Choosing the right recruitment partner as a candidate can have a really significant impact on your career if you get it right.

Parting with it with a good recruiter can be a career long relationship (heaven forbid) that can provide significant benefits, these can include:

• Market Intel.
• Career advice and counsel.
• They will  be able to unearth, hidden,  off market opportunities for you which might advance your career.
• Act as a sounding board during decision making or times of uncertainty.

Getting it wrong can have the opposite effect, and can be highly career damaging. Recruitment gives itself a bad name by the recruiters who don’t care about what they do. Examples include the candidates CV appearing on the current managers desk.

If you’re considering who to partner with, long term market reputation and recommendation of those recruitment partners are the sort of key things that you need to look out for.

If you would like to know some more techniques and questions to ask about what to look for when choosing a recruitment partner then please Contact Us and I’ll come back to you when I can.

Many thanks,

Steve

stephen@cavendishmaine.com

RESIGNING THE RIGHT WAY

Resigning the right way, whether you’re feeling overworked or overlooked or undervalued, the best way to start any sort of change is to talk to your existing employer first. Talk to them, express your concerns, tell them why you feel the way that you do,  give them the opportunity to put things right.

If they choose not to accept it, then you’ve got your answer, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise to them when you do decide to make a change.

If you are considering making a move and wish to start talk through the rest of the steps in the process, feel free to Contact Us and I’ll be happy to talk things through.

Many thanks,

Steve

stephen@cavendishmaine.com

Although getting headhunted will still require some effort from you, it won’t take up nearly as much of your time as the traditional job-hunting approach, obviously it doesn’t guarantee when it is going to happen, but it means that opportunity arrives, you’ll be considered and approached about it.

An advantage of the recruiter coming directly to you is that they know the job they’re offering has to be better than your existing one. Otherwise, how are they going to tempt you out of your current role? You have the upper hand in negotiations, which puts you in a great position to ask for a better package and maybe even include a pay rise.

However, to get headhunted, you need to stand out by a mile; and this can be difficult in today’s competitive job market. Therefore, the best approach is to continue your job search, but also work on improving your chances of being found by recruiters at the same time.

There’s no harm in having all bases covered, right? To increase your chances of a recruiter headhunting you, check out the top tips below.

Market Your Personal Brand

One of the best ways to raise your profile and get recognised as a top performer in your field is to regularly participate in any activity within the industry. This doesn’t have to just be on social media. In fact, some of the old-fashioned methods are the most effective.

You can speak at industry events, seminars or get your articles published in relevant publications. You could even act as a speaker internally for your company’s events. Don’t be afraid of public speaking and always seize the opportunity to get involved.  For example, if you’re looking to get headhunted for an IT job, try get involved with company webinars or create a portfolio with some of your best work. The more regularly that you contribute to these events, the more your thoughts will be heard. And hopefully, the quicker you’ll be known in your field as an outgoing, knowledgeable and passionate person (and one that employers will want to headhunt).

Use Social Media 

If you’d rather opt for a more convenient method of raising your profile, then using social media may be your preferred option. A strong LinkedIn profile is essential for displaying your skills, achievements, experience and personal information.

Furthermore, it’s a great tool for connecting with past and present colleagues, as well as gaining endorsements from these individuals. And the more you can gain of these, the better!  After all, they can vouch for your skills and help to expand your network and ultimately, your chances of getting headhunted. Ideally, you should try to ask senior members of staff to recommend you, based on any successful projects you were able to deliver for them. In doing so, you’ll give head-hunters instant proof of your abilities; which should speed up the initial stages of the hiring process.

Expand Your Network 

Effective networking will significantly increase your chances of getting headhunted. This means staying consistently active across your industry to gradually increase your presence, rather than diving in headfirst whenever you need a job. Make an effort to reconnect with influential people you’ve met throughout the industry; but not just when you need them. Networking is a two-way effort. So, be willing to put in a good word for others and proactively offer to help when you can. Networking events can give you a great head–start for meeting lots of industry figureheads, but consistent contact over time will see the greatest rewards. Genuine connections are the most valuable in the long run, but these relationships need maintaining.

Key Points to Remember

Take a long-term approach to building strong, mutually-beneficial relationships both internally and externally. Recruitment is very relationship driven at senior levels.

Stay visible and ensure that your key skills and achievements are in the public domain.

Pick the key recruiters in your market and engage with them. An upfront investment with a small group of well chosen recruiters will pay big dividends.

Do not leave this activity until you are actively looking – these approaches all take time.

If you were to google ‘the power of saying no’ you will find a plethora of self – help and guidance books based on this very topic.  A Nobel prize was even awarded back in 2002 for work based on saying no – this is not a new craze!

The word NO naturally brings with it negative connotations – but what if I were to tell you that saying “no” is easier than you think and can have completely the opposite effect on all those involved?

The recent pandemic seems to have impacted the ‘people pleaser’ and ‘yes men/women’ by altering their approach somewhat.  “Yes” is no longer the default and “No” is becoming a regular vocabulary feature whilst everyone realises how important prioritising yourself without feeling guilty truly is.

Saying “No” is your right, not a privilege (Tony Robbins) and not only protects your personal integrity but sets healthy limits and boundaries whilst also setting you free.  That small two letter word is empowering, exhilarating and ultimately makes the word YES more meaningful.

Practice saying “No”

Our ‘inner chimp’ is tested on a daily basis and generally wins the impulsive YES battle.  But in order for us to override this and take back control, we must consciously slow down.  Pause, assess the situation and then decide.  To wait is to win.  And that is exactly what the last 18 months has shown us.

Some good workplace examples of when saying “No” is a good idea include;

• Focussing on your own goals – if saying “Yes” means that you would need to sacrifice your own personal goals or it would have a detrimental impact on you succeeding your own goals and targets, say “No”
• Values & Principles – If saying “Yes” goes against your personal values or principles – say “No”
• Strength to change – If you are on a personal path of change and saying “Yes” would knock you off track – say “No”
• Exploitation & abuse – If you know deep down you are being used or taken advantage of and someone has selfish intentions – say “No”

So, whilst YES will always be easier and the FOMO on opportunities, relationships, promotions or events may sneak in from time to time; next time you are about to say “Yes” AGAIN – take a moment, be diplomatic, courteous and honest and honour your personal integrity… with a big fat NO!

If after all of this the struggle to be heard continues, please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and dial 01275 813000 for a confidential discussion.

Over the past 18 months, virtual meetings have become a ‘big deal’ and even as the majority of people have returned to some normality in their working lives, the Virtual Interview is here to stay!

From a Recruiter’s point of view this is great news – a way of speeding up the recruitment process, keeping potential candidates engaged, not waiting weeks on end for clients to synchronise diaries for when they will be in the same office at the same time, and less excuses from candidates about their cars breaking down (always happens on the day of an interview btw!).  It can even mean more candidates get a shot at a first interview as the process is so time effective…

They do however have some disadvantages which almost all fall in the disfavour of the interviewee.  So with over 60% of all first stage interviews now being carried out on a virtual platform, here are a few hints and tips on how to avoid those potential pitfalls:

BEFORE

• Always accept the inbox invitation as soon as it is received rather than wait until just before the meeting. In addition to common courtesy, this also shows your keenness to attend, interest in the opportunity and avoids any doubt as to whether you have received the details and/or will attend.
• Ensure you have the correct app or platform downloaded in good time and check that it works! Practice calling a friend or family member beforehand for peace of mind.
• Set your device up in a tidy, quiet space with good lighting. Ensure there is nothing offensive or embarrassing in the background (don’t be caught out by reflections in mirrors displaying  the pile of dirty washing you thought you had moved out of sight!).
• Do Not Disturb – tell everyone in your household that you are not to be disturbed, turn off any notification alerts on all devices, pause the washing machine and shut any pets (and children) out of the room.
• Dress to impress – and not just your top half! Treat the virtual interview in the same way you would treat a normal face to face meeting.  You only get one chance to make a first impression.
• Ensure the internet connection is strong and the battery is fully charged on your device.
• As with any interview, be PREPARED! Have a copy of the job spec and your CV to hand and anticipate the most likely questions – this is something your recruiter can help you with.
• If you don’t already know how to ‘screen share’ in order to present your CV or other documents, you should master this skill just in case!

DURING

• Arrive online early – its good practice to be waiting online before the host arrives.
• Ensure the camera is ON and mute is OFF.
• Make small talk – just as you would when you are met in reception by your interviewer at a face to face interview. Sitting in silence whilst waiting for other interviewers to arrive can be awkward.  This is an opportunity to show a glimpse of your personality, which isn’t always easy on a screen!
• Make sure you look into the camera rather than the screen itself.
• Avoid slouching in your chair – this could portray disinterest.
• Try not to be too ‘familiar’ with the interviewees – whilst you may be sat in your home, your ‘safe place’ and where you feel most comfortable, it is all too easy to become overly relaxed in both body language and speech. Be mindful throughout.
• Pause before and after speaking to avoid talking over others.

AFTER

• Double check you are definitely disconnected before you let out a sigh of relief (or worse)!

We hope this information is helpful.

If you are currently seeking a new opportunity, or if you are not quite there yet, but would like a career chat, then please Contact Us  to talk through your options, the market and anything in between.

Super Power

Teleportation - I’d love the ability to just be anywhere without the hassle of travelling

If you were an animal.

As much as I want to say Panda, the honest answer would probably be a duck- seemingly fine on the surface but flapping like crazy underneath.

Biggest regret

Not taking the opportunity to travel more in my younger years

Biggest hope

Winning the lottery!

Celebrity dinner guests

Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Melissa McCarthy, Hugh Jackman, Bradley Cooper and David Beckham- they seem like they would be a nice fun bunch!

Dream job

Sports journalist, specifically football.

Last supper

Roast lamb with all the trimmings

Karaoke song

Nope

Super Power

Being able to fly

If you were an animal.

Shark

Biggest regret

Not doing my dream job when I had the chance

Biggest hope

Buy a villa to retire to in Zakynthos

Celebrity dinner guests

Barack Obama, Dave Grohl, Jurgen Klopp, Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johansson

Dream job

Scuba Diving Instructor in the Caribbean

Last supper

Fillet steak and a bottle of Charles Melton Nine Popes

Karaoke song

We built this city - Starship

Super Power

Mind reading

If you were an animal.

Family dog Murphy what a life!!

Biggest regret

None so far…

Biggest hope

A wild card into the Wimbledon main draw!!

Celebrity dinner guests

Michael Jordon, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Barac Obama, Helena Christensen Dame Judy Dench, Kelly Slater.

Dream job

Pro Surfer

Last supper

Scallops to start, Steak for main, banoffee pie to finish.

Karaoke song

Never forget – Take That