Blog – Instant Recruit

27Apr By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Business

Wearing jewellery in the workplace

Introduction: Jewellery is a popular accessory for both men and women, and it can add an extra touch of sophistication to any outfit. However, when it comes to wearing jewellery in the workplace, it can be challenging to strike the right balance between professional and stylish. This post will explore the dos and don'ts of wearing jewellery in the workplace and provide tips on how to choose the right pieces to elevate your work wardrobe. I. Why wearing jewellery in the workplace matters In the workplace, it's essential to maintain a professional image that reflects positively on you and your company. Your appearance is one of the first things people notice about you, and it can have a significant impact on how others perceive you. Therefore, it's important to understand the r...

Your CV personal statement: the hidden pitfalls

19Oct By Kristina JonesNo Comments

CVs

Your CV personal statement: the hidden pitfalls

Your CV personal statement goes at the top of your CV, after your name and contact information. This small but important section can be called by a range of different things: personal profile, objective, and so-on - but whatever you call it, it has the same purpose. The personal statement is a few lines in which you tell the employer how you meet their requirements and why they should pick you. It's important to note: Although 'personal statement' is possibly the most common phrase used, it's not the same as your university application personal statement that you likely sweated away over for many a late night (see for example, personal-statement-examples.com). Why include a personal statement? Before we can discuss the pitfalls you first need to understand the reasons for ...

7Jul By Kristina JonesNo Comments

CVs

The Art of CV and Resume Writing

Overview Making sure you have a well written resume is just as important as having the required skills for the job you are applying for. Simply being an ideal candidate as far as your expertise and experience is concerned will not guarantee you the job if your resume is poor. After all, how are you going to show the employer that you are the best candidate for the position if you do not even get to the interview stage? Employers often have so many resumes to review, that the initial screening process usually only allows for a short amount of time to be spent looking over each resume. It is therefore extremely important for the applicant to submit a resume which gives a good first impression, is grammatically correct, and gives a clear image of that candidates' skills. A badly wr...

Why recruiters should have their own job board

7Jun By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Career

Why recruiters should have their own job board

Job boards often get a hard time from recruiters and we get it, we really do. You pay high amounts each month, to advertise your jobs amongst all of your competitors, to receive a high volume of often irrelevant CVs. Forget advertising on a job board, why not own a job board! We are aware that owning a job board is a new concept for many recruiters, so we are going to put our cards on the table and unleash the magic behind owning a specialist job board. Three is the magic number Owning a specialist job board brings three Aces to your business: Unique Candidates, New Business and a USP. Who doesn’t want more of all of the above? Unique Candidates Speaking to a number of recruiters every day, it is clear that the current talent shortage is affecting many industries ...

31Jan By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Job interviews

How to succeed in a job interview

The CV obviously worked and you have been called up for an interview. NOW WHAT? Below we have put together some helpful pointers on how to succeed in your interview. Take all these pointers in and make sure you are fully prepared to succeed in your interview. Ensure that you have researched fully about the company you are going to. Look on their website and note down some relevant facts. Make sure that you are fully prepared for your interview. Find out where you are going, who you are seeing, arrive on time and smartly dressed; switch your mobile off. When you meet the interviewers always smile and shake hands, maintain eye contact. Take your time and think before you speak The previous day you should have thought about the type of questions you may be asked and h...

Making a job offer: what you must include

30Jan By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Career

Making a job offer: what you must include

Once you have found the perfect candidate for a role, you will need to provide him / her with a formal job offer. In order for the candidate to make a decision whether the role is right for them or not, we recommend providing the following information: 1. Salary This should be given as an annual figure or hourly rate and include details of any shift allowance or overtime rates. If the role is part-time the annual figure is usually given as a pro rata and if the role is temporary an hourly or daily rate is given. 2. Benefits This should include details of any bonuses or commission, pension schemes, healthcare, paternity / maternity leave, childcare vouchers, gym membership, free parking or training opportunities. 3. Length of Contract If the role is temporary, the ...

30Jan By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Job interviews

The 7 most popular interview questions

It is always difficult to predict the questions that you will be asked at a job interview. Some interviewers chose quirky questions whilst others tend to stick with more traditional questions. We have put together a list of the 7 most popular / common interview questions along with our suggested answers. Tell me about yourself This is obviously a very broad question, so try to narrow it down to a couple of areas – interviewers aren’t after your life story! You should generally avoid personal details such as your marital status or information about your children. A typical answer would describe your qualifications and career history and highlight the skills you possess which are relevant to the job. "Craft an elevator pitch", suggests Robert Half. "Make sure you succinctly ...

30Jan By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Job interviews

Our top 10 interview hints

Interviews can be daunting, no matter what stage you are at in your career. Even experienced candidates can make mistakes once put in front of a potential employer. We’ve put together a list of our top 10 interview hints, which we believe will give you the best possible chance of securing that dream job. Be prepared. This is the key to a successful interview. Preparation for an interview should include thorough research on the organisation (reading the company website or other literature), familiarisation of the job specification and knowing how to get to the interview location.Dress to impress (but don't over do it!) Ensure you are smartly dressed, but avoid strong aftershave / perfume or heavy make-up as this can be distracting for the interviewer.Arrive on time....

Group interviews: what to expect and how to handle them

30Jan By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, Job interviews

Group interviews: what to expect and how to handle them

Some employers favour using a group interview situation as they gain a lot from interviewing a number of candidates at the same time, not only does it save time but it quickly identifies the best candidates in one fell swoop! You may have experienced or about to attend a group interview. They can be a daunting experience, but following our interview advice should make the process a little easier. As with any interview, arrive early Making the most of any opportunity to stand out should be taken, that includes being early. Remember in a group interview setting you are being assessed from the moment you arrive, so take the chance to show off your social skills and interact with the other candidates before the interview starts. So introduce yourself to the group….. Stallin...

The 6 best achievements to show on your CV

3Dec By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, CVs

The 6 best achievements to show on your CV

To gain an interview you have to write a great CV. Whilst every employer has their own opinion on what makes a top class CV, it can be agreed throughout the recruitment industry that each application requires two main ingredients: A list of the relevant skills, qualifications and experienceAn indication of past performances and a list of results/achievements Every job seeker aims to cover the first part of this important strategy, but most fail to provide any kind of evidence that they are a capable worker. Anyone can claim to have a whole range of skills, but how is the employer able to identify to what level that person can function within the workplace? The answer is surprisingly simple – include achievements on your CV and demonstrate your worth. We all achieve a lot in l...