If I had a crystal ball that would be an easy question to answer, wouldn’t it! Here are my thoughts as we pick up pace into 2023.

With vacancies taking longer to fill and pay gaps widening, are employers willing to take the risk of missing out on talent or narrowing the type of applications they receive? A recent study by People Managing People showed that 41% of ads for marketing roles didn't disclose salaries, nor did 35% of sales and operational roles, 27% of IT roles and 29% of professional HR roles.

LinkedIn isn't just a recruiting platform it's a place to network, research and learn. Here are some top tips on how to get the best out of LinkedIn, especially when you're job hunting:

2022 has been a difficult year in so many ways. Not just the political turmoil we've faced, but the war in Ukraine and the ensuing cost of living crisis adding to the complex mix. Thankfully Aspire Jobs has had a good year, in fact, a good couple of years though we are very mindful that others haven't through no fault of their own. We've been working really hard to fill our client vacancies and we've done our best to think outside the box, in what is still a candidate-driven market. As with all businesses, we have experienced price hikes, in some cases an increase of over 60% for some job boards. Our positive performance over the last couple of years should see us through the expected recession, though we're not seeing evidence of that yet in the job market, we're keeping a watching eye for it... The support from our clients and wider connections is never taken for granted at Aspire and we'd like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU whether it has been sending business our way, referring candidates or supporting our social media, it is all truly appreciated.

What is the most difficult interview question to answer? We'd wager that it's this one... What are your strengths and weaknesses? Few of us like to 'talk ourselves up' and admitting to a weakness in an interview situation induces a feeling of fear - "if I tell them I'm not good with confrontation, I may as well leave the interview now!!" I came across an article reporting on 5 tips for talking about strengths and weaknesses in an interview. Here they are...

News has been full of gloom and doom about the economic state of the UK of late and if it’s not doom and gloom about the economy, then it’s been focused on the toing and froing of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.   In this month's newsletter, I'm sharing two articles with you. One with a positive spin and one with a not-so-positive spin. It's a confusing time and difficult for business owners to interpret. The articles I've featured about business growth and staff shortages are almost at odds with each other, though when you read them you can see that they both make sense in their own way. According to HRnews “over ¾ of small businesses predict growth next year despite cost-of-living challenges”.

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.