It's easy to say, isn't it? Far harder to actually achieve. Disconnecting from your business or your job is incredibly hard.  As a business owner myself, I know that only too well.  I read an article this week in The Global Recruitment that made me stop and think.  There is a particular comment in there about leading by example. How managers (and of course business owners themselves) should set the scene as to what's acceptable while on holiday. I know the pressure I feel when I'm away on holiday to check in and keep in touch, and this article really made me think about that carefully. I've summarised the article here for you and if you would benefit from reading the full thing, I've included the link further down...

Finding and engaging with the right recruitment agency can significantly impact your job search success. Recruiters are valuable liaisons between candidates and potential employers helping to match skills and aspirations with suitable job roles.  

Whether you took some time off over the summer or have been working hard throughout, I hope this newsletter finds you fit, well and raring to go! We've had a busy time of it at Aspire Jobs, we've moved office - within the same building, but to a larger suite so that's kept us busy. Plus getting ready for Becky's return from maternity leave on September 18th. We can't wait to have her back!  Hopefully, in our next newsletter, I'll be able to share some further team expansion news... watch this space. The growth in the Aspire Jobs team is reflective of the wider market. It's still buoyant in terms of the quantity of jobs available and still tight in terms of candidates available. But by now we're used to it and so we soldier on! I've continued with my networking, such an important thing to do whether your business is busy or not. The most recent event was the Bournemouth Airshow - what a spectacular annual event it is and one that I always enjoy. I'm more than happy to chat with employers looking to recruit who don't know where to start, or want some help with salary benchmarking, writing compelling job ads and interviewing advice. Sending very best wishes.

Whether you took some time off over the summer or have been working hard throughout, I hope this newsletter finds you fit, well and raring to go! We've had a busy time of it at Aspire Jobs, we've moved office - within the same building, but to a larger suite, so that's kept us busy. Plus getting ready for Becky's return from maternity leave on September 18th. We can't wait to have her back!  Hopefully, in our next newsletter, I'll be able to share some further team expansion news... watch this space. Sharing this article with you today, I hope you find it useful...

According to a survey conducted by Reed.co.uk in 2022, the top three employee benefits or workplace perks were:  Flexible working hours (62%) Employer-contributed pension (54%) Remote working access (36%) Creating a diverse and inclusive culture is crucial for attracting top talent. By offering a comprehensive benefits package that supports employees of all backgrounds and abilities, you can foster a sense of belonging and commitment. When you support your employees' personal and professional goals, they will reciprocate by actively contributing to your organisation's success.

First things first... what are soft skills? Soft skills are personal traits and abilities that help you to work well with others. Things like: Problem-solving, creativity, integrity, conflict management, adaptability, and teamwork. They can also be called people skills and can help develop strong and professional relationships in the workplace. They also help you to be a good communicator. People in customer-facing job roles often have strong soft skills, soft skills are however used in all job roles in one way or another.

A boomerang employee is someone who returns to a previous employer after leaving. Their leaving could be for a variety of reasons, and they can be attractive candidates to employers, however, there are some things to bear in mind...  

Strikes and bank holidays are hot topics of conversation in my network at the moment. The kids being home on strike days on top of 3 bank holidays in the month has certainly given May a different feel altogether. The Coronation of the new King and Queen at the weekend gave many across the country something to celebrate and in the world of recruitment, we have seen some stabilisation during quarter 1.  In our newsletter this month we've taken a 'sharing is caring' approach; highlighting 3 reports/blogs that we think will interest, and, be useful to you.

Joanne Rowney is from Vale Career Consulting. I had a great 1-1 with her recently, and she has provided the content for this month's newsletter. Scroll down for Jo's contact details.

Last Friday I was involved in a prisoner re-settlement event at Guys Marsh Prison a Category-C adult male training and resettlement prison located in Shaftesbury, Dorset. This is the lowest category of a secure prison and acts as a stepping stone for selected risk-assessed prisoners to progress into an open prison. I was invited to attend the event as a member of HMP Guys Marsh’s Employment Advisory Board (EAB). EABs were introduced as a joint initiative between New Futures Network and the Timpson Foundation, to act as a platform to connect employers and business leaders with prisons. New Futures Network are a specialist part of HM Prison and Probation Service that partners businesses and prisons to fill skills gap and support prison leavers into employment, and the Timpson Foundation rehabilitates prison leavers by offering supported employment.

I thought it was a  good idea to use this month's newsletter to act as a reminder of what Aspire Jobs is all about. Who are we? We're a boutique (small but perfectly formed!) recruitment agency, based in Ringwood, covering Dorset and  Hampshire. We also handle some nationwide placements for our clients, depending on their specific needs. We're a team of 3 supported by a network of outsourced professional services. The core team is headed up by me, Helen Stacey. Amanda Thompson and Becky Wooden are our recruitment resourcers, Becky is currently on maternity leave.