Success Recruit welcome Lian Van-Der-Kwast to the team!

Hi Lian, 

Q) How does your current role differ to your previous roles in recruitment?

My current role as a Relationship Manager is very different to my previous role, as here at Success I get to meet all of our candidates’ who we submit to our clients, it allows me to get a better understanding of what they are looking for in their next career move, plus I can pair them up to other opportunities’ we have. A Relationship Manager keeps in contact with all live candidates on a weekly basis to find out how their own job search has been going, doing this enables us to know who is active in the market and to build relationships.

Q) What attracted you to Success Recruit? 

I was attracted to Success as isn’t like other recruitment agencies, they truly listen to each of their Clients’ and understand exactly what they are searching for in their next employee, they also mirror this when speaking to candidates and understanding their requirements too. Knowing this information allows Success to place a candidate within a job role which is right for both them and the client. In addition, I wanted to be a part of an upcoming business and really wanted to utilise my London experience to help promote Success and to be an integral member of the team.

Q) What has been the most challenging obstacle you have had to face since being at Success Recruit?

My most challenging role I’ve had to face so far at Success is within my first week I had to get a group of 6 temps ready for a placement in Clacton, making sure all paperwork was filled in correctly and sent back to us, at least 2 references on each temp and all ID was scanned in.

Q) What attributes have you been able to bring to your new job role?

Having had 2 ½ years’ of recruitment experience in London I already knew how recruitment worked and what processes I had to go through. I feel this gave me an upper hand as I already knew how to speak to candidates and help them with their job searches. 

Q) What has been your highlight of being a Success Recruit team member so far?

My highlight of being a Success Recruit team member so far is within 9 days of beginning my career I landed my first placement. This was a real achievement for me as I’d not been at Success long and knew the importance of placing the right candidate within the right role for both them and the client.

Q) Tell us one interesting fact about yourself

One interesting fact about myself is that I enjoy exotic foods, the strangest thing I have ever eaten is Sea Urchin with my father. From a young age I was always taught to try things once then make up your mind if you don’t like it. Let’s just say it’s safe to say Sea Urchin is one food item I shall never eat again!

Success Recruit's #nomakeupselfie for Cancer Research!

It is likely that the #nomakeupselfie hashtag has made an appearance on your social network feeds this past week.  In an attempt to heighten awareness for Cancer Research UK, millions of women across the nation have been uploading bare-faced pictures of themselves.  So far, the trending phenomenon has raised an impressive £2million- and donations are still being made!

At Success, we were happy to ditch the foundation and eyeliner for a day, in support of a charity whose endless hard work is to be admired.  

Why not get involved! 

The art of preparation

I’m sure you are familiar with the well-known phrase ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’, a phrase appropriate from as early on as childhood, being told to pack your school bag the night before so that you didn't  forget your reading book.  Well this phrase still remains relevant even up until now, be it preparing for meetings, work appraisals, not to mention the preparation that stands in between you and your dream job.

Preparation before a job interview should entail background research into the company because it gives the impression that your decision to apply for a role at their company was a well thought through decision. It also shows the interviewer that you believe that your qualities and previous experience would complement the company, rather than just mass producing your CV and covering letter and sending them out to a number of different for pot luck.  Find out how long the company has been established for, what their mission statement is, and so forth. Most of this information should be located on the company’s website, have a look!  It may also be worth conducting research around the job profile you are applying for, as well as finding out about current trends and recent news within the job sector.

Prep should also involve you staging mock interviews.  This is where you pre-formulate questions that you anticipate will be asked.  The majority of interviews usually involve you having to discuss your strengths and weaknesses, so be sure to have some examples at the ready.  At the end of the interview, employers tend to give you the chance to ask any questions at, so prepare a response that is related to the job or to the company. 

An interview isn't just about what comes out of your mouth; an employer wants to see that you are a well presented candidate. So give those shoes a good polish, and have your outfit ready the night before. The dress code for an interview is usually dependent on the work environment, but in most cases, formal attire is the preference.  

On the day of the interview, be sure to leave plenty of time for your journey.  You should aim to be at the interview 15 minutes before you’re scheduled time. And make sure all your electronic devices are switched off!

Best of luck! 

Hire the best!

Hiring the wrong person for a job is always such an inconvenient.  Not only is it a waste of time, both for the candidate and the interviewer, but it can be costly too! A strong interview process will make sure that you get the best possible analyses of an interviewee to prevent you from choosing the wrong employee.

Skilled interviewers:

·         Ask questions that are specific- You tend to get those one or two candidates whose nerves results in them doing a lot of waffling.  Or the candidate who is so keen to make a good impression that they start talking about school achievements when asked about their last previous role . Specific questions will eliminate the problem of candidates going off topic, and will help you later on when you compare the answers of each candidate interviewed.

·         Ask questions smartly- There is a big difference between asking the right question and asking the question right.  By asking follow-up questions , you are giving the candidate a chance to expand on their answers, which in turn gives you the opportunity to conjure up a more in-depth view of the candidate.

·         Be human- There is already a clear hierarchy of authority in place in an interview room.  Try not to make this even more obvious, as this will only create distance between you and the interviewee.  If you offer a relaxed, yet professional setting, the candidate will feel more comfortable answering questions honestly and not feel the need to mask facts in an attempt to match your professionalism.

Our HR workshop will be taking place on Tuesday 18^th March 2014 from 8.00am – 10.00am and will be a great opportunity to hear some more useful advice and tips on what questions should be asked during an interview to produce the most effective results so that you can hire confidently! Book your place now!! http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/myevent?eid=10187494069

All eyes on you!

Congratulations! You got the job! But do not for a second think that the spotlight has left you.

Ever watched a real belter during an x factor audition then anxiously await their live performance to see whether they are able to live up to expectations?  Well this is somewhat the position you may find yourself in once offered a job, and now faced with ways to prove to yourself and your employer that you were indeed the right candidate for the job.

Out with the old, in with the new

Whether you had the title of ‘late bird’ at your old place of work, or maybe you were known more for your chitter-chatter, with your new job, you will need to quickly become accustomed to the new work environment. So be prepared to eliminate all of your previous bad work habits so that you are in sync with the new company.  It helps to identify the high achievers that you can learn from and mimic their performance.  

Time to communicate

It is always nice to get to know the people you are working with, so take time out to find out who your team members are.  Work lunch breaks are a great opportunity for you to get to know your colleagues and to find out who does what within the company.  Having a smile on your face (even on a Monday morning) will make you come across as friendly and approachable, and people will quickly welcome you in as part of the team, allowing you to quickly lose your title of newbie.

Newfound success!

Yes, there is a lot to take in when starting a new job, but don’t panic!  Overthinking things will cause you to be stressed and will hinder you from performing the best that you can.  Instead, take each day as it comes, perfecting your new skills.  Relax.  Remember, you were successful in getting the job so you obviously have great potential, so unleash it!

Go the Extra Mile!

It is important to have a can do attitude and be happy to help in your new position anyway that will benefit the business! Always ask for extra work if you have completed what has been asked of you!

Good luck in your new job! Show them you have the X Factor and who knows what the future will hold for you!!

#NEWSFLASH- Success goes Global!

Our recruitment consultant Ellie Dempster has been given the very exciting task of filling an international vacancy! Although Ellie will not be boarding British airways any time soon, our client’s request to have a French speaking personal assistant has seen Ellie broaden her search criteria and have relations with a variety of candidates who may satisfy such a particular requirement.

It’s only a matter of time before she starts greeting the office with a jovial ‘bonjour’!  

“I don’t know how to make tea. I'm an intern.”

Can an Intern really benefit your business??

YES!! They can!! At Success Recruit we have been lucky enough to have a second year intern support us with all marketing and creativity around the business…. Please read Gabriella’s story below on how she views her experience that she has gained over the last 3 months with us.

“I don’t know how to make tea. I’m an intern.”

With a summer spent congratulating friends who had graduated and been rewarded with credible degrees, I was devastated to hear of the trials the majority of them were facing when it came to finding a graduates job.  The prospect of life after uni became increasingly daunting when I returned back to university and accessed an inbox that had been bombarded with leaflets and newsletters reporting on how some new grads could only secure jobs in retail, as well as the staggering figures concerning student debt.  One solution to help dilute this fear was the reoccurring suggestion of finding a work placement.  I can remember during secondary school when getting work experience bagged you a ‘well done you!’ or ‘that’s excellent news’ from teachers, but at the same time you’d also receive a few raised eyebrows and smirks from people who would cheekily offer you advice on how to make a good cuppa or tell you to start reading up on ‘A Dummies guide on how to photocopy.’  But in today’s world where employers have discovered the potential and value that an intern could bring to their company, be it for two weeks or longer periods spent training them for a future role, work experience is now greatly upheld as a training scheme that should be compulsory rather than optional.

Having been under the mentorship of my colleagues at Success Recruit for roughly three months, I would firmly advise students to actively pursue the role of being an intern.  Engaging in the rituals of a 9-5 work schedule has opened my eyes to see things that a textbook is inadequate in teaching.  The endless academic theories and concepts we are encouraged to read about can only be truly understood when used to compliment the practicality that is needed in a work place, and the same goes for the ability to transfer workplace knowledge to our studies.

The admirable qualities that radiates from the team at Success only inspires me to want to work harder so I too can be as dedicated to a job I love and am passionate about; their dedication and hard work is contagious, and leaves me feeling as if I’ve been a Success team member ever since the company had been founded! I have had the pleasure of accompanying the team to business seminars and also had the chance to engage with clients and implement fresh marketing strategies.  This year, I also helped welcome Success’ new blog. Writing blog posts has been one of my many highlights, as it has allowed my creativity to flourish, whilst also helping with the company’s search engine optimization (SEO). The duties I have fulfilled whilst at Success are all things that are impossible to attain when relying solely on lecturers and case studies, yet, will play a major role when I dump my title as ‘university undergrad’ and fill the bigger boots of a white-collar professional.

I have also had the opportunity to contribute towards, and attend the launch of Success’ first ever networking session, ‘Success in the City!’ I have thoroughly enjoyed the chance to heighten my networking skills and indulge in great conversations with business owners from varying fields.

It is undisputable that my time at Success Recruit will provide as a blessing when the day comes for my CV to be scrutinised by recruiters of marketing companies, who when shortlisting candidates, will see that my free time has been productively spent working within the industry.  Some apprentices even get to side-step this stage because they would have already been offered a more permanent role after their brief stint as an intern.

In the jobseeker’s marketplace where nearly one in ten graduates are unemployed, it’s becoming even more clear that university is more than mastering the skill of Harvard-style referencing or having the local takeaway’s number on speed dial for those anticipated library all-nighters.  It is about engaging in experiences that can set you apart; and from my time as an intern, I’ve realised that learning comes in two forms- theory and the practical, and both are needed to help make the inescapable process of job hunting that little bit easier.   

Although this will be my last day as an intern, I am delighted to share with you that I have been offered an ongoing role and will still remain a team member at Success Recruit; so I look forward to expanding my marketing knowledge further and being part of a team that exudes enthusiasm and hard work.

To hear more about my internship experience, you can click on the following link to watch my YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1AICpqJh78