Credit where Credit is due
Since Friday my laptop crashed with a virus and as a result I was unable to do any work, let alone write on recruitment views. I have to admit the first day was bad, it was a little like coming off drugs, not that I would know of course!
So 6 days later instead of pulling my hair out, it felt more like a holiday, no checking of stats, no canvas calls just peace and quiet and a few of those household chores were finally completed.
Anyway I digress, the only reason for this post is to say thanks to the Village Idiot who managed to save Recruitment Views from a small disaster. For some unknown reason I was unable to login to the site, the password didn’t work and the email reminder didn’t either, but the Village Idiot’s piece of code for resetting the password in wordpress worked a treat, so thanks again I really appreciated it.
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Zubka now using youtube
It looks like Zubka is now getting serious with their latest marketing offering, by using viral marketing with a video on YouTube, so I thought I would give them a helping hand with a mention here on recruitment views.
I am not sure if it is the finished version, as when I play the video the voice is at twice the speed of sound!
Maybe Zubka can check it out, or is it my damn laptop playing up again.
The video is below and some recent thought of mine can be found here and on Louise’s blog here. Also check out their website as it has had a revamp.
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Recruitment Consultants are not all bad!
One of the comments I see a lot from job hunters is their continual complaint about recruitment consultants, and I have to say they have a point. So as an ex recruitment consultant I want to give you an insiders view and a few tips to get the best out of us.
I have tried to compile a list of what are the most common complaints aimed at recruitment consultants, you may be able to add to them!
1) They never return my call
2) They do not inform me of my the progress of my application
3) No reason given to why not offered the role
4) No reply to my cv/resume
5) They do not know my industry
6) They are unprofessional etc etc
All in all it tends to be related to communication and how experienced or how well trained the consultant is, but first it is worth considering these points from the Recruitment Consultants perspective.
1) They only earn money on successfully placing you in a job
2) They receive hundreds of cv’s per week
3) They are targeted to achieve results
4) They have no time for small talk
5) The client does not communicate to them
6) You the Job Hunter do not keep the consultant informed, it then becomes a vicious circle
The important thing to note here is that the Consultant is targeted on placing you in a job, so there is no point in getting frustrated because your consultant has not called you back just to say he has nothing, as in truth it is time consuming. Mind you I have a different opinion on this.
Unfortunately this will not change and it isn’t helped by companies continually recruiting graduates straight out of university who lack life experience, there isn’t much I can do to change this, but I can help you get more from your consultant.
The key is to get the consultants calling you with plenty of opportunities and bellow is a few tips to help.
1) You will need a well-written cv no longer than 3 pages and to the point, so the consultant doesn’t miss you when they scan it. This free resume article will help
2) Apply for realistic roles, it is unlikely a consultant can get you promoted, but they can find you a company with more opportunities to get you promoted though
3) Be flexible help the consultant help you; it could be in just being available for the interview, if you cannot go they will find someone else and may not ask you again.
4) If you are working with a good consultant, work with them give them the info to help you get in front of clients that you want to work for.
5) Builds a rapport with you consultant so they want to help you, make sure they know your true personality.
6) Keep on top of your consultant make sure they chase the companies, this is a great way to find out if you consultant is on the ball, if not find another.
7) Make it easy for the consultant to sell you to their clients, make sure they know your achievements and key skills
8 ) With modern technology these days many consultants use computer software to search for candidates, so make sure your cv/resume is key word friendly rather paragraphs of rambling.
9) Do not use just one consultancy work with a few that specialise in your market
10) And my Golden Recruitment Tip, when a candidate wants to work for one of my clients the candidate who generally gets the job asks me for help. Your consultant will know your strengths and weaknesses and the opinions of the recruiter and your competition, so use them they may even write the presentation for you if you ask them!
So don’t forget your consultant can be the difference in you getting the job or not, there is no point in getting upset with them, so work with them, some are better than others and generally it is just down to the experience of the consultant.
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Nervous on your first day at the office, you will be
You have been offered the job and looking forward to start, maybe a little nervous but excited. Depending on the company your first day could be a well planed induction or just dropped into the hot seat.
Well this company certainly goes all the way with their induction, you can only start with good karma and a greeting from the big cheese here!
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Google to act as your personal Recruitment Consultant
It is not quite as it seems, although they have already made in roads into our sector, with classified recruitment adds, but what is scary is what they want to do with the data they collect from all of us, and that is to enable them to answer questions like "what shall I do tomorrow" and "what job shall I take" as recently quoted from Eric Schmidt, Google’s Chief Executive.
To read more on this article I suggest you pop over to FT.com to see how Google aims to organise your day and find you your next job, oh where will it all end!!
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Job Shop Recruitment Video
Today I came across the Job Shop the Internal Recruitment company for the University of Leeds. As recruitment videos go this has it about right in my opinion, it may not be the most slick but it gets across its message well, particularly if you want to work for Leeds United Football Club!!
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Digg Resumes, I dont think so!
Just launched is a new social networking site or resume site or is it a digg site for resumes! I have no idea but you may want to take a look at this new recruitment oriented site called Talent Spring, which has just launched. I really do not know where to start with his latest web 2.0 offering for the recruitment industry, except to say I just cannot see this one working.
Don’t get me wrong it is a superbly imaginative idea and they get 10 out of 10 for thinking outside the box, but the competition is too huge and for me it just doesn’t cut it when you have the likes of linkedin and jobster who I feel do a better job.
In essence the site is where you post your cv so that your peers can vote on you and then the best rise to the top, making it easier for companies to find the more talented individuals.
I can see it being a bit of fun, but for a serious company looking for talent candidates, I just don’t think so.
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Serviced Offices for Recruitment = lost business
Now I could be venting at an unprofessional recruitment company that I have just called, but my bet is they are in serviced offices. I am not mentioning any names, as I cannot be sure it was Regus.
In general I think serviced offices have their place in getting your company off the ground, as the alternative can be very expensive. Saying this I have a word of warning, do not use their receptionists to answer the phones, unless you want to loose clients and candidates.
The problem is they are answering calls for all the companies in the building and often for other buildings too, so your client will be in a queue, with the response "please hold the line" and before they can say anything they are put on hold, talk about annoying and then they are then left long enough to call another agency!!
OK it may make your business seem bigger than it actually is, but to be honest recruitment is a people business and if one of my clients calls me I do not want to miss the opportunity, just because the receptionist is answering another call. So my advice is give out your direct line number, then you are in control, I promise you they will not think any less of you.
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Legal Recruitment Blog gets 5 stars
I just thought I would take a moment to give a mention to Jonathan Fagan of www.ten-percent.co.uk, but what made me put finger to key board was to give some encouragement for his Recruitment Blog. I have to admit I am not a regular reader as the content is aimed at the legal profession, but I wanted to give him a 5 star rating for a good use of a Recruitment Blog.
Blogging has I suppose two distinct directions either as a platform to talk about what interests you or to help promote your company. It still amazes me how so few recruitment companies have taken this up and I think I am almost getting boring even bringing it up again. Jonathan I believe adds huge value to his company and to his clients, whether they are job hunting or searching for a candidate. What his blog does is puts a personal face to his company and by doing so you can see he knows his market, who better to do business with, which says it all in my opinion.
To finish best of luck Jonathan with your challenge!
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Stuck in a Restrictive Covenant
A while back I was made aware of a new website called Zubka, a job board with a web 2.0 twist. At the time and I was not convinced, and recently Louise made reference to them. What made me look again, was a recent email they sent and a client looking to start out on his own, but worried about restrictive Covenants in recruitment contracts.
My normal response to restrictive covenants is to have a back up, just in case your previous employer decides to take you to court. Because without your contact list you are going to find it tough at the beginning. I should know as it happened to me twice and I survived.
So if you find you cannot contact your old client list then Zubka could help, because here you have a list of clients or agencies who are willing to pay referral fees giving you an opportunity to earn some revenue while while your hands are tied for a year.
A word of warning is agencies that use the system will prefer to place someone and get a full fee rather than pass on a percentage, so choose carefully look at the agencies who are trying to fill positions they don’t normally recruit for as a starting point.
With good fees to be earnt from £1000 up it is worth taking a look, while you are waiting for the restrictive covenants to be lifted!
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