We are delighted to announce we are NORA finalists in the Best Small Recruitment Agency category for 2022. The email we received from NORA came as a complete shock and we are truly grateful to everyone who nominated us. Exciting times! National Online Recruitment Academy #Nora2022 #Norafinalist
From James Bond to house sales everything seems to be either delayed or taking far longer than it normally does or should.
Whilst keeping safe and protecting everyone is the most important thing it has also really made us all at KHR Recruitment Specialists focus on our processes and delivery. Evolving quickly to support our clients’ new needs and Covid processes and has helped us to review, adapt, and change too. The net result and gain to you are that we are now speedier than ever in finding the people you need.
Don’t put up with delays. Whether it is temp support or a permanent hire we can provide you with the right staff you need quickly, safely, and compliantly, saving you time, money, and a lot of hassle.
Approach and prepare like a normal interview
Do your research on the company, people, role, competitors – use all tools available? incl. company website and LinkedIn page
Prepare yourself as per interview format, i.e. if competency-based think of examples you would like to discuss
Dress appropriately – business attire? Smart casual?
Be as ready as you can with technology ensuring things like the camera is working fine, volume at the right level, WiFi fully connected, etc.
Be in a quiet environment – switch off/mute any distractions that may be near you
Build a good relationship with the interviewer/s from the start and ‘break the ice’ – a big smile is always good to start
Be yourself, let your personality come through, do not be an interview robot, just because the interview is virtual, you are not!!!
Speak clearly, concisely, and communicate effectively including listening very carefully, do not be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat the question if you did not hear initially
Personalise your answers, don’t be too cliche’ or off-script
Show interest and understanding – nodding and smiling will help
Ask relevant questions – have questions ready with you, write them down, and be ready
Always wrap the interview up positively and always emphasise how much you want the opportunity
Ask if ok to be in contact afterward if you think of anything else
Thank them for the opportunity and next stages/ when you should expect to hear back
Make sure you disconnect the video connection properly
Been made redundant, seeking a new challenge, on the job market?
In these unprecedented times, they are many questions being asked about finding a job in the current market and many concerns about the market itself.
Utilise our top tips in these current times:
Update your CV as much as possible including if you have been volunteering/temping etc.
There are jobs out there so do not ‘panic apply’ for anything and everything
Keep your applications relevant
Apply for jobs you can do not just what you want to do
Take temp opportunities, they could provide you with a ‘foot in the door opportunity’
This could be an opportunity to demonstrate your skills and work ethos directly to an employer, which can often lead to a permanent offer
You could also be one of the first to know if a vacancy arises in the company you are temping with – internal vacancies are usually well advertised and visible for current staff to apply to
Apply to companies directly through their websites – you may see other opportunities, not on job boards
Apply generically to companies you would like to work for but do your research prior to sending your CV.
Write a strong covering letter to support your application
Follow up on applications where possible
Be flexible in regards to processes i.e. video interviewing
Persevere!!! Do not give up, there are opportunities potentially just around the corner for you!!
If you would like further help and support in finding a job in the current market then please do get in contact and we will help and advise where possible.
Good luck with your applications!!!!
KHR Recruitment Specialists, Business Development Manager – Jane Langley talking about an increase in the over 50’s unemployment rate during the pandemic.
Have you read our blog on Online interview tips and how to prepare yet? If not here it is
Online interviews tips – how to prepare
Approach and prepare like a normal interview
Do your research on the company, people, role, competitors – use all tools available? incl. company website and LinkedIn page
Prepare yourself as per interview format, i.e. if competency-based think of examples you would like to discuss
Dress appropriately – business attire? Smart casual?Be as ready as you can with technology ensuring things like the camera is working fine, volume at the right level, WiFi fully connected, etc.
Be in a quiet environment – switch off/mute any distractions that may be near youBuild a good relationship with the interviewer/s from the start and ‘break the ice’ – a big smile is always good to start
Be yourself, let your personality come through, do not be an interview robot, just because the interview is virtual, you are not!!!
Speak clearly, concisely, and communicate effectively including listening very carefully, do not be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat the question if you did not hear initially
Personalise your answers, don’t be too cliche’ or off-script
Show interest and understanding – nodding and smiling will help
Ask relevant questions – have questions ready with you, write them down, and be ready
Always wrap the interview up positively and always emphasise how much you want the opportunity
Ask if ok to be in contact afterward if you think of anything else
Thank them for the opportunity and next stages/ when you should expect to hear back
Make sure you disconnect the video connection properly
So, you are keen to apply for a new job but don’t know where to start? We have outlined below some tips to help you along the way. We all have our own reasons as to why we are looking to move on to a new position, or even apply for our first ever job after school, college or university but, where do you look for a new job?
In order to apply for a job, you need to find it first and believe it or not, jobs are readily available all over the place.
A great starting point is to get your CV uploaded to the relevant job boards. With over 100 UK based job boards this could seem like a very time-consuming task, so search around for perhaps the top 10 that suit your industry/skill set. Not only can you search and filter jobs to suit you here, but recruiters and employers can also find your CV here and can contact you.
Recruitment agencies are here for a reason, it is our job to help you find your job so pick up the phone and speak to us, we would love to hear from you and will guide you through the process. Recruitment agencies are around to offer advice, secure interviews on your behalf, prepare you for interviews, help you with your CV, help to calm your nerves and of course the most important part – to find you a new job!
It is completely free to approach a recruitment agency as a candidate so you really do have nothing to lose. Recruiters win new business on a daily basis so they are a great source for helping you find your next position and can teach you how to have the ‘edge’ over the other candidates. They bring the jobs to you, this will save you from hours of trawling the internet each day (who has time for that?)
The UK has 25 million active Linked In users, it is just like having a digital CV for everyone to see, recruiters and employers can find you here if you make it apparent that you are open to new opportunities. This is also free so get networking!
Social Media is another great way to have yourself seen and to see what companies are up to, after all, you will be interviewing them as much as they will you. You need to know if their culture and environment are for you and what better way than to have a sneak peek at what they do socially, see how they work and gain a better understanding of who they are. 73% of UK based companies including recruiters used social media successfully to hire a candidate for their business. There is a catch – 70% of employers also said they have in the past turned down candidates after seeing something negative online relating to a candidate – so if you are being sneaky – chances are that they are too. Ensure that your social profiles are respectable and not offensive, this will have a big impact on your future.
Please browse our current jobs and get in touch should you wish to discuss further.
1. You’re Apathetic and Don’t Mind Scraping By
With every day, you’re less in touch with the work you do and the reasons you came into the industry. You physically make it to the office, but that’s as much effort as you can put in. Tasks are not getting completed and you know you could be doing a lot better. Now, you don’t even pretend to be enthusiastic about the work, projects, or the company’s bigger picture.
What happened? You know the quality of work you can do is so much higher than what you’re doing. If you can’t remember the last time you felt passion for your work, it is probably time to look for a new position.
2. You’re not making a difference
Every day, your job is the same. Each week is so identical, you can do it all with your eyes closed. Because of the ease with which you go through the days, you feel like both your talent and time is being wasted. There’s a lot more you can give but that potential isn’t being met, do you feel undervalued?
As time has passed you’ve become more demoralised, you’ve stopped looking for opportunities or ways to contribute and make a difference. If this is the case, you should find a new job where your skillset will directly help the company. Your career should improve the way you feel about
yourself, not make you feel worse.
3. The thought of going to work makes you feel down
We all have those days when we need longer than we have in bed. Those days where you have to really push yourself to get up and go to the office. Perhaps you’re working on a project that is really stressful, you’re not excited by the tasks you have, or there’s a meeting with a colleague
that’s making you nervous. Everyone has this from time to time, but you shouldn’t have it every day. You watch the week tick by until Friday and you leave for the weekend, but you’re already dreading having to go back on Monday. If your work makes you feel this way, it’s time to move
on.
4. It’s not all about money
While getting paid enough to live is extremely important, some people stay in a job that is not healthy for them because the pay is good. Depending on where you are in life, you might have been able to justify sticking at the work for the paycheck in the past. But now, the salary isn’t enough to motivate you. You understand and appreciate the regular paychecks, but you see a hollowness to the work that you can’t hide from anymore. This is an obvious sign that you need to change up your work.
5. You take more than just work home with you
At points, you should be challenged by your work, this should not be crippling though. If you’re constantly exhausted, never have enough sleep, get headaches or have other physical symptoms, you’re body could be telling you to take a break. Permanent stress has a negative impact on your health but also impacts your life outside of work. Have people been telling you you’re irritable or moaning much more than in the past? If your job makes you a negative person, you need to consider taking action to bring positivity back into your life outside of the office.
6. You dream about different careers
Do you constantly imagine yourself earning a living differently to how you do now? You spend time thinking about all the different ways you’d like to earn money. You hear friends’ career choices and sometimes get jealous over the path they have taken. When people ask you what you do, you try to move the subject on as quickly as possible. If this is the case, pick up on what career you most daydream about, find out how to enter it, and make that jump.
This article was written by Jack Morris of https://www.checkasalary.co.uk
The job market is a highly competitive environment so we asked our team of experienced consultants to compile a list of their top CV writing tips they believe will help your CV stand out from the crowd.
Be clear and concise
Choose a font that is easy to read (nothing too fancy) Arial, Calibri or Verdana are good choices
Format the CV properly (most recent position at the top with dates in chronological order)
Try to keep it minimalistic but with enough detail to explain your skills and strengths – aim for no more than 2 pages
Technical jargon is good to use but always think about the role you are applying for and your audience
Keep sentences concise and to the point
Keep it up to date
Ensure personal contact information is current and up to date
Education & Qualifications should be up to date and true (you may be asked for certificates or proof that these were obtained)
Always include employment history changes including your most recent position
Ensure that you include:
Personal & Contact Information
Skills summary
Employment History – including your achievements
Education & Qualifications – including your achievements
Personal Interests & Hobbies – We like to get to know the person!
Customise your CV to the role
Refer to the job description/job advert to match the relevant achievements with the requirements for the position
Use technical jargon used in the job description (if relevant to your skill set)
Optimise your CV to include keywords specific to the role you are applying to (this is useful when recruiters are searching for these skills on job boards)
Proof read & amend
(Use Spell check). Get someone else to proofread as well. Any recruiter or employer will look carefully for any errors. Ideally, get someone else to review your CV for you prior to applying for roles with recruiters or employers.
Tell the truth
Do not attempt to lie on your CV. Background/reference checks can uncover issues and it could jeopardise any new position if you are not truthful from the start. This may also impact your future employability. Honesty is always the best policy.
Do not leave unexplained gaps
Do not leave gaps without explanation, they will make any recruiter or employer suspicious. Include what you did in these gaps – for example, did you do voluntary work or go travelling?
Highlight hobbies or interests
Hobbies or interests help you express your personality, can help differentiate you as an individual, help determine team fit amongst other applicants and can also form part of the discussion during an interview.
References
Your references should include at least two people that you know from a professional environment and at least one of these should be someone that you reported to (if applicable) as they will know about your skills and experience.
Personal Information
Is your email address appropriate for your CV? It should be kept professional, for example: recruit@khr.co.uk
Once you have completed your new CV, why not take a look at our website and social media channels to see what positions KHR Recruitment Specialists can offer you.
Website: www.khr.co.uk
Facebook: KHR Recruitment Specialists
Instagram: khrrecruitmentspecialists
Twitter: @kentjobclub
Linked In: KHR-Recruitment Specialists
15 of the 20 strong KHR team were able to get together on Friday to give Senior Lead Consultant, Nicola her surprise maternity leave send-off. Jane and her team travelled over from Tunbridge Wells whilst Sonia and her team travelled over from Leybourne. As Nicola came out of her meeting, everyone was there armed with gifts!
