How You Can Optimise Your Workplace To Entice New Recruits

As much as you may feel it is you primarily doing the interviewing when a potential new recruit arrives at your office, the process of evaluation is very much a two-way street. From the moment the recruit steps out of their car or bus makes and their way through your office doors, they are busy making semiconscious snap judgements about whether they want to work for you. (more…)

Facing Up to the UK’s Skills Shortage Challenge

The government are right to point to the continuing reduction in unemployment figures as evidence of a robust and growing economy in the UK. However, this optimism hides a growing number of unfilled specialist roles that point to a skills shortage that all employers and recruiters need to face up to. This year’s GDP estimates, that were published on 4th February, were interesting as they clearly show which parts of the economy are growing, and in which areas the skills market is failing to keep up with demand. (more…)

How Is The End Of Travel And Subsistence Allowance Going To Affect Recruiters?

For many years, so-called umbrella companies have featured heavily in the world of recruitment. This is soon to end, as from 6th April 2016 contractors will no longer be able to claim travel and subsistence allowances as tax rebates from HMRC. The impact on both contractors and on recruiters is likely to be dramatic, and underlines the reasons why at First Base we have never used umbrella companies. (more…)

How to Learn New Skills at Little to No Cost

Looking for a new job can be a full time role in itself.

If you already have work (that is paying the bills) and need to gain more skills for your next career move it can seem impossible. Don’t be too quick to throw in the towel. If you stop the work you’re doing (and stop earning) how can you then afford to gain the new skills? It’s a catch 22 situation and one that we find many of our candidates in at some point in their lives.

Whilst still in employment, there are things that you can do to add to your “toolbox” of skills and experience. (more…)

Here’s How to Help A Recruitment Agency Find You The Perfect Job in 2016

Your next career move is highly important to you. It may be that you are looking for your:

next management role
the ideal company to learn and develop your skills with
the next four weeks work to get some cash together to go on holiday
or the next role to give you the skills you need for your chosen career in customer service

Each job search is an individual as the person looking for it and it’s important that you do a bit of preparation to identify (realistically) the strengths you have. (more…)

How To Ask The Right Questions At An Interview

The interview is as much an opportunity for you to ask questions of a potential employer as it is for the potential employer to ask questions about you. The interview should be a two way street, as, when you are job hunting it really is as important that you understand if the job is right for you just as much as whether you are right for the job. (more…)

Working Grandparents to Finally Share in Pay Scheme

Over the past decade, the number of children being cared for by their grandparents has risen dramatically. But good news was announced by the Government recently: that the one-year, shared parental leave allowed to working parents following the birth or adoption of a child would finally be extended to working grandparents who provide care for their grandchildren. (more…)

Should Hirers Use Social Media to Research Candidates?

Social media has been a mixed blessing for people working in HR. LinkedIn, in particular, sometimes seems to have been designed specifically with hirers in mind. Millions of people use LinkedIn as an online CV, complete with endorsements and references from former employers, candidates and customers. Hirers can find high quality candidates from their required industries and verify background information, qualifications and employment details at the drop of a hat. Everyone is a winner; candidates are headhunted more often, clients get access to high-quality staff, advertising costs are slashed and the vetting process is made quick and easy. No wonder that so many hirers have taken to social media, using Facebook and Twitter as well as LinkedIn, is a convenient means of sourcing and vetting candidates. (more…)

How to Avoid Getting Tongue-Tied at Interviews

Imagine that your recruitment agency has set up an interview for that job you’ve been waiting for news on… Congratulations would most certainly be in order! Getting an interview means you’ve made it one step closer.

Because there’s a lot at stake, the idea of a job interview can be a daunting one. (more…)

How to Ask Your Interview Questions Correctly

You may wonder if the title of this article is a typo. But the interview is as much an opportunity for you to ask questions of a potential employer as it is for the potential employer to ask questions about you. But when asking these questions, it’s important to ensure they are worded correctly. Well-worded questions allow you to be eloquent, as well as net you the answers you require. (more…)