costs that can stack up for companies in the modern economy, maintaining a sizeable human resources department with employees dedicated specifically to recruitment can seem like an unnecessary drain on resources. This can lead to companies cutting costs in their recruitment department, but in some sense this is cutting off your nose to spite your face; by focussing less on hiring the right talent, in the long run, your company will suffer from a lesser quality of talent within the ranks.

Recruitment agencies benefit from the economies of scale that come with being a specialist in the market. Allocating your company resources towards utilising a recruitment agency rather than staffing an in-house team can allow the experts to focus on hiring the right talent, with the ability to access much greater resources and expertise in the field. Moreover, this lets you focus on what you do best – making your company the best it can be.

To learn more about how using a specialist recruitment agency to hire your employees can benefit your business, contact us today!

Deciding to take on a new role is a big decision. However, trying to decide what that new job should be is only the first step of a very long process, one that is often costly, time consuming and has no guarantee of finding the right position to suit your talent, skills and interests.

Employers are looking for the top talents, and any internal human resources department faces a difficult time attempting to sift through applications while trying to find the right candidates for the job. Given the large quantities of people who are looking for permanent positions at the moment, the ever-increasing numbers of graduates and the competition between companies all trying to find the top people, it’s not surprising that many businesses dislike the hiring process, which has a negative effect on people trying to find jobs with them.

As such, more and more businesses are choosing to employ recruitment agencies, removing themselves from the difficult parts of the process, and being presented with a pool of talent from which they can make the final decision about who will be best for the job. Recruitment agencies identify and attract talent, can negotiate terms and allow businesses to continue to focus on their actual jobs without being distracted by the recruitment process. Given the constant pressures faced by business in these current economic times, recruitment agencies can relieve significant pressure. Because so many businesses are now using recruitment agencies, it is essential that people looking for jobs follow this trend; our experts have highlighted the top benefits for individuals using a recruitment agency brings:

1. Identifying jobs that match your talents

Recruitment agencies work with both professionals who are looking for positions and employers who are talent searching, so these agencies are best placed to understand and know exactly what all parties are looking for. By acting as an intermediary, recruitment agencies have proven experience in identifying talent based on CVs and conversations with individuals and use these skills to match specific jobs with your skillsets.

In addition, by having experience with many companies operating in your field of expertise, agencies will be able to have a broad understanding about your previous experiences, as well as the specific roles you are trying to get into, allowing them to match you with jobs with greater confidence, knowing exactly what skill sets are required for success.

2. Finding vacancies

Looking for jobs on company websites can take a lot of time. Often these websites are difficult to navigate, and there is no prior indication of whether the company is hiring, meaning you waste a lot of time on fruitless searching.

Recruitment agencies advertise vacancies through a variety of different platforms, including on their website, on the high street and through email communication with their subscribers, allowing far more people to see job adverts; due to recruitment agencies talented and targeted marketing techniques, they will send you jobs that match your needs, including previous experience and geographic location. Furthermore, recruitment companies will reach out and seek firms who have previously had job descriptions that would be suitable for you, in order to see if they have similar positions that need to be filled. Having a large pool of companies they can draw upon, agencies can directly contact people in these organisations they feel will be suited for you, even business who may not have a vacancy currently advertised.

3. Negotiation

Recruitment agencies are also highly skilled at salary negation, choosing to establish remuneration figures before going too far down the recruitment process. Acting as an intermediary party, they are well practiced in assessing the worth of individuals, as well as identifying correct salaries for jobs. They will negotiate on behalf of all parties within the recruitment process, while ensuring that everybody has realistic expectations in mind. Ensuring that both the employee and employer are aware of salary expectations from the outset results in realistic communication going forward, increasing the chances of a mutually beneficial outcome.

4. Initial screening

While a job description may look impressive, you often will not get a good understanding of a job’s roles and responsibilities until you have attended an interview or taken the time to contact the company over the phone. Recruitment agencies will do this for you, saving you time and effort, allowing them to narrow the pool of positions that are suitable for you. By conducting this screening, they can cut through the jargon of job descriptions, establish exactly what a job entails and subsequently assess whether it would be a right fit for you, while eliminating unsuitable positions. In addition, recruitment agencies may also provide background checks on business, looking at their social media presence and anonymous employee reviews on websites such as Glassdoor.com, to ensure that they are the type of business that suits your aspirations and needs. Finally, recruitment agencies can also assist you in interview techniques and how to answer certain questions, as well as recommending some questions for you to ask the employer, allowing you to make a much more informed decision when it comes to choosing your new job.

Want to get noticed for that next job? Who doesn’t? There are so many things you can do to ensure your CV stands out from the crowd and your interview skills are up to scratch, but one aspect many forget to address during the recruitment process is the importance of the digital world, mainly social media.

Choosing the right platform

Most of us will be active on at least one social media platform, whether that’s sharing statuses and videos on Facebook, tweeting about the latest news or sharing snaps of your latest dinner, location or outfit on Instagram. Perhaps the most important social network to consider when job hunting is LinkedIn, the professional social network.

Before we come on to how networks such as LinkedIn can help with job searches, getting noticed and becoming a standout candidate, it’s key to address the dos and don’ts when it comes to using other social platforms whilst job hunting.

Be socially savvy

No one wants to see your university photos from 10+ years ago, where you’re rolling around on the floor and drinking out of a bucket. The audience who especially don’t want to see this is recruiters, so it’s important to make sure you’re socially savvy.

Profiles for personal use, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to some extent should be kept private. Don’t hide everything on your page, then you look like you want to do exactly that; hide things from people, but make sure you’re selective in what you show to users outside of your friendship group.

Make sure your profile and cover images are suitable, and your about sections are up to date with job roles, personal info, etc. You could even include links to any of your professional sites or information on your hobbies. Instagram is mainly used for high-quality imagery anyway, but again, be savvy in knowing what and what not to share, especially on Instagram Stories if you’re an avid user.

Do your research

Social media can also be a very useful tool in conducting valuable company research prior to an application or interview. The best way to apply for a job is through a recruiter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use LinkedIn, or any other social network, to research information on the company, its projects, processes and even staff numbers.

Explore each individual Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages belonging to the company (sometimes brands have more than one, say for customer services purposes on Twitter), and note any stand-out findings down. These can help greatly when attending an interview, as it helps you come across as inquisitive, thorough and interested in the business and its future.

A social CV

When it comes to your own personal profile, this almost acts as a CV. Lots of recruiters will ask for social network links nowadays, including LinkedIn, so it’s a real chance to show off your skillset and help validate it, too. Past and present colleagues can endorse you for particular skills, and the more you’re endorsed for a skill, the better it looks on your virtual CV (and actual CV, too!). When a recruiter sees your CV and LinkedIn profile and pairs them up, seeing validated endorsements on those skills you’ve outlined on paper is a real strong point.

Staying up to date

Make sure you keep your LinkedIn account up to date with jobs, the timings are correct and try and get as many relevant endorsements as you can to help boost your profile. Growing your network is also a huge benefit. Just like Facebook friends, LinkedIn connections are almost endorsements in themselves. You don’t want thousands as it comes across as impersonal, and recruiters will likely question the validity of it, as who realistically knows that number of people through the workplace, or even with the help of networking events.

Make sure you’re regularly creating and sharing content on your page, too. This will not only expand your reach on the platform but showcase your professionalism and knowledge across your industry, too. Make sure you include your own opinion when sharing articles – it adds a personal touch and shows you know what you’re talking about, as opposed to just sharing content in bulk.

LinkedIn groups

LinkedIn groups is another way to get noticed during the recruitment process. Groups are where like-minded users can join to talk about topics of interest and engage in knowledge-sharing in a professional forum. Engaging in conversations within LinkedIn groups can help expand your job search, and looks good to recruiters too, especially if you include within your CV itself. Groups can be set up by brands or individuals, so it’s also a great way to connect with brands and influential audiences.

For more on how to get noticed during the recruitment process, get in touch with us.

The Equality Act, which became law in October 2010, states that it is unlawful to discriminate against people at work because of nine key areas: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. The aim of this act is to improve equal job opportunities and promote fairness in the workplace.

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Colourful patterns and imagery on CVs may be visually exciting but often they can be tossed aside by employers/recruiters because they are too difficult to read or not what they are looking for. Remember, recruiters are busy people and if your CV is too fussy, they might not even look at it at all.

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Just because we’re a month into a new year doesn’t mean it’s too late to reflect on what we’ve learnt in 2017. As we head further into 2018, we take a look back at some of last year’s recruitment trends and what we should be looking out for in the next 12 months.

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Looking for a new job or recruiting the right staff to join your company can be a little tricky sometimes, which is why so many people choose recruitment companies to take the pressure off doing all the work themselves.

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Just imagine getting to the final stage of the recruitment process and you have not one but two fantastic candidates who would be perfect for the job. On the one hand this is great because you have been lucky enough to find two people who would fit the bill, but on the other hand, this can make your decision even harder.

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Work benefits and perks come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the most common can be anything from a pension scheme to a company car, and while these perks may seem cushy, you might want to look a little further than offering traditional benefits if you want to attract today’s generation… the millennials.

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Recruiters receive hundreds of CVs everyday from job applicants hoping to get noticed. But with so many to look at, it comes as no surprise that recruiters will only spend a few minutes scanning your CV.

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Getting a job in healthcare when you have little to no experience might seem like an impossible task. Perhaps you feel like breaking into the industry is like trying to find a needle in a haystack or that many employers are only interested in candidates who already have a substantial amount of knowledge – especially for more senior roles.

However, contrary to popular belief, there are ways to work your way up in your chosen career with little experience by following a few simple tips.

Things to consider when looking for healthcare jobs

• Stay on top of industry news

Keeping up-to-date with the latest news and trends can work wonders if you are trying to break into the industry. There are some fascinating sources such as online magazines and forums that can tell you who is hiring and when – some of which focus on specialised areas which you may find particularly useful.

• Try your hand at networking

Once you have done your research and figured out what area of the healthcare industry you want to work in, you should then start to connect with as many people in the profession as possible.

By combining online networking with face-to-face networking you are creating a memorable identity for yourself. Do some voluntary work or join a healthcare association and you will gain invaluable experience that will get you noticed by the right people.

• Assess your transferable skills

If you’re hoping to get into the healthcare profession and you have come from another industry, work out which skills – mainly transferable skills – you can bring with you. Things like IT skills, human resources and secretarial experience are all useful qualities that you can prove to employers once you have got your foot through the door.

• Find a mentor

Every job role requires an opportunity to learn. That’s why it’s a good idea to find a mentor who can guide you with their industry insights – especially if you are in an entry level job. By demonstrating your passion and your willingness to learn and to grow in your working life, your mentor should be able to point you in the right direction when it comes to boosting your networking and job search efforts.

Find a job in healthcare that’s right for you

1. Healthcare Assistant

Healthcare Assistants or HCAs are generally required to support doctors and nurses. They can usually be found in hospitals and doctors surgeries and play a vital role in caring for patients’ needs. Previous experience is useful but not entirely necessary making it a great job role for beginners.

You can also opt for an apprenticeship scheme or work towards a certificate such as a Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support Services which would give you the opportunity to branch out into other areas of the healthcare profession in the future.

2. Dental Support Worker

Another role certainly worth looking into is a Dental Support Worker. This is a hands on role with no set entry requirements. Employers tend to favour a strong worth ethic and a positive attitude over employment history when it comes to recruiting for this position.

In a job like this you will usually receive a high level of on-the-job training as well as being encouraged to seek further knowledge in your spare time to help build your credentials. While on the job you will typically be found sterilising instruments, mixing fillings and assisting with X-Rays.

3. Care worker

It’s useful to know that not every healthcare job consists of working in a hospital or surgery. In fact, there are opportunities in the social care sector that need a range of different skills.

A lot of carer jobs are very similar to Healthcare Assistants but primarily operate within a client’s home depending on what kind of care and treatment they need. It can be quite a competitive job role but voluntary work or personal experience can generally be enough for you to get your foot on the ladder.

4. Pharmacy Technician

If you’re hoping for an entry level pharmaceutical role to boost your chances of working in the healthcare industry, becoming a Pharmacy Technician could be the ideal role for you. This is a great way to find a mentor like we mentioned in our previous section, as you will be working under the supervision of a registered Pharmacist.

Aside from collecting prescriptions and selling over-the-counter medicine, a Pharmacy Technician will be able to shadow a Pharmacist and offer basic advice to customers on which products would be most suited to their circumstances. Plus, trainee positions and apprenticeships are available to over 16s and anyone who is no longer in full-time education so you can work towards an NVQ in Pharmaceutical Science.

5. Medical Secretary

If a non-clinical job role is more appealing to you than a practical alternative, perhaps becoming a Medical Secretary is the right option for you.

Medical Secretaries are an integral part of the healthcare industry, organising and scheduling appointments and dealing with day-to-day admin to help doctors and nurses carry out their role in the most effective way possible.

Of course previous admin experience would put you at an advantage but experience in specific sectors is not hugely important. The main things you will need to obtain are excellent organisational skills, a thirst for knowledge and the ability to use your initiative.

When it comes to searching for jobs in the healthcare industry, it’s crucial you are positive with your applications and don’t give up. It’s important to take regular breaks so you don’t overdo it, but have an open mind and be realistic with your search.
For more information on healthcare jobs or a range of other industries, visit Time Recruitment and speak to one of our helpful advisors.