# Articles on Our Bob > Career advice, industry insights, and guides. --- ## Finding a Decent Recruitment Agency - **Published**: 2023-08-29 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/finding-a-decent-recruitment-agency Many recruitment agencies receive bad press, for many different reasons. There are large numbers of agencies operating in the UK, and with varying degrees of candidate care. As a candidate approaching an agency to register your details, here are some of the things you should be looking out for: Finding a Decent Recruitment Agency Many recruitment agencies receive bad press, for many different reasons. There are large numbers of agencies operating in the UK, and with varying degrees of candidate care. As a candidate approaching an agency to register your details, here are some of the things you should be looking out for: They are realistic and honest.  If you go along saying you want to be considered for roles at Director level,  but you’ve only just completed your Further Education, their consultant should be letting you down gently. They respond to your emails and calls , with clear direct answers. Whilst we know that their priority is to fill a role for their client, they need to make time to keep their candidates happy. They will make sure you receive feedback  from any recruitment campaign you’ve been involved in, so you know where you went wrong, or where your skills weren’t up to the mark. Next time you’ll do better! They will prepare you for an interview . We’re not expecting real interview coaching here, but they should at least let you know what to expect, the type of interview it will be, and who will be on the panel, so you cancdo your homework before you go along. They will help you negotiate your salary  if you are offered a job. At this stage in the process, they should be acting in your best interests and securing the best package possible for you. They will keep in touch.  Agencies have thousands of candidates on their books, and many make no contact unless a relevant role comes in. The best agencies will do what they can to keep in touch with you, check that your details are up to date, and make sure your CV is up to date. Comply with immigration... --- ## What is an Apprenticeship? - **Published**: 2023-08-23 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/what-is-an-apprenticeship Many people have heard of apprenticeships but aren’t all that sure what they actually entail in practice. Apprenticeships are real jobs that people are paid to do, and they also incorporate an academic component, so you will receive an academic qualification once it has been completed. Many people have heard of apprenticeships but aren’t all that sure what they actually entail in practice. Apprenticeships are real jobs that people are paid to do, and they also incorporate an academic component, so you will receive an academic qualification once it has been completed. The fact that apprenticeships cover actual job roles means that around two-thirds of apprentices are kept on in actual employment by the company they apprenticed with once the apprenticeship has been successfully completed. It is not guaranteed, but most companies have an apprenticeship scheme with an eye to being able to bring on future talent for their company and are predisposed to hiring former apprentices. For the duration of the apprenticeship, most apprentices will be on the apprenticeship minimum wage , which is set nationally by the UK Government. Still, in some cases, employers will pay more than they are obligated to in order to create competition and find the best candidates. This is most common in the financial, business and management fields. Unfortunately, it also means it is more difficult to find an apprenticeship placement in the first place due to the competition around places with them. What Can I Apprentice In? Apprenticeships aren’t like school subjects, there is a much broader scope of actual job roles that can be applied for. They are very popular because they offer the chance to get a start in areas that are much more hands-on and practical than anything available at school. Young people can learn specific job roles within the construction industry or vehicle maintenance if that is their passion and interest. There is a wide variety of different apprenticeship jobs spread throughout the country, and some of them can be surprising. Last year a Formula One team was looking for apprentices to join their... --- ## How Much do Apprentices Earn? - **Published**: 2023-08-22 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/how-much-do-apprentices-earn One of the reasons to start an apprenticeship is the chance to earn while you learn, rather than paying for expensive university education and it may be a good idea to outline the reality of how much apprentices can expect to earn. One of the reasons to start an apprenticeship is the chance to earn while you learn, rather than paying for expensive university education and it may be a good idea to outline the reality of how much apprentices can expect to earn. The apprenticeship minimum wage is in place and this is geared to ensuring that apprentices are paid fairly while they are on their apprenticeship and that they are paid for both the “on the job” and “off the job” positions of their training and learning. It is important to remember that this is the lower level below which apprenticeship earnings shouldn’t fall, rather than an upper level. Companies can pay apprentices more than this if they want to and this is frequently a feature of apprenticeships in the finance and business sectors in particular. This means that these particular apprenticeships are much sought after and can be very competitive to get into. How much is the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage? The UK Government sets the apprenticeship minimum wage and it is tiered across different age groups, meaning that younger people are paid less and it increases as they get a little older. In 2023/24 the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage is as follows: Apprentices under the age of 19 are entitled to the 2023 apprentice minimum wage rate of £5.28 per hour. This is the same amount as the National Minimum Wage rate for others of their age. The exception to this is that 19 year olds who are in the first year of their apprenticeship are also offered £5.28, even though this is lower than the amount they would be entitled to in a normal job. When apprentices who aren’t in their first year turn 19, they are entitled to access the 18-20 rate of the national minimum wage and... --- ## Who Can Start an Apprenticeship? - **Published**: 2023-08-22 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/who-can-start-an-apprenticeship It is a common misunderstanding about apprenticeships that they are often thought to only be for young school leavers with few formal qualifications who want to continue their education outside of a school environment. This view of apprenticeships is outdated and doesn’t bear much resemblance to the reality of the current situation. Apprenticeships offer new opportunities to people of all ages and are a significant part of re-skilling when deciding on a career change. It is a common misunderstanding about apprenticeships that they are often thought to only be for young school leavers with few formal qualifications who want to continue their education outside of a school environment. This view of apprenticeships is outdated and doesn’t bear much resemblance to the reality of the current situation. Apprenticeships offer new opportunities to people of all ages and are a significant part of re-skilling when deciding on a career change. There is a huge range of apprenticeships on offer. They are broken down into their respective educational qualification levels and segmented by the type of occupation and job role they relate to. Adult Apprenticeships Many of the adults who are choosing to pursue apprenticeships are doing so in order to try to change careers and develop skills in areas that they hadn’t been able to in their previous working life. It is often the case that they have been prompted to go for an apprenticeship at the company that already employs them in order to retrain to learn a different job role and fill a skills gap at the company in question. This can often be an acknowledgement that the employee in question has almost the right skills for promotion but maybe lacks a couple of vital skills to enable them to take on the new job role. Companies that are willing to invest in the training of their employees in this way tend to have a good level of loyalty returned to them, so this works well for both parties.  If you are in the process of changing careers, you are allowed to start an apprenticeship at the same level as your current qualifications or lower. This means that if you had an undergraduate degree already, which is level six, you would be able to... --- ## Redundancy Support for Apprentices - **Published**: 2023-08-21 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/redundancy-support-for-apprentices Unfortunately, redundancy is a fact of life across all sectors and even apprenticeships aren’t immune to economic pressures that weigh on many companies. This may lead to a situation where you are made redundant from your apprenticeship before it has been completed. If this happens to you, it is not necessarily the end of your apprenticeship and we will outline some options below for getting help. Unfortunately, redundancy is a fact of life across all sectors and even apprenticeships aren’t immune to economic pressures that weigh on many companies. This may lead to a situation where you are made redundant from your apprenticeship before it has been completed. If this happens to you, it is not necessarily the end of your apprenticeship and we will outline some options below for getting help. Help for Redundant Apprentices In the event of apprentices experiencing redundancy, the Education and Skills Funding Agency will work with the affected apprentices and training provider to find another company to step in to honour the apprenticeship. This is actually an excellent deal from a business perspective as they get an apprentice who is already part of the way toward achieving their apprenticeship goals and has some more experience than someone starting from scratch. This is generally the best solution for everyone concerned. In addition to the above support, there is also the Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices which aims to help get all apprentices in this situation back into a suitable apprenticeship within 12 weeks. The UK Government will fund your apprenticeship training for 12 weeks, in order to give you time to find another employer. If you have less than six months of your training to go or you have completed more than 75% of your training, you may be able to apply to take your End Point Assessment and complete your apprenticeship anyway. This would then allow you to be a fully qualified apprentice seeking work in your chosen field. How to Access Financial Support You should receive 12 weeks of financial support from the moment you are made redundant from your apprenticeship and this should help to tide you over until you can find another suitable apprenticeship or job. It... --- ## Types of Apprenticeship - **Published**: 2023-08-21 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/types-of-apprenticeship There are many apprenticeships spread across a multitude of different subject areas that largely correspond to the job roles that the apprentices will take on when they are working with their company. What is less well understood is that there are also different “types” of apprenticeship based on the academic level of them. There are many apprenticeships spread across a multitude of different subject areas that largely correspond to the job roles that the apprentices will take on when they are working with their company. What is less well understood is that there are also different “types” of apprenticeship based on the academic level of them. This is based on the current educational system and fits in with the numerical system used in much of the UK in order to understand the relevant merits of different qualifications and how they all fit together in the grand scheme of things. Understanding Apprenticeship “Levels” In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there are different qualification levels that are numbered 1-8 and apprenticeships largely correspond to this. Apprenticeships start at Level 2 and this is known as an “Intermediate Apprenticeship”. On completing an intermediate level apprenticeship successfully, the apprentice will have achieved the equivalent of a GCSE grade A, B or C, or a level 2 National Vocational Qualification. The next level up is Level 3 and this is called an “Advanced Apprenticeship” and these are the most popular apprenticeships. These are equivalent to an international baccalaureate level, A levels, or a Level 3 NVQ. Levels 4 and 5 are collectively referred to as “Higher Apprenticeships” and level 4 corresponds to a Certificate of Higher Education or a Higher National Certificate (HNC) while level 5 corresponds to a Diploma of Higher Education or a Higher National Diploma (HND). Levels 6 and 7 are referred to as a Degree Apprenticeship and this is because Level 6 corresponds to an undergraduate degree such as a bachelor of arts with honours. Level 7 corresponds to a Masters Degree and or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. (PGCE) Entrance Requirements All of these apprenticeship types will be available but they may have... --- ## Apprenticeship Advice for Parents and Teachers - **Published**: 2023-08-18 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/apprenticeship-advice-for-parents-and-teachers Apprenticeships aren’t as well understood by parents and teachers as other further and higher education options and this can be a disadvantage to young people who may not realise that an excellent option that meets their needs is out there. Many teachers and parents seem to be of the view that school level qualifications are the be all and end all of education and this excludes many pupils who are not as academically gifted as their peers but are better working with their hands or on non-academic tasks. There is a presumption and an attitude that if someone doesn’t get good grades in their exams at school, their life prospects have disappeared before they had even begun. There is not only one way to succeed in life and it is even possible to successfully transition to a different career at any point in your life. There are multiple routes to success and apprenticeships are one of the best for many young people as they offer a far broader range of choices than are offered in college and university brochures. Key Things to Know About Apprenticeships Apprenticeships aren’t as well understood by parents and teachers as other further and higher education options and this can be a disadvantage to young people who may not realise that an excellent option that meets their needs is out there. Apprentices Earn As They Learn An apprenticeship is very like a job except that the apprentice will be learning the job while they are doing it. This means they will be getting paid for their work at the Apprentice Minimum Wage rate set by the UK Government. This gives them the chance to get on their feet and get a taste for how the world of work operates, while still receiving help and support from a mentor and attaining an academic qualification on their completion of the apprenticeship. Apprentices Have Excellent Career Prospects The career prospects for young people undertaking apprenticeships are excellent with the vast majority of them being hired for the job role... --- ## Leaving an Apprenticeship - **Published**: 2023-08-18 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/leaving-an-apprenticeship Nobody can force you to continue an apprenticeship that you have realised isn’t for you, but many companies will be wary of taking you on if you have already left one apprenticeship, so it pays to put in the extra research beforehand to ensure you are doing something that you are keen to continue with. When we think of an apprenticeship, we think of it as being something that takes place from beginning to end, without any changes along the way. In reality, although apprentices have to sign an apprenticeship commitment statement before they can begin, there are legitimate reasons to choose to leave an apprenticeship. Nobody can force you to continue an apprenticeship that you have realised isn’t for you, but many companies will be wary of taking you on if you have already left one apprenticeship, so it pays to put in the extra research beforehand to ensure you are doing something that you are keen to continue with. Valid Reasons for Leaving an Apprenticeship There are many perfectly valid reasons for wanting to call time on your apprenticeship, just like with any other job, you can’t be forced to continue against your will. We have noted a few legitimate reasons below for leaving an apprenticeship early. Relationship Breakdown This can be a major reason to want to leave an apprenticeship, the relationship between an apprentice and the person or people who have been assigned to guide them is an important one. Before deciding you definitely want to leave the apprenticeship because of this, have a think and see if there is anyone else at the company who would be more acceptable to you in terms of supervising your apprenticeship. That way you have an alternative option to put to the management before deciding to call it a day. Relationship breakdowns can take many forms, especially in a power imbalance one like a mentor/mentee relationship. They can take the form of bullying, making negative comments, or even sexual harassment. None of these are acceptable and it is entirely legitimate to complain about these behaviours. You shouldn’t ever have to accept them at your... --- ## How to Apply for an Apprenticeship - **Published**: 2023-08-17 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/how-to-apply-for-an-apprenticeship Applying to start an apprenticeship can be a significant step on the career ladder. Whether you are a school leaver looking to develop your skills and gain experience or an older employee looking for a career change or advancement within your current career, there is an apprenticeship that is custom-designed to suit you. Applying to start an apprenticeship can be a significant step on the career ladder. Whether you are a school leaver looking to develop your skills and gain experience or an older employee looking for a career change or advancement within your current career, there is an apprenticeship that is custom-designed to suit you. Earning as you learn is a great advantage, and the experience you gain can catapult you far beyond where you would have been by following a more traditional educational route or by trying to get a foot in the door at entry level in the company.  It is even possible to use the apprenticeship route to gain a degree-level qualification while not having to fork over thousands of pounds yearly in tuition fees. It takes longer to complete degree-level apprenticeships, but they are the educational equivalent of an undergraduate degree qualification, and you won't have to pay through the nose for it. In fact, you will have been earning money while working toward it. Ensure You Have Your Documents Ready Before proceeding to apply for an apprenticeship, you should make sure that you fit the qualifying criteria. After that, you should take the time to brush up on your CV and cover letter writing skills, as these will be necessary to apply. Applying for an apprenticeship is essentially very similar to applying for a job. They are looking to be impressed by you and to know that you will be able to take the job role seriously and do well with it. Decide What You’re Looking For If you don’t know what you are looking for, it can be very difficult to find it. Try to make sure you have an idea of what kind of apprenticeship you would like to do before you start looking, or... --- ## Reasons to Start an Apprenticeship - **Published**: 2023-08-17 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/reasons-to-start-an-apprenticeship There are many reasons to start an apprenticeship, and they are an excellent way to get on the career ladder in the profession that you want to pursue. Apprenticeships have been gaining in popularity over the last few years. Employers increasingly see them as a way to plug the UK skills shortage that has been made worse by both the effects of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. There are many reasons to start an apprenticeship, and they are an excellent way to get on the career ladder in the profession that you want to pursue. Obtain the Skills You Need for Success The fact that apprenticeships allow you to experience a job role as you are learning what it entails means that you will quickly pick up the practical skills that you need to succeed in your chosen field. This can even put you ahead of University graduates who may have only ever learned the theoretical side of what they need to know but never actually had the chance to develop their real-world skills. Networking and Contacts It’s not just the skills that you will pick up during your apprenticeship that stand you in such good stead, it is also the contacts that you will make. You will be working closely with others at the company, and one of them will most likely be your assigned mentor. If you develop a good relationship with them, they can help you in your career and make it easier for you to succeed. Being able to obtain a good reference from someone well-regarded in your field can be a great door-opener for you and can help you to achieve success in the future. Flexibility and Support Apprenticeships can be reasonably flexible and can run from a year to several years in duration. This is why they can be popular with people who have other commitments, for example, caring for elderly family members or young children. Many apprenticeship providers will take your... --- ## Apprenticeship Career Paths - **Published**: 2023-08-16 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/apprenticeship-career-paths The reasons to start an apprenticeship are plentiful and it can be easy to establish whether you are eligible to take part in one. They can give a kickstart to career prospects and help you to reach your full potential. The reasons to start an apprenticeship are plentiful and it can be easy to establish whether you are eligible to take part in one. They can give a kickstart to career prospects and help you to reach your full potential. Apprenticeships are often ideal for people who are not very academic but who deal well with other people or who are talented with their hands. Mechanics and engineers are always in demand and these are very popular career paths. What do we Mean by Career Paths? A career path is the route you take throughout your working life and hopefully encapsulates your career progression and plans for advancement. There are over 1500 career paths open to apprentices at the moment in the UK that can lead to becoming anything from a gas engineer to a social worker or dental nurse. The only limit is the imagination when it comes to choosing the best career path to follow. The best advice we can give is to find what you are passionate about and take the steps that follow the path to making that your full-time career. That way you are much more likely to be happy in your job and you will be less likely to burn out or feel the need to change careers half-way through.  Career Prospects for Apprentices The prospects for apprentices to go on to future success are high in both the immediate and longer term after successfully completing an apprenticeship. Many employers see apprenticeships as a chance to help mould young people to fit the roles that they need to fill. Apprenticeships are increasingly being seen as a way to solve the UK skills gap which is beginning to manifest itself across many different industries and sectors.  In the Short Term The short-term prospects for an... --- ## How to grab a Candidate's Attention by Email - **Published**: 2023-08-16 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/how-to-grab-a-candidates-attention-by-email If you’re recruiting, and you usually take the initial step to email candidates to alert them to a potential job match, are you sure your emails are getting the right attention? If you’re recruiting, and you usually take the initial step to email candidates to alert them to a potential job match, are you sure your emails are getting the right attention? You’ll know that when candidates start actively searching for a new job, there is the possibility that a number of agencies / recruiters will be aware that they are in the market for a move. This means that any candidate could potentially receive numerous daily emails, both from job boards and recruiters alike. If emails are how you make your initial approach, are you making sure they stand out from the rest? When sending an email for this purpose, it’s important to grab the candidate’s interest quickly! Here are our top tips for writing an email which delivers results: 1. Make sure it’s personalised Firstly, this may seem like a basic step, but many recruiters still send generic emails or use a basic template that doesn’t have any personalisation. So, it’s vitally important to include the candidate's name in your introduction. Most modern email software solutions such as Mailchimp allow for this functionality. Emails that don’t have any personalisation tend to get caught in spam filters quite a lot because they are seen as being generic and not necessarily intended for the person who received them. Secondly, the subject line is your sales point! It needs to grab their attention and interest so that they actually open the email, so make sure it contains some text which brings the candidate some hope. 2. Introduce yourself It’s important that you provide a brief introduction about who you are and why you’re contacting the candidate. This should be no more than a few sentences as you don’t want to put them off reading the rest of the email. 3. Add enough... --- ## Flexible Working: Benefits for Employees and Employers - **Published**: 2023-08-15 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/flexible-working-benefits-for-employees-and-employers What may surprise many is that flexible working doesn’t just benefit employees, but it also substantially benefits businesses as well. In studies related to remote working, it was found that the majority of companies already embrace hiring remote and flexible workers. It’s no secret that more and more people are now applying for jobs with flexible or remote working options, primarily so they can achieve a better work / life balance. Working 9-5 isn’t practical for many parents.  School times aren’t flexible: dropping off and picking up your children from school can sometime be impossible if you’re working a typical full time working day on an employer site, so flexible working is a great solution for working parents. What may surprise many is that flexible working doesn’t just benefit employees, but it also substantially benefits businesses as well. In studies related to remote working, it was found that the majority of companies already embrace hiring remote and flexible workers. It’s estimated that nearly 63 percent of companies have full-time employees who work outside the office either on a full-time or part-time basis. So how does it benefit employers? Many business leaders and owners don’t realise that office environments are actually incredibly distracting places. People who work from home have actually been found to be on average 13% more productive, and in some cases, up to 30% more than their in-office counterparts. This is an important aspect when it comes to driving businesses forward. Better performance and productivity means a better quality of work. It stands to reason that when someone is in their own familiar environment they are able to concentrate better. They may be able to listen to music while they work, if this is something that helps them to focus, in a way that was just never really accepted in the office environment. They have better access to refreshments and food and may even manage to get their household chores done during the working day as well as being more productive in terms of their job. Many people, particularly... --- ## How To Help Your Candidates Relax At Interview - **Published**: 2023-08-15 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/how-to-help-your-candidates-relax-at-interview Candidates will more often than not give their best performance at an interview when they feel relaxed, comfortable and welcomed. We've just a few tips here which you should bear in mind next time you're interviewing, to make sure you let the candidate perform as well as they can: Interviews for anyone, at any level, can be intimidating. Nerves can be shot, confidence can be faltering, their fear of the question they haven't prepared for can be preying on their mind, and they can't work out what you are thinking as they answer your questions. All are real issues for the majority of interviews, and if this is the job of their dreams, they will feel like they've got too much to lose if they get it wrong. Candidates will more often than not give their best performance at an interview when they feel relaxed, comfortable and welcomed. We've just a few tips here which you should bear in mind next time you're interviewing, to make sure you let the candidate perform as well as they can: Whilst there often needs to be a certain level of formality, there's no need to go overboard! Calling people Mr Jones, or Miss Smith, when you can quite easily use their first name, is a no-no.   Smile!! It goes such a long way to making candidates feel welcome, and will help to put them at ease.   Candidates will often have an expectation to shake hands with their interviewers when they meet them. Oddly, we've seen some interviewers state that their policy is 'not to shake hands at interviews'. It's bizarre! Imagine how you would feel if you go to shake someone's hand, and they turn away or break eye contact to avoid it. It's a sure fire way to put the candidate into confidence-reduction mode. Shaking hands is courteous, professional and welcoming, so just get on with it!   Before the interview officially begins, explain to the candidate exactly what's going to happen. Set out the format of the interview, explain that you'll be taking some brief notes, reassure them... --- ## Creating a Diverse Workplace - **Published**: 2023-08-14 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/creating-a-diverse-workplace Having a diverse mixture of staff can really help improve the work environment and the business as a whole. When we say diversity, people will often think this just means gender, ethnicity, age and cultural background, however it’s not just that. Diversity also means bringing together different mindsets to improve the way your business flows. Having a diverse mixture of staff can really help improve the work environment and the business as a whole. When we say diversity, people will often think this just means gender, ethnicity, age and cultural background, however it’s not just that. Diversity also means bringing together different mindsets to improve the way your business flows. It can be people from different social classes for example, or from different parts of the country who have grown up living very differently from each other and have therefore developed different world views and tools for dealing with what they see in the world in front of them. Cognitive Diversity Cognitive diversity refers to the different ways people think. Different mindsets offer different skills, this can often be seen when we look at someone who thinks creatively and someone who thinks logically, of course many people can be both creative and logical, but having a mixture is a great way to improve your business. The term cognitive diversity is a concept that comes from the difference in perspective and information processing, therefore it isn’t always directly linked to the most obvious factors such as race and gender. It can be linked to neurodiversity as well, people who are on the autistic spectrum tend to think outside of what neurotypical people think of as “the box”. To a neurodiverse person “the box” may not exist at all and their way of thinking about things can be far removed from that of some of their colleagues. This is exactly what we are looking for though as it means they can help to come up with innovative solutions to problems that are experienced in the business. Personality Personalities are vitally important in the workplace.  It’s always important to remember that you’re hiring humans and not machines, therefore... --- ## Do you Inspire your Employees? - **Published**: 2023-08-14 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/do-you-inspire-your-employees According to new research, 58 percent of employees are rarely or never inspired by the leader of the company they work for. This is quite poor as leadership is a quality that is usually regarded as being in high demand when it comes to being the boss of a company or organisation. There are all manner of issues where employees will look to their bosses for leadership and some of these include things like how to manage work-life balance, read more about our advice and views below. According to new research, 58 percent of employees are rarely or never inspired by the leader of the company they work for. This is quite poor as leadership is a quality that is usually regarded as being in high demand when it comes to being the boss of a company or organisation. There are all manner of issues where employees will look to their bosses for leadership and some of these include things like how to manage work-life balance. If the boss is working all of the hours and doesn’t really seem to have a life outside work to speak of, others may feel that they should stay later as well, thus copying the bad example being set to them.  The research, carried out by YouGov online, questioned over 1,000 British employees about their views on their business leaders. Astonishingly, British employees felt that their leaders were setting a poor example around the issues that matter to them today, including managing stress and staying mentally healthy. As more companies are looking to improve their approaches to mental health, this new research shows a bit of a crisis of leadership. It may come as no surprise, but flexible working played a huge part in the survey, with over half of the workers questioned (54 percent) reporting that they wanted to see their business focus on a better work / life balance for its employees. Sadly, only 23 percent of participants said their business leader sets a good example for work-life balance, only 24 percent on flexible working, and only 17 percent and 11 percent respectively when it comes to mental health and stress. On a more positive note, small business leaders got more positive feedback than larger firms. One in five people questioned from a small business said they felt their... --- ## Preventing Discrimination - **Published**: 2023-08-11 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/preventingdiscrimination Despite workplace discrimination being illegal, it still persists. Thousands of people report job discrimination each year, however employers are rarely held accountable. Discrimination is classed as the unfair and unequal treatment of a person because they possess a particular characteristic or view. Despite workplace discrimination being illegal, it still persists. Thousands of people report job discrimination each year, however employers are rarely held accountable. Discrimination is classed as the unfair and unequal treatment of a person because they possess a particular characteristic or view, these can include : ·       Age ·       Disability ·       Pregnancy and Maternity ·       Race ·       Religion or Belief ·       Sex ·       Sexual Orientation ·       Gender Reassignment ·       Marriage and civil partnership The Equality Act brings together the characteristics above under one banner to strengthen the laws around discrimination. As an employer, you need to be proactive in preventing discrimination if you want to stay on the right side of the law, and your employees. Avoiding discrimination starts before you even employ someone. The job advert shouldn’t discriminate, and it should also avoid using certain terms. These can include ‘office girl’ or 'handyman' as these titles imply that only people of one gender can apply. This really is just common sense and we would be surprised if these gendered terms were all that commonplace these days. Most people know that they should use more neutral working. In addition, it’s important to avoid terms like “20 years experience required” unless there’s an actual real job requirement. This is because you could be discriminating against someone who hasn’t had the chance to gain experience yet, and this relates to age discrimination. When interviewing, all candidates should be tested against the same skills or competencies in the same way, with similar types of questions. This is to avoid one candidate being given an advantage above others or to avoid asking questions that may seem too personal. To avoid discrimination in the workplace, it’s important to take the following steps: Educate your staff about... --- ## Team Building Events and Wellbeing - **Published**: 2023-08-11 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/teambuildingeventsandwellbeing Office parties or office networking events are two of the many ways to improve teamwork, build a better working environment and contribute to positive wellbeing at work. You don’t need a special occasion to arrange these types of events - they could be things you choose to do on a monthly basis, or ad hoc, and involving colleagues in the organisation of these will go a long way to improving employee engagement. Office parties or office networking events are two of the many ways to improve teamwork, build a better working environment and contribute to positive wellbeing at work. You don’t need a special occasion to arrange these types of events - they could be things you choose to do on a monthly basis, or ad hoc, and involving colleagues in the organisation of these will go a long way to improving employee engagement. We’ve put together some ideas to help you get started. Firstly, you should try to plan something different for each event to keep it new and exciting. If you’re planning events like these on a tight budget, then you may need to be extra-creative too!  Escape Room The first idea is to turn your office into a mini escape room. Put together clues and riddles and have employees split into teams. Have the riddles lead to everyday office items where they will find the next clue. This can make it quite exciting: by giving teams a timed exercise, they will be working together under pressure to solve the clues. This takes a degree of creativity and also challenges the employees to work together and solve problems. Murder Mystery Create a murder mystery themed event: they are great fun and really get the brain working. Instead of an office event just being a little buffet and tedious conversations, it becomes a fun event where teams simply enjoy a good laugh and some mystifying escapism. It works even better if someone “kills'' the boss. Showing you have the ability not to take yourself too seriously will go down well with the employees. Wine & Food Tasting Blindfolding your co-workers isn’t something you’d expect to do too often, but this type of event can really help with building trust. Ask people... --- ## Targeting Talent - The Challenges of Hiring the Perfect Candidate - **Published**: 2023-08-10 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/targeting-talent-the-challenges-of-hiring-the-perfect-candidate There are many challenges when it comes to recruiting staff, but one of the main hiring headaches in this modern day is attracting and placing the right candidates! Whether it’s because of competition from other recruiters or businesses, or an exacting person specification for a job, many recruiters and HR teams find recruiting good candidates their biggest challenge. Have a look at our top tips for hiring: There are many challenges when it comes to recruiting staff, but one of the main hiring headaches in this modern day is attracting and placing the right candidates! Whether it’s because of competition from other recruiters or businesses, or an exacting person specification for a job, many recruiters and HR teams find recruiting good candidates their biggest challenge. Here are some top tips for hiring: 1. Understand the Job The best hiring decisions begin with a job description which accurately reflects the duties and the success factors you need for the position in question. It’s important to identify the behaviours, skills and qualities which are required for the role, and the company.  Make sure this information is obvious within the job description.  Once you’ve done this, you can then formulate a clear hiring criteria which will make the selection process a lot simpler. 2. Slow down Recruiters often get a little snowed under with work, but it’s important not to rush decision making when you are hiring someone, regardless of how much you've got going on. Spend time screening candidates to make sure they’re right for the position, so you can avoid anything going wrong further down the line.  Mistakes made can cost a great deal of your time later on! 3. Ask Yourself Questions about the candidate When selecting a candidate, sum up their CV, interview and any other interactions you’ve had with them and then answer the following questions: ?     Is the candidate experienced enough for the job? ?     Are they motivated and will they enjoy this role? ?     Is the candidate interested in learning new skills? ?     Are they a fit for the company’s team culture? ?     Is the person manageable? By answering these questions, you will be able to see clearly if the candidate is right... --- ## Building up your Online Reputation as a Recruiter - **Published**: 2023-08-10 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/building-up-your-online-reputation-as-a-recruiter When it comes to building up your reputation as a recruiter, it’s important you know how to market yourself online, as well as in person. This is one of the most important things you can do as a recruiter, in order to ensure your future success. It may feel like a lot of hard work to sort out but it will be worth it in the end. When it comes to building up your reputation as a recruiter, it’s important you know how to market yourself online, as well as in person. This is one of the most important things you can do as a recruiter, in order to ensure your future success. It may feel like a lot of hard work to sort out but it will be worth it in the end. Businesses want to know that the person they recruit with has a good reputation, so by building a positive online presence, you can stand out amongst other recruiters with a great digital record of credibility and experience that businesses can see. Blogging If you work for a recruitment company, you can still build up your personal presence and reputation online as a recruiter. To do this, you can begin with setting up your own website, blog, or if you’re not that tech savvy, use LinkedIn to write articles about your industry. Blogging will help show your knowledge and will attract businesses and candidates alike to connect with you. Being able to position yourself as someone who is knowledgeable about your area of expertise can see a lot of interest come your way and most of it will be positive. There will be some that try to dupe you into speaking at their conferences for free and you should ignore these or politely decline. Reviews If you have a Facebook business page or use Glassdoor or Indeed for reviews, ask your candidates and clients to give you reviews and recommendations. That way, you will have your own track record of testimonials that you can show to clients to highlight recommendations from your work history. This is an excellent way of establishing yourself in the recruitment industry in your own right and ensuring that you... --- ## Refreshing your Candidate Attraction Strategies - **Published**: 2023-08-09 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/refreshing-your-candidate-attraction-strategies A job in recruitment can be an exciting and rewarding career, but like many other roles, if you want to do well, it will require focus, determination and masses of sheer hard work. Whether you’re new to recruitment or have been working in the sector for a long time, keeping your strategies up to date and understanding the ever-changing market is vital. A job in recruitment can be an exciting and rewarding career, but like many other roles, if you want to do well, it will require focus, determination and masses of sheer hard work. Whether you’re new to recruitment or have been working in the sector for a long time, keeping your strategies up to date and understanding the ever-changing market is vital. Your candidate attraction strategies may include many different techniques, but are they still in date? What worked 5 years ago may not work as well now, so refreshing how you find and hire the best talent is always worthwhile, just to ensure your practices are current and are optimising your chances of successful outcomes. The recruitment space is a very competitive one and it is crucial that you do everything that you can to keep up with the latest trends and techniques or you will very quickly realise that you have fallen behind. Here are some important tips that should be included in your plans to refresh how your candidate attraction strategies are looking: ·       Fully understand your client's hiring needs, so that you are looking for the right match. Don’t just find out about the technicalities of the job, but understand the company values and culture, so that you are able to find candidates who can fit in with the business, as well as do the job well. Fully understand the sector you’re working in! This may seem like a no brainer, but some recruiters will often work across multiple sectors without fully understanding how a sector operates. Building your understanding will help you figure out who to target, as you’ll start to learn about how people might move around in the sector and what their aims and expectations may be for future moves. Make the... --- ## Keeping Your Candidates Happy – Even when there’s bad news - **Published**: 2023-08-09 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/keepingyourcandidateshappyevenwhentheresbadnews Employers have difficult decisions to make when we’re recruiting: who to shortlist and interview, and who to hire. Recruitment can be a tough process, and it’s just as tough for the candidates searching for their next career move. In my experience managing a Jobs Board, I hear from candidates who are excited about a potential new role, but are dismayed when they don’t hear any response from the recruiters. Employers have difficult decisions to make when we’re recruiting: who to shortlist and interview, and who to hire. Recruitment can be a tough process, and it’s just as tough for the candidates searching for their next career move, or their first rung on the ladder. In my experience managing a Jobs Board, I hear from candidates who are excited about a potential new role, but are dismayed when they don’t hear any response from the recruiters. We always encourage recruiters to let all candidates know the outcome of their job application, and the reason for that outcome. It’s my view that we all share responsibility for maintaining candidate morale, even when they’re not successful in applying for the job. That old chestnut of ‘If you don’t hear back from us within 7 days, you haven’t been successful’ is a real cop-out and is frustrating for the job applicants. Provide Decent Feedback Giving feedback to rejected candidates shouldn’t be difficult or time consuming, bearing in mind the automated systems available out there for mass communications.  All it requires is a minimal time investment to write an honest statement about why they missed the mark this time, and honesty really is the best policy! Don’t pussyfoot about, just be direct. A few good examples are: Your CV didn’t show any evidence of your experience providing customer service’. We had other candidates who had more relevant experience in marketing in our specific field’. Or even: The application you made for this role did not show you had given sufficient thought to demonstrating the skills and competencies we were looking for, and we found no evidence that you had the relevant experience.’ These are very generic examples, but they give the candidates something to work with and improve upon. Whether they are applying for... --- ## Preventing Discrimination In Recruitment - **Published**: 2023-08-08 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/preventing-discrimination-in-recruitment It’s very easy to slip into informal conversation mode during job interviews when things are going well, and when that happens, it’s just as easy to start asking questions that you wouldn’t have planned to on a formal basis. This is something to be very wary of as talking about the wrong subject matter, even inadvertently, can taint the whole interview process and leave the organisation open to potential litigation. It’s very easy to slip into informal conversation mode during job interviews when things are going well, and when that happens, it’s just as easy to start asking questions that you wouldn’t have planned to on a formal basis. This is something to be very wary of as talking about the wrong subject matter, even inadvertently, can taint the whole interview process and leave the organisation open to potential litigation. Protected Characteristics There are some things you just can’t ask your candidates during a job interview and they are mainly in relation to what are referred to as ‘protected characteristics’. These are traits that have been set out in the Equality Act (2010) which you are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of or ask about in job interviews, in case you are seen to be asking in order to facilitate discrimination. As a gentle reminder, here are the protected characteristics you shouldn’t ask about: ?     Age ?     being or becoming a transsexual person ?     being married or in a civil partnership ?     being pregnant or having a child ?     disability ?     race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin ?     religion, belief or lack of religion/belief ?     sex ?     sexual orientation We’ve seen some poor examples of where recruiters have asked about some of these, even though they were trying not to be too direct. But, they still ended up with complaints:  What year are you planning to retire? This is a clear issue with ageism. The recruiter basically asked how many years they would potentially have from the candidate before they retired. It could be construed as them trying to decide whether it was worth employing the person in question, given the relatively few years they may end up working with the organisation.   Five children must... --- ## Why Some Recruiters Don't Publish Salaries In Their Adverts - **Published**: 2023-08-08 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/whysomerecruitersdontpublishsalariesintheiradverts We see lots of vacancies advertised where salary details are missing, or replaced by words like ‘Competitive’, ‘DOE’, ‘Market Leading’ and so on. Many candidates wonder why, and some are left thinking there’s a negative reason behind this such as the salary not being worth the applicant’s time. We see lots of vacancies advertised where salary details are missing, or replaced by words like ‘Competitive’,  ‘DOE’, ‘Market Leading’ and so on. Many candidates wonder why, and some are left thinking there’s a negative reason behind this such as the salary not being worth the applicant’s time. In cases where the salary isn’t as much as it should be but the applicants don’t find out until the end of the process, there is somewhat of a “sunk cost fallacy” in that they have expended so much time on the process already that they may as well keep listening now, even if the amount on offer is disappointing. We thought it might be useful to explain some of the facts that influence recruiters’ thinking: Why Publish? You’ll find that many public sector employers like the Civil Service, Local Authorities and the NHS do publish their salary information when they are advertising for new staff. This is in part due to the fact that they have agreed and very structured salary bands, with little or no discretion to pay outside of those bands. This applies to some larger private employers as well, where they are open about how they reward their staff. This makes sense as public money should always be relatively easy to account for and the public should always be given this information in an open and accessible manner. The public have a right to know how many people are on which salary band within the local authority or NHS. The benefits of publishing salary information include: Potential candidates see exactly what they will be paid if they get the job, and can work out whether the career move is financially worth it. This stops them applying for jobs that aren’t worth their energy and attention. Employers who reward... --- ## Securing The Best Talent - **Published**: 2023-08-07 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/securing-the-best-talent As recruiters, we all want to hire the best people possible, and we all know it’s not easy. Many think it’s all about offering the highest amount of cash possible to entice people away from the competition, but there’s so much more than money to think about - things that can make a major difference to your recruitment. Here are some pointers for the things we know are truly important: As recruiters, we all want to hire the best people possible, and we all know it’s not easy. Many think it’s all about offering the highest amount of cash possible to entice people away from the competition, but there’s so much more than money to think about - things that can make a major difference to your recruitment. Here are some pointers for the things we know are truly important: Career Development and Progression Opportunities People in the market for a career / job change will be interested in how you will help them develop their career. This isn’t all about saying you’ll happily support them with training courses; it’s about how you’ll give them challenging work, how you’ll give them responsibilities to enhance their future prospects and employability, and provide them with career paths which will help them grow and develop.  Letting candidates know that they won’t stagnate if they come to work with you, will work wonders. Promoting your Company Values Potential new recruits will have in interest in the type of employer you are: what your company values are – how you instill and promote them; how you turn your company values into reality.  This can include such things as your approach to reward, recognition, community engagement, teamwork and the leadership model you operate. Make sure information about all of this is readily available on your website and elsewhere – and if you have any case studies to share, then share them. Your Reputation – As an Employer, and a Service Provider If you have an excellent reputation as an employer, then you should be proud of it, and make sure the world knows about it. It’s a sure-fire way to secure interest from potential new recruits – and you should make a point of mentioning this... --- ## Adjusting the Office Environment to reduce Sickness Absence - **Published**: 2023-08-07 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/adjustingtheofficeenvironmenttoreducesicknessabsence When a staff member gets ill, it can sometimes leave us with a backlog of work. Unfortunately, it can’t always be helped. There are a huge number of factors that can be at fault when a staff member goes off sick. When a staff member gets ill, it can sometimes leave us with a backlog of work. Unfortunately, it can’t always be helped. There are a huge number of factors that can be at fault when a staff member goes off sick. When a staff member is off sick often, the first thought many managers will have is to replace that staff member. Although it seems harsh, sometimes it is necessary in order for many businesses to continue, however many businesses don’t realise that they can be the cause of the illness. When we work in negative environments, or environments that don’t quite work well for everyone, an increase of sick absences can occur. This isn’t to say that management skills are poor; it just means that everyone is different and that the office environment isn’t a natural and welcoming habitat for all its inhabitants. The Environment Many people don’t realise that the office environment isn’t built for our personal needs. Yes, offices serve a purpose but in order to fully get your staff motivated, you need to understand that the environment and décor can really affect motivation. It may be going a bit far to hire in a Feng Shui practitioner but this isn’t to say finding the best use of space to maximise the light available One way to combat this is to add some nature!  Humans have a continual desire to be connected with nature, whether they realise it or not. Unfortunately, the spaces we tend to spend most of our days – workplaces, are stripped of much of their connection to the natural environment. The office environment should feel clean, welcoming and cosy. Creating a good working environment naturally improves staff sickness. There are many ways that this can be done including using brighter colours, or hanging... --- ## Probation, Trial Period Or Fixed Term Contract: Which Is Best? - **Published**: 2023-08-04 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/probation-trial-period-or-fixed-term-contract-which-is-best It is important that the person who is selected for this job is the right one who can take on the job role and run with it, but how do you make sure you have recruited the best person for the job at this stage? There are a number of steps that you can take in order to ensure that you have the person you thought that you did in the interview. You’ve made the decision to advertise a job, but you know that a critical issue in the appointment of whoever you choose is that they deliver the goods, otherwise their appointment isn’t a good use of company cash. Whether that’s about meeting targets quickly, delivering the sales income they need to, or turning your business around, it’s all about setting, monitoring and meeting objectives. It is important that the person who is selected for this job is the right one who can take on the job role and run with it, but how do you make sure you have recruited the best person for the job at this stage? There are a number of steps that you can take in order to ensure that you have the person you thought that you did in the interview. What’s the Right Option for You? Well, whichever the option, make sure your employment contract reflects reality! That aside, read on: Probation Having a probationary period for any position means you need to have proper, transparent processes in place that your staff and their managers are perfectly clear about, and able to follow. That means all parties are fully aware of what the process for monitoring probation are, how long the probationary period is, and what employees can expect to see throughout their probation period. There also needs to be a clear plan for managers to follow to ensure they manage the whole process well. This should generally involve a formal review structure where manager and employee review performance against plan, agree progress and put in place improvement plans where relevant. Probation is generally used where staff are employed on longer term / permanent contracts with a view to ensuring they are a good fit. Staff employed with a probation period generally expect that... --- ## What To Include In Your Job Adverts - **Published**: 2023-08-04 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/what-to-include-in-your-job-adverts Whether you are advertising your vacancy online, or in the press, if you want a positive response to your advert (and no time wasting – on both sides), then there are some things you really should include, especially if there is no supporting documentation such as a detailed Job Description or Person Specification: Whether you are advertising your vacancy online, or in the press, if you want a positive response to your advert (and no time wasting – on both sides), then there are some things you really should include, especially if there is no supporting documentation such as a detailed Job Description or Person Specification: Job Title: Yes it goes without saying, but make sure it’s one people can understand! (We’ve seen some very confusing ones in the last few months!) This should reflect what the actual job entails, and maybe what people are most likely to search for to find the job type. Job Description:  Now we don’t mean two pages of detail, but at least a couple of bullet points describing the main duties / responsibilities will help potential applicants to understand what is required. Skills – don’t go overboard with these but keep to the skills you know your candidates need to have. Too many is off-putting, and too few can lead to an influx of potentially unsuitable candidates. It is a balancing act to get this right. Experience needed – If you need your candidates to have very specific experience, then please say so, ensuring you cover what it is you are looking for. This could include having done the same job before, used the same equipment, or worked within a specific sector.  Leaving this out again leads to wasted time for both you and your applicants. Mobility: If your staff need to travel (and even drive) as part of their duties, then ensure you cover this in your ad.  Many candidates will have specific responsibilities meaning they could need to stay near home all the time, or have to be home at certain times for their family. You don’t want to get to the job offer stage,... --- ## 8 Ways To Demotivate Your Staff - **Published**: 2023-08-03 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/8-ways-to-demotivate-your-staff We've collected a few examples over the years of practices we've seen in organisations which have led to some really disgruntled staff. (Please be assured - we aren't suggesting you do any of these: it's more that you have a read and hope that you aren't already putting any of these into practice...) We've collected a few examples over the years of practices we've seen in organisations which have led to some really disgruntled staff. (Please be assured - we aren't suggesting you do any of these: it's more that you have a read and hope that you aren't already putting any of these into practice...) 1.   Take away their voice We aren't referring to surgical vocal cord removal here. We are referring to the practice of not allowing staff to have access to senior colleagues in the organisation, for times when they have an issue, a complaint, or even a positive suggestion to make. This can be frustrating and demoralising, especially if they feel that they have a problem with their line manager and would like to go over their head about something. 2.   Make changes without consulting them Managers will probably have an idea of what they want to change, and why. But employees will usually be able to provide valuable input to any proposal for change.  Involving employees in these processes keeps them on board, and much more positive about the changes that lie ahead. 3.   Control every aspect of their job It's commonly known that if a manager is a control freak, they typically want to have direct supervision of every task their teams perform, which to an outsider looks like a distinct lack of trust. Micromanagement engenders frustration in employees as constantly having to update someone on every tiny aspect of a task can take them away from actually completing the task in a timely manner. 4.   Don’t provide any support or guidance   Be unavailable or unapproachable to answer questions.  Don’t let employees waste time on learning and development activities, and make sure they’re denied access to the information they need to do their job. 5.   Criticise... --- ## Going… going… gone! - **Published**: 2023-08-03 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/going-going-gone Moving on to pastures new can be a great thing for most people. They've been in a job long enough, they're going stale, they've run out of challenges, or they simply feel they are not valued or taken seriously by their manager. As their manager, regardless of your personal thoughts about the situation, make sure you get to the bottom of the reason they are going, before they've gone! Moving on to pastures new can be a great thing for most people. They've been in a job long enough, they're going stale, they've run out of challenges, or they simply feel they are not valued or taken seriously by their manager. So, off they trot to their new role. As their manager, regardless of your personal thoughts about the situation, make sure you get to the bottom of the reason they are going, before they've gone! This can be difficult and confronting as sometimes one of the main factors in their leaving may be their relationship with you. Even if you think you know the reason, make sure you ask. And even if you think it's because of you, your attitude or management skills, ask them. (Self-development is important for any manager - nobody is perfect, and some managers have no real perception of how they are viewed by their team or their colleagues.) Offer them an exit interview with another member of the management team if you can, as they may find it easier to express their sentiments about their time at the company to someone who hasn’t been directly involved in their line management. It is important to learn from employees, even when they are leaving, as they will be able to offer valuable insights into how you may be able to improve things for remaining employees. When the results of the exit interview are conveyed to you, don’t just dismiss the comments out of hand because of who they have come from. Try to take on board any criticisms of your management style, or suggestions where things could have been done better. Do your best to take your own ego out of it and to look at the situation as empathetically as you can, putting yourself... --- ## Are CVs Worth The Paper They Are Written On? - **Published**: 2023-08-02 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/arecvsworththepapertheyarewrittenon We've probably all encountered interviews where we are asking people about the information in their CVs, such as their role as 'Head of something' or 'such and such Manager' when it becomes apparent that actually the candidate wasn't quite at the level they have claimed to be. You then realise that they shouldn't even have made it through to the interview stage in the first place. We always want to find the right balance between making sure the application process doesn't put candidates off, whilst making sure we get the right amount of information to make good shortlisting decisions. We've probably all encountered interviews where we are asking people about the information in their CVs, such as their role as 'Head of something' or 'such and such Manager' when it becomes apparent that actually the candidate wasn't quite at the level they have claimed to be. You then realise that they shouldn't even have made it through to the interview stage in the first place. Recruiters are never going to be able to eradicate this problem, especially nowadays when there is such fierce competition for jobs and opportunities for decent jobs are limited. But can we do anything to at least help ourselves? Some handy tips to remember when recruiting: If you still insist on recruiting using just CVs, make sure you specify that candidate CVs must reflect their achievements which are relevant to the role they are applying for rather than just being a list of their past job titles. Application forms, even the simplest, can be a far better way of seeking relevant information about a candidate's experience., so long as they are not overly complex to complete. When you ask them to specify examples of their achievements in their previous roles which are relevant to the role they now want to move to, they will have to make the effort and explain what they have actually achieved. This is a sure-fire way of helping people decide to opt out of the recruitment process, when they realise they don't quite cut the mustard. Set out some 'essential criteria' for the new role in the advert or application paperwork. This will mean people should be... --- ## The 6 Secrets To Motivating Underperforming Staff - **Published**: 2023-08-02 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/the6secretstomotivatingunderperformingstaff It can be difficult to realise that you have staff who aren’t performing their duties to the best of their abilities and it can be worrying to think that you will have to deal with this at some point in the relatively near future. Our advice? Read on... A client of ours approached us for general advice when faced with under-performing staff. Aside from a few current issues, they wanted to know what they should be doing longer term so that the occasions where formal action is needed are few and far between. It can be difficult to realise that you have staff who aren’t performing their duties to the best of their abilities and it can be worrying to think that you will have to deal with this at some point in the relatively near future. Our advice? Read on... 1. Reward Employees for a Job Well Done First and foremost, employees need to feel that they are appreciated for what they achieve. Rewarding for good performance will boost morale and motivation, and will also encourage other employees to aim for the same standards. Bear in mind that reward isn't just about hard cash - you should always directly express your appreciation for what they've done for your organisation. One of the most wretched feelings that any worker can have is that they have worked really hard on something and their efforts just aren’t appreciated at all by their line managers and bosses at the company. This is something that can give rise to bad feeling and a desire to leave for somewhere else that they will be appreciated for what they do. We know someone who was in this position and was working incredibly hard, only to be told by their boss that they had to pull their socks up and work harder. It turned out that their boss had misunderstood the work statistics and that this person was already consistently the hardest worker in their office. They lasted another six months and then moved on from that workplace. 2. Be a Visible Leader Employees need... --- ## Employee References - Knowing When To Stop - **Published**: 2023-08-01 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/employee-references-knowing-when-to-stop We were once approached by a manager who knew their employee had been looking for other work. There had been a real unsettling period and many staff were jumping ship. This manager wanted to do all he could to stop a certain employee from leaving, but the employee rolled up to his office one day and handed his notice in. In an attempt to keep this employee, he wanted to put the new employer off and make it look like they had made a really poor recruitment decision. We were once approached by a manager who knew their employee had been looking for other work. There had been a real unsettling period in the factory, and many staff were jumping ship. This manager wanted to do all he could to stop a certain employee from leaving, but as expected, the employee rolled up to his office one day and handed his notice in. In a desperate attempt to keep this employee, the manager wanted to put the new employer off and make it look like they had made a really poor recruitment decision. When the reference request came in, the manager had to answer 3 specific questions: 1. Is the employee suitable to carry out the new job he has been offered? (A copy of the job description was attached) The manager wanted to pick out points in the new job description that he didn't think the employee could do, though he had no evidence to support this. A manager's opinion on whether an employee can carry out a new role effectively for a new employer shouldn't be relied upon heavily. Recruiting employers should be able to rely sufficiently on their own recruitment practices to help them make quality recruitment choices. 2. Has the employee been the subject of any disciplinary proceedings in the past 5 years? In this case, he hadn't, but the manager wanted to say that he had previously considered disciplinary action, although it hadn't gone anywhere. Managers providing a reference should not go over and above what's being asked. The clear answer to question 2 was 'NO'. And that should be the answer provided. Even if it were the case that the manager had a problem with the employee, it was apparent that the employee knew nothing about it, so to provide any information... --- ## Seven Signs Of A Sad Workforce - **Published**: 2023-08-01 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/seven-signs-of-a-sad-workforce Managers would be well advised to keep a check on the mood of their staff. It's all well and good seeing people turn up for work and perform their tasks, but have you been able to work out how they are really feeling? Managers would be well advised to keep a check on the mood of their staff. It's all well and good seeing people turn up for work and perform their tasks, but have you been able to work out how they are really feeling? Here are seven indications we think you need to look out for.  If you spot any of them, you'll need to start thinking how to deal with them. 1.  An increase in sick absences Demotivated staff and staff with reduced commitment to your organisation are far more likely to take time off work for minor ailments, or for their 'duvet days'. Small things like minor headaches will often feature on absence sheets and they will think less of calling in at short notice. 2.  There are no employees going the 'extra mile' We know who they usually are - staff who are keen to impress, move upwards, be recognised for the contribution they made that they weren't required to make.  But, when there's a distinct lack of enthusiasm, there's usually a distinct disengagement from the job. Dissatisfaction and disillusionment tend to be easy to see when you look at this aspect of the work. If there is nobody willing to put in the extra legwork, that is a sign that the whole workplace is in a low, demoralised funk. 3. Higher numbers of staff are moving on Workplace satisfaction is rarely just about the physical tasks people are employed to carry out, it's also about the working environment, the humour, social interaction and general morale. If these are no longer viewed positively, people will try and move on. 4.  Gossip is on the increase With low motivation, feelings of bitterness, anger and boredom, you can probably expect troublemaking and gossip.  It's a sure fire way for employees... --- ## Top Tips For New Managers - **Published**: 2023-07-31 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/top-tips-for-new-managers Regardless of the nature of the work they are involved in, newly appointed managers need to identify the skills they need to have to be good at their job. We've put together some tips below for newly appointed managers Yay! You've landed your dream job! More cash, more responsibility, a team of people to look after, and a seat at the local management team table for lunch. Someone somewhere saw a potential manager when they interviewed you. How are you going to prove them right? Being a manager isn't easy for many people . Some think it's just about checking work, others think it just gives them a chance to give the orders, rather than take them. And some just think it's an opportunity to sit back and watch everyone else do the real work. Regardless of the nature of the work they are involved in, newly appointed managers need to identify the skills they need to have to be good at their job.  Some of the skills overlooked by new managers frequently include: - Listening (for when your staff have a problem) - Counselling (for when you are trying to help them solve a problem) - Mediation (for sorting out problems between two or more of your team) - The ability to motivate others (for when there's a recession!) - The ability to develop others (when there's an upturn in business and people want promotion) and - Change Management (for when you need to help your team through some challenges). So, do these all come from a quick 'How to be a Manager' training course? Nope. It takes a lot of hard work to be a great manager, but as a starting point, why not try the following: Find yourself a mentor, someone who is a great manager already, watch them work, see how they interact and understand how they deal with the problems they face. Talk to them about your concerns / worries about your new job. If you can find yourself a good mentor, this may... --- ## Who To Select For Interview - A Great Performer, Or A Rising Star? - **Published**: 2023-07-31 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/who-to-select-for-interview-a-great-performer-or-a-rising-star If you’re looking for staff, and all you have to go on is a bunch of CV’s, how do you know which one(s) to select for an interview? Here are our tips: If you’re looking for staff, and all you have to go on is a bunch of CV’s, how do you know which one(s) to select for an interview? Firstly – the basics You need someone who can do the job – and by that we mean someone who can fulfil the basics of the job description. That should be easy to work out from their CV at least – so long as the evidence is there. Secondly – define whether the job description is all you want them to fulfil, or are you looking for something over and above that? Do you want someone in the job who’ll do well, but then want to move onwards and upwards leaving another gap to fill? Or do you want a constant high performer who is happy to do what they need to do, every day, and do it well? Think carefully: Many recruiters simply need someone who can learn the role (or hit the ground running) and nothing else – someone who is highly capable of doing what they need to do, is consistent, meticulous, and conscientious. If this is who you want, then make sure you find the CVs that reflect this. These CVs will typically focus on excellent performance, achieving targets, delivering the goods, and quality. But many others want someone who can come in, learn / do the job, but also grow, develop, enhance the business, make progress and advance through the organisation. And if this is who you want, look out for the CVs where you’ll see ‘devised new procedures’,’ deputised for managers’, ‘proposed new ways of working’ and ‘promoted to / progressed to’. People who want to develop their career, have ambition and are keen to move up the ladder will reflect this in their CV. It’s... --- ## 6 Tips For Making Your Job Advert Work - **Published**: 2023-07-27 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/6-tips-for-making-your-job-advert-work You’ve a job to fill, so you want your job advert to be noticed for the right reasons. Whether you are advertising your jobs online, or in print, here are a few tips for keeping you on the right track and get attention from the best candidates: You’ve a job to fill, so you want your job advert to be noticed for the right reasons. Whether you are advertising your jobs online, or in print, here are a few tips for keeping you on the right track and get attention from the best candidates: Make your job title sound interesting (as far as you can). Ok, so ‘support worker’ or ‘administrator’ aren’t glamorous job titles, but candidates could be more interested if the title is adapted to something which will catch their eye e.g. ‘Dynamic, Creative Admin expert’  or ‘Support Workers with a Difference’. This way, they’ll want to know more. You should also think about the kind of words that your ideal applicants will be using to find the role in their online searches. This will help you to settle on the best words to use in your advert title.   Don’t make the advert too wordy ! Too much text in a job advert can be off-putting, and make you seem like quite a bureaucratic employer. You should include all of the pertinent details while keeping an eye on the length of the advert. It can be a difficult balancing act to strike but it gets easier the more often you do it.   Along those lines, DO NOT include the whole job description . It might seem too restrictive, or might make candidates think they can’t add some personality to the job. Keep it brief, with maybe 6 – 10 short bullets covering the key job elements. Being able to be concise is a skill all of its own and writing a fairly short job advert that still hits all of the main points isn’t the easiest to get the hang of but is well worth the effort.   Skills – please, please don’t... --- ## Did Your New Recruit Lie At Their Interview? - **Published**: 2023-07-27 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/did-your-new-recruit-lie-at-their-interview It’s a sad but true fact that some candidates embellish the truth when describing their skills during the selection process. It’s down to recruiters to make sure they appoint the right candidate, which means screening, interview and reference processes have to be water-tight so that mistakes aren’t made. It’s a sad but true fact that some candidates embellish the truth when describing their skills during the selection process. It’s down to recruiters to make sure they appoint the right candidate, which means screening, interview and reference processes have to be water-tight so that mistakes aren’t made. There is a world of difference between slight exaggerations and outright lies that bear no relation to the truth and it is where the latter are being experienced that there can be real problems for employers. Believing that a candidate has a certain set of skills only to find that they are incapable of doing the work as described can be a devastating blow. It can have an impact all across the company if the person who was hired was in a key position where their work affected others. Despite our best efforts at the interview process, sometimes we trust people too much. We take them at face value and appoint them, and then find out later, at our peril, that they lied to us about their experience or ability. So, how do we deal with it? Well, you could take one of two possible options: Lying to secure employment we would see as gross misconduct, and on that basis you could take the hard line of summary dismissal. ( after an appropriately reasonable investigation ) This is the extreme option but it is also a fair one in the circumstances.  Once trust is gone, it is very hard to get it back so you may take the view that in the circumstances, it isn’t worth giving them a second chance and time to prove themselves. Or You could, depending on the circumstances, give them a chance to develop the skills they need, but within a short enough timescale to ensure there is... --- ## The Necessity Of Exit Interviews - **Published**: 2023-07-26 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/the-necessity-of-exit-interviews Giving employees the opportunity to let you know why they are leaving can give you extremely valuable information you might not otherwise have obtained, and you will start to see the issues that contribute to employees' departures. Does your company carry out exit interviews as a matter of course? Giving employees the opportunity to let you know why they are leaving can give you extremely valuable information you might not otherwise have obtained, and you will start to see the issues that contribute to employees' departures. Granted, sometimes they can be real eye-openers in terms of problems in your organisation, but at least it gives you the opportunity to find out about, and deal with any problems so that you can (if you want to) try your best to improve retention levels. It is often the way that employers find out that they have an ongoing problem with bullying, particularly when one of the management team is involved in this. The employees have felt that they were unable to raise the matter during their tenure at the company but may feel able to raise it with a different member of the management team during an exit interview. The same is true of sexual harassment. If there is a spate of resignations from female workers then exit interviews may be able to help to establish if this is as a result of sexual harassment or misogynistic bullying. It may be nothing as serious and could even just be that they found better paying jobs elsewhere but exit interviews remain a good place to explore this type of concern. A few tips though which employers may find useful: It's fine to ask the employee to complete a questionnaire which asks about reasons for leaving and their experiences working for the company, rather than attend a formal interview initially. Ask for these questionnaires to be sent to an independent team / person in the organisation rather than the employee's manager.   If you are introducing exit interviews, don't ask employees'... --- ## The Best Online Job Adverts - **Published**: 2023-07-26 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/the-best-online-job-adverts Many recruiters are well-versed in developing job adverts to go onto their favourite selection of jobs boards. Some publish excellent adverts, and in so doing, manage to attract both quality and quantity so they have a great pool of candidates to consider. Some recruiters still have a way to go in refining their job adverts, so we thought a few simple tips might help: Many recruiters are well-versed in developing job adverts to go onto their favourite selection of jobs boards. Some publish excellent adverts, and in so doing, manage to attract both quality and quantity so they have a great pool of candidates to consider. It is definitely a skill that is developed through practice and getting to the point where your adverts are as successful as this can take some time. Some recruiters still have a way to go in refining their job adverts, so we thought a few simple tips might help: Make sure you use a job title that can be easily understood. Candidates use common job titles to begin their online search, so even if there is some unique aspect to the job you are advertising, try and separate the two, for example - HR Manager - Transformation, instead of Transformation Manager. It is important to think about this from the end-user perspective and tailoring your job title to what they are most likely to search for. Include a good clear paragraph about the company - who you are, what you do, where you are based, the values you hold and the markets you operate in, as well as the reputation you have. Make this as memorable as possible and as honest as possible as well. Any company claiming a reputation that they don’t have will quickly be shot down, it is still the internet after all and there is always scrutiny out there. Explain the main purpose of the job (in more than just one line), including what you expect candidates to deliver when they are performing in the role. Cover who their main contacts will be, explain what they'll be involved in on a day to day basis, and outline the structure within which they'll be working.... --- ## Application Forms: Love ‘em Or Hate ‘em – They’re Still Here! - **Published**: 2023-07-25 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/application-forms-love-em-or-hate-em-theyre-still-here It feels like they’ve been around for an eternity: for some, they can be seen as a very outdated way of collecting information about candidates; for others, they provide some consistency to the items of information you get from all candidates that you need to fairly compare and assess suitability. It feels like they’ve been around for an eternity: for some, they can be seen as a very outdated way of collecting information about candidates; for others, they provide some consistency to the items of information you get from all candidates that you need to fairly compare and assess suitability. There is merit to both views of application forms. They do indeed promote uniformity of the information collected, which can make it easier to make a like-for-like comparison. On the other hand, there are far better and easier ways of bringing together data that can help to make decisions about skills and suitability to work with the company. We see app forms in all shapes and sizes – from online forms, to (believe it or not) photocopied documents with a few empty tables in, which are so blurry you can hardly make out the typed text! It is vital that if you are still using application forms, they must be easily returnable. There is absolutely no point having one if you are asking people to download it, print it out, fill it in by hand and then sign and return it to you either via scanning and attaching to an email or in the mail. Most people won't have easy access to a printer and a scanner, so this will reduce the return rate and having to physically sign and return a copy is something that should be obsolete in this day and age. If you are still keen on using them to recruit, here are a few pointers which should reduce the number of applicants you bounce out of the process in the early stages: Make sure application forms are easy for the applicant to physically complete, and on that basis, ensure that: They are available electronically, either to... --- ## Combatting Office Politics with Team Building Ideas - **Published**: 2023-07-25 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/combatting-office-politics-with-team-building-ideas Office politics are one of many things that can hamper a work environment. The constant distractions and office chit chat can lead to a lack of productivity and performance, which in turn can stop a business moving forward. Unfortunately, controlling the situation as a manager can make it worse as your staff can also turn against you. So how do you remove these distractions? Office politics are one of many things that can hamper a work environment. The constant distractions and office chit chat can lead to a lack of productivity and performance, which in turn can stop a business moving forward. Furthermore, if there’s tension in the office, this can create a negative working environment and this can affect everyone around regardless if they’re actively involved in the office politics or not. How to combat office politics Unfortunately, controlling the situation as a manager can make it worse as your staff can also turn against you. So how do you remove these distractions? One trick that can help many businesses is a morning team building challenge. Have a rota where staff members can take turns to create or choose a team building exercise each day. If you’re stuck for ideas, a Google search will bring up many different exercises that are 30 minutes or less. Why does this help? A short team building exercise first thing not only wakes your staff up, but also allows them to have a bit of fun first thing. This sets them off for a positive start to the day and helps build any motivation they may have been missing out on. In addition, it allows them to get their creative juices flowing without actually realizing it. Which means, when it comes to doing some work, they will have less of a mental block. The team building exercises can also be crafted to get staff to work in pairs or teams, this is particularly important if you have certain staff members that don’t get on. Let’s face it, we can’t like everyone and sometimes personalities clash. With a team building exercise, you can pair staff together that don’t particularly like each other, not as a punishment, but to... --- ## Received A Poor Reference For Your New Hire? - **Published**: 2023-07-24 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/receivedapoorreferenceforyournewhire You’ve shortlisted, interviewed and made an offer to the candidate you thought very highly of. Then, as standard practice, you’ve written for references and to your dismay, you’ve received something which is far from glowing. What do you do? Here's our advice...... You’ve shortlisted, interviewed and made an offer to the candidate you thought very highly of. Then, as standard practice, you’ve written for references and to your dismay, you’ve received something which is far from glowing. What do you do? Well firstly, we’re hoping that you’ve made your offer of employment as ‘subject to satisfactory references’. Then, there are all sorts of potential options to consider, but we would usually suggest at least one of the following: For reasons of fairness, it is crucial to discuss what you’ve received with the candidate concerned. Listen to their side of the story, and compare it to what their former employer had to say, and then form a judgement about their suitability for the role based on both employee and employer representations.   If you are able to, call the person who sent the reference just to double-check the facts from their perspective so that you can make a more informed decision before the candidate becomes an employee. This will also allow them to go further into an explanation than they felt comfortable putting down in writing to you. You may hear a much more complex story when you speak to them on the phone and it may have a bearing on whether you still wish to employ the candidate.  If the candidate has told you things which contradict the statements in the reference, it’s always best to at least try to follow this approach before making your mind up. It may be that the candidate felt that this particular person at the company had a grudge against them or there may have been a major personality clash, or even bullying accusations. There are all manner of potential reasons why someone has chosen to leave an employer and it is always possible that the... --- ## Assessing CVs: What You Should Be Looking For - **Published**: 2023-07-24 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/assessingcvswhatyoushouldbelookingfor You’ve advertised a job and been inundated with applicants: dozens of CVs to look at, and not sure where to start? This is a perfectly normal response to being overwhelmed with job applications and you shouldn’t feel bad for feeling this way. Here are a few helpful 'dos' and 'don'ts' to help make the task of processing them easier. You’ve advertised a job and been inundated with applicants: dozens of CVs to look at, and not sure where to start? This is a perfectly normal response to being overwhelmed with job applications and you shouldn’t feel bad for feeling this way. In order to make the task of processing them easier, we have broken it down into a few helpful  ‘ dos and don’ts ’ to help you find the stars you need to take through to the next stage.  Do: Have a clear list of ‘essentials’ and ‘desirables’ relating to specific skills, experiences and qualifications you can score each candidate against. Having this scorecard handy while you peruse CVs can make it a lot easier to keep track of what it is you are looking for. It is perfectly normal to go a bit “CV blind” from reading the same things over and over again at some point during the process. It would be easy to forget what it is you are trying to achieve if you didn’t have the scorecard as a handy reminder. Look for more than a list of responsibilities under each of the candidate’s jobs – a list generally means those were the things the candidate was required to do, but it doesn’t show what they did, or how well they did it. Even if they had what could be a mundane job, they can still explain how they met / exceeded targets. Look for individual achievements – things the candidate has described that they successfully managed or contributed to, and which fit with the type of work you would want them to do. Don’t: Assume anything from a job title, apart from the fact that the candidate had that job title! Job titles can actually mean very little and sometimes a job title... --- ## Are You Prepared To Interview? - **Published**: 2023-07-21 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/are-you-prepared-to-interview Some find interviewing a doddle, others face sleepless nights for days beforehand. Whatever your confidence levels are, remember – the general idea of job interviews is to give candidates a great chance to show how good they could be in the job; your role in that is to make sure candidates have ample opportunity to shine. Some find interviewing a doddle, others face sleepless nights for days beforehand. Whatever your confidence levels are, remember – the general idea of job interviews is to give candidates a great chance to show how good they could be in the job; your role in that is to make sure candidates have ample opportunity to shine. Being unprepared, nervous or a gibbering wreck isn’t going to look good to your candidates (especially if they are displaying any of those too!) or help them feel at ease. So, our first tip is to make sure you find some training to help you understand and manage the process. If you don’t have time or money for training, then practice with someone who knows how it’s done. Some useful pointers we should then follow ahead of interviewing include: Meet in advance with the colleagues you’ll be interviewing alongside, discuss and agree how the interviews will run, who’ll cover which skills and what questions will be asked. This will give you a better feel for the format of the interviews and help to settle your nerves.   Read the CVs or application forms of all those you’ll be interviewing and pick out those areas / examples you want to cover with specific questions. Then, write out those questions so you won’t forget them. Once it’s interview time: Take steps to make the candidate feel at ease at the start of the interview. Shake hands, smile, introduce everyone, and set out the interview process so they are aware of what’s about to happen. If you think that you are nervous, put yourself in the shoes of the candidate. If they get this job it will be a big change in their life, so they are obviously nervous. For you as the interviewer, tomorrow is just... --- ## Do You Need More Suitable Candidates For Your Jobs? - **Published**: 2023-07-21 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/do-you-need-more-suitable-candidates-for-your-jobs Do you keep seeing the same applicants over and over for the jobs you advertise? Are you looking for new talent to bring in, but failing to attract the right people? It can be difficult to know what to do to break the deadlock in this circumstance. Have you thought about any of these ideas before going for the more expensive agency approach? Do you keep seeing the same applicants over and over for the jobs you advertise? Are you looking for new talent to bring in, but failing to attract the right people? It can be difficult to know what to do to break the deadlock in this circumstance. Have you thought about any of these ideas before going for the more expensive agency approach? Make sure you are covering all bases with your candidate attraction strategy. That means making sure your job adverts are reaching the right audiences: double check you've got sufficient coverage on the jobs boards, within the local community and across social media, and even in specialist publications / websites which are not necessarily job sites.  Check if it is possible to place job adverts with websites that fall within the same niche that your business does and see if you can attract clients that way. They may not be traditional job sites but it is possible they will welcome the advertising revenue that you are offering them.   Is there a possibility you can promote your jobs within Colleges or Universities? Will there be interest from students who, once they've gained their qualifications, will be ideal for the opportunities you have to offer?  Being able to approach students before they are quite ready to take up your positions will at least seed the idea of working for you in their minds and this may percolate when they come to the point of graduating and looking for a job.   Are you being too strict with the level of qualification or experience you specify in the person specification? We will all have our picture of the ideal candidates in our mind, but sometimes we have to accept, they either aren't available or they don't actually exist. We have to make... --- ## Running Out Of Ideas To Find New Staff? - **Published**: 2023-07-20 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/running-out-of-ideas-to-find-new-staff You've followed all the advice and recommendations your advisors have provided you with, but still fail to bring in applications from the type of people you are looking for. Have you ever tried a totally open approach to recruitment to see what results you get? You've followed all the advice and recommendations your advisors have provided you with, but still fail to bring in applications from the type of people you are looking for. You've developed fantastic adverts, including all the detail candidates could possibly want to see - skills required, job description, salaries, location, development and promotion opportunities, company profile, etc etc, and you've still not got what you are looking for. Have you ever tried a totally open approach to recruitment to see what results you get? By this we mean not being too specific about the jobs you are looking to fill. You will always find that candidates carry out a degree of self-deselection in recruitment - they'll see a skill or qualification you've listed and think they'll be discounted because they don't have it, or they will think the job title doesn't necessarily fit with work they've done in the past. Many of you will think that these are decisions you want to make, rather than candidates. Next time you advertise, why not try something totally different: Make the title of your advert something inspiring - something that makes prospective candidates want to read on (without it being a job title)   Include a couple of paragraphs about what a fantastic company and employer you are, how well you are doing, how happy your staff are in the working environment you provide, and then:   Mention that you are looking for new recruits, at all levels, in, e.g. operations, administration, HR, Finance, Manufacturing, Engineering etc etc. Say that you want to hear from people who would love to work for you in one of those fields, and you want to see their CVs to see if they could add value to your organisation. You'll then be able to decide who could... --- ## Stuck For Interview Questions? - **Published**: 2023-07-20 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/stuckforinterviewquestions If you’re not overly comfortable carrying out job interviews, then read our advice below. If you’re not overly comfortable carrying out job interviews, then our usual advice would be to: Find some decent interview training to help you fine tune your interviewing skills and build your confidence. This is actually a must if it is something that you are going to be expected to do more often. It is only fair to the candidates that this happens and that you manage to upskill to give better interviews. Make sure there is someone else with you to help you through the process, and cover all the bases you need to during the interview. Doing one-to-one interviews can be particularly hard when you are new to them so it will be helpful to have someone else there, to take notes and offer a second opinion and sounding board about the candidates once the interviews have concluded. Go armed with some pre-prepared questions, in the hope you’ll avoid some awkward and embarrassing silences. You may not manage this completely but this is something that will be a learning experience for you as much as for the job candidates. We thought you might like a few ideas of the questions we find can help at least get a conversation going, in the hope you’ll be able to then glean some useful info about your candidates: Talk us through your CV. (A great starting point that allows the candidate to talk about some of the points they want to mention) What attracted you to the job. (Here you’ll hopefully find out why they want to work for you / your company) Tell us about the skills / strengths you have which would help you do this job well. (A great one for candidates who are confident about their ability) Tell me about your biggest achievement to date in your... --- ## Questions You Should Not Ask When You're Interviewing - **Published**: 2023-07-19 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/questionsyoushouldnotaskwhenyoureinterviewing In this day and age, with employment legislation continuing to make life as an employer a challenge, you need to be more careful than ever about what you ask your candidates at an interview. Make sure you always keep your questions related to a candidate’s ability to do the job. To help keep you on the path of least litigation, here are a few questions you need to avoid: In this day and age, with employment legislation continuing to make life as an employer a challenge, you need to be more careful than ever about what you ask your candidates at an interview. Make sure you always keep your questions related to a candidate’s ability to do the job. To help keep you on the path of least litigation, here are a few questions you need to avoid: What is your date of birth? Whilst you might need to know that a candidate is over 18, for example because of laws about selling certain products, that’s all you need to know and you should refrain from going any further. Age discrimination is one of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act (2010) and any implication that someone may lack the maturity to take on a particular role because of their age can open the company up to potential litigation for discrimination. At the opposite end of the spectrum, asking someone how old they are may carry an implication that they may struggle to get to grips with new technologies that they haven’t been taught yet. There is still very much a “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” mentality in some workplaces. What is your sick record like? Employers should not ask questions about a candidate’s health before a job has been offered. Even in the case of physical jobs, you need to tread very carefully. If you have any concerns about a candidate’s physical ability to do a job, then you can ask them if they would have any specific needs to help them carry out the job effectively. You should be able to ask whether there are any reasonable workplace adjustments that they would like to help them in their job. This bespeaks care for employees... --- ## Using Social Media To Check Your Candidates Out? - **Published**: 2023-07-19 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/using-social-media-to-check-your-candidates-out You've just received another batch of CVs to look through and you've some time to kill, so you decide to look your candidates up on various social media platforms. You've just received another batch of CVs to look through and you've some time to kill, so you decide to look your candidates up on various social media platforms. Is it morally wrong? We think not, as we're firmly of the belief that all people have a responsibility to manage their online presence: they should know what the general public can see about them (that they post themselves) and should accept that in today's digital society, recruiters can find information about them all over the place, if it's been posted. They should also understand the potential impact of what they post online, regardless of whether they believe that the impact is fair. It is also important to note that if you are going to be looking at social media for candidate, you need to be sure that it is actually theirs before taking anything on it into account. There are a great many people who have the same name as each other and we are sure some have been unfairly penalised because of the views of some of the people who share their name.. If, as a recruiter, you feel the need to add to the selection process by checking out your candidates' social profiles, then here are a few useful thoughts: LinkedIn For the professional business community, LinkedIn is used for networking, public discussion forums, recruiting and general marketing.  Many see their LinkedIn profile page as an opportunity to post an online CV, which then gives recruiters the chance to double check their profile against the CV they've just received.  It also means you get to see more about a candidate's interests, networks, views and opinions on a wide variety of mainly business related topics, if they've been shared. Content on LinkedIn is 99% business related, and so not... --- ## Helping A Nervous Candidate Through A Job Interview - **Published**: 2023-07-18 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/helpinganervouscandidatethroughajobinterview Taking into account that the purpose of a job interview is to test the suitability of a candidate for a job, and give them the chance to do well, you should make every effort to allow people to perform at their best. We've set out below a few ideas for strategies to deal with these situations which you can try next time you're faced with a flustered and terrified looking interviewee: Taking into account that the purpose of a job interview is to test the suitability of a candidate for a job, and give them the chance to do well, you should make every effort to allow people to perform at their best. Sometimes though, we see candidates come through the door who appear to be a total nervous wreck. It’s entirely OK to be nervous going into a job interview, they are nerve-wracking situations and the outcome can have a dramatic effect on the direction of travel for the candidate involved. Many people would describe themselves as introverts and would find the idea of sitting down and being the focus of attention from several strangers to be something that they would find difficult. There are a great many people who feel like this and some just hide it better than others. We've set out below a few ideas for strategies to deal with these situations which you can try next time you're faced with a flustered and terrified looking interviewee: Break the ice – say or do something to help ease their nerves, either as you meet them at reception or before the formalities start in the interview room. Being welcoming and taking the time to start talking informally about the weekend, the weather or even something interesting to help ease the tension can be really appreciated by the interviewee.   Mention that they seem a little nervous – it might seem harsh, but this can open the way for you to explain how lovely, warm, relaxed or friendly you and your fellow interviewers are, so there’s no need for nerves. Injecting some humour into that conversation can also go a long way to improving the situation. If you can get them smiling or laughing you are doing well and... --- ## 3 Common Reasons We Recruit The Wrong People - **Published**: 2023-07-18 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/3-common-reasons-we-recruit-the-wrong-people We all have to be very careful when recruiting that we hire staff suitable for the job and the company. Sometimes, we make mistakes, and here are 3 of the common reasons why: We all have to be very careful when recruiting that we hire staff suitable for the job and the company. Sometimes, we make mistakes, and here are 3 of the common reasons why: Recruiting in your own image This can take so many forms – not necessarily that someone looks like you, but generally that the candidate shares many of your attributes such as your sense of humour, style, background, work ethic, qualifications and so on.  Having commonality can help you feel a certain affinity with someone which encourages you to be drawn to them in a positive way, and potentially overlook the important selection criteria, i.e. the ability to do the job. It can be easy to find yourself relating hard to a candidate for a job and many people who are a little older will have seen someone rising through the ranks who reminds them of themself in some kind of nostalgic way. This leads to the temptation to take them under your wing and voila , a bad decision has been made. Picking the best of a bad bunch It sometimes happens that you advertise a job, receive 50 CVs, interview 6 candidates, and feel like you have to appoint someone, even if you know in your heart there’s nobody suitable for the job. You’re in a rush to appoint, need to get your team back to full strength, and have no time to advertise again. Our advice – if there is nobody suitable for the job, then decide whether: With some intensive training, one of the candidates could do a great job (quickly), or You could adapt the job in a way which doesn’t affect team productively, and allows you to select someone who is suitable to do the revised job, or You advertise again, reflecting... --- ## Getting Your Job Interview Setting Right - **Published**: 2023-07-17 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/getting-your-job-interview-setting-right Whatever job you are interviewing for, it’s crucial for success that the environment you are using for the interviews is the right one for the task in hand. Some general principles to follow for your interview setting are: Whatever job you are interviewing for, it’s crucial for success that the environment you are using for the interviews is the right one for the task in hand. When you think that the aim of a job interview is generally to allow you to get the best from your candidates, then you need to ensure that it’s a comfortable and appropriate setting for both interviewee and interviewer. Some general principles to follow for your interview setting are: It’s a private room, where passers-by can’t peer in as they walk past to see what’s going on, and who’s being grilled. This is just common sense and puts everyone more at ease without being observed by the general public who may be milling past. It’s nowhere near a noisy environment – neither you nor your candidates want to have to shout over background machinery noise. This is another basic, but a goldie and an oldie. Being near noisy equipment will make the encounter a much more stressful one, with both sides struggling to make themselves heard above the din. It’s at a cool enough temperature so that nervous sweats aren’t made more obvious by heat-induced perspiration. Keeping the interview space at a comfortable temperature for all concerned. Likewise, you need to make sure it’s just warm enough so as to avoid shivering, which again may make your candidates appear even more nervous than they are with excessive, or even uncontrollable shaking. Also, wearing coats in an interview isn’t’ really ideal and does nothing to put any of the parties at ease. Make it so that no coats are necessary and ensure that it is warm enough for everyone in the interview room. There’s a clear sign on the door prohibiting entry by others – interruptions to an interview can break the flow... --- ## Common Recruitment Mistakes - **Published**: 2023-07-17 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/common-recruitment-mistakes There are some common mistakes employers make when recruiting – we thought we’d point out a few for you to have a think about: There are some common mistakes employers make when recruiting – we thought we’d point out a few for you to have a think about: Advertising in the same place – every time you recruit. For a few, it works, but others need to find ways of reaching a different and larger audience of potential candidates.  Online recruitment , on both job boards and across social media, has now become the most effective way of finding candidates for most employers, and gives recruiters the opportunity to attract people who might not have been on the lookout for a career move until they see a new opportunity in their news feed.  On that note, it can always be useful to use different job boards too - your ideal candidate might not be a fan of the one you use. Not involving the right people in the selection process. Making sure the right managers / colleagues / team members are involved can help recruit someone with the right personality , as well as skills. This can make a real difference to a working environment and depending on the industry can help to recruit the right people for upholding the company culture. Looking for someone who has done exactly the same job for a different employer. This can potentially mean you’re restricting your candidate pool to people who might not be ambitious or keen on their own development.  They don’t actually have to have done the exact same job to be useful and they may have wanted to try a different working environment. Being able to adjust your person specification a little to include relevant skills rather than just experience in the same job at a different company. Too many ‘essential’ bullet points in your person specification – this has the effect of excluding people... --- ## Internal Vs External Recruitment - **Published**: 2023-07-14 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/internal-vs-external-recruitment Many employers make a point of advertising vacant jobs internally before they consider opening the floodgates to external candidates. It’s something we would always suggest employers consider before they place an external advert. Here are some of our reasons: Many employers make a point of advertising vacant jobs internally before they consider opening the floodgates to external candidates. It’s something we would always suggest employers consider before they place an external advert, particularly because: Existing employees will feel they are being given a serious chance at career progression, and will be grateful for the opportunity, even if it isn’t for them at this time. It shows you value their skill set and are keen on seeing your staff progress and this can increase employee retention rates. As long as they feel that there is a potential path to future career progression within the company, many employees wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else.  Most employees are inherently loyal and it takes something big to drive them away. Most of these factors involve anything that makes them feel like they aren’t valued at the current organisation. Internal recruitment helps to assuage that feeling and to cement the idea that they are all part of the same team, pulling in the same direction.  An external application process is also vastly more expensive to run and involves many areas of outlay, from placing adverts on internet job boards or in local newspapers to hiring a central location for interviews. There will be times when you can’t restrict a vacancy to an ‘internal only’ advert, for example where you are sure current employees don’t have the right skills, qualifications or experience. Our only advice when deciding on your approach is to bear in mind the impact your decision will have on the employee relations environment, specifically staff morale. Going straight for an external ad can seriously demotivate those staff who think they are fully qualified for the job, as now they’ll think you have a different opinion altogether. This can then lead to a loss... --- ## Ask The Team To Select Their New Manager - **Published**: 2023-07-14 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/ask-the-team-to-select-their-new-manager Have you ever wondered how to recruit a manager who stands a good chance of fitting in well with the existing team? This can be one of the hardest things to do when bringing in someone recruited externally. Have you ever wondered how to recruit a manager who stands a good chance of fitting in well with the existing team? This can be one of the hardest things to do when bringing in someone recruited externally. Being able to fit with the team that is already there is half of the battle and if it works then they can really hit the ground running. There are many and varied approaches to achieving this and you can carry out all sorts of tests and challenges during the selection process, but we favour something which we know works well: let the team decide! Now, we’re not saying the team should take charge of the whole recruitment exercise for their new boss, as you should always have the formal selection processes in place, but allowing the team some input into who could be their next leader can work wonders – both for improving the selection decision, but also for helping give a great start to their working relationship. You can facilitate this in various ways: A very informal setting, where the team meet and chat with the candidates individually. This can be an excellent way to see how each candidate interacts with the team and how the conversation flows back and forth.  Being able to be personable and a team player will give a candidate a huge advantage in this instance, though it isn’t the be-all and end-all of what the post entails and this should also be something that you bear in mind. It is possible to get too hung up on charisma and overlook the other parts of the job that they will be asked to do as well. Asking the team to observe a part of the formal selection process and asking for their thoughts can be another way... --- ## Can You Tell If Your Candidate Is Lying At Interview? - **Published**: 2023-07-13 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/can-you-tell-if-your-candidate-is-lying-at-interview Trying to work out if your candidate isn't being honest at their interview isn't rocket science. However, at interview, in an environment where you need to be professional, polite and supportive, it can be difficult. To help you avoid costly mistakes, we've listed below some of the giveaway body language signs that your candidate may not be being honest: Many of us know the costs we can face if we find that the person we've recruited doesn't have the skills, experience or attitude they said they have when we interviewed them. Once you've dismissed that employee, having to advertise, interview, appoint and induct someone else can be a costly business, never mind the wasted salary of the person we shouldn't have hired, and the potential loss of business / productivity. Trying to work out if your candidate isn't being honest at their interview isn't rocket science.  In our personal lives, we are probably better at spotting whether someone is telling us the truth, and then dealing with it. In our professional lives, whilst we can probably spot the lies, we find it more difficult to challenge. However, at interview, in an environment where you need to be professional, polite and supportive, it can be difficult. To help you avoid costly mistakes, we've listed below some of the giveaway body language signs that your candidate may not be being honest: When answering a question, they do one of the following behaviours: They suddenly shuffle about in their seat and change position as if they have become physically uncomfortable. This is because they are literally uncomfortable answering your question. This very often, but not always equates to untruthfulness. Movement of the hands like “dry hand-washing” can be an indication of untruthfulness. They literally feel dirty telling a lie directly to your face so they are “washing their hands” of the lie. If they move in a more measured fashion, or they suddenly start holding their hands quite tightly, this is sometimes a conscious effort to suppress the hand washing action. They move their hands towards their face or neck, possibly pretending to scratch an itch. This again is body language that... --- ## Recruiting? How To Advertise To Get The Best Results... - **Published**: 2023-07-13 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/recruiting-how-to-advertise-to-get-the-best-results Times have changed when it comes to advertising jobs. Our advice when it comes to searching for your staff, on a limited budget, is to source a mix of channels which help you reach the right number and quality of candidates for your job. Read more about our top tips: Times have changed when it comes to advertising jobs. Gone are the days when we all waited for 'Jobs Day' in the local paper, and it's clear now that the jobs pages have shrunk beyond belief for a substantial number of papers. Our advice when it comes to searching for your staff, on a limited budget, is to source a mix of channels which help you reach the right number and quality of candidates for your job. Our top tips are: Pick at least one job board to advertise on, making sure that it has the right ways of attracting a quality audience. Many job boards (and there are thousands out there) have thousands and even millions of candidates registered. That's only useful if those candidates are interested in looking for a new job at the time yours is published. Many of the job boards have people who have been there for years and are no longer looking for jobs. If you ask them for stats, x number of thousand sign ups per month is better than x million user accounts which may or may not be active.   Make sure the job boards you use don't just let you post your job on their site, and hope for the best. Job boards need to be clever about the way they attract applicants - job alerts to registered jobseekers are great, but the vast majority of job boards now share their jobs across 'aggregator sites' such as Adzuna / Jobrapido and many others to increase visibility and results, which is an excellent tool for giving your jobs a boost. Similarly, some push jobs out across social media to ensure they reach passive jobseekers. You never know who your job will appear in front of and persuade to take a leap... --- ## Writing Successful Job Adverts - **Published**: 2023-07-12 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/writing-successful-job-adverts Job adverts can be written in many different ways, though there are some key elements that all Recruiters need to include in order to attract the right and suitably qualified candidates. Job adverts can be written in many different ways, though there are some key elements that all Recruiters need to include in order to attract the right and suitably qualified candidates. A Great Job Title You need a job title which, whilst relevant to the job, is also familiar to those in the industry who might apply.  Candidates search online by job title, and therefore a 'Transparency Enhancement Facilitator' won't do you any favours, whilst 'Window Cleaner' would be ok (that's just an example btw!). The Main Job Details Apart from the intro, this can be formatted in any order, but the key parts should be: A Brief Introduction - and by brief, we mean brief! This should be a summary of the job, which will help put the role in some context before the candidate reads on. About You as an Employer - let the candidates know what the company is all about, your reputation, your place in the market and your reputation as an employer of choice... Pay and Benefits - some recruiters prefer this to be up front, so candidates can see if it's the right package for them before they read on. Similarly, a great reward package can entice candidates who might otherwise have moved on. General Terms and Conditions - make sure you include non-pay benefits which could attract people - flexi-time, generous holidays, staff discount schemes and subsidised canteens should be mentioned if they are available. Key Responsibilities - include anywhere up to 10 (but at least 4) elements of the job candidates will be doing if they are successful.  Again, keep each one brief - you don't need every little task included in there, so long as candidates get a good grasp of what their working day could include. Skills and Experience - make... --- ## 13 Handy Interview Questions - **Published**: 2023-07-12 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/13-handy-interview-questions It can be hard to know what to ask candidates at the job interview stage in order to elicit the best and most complete answers, that will show you some of who they are as well as what they are capable of doing. If you have ever struggled with what to ask in an interview you can draw ideas and inspiration from these 13 questions: It can be hard to know what to ask candidates at the job interview stage in order to elicit the best and most complete answers, that will show you some of who they are as well as what they are capable of doing. If you have ever struggled with what to ask in an interview you can draw ideas and inspiration from these 13 questions: Describe yourself to me in one sentence. This can be quite a difficult question to answer but can bring out some interesting responses when it catches the interviewees off-guard a little. It isn’t usual in life to be asked something so personal that forces people to look inward.   What is it about you which you believe makes you suitable for this role? This allows the candidate the opportunity to tell you about the relevant skills they have that can help them in the job role.   Tell me about your biggest achievement at work. How did you achieve it? Everyone is the hero in their own story and this gives them the chance to let you know of something they are particularly proud of in their working life.   What are your strengths and how do you use them to benefit your work? This can cover some of the “softer” skills such as organisation, exceptional problem solving abilities or the ability to work well as part of a team and to encourage others.   What would your current employer say the best thing about you is when it comes to work? This is a great way to switch things up and catch the candidate on the hop slightly by mentioning their current/former employer. There is of course the added spice to this question in that the current employer may be a reference so you... --- ## Attracting Candidates For A Small Business - **Published**: 2023-07-11 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/attractingcandidatesforasmallbusiness The small empire you started growing has done well; now it’s time to expand it even further as your team just isn’t big enough to get it all done. So, it’s time to get an employee or two, someone you can trust enough to be able to share some of the responsibilities with, as well as someone who will help you grow your business. The small empire you started growing has done well; now it’s time to expand it even further as your team just isn’t big enough to get it all done. So, it’s time to get an employee or two, someone you can trust enough to be able to share some of the responsibilities with, as well as someone who will help you grow your business. It is a big step to take on new employees when you run a small business as you are now responsible for that person’s salary every month and your success is largely intertwined with theirs in a way that it isn’t in larger companies with more employees. Some business owners are reluctant to take on new employees as it means letting them see how their business that they have worked so hard to build operates. It may be that the formula is fairly simple once you grasp the basics and there can be a fear that a new employee may take some time to learn the business and then set themselves up as a direct competitor, using what they have learned. This is something that will never cross the minds of most employees and if you treat them well, they will help you to build your business like never before.  Write an appealing Job Description For you to share some of the responsibilities you’ve been dealing with, you need to be 100% happy with the candidate you choose. Having control over what you say in the job description will allow you to be specific as you need to be; you can put in any necessities and skills you want the employee to have. This way they have a clear understanding of what is expected from them before they start in their new role. Making the job... --- ## When A Candidate Doesn't Turn Up For Interview - **Published**: 2023-07-11 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/when-a-candidate-doesnt-turn-up-for-interview The first things you think when a candidate doesn’t show up for an interview are either “they forgot” or ‘they’ve changed their mind and didn’t bother to tell us.” Both of these assumptions are valid and much of the time they are the correct ones. There can be some situations though where this isn’t the case and there is a genuine reason for their no-show. The first things you think when a candidate doesn’t show up for an interview are either “they forgot” or ‘they’ve changed their mind and didn’t bother to tell us.” Both of these assumptions are valid and much of the time they are the correct ones. There can be some situations though where this isn’t the case and there is a genuine reason for their no-show. Most employers won’t even follow this up and most take the attitude that if the candidate can’t or doesn't turn up, then they are not really who you are looking for. However, there could be another reason that they didn’t make it or couldn’t get in touch to let you know they couldn’t make it. It isn’t completely unheard of for people to have accidents on the way to job interviews that require hospital intervention. People have been known to slip in icy conditions and break a limb. In these circumstances, their injury would be the thing at the forefront of their mind and receiving medical attention would swiftly become their priority. Sending a quick email to see what kind of response you get is the best approach as far as we are concerned. There could have been something serious they had no control over, as mentioned above but if they are serious enough about the job then they will be apologetic and be able to give you an explanation. On the other hand, if they don’t respond, you can generally assume they aren’t interested. An email after the event is definitely the best way to find out the lie of the land as this is easy to do and doesn’t look like you are begging them to attend. We have heard of people losing a parent or sibling on the day of a job... --- ## Could you be overlooking Specialist Candidates? - **Published**: 2023-07-10 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/couldyoubeoverlookingspecialistcandidates Finding experts in any field isn’t always straightforward. You will often go through many different CVs with different job descriptions not matching the candidate profile and this can be quite demoralising. In order to spot the right candidate, we need to break down the fundamentals of the role. When we’re filling a job role, we’re not just looking at professional skills, other factors also come into play. Finding experts in any field isn’t always straightforward. You will often go through many different CVs with different job descriptions not matching the candidate profile and this can be quite demoralising when it happens as you will be spending time on candidates that don’t seem worth your time on the face of it. However, in order to spot the right candidate, we need to break down the fundamentals of the role. Firstly, it’s important to break the categories into points.  When we’re filling a job role, we’re not just looking at professional skills, but other factors come into play also: -   Does the candidate match the skill set? This is obviously one of the more important points as the reason you are recruiting is to find someone who can match the advertised skill set. -   What additional skills do they bring to the table? This is where some of the candidates may surprise you, bringing transferable skills from their previous employment that outstripped and exceeded your expectations. They may be an excellent leader or an expert problem solver who can find solutions when others struggle. -   Is the candidate right for the environment? You will know the job culture and environment better than the candidate and it is up to you to be able to match what you know of them to the environment in which they will be working. -   In terms of personality, will they be happy in that environment? Do they seem like they will be a good fit in terms of personality with the existing team members? Do they have the type of humour that would just work extremely well with the people who are already there? People who will obviously be a good fit are an asset to any recruiter. -   Are they satisfied with... --- ## 9 Mistakes To Avoid When Writing A Job Advert - **Published**: 2023-07-10 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/9mistakestoavoidwhenwritingajobadvert Are you looking for employees to help expand your business? Make sure you avoid falling foul of getting anything less than the best job ad out there, and improve your chances of getting the best candidates! Are you looking for employees to help expand your business? Make sure you avoid falling foul of getting anything less than the best job ad out there, and improve your chances of getting the best candidates! Careless Grammar – There’s no excuse for careless grammar. When putting out a job ad you are presenting your business to anyone who sees the ad, whether they are looking for it or not. Poor grammar = poor results. Focus – In the advert focus on what you actually need. Be specific and straight to the point. Do you need someone who is a team player with a positive determined attitude? Or do you need someone who has a specific skill set and a positive personality? Tell it as straight as possible - applicants will appreciate the directness much more than a paragraph of jargon. Copying – Spending time creating a job description which will stand out from the crowd is key to drawing in the candidates. Make the job sound brilliant by pointing out the most attractive parts to entice candidates in. Copying and pasting the job description from your own internal system is a mistake. Who wants to read a list of endless bullet points? Make yourself known – The worst thing that can be done when writing a job description is missing out the part where you talk about the company. You want to make potential candidates think “Wow! I want to work for them”. If you’re a small business, there’s every chance the candidate knows nothing about you. Realistic goals – Do you really need someone who has got 4 years’ experience? Or would someone with 2 years’ experience be able to do what you need them to? Try not to set the goal posts too high, you could have... --- ## Keeping Discrimination Out Of Job Adverts - **Published**: 2023-06-23 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/keepingdiscriminationoutofjobadverts With the level of legislation in place to prevent discrimination in the workplace, it can be difficult to understand what is expected of you as an employer and very easy to word something that might be interpreted as discriminatory in a job advert. This can happen even when there is no intent at all to be discriminatory, sometimes it is just that not enough care has been taken with the working or the advert. Here are the main do’s and don’ts that are covered by the relevant legislation. With the level of legislation in place to prevent discrimination in the workplace, it can be difficult to understand what is expected of you as an employer and very easy to word something that might be interpreted as discriminatory in a job advert. This can happen even when there is no intent at all to be discriminatory, sometimes it is just that not enough care has been taken with the working or the advert. Hopefully by the time you have read through this article, you will better understand the main do’s and don’ts that are covered by the relevant legislation. Direct and Indirect Discrimination All forms of discrimination can be sorted into two different categories, direct and indirect discrimination. Knowing what the difference between both these categories is can help when trying to avoid them. Direct discrimination in a job advert would be seen as specifying a quality you desire from all your candidates, for example an advert for a ‘salesman’ would be discriminatory against women. Indirect discrimination in a job advert is a generalised attribute that automatically disadvantages certain people such as asking that candidates have English as their first language - this automatically discriminates against people born overseas that might well be fluent in English but also happen to be bilingual. Specific Forms of Discrimination Age discrimination relates to people being treated differently due to their age. If an employer was to include something that could be seen as giving an indication for a preferred age they could find themselves in trouble, even if it was unintentional. To get around this, simply avoid use of language that might be used to describe someone of a specific age: “youthful” and “mature” being common terms that employers fall for. If you are actually looking to employ someone who is “experienced”,... --- ## Developing A Successful Apprenticeship Scheme - **Published**: 2023-06-23 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/developing-a-successful-apprenticeship-scheme Finding and keeping the right apprentices for your company can be difficult. Challenges can come with attracting apprentices, and in working out how to run an apprenticeship scheme effectively.. As you’re probably well aware, apprenticeship schemes can be a great way of employing people. They can produce well trained employees that are likely to stay with your company for years to come, if managed correctly. Finding and keeping the right apprentices for your company can be difficult. Challenges can come with attracting apprentices, and in working out how to run an apprenticeship scheme effectively. As you’re probably well aware, apprenticeship schemes can be a great way of employing people. They can produce well trained employees that are likely to stay with your company for years to come, if managed correctly. Such schemes give apprentices a great opportunity to land on two feet and start a successful career by working within different roles to find what suits them best. This makes an apprenticeship a great option for both employers and employees, and is a key reason for their popularity. Define What You Are Offering First things first, it’s important to clearly define what your apprenticeship will consist of: is it a technical – hands on – apprenticeship? Maybe it’s more of a clerical position? Either way, it’s important to make this clear, to ensure any applicants are interested in what’s on offer and to ensure neither party’s time is wasted. There are already many apprenticeship standards on offer that can offer structure and training for apprentices in different industries. These apprenticeship standards are a standardised learning experience that means people in similar occupations who undertake them can be guaranteed to have learned the same things by the time they have been completed. There is an End Point Assessment when an apprenticeship standard has been completed and this tests the knowledge that has been picked up during the apprenticeship to ensure that the apprentice knows the things that they should. Provide a Clear Structure Be sure to structure how you plan to carry out the apprenticeship scheme, include aspects of as many different roles and departments as possible. Any apprentices that have the opportunity to see a... --- ## Using Your Website To Attract New Staff - **Published**: 2023-06-22 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/using-your-website-to-attract-new-staff If, like most companies, you have a website to showcase your product(s), have you thought about its role in showcasing you as an employer? Bearing in mind one of the first places a potential candidate will look for information about you is online, it's vital to ensure that you use your site in the best way possible to help the recruitment process If, like most companies, you have a website to showcase your product(s), have you thought about its role in showcasing you as an employer?  Bearing in mind one of the first places a potential candidate will look for information about you is online, it's vital to ensure that you use your site in the best way possible to help the recruitment process. Of course, you'll be focused on ensuring your site attracts customers, but attracting candidates can be just as important. This is an aspect of recruitment that is often overlooked by companies as they ted to view their websites through the prism of them making sales rather than providing information to prospective employees. Your website should always have clear contact information and information about your company that potential job candidates will find helpful. This is not only something that will bolster the likelihood of job applications coming in, but you will also increase customer confidence in your brand if they can easily learn more about you. We thought we'd provide a few handy tips you could work with to give your candidate attraction strategy a boost: First and foremost, make sure your site looks professional. There are still plenty of sites out there with broken links, shoddy-looking pictures, missing pages and poorly designed structures. Even for companies that do most of their business online, this still seems to be an issue and it is really something that is easy to sort out. Your website is often where first impressions are made, and candidates (as well as clients) will want to see that you have a professional site to reflect the professional image that you project in all other aspects of your business.   The problem with some of the content management systems such as Wordpress is that they give many... --- ## Preparing To Interview For New Staff - 7 Easy Steps - **Published**: 2023-06-22 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/preparing-to-interview-for-new-staff-7-easy-steps Decisions to make, questions to ask, and the fear of getting it wrong can make interviewing a daunting process to be involved in. We’ve set out seven steps for you to follow next time you’re faced with the prospect of hiring new staff, in the hope that your interviews go well and you make the right choice. Decisions to make, questions to ask, and the fear of getting it wrong can make interviewing a daunting process to be involved in. After all, the costs involved in recruitment can be substantial; hiring the wrong person can be very expensive, especially if you don’t realise it until the new hire has started work with you. We’ve set out seven steps for you to follow next time you’re faced with the prospect of hiring new staff, in the hope that your interviews go well and you make the right choice: 1.     Have a Job Specification / Job Description Whether you call it a job spec, person spec or job description, make sure you have a document which outlines a. the job you are interviewing for, and b. the skills required for the job. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy document, and it doesn’t have to cover every single aspect of the job. Just include the primary tasks/responsibilities of the job and the specific skills they need to be able to perform each aspect of the job to the standard you need. 2.     Prepare your Interview Structure It might sound obvious, but make sure you and any other interviewers are clear about the way the interview will run. A typical structure will be: Welcomes and introductions An explanation to the candidate of the structure of the interview and the next steps after the interview A quick summary of the company, where the role fits in, and the general requirements of the role The main body of the interview i.e. asking questions and having a discussion about the candidate’s skills and experiences. If there is more than one interviewer, then agree on who will be covering which skills/questions Questions from the candidate Close 3.     Prepare your Introductory Questions For some interviewers,... --- ## Hiring New Staff? Need Quality Rather Than Quantity? - **Published**: 2023-06-21 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/hiring-new-staff-need-quality-rather-than-quantity Are you in the process of hiring again? Do you want to bring some new talent into your team without having to trawl through thousands of applications? Then read on: Are you in the process of hiring again? Do you want to bring some new talent into your team without having to trawl through thousands of applications? Then read on: When looking for new staff, you'll want to advertise in the best places. Your jobs are guaranteed to get the right level of attention in these places. So, make sure your candidate attraction strategy is suitable for the job. Then, hope the applications start coming in! Many recruiters judge the success of their adverts by the number of applications they receive from different sources, but sadly not the quality of those applications. In this instance, we are more interested in attracting higher-quality candidates and not having to sift through thousands of low-quality applications. This can be difficult to achieve with the ease of applying for jobs online these days but we have a few valuable tips to make sure your candidates are all of the right quality for your job: Firstly, make it clear in your advert who you are looking for - the skills, qualifications and experience they need for your job.   Secondly, make it just as clear that candidates who don't meet those essential criteria will not be considered for the job. This helps discourage some of the people who lack even the most basic qualifications for the job. Although it sounds harsh, it is necessary to thin out the applications so you are left with only those which are relevant.   Then, let your candidates know you want their CVs so that you can consider their applications. A cover letter alone isn’t enough to go on. This will filter out some of the people just applying for everything remotely relevant to them, as it requires more than the bare minimum to apply. Some job portals allow... --- ## Struggling To Find New Staff? - **Published**: 2023-06-21 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/strugglingtofindnewstaff There are many organisations who, despite their best efforts, are struggling to find the right new recruits to fill their vacancies. They can advertise on every job board, in the press, on social media and elsewhere, hoping they’ll find those people with the right experience to come in and hit the ground running but to no avail. Are you struggling to find new Specialist Staff? There are many organisations who, despite their best efforts, are struggling to find the right new recruits to fill their vacancies. They can advertise on every job board, in the press, on social media and elsewhere, hoping they’ll find those people with the right experience to come in and hit the ground running but to no avail. Some employers will have to accept that despite their best efforts, they will continue to struggle. This isn’t necessarily any fault of the organisation in question, there are just multiple skills gaps across UK industries at the moment that have been left as a result of a combination of factors, including the Covid pandemic and European citizens returning to mainland Europe after Brexit and taking their skills with them. Now, gaps are proving difficult for organisations to fill, and the options for doing so are relatively limited. This situation also places a premium on retaining current workers, as losing them to competitors or career changes will mean even more skills shortages within the company.  Growing Your Talent Many employers look for staff with experience in a specialist field, i.e. they need to have worked in a similar job or industry for a specified period before being considered for the job. This isn’t necessarily about written qualifications but about real work experience.  In defining this as part of the criteria for success, employers must consider the following thoughts: Would people with that specific experience want a career move into a job which might offer them nothing additional to their current employer? What have you got to offer to entice them? This doesn’t necessarily have to be financial, it can be professional development opportunities or more flexible working conditions such as hybrid or fully remote working, which... --- ## Dealing with Lazy Candidates - **Published**: 2023-06-20 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/dealingwithlazycandidates Many recruiters receive job applications from candidates who, on the face of it, don’t appear to have made much of an effort. We see things such as CV applications with no cover letter, CVs with a sparse career history, and even out-of-date CVs. Like most recruiters, you’re probably inclined to think, ‘They’ve not made an effort, so they’re not that interested’, or even ‘If they’d have sent a cover letter, we might have interviewed them’. Have another think! Many recruiters receive job applications from candidates who, on the face of it, don’t appear to have made much of an effort. We see things such as CV applications with no cover letter, CVs with a sparse career history, and even out-of-date CVs with no evidence of any career for the past few years. What are your initial thoughts? Like most recruiters, you’re probably inclined to think, ‘They’ve not made an effort, so they’re not that interested’, or even ‘If they’d have sent a cover letter, we might have interviewed them’. Have another think! Of course, you might be absolutely correct to dismiss their application purely because they haven’t made a serious effort. However, have you ever wondered if they are very interested, but there is a reason they haven’t been able to make a quality application? Here are some of the typical reasons we encounter from candidates who haven’t submitted a quality application for their dream job: They just didn’t have time! They’d noticed the closing date was that day and just sent off what they could, so they had at least registered an interest and perhaps been lucky enough to get an interview where they could do better. They aren’t great at CV writing and didn’t feel able to do their CV justice in the time they had. The job site they were applying through had an outdated copy of their CV, and they couldn’t find/upload a new one. Some people have technical difficulties and can’t find more recent versions of their CV. They have dyslexia and didn’t have time to ask their friend/colleague to help them with their application, or They just weren’t inclined to make an effort but thought they would throw their name into the hat just in case. What to do? Have a look... --- ## Recruiting From Your Local Community - **Published**: 2023-06-20 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/recruiting-from-your-local-community Local businesses can have a significant and very positive impact on their local community. Developing your reputation locally to the point where regular applications are coming in from the local community at a rate higher than your natural staffing attrition rate is a great place to be. Let’s address why you’d want people from the local community working for you. Local businesses can have a significant and very positive impact on their local community. Get your reputation right as an employer, a provider of services/goods, and a key member of the local community, and you will find you are never stuck for potential new staff. Developing your reputation locally to the point where regular applications are coming in from the local community at a rate higher than your natural staffing attrition rate is a great place to be. Firstly, let’s address why you’d want people from the local community working for you: A workforce that doesn’t have to travel long distances to get to you will generally be happier, more productive, and always (mostly) on time for work. It also means that if you need someone to come in to cover a shift at the last minute, they will have less distance to travel, so it shouldn’t be such a hard sell. Less obviously, people living closer will generally have more job loyalty, as they will feel an attachment to, and sense of ownership of the business, simply because you are so local. They are more invested in your company’s success. There is the potential to attract more customers locally through free promotion by local staff. Word of mouth is a powerful tool when it comes to recruiting. There will be fewer sick absences generally, simply because a workforce made up partly of a local community will tend not to want to let their neighbours down or be talked about for doing so, and finally: Your staff turnover levels will be lower, because many people like to work close to home. Once they are used to a very short commute, they are unlikely to want to give it up! Being local means that the commute is nice and easy. To... --- ## Marketing Tips for Recruiters - **Published**: 2023-06-19 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/marketingtipsforrecruiters There’s a lot of competition in the recruitment industry, which makes standing out as a recruiter or a recruitment agency difficult. Businesses are sick of getting the same sales pitches and email messages, so standing out among the crowd is essential; therefore, your company’s marketing strategy must be unique. Coming up with a unique marketing strategy means thinking outside the box. You need to think of creative ways of marketing your company. There’s a lot of competition in the recruitment industry, which makes standing out as a recruiter or a recruitment agency difficult. Businesses are sick of getting the same sales pitches and email messages, so standing out among the crowd is essential; therefore, your company’s marketing strategy must be unique. Coming up with a unique marketing strategy means thinking outside the box. You need to think of creative ways of marketing your company. But first, see if you can answer these questions: How are you different from other agencies? What benefits do you offer? How are you unique as a company? Once you’ve answered them, you’ll either have basic beginnings and understanding of where to take your marketing plan, or you will think, ‘My company isn’t really different from any other agency’. At this point, it’s worth considering how to make your company different or focus on one point. i.e., do you offer the best possible service to clients that is unusual to other companies? You may decide at this stage that you would like your business to reposition slightly so that it is more squarely aimed at a certain demographic that you believe may be the key to future success. It could be the perfect time for a slight rebrand if you've not implemented a marketing strategy previously. Add a catchy tagline, update your website design, and consider what company values and messages you want people to see. Why is marketing important? Marketing is vital to any business, whether they like it or not. With many people using technology daily, your target audience is now online, and it’s crucial you know how to reach this audience because you don’t have a business without them. There are many different types of digital marketing and marketing tools available. Over the next couple... --- ## The Best Interview Techniques - **Published**: 2023-06-19 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/thebestinterviewtechniques A job interview can be as daunting for an interviewer as it is for the interviewee. Whilst it is an opportunity for you to determine whether a candidate is qualified and suitable for the job vacancy, it also represents a chance for an interviewee to decide whether your organisation is a good fit for them and to voice any questions they may have about the role or company. A job interview can be as daunting for an interviewer as it is for the interviewee. Whilst it is an opportunity for you to determine whether a candidate is qualified and suitable for the job vacancy, it also represents a chance for an interviewee to decide whether your organisation is a good fit for them and to voice any questions they may have about the role or company. We have put together a few pointers on how to maximise every interview you have with a candidate. Prepare You must prepare thoroughly and invest time in planning your questions and technique. You are representing your organisation as well as your professional self. A strong interview doesn’t necessarily need to comprise stereotypical tough questions such as ‘What’s your greatest weakness?’. Instead, shape your questions around the job description and your company's values. For instance, asking a behavioural question such as ‘Give me a situation where you faced a challenge at a workplace and how did you overcome it?’ reveals far more about a candidate’s problem-solving skills and initiative than an ill-thought, vague and challenging question. Meeting the Candidate This can be the most awkward part. No matter how many interviews candidates have been to, they will still have butterflies when sat in new surroundings opposite a potential employer. Whilst you may be nervous yourself, try not to let it show. Smile. Take the initiative and offer to shake their hand. Let the candidate settle in and ask them general questions about their well-being, weather, and journey. Offer them a glass of water. If time permits, offer them a tour of the premises. These small gestures will go a long way to eliciting better answers from your candidate. Remember, the best candidate isn’t necessarily the one who oozes confidence from the outset. Some... --- ## What's the best Recruitment Process? - **Published**: 2023-06-16 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/whats-the-best-recruitment-process We all want a good selection of candidates to apply for the jobs we advertise, and more importantly, we want high-quality applications. If you’re not getting the results you need, have you ever wondered if your application process is right for you? We all want a good selection of candidates to apply for the jobs we advertise, and more importantly, we want high-quality applications. If you’re not getting the results you need, have you ever wondered if your application process is right for you? There are three main processes recruiters tend to use nowadays (not including the use of recruitment agencies), these being: 1. Submission of a CV and cover letter This is probably the easiest and most common practice for recruiters. Candidates can just submit their latest CV, include a cover letter and try to sell themselves to you in their own unique way. It’s easy for candidates – so long as they have an up-to-date CV, and can easily type out their cover letter, then it takes minimal effort. 2. Completion of a bespoke application form Application forms are still being used and by a surprising number of employers. Typically, they are emailed to candidates and can sometimes ask for pages and pages of information, such as detailed career history, personal statement, competency-related work examples, equal opportunities info, referees and so on. Some employers do still ask for the completion of a paper-based form, and some require completed forms to be posted rather than emailed. Many feel these are outdated practices, but some organisations are seemingly stuck with them. 3. Online recruitment pages The next step on from the basic application form is the online application process. This is generally a set of fields on employers’ websites which candidates are expected to complete. Whilst it feels more modern, it can sometimes be as time-consuming as completing the traditional application form. So, which is best for you? In answering this question, you should always bear in mind that your outcome for a recruitment process is that you attract sufficient interest from... --- ## 5 Great Reasons to Advertise Jobs Online - **Published**: 2023-06-16 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/5-great-reasons-to-advertise-jobs-online In today’s jobs market, many recruiters find it increasingly challenging to find the right staff. The once-popular jobs pages in the local papers are no longer as successful simply because of the reduced lack of interest in reading the ‘paper’, so employers are having to look for candidates elsewhere. In today’s jobs market, many recruiters find it increasingly challenging to find the right staff. The once-popular jobs pages in the local papers are no longer as successful simply because of the reduced lack of interest in reading the ‘paper’, so employers are having to look for candidates elsewhere. Most recruiters have taken the leap from print to online adverts, but some are still wary of the perceived pitfalls of online recruitment. There can be a downside to online job advertising, most notably increased applications from candidates who are in no way suitable for the job, for example, overseas candidates trying anything to help them move into the UK, and those who have to be seen to be applying for jobs, even though they are unqualified for the positions for which they are applying. However, the benefits still outweigh the pitfalls by far. Here are our top 5 reasons why you should be advertising online: 1. Reaching an Increased Audience Advertising jobs online means you could potentially capture a large audience of relevant candidates. With many job boards now in operation within the UK, whichever you choose you’ll be sure to reach people who are interested in your job. Many of today’s job boards share their jobs across other sites (sometimes known as aggregator sites), so even if potential candidates aren’t registered with the site you plump for, there’s every chance they’ll see the job somewhere else! 2. You can include more information Job boards usually allow recruiters to post unlimited text in their adverts. On that basis, you can include everything you want to about the job, with no restriction. This is helpful because you can list all the skills you seek, the experience you need, information about organisational culture, benefits and career prospects. The more information you include,... --- ## Persuade your Perfect Applicant to accept your Job Offer - **Published**: 2023-06-15 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/persuade-your-perfect-applicant-to-accept-your-job-offer Many of our recruiters have faced that disappointing situation when they’ve advertised the job, shortlisted, interviewed and found the perfect candidate. Suddenly, the candidate throws a spanner in the works, walking away from the offer. If you want to increase your chances of getting your perfect candidate on board, read our tips below to see what you could do differently: Many of our recruiters have faced that disappointing situation when they’ve advertised the job, shortlisted, interviewed and found the perfect candidate. Suddenly, the candidate throws a spanner in the works, walking away from the offer. If you want to increase your chances of getting your perfect candidate on board, read our tips below to see what you could do differently: Help the Candidate Engage with your Company During the recruitment process, you should be taking steps to help your candidates understand the job, the company and the culture. Take some time to give them a tour of relevant areas of the company/building, show them where they would be based, introduce them to the team they could be working with, and have a coffee in the staff restaurant. This might add time to the whole process but could be the difference between acceptance and rejection. Keeping in Touch Wherever you are in the recruitment process, communicate with your candidates so they feel valued and will see that you want them to do well in the selection process. Email them a few days before the interview, tell them you’re looking forward to meeting them, and allow them to ask any questions. Then the day before, phone them to check they know all they need to know (including how to get to your site) before they turn up. Make sure these are informal communications - this will help candidates relax and feel more comfortable during the selection process and help them realise you are a caring employer. Making the Right Offer You might think you’re overstepping the mark here, but we suggest you find out if the candidate has any other ‘irons in the fire’ during the recruitment process. That way, you’ll be in an excellent position to judge the type of package... --- ## Looking for Project Staff? - **Published**: 2023-06-15 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/looking-for-project-staff Ever wondered whether you need to bring in a new employee or a self-employed contractor to work on your exciting new project? It’s a big question for any business, and both have pros and cons, but the best solution depends on many factors. To make things simpler, we’re going to break it all down here. Ever wondered whether you need to bring in a new employee or a self-employed contractor to work on your exciting new project? It’s a big question for any business, and both have pros and cons, but the best solution depends on many factors. To make things simpler, we’re going to break it all down here. Speed of Hire Hiring a contractor will likely bring a quicker start date than a long-term employee, meaning work could start sooner. Many contractors have gaps in their schedules as they regularly focus on short-term project work with precise end dates and are more likely to be available to start quickly. Long-term employees, who are likely to be employed elsewhere, would generally need to give notice to their current employers, so expect to wait a good month before they can start with you, and possibly up to 3 months. This flexibility is one of the most attractive reasons to hire a contractor. Doing things this way will give you a much quicker start to the project and you will begin to see tangible results much more quickly than having to go through a protracted employment process. There are also many freelance contractor marketplaces online such as freelancer.com or upwork.com which can make it easier to quickly find someone with the kind of skills that you are looking for. Employment Costs A contractor will undoubtedly cost more in real cash than an employee over the time period of the project, but essentially you’re paying for convenience. You will, of course, find that with contractors, the outlay for things such as sick pay and holidays is unnecessary, which can reduce costs and extend the length of the project. Additionally, with contractors, if it doesn’t work out, you won’t have to go through the complex and possibly lengthy... --- ## Making Recruitment Work for Candidates with Disabilities - **Published**: 2023-06-14 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/making-recruitment-work-for-candidates-with-disabilities Recruitment processes can be complex or challenging at the best of times, with employers always trying to make sure they find the right ways of attracting quality applications from the best candidates. Have you ever wondered if your processes are stopping some great people from applying simply because they have a disability? Recruitment processes can be complex or challenging at the best of times, with employers always trying to make sure they find the right ways of attracting quality applications from the best candidates. Have you ever wondered if your processes are stopping some great people from applying simply because they have a disability? There are a great many people in the Uk and beyond who find it difficult to get fair consideration for jobs because of certain disabilities that don’t actually impact their ability to do the jobs that are needing to be done. You could be missing out on some brilliant candidates by not doing enough to reach out to people in this situation. UK and European Laws place a duty on organisations to ensure their recruitment practices allow for all suitable candidates to apply, regardless of any disability they may have. On that basis, there are some great tips you can follow (below) to ensure that you’re taking positive steps to encourage applications from everyone: First and foremost, it’s advisable to state in your job advert and company literature that you are an equal opportunities employer. This will give candidates some reassurance that you’ll take their application seriously.  It is crucial to ensure that this isn’t only a case of paying lip service to the idea, though and that this is actually something that is embraced throughout your organisation. You should ideally have an equal opportunities policy document available for anyone to read that outlines the steps that are routinely taken to encourage this as a company culture.  When writing your advert, or defining the ‘essential criteria’ for the job, make sure you’re not adding in qualifications/requirements that actually aren’t essential! We see examples where candidates are required to travel as part of a job and therefore expected to... --- ## Challenging Your Candidates - 5 of the Best Interview Questions - **Published**: 2023-06-14 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/challengingyourcandidates5ofthebestinterviewquestions Interviews are the element of the recruitment process you rely on most to make your final selection decision. You'll be able to test a candidate's technical knowledge and competence and get to know them to an extent. For some candidates, the usual interview questions are a doddle - technically, they could be fantastic, but equally, they could just be well-versed in giving the 'right' response to those competency-related questions. Interviews are the element of the recruitment process you rely on most to make your final selection decision. You'll be able to test a candidate's technical knowledge and competence and get to know them to an extent. For some candidates, the usual interview questions are a doddle - technically, they could be fantastic, but equally, they could just be well-versed in giving the 'right' response to those competency-related questions.  Have you thought that throwing in a few potentially difficult questions, verging on the uncomfortable, might help you form a more realistic view of your candidate than those simply related to the technical aspects of the job? Here are a few we believe could help you see beneath the surface: 1. Tell me about a working relationship with a colleague or client that hasn't been the best and the action you took to improve things. This will allow your candidate to think on their feet, show how diplomatic they can be, and demonstrate an understanding of their own behaviour. Employee self-awareness of how they deal with situations surrounding working relationships can significantly benefit an employer. 2. Can you explain your personal qualities that will benefit our company and why? Many candidates struggle with a question like this simply because it can be uncomfortable for them to blow their own trumpet. Many people are quite reserved and don’t like being forced to talk about how good they are.  However, once they've listed their qualities, ask them for examples of where they have demonstrated them in the past to make sure they're not just saying what they think you want to hear. This can be a very challenging question, so expect to see some delaying tactics as candidates take a beat to think. 3. Could you give me an example of an emergency... --- ## Recruiters - What do your Applicants want from you? - **Published**: 2023-06-13 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/recruiters-what-do-your-applicants-want-from-you For all recruiters, the focus is usually on filling the job with a quality candidate, keeping the hiring manager happy, and ensuring they want to use your services again (whether you're an agency or an internal recruiter). Although these are the major focal points for recruiters, there is also another group you need to keep happy, so we are going to ask: For all recruiters, the focus is usually on filling the job with a quality candidate, keeping the hiring manager happy, and ensuring they want to use your services again (whether you're an agency or an internal recruiter). Although these are the major focal points for recruiters, there is also another group you need to keep happy, so we are going to ask: But what about the Candidates? Running a job board, we are happy to hear personally from candidates for any reason. We love to talk, but we also love to listen and respond to the issues candidates raise with us. Here's what we regularly hear, and how we think recruiters should deal with the issues candidates are raising: Candidates want to know that the jobs they apply for really exist! There is a great deal of scepticism about whether jobs listed online are real jobs or whether they are simple ways of gathering CVs to develop a new / more extensive database.  This can come partly from how adverts are written and the fact that some key details are omitted from adverts, e.g. location/salary/prospects. Candidates are developing a negative image of some recruitment agencies, and we think agencies can take many positive steps to turn this around. It is a legitimate level of scepticism from candidates in situations when there is poor communication as well. Communication! The main issue we hear about is a lack of communication once a CV has been submitted. Technologies nowadays, e.g. application tracking systems or even Mailchimp, give recruiters many easy ways to let candidates know they've received an application or have declined it. There is simply no reason these days not to have an email acknowledgement automatically sent out when specific actions happen on your platform.   To leave someone waiting for feedback simply isn't... --- ## How to Help your Candidates Relax at an Interview - **Published**: 2023-06-13 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/how-to-help-your-candidates-relax-at-an-interview Candidates will more often than not give their best performance at an interview when they feel relaxed, comfortable and welcomed. We've just a few tips here that you should bear in mind next time you're interviewing to make sure you let the candidate perform as well as they can: Candidates will more often than not give their best performance at an interview when they feel relaxed, comfortable and welcomed. We've just a few tips here that you should bear in mind next time you're interviewing to make sure you let the candidate perform as well as they can: Whilst there often needs to be a certain level of formality, there's no need to go overboard! Calling people Mr Jones, or Miss Smith, when you can quite easily use their first name, is a no-no. Smile! This sounds like an overly straightforward answer, but it goes a long way to making candidates feel welcome and will help put them at ease. Candidates will often have an expectation to shake hands with their interviewers when they meet them. Oddly, we've seen some interviewers state that their policy is 'not to shake hands at interviews'. It's bizarre!  Imagine how you would feel if you went to shake someone's hand and they turned away or broke eye contact to avoid it. It's a surefire way to put the candidate into confidence-reduction mode. Shaking hands is the standard, courteous, professional and welcoming way of greeting people, so just get on with it! Before the interview officially begins, explain to the candidate precisely what will happen. Set out the interview format, explain that you'll be taking some brief notes, reassure them that you want to hear how their skills and experiences match the job requirements you are looking to fill, and confirm that there are no right or wrong answers. You just want the candidate to be themselves. A great way to help put them at ease is to explain that if they need time to answer a question, they should take it. There's no rush to answer, and nobody is trying to trip them up,  ... --- ## Keeping Your Candidates Happy - Even When There's Bad News - **Published**: 2023-06-12 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/keepingyourcandidateshappyevenwhentheresbadnews In my experience managing a Jobs Board, I hear from candidates who are excited about a potential new role but are dismayed when they don’t hear any response from the recruiters. We always encourage recruiters to let all candidates know the outcome of their job application and the reason for that outcome. In my experience managing a Jobs Board, I hear from candidates who are excited about a potential new role but are dismayed when they don’t hear any response from the recruiters. We always encourage recruiters to let all candidates know the outcome of their job application and the reason for that outcome. It is always worth engaging with candidates suitably and ensuring they know why they have been unsuccessful in the application process.  I believe we all share responsibility for candidate morale, even when they’re not good enough for the job. That old chestnut of “If you don’t hear back from us within seven days, you haven’t been successful” is an absolute cop-out! Feedback, Feedback, Feedback! Giving feedback to rejected candidates shouldn’t be difficult or time-consuming, bearing in mind the automated systems available out there for mass communications. All it requires is a minimal time investment to write an honest statement about why they missed the mark this time, and honesty really is the best policy! Don’t pussyfoot about, just be direct. People tend to appreciate straightforward, actionable feedback that they can take on board and use to improve their applications in future. A few good examples are: 'Your CV didn’t show any evidence of your experience providing customer service.' ‘We had other candidates who had more relevant experience in marketing in our specific field.’ Or even ‘The application you made for this role did not show you had given sufficient thought to demonstrating the skills and competencies we were looking for, and we found no evidence that you had the relevant experience.’ These are generic examples, but they give the candidates something to work with. Whether they are applying for jobs they aren’t qualified for, or they are more suited to a different field, they at least have some... --- ## Preventing Discrimination in Recruitment - **Published**: 2023-06-12 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/preventingdiscriminationinrecruitment The Equality Act in the UK is designed to protect job applicants from discrimination based on what are termed “protected characteristics” - a list of attributes that are protected by law and which it is illegal to discriminate based on. Recruiters should be aware of these and ensure that everyone involved in their recruitment process is up to speed on them. It can be very costly, both reputationally and financially, to be caught on the wrong side of a discrimination case. The Equality Act in the UK is designed to protect job applicants from facing discrimination based on what are termed “protected characteristics”. This is a list of attributes that are protected by the law and which it is illegal to discriminate based on.  Recruiters should be aware of these characteristics and ensure that everyone involved in every aspect of their recruitment process is up to speed on them. It can be very costly, both reputationally and financially, to be caught on the wrong side of a discrimination case. There are some things you just can’t ask your candidates during a job interview, mainly concerning ‘protected characteristics’. As a gentle reminder, here are the protected characteristics you shouldn’t ask about: ?     Age ?     being or becoming a transsexual person ?     being married or in a civil partnership ?     being pregnant or having a child ?     disability ?     race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin ?     religion, belief or lack of religion/belief ?     sex ?     sexual orientation All of the above characteristics are protected by law, and there is no good reason that interviewers should be asking about them. There may still be underlying reservations, biases and discrimination amongst recruiters who think that women in a certain age bracket may decide to go on maternity leave or that people of a certain age may struggle to pick up new computer skills. The law is intended to protect them from discrimination on that basis, but in reality, it means that recruiters just can’t ask them questions about the areas concerned. We’ve seen some extremely poor examples of recruiters asking about some of these, even though they were trying not to be too direct. They still ended up with complaints, which isn’t surprising, reading some examples below.  “What year are you planning to... --- ## Securing Top Talent - **Published**: 2023-06-09 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/securingtoptalent Good businesses know that they are only as good as the people who are working for them, and that is why securing the services of top talent is so important in terms of growth and the bottom line. For these reasons, every business wants to secure top talent in their field, and there are several ways to make your business more attractive to these exceptional people. Good businesses know that they are only as good as the people who are working for them, and that is why securing the services of top talent is so important in terms of growth and the bottom line. For these reasons, every business wants to secure top talent in their field, and there are several ways to make your business more attractive to these exceptional people. Career Development and Progression Opportunities People in the market for a career/job change will be interested in how you will help them develop their careers. This isn’t all about saying you’ll happily support them with training courses, though this is one way you can help them to succeed; it’s about giving them challenging work, giving them responsibilities to enhance their future prospects and employability, and providing them with career paths which will help them grow and develop. Letting candidates know that they won’t stagnate if they come to work with you will work wonders. Promoting your Company Values Potential new recruits will be interested in the type of employer you are: your company values – how you instil and promote them, and how you turn your company values into reality. This can include such things as your approach to reward, recognition, community engagement, teamwork and the leadership model you operate. Ensure information about all of this is readily available on your website and elsewhere – and if you have any case studies to share, then share them. Providing the information they are looking for about company values and culture will help to allay any doubts and build a stronger sense of personal connection and alignment with your goals. Your Reputation – As an Employer and a Service Provider If you have an excellent reputation as an employer, then you should be proud of it... --- ## Probation, Trial Period or Fixed Term Contract: Which is Best? - **Published**: 2023-06-09 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/probationtrialperiodorfixedtermcontractwhichisbest There are several options available to employers when it comes to offering contracts to new employers. Some of these include periods of increased monitoring to ensure that the successful candidate or candidates are up to the task. The increased managerial oversight of a particular employee can sometimes increase the workload for managers. This doesn’t have to be something negative. There are several options available to employers when it comes to offering contracts to new employees. Some of these include periods of increased monitoring to ensure that the successful candidate or candidates are up to the task. The increased managerial oversight of a particular employee can sometimes increase the workload for managers and make the employee feel under increased pressure to perform well. This doesn’t have to be something negative, as being able to build confidence in both the employee and their managers that they are up to the tasks expected of them is an excellent outcome from the process and can stand both in good stead. Probation Having a probationary period for any position means you need to have proper, transparent processes in place that your staff and their managers are perfectly clear about and able to follow. That means all parties are fully aware of the process for monitoring probation, how long the probationary period is, and what employees can expect to see throughout their probation period. There also needs to be a clear plan for managers to follow to ensure they manage the whole process well. This should generally involve a formal review structure where the manager and employee review performance against a plan, agree on progress and implement improvement plans where relevant. In most cases, improvement plans shouldn’t be necessary, as the new employee will likely be quite on top of what they are doing from an early point in their employment, and these should only be used in cases where they need to get back on track. Probation is generally used where staff are employed on longer-term/permanent contracts to ensure they are a good fit. Staff employed with a probation period generally expect that as long as they keep their nose clean and meet their... --- ## Why am I not Getting Any Interviews? - **Published**: 2023-06-08 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/why-am-i-not-getting-any-interviews Do you have a success rate of ‘0’ when it comes to getting an interview? Wondering why you’re still trawling the jobs boards for another opportunity? Here are some of the possible reasons why (excluding your ability to do the job), including some which might give you a little comfort that you’re possibly not personally at fault: Do you have a success rate of ‘0’ when it comes to getting an interview? Wondering why you’re still trawling the jobs boards for another opportunity? Here are some of the possible reasons why (excluding your ability to do the job), including some which might give you a little comfort that you’re possibly not personally at fault: 1. Firstly, The Competition Most candidates will have no idea who they are up against when they are applying for a job, so you should take some comfort from the fact that while you firmly believe you’re the ideal match, there could be reasons why others are even more ideal, such as: They’ve done the identical job (or had very similar responsibilities) before, so can hit the ground running. This is no slight on your prowess, the other person just seems like a better fit. The recruiter had to advertise the role (for reasons relating to their own internal ‘fair and open competition’ rules) even though they knew who they wanted to appoint already, and that was someone else! This is more common than we would like to think and unfortunately has a real impact on people applying for positions. 2. A Suboptimal CV There are lots of reasons recruiters will reject you, but it’s a shame to say that these will include the way your CV looks. Remember your CV gives recruiters their first impression of you, so make it a good one. Any / all of the following could apply: Your CV runs to 25 pages, and goes into the nth degree of detail about everything you’ve ever done, in your whole life. Whilst some of it will of course be useful, presenting a recruiter with so much detail probably won’t have the result you really want. Nobody is interested enough... --- ## 6 Reasons to Head Out for Lunch - **Published**: 2023-06-08 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/6-reasons-to-head-out-for-lunch We've all seen it in our workplaces, colleagues who sit at their desks from 9 until 5 without even taking a lunch break. For us, lunch breaks are vital, and every employee should take advantage of the time they can take away from their desk / the office. Here are some reasons why: We've all seen it in our workplaces, colleagues who sit at their desks from 9 until 5 without even taking a lunch break. Their usual excuses: - I've too much work to do - I've got to get this thing finished - I'm not hungry - My boss will think less of me if I'm not here when they need me We could go on and on. For us, lunch breaks are vital, and every employee should take advantage of the time they can take away from their desk / the office. Here are some reasons why: Your mind needs to rest and recharge. Your brain needs to take a break at some point during the day - your lunch break will give your brain a rest, and most likely will increase your productivity for the afternoon. This is a key point, being at your desk all day may actually render you less productive than if you went ahead and took a lunch break away from it. It's good for your body. Too much constant stress can lead to all sorts of medical problems further down the line. Taking time to unwind now can help relieve stress before it’s too late. Being able to get up and take a walk, perhaps outside in the fresh air, can really help to handle the stresses of the working day. You are more creative when you are relaxed. Having some time to sit and think, away from your computer and normal work environment, can help you reflect on your morning's activities, and bring some fresh ideas into your mind. It will help your day feel more manageable. Instead of anticipating hour after hour of work, you can divide your plan for the day into two distinct “sessions” or blocks of time. Being able... --- ## CV: Record of Achievement, Not List of Duties - **Published**: 2023-06-07 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/cv-record-of-achievement-not-list-of-duties We still see a great many people thinking that their CV should be a long list of their past jobs, and the duties involved in carrying out those jobs. As far as content goes, an element of your previous job detail is important, but more important is what you achieved in those jobs. We still see a great many people thinking that their CV should be a long list of their past jobs, and the duties involved in carrying out those jobs. As far as content goes, an element of your previous job detail i s important, but more important is what you achieved in those jobs. Potential employers will of course be interested in where you have worked before, so your CV should reflect that, and also a summary of the jobs you had, but a job summary is as far as it should go. It is really more about the skills that you brought to the table, or developed while you were working there, far more than about what the job description said that your job entailed. What’s more important is what you achieved in those jobs, and the difference you made in your role. Did you learn how to lead a team of people and successfully complete several projects with them? Did you master the use of a new software application which allowed the stock taking to happen much more easily than in previous years? Were you able to help new colleagues to settle into the team and take them under your wing, in a mentorship role? All of these achievements are far more important and interesting than a list of duties that you were required to carry out.  Next time you look at your CV, reflect not on what you were required to do , e.g. write reports, file papers, answer calls, but on what you did which made you stand out as being a valued employee and colleague. Many of these relate to competencies, which are sometimes referred to as transferable skills, and include leadership, problem solving, decision making and communication. If you can make a case for... --- ## Removing your Age from your CV - **Published**: 2023-06-07 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/removing-your-age-from-your-cv Since age became a protected characteristic, employers know that they can’t take it into account when recruiting unless there are ‘objectively justifiable’ reasons (which are actually quite hard to find!). Saying that, some of us think age is a factor employers still consider (even if it’s subconsciously) when deciding who to interview. If you think the same, here are four tips to hiding your age on your CV: Since age became a protected characteristic, employers know that they can’t take it into account when recruiting unless there are ‘objectively justifiable’ reasons (which are actually quite hard to find!). Saying that, some of us think age is a factor employers still consider (even if it’s subconsciously) when deciding who to interview. If you think the same, here are four tips to hiding your age on your CV: OK, so this may sound like a really obvious solution but simply do not include your date of birth anywhere on the CV. Some people might think it should be on a CV, but there is absolutely no reason why it has to be. This seems like the most logical way to obfuscate your age and try to take it out of the equation a little. You don’t need to include every single job you’ve had in your life which would be a dead giveaway in terms of your years. There is no reason why you can’t simply include the past 10 / 15 years’ worth of jobs and leave it at that. There is no rule that says you need to include any more than that or even as many as that if you have had multiple jobs in that time period. You should only include information in your CV that feels of most relevance to you.  Anything further back than that won’t be too relevant for employers looking for recent experience anyway, as we change, mature and develop massively in terms of our workplace skills over time. Your qualifications do not have to have dates alongside them – usually the fact you have the qualifications is the important piece of information. Some qualifications may give away an age range, for example Scotland no longer has Standard Grades as the name of... --- ## Updating your CV to Pursue a Career Change - **Published**: 2023-06-06 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/updating-your-cv-to-pursue-a-career-change If you’ve decided you want your career to take a different route, and are now applying for jobs which are nothing like those you’ve been doing in the past, you will need to change your CV to give you the best chance of being in contention for these jobs. Have a read of our advice below for changing your CV to increase your chances of success: If you’ve decided you want your career to take a different route, and are now applying for jobs which are nothing like those you’ve been doing in the past, you will need to change your CV to give you the best chance of being in contention for these jobs. Have a read of our advice below for changing your CV to increase your chances of success: Primarily, you need a CV which shows recruiters you are capable of being successful in their role. So, as a starting point, make a note of the skills and experience you would need in your chosen career path. This is the best starting point for constructing a relevant CV for your new career path. Against each of the skills / experience in your list, write down the evidence you have about your past career which demonstrates you have those skills. Easy ones could include: Leadership / Management, albeit in a different type of role Organisation skills Communication / Interpersonal skills Customer Service skills You’ll also have to then find evidence relating to your new career path. As we know, recruiters will generally want to see experience in a similar role to that for which you are applying, even a more junior role in that sector. However, even if you can’t give such specific evidence, find examples of where you can demonstrate you have the right skills for their vacancy, e.g. For jobs in HR, you could talk about your people management experience, delivering internal customer service, resolving complex problems, taking tough decisions, managing change etc. All of these are skills that are in demand in HR. For jobs in finance, call upon your evidence of number crunching when you managed a budget, or dealing with statistics when you were developing proposals and reports. You... --- ## Been Sacked? How will you get a new Job? - **Published**: 2023-06-06 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/been-sacked-how-will-you-get-a-new-job A small minority of us will have, at some point, been dismissed from a job and will have to admit, it was our fault. But, we have to / want to / need to work, so what do you do about getting another job when your last employer gave you the boot? It is a difficult situation to navigate with potential new employers so here are a few things to think about: A small minority of us will have, at some point, been dismissed from a job and will have to admit, it was our fault. But, we have to / want to / need to work, so what do you do about getting another job when your last employer gave you the boot? It is a difficult situation to navigate with potential new employers so here are a few things to think about: If it was a very brief job, some may think we can leave it off our CV altogether. Beware - there are many ways for new employers finding out, e.g. if they see your P45 with your previous employers name on, or your personal referee mentions to your potential new employer that they thought you were still in the job you were in fact dismissed from. It's a risky strategy, and one which could lead to another dismissal if your new employer finds out! It is important to always be truthful during the job hunting stage as you will be seen as dishonest if you are found to have lied, even by omission in the job interview or on the application form. Social Media - if you have shared stories online about your dismissal, or about previous employers, then there is a strong chance any potential new employer could find your profile / online account and see what's been going on.  All of us should manage what we share online very carefully, and keep a tight control over our privacy settings! This is truer now than ever before and is especially true if you are reluctant for information about a former job getting into the public domain.  Potential employers don’t like to hear of people bad-mouthing their former employers because they believe the employee is more likely to say negative things... --- ## Missing a Skill for Your Ideal Job - What Next? - **Published**: 2023-06-05 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/missingaskillforyouridealjobwhatnext So you've just seen your dream job advertised online. Unfortunately, when reading through the job spec, you realise there is one essential skill you can't demonstrate and you are wondering whether you should apply and hope for the best? We think so - so long as you take the advice we've set out below. So you've just seen your dream job advertised online. Unfortunately, when reading through the job spec, you realise there is one essential skill you can't demonstrate and you are wondering whether you should apply and hope for the best? We think so - so long as you take the advice we've set out below. Firstly, make sure you fully and clearly demonstrate your skills in all other aspects of the job, whether that's in your CV, or in the recruiter's application form. This is important so it doesn’t just look like you aren’t qualified at all to apply. You should spend extra time on getting this right and making sure that you include all relevant information to support what you say.   Then, outline what you know about the missing skill to show your understanding and knowledge of that area in the appropriate space, either in a cover letter or application form. This will make the recruiters aware that you realise you are lacking the experience in that particular area. Self-awareness is something that can be a valuable skill and they will be sure to take note of this. Phrases such as “Whilst I don't have any direct experience of, e.g. 'widget making' I have taken time to observe the process, and shadow others who have developed that skill” will go a long way. Showing your willingness to learn and that you have already done some work in this regard can only ever be a positive thing in the world of recruitment. This is one of the best things you can do to demonstrate your suitability for the job. Anything you can include to show how you've researched / learnt about that skill, without having demonstrated it, will go to show you are keen! There may be some online courses that... --- ## Experience Required? How to get a Foot in the Door - **Published**: 2023-06-05 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/experience-required-how-to-get-a-foot-in-the-door The majority of employers advertise their jobs with that age-old phrase ‘experience required’. Not surprisingly, they want people who can hit the ground running and perform well from day one in the job. For candidates who are keen to follow a certain career path, many struggle to get to the first rung on the ladder simply because they don’t have the experience recruiters are looking for. If you’re in this situation, then here are a few tips to help you get a foot in the door The majority of employers advertise their jobs with that age-old phrase ‘experience required’. Not surprisingly, they want people who can hit the ground running and perform well from day one in the job. For candidates who are keen to follow a certain career path, many struggle to get to the first rung on the ladder simply because they don’t have the experience recruiters are looking for. It could seem as though all the qualifications in the world won’t help if you haven’t actually done the job before. If you’re in this situation, then here are a few tips to help you get a foot in the door: Find a way of gaining experience – even on a voluntary / unpaid basis. There are lots of organisations who will gladly give you some work experience to help you build up your CV. You may end up working for free, but you’ll reap the rewards when you can show potential employers you have that all-important experience. You just need to call them to get the ball rolling. Even if you end up working for free for a time, you will be making valuable contacts in the industry and you may end up being offered a job because of your keenness and great attitude to the work. At the very worst you will have relevant experience to add to your CV and hopefully a new positive reference as well. Make sure your CV reflects your ability to learn, and learn quickly. Applying for jobs is, to some extent, governed by luck. If you show you are keen to learn, and the recruiter doesn’t have many applications from suitably experienced people, then you’ll be in with a chance.  Appearing keen is one of the most under-rated ways of breaking into the jobs market in a competitive... --- ## What to Wear for your next Interview - **Published**: 2023-06-02 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/what-to-wear-for-your-next-interview Your interview is your one and only chance to make a fantastic first impression, so you need to make sure you hit the mark with your apparel. The moment you walk through the door into the interview room is when your interviewers will start to form a judgement on your ‘fit for the job’ – and all they have to go on at that stage is your appearance. You can’t afford to get it wrong! Your interview is your one and only chance to make a fantastic first impression, so you need to make sure you hit the mark with your apparel. The moment you walk through the door into the interview room is when your interviewers will start to form a judgement on your ‘fit for the job’ – and all they have to go on at that stage is your appearance. You can’t afford to get it wrong! Dressing for a Formal Interview We always suggest that a suit is necessary for a formal interview, for both men and women. Don’t go for anything overly trendy, and by that we mean a shiny suit that looks like it belongs on a dance floor, and don’t go for anything that probably belongs at a black-tie do either. Men’s Interview Apparel So long as your suit is clean and tidy, plain and of a generally neutral colour (i.e. dark brown, blue, black or grey) you’ll be fine. Try to steer clear of green, or much lighter options. Your shirt should be a plain one, preferably white but other pale colours work just as well, with a tie that matches. Your tie should be suitably professional without giving away any of your sports / political or superhero favourites, and should also work well with your choice of suit and shirt. For shoes, black can work well with any dark coloured suit, but dark brown shoes are equally ok with brown or blue suits. And socks? Your interviewer will probably notice them, so try and keep them plain and simple and ensure that they match! Interview Clothing for Women For suits, you have the choice of wearing a skirt or trousers, and they are equally fine. Plain, dark coloured suits are best to go for, with a... --- ## Do Recruiters Lie to their Candidates? - **Published**: 2023-06-02 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/do-recruiters-lie-to-their-candidates We are regularly asked by candidates about statements recruiters make, i.e. employers and recruitment agencies, and whether there is any truth to them. Firstly we should point out that recruiters generally want to do their best for the hiring managers, whilst also remaining professional and polite towards candidates, so 99% of the time there is a genuine and supportive reason why white lies are told. We are regularly asked by candidates about statements recruiters make, i.e. employers and recruitment agencies, and whether there is any truth to them. Firstly we should point out that recruiters generally want to do their best for the hiring managers, whilst also remaining professional and polite towards candidates, so 99% of the time there is a genuine and supportive reason why white lies are told. Here are a few of the more specific / common statements some candidates hear, and what lies beneath them: Salary is dependent on experience . All recruiters will usually have a budget, pay scale or 'broad band' within which a candidate would be placed, hopefully in a way which is fair to existing employees (taking into account equal pay legislation and all that).  They will wait to hear about your skills and previous reward packages before deciding what they wish to pay you, but they will have to take into account their own rules and regulations.  Refusing to advertise a salary can help recruiters weed out those candidates who are asking for too much, but also means they can ensure they don't offer too much if you disclose you're happy to go in at a low salary. We have appointed internally for the job . This of course can be a very true statement, but can also mean that the recruiter has decided to put the job on hold for a while until some better candidates come along. In some cases it's a clear way of saying that you weren't of the calibre they needed, along with everyone else, without hurting your feelings. You are overqualified for the job . This can be a way of recruiters letting you know that whilst you might meet the criteria perfectly, they were looking for someone they could more easily... --- ## Practicing for your Job Interview - **Published**: 2023-06-01 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/practicingforyourjobinterview Practice makes perfect! You should know that the more practice you can build in before an interview, the better chance you are giving yourself of a positive result. Here’s how you can do this in a D-I-Y way: Practice makes perfect! You should know that the more practice you can build in before an interview, the better chance you are giving yourself of a positive result. Here’s how you can do this in a D-I-Y way: As well as practicing by yourself, you can ask friends or family to help you. Have them prepare some potential interview questions and have some prepared yourself that you would like them to ask. There will be questions in your practice session that you aren’t expecting: these will force you to think on your feet, as you will have to do in your real interview. When practicing on your own, make sure that you mix up the questions so that you don’t get into a habit of learning the answers in a set order, as they are very unlikely to come in the order that you are practicing them. If you can, you should record your practice interviews. This is going to let you hear or see your reactions to questions, your body language and any mannerisms or words you should stop using (e.g. pause words like 'um' and 'er', or fidgeting with your hands). It can actually be quite jarring to hear how often you umm and err in conversations at first, so try not to be too self-conscious about it, we all do it. If you can’t record it then practicing in front of a mirror will help. Making sure that you look presentable for an interview is very important: we suggest that you should wear the clothes you would wear to the interview for your practice. This will also allow you to make sure you are comfortable in the clothes you plan to wear (and you'll be able to work out if your old suit still fits!) It will... --- ## Top 5 Tips and Tricks for Writing a CV - **Published**: 2023-06-01 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/top-5-tips-and-tricks-for-writing-a-cv A CV is an essential part of any job search and a great way to put all your skills, qualifications and experience in one place. It can also be a daunting place to start, as most people aren’t very good at talking up their own skills and abilities. This is a very human failing and most of us suffer from it, so don’t think you are the only person who has been struggling on this front. A CV is an essential part of any job search and a great way to put all your skills, qualifications and experience in one place. It can also be a daunting place to start, as most people aren’t very good at talking up their own skills and abilities. This is a very human failing and most of us suffer from it, so don’t think you are the only person who has been struggling on this front. Crafting the perfect CV can be daunting, so we have put together a list of the top 5 tips and tricks for writing a CV. Grab your recruiter’s attention! Did you know that the average human attention span is less than that of a goldfish? At around 8 seconds, your CV needs to really stand out to make an impression, and the fundamental truth is that most CV’s are boring. They have the same sections, a similar layout and repetitive words and phrases such as ‘I can work on my own and as part of a team’. Be the recruiter. If you had been trawling through dozens of CVs, would you sit up and take notice of your own? It can be a big ask, but try to make sure your individuality and personality shines through. Perhaps look at how to use the layout slightly differently, choosing to emphasise your transferable skills upfront rather than leaving them to the section that deals with the roles you held in previous employment. Don’t make fundamental errors Spelling or grammatical mistakes will put a CV straight on the reject pile, virtually without exception. Spellcheck thoroughly and get your CV checked by someone else, be it a family member, friend or colleague. At Ourbob.com we also offer a CV Review Service , so let our experts lend a... --- ## 5 Great Interview Tips - **Published**: 2023-05-30 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/5-great-interview-tips Getting a job interview is an exciting time, but it can also result in nerves and pressure. Once you get a job interview, the next best thing to do is prepare, we’ve put together tips for making your next job interview great. Getting a job interview is an exciting time, but it can also result in nerves and pressure. Once you get a job interview, the next best thing to do is prepare, we’ve put together tips for making your next job interview great. 1.   Research the Company The first major pointer is to research and understand your company. One question that is often asked is “what are your initial thoughts of the company?’” It’s important to have a good understanding of what they do and also about the job you’re being interviewed for. Discuss the benefits of working for that company, how they compare to their competitors and also about how you would benefit the company. 2.   Ask the Interviewer Questions Many people that go to an interview will sit and answer the questions of the interviewer, but to make you stand out, it’s important to ask them intelligent questions about the role and about the company. Employers expect you to ask questions, it makes you look more serious about the position. Questions you can ask an interview are: How does each department collaborate with each other, could you describe the communication process between them? Can you give an example of the day-to-day job responsibilities of the role? What are you finding to be the biggest challenge with this position? If you could create an ideal person for this role, what characteristics and skills would they possess? Is there anything during this interview I haven’t clarified enough or would like me to explain in more detail? 3.   Be Prepared for Questions Being asked questions in a job interview is entirely normal, but competency based interview questions can often leave a person rendered speechless if you’re not prepared for them. Competency based questions are structured behavioural or situational questions that test one... --- ## 6 Common Interview Mistakes - **Published**: 2023-05-30 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/6-common-interview-mistakes There are some things you always have to remember when you're heading into an interview, and some things you can't afford to get wrong. Here are some of the most common issues we hear about, and sometimes too regularly: There are some things you always have to remember when you're heading into an interview, and some things you can't afford to get wrong.  Here are some of the most common issues we hear about, and sometimes too regularly: 1.   Forgetting it’s a two-way conversation Interviews are stressful enough without having to think of extra things to say, but remember that it's a conversation, not a quiz. You are allowed to ask questions too, and you'll make a positive impression on the interviewer if you do. This is something that is easy to forget in the heat of the moment but if you can ask some good questions you will be doing yourself a favour. 2.   “I’m a Perfectionist” When an interviewer asks what your weaknesses are, they are looking to see how you deal with the question rather than what your actual weakness is. Saying that you are a perfectionist feels like you are dodging the question, rather than giving them what they are looking for. Tell them about a skill you would like to improve on and how you plan on improving it. 3.   Having No Questions Prepared We all know that an interview is going to end with the interviewer saying “have you got any questions?”. The biggest mistake you can make is to say no. Prepare at least five questions before you go for your interview as the interviewer may have answered some of them already during your discussion; this way you have back up questions. 4.   Not Researching Yourself Taking the time before an interview to write down all your achievements and experiences can help remind you of things you might have forgotten. Interviewers tend to ask you about yourself: having written this list you will be able to remember things much more clearly. It... --- ## 7 Great Interview Tips - **Published**: 2023-05-23 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/7-great-interview-tips We want you to stand a great chance of getting the job you want, so we thought a few basic tips on handling your next interview would be useful. These will be especially useful for those of you who may be out of practice in the interview world, or those who may have had limited interview exposure. We want you to stand a great chance of getting the job you want, so we thought a few basic tips on handling your next interview would be useful. These will be especially useful for those of you who may be out of practice in the interview world, or those who may have had limited interview exposure. 1.   Preparation Have a think about the questions that you would ask if you were in the interviewer’s shoes, i.e. what would you want to know about a potential employee. Then, practise how you would respond to those questions. There will always be some common questions you can think of: practising how you would answer even those will help boost your chances. There are lists of potential interview questions available online and guides to what types of answers the interviewers are hoping for that can give you an advantage when it comes to the interview stage of your application. To maximise your chances of success, you should find a friend to practise with or consider the possibility of doing some interview coaching with OurBob.com to further improve your chances of being successful in your real world interviews. 2.   Knowledge Investing some of your time getting to know a bit about the company will make you look keen and interested in the employer. There are many ways this can be done but the easiest is to have a look at their website and other online news stories about them. Going armed with some facts about the company, their recent achievements or headlines (positive ones!) will really help you stand a good chance. Inserting your knowledge into your discussions, at the appropriate point, will help - especially if you can mention relevant information in the context of the job you are applying for. Interviewers enjoy... --- ## Competency Based Interviews - **Published**: 2023-05-23 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/competency-based-interviews During a Competency based interview, you will be asked to answer a number of different questions in a way which enables you to demonstrate which skills you possess. You would normally be asked to provide examples of when a given skill was put to good use in the past. (Questions used can also be known as Behavioural or Situational.) During a Competency based interview, you will be asked to answer a number of different questions in a way which enables you to demonstrate which skills you possess. You would normally be asked to provide examples of when a given skill was put to good use in the past. (Questions used can also be known as Behavioural or Situational.) Competency questions can be particularly useful when interviewers are considering candidates with less specific professional experience, or those who are looking for a change in career, as they enable candidates to show what they are capable of and how they would be able to adapt to the role. It allows the interviewer to probe for more information about the transferable skills that the candidate has picked up over the course of their career. Transferable skills are the kind of things that can often seem like intangibles or “soft” skills. Leadership and team working abilities are two of those that are often in high demand. The typical structure of a question asked in a Competency based interview could be: "Describe a situation when you assumed the role of leader." Once you have answered that question, the interviewer might go on to ask "What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them?" This helps them to understand how you behaved in that situation, and why. Being able to understand the context of the actions that you took and the circumstances that led to them is useful to interviewers in order to get a fuller picture of the situation and how you were able to construct a response to it.  Examples of Competencies / Transferable Skills During a Competency based interview, you will be asked to think of examples where you demonstrated the use of, e.g. teamwork, leadership, problem solving or decision making... --- ## What is a Graduate Scheme? - **Published**: 2023-05-22 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/what-is-a-graduate-scheme Graduate Schemes are a great way to kick-start your career. Schemes can vary a lot from organisation to organisation but all will have a period of training and development which will often (but not always) lead to a full time role. Introduction to Graduate Schemes Graduate Schemes are a great way to kick-start your career. Schemes can vary a lot from organisation to organisation but all will have a period of training and development which will often (but not always) lead to a full time role. This Development can last anything from 12 to 36 months and can involve a number of placements within the company. These placements will expose a graduate to all aspects of the organisation they’re working within, making it possible to create an informed decision on where exactly is the best place in the organisation for you. This is an excellent way to ascertain the direction that you would like to pursue within a particular company. Being given opportunities to try different job roles for size should help you to firm up your areas of interest and begin to think more clearly about your expectations for the future.  Graduate Opportunities One of the best aspects of a Post-Graduate Scheme is that it opens up a floodgate of opportunities for someone looking to start off their career. Larger organisations can offer roles in HR, Finance, Sales, Marketing, IT and Business Management. There are also more specific schemes for sectors that focus on one career path from start to finish such as; Engineering, IT, Healthcare, Retail and many more. Graduate schemes are mostly offered by some of the larger companies, making these schemes the easiest to find and the most readily available. This does not mean however that there are not smaller schemes for more specific roles, it simply makes them harder to find. It may be that a smaller and more specific scheme is a better fit, depending on what the area of interest for the individual graduate happens to be. Graduate Jobs vs Graduate Schemes People often... --- ## Video Interview Tips - **Published**: 2023-05-22 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/video-interview-tips Video interviews are a growing trend in the recruitment world. Just as the name suggests, a video interview is a face to face interview, but generally where the candidate is at their own home or office. Video interviews can make recruitment much easier for employers, meaning they can schedule interviews much quicker and interview a larger number of people without worries about travel and other commitments. Video interviews are a growing trend in the recruitment world. Just as the name suggests, a video interview is a face to face interview, but generally where the candidate is at their own home or office. Video interviews can make recruitment much easier for employers, meaning they can schedule interviews much quicker and interview a larger number of people without worries about travel and other commitments. This has become much more common since the Covid-19 pandemic, with many more job interviews being conducted as video interviews than ever before, through platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. If you’ve a video interview to look forward to, then read through our tips below to make sure you’re prepared, and are ready to expect the unexpected. Check Your Technology Yes, we know it sounds obvious, but make sure you have the right programme on your computer to enable a video call with sound. Whether it’s Skype , Facetime, Zoom , Google Meet , Microsoft Teams or some other programme, make sure it works by testing it – have a video call with a friend to check you’re clear on how to set it up. Secondly, make sure your internet connection is a good one. We’ve heard of countless stories where connections have dropped and candidates have missed out on a great opportunity. If you can, use a hard-wired computer, but failing that – sit somewhere near the wireless router to ensure you get the best signal possible. There's nothing worse than a dropped connection when you're mid-flow. If you are going to be using a laptop, which many people do because of their built-in cameras, remember to ensure that you either have it plugged in and charging during the call or that you have charged it sufficiently to last for... --- ## Interview Tips for Introverts - **Published**: 2023-05-19 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/interview-tips-for-introverts Whilst few people enjoy interviews, they can be particularly difficult for people who might consider themselves introverts. Unfortunately, interviews are usually unavoidable when it comes to looking for a new job so it’s important that you do all the preparation you can. With any luck, the following tips might just give you the edge you need to be successful in your next interview. Whilst few people enjoy interviews, they can be particularly difficult for people who might consider themselves introverts. Unfortunately, interviews are usually unavoidable when it comes to looking for a new job so it’s important that you do all the preparation you can. With any luck, the following tips might just give you the edge you need to be successful in your next interview. Interview Preparation is Key For most, the key to performing well in any interview is preparation; as Benjamin Franklin once said “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” . On that basis, do your research (you can never do too much), both about the company and the job you are applying for; this will help you in your interview by giving you a) an insight into the role and b) more to talk about, and it will make it easier for you to decide if it’s the job for you. For even the most extroverted among us, preparation is vitally important. Showing that you know something about the company, and understand the role, will help build a fantastic first impression. Practise Your Interview Techniques Take some time to write up some questions you think you could be asked, and then write the answers you would give. Then, if you can, set up a practice interview. You can do this with a friend, a family member or an outside organisation. Here at OurBob.com , we offer the chance to work on your interview technique with us through our interview coaching service and this can help you to get it right on the day. Take some notes along If you can, make some notes for yourself prior to the interview. Don’t write an essay – just a page of key points you think you’ll need to be... --- ## Tips for Completing a Job Application Form - **Published**: 2023-05-19 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/tips-for-completing-a-job-application-form Many companies (especially large firms) use application forms when recruiting: this is because they can quickly and efficiently get a response for those questions they need answering the most, which is difficult and time consuming if trying to achieve the same goal with CVs. Application forms also make it much easier to compare candidates with one another. We’ve included a few basics below which we hope help you submit a great application: Many companies (especially large firms) use application forms when recruiting: this is because they can quickly and efficiently get a response for those questions they need answering the most, which is difficult and time consuming if trying to achieve the same goal with CVs. Application forms also make it much easier to compare candidates with one another.  We’ve included a few basics below which we hope help you submit a great application: Research the Company Before you start to complete any application form, the first thing you should be doing is research the company you are applying to work for. By familiarising yourself with their business you can relate your application to the needs of the employer. Researching a company, and reflecting that research in your application, shows the recruiter that you are interested and you’ll automatically become a more attractive candidate. Don’t Make Mistakes Secondly, a very important factor in creating a successful application is minimising the number of mistakes you make. With this in mind it’s important you understand the application form , so before you even start to complete it, take a moment to familiarise yourself with how the application operates. Work Offline on the Application Form Whether it’s an online application form, or a downloadable one, our advice is always to draft your responses in a separate word document before you move them into the appropriate fields or form. This allows you to constantly review and edit the information you include without fear of pressing the ‘send’ button at the wrong time. It also means you can make sure your word counts are correct and that the application flows well. The key here is to avoid needless mistakes, as they can make you look bad. Submitting a half-completed application form gives rise to questions about your... --- ## How to Apply for an Apprenticeship - **Published**: 2023-05-18 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/how-to-apply-for-an-apprenticeship An apprenticeship is a great way of getting your career started, by gaining work experience whilst also working towards a formal qualification. Apprenticeships are an increasingly popular alternative to going into full time employment or heading off to university. However, with the increase in popularity, success is also more difficult to achieve. An apprenticeship is a great way of getting your career started, by gaining work experience whilst also working towards a formal qualification. Apprenticeships are an increasingly popular alternative to going into full time employment or heading off to university. However, with the increase in popularity, success is also more difficult to achieve. Why Choose an Apprenticeship? One of the things that has made apprenticeships so popular in recent years is that they are competing with University courses where tuition fees can see students burdened with massive debts by the time they graduate. With apprenticeships you earn as you learn and aren’t charged for the academic side of things, so you won't have to pay any tuition fees and you will be earning money, while also gaining relevant work experience in your chosen field. Another great reason to choose to take on an apprenticeship is that there is an enormous amount of choice available, with many of the apprenticeships in hands-on job roles within the construction sector or working with complex machinery. If you are someone who is good with their hands then some of the apprenticeships that are available are custom-designed for you, and you may find that the range of choices that is open to you is far larger than you had thought possible. This is one of the things that we often hear from apprentices. They are amazed at the level of choice that is available and it can actually be somewhat difficult to narrow down the areas of interest because there are so many interesting and exciting opportunities. Finding the Right Apprenticeship for You First and foremost, search for an apprenticeship that suits you. This is key, finding something which is suited to your interests and experiences is essential, not only for being successful but for finding... --- ## Did You Fluff Up Your Job Interview? - **Published**: 2023-05-18 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/did-you-fluff-up-your-job-interview There are very few mistakes that you can make in a job interview that are completely insurmountable, so try not to worry too much and think about the actions that you can take to rectify it instead. Realising you’ve made a bad mistake can, in itself, be quite unsettling and can have the effect of making the rest of your interview quite uncomfortable. However, here's our advice for ensuring that doesn’t happen, and getting you back on track for the job. Have you ever been in a situation where you have been mid-interview and you realise you’ve either: Said something actually quite silly Given a bad example of past work experience, or Totally forgotten to mention something vitally important? This is not the disaster that it can first appear, though it can be unsettling and serve to knock your confidence at the time. There are very few mistakes that you can make in a job interview that are completely insurmountable, so try not to worry too much and think about the actions that you can take to rectify it instead. Realising you’ve made a bad mistake can, in itself, be quite unsettling and can have the effect of making the rest of your interview quite uncomfortable. However, our advice for ensuring that doesn’t happen, and get you back on track for the job, is as follows: As soon as you realise you’ve fluffed, wait for the next natural pause in the proceedings (e.g. after you've answered a question). Ask your interviewer if you can go back over an earlier point or question Explain that you said something earlier that you’d like to either:  clarify further (i.e. making the ‘something silly’ sound sensible) Recap on an earlier question, and provide a more suitable example of your experience, or Add something to an earlier answer that you omitted to include Your interviewer should have no problem allowing you to rectify an issue, as it’s their job to help you give your best at the interview. So, once you get the nod, go ahead and say what you should have said in the first place. Once you’ve dealt with the mistake or omission, be sure to thank your interviewer for allowing you to interrupt. Once this has been taken care of, the interview can... --- ## 7 out of 10 Recruiters look for Communication Skills on a CV - **Published**: 2023-05-17 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/7-out-of-10-recruiters-look-for-communication-skills-on-a-cv When it comes to applying for a new job, you’ll want to put yourself ahead of the rest. On that basis, it might give you an edge to know that 7 out of 10 recruiters look for evidence of strong communication skills when recruiting. Having a workforce with great communication skills leads to better teamwork, improved customer relationships and retention, and overall better business performance, so it’s a skill never to be hidden from view. When it comes to applying for a new job, you’ll want to put yourself ahead of the rest. On that basis, it might give you an edge to know that 7 out of 10 recruiters look for evidence of strong communication skills when recruiting. Having a workforce with great communication skills leads to better teamwork, improved customer relationships and retention, and overall better business performance, so it’s a skill never to be hidden from view. How do you demonstrate communication skills on your CV? You might think a recruiter can’t really tell what sort of a communicator you are just from your CV, but we know they can! First and foremost, a well-written and professionally formatted CV will give them a clue about your written communication skills, and there are so many other ways you can demonstrate your excellent communication skills in your past experience. Here are a few tips to help you work out what you could be including: Successful presentations to groups of staff or customers shows that you have the confidence to communicate in what can be a challenging or nerve-wracking setting. Make sure you give examples of the types of presentations you’ve made and to whom. Leading a project means you must have had experience in organising and communicating about project plans, updates, targets and success. Include in your CV the different ways you’ve communicated about your project. Contributions to or facilitating meetings, whether they are team, inter-department or client meetings, show you have a certain level of confidence in communication. Giving examples of these will help without going into great detail. Negotiation, at any level, is a great skill to have and shows recruiters you can think on your feet as well as having the skills needed to handle potentially difficult conversations. Talk about your... --- ## Interview Techniques and Tips - **Published**: 2023-05-17 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/interview-techniques-and-tips There are many types of interview styles during recruitment. With the onslaught of digital technology and its infinite global reach, you can find a variety of ways to be interviewed. It could be a telephone interview, video, group, individual, or three-stage interview – it all depends on the company recruiting and their in-house methods of assessing potential employees’ skills. There are many types of interview styles during recruitment. With the onslaught of digital technology and its infinite global reach, you can find a variety of ways to be interviewed.  It could be a telephone interview, video, group, individual, or three-stage interview – it all depends on the company recruiting and their in-house methods of assessing potential employees’ skills. Whatever type of interview you have for a job, from informal to formal, there are some excellent pointers on how to conduct yourself and be a candidate that stands out for all of the right reasons. Here are Our Bobs Jobs’ key tips for success: Research Study the company and anything newsworthy about it. How long have they been operating? Read about the company’s ethos and values. What is important to them? Who will be interviewing you? It’s good to have background knowledge of who you are considering working for and to familiarise yourself with the surrounding information of the company: it shows you’ve taken a genuine interest in the company and job. Practice Write some sample interview-style practice questions and then ask a friend or family member to give you a mock interview you and give you some feedback on your answers. If you’re unfamiliar with interviews, creating a replica scenario can help you be prepared for the interviewer asking you questions, and how you could respond to them.  Competency-based interviews What does competency-based mean? In a nutshell, it’s a process that will test your competencies! Desirable skills and attributes that an employer could look for during your interview include: problem solving, leadership, teamwork skills and communication. An interviewee’s individual skillset can be demonstrated by asking direct questions, such as: “ Can you describe an instance in a past job where you have had to use your leadership skills to... --- ## Considering an Internship? - **Published**: 2023-05-16 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/considering-an-internship Have you ever thought about applying for an Internship? Are you interested but would like to know what they are all about? Then read on: Have you ever thought about applying for an Internship? Are you interested but would like to know what they are all about? Then read on: What is an Internship? An internship is generally a short-term and fixed-duration period of work offered by employers, during which an intern is able to contribute to the employer’s business using their skills, as well as gaining valuable work experience and personal development. Most internships last for any length of time between one week and 12 months. Who are Internships for? Typically, you’ll find that the vast majority of employers are seeking degree students for their internships. This is because they wish to recruit interns who already have some valuable skills, are keen to learn, gain some work experience and get a foothold in the employment market, without the employer having to make a long term contractual commitment. Internships also give employers a potential field of new recruits for the future, as and when their studies come to an end. For interns, this provides a great way of ensuring they leave education with not only academic skills, but also workplace experience. Many universities have, and promote internship schemes for their students for organisations they partner with. These can work through subsidising the employment of the intern, making it less of a cost and risk for the employer. If you’re a student, make sure to ask around about this at your University. A good place to start would be the careers advice service. What Should I Expect from an Internship? Your main responsibility as an intern is to be a sponge for information. You’re there to learn! Your employer will typically have a project for you to complete which isn’t critical to the success of the company, but will still give you experience that is applicable... --- ## When to Apply for an Apprenticeship - **Published**: 2023-05-16 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/whentoapplyforanapprenticeship Apprenticeships are a great way to learn a totally new job; successful applicants for apprenticeships receive training from both employer and education provider, and earn money at the same time! This is sometimes referred to as earning as you are learning and it makes apprenticeships an increasingly attractive option. Apprenticeships are a great way to learn a totally new job; successful applicants for apprenticeships receive training from both employer and education provider, and earn money at the same time! This is sometimes referred to as earning as you are learning and it makes apprenticeships an increasingly attractive option. They provide an excellent alternative to University education for those who don’t want to study full-time, but who want to learn a trade/profession and get a foot in the door of their ideal employer or career path. One of the strongest reasons for the success of apprenticeships is that they are offered across a wide range of different academic levels, from Intermediate to Advanced, Higher and Degree levels, with each of these apprenticeship “levels” corresponding to a different academic achievement at the end of the apprenticeship. This means that apprenticeships are perfect for people who are at different stages of academic success. The Intermediate apprenticeships are a good fit for people who have left school with few qualifications, and the degree-level apprenticeships allow a route to an undergraduate degree qualification while actually getting paid, rather than racking up debt in order to qualify.  Many people think Apprenticeships commence in September, at the start of an Academic Year. It’s common knowledge that most further education courses start in September, and therefore not an unreasonable expectation that apprenticeship opportunities and work-based learning programmes commence at the same time. Nowadays though, many employers start their search for apprentices throughout the year simply due to business need, and this has meant that educational institutions, both Colleges and private providers, have become flexible enough to take in apprenticeship students at many points throughout the year to ensure apprentices can benefit from learning while they earn.  The range of different apprenticeships that is on offer throughout the... --- ## How to Apply for a Job Online - **Published**: 2023-05-15 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/howtoapplyforajobonline If you're about to start your online job search, here are some essential tips to help you improve your chance of success once you've clicked the job search link. It can be a daunting task to begin looking for a job on the internet as there are many recruitment sites out there, and you may have to explore several of them to find the ones that you want to use. If you're about to start your online job search, here are some essential tips to help you improve your chance of success once you've clicked the job search link. It can be a daunting task to begin looking for a job on the internet as there are many recruitment sites out there, and you may have to explore several of them to find the ones that you want to use. Before you even start looking, make sure your CV is current. When you see a job online you want to apply for, chances are you'll want to be able to hit the 'Upload and Apply' button without having to sign out, rejig your CV and find that job again!  This may seem like a laborious task to have to keep doing, but it means that when you do find a job that catches your fancy, you will be more than ready to go after it. Being prepared for success is one of the largest indicators of whether or not you will succeed.   When you've found your ideal career move, if the site you are applying through asks a whole host of personal/demographic questions, don't rush through them. Some may be vital in terms of your being selected for an interview, so be as thorough and honest as you need to be.  This is a good way of ensuring that you don’t accidentally rule yourself out of jobs because you don’t meet the criteria when in actual fact you do. Human error on websites has cost many people the chance at jobs that could have really been a good fit for them.  If there is space for a cover letter/note to be included, then make sure you add something. Leaving this space blank will encourage the recruiter to think you're just... --- ## 10 Pretty Dire Interview Mistakes - **Published**: 2023-05-15 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/10prettydireinterviewmistakes Have you ever wondered what to avoid doing when you're being interviewed? We've heard of some unique and horrendous blunders, but there are some quite common ones you really should try and avoid: Have you ever wondered what to avoid doing when you're being interviewed? We've heard of some unique and horrendous blunders, but there are some quite common ones you really should try and avoid: Never slate your current/past employers or managers! Explaining that you want to leave a job for negative reasons about your employer or manager can lead your interviewers to think you're not as loyal as you need to be and that you could be hiding some truths about yourself. This is one of the worst mistakes that you can make in a job interview setting so try hard to avoid it. Turning up without any questions to ask your potential future employer. You need to appear interested in the job and the Company. Having questions to ask means you've some interest in finding out more and potentially showing you've done some research - both of which are plus points. Even if you're being interviewed on your lunch break (which in itself is not ideal), don't tell your interviewers you have limited time before you have to dash. They will think you're not serious about the job, as you haven't made enough time for a decent, relaxed interview. Accept that you may just have to return later from your lunch break if you really want this job. Unless asked, don't tell your interviewers you have another offer. They won't want to feel under any pressure to make a quick decision, even if you'd like them to. Never turn up with hand-outs unless you've been asked. Most interviewers will have a set format they wish to follow, and throwing a spanner in the works of their schedule and format will be off-putting for them. If you can't answer a question immediately, don't ask the interviewer to move on to the... --- ## References - and how Recruiters handle them - **Published**: 2023-05-12 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/referenceshowrecruitershandlethem The one aspect of the recruitment process you have little control over is the part when your potential future employer asks your past employer whether you’ll be able to cut the mustard before they officially employ you. Many candidates are pretty nervous about this aspect of the hiring process simply because they have little idea what the new employer will ask and how the old employer will respond. The one aspect of the recruitment process you have little control over is the part when your potential future employer asks your past employer whether you’ll be able to cut the mustard before they officially employ you. Many candidates are pretty nervous about this aspect of the hiring process simply because they have little idea what the new employer will ask and how the old employer will respond. Here’s a simple outline of how it works: How are References Obtained? References can be sought with a bespoke letter, standard form, or phone call. References are usually sought by a member of the HR Team, an administrator, or the hiring manager They can be obtained before an interview or offer (usually only with your permission, though) or after an offer has been made. What Questions Are Asked? Many recruiters will have a standard set of questions they ask of referees in the hiring process, and if this is the case, the references are typically sought through standard letters or forms. Questions can be about a whole multitude of issues, including: Your performance in your old job Any conduct issues which were raised with you The skills you demonstrated when carrying out your role Your ability to work well in a team What your significant achievements were, and Your ability to carry out your new job So, basically, they can cover anything and everything! And on that basis, you must ensure you have been 100% honest throughout the hiring process. If there was a problem at your previous place of employment, you must mention it during the hiring process, as having it flagged up later will make it look like a lie of omission, not to have previously mentioned it. Employers with more to lose if they make a poor hiring decision... --- ## Presentations During Your Interview - **Published**: 2023-05-12 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/presentations-during-your-interview Here are some top tips to help you produce the perfect presentation to help you show your potential future employer exactly what you can do. The idea of delivering a presentation in an interview can be a daunting one, especially for people new to the jobs market. However, presentations are becoming an increasingly prevalent part of the selection process, especially when recruiting for senior positions or when presentation or advanced communication skills are vital for the job. Here are some top tips to help you produce the perfect presentation to help you show your potential future employer exactly what you can do. Step 1: Preparation and Planning It is essential to understand exactly who you will be presenting to: this includes the number of people, their expertise and their position in the company, as this will help influence what you say and how you say it. Make sure your presentation is tailored to hit the right spots for the people who will be assessing it! Step 2: Structuring the Presentation Whilst planning your presentation, you should also take into account the structure; this should ideally be no longer than three parts, including a snappy opening, the development of your argument, and not forgetting a clear, memorable conclusion that will stick with your audience. Also, remember to keep your presentation informative and concise, concentrating on your core message. Nobody wants to be on the receiving end of a fifty-slide presentation. You don’t win any points for boring the room. You will probably have been given a specified amount of time for your presentation, so make sure you keep it as brief as it needs to be. A good tip is to find out how quickly you usually speak and then determine how many words you will need for the presentation based on how many minutes you will speak for. Be sure to consider how quickly you speak when taking extra care to enunciate every word, like... --- ## Is Rejection Good For You? - **Published**: 2023-05-11 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/is-rejection-good-for-you Applying for jobs gives you an excellent opportunity to reflect on your career so far, think about how to succinctly describe it in a meaningful way on your CV, and how best to position yourself in relation to the jobs you want to go for. Many people take a very relaxed approach to applying for jobs, and constant rejection should provide the wake-up call that is needed to take some positive action the next time. Applying for jobs gives you an excellent opportunity to reflect on your career so far, think about how to succinctly describe it in a meaningful way on your CV, and how best to position yourself in relation to the jobs you want to go for. Many people take a very relaxed approach to applying for jobs, and constant rejection should provide the wake-up call that is needed to take some positive action the next time. Regardless of the quality of applications we submit for new jobs, the majority of us will face rejection from recruiters at some time. There are so many messages we can take from this rejection which we can turn into positives, but all too often we just ignore them and move on. If you’ve had a resounding no, and want to know how to learn from it, then read on: Rejection at Shortlisting Stage: If you’ve not even made it to the interview, then it’s probable that one of the following reasons applies: You’ve lost out to some stiff competition, despite your amazingness :-) You don’t have the right level of skill/experience for the job You haven’t described in your application how you are ideal for the job. Your CV/application is poorly written, with lousy structure/grammar and with obvious typos. All of the above can be viewed positively, and here is how: Whether you received any feedback on the back of your knock-back or not, here is what you can learn from it: ‘Something just wasn’t good enough’ . Each time you receive a rejection (and we hope there aren’t too many!), then do the following: Make sure you are being realistic in the jobs you are applying for. We all have dreams to better ourselves, but sometimes we can try to move too far too... --- ## What are My Chances of Getting an Interview? - **Published**: 2023-05-11 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/whataremychancesofgettinganinterview We’ve been doing some work recently to look at statistics. Now stats aren’t our favourite topic, but we’ve found some useful data that can help you understand your chances when applying for jobs online. We’ve been doing some work recently to look at statistics. Now stats aren’t our favourite topic, but we’ve found some useful data that can help you understand your chances when applying for jobs online. It can be hard to understand your chances of winning a job when applying online, and the best things that you can do in advance are to tailor your CV to the job you are applying for, making sure as many of the relevant skills are mentioned as possible, and brush up on your interview technique. At Our Bob, we offer help with CVs and also give you the opportunity to practice interview techniques with one of our experts. Firstly, these stats aren’t from any precise scientific measurement. We can’t, for example, examine the CVs of all candidates applying through our site at OurBob.com , so we can’t comment on qualitative measures, but we can comment on stats relating to quantity, which is what we thought might interest you. As you all know, if you're a fantastic candidate, your chances of success are better than the average! So, here goes: Firstly, you’ve applied for a job, along with 99 other people (obvs it's a popular job!). According to some of our clients, approximately 35% of applications are generally put forward for shortlisting, i.e. where the hiring manager looks at the applications and decides who to take to interview. So, on that basis, you have a 35% of being shortlisted, so long as you’re applying for a suitable job. This is a key point, you do need to be applying for something suitable to your particular set of skills, or you will stand less chance of being chosen. Then, if you work on the basis that the average employer wants to see around six people for an... --- ## What to Take to a Job Interview - **Published**: 2023-05-10 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/whattotaketoajobinterview We’ve been asked by a number of candidates whether they should take anything with them to their job interviews, so we thought a quick list of what you should and shouldn’t take might be helpful We’ve been asked by a number of candidates whether they should take anything with them to their job  interviews, so we thought a quick list of what you should and shouldn’t take might be helpful: What is OK to take to a Job Interview? Everything You’ve Been Asked to Bring When you are invited to an interview, recruiters sometimes ask you to take certain things, either to help with their selection process, e.g. a presentation or portfolio, references or identity documents. To make sure their first impression of you is a positive one, make sure you’ve done exactly what they’ve asked you to do. If they don’t feel that you can successfully follow instructions, that means your chances have diminished pretty quickly after walking through the door. Copies of your CV It’s always good to have extra copies of a CV – firstly, it means you’ll have a chance to read it and refresh your memory before you jump into the hot seat, but secondly, there may be interview panel members who don’t have their own copy. We don’t suggest entering the room and handing out your CV, but if it becomes apparent that someone doesn’t have a copy, you can fix that problem straight away and probably gain some brownie points too. Having the chance to look prepared but not pushy is a good place to be. It shows that you have thought through the potential scenarios that may happen in the interview and have covered the necessary bases. It further shows that you have a problem-solving type of mind, which is what many recruiters are looking for. A Notepad and Pen There’s nothing wrong with taking these into an interview scenario, and we’d probably suggest it if you’re a bag of nerves when being grilled by a potential new employer.... --- ## How Long Should a CV Be? - **Published**: 2023-05-10 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/howlongshouldacvbe CVs are our opportunity to give an excellent first impression to the people shortlisting for a job. The overall appearance of your CV is vitally important, as the content and layout of the front page at least can put your recruiter off you in the first few seconds. Aside from content, an essential dimension of your CV is its size. CVs are our opportunity to give an excellent first impression to the people shortlisting for a job. The overall appearance of your CV is vitally important, as the content and layout of the front page at least can put your recruiter off you in the first few seconds. Aside from content, an essential dimension of your CV is its size. There are several thoughts around the recruitment industry about the right size for a CV, i.e. how many pages it should be. We thought we’d add ours into the mix: A CV Should be 2 or 3 Pages Long A CV that is at most either 2 or 3 pages long is ideal. We say this for the following reasons: A document much longer can be off-putting to recruiters, meaning they will quickly reach a negative view without even reading the content. You need to capture the interest of the recruiters, and if you turn them off instead, that is a major loss. Recruiters generally form a view about candidates in the first few seconds of seeing their CV, so along with layout/format, your CV needs to be the ideal size. Taking the time to get this right will give you a much better chance of being shortlisted for the interview stage. Recruiters regularly skim CVs without reading the detail. Keeping your CV short means you can focus on the critical aspects of your career or skills and qualifications so they stand out and are more likely to be seen. Read “ How to include Your Skills on Your CV ” for more information on how to achieve this. A document any shorter than two pages can give the impression that you haven’t worked hard enough to demonstrate your skills and experience. Either that, or you don’t have much of... --- ## 4 Ways to Improve Your Odds of Getting the Job - **Published**: 2023-05-09 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/4waystoimproveyouroddsofgettingthejob If you're struggling to get the job you really want, whether it's a promotion, a career change or a simple side-step, we have a few sure-fire tips to help increase your chances: If you're struggling to get the job you really want, whether it's a promotion, a career change or a simple side-step, we have a few sure-fire tips to help increase your chances: 1.   Update Your CV Always remember that your CV should be updated every few months with current achievements/progress in your jobs so that it's almost always ready to be sent to recruiters. If you have any doubts about your CV's quality, ask for some help. This is nothing to be embarrassed about, everyone has their doubts from time to time, and a fresh pair of eyes can always make a difference. Whether you approach a friend or colleague, just ask for some advice on a) how it looks / the format, b) how it reads / how your grammar is and c) does it say enough about you to help you get the new job. We always recommend asking a recruitment professional to give your CV the once-over, and we offer this service on the site. 2.   Tailor Your CV to the Job Are you ensuring your CV or application is geared towards the job you are applying for? Time and time again, we see people sending CVs which, whilst formatted well and written perfectly, do not reflect the skills or experience a recruiter is looking for. You should always ensure your CV, as a minimum, shows you have the qualities the recruiter has asked for! The same goes for completing application forms - make sure you talk about your skills in the way they ask for them, so they can see how you match the skills for the job. 3.   Brush up on Interview Techniques If you're out of practice or not getting positive results from the interviews you attend, then there's probably something to fix. Remember,... --- ## Watching Out For Job Scams - **Published**: 2023-05-09 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/watchingoutforjobscams Ministers have reported that UK Jobseekers are being conned out of a small fortune by scammers who are taking money for fake security checks and training. Our Job Board at OurBob.com is a member of the Saferjobs website, which provides advice and support for job seekers faced with situations like this. Ministers have reported that UK Jobseekers are being conned out of a small fortune by scammers who are taking money for fake security checks and training. Up to 10% of job seekers have fallen victim to such a scam, losing hundreds of pounds for non-existent checks or even being conned into calling massively high-cost premium rate phone lines for 'interviews'. Damian Hinds, the Employment minister, has said that fraudsters typically target low-income ordinary people who genuinely desire to earn a decent wage to look after their families.  Sadly, they are facing additional financial hardship because of these fraudsters. Our Job Board at OurBob.com  is a member of the Saferjobs website, which provides advice and support for job seekers faced with situations like this. Jobseekers should check the Saferjobs site for tips and can use the site to report anything they suspect could be a scam. Saferjobs tips for jobseekers include: Never pay money upfront Never call the company for an interview Do not give out personal details that are not relevant to an application process - such as bank account details, a National Insurance number, date of birth, driving licence or utility bill information Do not do everything online - at some point, a job discussion should lead to a phone or face-to-face interview Research the company the job is with - check landline telephone numbers to confirm the job is real, and use social media and other sources to find out more about the firm There are so many recruitment scams to look out for nowadays, but here are a small number you might have seen or heard of already: 1. Emails saying you've been selected for an interview for a job you've never applied for! This type of email is generally sent to find information about you which could... --- ## Competency and Skill / Knowledge-Based Interviews - **Published**: 2023-05-08 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/competency-and-skill-knowledgebased-interviews We've been asked to provide more helpful advice for candidates going to recruitment interviews, specifically around the types of questions they could be asked. So, we've set out below some helpful insights into the different types of questions interviewers could ask, with examples of well-structured answers: We've been asked to provide more helpful advice for candidates going to recruitment interviews, specifically around the types of questions they could be asked. So, we've set out below some helpful insights into the different types of questions interviewers could ask, with examples of well-structured answers: Competency-Based Questions Competency-based questions, asked in an interview setting, are questions which ask about past situations that you’ve found yourself in, primarily at work.  These questions aim to gain an overall impression of what you’re like as a person, including your strengths and how you’ve handled the situations you’ve been in at work. This will then help the interviewer assess your suitability for the job. If you've been invited to a competency-based interview, it’s essential for you to understand how competency-based questions are structured so that you can give some thought to structuring your answers. Typical Questions The questions interviewers will ask you will be based on the competency they are looking to assess and worded in a way which should help you formulate an appropriate answer for them in response to the initial question. To look at an example, here is a typical competency statement: “Works with others to accomplish goals and tasks” To be able to assess this competency, the interviewers could ask you a question like: “Can you tell me about a time when you’ve worked with other people to complete a specific piece of work, such as a project or a piece of work with a pressing deadline?” Here we suggest you consider taking what is known as the ‘ STAR ’ approach to structuring and providing an answer to the question: S:        Situation T:         Task A:        Action R:        Results  Following the STAR approach, here is how to respond to the question in simple terms: ?    ... --- ## The Hours that Change Your Life - **Published**: 2023-05-08 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/the-hours-that-change-your-life Have you ever stopped to think how much of our lives depend on how we perform in a relatively short time? Academic exams, driving tests, and job interviews are all potentially significant events that last an hour, maybe two. Once you’ve considered that, then consider how much of an impact what you achieve in that small amount of time can have on your future: Have you ever stopped to think how much of our lives depend on how we perform in a relatively short time? Academic exams, driving tests, and job interviews are all potentially significant events that last an hour, maybe two. Once you’ve considered that, then consider how much of an impact what you achieve in that small amount of time can have on your future: University placement, qualification, earnings, home, mortgage, motivation, personal happiness, family life, better car. The potential impact is endless. If you consider the potential outcomes of what you have to achieve in a limited time, and the fantastic results that achievement can have on your life, then you’ll think carefully about what you need to do in that hour or so. No matter how stressful those events feel and how much it feels like you cannot see the other side of them, you will come out the other side one way or another, and you have to ask yourself how you want to come out the other side. Do you want to emerge victorious, knowing you have achieved the best result you possibly could have, or are you prepared to not live up to your potential on this occasion and perhaps regret it later? If you’re faced with a situation that can significantly affect your life, then take the time to prepare. Putting in the hard work beforehand will give you the best chance of success, whether that means studying for an upcoming exam or preparing for a job interview. It may feel like it is only the hour or two that matters, but you can equip yourself with a better chance of success by doing what you can to stack the deck in your favour beforehand. When you get to that vital hour or two, you... --- ## Don't Send Your CV to a Stranger! - **Published**: 2023-05-05 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/dontsendyourcvtoastranger There are many job hunters out there keen to get a foot on the ladder with an employer they really want to work for. The aim of candidates in recruitment is to be noticed and remembered for the right reasons. This is why we believe you need to take a different approach when sending your CV to an employer without responding to a vacancy advert. Instead of sending your CV to a total stranger or to the 'HR Team'. There are many job hunters out there keen to get a foot on the ladder with an employer they really want to work for. It might seem like the only way to be noticed by that employer is to send a speculative CV in, hoping you'll be noticed. Many people assume this is the case  because: The employer doesn't advertise jobs externally They recruit only through word of mouth/referrals from current employees You don't know where they advertise their jobs, or They recruit for all their jobs through agencies, and you get nowhere with agencies Dealing with speculative CVs can be resource-intensive for employers, especially substantial businesses and well-known brand names. Employers can take several different approaches to these, depending on their recruitment processes or resources they commit to recruitment, including: Putting all speculative CVs in the shredder/trash folder, with possibly a polite acknowledgement that they received your CV but won't do anything with it. This is, sadly, one of the more common approaches that you will encounter. Writing back to you to confirm they don't retain CVs sent to them, but letting you know how and when you might be able to apply for a job Keep your CV in a file, for a specified period, with hundreds of others, in case something suitable comes up Sending your CV to internal managers who might want to see you You could, of course, be invited in for an interview immediately, and offered your dream job. However, we don't think there's a high chance of that. So, what to do? The aim of candidates in recruitment is to be noticed and remembered for the right reasons.  This is why we believe you need to take a different approach when sending your CV to an employer without responding to a vacancy advert.... --- ## 5 Ways to Make a Lasting First Impression at Interview - **Published**: 2023-05-05 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/5waystomakealastingfirstimpressionatinterview Here at OurBob.com, we are firm believers in doing everything you can to ensure you stand out from the crowd at your interview. Whilst giving great answers to interview questions obviously plays a major part in that (and should of course be the main deciding factor), it’s always useful to know you’ve done your best to make an amazing first impression. Here are some great tips for you to help make sure your interviewers don’t forget you as soon as the door closes behind you Here at OurBob.com , we are firm believers in doing everything you can to ensure you stand out from the crowd at your interview.  Whilst giving great answers to interview questions obviously plays a major part in that (and should of course be the main deciding factor), it’s always useful to know you’ve done your best to make an amazing first impression. Interview answers aside, here are some great tips for you to help make sure your interviewers don’t forget you as soon as the door closes behind you: Wear Something Striking By this, we don’t mean gaudy or downright tasteless: we mean something that, whilst entirely suitable for the interview, is also eye-catching enough to make it memorable - when they are discussing you after the event, you’ll be easily recalled because of your memorable attire. A sharp unusual tie for men, or maybe an unusual coloured/patterned scarf for women, could do the trick. The Double Handshake We all know a solid firm handshake is appropriate for meeting your interviewers. However, have you ever thought shaking their one hand with both of yours could work even better? To do this, simply follow the usual steps for the standard handshake with your right hand, and then clasp your left hand over their right hand too. This will give your interviewer the impression you are friendly, approachable and warm and really does add a personal touch. Another slight variation on this is to place your left hand on their upper arm near the shoulder while shaking their right hand. This gesture is often practised by politicians when they wish to appear warm and engaging. Choose your audience wisely, though and try to keep all touching appropriate. Unleash Your Smile As you walk through the interview-room door, we know that nerves can... --- ## How to be Liked at Your Interview - **Published**: 2023-05-04 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/how-to-be-liked-at-your-interview What will you be tested on when you meet your potential new employer at an interview? It can be a nerve-wracking time leading up to an interview for a job you are keen on securing and it can be hard to figure out the kind of things you will be asked at the interview stage. What will you be tested on when you meet your potential new employer at an interview? It can be a nerve-wracking time leading up to an interview for a job you are keen on securing and it can be hard to figure out the kind of things you will be asked at the interview stage. Going through the typical recruitment process, most recruiters will make a first-stage selection decision based on your CV or Application Form information. They’ll form an objective judgement about potential job suitability based mainly on your: Work experience Past employer(s) Qualifications Achievements It’s during this assessment, without having met you, that they’ll decide if you can probably do the job or not. They’ll be able to work out if you’ve got the right skills, experience, qualifications and evidence to show you fit the bill. So, when you arrive for your interview, what else are your interviewers looking for? That what you’ve put in your CV/application form is true That you can do the job they’ve advertised, and lastly That they like you! And it’s this last bit we think everyone needs to focus on more. Ways to Ensure you are Liked How on earth will you ever know how to be ‘liked’ at an interview? There aren’t any defined answers, but here are some pointers which we know will go a long way: Do your best to relax, and see the interview as a discussion rather than an interrogation. You’ll come across far better if you’re smiling and chatting, rather than looking like a rabbit staring into oncoming headlights, and they will also relax more. Let your personality emerge during the discussion – don’t hide who you are. Recruiters will remember you if you stand out for being yourself and letting your sense of humour show... --- ## How to Include Your Skills on Your CV - **Published**: 2023-05-04 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/howtoincludeyourskillsonyourcv We all want to make sure our CV sells us in the right way to the recruiters who are considering whether to hire us, so we need to make sure the essential skills we have are described using the correct level of detail. We all want to make sure our CV sells us in the right way to the recruiters who are considering whether to hire us, so we need to make sure the essential skills we have are described using the correct level of detail. Writing a CV can be a difficult skill to get right and there are many ways to mess up and make costly mistakes that can deny us the chance at being interviewed for jobs that we really want. It is important to take care when writing a CV and a covering letter to ensure that we include as much relevant information as we possibly can and that we signpost recruiters to our most valuable skills. You can include your skills in your CV in various ways, but you need to take the time to get this right. Here are the choices to help you decide which is the best for you: 1. Introductory Paragraph Naming Your Skills Sometimes this is the best option if you have many skills to write about in your CV.  Simply setting them out at the start of your CV lets recruiters know about the skills you claim to have. However, you must back this up within the detail of your CV, i.e. the career history section, so that recruiters can see the evidence of your skill in relation to specific work you have undertaken. There are pros and cons to every approach, and if you feel like you have too many skills to write three or four lines about individually, this can be the way to set out what they are in a way that is sure to catch the eye of the recruiters. Writing a CV can be hard and talking about your skills can feel like boasting, but it really... --- ## Catch 22: When you need experience for a job..... and don't have it - **Published**: 2023-05-03 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/catch-22-when-you-need-experience-for-a-job-and-dont-have-it Have you ever seen the perfect job listed online, but feel utterly dismayed that the recruiter is looking for staff with experience you don't have, even for low-level unskilled jobs? Ever wondered why this is a common issue and worked out what your application should say to overcome it? No? Then read on: Have you ever seen the perfect job listed online, but feel utterly dismayed that the recruiter is looking for staff with experience you don't have, even for low-level unskilled jobs? Ever wondered why this is a common issue and worked out what your application should say to overcome it? No? Then read on: The reasons recruiters ask for experience are pretty simple and primarily include: They don't want to have to train all their new staff, meaning they will save cash They are hoping people will join the company and add value from day one by hitting the ground running rather than needing training Experienced staff should fully understand what the job entails, meaning they won't be put off when they join the company if there are any unpleasant/unusual or demanding aspects to the job Experienced staff are less likely to leave quickly as they will be able to settle into the role more quickly than staff without experience These are all fair reasons recruiters prefer to look for experienced staff, but that doesn't do you any favours to help you get your foot in the door. So, what do you do? How to get the job? Firstly, don't tell any lies in your application which make the recruiter think you have the right experience.  You'll be sure to be caught out quickly once you can't answer half the questions in the interview. So, here are our tips: If you know anyone who already has the same or similar job, talk to them to understand precisely what they do and how they do it Work out what skills you have which are relevant to the job, and then  Pull together an application/cover letter which sets out: your understanding of the job the skills you have which will be beneficial to... --- ## The First 7 Seconds - **Published**: 2023-05-03 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/the-first-7-seconds Everybody knows how important first impressions are, especially in interviews. It’s widely believed that the “first impression” is actually formed within just a seven-second window when you first meet someone. That is no time at all and explains why it is so important that everything about your early interactions with interviewers is on-point. Everybody knows how important first impressions are, especially in interviews. It’s widely believed that the “first impression” is actually formed within just a seven-second window when you first meet someone. That is no time at all and explains why it is so important that everything about your early interactions with interviewers is on-point. In an interview situation, therefore, you need to act very quickly to make a fantastic first impression on your interviewers. If you've already had an interview confirmed, here are some useful tips to bear in mind as you walk through the door: Smile Facial expression is vital when it comes to making a good impression. Make sure you don’t have a false, cheesy grin slapped across your face – interviewers will know it’s fake and masking nerves or arrogance. You want to come across as warm and outgoing, and they need to spend all seven seconds thinking you are confident and professional, which is why a relaxed smile is best. Shake their hands The handshake is the universally accepted signal of professionalism, politeness and confidence, though it was partially replaced during the pandemic with a fist bump or an elbow bump. A good handshake is a fine art, a balance between a tight squeeze and a limp stroke. It needs to say, “I mean business”. Additionally, ensure you shake all their hands if there are multiple interviewers. You don’t want to get in one of their bad books because you only acknowledged the person in the middle, who you considered to be the “main” interviewer. We heard a tale of someone who attended a job interview and addressed all of their attention to the person in the middle and who didn’t make it to the next round of interviews, as the person they would have been working... --- ## Why Some Recruiters Don't Publish Salaries in their Adverts - **Published**: 2023-05-02 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/whysomerecruitersdontpublishsalariesintheiradverts It is always controversial between potential employers and job seekers when salary information isn’t published upfront. Recruiters maintain that they want to speak to as many talented people as possible and can adjust the salary within reason, depending on the skills brought to the table. Applicants tend to have a somewhat less charitable view of why this is done, and some believe they will get lowballed during the interview process. It is always controversial between potential employers and job seekers when salary information isn’t published upfront. Recruiters maintain that they want to speak to as many talented people as possible and can adjust the salary within reason, depending on the skills brought to the table. Applicants tend to have a somewhat less charitable view of why this is done, and some believe they will get lowballed during the interview process. Why Publish Salary Information? You’ll find that many public-sector employers like the Civil Service, Local Authorities and the NHS publish their salary information when advertising for new staff.  This is partly because they have agreed to very structured salary bands, with little or no discretion to pay outside of those limitations. This also applies to some larger private employers, where they are open about how they reward their staff. The Benefits of Publishing Salary Information Potential candidates can see precisely what they will be paid if they get the job and can work out whether the career move is financially worth it from their perspective. Employers who reward staff more generously than their competition will also want potential applicants to see that to entice them away from existing employers. Recruiters won’t (or shouldn’t) have applicants unsuitable for the job. If there is no salary published, people may assume it is for an entry-level position when the salary band is much higher, leading to a waste of time for the recruiters, having to sift them out. The common-sense process of self-de-selection comes into play here when the salary is published. There will be no surprises when the offer letter arrives confirming starting pay, so once a successful candidate has been chosen, they shouldn’t drop out at this stage. This approach also tends to imply that there is no room for negotiation... --- ## What Do Your Interviewers Really Want to Know? - **Published**: 2023-05-02 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/whatdoyourinterviewersreallywanttoknow Have you ever planned for an interview by putting yourself in your interviewer's shoes and wondering what they'll be looking for from you at your interview? No? Well, now's your opportunity to increase your chances of success at your next job interview! Read on to find out what your interviewer will be trying to find out when they talk to you: Have you ever planned for an interview by putting yourself in your interviewer's shoes and wondering what they'll be looking for from you at your interview? No? Well, now's your opportunity to increase your chances of success at your next job interview! Read on to find out what your interviewer will be trying to find out when they talk to you: Are you enthusiastic about the job? Whilst skills and experience are massively important, you need to make sure you look very interested in the job. Enthusiasm can come across in many different ways in your interview, such as: How positively do you talk to your interviewers about yourself and your skills and experience? Your willingness to open up and engage with them will help them to see how enthused you are. They want to see that you have confidence in yourself and your abilities. How positively do you react when your interviewers tell you about the job and the Company? The interviewers need to feel that this isn’t just a way to pay your bills, and if you sit there without really engaging with what they are saying, they just won't hire you. How positively do you talk about your previous roles and past employers? This will give the impression you are a loyal and committed employee. Even if a previous job didn’t end well and you hated the manager, it isn’t in your interest to say this to people in a job interview. They will think you will one day say similar things about them, so they won’t hire you. They will view it as not being worth the potential reputational damage. Your facial expressions during the interview, especially your ability to smile, can make a difference in how interviewers perceive you. That isn’t to say that you... --- ## CV Frequently Asked Questions - **Published**: 2023-05-01 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/cvfrequentlyaskedquestions Want a quick summary of what should go in a CV? Read on for some handy hints and advice, to help you give your career a boost. Want a quick summary of what should go in a CV? Read on for some handy hints and advice, to help you give your career a boost. Q: What core information should I include on my CV? A: Every CV should consist of four core subjects, which are: Contact Details An Introduction / Summary Employment / Achievement History Academic and Professional Qualifications Q : Should a CV be limited to one page? A: No CV should exceed two sides of A4 (for Academics / Scientists and other similar careers - your publication list is a separate document) However, how much information is added to those two sides is completely up to you. Inexperienced candidates might struggle to fill two sides of A4, in which case one side of A4 is perfectly acceptable. Highly-experienced candidates might have to prioritise what information they add to their CV to ensure that it does not exceed two sides. Q: Is an objective statement essential? A: In a word, no, an objective statement is not necessary, if you feel it wouldn’t add value. Some employers might be pleased to see a statement included which gives them an idea of how ambitious you are, or how you see your career going.  For some career paths, this might not be too relevant, so think carefully before you include one. This is simply a judgement call that you will have to make, depending on the job that you are applying for and whether you think an objective statement will be of interest to your potential employers. Q: Should I include my hobbies and personal interests in my CV? A: We don’t think these items add any value to your CV, and so would never recommend that they are included. If there are activities in your personal life which... --- ## Writing a Good Cover Letter - What You Need to Know - **Published**: 2023-05-01 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/writing-a-good-cover-letter-what-you-need-to-know A strong covering letter can go a long way to securing an interview. Your cover letter provides an opportunity to stand out from the crowd, let your personality shine through and demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate for the role. This is a chance to show that you are familiar with the company and are able to talk knowledgeably about what they do. A strong covering letter can go a long way to securing an interview. Your cover letter provides an opportunity to stand out from the crowd, let your personality shine through and demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate for the role. This is a chance to show that you are familiar with the company and are able to talk knowledgeably about what they do. Do your research It is crucial you do your research when crafting a cover letter. Unlike your CV, you should not have a template that you reuse for each application, as a good cover letter is tailored specifically to the recipient organisation. Is the recruiter looking for someone to mentor, or a candidate who is experienced in the role? Whilst some organisations may not ask for a cover letter, it is always good practice to send one, as it demonstrates a desire and willingness to go the extra mile. Consider it one more way to ensure that you stand out from the crowd, as a great many applicants will only send in a CV. Work your covering letter The covering letter isn’t just a short note to introduce your CV – it is an opportunity to impress and grab the attention of your potential employer. Spotlight your abilities and experiences. Ensure your covering letter compliments and works with your CV as they are designed to work in concert with each other to sell you as the perfect candidate, and not just as duplicates of the same content. The most frustrating thing for recruiters is when a cover letter simply rehashes and surmises the contents of the CV. See it as an opportunity to stand out from the competition. Style and structure Address your covering letter to a named recipient where possible. However, refrain from using ‘Dear... --- ## Starting Your First Job Search - **Published**: 2023-05-01 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/startingyourfirstjobsearch Here are a few pointers for those of you about to enter the world of employment, and needing some basic idea of how it all works. One of the first things that you should learn is that there is no magic formula to it, but there are some tips that can help you to have more success. Here are a few pointers for those of you about to enter the world of employment, and needing some basic idea of how it all works. One of the first things that you should learn is that there is no magic formula to it, but there are some tips that can help you to have more success. Think about the type of role you really want: Should it be short term / part time / permanent / an apprenticeship? Do you want a role which challenges you and helps you to develop, or one which you could do with your eyes closed? Are you after work in a specific sector of the employment market, or would you consider any? What are the important features of your ideal employer? These questions can help you to decide what you are after for the time being, and that is all you have to do in order to get started. The decisions you make now won't necessarily shape your entire career, though they will likely shape the next few years of your life. Take the time to think it all through and to carefully choose your direction of travel. If you’ve still not decided which career path is the one for you, then do some research – talk to friends / family about the work they do, and see if there’s anything that sounds like something you would enjoy. Trawl the Jobs Boards for roles in your area to see what’s on offer – there will (probably) be hundreds! Begin to assemble your CV. Your CV should be written in a way which places you as an ideal candidate for the type of role you are looking for, in the sector or profession you want to work in. There are many ways to do... --- ## Should I Include Personal Interests On My CV? - **Published**: 2023-05-01 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/shouldiincludepersonalinterestsonmycv We’ve had a number of questions about this very topic recently, i.e. what to include or leave out. Whether we should include our hobbies or interests just because we might appear to be interesting / active / social / successful. Here are our thoughts: We’ve had a number of questions about this very topic recently, i.e. what to include or leave out. Whether we should include our hobbies or interests just because we might appear to be interesting / active / social / successful. Here are our thoughts: 1. Are They Relevant? Possibly: Whilst recruiters don’t usually ask you to talk about your personal interests, some will view them with keen interest, to see what you do outside of work and whether it adds to the picture they want to build about you. So, if you’re in the market for a job as a gym instructor for example, and you include interests which reinforce your passion for fitness, such as sporting competitions / training / coaching your local football / tennis / rugby team, then you’ll probably get some bonus points. But possibly not: When your interests / hobbies have no relevance to the career path you choose, then recruiters probably won’t take them into account at all. Applying for a job as, for example, an HR Manager, and including your hobby of watching reruns of Dr Who, might not do you any favours, but you never know…. (See below!) 2. How Do Recruiters Take Interests Into Account? As with many elements of recruitment and selection processes, personal interests will be viewed on a subjective basis. Recruiters will form an opinion about you based on everything in your CV, including your personal interests and hobbies. Mentioning that you are a keen football follower, or you support a specific team, could be viewed positively by a recruiter who has the same interests. On the flip side, a recruiter who can’t stand football, or who follows a rival team may have their opinion of you tainted somewhat. It’s a fact of life (despite many thinking it... --- ## What Questions Should I Ask at Interview? - **Published**: 2023-04-28 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/what-questions-should-i-ask-at-interview We've all been there - the point near the end of the interview when, across the table, one of the interviewers looks you in the eye and asks 'So, what questions do you have for us?'. The important thing to remember, for any interview, is that you want to appear prepared. On that basis, you should be asking questions that make the interviewers feel you've done some homework. We've all been there - the point near the end of the interview when, across the table, one of the interviewers looks you in the eye and asks 'So, what questions do you have for us?'. The important thing to remember, for any interview, is that you want to appear prepared. On that basis, you should be asking questions that make the interviewers feel you've done some homework. So, before you go along, do your research, make sure you know what the company is all about, and work out some questions you can be sure will demonstrate you are serious about this job. Here are some great examples of questions we've been asked, and ones which hopefully you could turn into relevant questions for your next interview: “I've seen the company has a clear set of values it expects its employees to adhere to. How does the company promote these amongst its workforce?”   This is an excellent question as it gets to the heart of the company ethos and values and allows the recruiters to understand that this is something important to you as well. It gives them the impression of shared common values, which can only be to your benefit.   “I understand that you place a great deal of emphasis on staff development, and ensuring everyone reaches their full potential. What sort of a development programme do you put in place for staff new to the company?” This gives the impression that you are motivated and keen to be able to improve and develop while you work for the company. Coming over as healthily ambitious and keen to learn is always a great look.   I've seen that the company takes a great deal of interest in local community development and initiatives. What opportunities are there for staff... --- ## Answering an Interview Question When You Don't Know the Answer - **Published**: 2023-04-28 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/answeringaninterviewquestionwhenyoudontknowtheanswer Lots of us have been in that delightful situation where the interviewer asks a question, and for whatever reason, you know you're stuck for a good answer. It is a horrible feeling, you feel like you have been caught on the hop and that the temperature in the room has perhaps started to rise a little. Don't panic! We've a few useful tips for handling these sorts of interview questions without blowing your chances: Lots of us have been in that delightful situation where the interviewer asks a question, and for whatever reason, you know you're stuck for a good answer. It is a horrible feeling, you feel like you have been caught on the hop and that the temperature in the room has perhaps started to rise a little. It is actually just a blush climbing up your neck and onto your cheeks but remember:  Don't panic! We've a few useful tips for handling these sorts of interview questions without blowing your chances:  If you know you know the answer and it's lurking somewhere in the back of your mind, then ask your interviewer to give you a moment to think about it. Any good interviewer will know you'll be nervous, so they should be accommodating. t is important to remind yourself they are not there to deliberately catch you out with their questions but to assess you on your answers to them. If you really are stumped by the question, ask the interviewer to give you more detail or to clarify what they are asking. Asking them to rephrase the question in different words can sometimes allow for more clarity. It's common for employers to be stuck in their own language / corporate acronyms that might mean nothing to an outsider. So, to give yourself a better chance, just ask for some clarification.    If you've some idea of what you're being asked, but are not sure of the right direction to take the answer in, then explain to the interviewer that you've a couple of ways to answer but wanted to understand a little more about what they are looking for, so you can provide a more meaningful response.   If 1,2 and 3 are no good, then it's time to be honest!... --- ## The Perils of CV Lies - **Published**: 2023-04-27 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/theperilsofcvlies I’m sure we’ve all, at some point, taken steps to embellish our CV so that it makes us sound at least a little bit more attractive to potential new employers. Using words which might put us up a notch above other applicants such as ‘leadership of a team’ instead of ‘informal supervision’, These types of white lies might be manageable when making your way through an interview, but what about the totally fabricated statements some people try to get away with? I’m sure we’ve all, at some point, taken steps to embellish our CV so that it makes us sound at least a little bit more attractive to potential new employers. Using words which might put us up a notch above other applicants, such as ‘leadership of a team’ instead of ‘informal supervision’, or ‘project management’ rather than ‘project planning and reporting’. These types of white lies might be manageable when it comes to making your way through an interview, but what about the totally fabricated statements some people try to get away with? Colleagues here have seen some foolish examples of ‘achievements’ which sound great, but have absolutely no substance to them whatsoever, and for the most part, they’ve only been picked up at interviews.  It must be pretty humiliating for the candidates concerned: one horrendous example was where a candidate was applying for a project management job requiring financial management experience, and had confirmed in their CV that they had this experience from a previous project. Yet, when asked, they had to admit they had never actually done it. The scary thing: if the question hadn’t been asked, they might have been given the job. Being given a job with that level of financial accountability, having never done it before would have potentially ended disastrously for both the employee and the company concerned. There are legal duties that companies must fulfill in terms of their finances (sometimes referred to as fiduciary duties) and having someone who had never done anything with these could have seen the company land in deep regulatory waters. So, what’s the main issue for candidates willing to chance their arm? Well, if they are in a relatively small professional community, and their peers find out, their career could be in tatters as they could be... --- ## 5 Top Tips For Reducing Interview Nerves - **Published**: 2023-04-27 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/top-tips-for-reducing-interview-nerves Nerves affect even the best of us. Some of the most successful business professionals have experienced some sort of anxiety in their lives, so don’t beat yourself up too much if you feel extremely nervous before or during a job interview, it’s completely normal. Here are our top 5 strategies for dealing with nerves: Nerves affect even the best of us. Some of the most successful business professionals have experienced some sort of anxiety in their lives, so don’t beat yourself up too much if you feel extremely nervous before or during a job interview, it’s completely normal. Here are our top 5 strategies for dealing with nerves: 1. Plan Ahead This cannot be stressed enough. All too often job applicants get knots in the pits of their stomachs because they don’t know what to expect. But an easy way to walk into your interview with confidence is to plan ahead and think through all of the worst-case scenarios. This includes not only developing answers to common interview questions but also jotting down answers to the questions you fear the most. For example, is there a particular question that you are just dreading that the interviewer will ask? If so, face your greatest fear and try coming up with an answer that is both honest and will reflect you in a positive light. 2. Have a Dress-Rehearsal Another way to plan ahead and feel more at ease is to have a full-on dress rehearsal of the interview.  Pick out your outfit, get all of your documents in order and have a friend, relative or even an interview coach interview you. Here, your “interviewer” will be able to help point out your strengths and weaknesses as well as address any mannerisms you may need to correct. It is also the perfect time to realise that a suit is too tight on you now and that you need to choose something different to wear. As part of the dress rehearsal it may also be a good idea to actually take a quick drive to where your interview will take place to familiarise yourself with how to... --- ## How to get Promoted - 4 Successful Strategies - **Published**: 2023-04-26 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/howtogetpromoted4successfulstrategies If rapid career progression is important to you, developing a career plan is definitely a good way to proceed toward it. There are a number of strategies you could incorporate into your career plan – but here are the four we think are the most useful. Some experts say that the day you start a new job, you should start to plan for your next career move. That really is a good piece of advice. Thinking and planning ahead in today’s business world is the best way of increasing your chances of taking that next step up the career ladder. If rapid career progression is important to you, developing a career plan is definitely a good way to proceed toward it. There are a number of strategies you could incorporate into your career plan – but here are the four we think are the most useful 1. Develop new Knowledge and Skills One of the best ways to succeed in getting a promotion is to expand your knowledge and skills sets in areas that are critical to your employer. As technology and other environmental forces change rapidly, you need an ever-increasing skill set not only to perform your job, but to stay marketable. Additionally, employees who learn about all aspects of their employer’s business will do well. Spending time with other teams, and getting to know the whole company, can really set you above the blinkered colleagues sitting next to you. This will give you the advantage of not only knowing how other parts of the company work, but of developing interpersonal relationships and networking throughout the company. You never know who you will impress. 2. Ask for More Responsibilities Volunteering to help out other departments or teams — or simply asking for more responsibilities — increases your value. Asking for more work shows your interest and desire to help your department and company succeed — as well as putting a spotlight on your value to your employer. Just be careful that asking for more work doesn’t see you stretched to the limit for no real... --- ## How to Write a Student CV - **Published**: 2023-04-26 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/how-to-write-a-student-cv If you’ve been studying, and are hoping to enter the jobs market pretty soon, here are a few handy tips on how best to write your first CV: Many students struggle when it comes to writing their first CV. They might never have worked in any paid positions before, but still need to reflect on paper their skills and experience so that employers can assess their suitability for a job. It can be quite a conundrum, how best to present themselves, because of a lack of workplace experience. If you’ve been studying, and are hoping to enter the jobs market pretty soon, here are a few handy tips on how best to write your first CV: Make sure your qualifications are clearly shown near the top of your CV, along with the relevant study dates so employers can see what you’ve been doing for the past few years. This is by way of explanation for the lack of full-time employment on your CV. Most employers will make allowances to an extent for a lack of work experience if you have been doing something else that is useful with your life such as studying. Include a personal summary which describes who you are, the skills you have gained and your career aspirations. This will help employers understand what career you want to move into and where they fit into this particular career path.  Make sure you include any voluntary roles you have carried out, being specific about the things you achieved. Volunteering is a great way of developing and practising skills you could transfer into the paid employment market, e.g. teamwork, communication skills. Periods of work experience, however brief, should always be included so that employers can see you have experience in a real workplace environment. This is something that is always valued as the worlds of work and study can be very different and it is important to be able to gauge if you have an aptitude for... --- ## The 3 Interview Questions You Should Prepare For - **Published**: 2023-04-25 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/the3interviewquestionsyoushouldpreparefor It’s very rare that you’ll know what you are going to be asked at an interview. But, there are some questions which, if asked, you need to make sure you answer in the best possible way, otherwise your chances of success will be greatly diminished. Here at Our Bob, we’ve all seen candidates scoring badly simply because they were lost for words, or fudged their answers so badly they didn’t stand a chance of getting the job. It’s very rare that you’ll know what you are going to be asked at an interview. But, there are some questions which, if asked, you need to make sure you answer in the best possible way, otherwise your chances of success will be greatly diminished. Here at Our Bob, we’ve all seen candidates scoring badly simply because they were lost for words, or fudged their answers so badly they didn’t stand a chance of getting the job. Here are the ones you really need to think about beforehand: 1. Why do you want to leave your current job? There could be a million reasons here, including: my manager doesn’t treat me fairly; I don’t like the people I’m working with; the pay is awful; the pension’s no good; or that old classic – my ex-partner works there, and it’s a bit awkward. Your potential new employers really don’t want to hear any negative reasons, and for the most part, any of the answers above will probably get your interview off to a poor start. Focus on the positives – a few ideas you should think about are: I would like to try working in a different environment I’m ready to take my career to the next level I am looking for something more challenging I’ve heard great things about your company as employers, and I’m very keen to come and work with you Any answers you give to this question should always show the interviewers that you are keen to develop yourself, and are positive about making a career move for the right reasons. 2. What is it about our company that interests you? Now here’s your chance to really make a positive impression. Your interviewers will want to see that you’ve done at least some homework – this shows... --- ## Are Recruiters Really Watching you on Social Media? - **Published**: 2023-04-25 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/arerecruitersreallywatchingyouonsocialmediia The short answer to this question is yes. Research proves that recruiters, whether that's recruitment consultants, agencies, or direct employers are more than happy to search you out on Social Media and cast judgement before they make a selection decision. The short answer to this question is yes. Research proves that recruiters, whether that's recruitment consultants, agencies, or direct employers are more than happy to search you out on Social Media and cast judgement before they make a selection decision. Traditional recruitment methods are still very much in place: CVs, application forms and interviews for the most part. But, recruiters now have access to much more information about you, your personal and professional lives, and they’d be foolish not to have a look before they make you an offer. With about 50% of the UK now active on Facebook, and millions of LinkedIn and Instagram accounts up and running, there is an enormous amount of information available out there about many of us. And yes, recruiters are actively looking for it when they are hiring new staff.  Some candidates happily share the links to their social media accounts on their CV, making it easier to be found online. Is this fair? Whether it’s fair or not, it is perfectly legal. Individuals choose how they live their online life, and all of us have the choice about what we make public on social media, whether that’s our career history on LinkedIn, or our latest holiday snaps on Facebook or Instagram. It has to be said though, some of us have made some pretty poor choices about what we’ve put in a public forum. It’s not surprising that recruiters are having a look and potentially changing their minds based on what people post. Some of the posts will go against company policies about inclusion, sharing “jokes” that are entirely inappropriate about people with protected characteristics for example. Other posts about celebrities or politics can make someone who seemed a great candidate in every other respect seem like a potential bully. Recruitment and... --- ## Some "Don’t"s and "Do"s for your CV - **Published**: 2023-04-24 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/somedontsanddosforyourcv There are always lots of different opinions about what you should and shouldn’t include on your new CV. We have a few more thoughts to share: There are always lots of different opinions about what you should and shouldn’t include on your new CV.  We have a few more thoughts to share: Photographs : As people with years of experience in recruitment, we think selfies should not typically go onto your CV. Recruiters will (even if they try and deny it) form a personal judgement about you and your character once they’ve seen your mug-shot. Once that judgement has been formed it can typically detract from the important information about what you can actually do. On that basis, it’s a “don’t” from us. Home addresses: It’s another no from us. It should be fine to give your hometown or county, but please don’t broadcast your personal information like this on your CV. Many people post their CVs onto public forums, and hey presto, thousands of people could suddenly be looking at your house on Google Earth. The time to give your home address is when individual recruiters ask for it, but not before then. This is basic sensibility surrounding your own personal security. You have no idea who may have access to your CV and your personal information. Dates of birth: Nope, not this one either. Again recruiters will happily judge you on your age, and can use that judgement to make a decision about your ‘team fit’, or your ability to grapple with modern technology. If they want to discriminate on the basis of age, we shouldn’t make it easy for them. Granted they could probably work out a rough age for you, but only if they really want to. Fancy fonts : we have seen red and blue CVs, in bold italics and ancient fonts.  Whilst to some it might look colourful and creative, to recruiters it generally implies your judgement might be a... --- ## What's a Competency Based Interview? - **Published**: 2023-04-24 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/what-is-a-competency-based-interview In these types of interviews, the recruiters are generally much more focused on finding evidence that you have the right skills / abilities (i.e. competencies) for the job rather than just relying on the information you provided in your CV or application form. All job interviews share one common goal, i.e. to see if the candidate is suitable for the job. Recruiters want to see if candidates have the right skills, experience, technical know-how and attitude. An important element of any interview is where the recruiter has the opportunity to listen to the candidate explain what they can do, or have done in the past, which makes them ultimately suitable for the job. Techniques for doing this will differ according to the type of organisation and recruiter involved. A ‘ normal interview’ can just seem like an informal and unstructured chat, where the recruiter is really just trying to find out a bit more about you, your history, what you can and can’t do. With this type of interview, you would generally not feel like you’ve been grilled. The ‘ competency’ interview can feel very, very different. In these types of interviews, the recruiters are generally much more focused on finding evidence that you have the right skills / abilities (i.e. competencies) for the job rather than just relying on the information you provided in your CV or application form. In these interviews, the recruiter will have a list of competencies they are recruiting against, and will typically ask a series of questions related to each one. A typical competency based question asks you to describe evidence of your ability to carry out a certain element of the role, or how your past behaviour matches the type of person they are looking for. An example competency based question, in relation to a leadership competency, is as follows: ‘Can you tell me about a time where you have had to lead a team of staff through a challenging project?’ In answering this, you would be expected to give a detailed example of when and... --- ## Getting Your Body Language Right in Interviews - **Published**: 2023-04-23 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/getting-your-body-language-right-in-interviews Interviews can be stressful situations for many of us. Facing a barrage of difficult questions can cause all sorts of emotions, but can also mean we forget how we appear to our interviewers as we formulate our answers. Try to work out what mannerisms you display when you are pondering things and attempt to suppress them for the duration of the interview. Interviews can be stressful situations for many of us. Facing a barrage of difficult questions can cause all sorts of emotions, but can also mean we forget how we appear to our interviewers as we formulate our answers. Try to work out what mannerisms you display when you are pondering things and attempt to suppress them for the duration of the interview. Here are a few tips to remember when you’re approaching, or sitting in the hot-seat. 1.     Keep your posture neutral, i.e. sit upright. Don’t lean back (it can look lazy or arrogant) and don’t lean forward (which can be construed as aggression). Just sit up straight and keep your head upright. This can be easier said than done during an interview process, some people instinctively lean forward when they are actively listening to what someone has to say and they are looking to demonstrate interest. To have this misconstrued as aggression would be very unfortunate. 2.     Don’t cross your arms – it looks defensive, and is something interviewees tend to do when they are feeling threatened or uneasy about a question. This is one of the body language basics that people are mostly taught about at an early age. It still creeps back in now and then though at times of stress, so do your best to maintain an open posture. This also means keeping your hands away from your face and neck. Touching your neck is often associated with lying and having your hand in front of your mouth can make it harder to understand what you are saying. 3.     Maintain eye contact with your interviewers. If there are numerous interviewers, then talk to all of them as you are answering your questions rather than leaving one or more out of the conversation. This... --- ## Mental Health in the Workplace - **Published**: 2023-04-23 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/mentalhealthintheworkplace Understanding mental health is difficult, there are many levels of different emotions, and in work, if you’re not enjoying your job or not using your skills to your full potential, you’re never going to enjoy it fully. Understanding mental health is difficult, there are many levels of different emotions, and in work, if you’re not enjoying your job or not using your skills to your full potential, you’re never going to enjoy it fully. The same can be said for the level of appreciation that is shown for your work by your managers. If you feel like you are working very hard, and they have a differing opinion, this can be a very difficult place in which to find yourself and can impact negatively on your mental health. Everyone has a goal they want to achieve in life, sometimes it’s simplicity and sometimes it’s bigger. Finding a career to suit that goal can be difficult and you often settle into a job that doesn’t feel right - this in itself can cause mental health problems. It may be possible for you to continue in a job that isn’t right for you for a while but at some point you are going to have to decide whether it is worth the toll that it is taking on your mental health, or whether it is time to start looking for something that might suit you better. Mental health is tedious, sometimes you enjoy your job, other times you feel like hiding away and taking a long holiday, it’s all about balance. How to find balance: Write down what you want to be doing on a daily basis and see which jobs are the most relatable - ideally the job you choose shouldn’t feel like a job - more of a hobby. If this isn’t a possibility for you, try to look at how much free time you have and how you can utilise this to the fullest. Try to break routine, being in the same 9-5 can often feel... --- ## Flexible Working - **Published**: 2023-04-20 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/flexible-working As the weather heats up, bosses in the UK have been urged to let staff work flexible hours. As TUC boss Frances O’Grady said: "Nobody should be made to suffer in the heat for the sake of keeping up appearances.” But what is flexible working? As the weather heats up, bosses in the UK have been urged to let staff work flexible hours. As TUC boss Frances O’Grady said: "Nobody should be made to suffer in the heat for the sake of keeping up appearances.” But what is flexible working? Flexible working is a way of working that suits the employee’s needs. This means that you could have flexible start and finish times, or be allowed to work from home. Many employees are eligible for flexible working and the majority of us can work remotely if our job allows it. If your current job doesn’t allow flexible working, you’ll be happy to know that all employees have the legal right to request flexible working, not just parents and carers. This is officially known as ‘making a statutory application’. There are conditions that need to be met in order to be eligible to make applications when done this way. If you’re interested in flexible working or working remotely from time to time, it may be worth compiling a list of the benefits and sitting down to discuss them with your boss. If your boss isn’t living in the past, they may consider your proposal without having to create an application. Benefits to Businesses Many businesses don’t realise that they are only harming themselves by not allowing their employees some flexibility or the ability to work remotely. The majority of graduates and even older employees are now choosing to ditch their 9-5 office jobs for more flexible jobs. Employees are choosing to have a better work/ life balance in order to take control of personal and professional growth and employers should embrace this. By allowing your staff more flexibility, it gives them better job satisfaction and happy staff produce a better quality of work as they generally... --- ## Struggling with Work this Summer More Than Usual? - **Published**: 2023-04-20 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/strugglingwithworkthissummermorethanusual We’re currently going through a bit of a shift and many of us can feel it. We can see the turmoil the world is facing with ongoing tensions, and the change in weather can affect us as a collective without us actually realising. When it comes to work, we may feel less motivated and slightly down in the dumps, but this change comes with its own benefits. We’re currently going through a bit of a shift and many of us can feel it. We can see the turmoil the world is facing with ongoing tensions, and the change in weather can affect us as a collective without us actually realising. When it comes to work, we may feel less motivated and slightly down in the dumps, but this change comes with its own benefits. The shift of change we all feel gets us ready for the future. It prepares us for a more positive outlook on life. It also highlights what aspects of our lives we need to change in order to be authentic to ourselves and also to achieve more of what we want to achieve. If you feel work holds you back, then this is one aspect of life that you can change quite easily. Whether it’s taking the chance to try something new, or to gain skills in a field you’ve previously been interested in. If we are looking to change careers, we can investigate ways to learn new skills to help to undergo this change. There are many providers of online courses that can help us to develop the skills that we need to make the jump to a different career path and a large number of these courses are free of charge. On top of this, there is also the possibility of studying part-time with the Open University, one of the early pioneers of distance learning and a respected academic institution in its own right. They have a great many courses available and many of them correspond to some of the most popular areas of skills development including software development and social care. In addition, you may feel like you need a better work / life balance and with more employers now... --- ## What to do if you Hate your Job - **Published**: 2023-04-19 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/what-to-do-if-you-hate-your-job Sadly, many people work in jobs they dislike. Going to work each day knowing that you’re not going to enjoy the following 8 or 9 hours can cause you to think negatively, and this generally gets worse as time goes on if nothing changes to improve the situation. Such feelings can lead to an increase in anxiety levels and other mental health problems, as well as an increase in sickness absence levels. Sadly, many people work in jobs they dislike. Going to work each day knowing that you’re not going to enjoy the following 8 or 9 hours can cause you to think negatively, and this generally gets worse as time goes on if nothing changes to improve the situation. Such feelings can lead to an increase in anxiety levels and other mental health problems, as well as an increase in sickness absence levels. The most obvious thing to do would be to look for another job. However, for many this may not be an option – whilst a job may be awful, the location, working hours or shift patterns may suit you perfectly, for example making child care easier. Similarly, you may simply lack the courage to adjust to a new environment and workplace. If moving to another workplace isn’t an option at this point, the first thing to do is to take action which helps you avoid thinking negatively. Introduce some more positive things into your life outside of work, whether it’s indulging in relaxing activities like reading, yoga or meditation, or building a more active social life, to give you those additional activities to look forward to. Secondly, if you feel able to, talk to your manager at work to see if there is anything you could get involved in which would improve your role and overall motivation at work, explaining those issues which are contributing to your unhappiness about the job. Any good manager worth their salt will do what they can to improve your wellbeing at work. One of the largest problems arises when the manager is part of the problem. Sometimes people can be working at absolute capacity and have nothing left to give beyond what they are doing, yet feel very unappreciated. Feeling that your... --- ## Office Romance.... Good or Bad? - **Published**: 2023-04-19 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/office-romance-good-or-bad Beginning a new relationship can be nerve-wracking for most, but if the person you’ve just started dating is also a colleague, it is safe to say that you may encounter some challenges. Beginning a new relationship can be nerve-wracking for most, but if the person you’ve just started dating is also a colleague, it is safe to say that you may encounter some challenges. Starting a relationship with someone at work can be a great thing! You’ve got an automatic ally, someone to support you when times are tough, and someone who understands enough about your role to be able to listen and respond well to any concerns you may have. Also on the plus side, you get to find out about double the gossip! There are, of course, some things about dating a colleague which may cause a few challenges for you personally, so you will need to be emotionally resilient to be able to deal with those challenges, if they come up. Firstly though, if you think the relationship is going to blossom, or if you are dating someone in your management chain, then make sure you tell your employer so that any conflict of interest can be dealt with. Either approach your HR team, or talk to a relevant manager. Your employer may not be too happy about the situation, so you need to be able to give an assurance that when you are at work, your professional role is your focus, and reiterate that you would not allow your relationship to affect how you behave and perform at work. You’ll probably be closely watched for quite a while once your relationship is common knowledge, so you need to make sure that you deliver on your promise to uphold the highest possible professional standards. Colleagues can also be challenging! Regardless of who you are to the business, office gossip can really come into its own when two people start a new relationship. The best thing to do about office... --- ## Bullying and Harassment at Work - **Published**: 2023-04-18 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/bullying-and-harassment-at-work Workplaces can be stressful environments at times, not just because of the day to day challenge of work, but also because of the way people interact. Differences in communication styles, culture, perceptions and simple poor behaviour or decision making can lead to relationship issues at work, many of which then turn into bullying or harassment claims, via the company grievance process. Workplaces can be stressful environments at times, not just because of the day to day challenge of work, but also because of the way people interact. Differences in communication styles, culture, perceptions and simple poor behaviour or decision making can lead to relationship issues at work, many of which then turn into bullying or harassment claims, via the company grievance process. Grievances are now on the increase across the UK, with many people using the bullying and harassment terminology to increase the perceived severity of their issue, making sure their employer takes their complaint seriously. What is classed as bullying? According to ACAS, the characteristics of bullying and harassment are anything that is 'offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient'. The important thing to remember here is that many people view behaviours very differently, for example, to one person, banter can be a fun way of interacting with colleagues; to others it can be offensive. Examples of bullying can include: ·       Spreading malicious rumours ·       Unfair treatment ·       Picking on or regularly undermining someone ·       Denying someone’s training or promotion opportunities What does the law say? Although bullying itself is not against the law, harassment is, especially if it’s of a discriminatory manner. If there are recurring incidents, keep a log of them. One of the best ways to do so is to send yourself an email to your work email, every time something happens. This is time and date stamped and is often accepted as proof, because why would you log something that wasn’t happening? The first thing to do if you feel you’re being bullied is to try and resolve the problem with the person causing the issue. Ask... --- ## The Benefits of Being an Apprentice - **Published**: 2023-04-18 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/the-benefits-of-being-an-apprentice Starting in an apprenticeship once leaving school is a great way to earn while you learn. In addition, it offers you multiple options for selecting which industry you would like to work in. Starting in an apprenticeship once leaving school is a great way to earn while you learn. In addition, it offers you multiple options for selecting which industry you would like to work in. The first main advantage of an apprenticeship is that you'll be paid to work and study! You’ll often start out on the minimum wage or another standard rate of pay for apprenticeships in your industry, however, you will be expected to receive a pay increase as you progress through your apprenticeship. Some businesses hiring apprentices offer salaries way above the apprenticeship minimum wage, so be sure to keep a look out for those! As well as earning a salary, apprentices also get paid holidays. As you are treated like a regular employee of the company, you’ll get a holiday allowance of at least 28 days annual leave per year (including public holidays). You may also be able to request study leave, but this is up to your employer. However, you would typically be at work for four days a week, and at College for the fifth day. Being an apprentice allows you to get first-hand knowledge of how an industry works. This allows you to develop your own skills and specialisms within the industry, giving you a slight head start. By learning the skills employers need, you can build up your skillset to create an impressive CV which makes you stand out over degree educated candidates. This is because a new university graduate may have the qualifications, but they might not have the hands-on experience of the actual job role, whereas an apprentice gains the qualifications as well as the hands-on experience, and businesses want to employ people with hands-on industry knowledge as they don’t always have time to train staff thoroughly. A great many apprentices are... --- ## How to Make Your CV Stand Out - **Published**: 2023-04-17 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/how-to-make-your-cv-stand-out Creating an impressive CV is often one of the toughest challenges when applying for jobs. What makes it even tougher is knowing that employers may just spend a few seconds scanning through CVs before discarding them, so you have to make sure your CV really stands out. Creating an impressive CV is often one of the toughest challenges when applying for jobs. What makes it even tougher is knowing that employers may just spend a few seconds scanning through CVs before discarding them, so you have to make sure your CV really stands out. 1) Tailor your CV for the Job Most people will often have one CV that they use for all jobs they apply for: having a generic CV can mean you miss critical points that don’t quite meet the job description of the job you’re applying for. A CV can’t ordinarily be one size fits all: instead, spend some time adding and highlighting the important skills and experiences you have which relate to the job description. 2) Add a personal statement A personal statement is usually the first thing an employer or recruiter will read on your CV, so you need to ensure you include one! Being confronted by a list of your past jobs at the start of your CV won't look good. However, a well written personal statement can make a massive difference to first impressions when the recruiter is looking at a pile of CVs. Your personal statement is important as it helps ‘set the scene’ and allows an employer to feel more engaged with you, and understand who you are. Keep your statement brief around 150 words to avoid boring the person reading it. 3) Keep it concise A CV that is too long is a big no no! Try to keep your CV to a maximum of two pages where possible. You can achieve this by only including relevant information and avoiding unnecessary personal details or repetition. The truth is that recruiters just wont read any CV that is longer than this size. It will go straight into the... --- ## How to Choose a New Career - **Published**: 2023-04-17 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-new-career When you’re stuck in a job you don’t like, it’s easy to dream about a career change, but planning to make that change and putting it into action can be difficult, especially if you don’t actually know where to start, or which path will get you there the easiest and the fastest. When you’re stuck in a job you don’t like, it’s easy to dream about a career change, but planning to make that change and putting it into action can be difficult, especially if you don’t actually know where to start, or which path will get you there the easiest and the fastest.  On the surface, your current job could seem ideal, but if it leaves you deeply unfulfilled, you won’t ever fully enjoy it. It is said that if you have a job that you enjoy, you never truly work a day in your life. This sounds like the dream for many people but it is the logistics of how to get there that leave many people stumped and therefore stuck in jobs that they feel like they are slowly being drained of life by. Making the commitment that this is the year that you are going to achieve genuine change in your life coul be one of the best things that you ever do.  So how do you change careers? The thing about taking a different direction in life is we’re often left a little clueless. We become our own obstacle as we sometimes fear the unknown rather than face it head on.  If you’re looking for a career change, here are some key questions to help you choose the right career path for you. 1.  What do I like to learn about?   Once you’ve figured out what captures and holds your interest, your job may feel less of a burden. If you enjoy reading, it could be that working in publishing may be for you. If you enjoy helping others, it may be that nursing is a good career path. Try hard to identify your passion and how you could learn enough to work in that field... --- ## Another New Year! New Job Too? - **Published**: 2023-04-14 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/newyearandnewjob For lots of people, January is a time when we hope for change; it’s the beginning of another year where we aim to become masters of our own destiny. For some, this could mean looking for a new career or learning new skills which will help us achieve those goals. At this time of year, the Christmas songs have started playing and you’re thinking of what to buy loved ones. For many of us, we’re also looking forward to a fresh start in the New Year. For lots of people, January is a time when we hope for change; it’s the beginning of another year where we aim to become masters of our own destiny. For some, this could mean looking for a new career or learning new skills which will help us achieve those goals. January is the time of year where many people join gyms and tell themselves that this is the year they make it stick. This is the year that they will take control of their lives and start to do the things they want to do more. They will find the perfect relationship and have a wonderful year. It is a time of maximum optimism and is a great time to look at applying for a new job. There will be plenty of opportunities and you should ensure that you are well-placed to take advantage of them. It's the time of year now when many employers will be planning to recruit, with a view to new employees starting with them in January. Many employers know that hiring at the end of the calendar year isn’t the best thing to do, simply as they know that candidates will wish to see the end of year out with their old employer. So, they will save up their vacancies to advertise right at the end of the year with a view to appointing in the New Year. If you are looking for a fresh start in the New Year, you’ll need to take steps to register yourself with OurBob.com     as a candidate, upload your CV and... --- ## Gig Working: Why Does the Gig Working Economy Continue to Grow? - **Published**: 2023-04-14 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/whydoesthegigworkingeconomycontinuetogrow Gig working is growing increasingly popular. More people are choosing to work in temporary positions as a freelancer or independent contractor. It has grown in popularity thanks to many big businesses such as Uber and food delivery company Deliveroo. They both helped drive the market as it resulted in more independent job opportunities for many people. When people first began gig working, many predicted it wouldn’t last: they saw it as a lost cause and yet, it continues to thrive and grow at an almost exponential pace. Gig working is growing increasingly popular. More people are choosing to work in temporary positions as a freelancer or independent contractor. It has grown in popularity thanks to many big businesses such as Uber and food delivery company Deliveroo. They both helped drive the market as it resulted in more independent job opportunities for many people. The Covid-19 Pandemic and associated lockdowns revolutionised remote work, making it increasingly mainstream and this has undoubtedly had a large impact on the gig economy and freelancing. It is now seen as pretty normal to work remotely, whereas before Covid, this was considered to be something quite unusual. Many more people have also had a taste of what it is like to work remotely and are now unwilling to return to an office environment full-time.  Since then, many more sectors are catching the gig working bug. Many marketers, graphic designers or indeed other people only require a computer to do their job and can now technically become a gig worker, so it’s actually quite easy to get hired if you have the right skill set! There are virtual assistants, software developers, website content writers and many more opportunities than there ever have been to work remotely. For businesses, there’s a huge benefit in a gig economy. It saves resources in terms of benefits, office space and training, and employers have the ability to contract with experts for specific projects who might be too highly-priced to hire full-time. It really is the best of both worlds for businesses, though hiring freelancers can occasionally be a little hit and miss in terms of how they... --- ## Applying for Jobs when you have no Work History - **Published**: 2023-04-13 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/applying-for-jobs-when-you-have-no-work-history Leaving school, college or University can be daunting especially when you begin looking for a job. While being in education, you will often receive limited advice on how to write a CV, but actually applying for a job can feel difficult if you have no work experience to show. Leaving school, college or University can be daunting especially when you begin looking for a job. While being in education, you will often receive limited advice on how to write a CV, but actually applying for a job can feel difficult if you have no work experience to show. Although it may seem difficult initially, you can still create a CV that stands out. When writing a CV with no work experience, you need to create a functional CV. A functional CV focuses on skills rather than work history and allows you to add a variety of experiences and skills, and showcases your character better. If you’ve never had a job, add any voluntary experience and extracurricular activities to your CV  to showcase your dedication and team working experience. The skills you can talk about are known as transferable skills as these are the kind of skills that you will carry with you and develop throughout your working life. The skills you add to a functional CV can include the following: ?     Teamwork ?     Time Management ?     Organisation skills ?     How you deal with conflict ?     Managing team activities ?     Managing Finances These bullet points will need to include information about when the actions occurred and how you developed the skills you have mentioned. Time management can be your perfect attendance record at school, college or university. Organisation skills can talk about how you have managed to juggle the trials and tribulations of parenthood and studying successfully. Just because you haven’t had jobs, it doesn’t mean that you haven’t developed important skills just by living your life, so think about some of the ways you have used the skills noted above. In addition to skills, you will need to include your name, contact details, a personal statement and your qualifications.... --- ## Top 5 Tips and Tricks for Writing a CV - **Published**: 2023-04-13 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-for-writing-a-cv Having a great CV could be your ultimate way of getting the job you want or the attention you need from recruiters. Making sure your CV is up to scratch and presentable for potential employers is something that requires special attention if you want to give your career a boost. Having a great CV could be your ultimate way of getting the job you want or the attention you need from recruiters. Making sure your CV is up to scratch and presentable for potential employers is something that requires special attention if you want to give your career a boost. Check out the five tips and tricks below for producing a CV good enough to get you the ticket for an invitation to an interview. 1. Tailor your CV to the Industry We know sometimes it can be tempting to include all of your employment history and experience in your CV. However, if you add too much irrelevant information then this can turn recruiters off. The easiest way to maintain copies of different CVs for different jobs is to create a master CV. On a master CV, you should include all of the details of your previous work experience and employment. This way, you have a template ready for you when applying for any future jobs. When it comes to applying for a specific role, you can remove all of the irrelevant information from your master CV that does not apply to the job you are applying for. Save this as a new CV copy. For example, you may have a Customer Service CV, a Support Worker CV or a Team Leader CV etc. This means that the nxt time you have a CV that is for a particular job niche, you already have a CV that you can use as a basic template to adapt for it. This can cut down considerably on the time that it takes to produce the CV that you need for the next job you are going for. It is an excellent way to save time and energy when you apply for new jobs... --- ## How Recruitment is Affected by Coronavirus - **Published**: 2023-04-12 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/how-recruitment-is-affected-by-coronavirus It feels as if the UK is coming to a halt - many industries have stopped trading: pubs, restaurants, gyms, theatres, and lots of people are already out of work, or in a massively vulnerable position because of coronavirus. So, what's happening with recruitment? Is anyone recruiting during the pandemic? The short answer - yes! It feels as if the UK is coming to a halt - many industries have stopped trading: pubs, restaurants, gyms, theatres, and lots of people are already out of work, or in a massively vulnerable position because of coronavirus. So, what's happening with recruitment? Is anyone recruiting during the pandemic? The short answer - yes! Clearly those industries affected by the coronavirus will have stopped all hiring activity. But, look at where other industries are thriving because of the behaviours of the general UK population. Stuck at home for the most part, people are online: shopping, gaming, gambling, sorting out their much ignored admin or researching how to handle home-schooling for the kids. Online retailers and grocers had a huge financial upturn as more and more people used them to buy what they needed, choosing not to venture out due to the public health situation. If they are heading out, they are shopping for groceries and essentials to keep stocked up for the foreseeable future. Industry leaders know every business will be affected somehow by this virus, many in a bad way, but some in a good way, financially at least. Those leaders know life will return to normal at some point. People will still plan for retirement, decide to move elsewhere, and make decisions to move on from their employers. So, plans for recruitment still have to be in place. There are still hundreds of thousands of jobs vacant in the UK. Much of this was as a result of Brexit, with the exit from the European Union seeing many of the healthcare workers especially but also other workers from many different sectors returning home to mainland Europe and leaving skills gaps that are currently proving impossible to fill. Many, as you would expect, can't be filled right now... --- ## Here are the Sectors Still Recruiting Staff - **Published**: 2023-04-12 - **URL**: https://www.ourbob.com/blog/sectorsstillrecruitingforstaff There are reports out there which state 700,000 UK jobs have been lost due to the pandemic. But, despite these worrying numbers, there are sectors which are trading safely and healthily, with targets to expand and capitalise on their successes over the past 12 months. There are reports out there which state 700,000 UK jobs have been lost due to the pandemic. But, despite these worrying numbers, there are sectors which are trading safely and healthily, with targets to expand and capitalise on their successes over the past 12 months. There have been many small local success stories with people selling homemade masks and bakers selling afternoon teas to local people. Many high-end hotels and restaurants have added takeaway food collection to their list of services to help to tide them over when they can’t have guests. The numbers of people who have lost their jobs are very worrying but there are also many more job vacancies than we can remember seeing for a long time, so it may be that most of the people who have lost their jobs can find something again soon that will be suitable for them. On that note, let’s take a look at the sectors that are still recruiting for workers across the UK: ?     Accounting and Finance - from junior Finance Assistants to Financial Controllers ?     Automotive - from Apprentice Mechanics to Dealership Managers. Many people’s cars haven’t been driven in earnest for months now, so when they get going again, the dealerships are going to want to offer upgrades. ?     Education - from high school teacher to curriculum managers, there are vacancies to fill in the Education sector. Nursery school care is also in desperate need of more workers to allow them to look after the children of essential workers.  ?     Healthcare and Nursing - unsurprising there are countless roles to fill in this sector. It has been the hardest hit during the pandemic as they have been front-line workers in the fight against Covid-19 and it has been very dangerous for them. ?     Public Sector roles...