Knock backs happen all the time. That doesn’t mean the sting gets any better each time it happens. When looking for a new job you are essentially selling yourself. Your CV is a mini brochure of your achievements and when you are rejected by a potential employer it is hard not to take it personally.

So, what happens when you get knock back after knock back when searching for a job? Suddenly you begin to question yourself, are your achievements not enough? Are you aiming too high? Before you know it, you are ready to accept anything that comes your way even if it isn’t the right fit for you.

The competition 

The job market is getting far more competitive. There was a time when you could leave a job and walk into a new position a week later, but those days seem to be a thing of the past. The good news is there are a lot more variety of job out there.  The key is to be more selective with what your skills are and narrow down your search to the right jobs for your skill set.

Ask for feedback on your interview.

If you have applied for a job and are unsuccessful, don’t be afraid to ask ‘why?’ …well maybe not as bluntly as that but ask for feedback. By doing this you achieve a few things;

1. Putting your mind at ease – like I said earlier, when you get a knock back your mind can go in to overdrive. Where you see a failure on your part the truth may be that someone just pipped you to the post.
2. You learn from your previous mistakes. There may be a habit you are unaware of, maybe your spoke too much during an interview, maybe you didn’t give enough information, but how do you change this behaviour if you don’t find out in the first place? For interview tips why not check out our blog? 
3. It shows your willingness to learn and improve which is a great quality and one that leaves a good impression with the employer. (you never know another position could come up with them).

There are always new job opportunities out there.

‘what’s for you won’t go by you‘ – This isn’t everyone’s ideal way of thinking, but really if you take in to consideration all the good things that you have that wouldn’t have occurred had you chosen a different path. There are other opportunities out there and you will be successful. It is hard when you have you heart set on a dream job, but another dream job could be just around the corner. Never lose sight of that.

Something to remember

We often look directly at the job description and match our skills up with each bullet point, however there are more factors at play than you might have thought. On past occasions I have applied for a job, been rejected and left confused as my skills seemed to be a perfect match to what they were looking for. It’s important to remember that you don’t know who you are up against or how close you came to the finishing line; a no doesn’t mean what you have achieved isn’t good enough.  

Top tip!

More and more employers are looking at people who will fit in to the culture of their company. Have you ever come across a job description that says ‘Do you want to work in a lively vivacious office?‘, don’t discount statements like this as just their sales pitch, it’s a probe for you to highlight your ability to interact with the other employees.  For more CV tips why not read our blog? 

Murray Recruitment| 01698 501130 – Specialising in Commercial & Technical Recruitment 

Does your social media matter when looking for a new job?

Do you remember when you first joined Facebook? I remember most people, including me, used it as a digital diary – a way of alerting those back at high school that I had ate a delightfully average dinner that everyone MUST know about it.

I know, what you are thinking …I didn’t do that, but I would bet when your Facebook memories pop up anything you wrote circa 2008 -2010 makes you want the ground to swallow you up out of embarrassment.

Since its launch in 2004, Facebook has not only grown in popularity but has become a major tool for businesses to promote their company and to aid the recruitment process.

Social Media has become an employer’s playground to get a true insight into who you are, and if you think it doesn’t influence their decision making…think again.

Interviews show one side; social media shows another.

When we come in to an interview we present our best selves, well dressed and well-spoken with a plethora of fantastic skills on offer, so let’s imagine the hiring manager has narrowed it down to you and another candidate, your name is a quick click away and voila we have entered the world of [insert your name]

Your profile photo and cover photo are visible to the public, which means it may be better keeping the wilder side of your personality hidden from these areas. If you have recently applied for a job it’s  maybe not best to have the photo of you dancing on the table after your 8th tequila, sure it shows you can enjoy a good night out, but maybe not the image the hiring manager wants to have of their potential new accountant.

Content on social media is everything!

Many people who are looking for a new job are doing so because they aren’t happy (for whatever reason) with their current employment. If your potential new employer is looking at your profile and is met with negative comments about your current employer, it isn’t going to sit well. There are cases where people have been fired because of the comments they have made about their job/co-workers/pay/company.

While on content, 40% of employers have admitted to being put off by a candidate over seeing inappropriate content on social media.

Not all future employers turn in to CIA agents and go into in-depth scouring of your profile, most will have a quick look at what you’ve recently posted and a few of your pictures, but some will go in a little deeper and have a look at your Biography where you have written previous employment and education history, so don’t be one on the 27% who have been caught out lying about their qualifications!

The power of going viral.

It takes minutes for a post, whether it’s a photo, video or your opinion to be passed from pillar to post and before you know it your post has reached the attention of Radio 1 and you have become a national talking point. Okay maybe I am being melodramatic, but you know what I am getting at, news travels fast and it travels even faster through the wonderful world of social media so even though you have 150 trusted Facebook friends, all it takes is for a share or screenshot of a post to be passed on and before you know its reached their 150 followers and so the cycle goes on.

It isn’t all negative, as mentioned before your social media is an insight into your wonderful life. It can show your creativity, your sense of humour, your interests and your personality which can demonstrate how you will fit in with the company.

The best advice when it comes to Social media is really to be mindful of what you are posting. Ask yourself, would I want my mum to read this, if the answer is no, chances are your new boss shouldn’t be reading it either.

Murray Recruitment | 01698 501130 – Specialising in Commercial, Engineering & Technical Recruitment 

We often turn our attention to the candidate when it comes to interviewing, offering tips to calm those nerves and techniques to help present their best attributes, but what about the interviewer?

It is easier to relate to the candidate role, as more of us have sat in the hot seat than the hiring chair, which means we see the interviewer as the gatekeeper to your future, a strong confident presence standing in your way for you to impress, which shows like The Apprentice have reinforced. This image may be accurate for companies who have hiring managers or HR department, who are pros and the interview game, but what about the smaller companies who don’t have a designated department? Often, we find that someone is given the responsibility as well as their primary job meaning they are thrown into a time-consuming process with little guidance. That’s where this blog comes in, here are just a handful of tips if you are not an expert interviewer.

1. Knowing me, Knowing you.

We actively encourage candidates to do their research on a company to find out those little bits of added information you came across on the company website that show that you are interested, invested and have a drive to learn, well, the same goes the other way. It is imperative that you know your facts about the company, such as the company’s goals, employee benefits, holiday allowance but also have a look on your website and social media to see what the marketing team have been shouting about.

2. Question Time.

Have a clear set of questions ready that are relevant to the role, team, company and skills required. Going in with the attitude that you can ‘wing it’ will lead you to possibly missing out on key factors for the decision process. You can divert from the question if the conversation unravels but having a clear objective and list will help you get back on track. Having a set list of questions will also help with consistency across all interviewees, giving everyone a fair shot at showcasing their skills.

3. Appropriate Questions.

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT! You are not in the cast of Mad Men so please make sure your questions are compliant with employment law <— I’ve even created a link for you to check! Asking the wrong questions can be viewed as discrimination, make the candidate feel uncomfortable and lead to the company being in hot water! Remember most of the world communicate through social media, one post on your inappropriate question and before you know it the company has gone viral for all the wrong reasons.

4. Don’t be robotic.

If you want to get the most out of an interview, be conversational. If you stick to a robotic structure of just firing through the questions, the most you will get out of your candidate is the straight answer.

By speaking naturally, you encourage the candidate to open up more, the more comfortable the candidate becomes, the more they will start to reveal about their attitude toward previous employers, work ethic and let their personality shine through. This will give you an idea of how they will fit in with your company and team. These are the golden nuggets that help with decision making that can’t be found on a CV alone.

5. Relevant problem solving.

Want to know how the candidate would deal with an issue within their role? Ask them! Providing a scenario that has or is likely to come up within the company to gain real solutions is the best way to interview for a particular job, with this be mindful that they will be nervous and feeling the pressure already so you don’t have to ask an absolute mind blowing problem!

6. Thank you, next.

Whether a candidate is successful or not you should always contact them to let them know the status of their application. By contacting the candidates, you can offer guidance as well as leaving a good impression of your company. Ignoring a candidate can leave them taking a big hit to their confidence as they may question what they did or didn’t do to be successful.

Murray Recruitment are experts in recruitment for commercial, engineering and technical positions. The company has grown over the years with the strong ethos of finding the right person for the right job, therefore customer care and building relationships is our speciality. If you would be interested in partaking in a workshop to enhance your interviewing skills, please email Emmab@murrayrecruitment.co.uk

You are looking for a new job, the first thing you are going to need is your CV…simple…only…you haven’t written one in a while but how hard can it be, right? Let’s google some CV examples and formats for inspiration…. 817,000,000 results, each with conflicting ‘tips’…hmm this is going to be a long night!

We are not claiming to be the CV gurus of the world but as a recruitment company, trust us when we say we see our fair share of CVS and there are some common mistakes we see all too often.

No Contact Information

Take the guesswork out of your CV and include your contact information.  Often, candidates like to play hard to get with the information they share. Recruiters and Employers need to be able to contact you…how else will we offer you a job if we have no means of reaching you?

‘Doers’ rather than achievers.

A common error people make when writing their CV is to write a list of their duties within their role. Remember your CV is your foot in the door, you are selling yourself, so write something that is going to make you stand out for the crowd! An example of this would be, instead of ‘wrote various blogs’ changing the statement to ‘created various content marketing which helped boost social media following by 50%. Show your future employer that not only will you perform your daily tasks you will get results that the business will benefit from.

War and Peace

While about content, let’s discuss CV length! It can be easy to get carried away by writing all your wonderful achievements within your previous roles however no one has time to read War and Peace to find out if you are the right person for the job. The best way to effectively get your point across is to highlight the relevant achievements to the type of role you are applying for. CV length can depend on the industry you work within, some professions require greater detail to the relevant qualifications so there is no standard length to adhere to, just keep the content relevant to the position you are trying to obtain.

Personal Summary

Writing a personal summary is a crucial part of your CV, your education and work experience show your competency to execute a role successfully but what sets you apart from the other candidates? Will you work well with your colleagues? Does your work ethic or personality shine through? Let your potential employer see what kind of person you are by giving them an insight into your life but do keep it within the lines of professionalism and if you can, show how these areas define you as a person indirectly. Keep your Personal Summary brief yet effective by highlighting your ambitions, examples of additional learning and hobbies that highlight your commitment or dedication to learn.

Final Checks

Sometimes you can’t see something for looking at it. After writing your CV take a breather, go away from your computer for 5 minutes and return with fresh eyes, then re-read from start to finish. Do the sentences flow? Are there any grammatical errors? What about spelling mistakes? Imagine putting all the work in to showcasing your fantastic achievements and falling at the last hurdle by sending a CV littered with spelling mistakes…especially if one of your skills is attention to detail! Run your CV through a spellchecker or have someone look over your CV if you aren’t sure.

Why not send your CV to Murray Recruitment and one of our experts can help you find your perfect role?

www.murrayrecruitment.co.uk

No need for a sales pitch, the facts just speak for themselves!

You know that phrase you can’t see something for looking at it? Often, I think this is the case with our jobs. We can be so focused on the day to day tasks that we fail to take the time to look at the bigger picture. Being relatively new to Murray Recruitment I wanted to find out everything I could so I started asking questions, ruffling feathers and finding out what drives everyone to do what they do, the responses were so insightful, it made the veterans of the industry take some time out to reflect on what it is they do. I want to share these findings with you, because I think you will agree after reading it that this isn’t just your average recruitment agency – this is a growing entity that is changing the face of the industry as well as saving companies money and time!

I asked the question ‘do you know how many people we have placed in a job that are still with the company’,  we did some digging and realised a massive 92% of those placed are still in the role! THIS IS HUGE! When recruiting so many people are in a rush to get a bum on a seat that they skip over client or candidate requirements, this creates a short term fix that often results in staff soon jumping ship, which leaves the company wasting time looking for a replacement, reading CVS, interviewing, and spending money training someone again which on average can cost a company up to £11,000 per person.

How have Murray Recruitment managed to dramatically decrease staff turnover?

Face to face vetting

EVERY candidate has an interview with Murray Recruitment, meaning we get to do proper vetting of the person to find out their wants, needs and expectations. No one is put through for client interview unless their skills and attitude match that of the clients.

We are INDUSTRY experts

All employees at Murray Recruitment have extensive Commercial, Engineering & Technical knowledge. This means when you are looking for a CNC Machinist with specialised skills, we understand what those skills are. We aren’t fitting someone’s CV around the job specifications…we are finding the candidate that matches the job spec!

We build strong relationships

Skills and experience play a large part, but if you have ever interviewed someone you will know that personality goes a long way! Building long lasting relationships and trust between consultants and clients is imperative to how Murray Recruitment work. Our consultants listen to what you are telling them, what your needs are, what your expectations are and what the tone of your working environment is and take this information to the resourcing team who know the candidates inside out. The team then collaborate to pull together the best overall match asking ‘who will fit in with your team? Who will work well with the tone of your company?

We work differently

As the team operate by pulling their resources together it means we are more proactive to job vacancies as we already have the candidate profiles ready, this means we are able to set a 24hr turnaround target to fill temporary contracts and 48hrs for permanent roles – but have often managed to have a job filled with an excellent candidate in just a 2 hour window from getting the vacancy!

Last and most importantly – aftercare

If you are still with me, you will remember I mentioned previously, asking the team what drove them to do what they do. The resounding response was that they love nothing more than that phone call that makes someone’s day, whether it’s ‘You’ve got the job’ or ‘We’ve got the perfect person for your company’, and I have to admit when I heard this, I thought that was the PC response…but I was wrong, customer care is everything to these people and I can prove it…

Where most recruitment companies are target focused, Murray Recruitment are all about the customer service; phone calls on the day of the interview to see how the candidates are and phone calls on the first day to calm the nerves are just the tip of this iceberg. If the focus was on quantity we would be filling the vacancies and moving on to the next, but the focus is on quality, which is why Murray Recruitment stay in contact with the Client and Candidate after their start date, to see how everyone is settling in and iron out in queries to ensure everyone gets off the right start.

With all this it’s easy to see why Murray Recruitment have managed to grow to the lengths it has, and it is showing no signs of slowing down. 92% are still happy with their role, 92% of clients can focus on their job rather than filling positions and shelling out thousands to re-train their staff. So, my final question is, what do you have to lose by giving them a try? Not as much as £11,000 to pick the wrong person I’m betting!

It’s common to feel a little deflated after the hype of the festive season, however for many it’s not just the early rises that are the casting a dark cloud over the last day of the holiday, but the sinking realisation that an unhappy working environment isn’t eradicated by 2 weeks of watching Netflix.

For many the holidays act as a safety blanket that we wrap ourselves in with the promise that all you need is some time off and the New Year will bring a fresh vibrance and outlook to life. It isn’t until you are setting the alarm for the day ahead that you feel the dip in the pit of your stomach, and after 2 weeks back at the job the ‘new year, new me’ vibrance fades and you fall back into the grind.

This all sounds very bleak and dramatic, and it isn’t my intention to depress you further. My intention is to highlight that if this scenario feels familiar then this is hopefully the wake-up call needed to push you to change your year rather than repeat a habit.

47% of UK workers are unhappy in their current role, on average you spend 40 hours a week for 45 years at work…make it somewhere you love! I am not saying go follow your dreams to be the actress you thought you would be when you were 11 (although I am not stopping you) but dream jobs and a place you love are not the same thing.

It is significant to understand the importance of a good working environment and how achievable its is to find a job that does make you happy. The first step is to pinpoint what exactly is making you dread work. Make a list of pros and cons to properly identify where the problem areas lie, this may sound silly, but clearly identifying what you enjoy and what you don’t, will help show what you are willing to compromise on and what you want to alter.

Now that you have a better idea of which areas you would like to change, there no harm in having a peek at what is out there. Many people when they are unhappy with an aspect of their life are quick to look at what others must highlight what they don’t, but this gets us nowhere, instead, be active, look at your options! This process gets you motivated and helps show that there are other options available if you are willing to take that step!

So, what now? Well, now you decide whether the negative aspects of your current job are as bad as you initially thought. If the answer is no, then stop worrying and try to keep yourself motivated throughout the year, reminding yourself that it isn’t all bad. If the answer is YES, don’t fall back into old habits, take that leap of faith in yourself and start your new job search, honestly nothing feels better than a calm mind, free from worry. You owe yourself happiness and this will shine through in your work and in other aspects of your life.

Need help with your job search? Call Murray Recruitment on 01698 501130or visit www.murrayrecruitment.co.uk

We know the word temporary can seem a scary thought, but where than can be negatives, there are many positives that may suit your circumstances better.

‘ I need experience to get a job, but I need a job to get experience ‘

1) If you are relatively new to the working world or looking to go in a new direction, we are guessing the above statement is a common hurdle you are facing. Temporary positions are a great step in the door to a company and/or industry. A quarter of our temporary candidates have gone on to a permanent position, so never write off a temp position as it could open so many more opportunities!

2) On average those at University have between 3 – 4 weeks off over the December/January break. So why not gain some relevant experience while you have some spare time. Let’s face it there are only so many times you can watch Elf and have chocolate for breakfast and taking on a temp role will not only help your waistline it helps build your CV and enhances future ’employability’. Studies also show that being able to relate your theory work to a practical sense help improve understanding of the topic and grades!

3) Not everyone has a five-year plan, some people are rolling stones! From a young age we are asked what we want to be when we grow up, then asked to pick subjects at school to reflect our chosen path in life. We are asking 5 and 15-year old children to plan their life where the reality is most people at 35 aren’t sure what direction they want to take and that’s not a bad thing. On average 6.4% drop out of University after the first year, why? …well mostly because it turned out not to be the right direction for them. The working world is no different. Temp work gives you the opportunity to test the water without committing fully. check out our temp jobs…

4) Whether for your own sanity, you can’t listen to baby shark for 7 days straight, or your babies are off to nursery and you have been out of work for a while, temp work is the perfect platform for mums/dads to get their foot in the door of a company whilst still maintaining the flexibility you need to manage your busy schedule. Many parents after time out can find the commitment of a permanent position overwhelming so why not ease into it and work around what suits you?

5) You do have rights as a temp worker! Although you are not directly employed by the people you work for, you still have rights as an employee. We (Murray Recruitment) have over 15 years’ experience in the recruitment industry, so trust us when we say not all recruitment companies are the same. Through temp work via Murray Recruitment you can still accrue holidays and your temporary contracts are handled in house meaning there is no ambiguity with payments, you are treated like a member of our team, receive payslips from us giving you one point of contact and unlike many other companies there are no admin fees. Why not check us out and see if we can help you?

The generation gaps have never been more prominent due to the rapid evolution of technology and social changes.

Terms like ‘Millennial’ and ‘Gen Z’ are becoming a more frequent talking point, creating greater divides in how we communicate, shop and how we work. As the years go by, the differences between the veteran employee and the graduate are going to increase… so how do companies bridge the gap?

We are aware of the impact Social Media and the internet have had on the way we target and reach our customers; advertising is cheaper, and it is easier to monitor campaign success over traditional printed media. But how does it alter practices within your workplace, or the behaviour and relationships of your employees?

• One challenge the employers are facing is a ‘values’ clash. Many Baby Boomers (1949-1964) due to the sheer number of them, have had to compete fiercely amongst themselves for jobs & promotions and therefore feel that the younger generations have been handed a lot more opportunities. The younger generation however often feel that they are not taken seriously or listened to, Gen Z (2000+) in particular, struggle when placed in a corporate setting.

• A second challenge comes in the form of skill set. As mentioned previously technology has evolved dramatically over the years, many Baby Boomers and Millennial’s (1981-2000) will recall the classic maths teacher quote ‘you won’t always have a calculator in your hand so you need to learn your times tables!‘ A concept completely foreign to Gen Z who were born with handheld encyclopaedias of knowledge in the form of a smartphone

• This has left a clear gap between the generations where the Baby Boomers may feel uncomfortable or feeling they are climbing a mountain trying to catch up with the pace of a technology-based world. Many younger Millennial’s and Gen Z on the other hand lack the inability to communicate effectively in a face to face setting often lacking that ‘professionalism’ found in older generations.

How do you bridge the gap?

It’s a simple solution…Communication! The fundamental difference in the generations is how we communicate, to our friends, to our consumers & to our colleagues. Each person within your team has knowledge that they can share.

The best thing for management to do therefor is to host frequent meetings and training bringing generations together. Allow the younger generations to share their knowledge in technology (thus eradicating the feeling of not being listened to) which in turn encourages the older generations to have more comfort with technology and less …..On the other side of the coin, the meetings should be a phone free zone. Encouraging all participants to communicate with each other build relationships with their colleagues and giving the older generation a platform to share their experience and knowledge on how to handle situations within the corporate setting.

We can help your find the perfect career…young or old!

Let’s say the average person works 40 hours a week for 45 years minus two weeks of holidays every year, that’s 90,360 hours of your life spent at work and let’s face it, getting out of bed is hard enough without trying to motivate yourself to leave the comfort and warmth for a place you hate.

A study was carried out on job satisfaction which indicate that a staggering 47% of UK workers are considering moving job https://www.investorsinpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/JobExodus2018Final.pdf primarily due to poor management within their workplace, amongst many other factors. So what are the tell-tale signs that it might be time to move on and what can you do about it?

find the perfect role for you

1. You spend more time thinking about getting up.

Very few people spring out of bed with a fiery gusto to start their day, but if you are really struggling to find the motivation to go to work, this could be a sign of depression and anxiety. If you are finding the thought of going to work incredibly difficult, it could be that the environment you are working in isn’t motivating you enough or too stressful in comparison to the benefits you receive.

2. You spend your time at work thinking about leaving.

If the thought of leaving crosses your mind frequently whilst at work it’s a no brainer your heart isn’t in it which, let’s face it, wastes everyone’s time. Take a moment to jot down which areas are the biggest issues. How has your enthusiasm changed since you first started? Are the areas fixable? If not, think about what you want in a career to make you motivated again. If you don’t have a clear goal in mind, chances are a change of scenery will pick you up for a period of time, but the slump will set back in again once the novelty wears off.

3. All you do is complain

If your conversations with friends and family are dominated by negative work chat, then your work dissatisfaction is seeping into your personal time. When you are still anxious or irritated by work events during your social and personal time then the problems have manifested, creating no respite to your state of mind as well as being negative and irritating to those listening to you…It is time to move on!

Next steps…

If any of this sounds familiar, then it may be time to look at your options. This can seem like a daunting process but there are always people out there to help you…

Check out some of the jobs we have on offer and get the ball rolling to a happier you.

“I can’t remember the last time I had an interview…I wouldn’t know where to start”

“I’ve been to countless interviews and seem to be getting nowhere”

Do either of these sound familiar? You are not alone; the job search journey can be a stressful and daunting prospect but it can also be an exciting opportunity to push yourself to achieve your perfect role. By following some of our top tips during your interview, you are sure to prosper and get the results you are looking for.

Find the perfect role for you…

1. Have confidence in your ability

Take a moment and think…can I do this job? Do I have the skill set needed? Chances are the answer is yes! Most people don’t apply to be a brain surgeon having never gone to medical school, and we are assuming you are the same. You have seen a job advertised that you believe you can perform so hold on to that confidence as you head into the interview. You know what you are doing, there is a reason you have been shortlisted!

2. Do your research

You have a portable encyclopaedia in your hand, your phone, so there is no excuse not to scour the internet to research the company you are applying to or check over every inch of the job description. Read over what the company stand for, what they are trying to achieve and what they expect of you. Going in with your eyes wide open gives you an automatic step up to what attributes the interviewer is looking for.

3. Be honest but be smart!

Most people think because they are selling themselves, they must embellish stories. The truth is lies will trip you up and make you lose focus, that being said it’s important to answer appropriately. For example, if asked why you are leaving your current role and the truth is you want more money, express this in a way that enhances YOU. Talk about your skills, attributes and experience in terms of market rate. Employers like value for money – you don’t want to appear greedy.

4. Competency based questions

Competency based questions aren’t there to trip you up, they are designed to identify key skills and attributes which are deemed necessary for a particular role. Remember step 1. confidence in ability? You know what you are doing, you’ve done this before, you have studied this…breathe…think… explain a situation where you have experienced a similar issue, what did you do to make it better? What were the results? Simple! You don’t need bells and whistles just a concise, recent & relevant example.

5. Body Language

Nerves are normal…being nervous means you care about the result which is good! Most interviewers WANT you to succeed, they aren’t there to interrogate or frighten you. If you find your mind goes blank or you don’t understand a question or you get a little tongue tied take a moment to breathe, ask for clarity and get your head back in the game. Fidgeting out of nerves is a different story…its distracting and annoying!

1/3 of message conveyed through words – 2/3 through non-verbal Keep in mind that whilst you are selling your skills the company want to know you buy in to THEM. Sit forward, make eye contact, listen and respond to what the interviewer is saying.

You want this job…show them this!

Find the perfect role for you…