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Do you have what it takes to work in PR?

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Whether you’re considering a career in PR or are currently working in this field, there are certain skills you need in order to succeed. So what are these, and do you possess them? Our resident PR expert – Kelly Hopkins – recently contributed to a piece on this very subject and we thought we would share her views with our readers.  You can view the full article on PRmoment.com, but here are Kelly’s top tips:

1. Relevant skills, experience and contacts: Hiring organisations, whether that be agency or in-house, are looking for professionals who have worked on similar brands and who have something tangible to offer the business. This could be in the form of contacts and in-depth knowledge about a particular industry to add further credibility to the team and more consultative and advisory value to clients or the board. Recruitment budgets are tight and clients are taking less risk and want to hire as close to briefs as possible.

2. Integrated skills: An interesting trend is the on-going shift in the sector towards the full-service agency – those that can offer integrated marketing/PR/digital/design for instance. This is calling for a broader range of roles than has historically been the case – marketing managers for PR agencies for example. What this means is that roles and skill sets are becoming much more defined and employers are creating job specs with tight criteria.

3. Social media skills: Around 90 per cent of the briefs we receive have some element of social media and online PR so it’s a must have skill whatever your level. You don’t have to be an expert, but being able to walk into an interview and say that you have built online relationships with bloggers or other on-line influencers within your specific industry sector is bound to add weight to your application.

4. Evaluation skills: ROI is at the top of everyone’s agenda. Consequently analytics and evaluation skills are in demand. Although hitting coverage targets is still essential, we’re finding that an increasing number of clients want to see what impact this coverage has and explore whether alternative approaches could result in more success.

5. Techies: There is exceptional high demand for tech PROs for both B2B and consumer accounts and with the number of new tech companies moving into the new “Silicon Roundabout” area we can only see this increasing.

6. International campaign experience: More organisations are looking for new revenue streams beyond their traditional domestic borders and so need PROs who can see the bigger global picture.

7. Senior digital expertise: We are also seeing increased demand for senior digital specialists at director level who can pull all the strands of digital strategy together from winning and developing new business to keeping abreast of developments in terms of new and evolving digital platforms.

Whilst there is no denying that the PR market for job seekers is a competitive space, those candidates with the relevant skills and experience are being snapped up quickly. Ensure you are continuously adding to your skill set and keeping up with new developments in order to give yourself the best chance of success. Good luck!

 

 

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New Year, New Job?

Monday, January 9th, 2012

Happy New Year to all our readers.  We hope you had a nice and relaxing festive break – we certainly did!

As 2012 starts, plenty of professionals start to think about a new job. And if you’re one of these people, you’ll be pleased to know that despite gloomy forecasts about the economy and the employment market, there are plenty of opportunities out there. We’ve been inundated with new roles in the past week, and we’re looking for talented candidates to fill them! (more…)

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What information would a prospective employer find about you on social media?

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Whilst browsing Twitter recently, we came across a great infographic detailing how recruiters are using social media in their candidate search. The illustration, courtesy of Reppler, can be found here.  But for those who want a short summary, the survey of more than 300 hiring professionals found that:

  1. 91% of respondents claim to screen candidates via social media.
  2. Facebook comes out on top with 76% of those surveyed citing this as the main source to look up job seekers.
  3. 47% look at social media profiles as soon as they receive an application.
  4. 69% admitted to rejecting an individual based on what they found on a social media profile.
  5. 68% claimed that details of a candidate sourced on the web resulted in a candidate being hired. (more…)

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Posted in Job search, Recruitment, Social Media | 4 Comments »

The top five job seeking tips – from songs

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Last week we rummaged through our movie collection and came up with five interview tips from films. Here at Handle Recruitment we also work with some major music labels – and music is a great teacher. So we thought we’d share some songs with some valuable job hunting lessons. Enjoy!

  1. Have confidence – We are the Champions by Queen

    Job hunting can be an emotionally draining process. And it can be easy to lose your motivation, particularly after a few rejections. However, confidence is the key to impressing prospective employers. If you face an interview feeling defeated, failure will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Approach an interview feeling like you deserve the job, in other words, that you’re a champion, and your confidence will shine through.

  2. Know your limits – I’d do Anything for Love (but I won’t do that) by Meatloaf

    It’s easy to fall into the trap, especially when you’ve been on the market for a while, of taking anything you’re offered. But it’s important not to jump at the first opportunity you get as a short-term solution. Remember that you’ll have to do this job for the foreseeable future. Are you really happy to take on the role? Are you comfortable with the responsibilities, hours or culture? It’s better to wait for something you’re really suited to than have to look again in a few months.

  3. If at first you don’t succeed, try again – Life Goes On by The Beatles

    It’s a competitive market, particularly within the fashion, film and music industries. So despite being qualified for and really enthusiastic about a role, you might just be up against someone with that bit more experience than you. It can be crushing when you don’t get the job you want, but if you pick yourself up and dust yourself off, the next opportunity could be right around the corner.

  4. Everyone has to start somewhere – Loser Like Me by the Glee cast

    Not being where you want to be in your career can be incredibly frustrating. But it takes time to climb that ladder. So even if you’re not exactly at the level you’d like to be, keep that determination alive. As the Glee cast puts it: “Everyone you wanna be probably started off like me.”

  5. Don’t underestimate yourself – Reach by S Club 7

    So many candidates bypass roles they could be perfect for because they don’t fit 100% of the criteria. While it goes without saying that you shouldn’t punch too far above your weight, remember that a job spec is partly a wish list. If there are elements of a role that you aren’t 100% versed in, but think you could be, why not go for it? Even if you don’t get that specific job, there may be other opportunities within the company that you’re ideal for. So aim high and achieve top results! 

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Posted in Job search, Job searching, media, Popular culture | No Comments »

The top five interview tips you can learn from the movies

Monday, September 5th, 2011

With a track record of recruiting for some of the biggest film studios in the world, we love a good movie – and we also believe that all great films have something to teach us. So we started thinking about our favourite movie interview moments – and what our candidates can learn from them. In no particular order, here are our top five. Enjoy!

  • Be passionate – Office Space 

    When a hypnotised Peter Gibbons stops caring about his job, it’s catastrophic timing for an internal interview- especially when his new-found lack of concern causes him to be a little bit too honest. To watch the scene, click here. Although airing his grievances about his lack of enthusiasm for the job worked for Peter Gibbons, I doubt this would yield positive results in real life. While in Office Space, this little rant earned Peter a promotion, real-life bosses expect you to have a genuine passion for what you do – and to show it, whether you’re up for a promotion or just starting out. (more…)

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Hire me websites – the new fashion?

Monday, August 8th, 2011

Fashion is a notoriously hard industry to break into. Even the most qualified and enthusiastic candidates can have difficulty getting their foot in the door. Lately, however, we’ve seen a new trend emerging among Britain’s new generation of fashion industry job seekers.

Meet Celine Cavaillero. She’s one of the many would-be fashion professionals going the extra mile in order to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Rather than churning out covering letters and sending off traditional CVs, we’re seeing a large number of creative job applications, just like Celine’s, that are changing the way people apply for roles.

It’s not just the fashion industry that’s seen candidates make creative use of online resources. The rate at which video and web technology is developing has given creative individuals a whole new world of ways in which to showcase their talent. Marketing candidates, would-be video editors and producers have found success through “hire me” websites or videos. Gareth Cash, a graduate from St. Albans recently created a viral storm with his “hire me” YouTube video – and even received an equally creative reply from Channel 4. (more…)

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Posted in Fashion, Job search | 1 Comment »

Using social media to find your dream job!

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

Originally posted on SimplyHired

Recruiters and organisations are increasingly using social media to find candidates who are different and stand out from their peers.  Forget the traditional job board approach; they are now using the likes of Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and blogs to connect with talent.  With a multitude of platforms at your disposal, how do you ensure you are using the correct ones, and getting in front of the right people?

  1. First and foremost, remember that any social media profile you have can be found through a simple Google search. It is becoming more frequent for potential employers to look up a candidate prior to interview. Don’t forget though that employers are human too, and more often than not they are simply curious about who they are meeting and what you do. However, ask yourself if you would be happy with what they might find. You wouldn’t want a comment made by a friend, or a picture of you from years ago spoiling you chances. Be careful about what is in the public domain, and if you are using Facebook ensure your privacy settings are tight.
  2. If you are using Twitter, make sure you spend some time building up your followers. If you are interested in working in the music industry for example, make sure you are following experts in this field, and start commenting on what they are discussing. This will not only encourage people to follow you back, but it will also help portray yourself as knowledgeable in your sector. If a potential employer looks at your Twitter profile, you will be seen in a good light if they can see clear examples of your interest in their industry. (more…)

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Have you been Googled?

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Why do employers look you up online?

Despite it becoming a common practice to ‘Google’ a candidate prior to an interview, we still see plenty written in the press about people getting sacked or not offered a job because of their actions on social media platforms. So why do businesses really Google you, and are they simply trying to catch you out?
Here are our top five reasons why you might be Googled:
• Interviewees are human, and like you, they are curious beings. More often than not, they will simply want to know who they will be meeting.
• A business will want to see examples of activities you are involved with outside of work that demonstrate teamwork, so they may Google you to see what comes up. It may have been years ago but if you did some volunteer work, or took part in a sporting event it may appear in a search.
• With the boom in social media, employers may search the web to see if you are using blogs, or Twitter to discuss trends within the industry. A simple web search will bring up a blog or tweet you have written, or commented on.
• LinkedIn – one of the first things a recruiter or business will do is look you up on LinkedIn. Whilst they many have your CV, LinkedIn can provide further information about your expertise, but also what groups you belong to.
• Some employers may well look you up on Facebook to see what your profile is like, and to make sure you aren’t posting inappropriate content
So you know you might be Googled before your next interview – don’t panic but take note of our tips to ensure you shine:
• Google yourself and see what you find. You don’t want an interviewer to mention something that they have found online to find you have no idea what they are talking about.
• Ensure your privacy settings on Facebook are tight. This won’t indicate you are hiding something; plenty of people only share their Facebook profile with friends. After all you wouldn’t want a picture of you from a few years ago, or an inappropriate comment from a friend to ruin your job prospects!
• It may sound simple, but ensure that all content on your LinkedIn profile, is accurate but also error-free.
So before that next interview, look yourself up online to make sure you know what may be found. And follow our tips to make sure potential employers only see what you want them to, but also that what they do find is accurate.

Posted in Interview tips, Job search, Job searching, Social Media | No Comments »

Resolving to stand out

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

 

So it’s the New Year and after some time to reflect at Christmas, you’ve decided that you want a new job, and are launching yourself into the market with passion and determination?  But don’t forget lots of other people will be doing the same thing. So how are you going to stand out from your competition?

A bit of pre-planning is what you need. So for now, put that CV upload on hold and concentrate on the basics before you get going…

Detective work

You need to know as much as possible about your industry.  As well as being able to do the job itself you will be expected to have a good knowledge of your sector.  Use social media to listen and engage in what is being said (see our previous post for tips).  This will allow you to learn as much as you can about current themes and also potential employers.   Why not subscribe to blogs that are relevant/opinion based and keep abreast of current developments within the field. This will show you as a well-rounded professional. (more…)

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