Blog – Instant Recruit

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...

3Dec By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, CVs

These hobbies will benefit your CV

The main focus a job seeker has when they write a CV is how they can demonstrate lots of relevant skills, qualifications, and an extensive career history. The aim is to prove they have what it takes to be the next hire. But is there something extra they could do? The hobbies section of a CV is the most underrated part. Why would an employer want to know what you get up to in your spare time? Well, the first and obvious answer would be to say that it helps them to get a feel for your personality. With an application that’s littered with skills and achievements, there isn’t a great deal of room to interact on a personal level. There is also one other thing that would be of interest to the employer – and that’s your soft skill level. As opposed to a hard or specific skill that is o...

2Nov By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, CVs

3 signs that you need to write a new CV

With such fierce competition in the job hunting market you cannot afford to take liberties with your CV. You only get just the one chance to make a good first impression with your application, and any kind of mistake will result in rejection. So you may be wondering if your CV still holds up today, or if you need to start again from scratch? We would like to set the record straight and help you make the right decision. A brand new CV could be just what you need to push past those out of work blues. Here are the 3 signs telling you that you need to write a new CV. Your CV is very old If you’ve stuck around with the same old CV for the past few years or even decades – then now is the time to write a new one. Presentation is everything, and your CV will not fair so well in to...

How to create work experience for a school leaver’s CV

11Oct By Kristina JonesNo Comments

Blog, CVs

How to create work experience for a school leaver’s CV

Writing your very first CV can be an extremely daunting task. One of the most important parts is the ‘work experience’ section, and you’re probably wondering what could go here if you have never had a job. The good news is that there are lots of things you can put down here and steps you can take to gain some work experience. You just have to be creative and willing to stay proactive. Here are some great tips on how to create work experience for your school leavers CV… Take advantage of school projects A big misconception about school, college or university is that it isn't actually 'work' as we see it in the traditional sense. All of the above is of course classed as being in 'education', however it's important to recognise that this is still work and can be used on a CV....