Posts Tagged ‘candidates’
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Tags: candidates, Facebook, Fashion, Guardian, Guardian Careers, PR, Social Media, Twitter
Posted in Fashion, Recruitment, Social Media | No Comments »
Friday, January 20th, 2012
If you’re anything like us, you have become accustomed to the doom and gloom that appear to be the basis of many headlines each day. We thought, therefore, that we should spread some positive news on the blog this week!
Despite the overall economic environment, we have seen our net fee income increase by 36%, and also welcomed several new faces to the Handle family – taking our headcount to 42. These are great results for us which are testament to the excellent team we have, and the strength of the client relationships in place. Additionally, as our client base continues to look beyond domestic borders for its revenue growth, we have also been instrumental in executing a number of international recruitment assignments which we will continue to build on this year.
So despite there still being a great deal of uncertainty over the economy, hiring within the media and entertainment sector continues to buck the trend. This is great news for our clients who have been inundating us with vacancies over the past few weeks, and for all those job seekers looking for their next position!
So if you’re a business looking for assistance with vacancies get in touch on 020 7569 9999. And if you’re looking for your next exciting role, visit our site for the latest jobs.
Tags: candidates, cli, client service, Handle, Handle Recruitment
Posted in Handle Recruitment | No Comments »
Monday, November 7th, 2011
Here at Handle, we have been successfully using Twitter and our blog to promote opportunities and build our own brand awareness. We’ve had a fantastic reaction to both and have seen great results – even if we do say so ourselves!
But as an organisation we never stand still and are pleased to say that we have taken our next step in the social media world by launching our very own Facebook Page. Here you’ll find all the latest news and jobs from us, see what we all look like and find out what it’s really like to work here.
Be sure to take a look, and let us know what you think. What else would you like to see on there? Share your comments below, or ‘like’ our page and post a message on our wall! We look forward to engaging with you on the page.
Tags: candidates, Facebook, Handle, Recruitment, Twitter
Posted in Handle Recruitment, Social Media | No Comments »
Monday, October 31st, 2011
In recent weeks, new changes to users’ Facebook profiles, with the arrival of the new ‘Timeline’ feature, have caused much debate on social media sites. But what other changes are afoot, and will they have a profound effect on the way marketing professionals carry out their jobs? It appears so.
A recent article in Utalkmarketing details the new developments very well, and is well worth a read. But here’s a quick summary of the important points:
- Recent changes instigated by Facebook mean that in order to show up on a user’s news feed, brands are going to have to work much harder. Gone will be the days where simply ‘liking’ a business’s page means its content appears on your homepage.
- As well as getting tough on spam marketing, Facebook will stop showing posts from pages that are dry or lack regular content.
- Apps will be the new driving force in creating brand promotion. With users being able to see what their friends are up to via the newsfeed (for example what music they might be listening to via Spotify), businesses ought to be thinking carefully about integrating with Apps associated with their brand. (more…)
Tags: candidates, employment, Facebook, marketing, Social Media
Posted in marketing, Social Media | No Comments »
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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.”
- 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!
Tags: candidates, employment, entertainment, Handle, media, music, songs
Posted in Job search, Job searching, media, Popular culture | No Comments »
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…)
Tags: Bridget Jones, candidates, employment, Friends, interview, Office Space, The Shining, The Wedding Singer
Posted in Film, Interview tips, Job search | No Comments »
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…)
Tags: candidates, Channel 4, CV, employment, Fashion, Recruitment, video
Posted in Fashion, Job search | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Downloading films and TV programs via the likes of iTunes is a popular, affordable, and more importantly legal way to watch them on devices such as an Ipad or a laptop. However, it appears that the downloading of media through illegal sites is increasing at an alarming rate – 30% in the last 5 years.
The reason behind this increase is simple – advancements in technology and faster broadband connections mean you can download media in no time at all. What’s more, with box office hits, and popular TV series being aired in the US weeks, sometimes months before the UK, users are becoming impatient. They don’t want to have to wait for them to be released this side of the pond. Downloading them illegally is becoming a cheaper and faster alternative. (more…)
Tags: BBC, candidates, employment, Film
Posted in Film | No Comments »
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?
- 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.
- 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…)
Tags: blogs, candidates, CV, employers, employment, Facebook, Social Media, Twitter
Posted in Job search, Job searching, Social Media | No Comments »
Monday, March 21st, 2011
Whilst it may seem like it’s been around forever, Twitter is in fact just 5 years old today! Since the first tweet by co founder Jack Dorsey in 2006, Twitter has experienced significant growth. It is now estimated to be worth $10 billion dollars and users tweet some 1 billion times a week.
Here at Handle, we’ve been using Twitter for a year and have seen great results. We have an account for each of our divisions which instantly publish jobs as they come in, we interact with candidates and clients who are looking for information, and we also use the site to market ourselves and showcase our PR efforts. (more…)
Tags: candidates, Social Media, tweeting, Twitter
Posted in Social Media | No Comments »
