It sounds tricky doesn't it, but it is quite possible to convey a message without opening your mouth. How... through your body language. On the same premise as the popular quote 'a picture paints a thousand words', so does your body. Here are 8 body language tips for your next interview: Make a solid first impression Think twice before wearing new shoes Make eye contact Be responsive and listen to understand Remember your posture Be mindful of your hands Exit strong Now whilst body language is important, so is being yourself. So don't try too hard, be your own authentic self because if you try to be someone you're not, you'll find that mighty difficult to keep up when you start the role! This article from The Muse, explains more. I hope these articles are useful to you in your interview preparation.

Since the pandemic, have you found that the values and expectations of your workforce have changed? Particularly within the younger generation? Are your employees looking for something more? The latest report from Cognizant Research reveals the following: Fewer than 1 in 5 (18%) of workers under the age of 40 strongly believe they are living their day-to-day purpose in their work life. Global Recruiter says that this 'purpose gap' within the workplace, is one that needs to be addressed. They go on to say... "If we are to remain a leading nation in business, our Gen Z and millennial (20- to 40-year-old) talent must be made to feel they have a greater sense of purpose in their work in alignment with their personal values. In short, businesses need to ramp up their efforts if they want to attract the best and brightest talent of the younger generations – and keep them." If you're interested in reading about how to bring 'purpose' to work, including: How workplace dynamics are now changing A senior leadership team that is more present Building a relationship between work and purpose read on... If you're interested to read the Cognizant report in full, you can find it here.

Queen Elizabeth II 1926 - 2022 All at Aspire Jobs are deeply saddened by the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II and send sincere condolences to her family and pay tribute to her character, wit, kindness, wisdom and many decades of duty to the British people

Queen Elizabeth II 1926 - 2022 All at Aspire Jobs are deeply saddened by the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II and send sincere condolences to her family and pay tribute to her character, wit, kindness, wisdom and many decades of duty to the British people.

I read an article recently titled ‘What size company is right for you?’ The article was written by Chris Dottie MBD, MD of Hays, Spain...   “When a friend of mine told me she was changing jobs recently I congratulated her and asked what she was going to do. “I’m going to work at (insert name of technological mega-brand here),” she answered enthusiastically. I was polite enough not to remind her that she wasn’t answering the question I’d asked, but that seemed irrelevant to her in any case. Her new job title could have been ‘Apprentice Shoelace Tier’ and she still would have been extraordinarily happy because of the famous name of the company.   This sort of attitude is not uncommon. There is a glamorous thrill attached to mentioning a well-known and respected company as your employer, regardless of what your role actually is within the business.

I recently attended an event with Dorset Chamber at the Italian Villa in Poole. The event was sponsored by Dorset Careers Hub, Strategic Lead Rebecca Phillips gave an impassioned presentation to over 80 delegates about the work Dorset Careers Hub does.  She asked us to reflect on the career advice we as the audience had been given during our formative years - very few hands were raised to reflect on a positive experience! Fast forward to 2022 and thankfully things are a little different with leaders like Rebecca and organisations like Dorset Careers Hub leading the way.  I asked Rebecca to write a short article to share with my clients via the newsletter. You'll find it below and I hope it helps to understand more about the support that Dorset Careers Hub needs from local employers to achieve the goals of the Government's careers strategy. In other news, as I'm writing this, the breaking news is that Boris is finally going to resign. After a turbulent few days in Westminster, Number 10 will see a new occupant in the near future. Let's hope for some stability and regained focus on the important issues facing the county right now.

I'm delighted to be taking part in Convoy Community's online event on June 28th - click on the image below to find out more... During this free online session you will find out about: CVs and what agencies and employers look for – top tips Job boards – what they are, how they work and what agencies look for Interview preparation advice and top tips

We're approaching the halfway point of the year - I'm not sure how that even happened! It's been a year of highs and lows so far, and that looks set to continue for the foreseeable future. With inflation at an all-time high and consumers pulling in their belts as a result, we're living through some very tricky times. The war in Ukraine rumbles on and continues to impact our lives here in the UK. Totaljobs has compiled an employer's guide to navigating the cost of living. You can download the guide here. It's full of useful statistics, information and advice for employers and really gets under the skin of what employees and employers are going through right now. In other news, I read the following article recently, it was on www.hrdept.co.uk and I just had to share it with you. I often interview candidates with hidden disabilities and they often show concern about how their hidden disability may be construed in the workplace. I thought that this article would be useful for employers to read so they could consider how they manage hidden disabilities in their workplaces.  If you'd like advice on how to make adjustments, please contact View HR or Streetwise HR for detailed advice.

We’re fast approaching the mid-point of the year, a good time to reflect on the first half of 2022, recognise the challenges, identify any weak spots and plan for the remainder of the year.   I’d like to be informing you of change, of growth in the market, that the challenges we as recruiters and you as business leaders have faced in the first part of the year have dissipated.   But I can’t. We’re seeing very slow movement in the growth of permanent staff appointments due to the lack of available candidates and in March, vacancies hit a six-month high.   The REC Report on Jobs provides a useful summary:   Upturn in hiring activity slows again amid candidate shortages

First of all what is an Algorithm? An algorithm is the list of instructions and rules that a computer needs to do to complete a task. What has this got to do with CVs?   Jane McNeill Director of Hays Australia, explains all... "Next time you apply for a job, will people or algorithms screen your application? Chances are, it’ll be the latter, with technological advancements reducing the time to hire. After all, one job ad can elicit hundreds of responses, many of which may be inappropriate, yet all must be screened in order to identify the suitable candidates. With the aid of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated machine learning algorithms, this time consuming process can instead take seconds, allowing recruiters and hiring managers to provide a more personal service and engage with skilled and experienced professionals. So how can you ensure your application makes it past the algorithms and reaches their shortlist?

Last month we reported on the rising cost of living and how it was starting to affect the decision making of job seekers and those already in role. Totaljobs have shared a report that is very timely and useful for employers of all sizes right now. Here are the main headlines: "The squeeze on workers’ living standards is already severe. A substantial majority of employees say they have not had a pay rise, or their pay has risen by less than inflation. For many, their salary does not cover basic living costs. This presents a somewhat more pessimistic picture than that shown in official statistics, which show real wages roughly flat over the last year." "This research illustrates that everyone is feeling the pinch of the rising cost of living, to the extent that some are looking to move jobs for one that provides them with more financial security. It’s clear that the cost of living is having an impact on businesses and their staff." "We’d encourage employers to acknowledge the situation we’re in and have open conversations with their staff about financial wellbeing and remuneration. Now is the time to consider more holistic job offers that cater to the individual needs of candidates, especially for those hit hardest by the rise in everyday living costs."

We have all experienced changing our minds after making a decision. But when it comes to changing your mind after having resigned your job, well that can be a bit tricky.  Here's some valuable advice from Totaljobs. Sometimes, when a valued employee hands in their resignation, the company will try and negotiate with you to get you to stay. This could involve a promotion offer, the promise of more money or better benefits. If you then decide to stay on, you are in a great position! Congratulations! However, if you have just changed your mind (the job offer you have has been cancelled, you don’t want to move on after all, you handed in your resignation in the heat of the moment) then asking to have it reversed can be embarrassing. The important thing, in this case, is to face up to the situation and ask you speak to your manager as soon as possible.