Thinking of hiring and need some recruitment advice from the professionals? Get the best tips on how to successfully build and motivate your team right here at VIPersonnel. From help with your candidate search, to interviews and offer letters.

 

Preparing to recruit.

Before anything else, you need to ask yourself what you need this person to accomplish.

This should provide you with a focus on getting the right person, first time, every time.

 

Things to consider:

• Is the role temporary or permanent, full time / part time?
• Define your role requirements by identifying the key requirements you need for your business.
• Have in mind three essential skills you must see in the candidates’ CV.
• Work out a fair salary for the role which will be beneficial to both your business and the employee. (You could base this on comparable jobs in your industry if it’s a new role).
• Future scope of the role, have a 5 year plan for the role.
• What training will be offered or required.
• Types of personality that will work well in order to gel with your current team.

 

Write a Job Specification.

Now you are prepared to recruit, you can begin the recruitment process. First things first, write a Job specification which articulates all of the above requirements you have set, something one of our dedicated consultants can help you with, it’s all part of the VIP service.

 

To find your ideal employee, you first need to identify your specific needs and wants.

Create a tailored description of the vacancy, including the responsibilities and objectives of the role.

Don’t be afraid to be too specific. Outlining the key duties and requirements of the role in detail will only rule out those who are not suitable, saving you time sifting through tonnes of irrelevant CV’s. 

The specifications you prepare will help you evaluate CVs speedily and ruthlessly too.

 

Make sure to include key information such as Salary, company benefits, hours of work and anything else you would expect to find if looking for your ideal role.

 

The Interviews.

Hopefully by now, your preparation and time has paid off and you have a selection of shortlisted candidates which you are prepared to interview. Based on experience, a good number of first stage interviews to hold is between 3 and 6.

The interview is the most important part of the recruitment process, both for you and the candidate. It’s your opportunity to see how this person would fit into your organisation and to see if they have the knowledge and expertise you need to improve your business. It is also an opportunity for the candidates to get an insight into your company and its environment. It is also to get an insight as to what you are like as an employer, so make extra effort to be welcoming and informative.

 

Things to consider before your interviews:

• Lay out clear objectives for the interview.
• Lay out a structure for your interviews.
• Decide what is most important to your company and base your questions around that.
• Ensure you have a clear agenda for your interviews.

 

During the interview:

• Focus on getting to know your candidate.
• Try to be consistent so each candidate gets a fair chance.
• Be honest of the expectations of the candidates.

 

Once you have interviews between our recommended 3 – 6 candidates, you should by now have a good idea who was ticking boxes and who wasn’t. If you have not yet found any potentially suitable candidates from this round of recruitment, simply set yourself another couple and see how they fair.

 

If on the other hand you find yourself torn between maybe 2 or 3 of the candidates, arrange a second stage of interviews for those candidates.

 

A second stage interview will of course no longer require the intensity of the first. This may be a good chance to bring out the personality of the candidates to get an idea of team fit as opposed to just experience and ability. Maybe introduce them to the team or get them to shadow somebody that is already in the role.

 

 

Writing an offer letter

You’ve invested time and effort in finding the right person for the job, so secure their acceptance with a well-worded offer letter. A positive job offer, extended swiftly, can make the world of difference and the chances are higher that they will accept.

 

• Avoid standard letters – Take time to write something original, or at least to amend your company’s standard letter so that the candidate maintains enthusiasm.
• Be positive and personal, so the chances are higher that an acceptance will be forthcoming.
• Act now – Once you’ve decided to make the offer, it’s best to write and dispatch the offer letter straight away.
• Selling the offer – Emphasise the most appealing benefits in the package you’re offering.

 

We hope this recruitment advice is beneficial to you and your organisation, however if we can be of any assistance in any of the mentioned areas, we are of course happy to help.

 

Using VIPersonnel as your personal recruitment service.

We strive to provide our clients with a better quality selection of candidates thanks to our proactive recruitment process. We provide comprehensive 360° support to company’s looking to expand their permanent workforce.

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Advantages of using Recruitment Agencies

How to Avoid a Bad Hire

 

Not sure how to perfect your CV? Read on!
Think the CV you wrote 4 years ago will still be worthy of an interview? Thinking a list of your recent Jobs will be enough? You’re wrong.
To give you the best chance of an interview, before anything else, you have to make sure your CV is attractive to your potential employer. Here are our top tip on how to perfect your CV.

Keep it real.

Usually a CV should be no more than two pages. Employers spend, on average, just 8 seconds looking at any one CV, and a safe way of landing yourself on the “no pile” is to send them your entire life story. Keep it punchy, to the point, and save those niggly little details for the interview. In brief, keep it factual, keep it short, keep it interesting….Keep it real.

Skimmability.

We all skim more than we read, so to reward that reading style: Write short paragraphs of three or four lines at most. (If you have more to say, create a paragraph plus a bullet list.) Also, add space in between paragraphs to provide “breathing room” and use headings and subheadings to segment and introduce information.

Avoid Cliché’s.

Nine times out of ten, CV’s will include an opening statement and will normally include a sentence like: “A great communicator who loves meeting new people”. This is all well and good, if you want your CV to read the same as the last persons. Instead, be more specific, stand out and say something like: “Contributed to a complex company project by communicating with all levels of the business and external partners”.

Adapt your content.

We’ve all done it, sent the same CV to multiple employers for different jobs. Think about it, every Job is different and require a different skill set. Don’t be afraid to tailor your CV to fit the job you’re applying for. For example: If you are reading their job description and they require someone with leadership qualities, you may think you have that covered. Simply saying: “Has experience training and developing staff” will not cut it. Instead, give a factual and relevant example of your work: “Increased sales by 25% through holding one-to-one training sessions with the sales team.”

Check for spelling mistakes.

Employers will make a conscious effort to find mistakes on your CV and if they do, it could be damaging to your application. As a recruiter, I am constantly correcting simple spelling mistakes. If you ask me, there should be no excuses for mistakes on a CV, especially as we all have the option to spell check and have it proof read by someone else before submitting it. One word which I am constantly correcting is “Liaised”. It is definitely up there on my pet hate list.

So, you’ve perfected your CV, next stop, Interview. Want to make a good impression?

Good Luck!

To feel stressed at work is quite normal, it’s a feeling we can’t escape and at some point during your working week you will feel stressed due to one thing or another, it’s a fact. One thing you must not do is allow your stress levels to control you and let it affect your productivity or even worse, your physical or mental health.

You have to remember that you can’t control everything in your work environment, however the one thing that you will always have control of is yourself and your actions when difficult situations arise: it’s simply a case of reminding yourself this and not letting things get to you. How you deal with the situation could mean the difference between making things a lot worse or reducing your stress level.

Prevention is the best cure.

One of the most common causes of stress at work is lack of organisation. A tidy workplace is a tidy mind. To start thinking clearly you must have a clear vision of your cycle of events, schedule and responsibilities. Try to regularly consult your diary and make notes of important daily tasks, this will help you think a little more clearly. Pen tidy’s are good too!

All work and no play is a playground for stress. It’s important to find a balance between work and family life, social activities and private time, daily responsibilities and idle time. If you can find a balance between these things, your stress levels will automatically reduce.

Your brain has a way of naturally getting confused when you are faced with many different tasks at once, another cause of stress which can be prevented. Writing things down, making a list of tasks and even creating an order of importance will certainly prevent stress. To add to that, by getting the more unpleasant or important tasks out of the way first means that they won’t be on your mind all day, leaving you more time to think about other things – thus reducing stress.

It’s easy to become distracted with constant interruptions, by reducing the amount of interruptions you could be faced with is another good way of preventing stress. Turn off your phone, avoid social media or personal emails, these are all things that will still be there when you have finished the job in hand. There are some interruptions that you do not have control of but you can respond to them in one of three ways; accept the interruption, cut it off or work out its importance and work out a plan to deal with it.

Accept that you may not be able to do it all on your own. If someone else can do the task, why not let them take over? If you are the type of person who has the desire to control or oversee every little step in your office then try letting it go –you’ll be letting go of unnecessary stress in the process.

If all else fails

Take a step back, take a look in the mirror. Are you getting enough sleep? Exercising regularly? After all you’re physical health plays a big part in your mental performance. Drinking energy drinks alone will not make you feel fantastic or in any way enhance your performance, well at least not in the long run anyway. Release some of the stress physically, your body may just be craving a good old exercise. Fit regular breaks into your day – working long hours may make you seem like you are working hard, but it may have an adverse effect and you lose productivity.  Breaks can help you recharge and improve your productivity.

Try it and see the difference.

 

Stressed about something else? Perhaps an upcoming Job Interview? Maybe these handy tips might help…

 

Interview Preparation

How to take control of a Job Interview

Got an interview lined up? Have the edge and be head and shoulders above the other candidates by using these 10 easy tips in our “10 ways to make a good impression”.

 

Look the part! The suit is the obvious choice for most but unless you are applying for a power position, it’s not compulsory. I’m not saying wear your sweats or look too casual but don’t be afraid to wear a smart shirt and trousers, after all it’s not a fashion parade, it’s an interview. Sometimes not wearing a suit can make you stand out, you will be remembered as “the one who didn’t wear a suit but was really good in the interview”.

 

Eye Contact Look your interviewer in the eye. Anybody who has studies psychology will know that this shows confidence and truthfulness.

 

Shake hands with a firm grip. No soggy handshakes! Other gestures similar to this will have a huge effect on how you are perceived. Crossing your arms, yawning, head in your lap or slouching are all classed as negative body language.

 

Go Prepared, Take with you a copy of your CV and cover letter so the employer has a souvenir of your visit.

 

Smile! It’s amazing how much a smile can change someone’s outlook or impression of you. Chances are, like most people – nerves will kick in, keep the nerves at bay with a smile and the interviewer will smile back, subsequently the situation won’t seem so overwhelming. Also it plants a positive seed in their head and are more likely to be remembered for the right reasons.

 

Don’t be afraid to disagree on certain things, overly agreeing with your interviewer could be perceived as being a pushover. Show them that you have your own thoughts and ideas.

 

Comment on something in the building or room that you are in, this will make you appear to have a warm personality and aware of your surroundings. Finding a common ground with them or having something in common has a similar effect.

 

Do your research on the company prior to the interview. How long have they been established? How many people work there? What is their turnover? If you can’t find out, don’t be afraid to ask.

 

Ask questions! You want to get to know their business! You are interested in their business! Refer back to your ‘Research’. The interview isn’t just about finding the right candidate, it’s also an opportunity for you to find the right company to work for.

 

Give yourself a break… Don’t work yourself up. Stretch before going in to a job interview. Take some deep breaths. Do whatever it takes to calm yourself down. Your personality will suffer if you let your nerves take over.

 

– For more tips on this topic, don’t forget to check out…“How to take control of a Job Interview”

We have tried to create a valuable list of Interview Do’s and Don’ts to help you achieve success at interview stage of the job hunting process. By taking note of these simple Interview Do’s and Don’ts, you WILL increase your chances of being hired.

 

Do:

• Take a practice run to the location where you are having the interview before hand, or at least be 100% sure of where it is and how long it will take you to get there. Turning up late to an interview is as good as telling them that you don’t want the job. If you are going to be late, phone the company to advise them and hope that they understand.
• Research and know the type of job interview you will encounter. Depending on the type of interview you have, tailor your approach. Be prepared – research interview questions they may ask (see our Interview tips for some commonly asked interview questions) but never over-rehearse your answers.
• Dress to impress! Or at least appropriate for the job, the company and the industry.
• You only get one chance to make a first impression. Greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This could be one of the most important things to remember and could also be the reason you have the edge over others. First impressions count.
• In the likely event that you are presented with a job application or questionnaire, fill it out neatly, and accurately without leaving anything unanswered. This could just be a test of your attention to detail.
• Take extra CV’s to the interview, or even better, a job-skills portfolio if you have one. This not only shows that you are prepared but also shows that you are proud of your achievements. Show enthusiasm to demonstrate your hard work.
• Greet the interviewer(s) by title (Mrs, Mr, Dr) and last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. (If you’re not sure, do ask the receptionist about the pronunciation before going into the interview.
• A good handshake says 1000 words. Shake hands firmly. Don’t have a limp or clammy handshake!
• Wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. Remember body language and posture: sit upright and look alert and interested at all times.
• Make good eye contact with your interviewer, a shy and cagey approach will put the interviewer right off you.
• Make sure that your strengths and strong points come across clearly to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner.
• Show off the research you have done on the company and industry when responding to questions.
• Show enthusiasm in the position and the company.
• Close the interview by telling the interviewer that you want the job and asking about the next step in the process. Some experts even say you should close the interview by asking for the job.
• Another good way to close is by replying to their last question which is normally, “Do you have any final questions?”, simply ask them “do you have any concerns or reservations about me?” This will reduce the chances of negative feedback at a later date and also gives you a chance to handle any objections there and then. By answering – “No, I think you have covered everything, shows lack of interest and hunger for information.

 

Don’t:

• Don’t smoke prior to your interview, a bad smell is enough to put anyone off.
• Don’t be over confident, walking in like you own the place will not work. Simply putting any nerves to one side and speaking clearly is enough confidence for an interview.
• Don’t fidget or slouch.
• Don’t use poor language, slang, and pause words (such as “like”, “uh”, and “erm”).
• Don’t act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment. You have to be more specific with your ambitions and aspirations.
• Don’t say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors, employers and of course yourself.
• Don’t tell jokes during the interview. Understanding someone’s sense of humour can take weeks.
• They are interviewing you – Not your CV. Don’t rely on your application or CV to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer.
• Don’t ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly.
• Don’t chew gum during the interview.
• Don’t answer questions with a simple “yes” or “no.” Try to answer each question with at least 2 or 3 sentences to showcase your skills, experience and ambition.
• Don’t bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems.
• Don’t respond to any questions, no matter how unexpected or irrelevant with an extended pause or by saying something like, “boy, that’s a good question.” A short pause is ok, or even repeating the question aloud should give you enough time to think of a suitable answer.
• Don’t answer your mobile phone during the interview, turn it off (or set it to silent) before the interview.
• Don’t inquire about salary, holiday entitlement, bonuses, retirement, or other benefits until after you’ve received an offer. Chances are they will tell you but asking about them makes it seem like you are only interested in what they can offer you.

 

If you found this useful and also want to read some tips on how to control the interview, Click here.