Recruitment Blog From Blue Octopus

Welcome to The Blogtopus - the official blog of flat fee recruitment specialists Blue Octopus and general all-round recruitment blog. With regular posts from recruitment experts on all aspects of recruitment, employment and job hunting we hope to share our insights into this fast moving and exciting industry. Whether you’re looking to hire new staff, embark along a new career path or merely interested in the world of recruitment we hope you find what you’re looking for! If you have any feedback or suggestions of topics for us to cover on this recruitment blog then please get in touch.

Honesty as an Interview Policy

May 8th, 2012 by Jamie Rock
"Blue Octopus PR"

Job interviews can undoubtedly be one of the most stressful and anxiety ridden experiences in a person’s life. They often embody everything which can cause people to become self conscious and feel uncomfortable in their surroundings. The first thing which can cause problems within the context of an interview is being away from your “turf” or out of your comfort zone, which in itself can cause the larger concerns and stressful aspects of an interview to become apparent and more obvious.

Another of the more stressful elements is filling out the information form which is often provided for you before you go in to the interview. The easiest way around this issue is to bring a copy of your C.V. to the interview, which will normally contain most of the information required to complete the form.

Regardless of how stressful the process might become, there are a couple of behavioural quirks which it’s best to avoid when attending job interviews. Arguably one of the most important things to avoid during an interview and particularly when answering actual questions is lying, which might seem difficult but there is a distinct difference between spinning the truth and flat out lying.

There are a huge variety of ways in which lying during a job interview can ruin a potential vocation. Some of these potential pit falls which surround lying when answering basic questions might seem easily overcome, but very few of them are by any means simple.

For example it’s not difficult to say that you’re “perfect for a role” and that you “truly enjoy a lot of aspects” of a potential job but when you do, make sure there is at least some truth to what you’re saying.  Not only will the follow up questions to statements about “how much you enjoy certain aspects of working” become more increasingly hard to answer if their based on untruths, but normally it becomes increasingly obvious to the interviewer that you’re lying the longer it goes on.

Obviously if you’re desperate to get a position then spinning the truth is practically always advisable, and it would be ridiculous to suggest that you simply say “I hate working, but I need a job.” But if you need to answer certain questions untruthfully try and word your answers so that you can create some level of truthfulness to it, even if it’s embellished.

Finding the real truths behind your answers will instantly make you seem more trust worthy, genuine and will often cause you to realise how much you actually want a job. It might even in the long run help you to enjoy certain aspects of work, that before would have seemed boring or pointless to you.

In any case flat out lying in job interviews is very much a bad idea, whether it makes you seem untrustworthy to your employer or causes you to box yourself with false answers it’s always detrimental to the application process.

Interviewing Candidates: Group vs. Individual Interviews

April 17th, 2012 by Steph
"Blogtopus Scribe"

There are so many different interviewing techniques you can adopt when searching for new employees, with the main two types being group and individual interviews. There are positives and negatives to both interviewing styles and it really depends on the type of job you’re advertising. But if you’re struggling to decide which to use for hiring new staff then here are a few pointers to bear in mind before making your decision.

corporate handshake

Image courtesy of  Flickr, Drew Leavy

Individual Interviews

One-on-one interviews are incredibly common as they allow you to focus your attention on one candidate at a time. Generally speaking, they’re the more traditional style of interviewing often used for job placements requiring certain skills and qualifications.

Positives

-          You get to pay more attention to each candidate. You can ask them questions relevant to their experience and CV and spend as much time as you need with them.

-          You get more of a chance to weigh up the candidate’s character and whether they’d fit in with the rest of your organisation.

-          Every employee gets an equal amount of time to sell themselves, with your undivided attention.

-          Candidates can provide creative and unique answers to questions without being judged by other interviewees.

Negatives

-          Individual interviews are more time consuming, particularly if you have selected a large number of candidates.

-          Applicants normally feel under more pressure in one-on-one interviews, they may feel more comfortable in a group.

Group Interviews

Some organisations use group interviews, particularly if they have 2 interview stages. Normally, large numbers of candidates are invited to group interviews and those who shine are invited back for a one-on-one interview. This is particularly popular with larger companies who receive an overwhelmingly high number of candidates and have multiple vacancies available.

Positives

-          Group interviews are a time effective way to filter down a large number of candidates.

-          You have the opportunity to compare candidates; you can easily identify confident characters and outgoing personalities.

-          You can create activities to be done in teams, to test leadership strengths and those who work well with others.

Negatives

-          If you have a dominant interviewee they may overshadow and intimidate other candidates. This could cause you to potentially miss out on a valuable employee.

-          You can’t really get a good perspective on each candidate, often you may only spend a few minutes actually interacting with each candidate.

If you have a large number of applicants and really can’t decide who to filter out before the interview stage then a group interview followed by an individual interview is a great combination. You can see how each candidate excels in a team and get an insight into their qualifications, interests and general demeanour.

Tags: , , , ,

4 Ways to Make Employees feel Valued in your Organisation

March 22nd, 2012 by Jamie Rock
"Blue Octopus PR"

One of the most common reasons people leave their jobs is because they feel undervalued in the organisation they work for. With such high unemployment rates it’s easy for some employers and management staff to let their standards slip when it comes to valuing employees, as they respond with “there’s plenty of unemployed people out there who’d love to have your job” to employee complaints.

Whilst there are a lot of unemployed people currently looking for work, the key to having a dedicated, motivated and successful workforce is to value employees and make them feel happy to work for your company. Anyone can hire and fire; it’s maintaining an effective team that’s the key!

If you secretly know you’re guilty of not valuing your employees, or know you could do more to improve motivation within your workforce then it’s time to brush up on your people skills!

Recognise Achievements

Whilst highlighting errors and advising employees on areas of work to improve on are essential elements of managing an organisation, it’s equally important to acknowledge employees’ achievements and hard work. You don’t have to go overboard on that front, a simple but personal email to thank the employee for their hard work ensures their achievement doesn’t go unnoticed. Awards within different departments can spark a bit of friendly competition between employees, encouraging them to work harder whilst rewarding their efforts.

Treat Employees as Individuals

When you manage a team it’s important to treat everyone fairly, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat your employees as individuals. Everyone has different needs and methods of working, just because someone wants to do a certain job differently it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s wrong – they may find this way of working to be more effective for them and bring you better results.

No employee wants to feel like just another brick in the wall, show your employees that you take an interest into their lives. Remembering information that an employee has told you in conversation demonstrates that you care about your staff. Asking if a sick relative’s feeling any better or how their children performed in their GCSEs are simple, personal questions that show you’ve listened to them.

Keep Employees in the Loop

In order to have a dedicated workforce, you’ll want employees who have a genuine interest in the progression and development of the company. But how are employees supposed to get involved if you don’t keep them in the loop about new developments or even setbacks? Being honest with employees is incredibly important, leaving them to hear important information through the grapevine says that you’re either disregarding their input or trying to hide something from them – neither looks too great!

Differentiate between “Slacking” and “Struggling”

One of the hardest tasks for management teams is trying to inject some motivation into a lifeless squad. If you notice an employee’s not hitting targets or failing to pull their weight then approach with caution – struggling to complete their work could be the reason behind their lack of motivation. Continuously failing to hit targets can really drain an employee of motivation as their self-confidence levels drop.

If you spot someone in your team who seems to be struggling, approach them warmly and offer extra training or consider placing them in a different role. Shaking up employees’ roles isn’t always a bad thing, it can be a great way to find out different team member’s strengths – which is vital to running an organisation.

Managing a team effectively can be hard work, but ultimately it all boils down to communicating with your staff. If you respect and listen to them, they’re more likely to return the favour.

Tags: , , , ,

Utilising Social Media Ethically when Recruiting

February 15th, 2012 by Steph
"Blogtopus Scribe"

social media icons

There’s no doubt that social media has been adopted by the recruitment industry as a valuable hiring tool. LinkedIn is the more prominent social media site within recruitment with many employers using it as a means for scouting talent. But other major social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are also used by employers and job seekers alike, to source the ideal employee and land the perfect job.

Social profiles can say a lot about a candidate, in some instances they can resemble a CV – providing you with information of work history, interests and any mutual correspondents. Before almost every British home established a Broadband connection, personal and background information on candidates wasn’t so readily available. You often had to rely on the words on applicants’ CVs and references from past employers. Nowadays however, a whole world of personal information seems to be easily accessible – you can even see what a candidate got up to last night or did for their friend’s birthday.

Whilst social media is an excellent recruiting tool, how do you define the fine line between using it ethically and abusing personal information to scupper a candidate’s chances of getting hired?

When Social Media Compromises Recruitment

Facebook has been under a great deal of scrutiny over privacy settings recently, as users have little control or knowledge over what aspects of their personal information are publicly viewable. The fact that this information is so accessible has had a significant impact on the recruitment process.

In the past, your first impression of an applicant (after reading their CV) was a face-to-face or in some instances, telephone interview. This allowed candidates to prepare in advance, research your company and impress their interviewer. Nowadays that’s all changed, as some employers research their candidates on social media sites before seeing them at interview – this can severely taint the recruitment process as first impressions have already been made, often without the candidate even knowing.

Many argue that this is incredibly unethical and renders the recruitment process unfair; to establish equality and fairness when hiring it’s essential that every applicant starts with a clean slate. One thing to bear in mind here is that people generally behave differently at home than they do at work, and often treat their social media profiles like their virtual “living room”. If a candidate provides you with details of their social profiles then you can use them to your advantage; if they don’t then it’s best to leave their personal profiles well alone.

When Social Media Enhances Recruitment

Social media can be an extraordinarily valuable tool for recruiting when used ethically. You can use your business’s social profiles to alert Facebook fans and Twitter followers of current job vacancies, they can then visit the online recruitment company and apply for the position. This can help you to receive applications from people who have a genuine interest in and knowledge about your company.

Social media sites are an excellent platform for communicating with candidates. They’re far less corporate than an email, and many people check their Facebook account more frequently than their emails. They may also be more easily accessible on mobile devices as many social media sites have apps which are optimised for mobile use. Some email platforms aren’t as easily accessible on smart phones, meaning candidates may not check them as frequently or have access to them whilst on-the-go.

Here at Blue Octopus, we’re grasping social media as an additional recruitment tool. If you decide to start your quest for a new staff member with us your vacancy will get pushed out through our Facebook and Twitter profiles. This means hundreds of job seekers who’ve followed and liked our profiles will receive the update of your vacancy and have the option to apply. We also have profiles for employers. You can follow or like us to receive industry news and updates, alerts of new posts published on the Blogtopus and engage in general recruitment banter.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

5 Sure-fire Ways to Mess up a Job Interview

January 26th, 2012 by Steph
"Blogtopus Scribe"

Whether it’s your first interview or just another one of many, there’s always a chance that you’ll mess up. Even the most seasoned, professional interviewees have experienced a bad interview where they’ve left with their tail between their legs. Employers are wise to the fact that interviewees experience immense pressure whilst under their scrutiny and understand that stress can cause them to crumble. There are however, some things which can instantly put off an employer and ruin your chances of getting hired, regardless of what your CV has to offer.

job-interview-mistakes

Bad Habits

Everyone has certain habits, which is perfectly normal but you should try to refrain from demonstrating them during a job interview. Whilst biting your nails due to nervousness won’t decrease your employability, picking your nose or other body parts really isn’t recommended. Not only is it crude, it’s also very unprofessional – which doesn’t bode well in a job interview.

You may not notice you have these bad habits, so try a practice interview with a friend or family member who can identify any bad habits for you to eliminate.

Whining and Gossiping

Avoid bad mouthing and complaining about previous employers, even if it was the reason you left your job. Pushing the blame doesn’t make you look good, rather it creates the image that you’re a troublesome employee who’s high maintenance. What’s more, if the two companies are in the same industry there’s always a chance that your interviewer knows your previous employer, in this case bad mouthing could really backfire.

Think of an alternative reason to provide your interviewer with when questioned about previous jobs. Simply saying the industry wasn’t for you could come across a lot better than revealing previous gripes you’ve had with bosses.

Getting Names Wrong

Getting your interviewer’s name wrong can cause offence and certainly won’t win you any brownie points. Although a commonly recommended interview technique is to use personal address, if you’re unsure of how to pronounce their name or don’t feel comfortable with personal address (it’s often something which comes with confidence) then it’s best to leave it out. Avoid piling additional pressure onto yourself, just concentrate on remaining calm and in control and the confidence will come naturally.

Arriving Late

Nothing gives off a worst impression than showing up to a job interview late – it shows lack of responsibility and little motivation. Is that extra 10 minute lie-in really worth missing out on a job opportunity? Aim to arrive at least fifteen minutes early and give yourself extra time if you’re unsure of the exact location.

In some instances, unforeseen circumstances can cause you to be late for an interview or unable to attend and employers do understand this can happen. What really irritates them is if you haven’t informed them of your situation so they can either reschedule you in for another time or proceed with other work whilst they wait for you. There’s nothing more disrespectable than leaving the interviewers waiting for you, their frustration will build and they may refuse to see you. If there’s been an accident on the motorway or a family member falls sick, ring up and apologise, explain the situation and reschedule the interview. Always make sure you tell them you’re still interested in the position and that you regret the situation has arisen at an unfortunate time.

Arrogance

Whilst confidence is a positive quality which can help you to come across well in a job interview cockiness is not. Arrogance can really deter a potential employer from hiring you as you’ll appear difficult to manage and unlikely to follow instruction. Make sure you’re eager and attentive during your interview and demonstrate that you’re listening by making eye contact with them. Avoid slumping in your chair and chewing gum – they have “cockiness” written all over them.

Avoid flirting with potential colleagues, using foul language or expressing controversial views – both inside and outside of the interview room. There’s plenty of time for those things once you’ve been hired…

Tags: , , , , , ,

Writing an Effective Job Description for Recruiting new Employees

January 20th, 2012 by Steph
"Blogtopus Scribe"

When your small business starts to feel the strain of the ever increasing workload it’s time to consider recruiting new staff. Whether it’s your first time taking on a new employee or if you simply want to improve your recruiting methods a good place to start is the job advertisement.

Browsing on online job boards, you’ll see a variety of different job descriptions which vary in format and length and disclose different information. You could pick one of these, copy the layout and structure, insert your own information and release it on behalf of your company – but is this really the most effective form of recruiting? Job specifications and advertisements can play a huge part in what calibre of candidate you attract, and the more information you can provide in your job spec, the more relevant your applicants can be.

Filtering through application forms can be a time consuming activity (and in business time is money!). Sometimes you might find that none of the applicants are relevant or, if they do reach the interview stage, aren’t suitable for the job. In order to streamline your recruiting process and attract relevant candidates for the position you need to tell viewers of your job advertisement EXACTLY what you want from them rather than writing a brief generic spec, the more effort you put into your job description the less time will be wasted at the interview stage.

When compiling the specification for a job you should aim to include the correct information on all of the following:

Job title: It may be wise to include synonyms of the job title e.g. a cleaner could also be referred to as a domestic operative.

Wage: This could be an hourly rate or annual salary. If you’re not entirely sure write “negotiable depending on experience”.

Brief summary of main duties: Describe a typical day under employment at your organisation.

Attributes/Experience: This is incredibly important; if you want someone with experience state what type of experience they need and how much of that experience they need to have (extensive, some).

Personality requirements: This is particularly important if it’s a customer-facing role. The successful applicant may need to have a polite manner and a confident approach to customers.

Any physical requirements: Does the job involve long periods of standing of heavy lifting? Note them here.

Preferred specialist knowledge: This could be familiarisation with a certain CMS, or software.

Qualifications: This may refer to academic qualifications or industry specific qualifications (FLT licence, Food Hygiene and Safety Certificate etc.)

Additional Information: Include anything the candidate should know regarding the job they’re applying for that hasn’t been covered above. This could be regarding the location, is it accessible by public transport? If not, tell the applicants as this could deem some candidates irrelevant.

Job advertisements are just that – adverts. So you need to sell the position to potential employees and give them information that makes them want to apply for the position (rather than just apply for it because “it’s a job”). Include information on:

  • Possible career progression opportunities within the company
  • Any training that will be provided
  • Any bonuses, performance-based or otherwise

With a shortage of jobs available, there are many unemployed people looking for work. Failing to provide adequate information in your job advertisement you’ll attract a high number of irrelevant applicants – which wastes yours and the job seekers’ time.

Here at Blue Octopus, we always have a tentacle spare to provide help to businesses. We can assist you in streamlining the recruiting process for your company and handle the whole affair for one flat fee. Start expanding your team by putting your faith in a trusted (and award winning) colourful octopus.

Tags: , , , ,

Blue Octopus Announced as Finalists in Onrec Recruitment Awards

January 17th, 2012 by Jamie Rock
"Blue Octopus PR"

Onrec Awards

Leeds based online recruitment company Blue Octopus are delighted to be announced as finalists in three different categories of the Onrec Awards 2012. Blue Octopus have been shortlisted as final contenders for the Innovative Online Marketing Award, The Candidate Service Award and Best Use of Online Recruitment by a Recruitment Agency Award. Unlike most awards it is the http://www.blueoctopus.co.uk website which serves as the primary factor for nomination.

The Onrec Awards acknowledge the best online recruitment companies based on nominations for various categories. The Onrec Awards ceremony will be held at the prestigious venue Grange St. Paul’s Hotel in London’s West End, where Blue Octopus hope to scoop first prize for their nominated categories. The ceremony is to take place on 28th March 2012 when the winners will be announced. The finalists will be assessed by four judges who will confirm the winner of each category.

The criteria for the three awards Blue Octopus have been nominated in are as follows:

-          Innovative Online Marketing Award: Relates to branding excellence, functional and attractive website layout and a generally appealing visual impact on website visitors. In addition online marketing considers endeavours by the organisation to gain visibility on the internet.

-          The Candidate Service Award: Rewards recruitment companies with the best communication, advice and resources for job seekers. CV writing tips, career advice and job opportunities are all assessed.

-          Best Use of Online Recruitment by a Recruitment Agency: Recognises the recruitment agency with the best online recruitment strategy on their site.

The news of Blue Octopus’s nomination follows their success at the Recruit Rank Awards where they won Best Recruiter and Best Candidate Communication awards back in November 2011.  Their nomination and success in such awards reflects the rapid growth the company has endured. On the topic of the recent acknowledgements of Blue Octopus by awards bodies, Director Liam Coleman had the following to say:

“On behalf of all the team here at Blue Octopus, we are grateful to those that have recognised our commitment and conviction within these categories. On the back of being voted the Best Recruiter – (High Volume) and Best Candidate Communications (High Volume) at the recent Jobsite RecruiitRank awards – we are looking to gain further accolades to represent what we are all about, that being a high level flat fee service provider to both clients and candidates.

We are looking ahead to another year of significant growth and achievement. The ONREC awards are a big part of how we measure our success.”

Job Interview Techniques

January 9th, 2012 by Danny
""

Initially, receiving the phone call from a potential employer to arrange an interview is an exciting and elating experience. Your finely crafted curriculum vitae and relevant history of hard work and experience have rendered you a suitable candidate and you have a shot at selling your skills to a prospective employer; and then the fear sets in. Meeting up with a new person for the first time will always be an uncertain situation, so selling your personality and capabilities using job interview techniques to someone you have only briefly can be challenging indeed.

The key to succeeding in job interviews is preparation in several key areas; mastering each of these before the big day could be your one way ticket to success. So with that in mind, let’s see how you could tweak your job interview techniques and catch the eye of potential employers.

Research

One thing employers are certainly looking for is a clear indication that you like the company and want to work there for more than just money. Keep up to date with any recent news about the company and be sure to show this in the form of questions in the interview; if you can come across as well informed about the company’s goals and mission statement you’re sure to shine through as someone who knows what they want.

Anticipate Questions

There are certain questions that come up commonly in job interviews; if you can anticipate these questions and prepare detailed and well thought out answers, you will carry this skill for years to come. Here are a few typical questions you can expect to hear in most job interviews.

  • Tell me more about yourself – Here you have the opportunity to make a good impression, try to keep the answer detailed but don’t create an opportunity to showboat. Touch on your academic successes or relevant experience from previous jobs, and add what you have taken from these various experiences.
  • Strengths/weaknesses –Think about your strong points that make you ideal for the job and state previous situations which bode well for you as an employee. Don’t choose anything too detrimental as a weakness; something which shows you’re modest yet capable, such as “having more to learn about the industry”. This shows that even your weakness shows another positive side of you.
  • What makes you want to work here? – Firstly, don’t say “money”. That aside, this is another great opportunity to show the research you have done on the company and go into detail about areas you have researched. State what you love about the company and how that reflects on your professional attitude.

It’s also worth noting that employers love to hear candidates ask questions about the company and the job role; again, you get to show your interest in the company and the research you have done on them. Be sure to ask if there is anything you can do in preparation the job role, this will show your willingness to learn and impress.

Dress Appropriately

It’s fair to say that most people (although they don’t like to admit it) will judge another purely through their appearance, so taking some extra time to ensure you are meeting the company’s expectations is sure to do you a favour before you have even shaken hands. Clean, polished shoes and well fitted smart clothes with suitable accessories is a water tight combination.

Confidence

Confidence in your job interview has a positive effect on potential employers; be sure to consider this for your job interview techniques. Sit upright, produce a genuine (or at least genuine looking) smile when possible and be sure to speak clearly. Showing confidence in these situations shows your ability to carry this confidence through to tasks you may be set during employment.

Tags: , , , ,

Jobs for the New Year

December 20th, 2011 by Danny
""

As the New Year quickly approaches, people look towards that stroke of midnight with intentions of changing their life for the better. Whether they plan to finally book that dream holiday that they have always talked about, cut out old habits to replace them with better ones or renovate their home to create their perfect palace, the New Year is a fantastic catalyst for change.

A New Year’s resolution can give regular folks an extra sense of purpose and confidence when it comes to making a promise to themselves and keeping it, and this is why many people will plan the start of a new job or career from the New Year onwards.Planning a new job is no easy task, especially if you have a preferred role or career in mind for the New Year, so be sure to take your time and give it as much thought as possible. The majority of jobs available will require a certain level of experience or a specific skill set, so before diving in at the deep end be sure that you have enough of knowledge and experience to make you shine during any interview stages.

If you are looking to plan a career that requires specific qualifications or certificates, then plan your time accordingly. Deciding in November that you want to be an IT engineer from January without the appropriate qualifications is just not practical; keep in mind that you can always set your plan in motion during the New Year, look into a range of training courses that can help you achieve the job of your dreams.

Don’t be too hasty to quit your old job; the turning of the New Year is very exciting and spontaneous actions are often welcomed with smiles and laughter.  Keep in mind however; throwing away your primary source of income before securing your next is a move that could certainly cause excessive stress for you and your bank account. Be 100% sure that you have a secure place under new employment before you burn any bridges!

So there we have it, just a few simple thoughts to carry through to the New Year. We wish you a wonderful Christmas and a success filled New Year!

Tags: , , ,

Winter Work

December 16th, 2011 by Danny
""

As we progress well into the winter season, opportunities for temporary and seasonal work open up across the county. It’s fair to say that temporary work isn’t suitable for all job seekers out there, but there are plenty of cash hungry students and new graduates who are looking for a few months’ pay to tide them over to the New Year. Winter work is also ideal for school leavers who are looking to get their first real taste of employment; with so many roles in retail becoming available during winter, some simple yet important lessons can be learned about the world of work to young employees nationwide. So, if you are searching for some temporary winter work, consider some of these factors whilst planning your job hunting strategy.

Retail Vacancies

It’s no secret that the amount of shoppers in any district increases dramatically during the approach of Christmas and the vast majority of stores can certainly expect to see a raise in sales during these weeks. Therefore, it stands to reason that these stores are going to employ extra staff and extend their opening times by at least a couple of hours to maximise sales. This is why jobs in retail are incredibly popular to those looking for winter work; many jobs in retail are a great starting point for young people and can make a reliable first addition to a CV. These roles are also ideal for university and college students looking to earn a little extra cash during their winter holidays.

Catering and Hospitality

Job opportunities in restaurants and hotels are equally as popular during these winter months; as you can imagine, many people like to lavish themselves with enjoyable meals out and winter breaks. Eateries and hospitality establishments can also expect to see a rise in sales and are likely to recruit for temporary staff during the winter period. As with roles in retail, hospitality and catering jobs are a fantastic starting point for school leavers, or anyone looking to gain experience or references for future employment in these industries.

Public House and Bar Work

Bar work is certainly one of the main sources of temporary work over the Christmas period; with many people on enjoying nights out during their winter break from work and University, these establishments will be booming with business and therefore require extra staff and support to handle the workload. Bar work is a nice way of making some extra money, and if your manner and service is up to scratch, you could make a killing in tips from jolly customers during the season of giving!

Tags: , , ,

« Older Entries