We're all about sharing useful information at Aspire Jobs, this month we're talking about answering job application questions

With many employers and certainly all recruitment agencies locally feeling the pinch trying to find staff for both temporary and permanent roles, Helen Stacey – MD of Aspire Jobs explains the issues in the current marketplace.

In this month's newsletter, we're looking at the key factors of workforce engagement (we'll explain what it is first) and how to turn those into an effective employee engagement strategy.  

Interview nerves? No problem!  Here's some useful advice... We appreciate how stressful and daunting interviews can be. Remember, though: everyone who has a job has been through the same hoops – and interviews can be pressurised for both parties, as the interviewer is keen to get the best out of their candidates and make a good hire. Also, this is a two-way process, you're being interviewed for the job role on offer, but this is also your chance to interview the employer to make sure they are a good fit for you. That’s why we’re bringing you our top tips for handling interview nerves, straight from the minds of a group of our experienced careers advisers.

In this month's newsletter, we look at what can you do about it and how Aspire Jobs can help you.

Here are 10 top tips to make LinkedIn work for you...

Reality Check In this month’s newsletter, I’m eager to provide my clients with an overview of what’s happening right here and now in Dorset and Hampshire in the employment market.

New job in the bag. It’s time to sit back and relax about your future career, right?  Stop right there! You’ve just tried really hard to win this position, weeks or months of writing cover letters, endless email alerts about jobs available in your field of expertise. So, it’s worth preserving all your hard work, isn’t it? 

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) have just posted their Report on Jobs for February. Key findings ✨ Perm placements decline again, while temp billings expand only modestly ✨ Upturn in candidate availability slows sharply ✨ Demand for staff broadly stable after drop in January My thoughts are as follows:- ✳ Perm placements only dropped modestly ✳ The temp market was always going to pick up first due to the flexibility it offers ✳ Applicants are potentially not confident in moving roles at the moment - this is counter productive as there are some great jobs out there with some very stable companies ✳ Salaries arent moving much which is to be expected ✳ I believe that there is much to be optimistic about particularly given the success of the vaccination programme So if you need help recruiting and dont have the time it takes to sift through all the applications you will receive why not call me. IT COSTS NOTHING BUT YOUR TIME UNTIL I FIND YOU A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE - What have you got to lose?

Andy Edwards, a friend and colleague, has just published an interesting course on the worldwide learning platform ‘Udemy’. It’s called “Want a new job?  Interview better than the other candidates!”.   As a behavioural psychologist, Andy has sat on the recruitment panel of many organisations and he knows what presses the interviewers’ positive buttons!  Using a unique approach borrowed from the psychology of persuasion, he will help you be seen in the best possible light and be put on the top of the pile when it comes to those job offers.   At under £25 (and Udemy sometimes has a flash-sale so you might get it at even less) Andy’s course comes with Udemy’s 100% money back guarantee.  You can even try a few of the ‘unlocked’ lectures before you decide it’s for you. Use this link to explore “Want a new job?  Interview better than the other candidates!”.  

Whether your road is bumpy and full of potholes, narrow with twists and turns or a straight three lane motorway to a final destination, it pays to have a cohesive roadmap in place, so you don't finish up at a dead end.

Let's face it, we've all done it haven't we.  Posted something on Facebook or Insta that's not exactly showing our best side... A dodgy photo, a rant, strong political views, laughing at someone else's expense... the list goes on. How many of you make your social profiles private? i.e. viewable only to your friends or followers list? How many of you allow other people to tag you in that hilarious meme or funny photo? What does your social profile say about you? Why is this important? Because as a recruiter I'm looking, and your potential employer is looking. Looking to see what the 'social' face of this person whom I might place or they might employ, is saying. What can I find out about you that isn't readily available on your CV.