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Archive for the ‘Recruitment’ Category

How do I get into fashion PR?

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

This week, Guardian Careers ran a live Q&A session for all those job seekers looking for expert advice on breaking into fashion PR. And Kelly Hopkins from our PR Division took part to offer her words of wisdom.

To see the full Q&A visit the Guardian site here. But in the meantime, here are our top tips:

  1. There’s a common misconception that in order to break into this industry you must take part in unpaid internships. This simple isn’t true – there are plenty of reputable companies that offer paid internships. Do your research, and when applying make sure you tailor each application to the particular company. The fashion industry is extremely competitive – you must make your application stand out from the crowd.
  2. Start building up contacts within the industry through networking events and conferences. The individuals you meet and connect with, may very well be able to offer good advice, or perhaps know of organisations looking to take on new staff.  And it’s not uncommon to find a position by regularly attending such events.
  3. Another common question we get asked is whether a PR degree is a ‘must have’.  If you have gained a PR degree and have some work experience then that’s obviously great but other degrees are viewed upon favourably too – the important thing is showing that you have had the nouse to gain some solid relevant experience.
  4. Get social! Twitter, Facebook and blogs are a must have for those interested in breaking into fashion PR.  Organisations everywhere are turning to social media to source information, share news, and even look for employees. So if you are not using them, you may very well being missing out. And blogs are a great platform to demonstrate your knowledge of designers, media, and of course your writing skills! They can easily be set up, and make you stand out.
  5. Speak to a specialist recruitment consultancy who can offer you advice on the best approach. They will also be able to provide you with assistance on creating stand out CVs, covering letters and interview advice.
  6. Last but by no mean least – never give up! The economy might still be facing uncertainty, and competition for jobs is fierce, however perseverance does pay off.

Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way. And get in touch below with your experiences – we’d love to hear them.

Handling the Legal Issues – LinkedIn or Frozen Out?

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

You may have read recent news stories about the case of an executive allegedly forced out of his position because he had ticked the career opportunities box on LinkedIn.  The employee, now without a job, is believed to be the first person in the UK to bring a case for constructive dismissal regarding LinkedIn.

It will be interesting to see the outcome of the case in due course. However, the story turned our thoughts to social media policies, and how they are implemented. Employees across the country, and particularly within the recruitment sector, are increasingly using social media as an integral part of their jobs – to source both clients and candidates. So employers now face the challenge of protecting their business while at the same time ensuring they make the most of the opportunities social media has to offer.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Was the employer in question right to discipline the employee, and do you have a social media policy in place at your organisation – or perhaps you are now considering one? Let us know by commenting below.

 

 

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…)

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…)

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…)

Be social and use the web to find a new job

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Recruiters are increasingly using the internet to find candidates who are different and stand out from their peers.  Forget the traditional job board approach; they are now using a range of social media platforms to find candidates. So in a candidate market which is becoming saturated how do you ensure that your ‘brand’ stands out and gets noticed?

Here are some of the ways you can do this…

Twitter

See our previous post about Twitter and how to get started. Other than that, make sure you have built up a relevant network of recruiters/hiring manager/companies that you want to work with/for and begin some interaction with them. By following them you will also gain an insight into the culture of company, the way they work and what they are looking for in an employee. (more…)

Chemistry and attraction – can the rules of dating help you with your job search?

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

 

Internet dating is becoming big business these days and although some singles may scoff at the thought of it, it’s worth bearing in mind – not least to help in your job searching! 
Some of the common dating tips can just as easily be adapted and are relevant when you are looking for a job or attending an interview.

Have a read of our multi-purpose tips and see what you think:

Job searching

+ Be prepared – take it seriously – research, think about who you are looking for and what you want in a partner:
Which employers appeal to you and why?  Use the internet to help you hone your research and explore company culture – all really important when looking for a new job.

+ Be realistic in when you expect things to happen:
Give yourself time to write the perfect CV, sign on with an agency and set up your account/profile on any job boards.

+Surround yourself with people who support you and boost your confidence:
Ask peers/colleagues what your strengths are if you’re finding it hard to come up with your personal profile or achievements. 

+ Be realistic about what you are aiming to ‘hook’:
It’s unlikely you’ll go from a £23,000 role to a £45,000 in one leap. Consider the next step up the ladder and what you’re likely to be able to command salary-wise.  Factor in the skills and experience you have and compare it to a range of job ads on job boards, for example.

+ If you email someone, or meet them and it doesn’t go according to plan, don’t take it personally:
We’re not all suitable for every job we apply for or interview for.  The trick is to try to get constructive feedback that can help you for your next application or interview.

+ Join clubs, societies where you can hope to meet potential partners:
Sign up with a reputable recruitment agency within your field, use job boards and social media such as LinkedIn and Twitter to network and promote your areas of specialism.

+ If you’re not having success take some time out – recharge the batteries:
Some periods just aren’t great for job searching so don’t get down. Take some to reassess your needs and have a look at updating your CV.

Interview tips

+ Be yourself and don’t lie about your age, looks, situation:
Once at interview if you’ve lied about qualifications or experience this is likely to get found out, especially if they use competency-based interviewing.

+ Look your best – join a gym, get a haircut, buy a nice outfit, sort out your image:
First impressions count and presenting a professional, appropriate you to a potential employer is really important.  Try to do some homework on company culture to turn up looking right at the interview.

+ Don’t dredge up past relationships, especially if they ended up badly:
Negative talk about current or past employers is a no-no. Instead talk about looking for a new challenge/opportunity for promotion/working closer to home.

+ Don’t overshare – some information can send people running for the hills:
Nerves make it easy to just start and not stop talking. Slow down (take a pause), consider the question and what you are being asked.  Keep your answers relevant and if you don’t understand the question – ask for clarification.

+ Never make yourself too available or settle for second best
You know your own worth.  Don’t take the first job in an attempt to leave a current situation.  Hold out for the best opportunity, salary, challenging work – whatever is your goal for a new job.  Be realistic about the salary and if your current employer comes back with a counter-offer – think about why you are choosing to leave in the first place.

So there you have it, our top tips to job searching and interviews.  Give it a go in your job search and at your next interview.  Good luck, and why not let us know how you got on by posting a comment below!

Fancy having your boss over for dinner?

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

We’ve all had job interviews, some good, and some bad.  But what happens when you have to have your interview at home having cooked a meal for your potential new boss? Well this is the latest Reality program to hit our screens courtesy of Channel Five. The Boss is Coming to Dinner features candidates battling it out amongst each other  in various different tasks,  the first of which is an interview over dinner.

I’ve  only watched it a few times but found myself reading an article in The Times recently on this very program and it got me thinking about different recruitment techniques.  As a recruiter I have seen many different types of processes used by clients, and as the author of the article points out some you see are very odd!  B &Q once required candidates to do a dance to ‘Blame it on the Boogie’  by the Jackson 5– maybe this was some sort of exercise to loosen candidates up and make them feel at ease? Who knows?  What is clear is that there are some pretty eccentric techniques being used and this new series is no exception!

So is the programme aimed at finding  great fits for the employers it features, or is it simply a bit of PR for the company, a spot in the limelight for the candidate –  and entertainment for the audience? The proof of the pudding as they say will be in the eating ( no pun intended!)

What interesting recruitment techniques have you heard of?

Is your job spec fit for purpose?

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Obviously effective recruitment and talent attraction has to start way before the interview stage. You can’t really evaluate a candidate’s suitability and capabilities if you have not thought through and clearly identified the objectives of the role.

Job specs are almost always based on duties, responsibilities and experience requirements but they they can be much more effective selling tools when they also define expected performance and set objectives – this gives a perception of challenge and tells the candidate what is expected of them in order for them to be successful in the role. Here are our top tips of what should be included:

• Major objectives

• Changes and improvements needed

• Problems to solve

• Technical challenges

• Management and recruitment of staff (more…)

Recruiting with the light on

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Despite various economic pundits warning of a double dip, we are finding a slow but steady return to the ‘war for talent’ in all or specialist areas. What’s interesting though is that many employers seem to have forgotten that they are selling as well as buying. Despite the proliferation of press coverage about employer branding and how important it is, many employers expect consultancies to recruit in the dark!

For the best chance of success, it’s important for them to have as much information as possible so that they can really sell the benefits of working for your organisation. So spell out the attractiveness of your company in key areas such as: success factors and achievements of the company; future growth prospects; career development paths, promotion opportunities and training; social events, teambuilding and investment in people. (more…)