Gilpin ESD

Executive Recruitment | Belfast | Northern Ireland

Posts Tagged ‘advice’

Could you work 52 different jobs this year?

Friday, January 3rd, 2014

I read an interesting article this week in which a 30-year-old man from London completed a year-long challenge to try out 52 different jobs in 2013.

Once a week, he tried his hand at a new profession in order to gain understanding of various industries. In fact, last year he worked at jobs such as a pizza delivery man, a personal assistant and a blacksmith.

While you mightn’t necessarily want to carry out the same sort of challenge to test the waters this year, 2014 may be an excellent opportunity to think about a career change or try something new.

There are a number of options for those wanting to cast their net:

Consider contracting: Consider becoming an independent contractor to your old company (more…)

Only good looking people need apply

Wednesday, November 20th, 2013

They say every business needs a unique selling point.

One online recruitment company launched recently certainly believes it has found theirs- it only offers jobs to good looking people.

Dating site Beautifulpeople.com has started a spin-off recruitment service as, straight from the horse’s mouth, “Numerous studies have shown that consumers tend to respond more positively and are more receptive to attractive people.”

While, that site certainly believes it is one’s good looks that employers want, realistic (and non-chauvinistic) employers have identified the top qualities they are looking for when recruiting:

  • Relevant skills. Be sure to highlight your skills by qualifying and/or quantifying how you used them to be successful in the past.

Why the recruitment process is actually more than the job application and the interview

Tuesday, October 8th, 2013

An independent report published on Friday (4th October) found that the way in which the UK’s very first youth police and crime commissioner was recruited was “robust, transparent and well run”.

You’ll remember that 16-year-old Paris Brown was appointed to the high profile role in Kent in April, but quit in a blaze of criticism over comments (considered racist and homophobic) she had made on Twitter prior to taking up the role.

Kent’s police and crime commissioner argued that the force had not asked for social network vetting to be carried out, and the new report last week found that the entire recruitment process was, indeed, vigorous.

It comes as employers are, increasingly, looking at job candidates’ personal lives in order to help them make their important employment decision, such as their online presence, or contacting referees, not simply to find out if the candidate can “do the job” but to read between the lines of submitted CVs.

So what do potential employers look for outside of the application and job interview? I would suggest the following: (more…)

When interviewees become the interviewer

Tuesday, August 6th, 2013

You’ve reached the end of a job interview having previously thought about every possible question the company could ask you, when you are faced with one you maybe didn’t contemplate- “Have you anything to ask me?”

For many, the natural reaction is to nod, smile and say: “No, I think that’s everything.”

People don’t want to ask about salary, hours of employment, extra benefits, for example, for fear of coming across as too pushy and instead, they try to wrap the interview up quickly.

But there are many reasons why asking questions is important, not least the fact that you need to fully understand what the position entails before accepting any potential offer.

The following questions will help you know more about the job and, indeed, the company: (more…)

What makes a successful leader?

Friday, March 30th, 2012

We often use the words “Leadership” and “Management” without really understanding what each is, and if there is a difference between them. There is a big difference in that Leadership is about “doing the right things” (and therefore relates to showing vision and strategic direction) whereas Management refers to “doing things right” (and therefore relates to managing activities efficiently to achieve the vision) (more…)