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How to write a killer CV

What is the 1 thing that will determine if you get shortlisted for an interview or not? YOUR CV. So, it goes without saying that it needs to be impressive. Yours needs to cut through the noise and stand out from the crowd. So how do you go about putting together this winning cv? Follow our top 5 tips on how to put together a winning CV.

1. Spend Some Time Getting It Right

For most people, the thought of having to write a cv isn’t an exciting one. Producing a quality CV takes time so make sure you find the time it deserves. Write some notes on how you want to come across and what is important to you and make sure these are reflected in what your CV shows.

2. Get It in Order

The order we would recommend is:

Personal Details – Name, address, contact details.

Personal Profile – A bit about who you are and what you do well and why you should be considered.

Career Highlights – This could be some of your best months if you are in sales for example or projects you may have took the lead on. This is also a good place to highlight if you have won any awards.

Employment History – Always start with your most recent employment first. Use your employers name, job title and a summary of what your role involved.

Education/Qualifications – This is where you list your school, college, university and work-based qualifications in that order.

Hobbies & Interests – What do you do when you are not at work.

References – Feel free to put “Available on Request” or if your comfortable to put detail this is also good practice.

3. Use Your Personal Profile Wisely

This may be what a potential employer bases a lot of their first impressions on. Keep it brief, no more than 4 or 5 lines of text but it should highlight your qualities and attributes and really sell you as a potential candidate.

4. Highlight Your Successes

After the employer has read how great you are, they will want to see something to back it up. Pull out all you career highlights, imagine this is your “best bits” part.

5. Hobbies and Interests, Get It Right

This part of your CV gives you the chance to inject some of you into a sea of text. It will give the employer an insight of who you are and what makes you tick. There is no right or wrong here so talk about something you are passionate about and who know if the employer has the same passion, you could start that connection before you have even met.

If you need any further support or advice on this, we offer a CV writing service at slice for just £30. Why not get in touch and let us do the hard work for you.

28 Jun, 2021
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By Slice
blog, Business Tips, Jobs, Recruitment, Recruitment agency

Why Should your business be online?

Following 2020 and the global pandemic, even the most resistant business’s have been forced to move to the virtual world, like it or not. It has been said that around 97% of people will research a business online before they consider engaging with you. This is my digital marketing has never been as important as it is right now.

Here are a few marketing tools that every business can easily implement.

Websites

A professional website is without a doubt one of the most important and valuable assets any business can have when it comes to marketing. This is where your potential new clients/customers can get a feel for what your about, what you can offer, where you are and most importantly how to get in touch with you.

Blog/Vlogs

A blog/vlog will improve your websites visibility online and help to build trust in your company. Its best to post regularly however something is better than nothing. These can be written by yourself or it is something we at Slice can help with. Make sure you add a call to action in anything you produce to encourage engagement, maybe get people to subscribe you your blog/vlog as this is a great way to collect the data of who is paying attention.

Email

It is proven that 73% of millennials prefer communication from businesses via email. Email is not only free but universally accessible. Use email to send out your newsletters and promotions to both existing and potential customers.

Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for any business, it can increase traffic, improve search engine rankings, and even make it easier for you to directly engage with potential customers. Pick the platforms that work best for your business and it will prove invaluable. Make sure you are posting regular content and engaging with your customers or people who comment as this will make you look responsive and creditable.

As always the VA team at Slice can help you with all of the above so, please feel free to reach out for an initial chat.

Times are changing!

The job market has seen massive changes over the years. Almost everyone now carries a smart phone and because of this more and more job seekers are applying for jobs while on the move. You can literally search for your next move anywhere.

Studies have shown over 30% of searches are done during the morning commute and a further 12% are done from a candidate’s bed. It also tells us that most searches are now also done from people’s phones.

The bonus of this for an employer is that you can now very easily appeal to a mass pool of candidates. For us recruiters we see a lot of applications happening in the evening and therefor our mornings are generally taken up going through the advert response.

Despite all this we still hear employers saying they are not getting any response to their advert. If this is the case, we suggest you ask yourself the following:

Is your application process easy enough to follow?

Is your advert eye catching with all the important information in?

Can candidates apply using nothing more than their phone?

If you answer no to any of the above this could be why you are having a problem.

Why not give us a call and we can help you streamline the process?

Multiple Job Offers and How To Choose Between Them

Job Hunting…….. How many of you find it enjoyable? More likely you find it stressful and at times a thankless task. Chances are at this point you are sending out your CV to a whole host of potential new employers and sat nervously by the phone waiting to hear if you have been shortlisted for interview.

Fast forward and imagine all your interviews are done and you have been offered not one but numerous roles, what do you do now? Here are our top tips for handling multiple offers.

BE HONEST

When you are asked by a recruiter or employer if you have any other interviews lined up, be honest. This can actually work in your favour, if you are seen as in demand it could make the recruiter/employer quicker to react in a bid to secure you.

CONSIDER ALL POINTS OF THE OFFER

The salary that is offered is one thing, but it is not the be all and end all. You need to consider all the different points of each offer, so we suggest a pros and cons list. Things to look at over and above the salary are:

Staff Benefits Package

Holidays

Do the offer flexible working.

How much will the commute cost you both in time and money.

DID YOU GET EXCITED?

When you were in these interviews, which did you get most excited about? Who could you really see yourself working with? When you consider you spend more time at work than you do at home it is important to look closely at who you want to spend most of your time with.

WHAT ARE THE OPPERTUNITIES?

Again, be honest with yourself, is this role a career move or a stepping stone? If it is a career move which company offers you the room to progress? Will they offer further training or support you in this?

WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE YOU HAPPY?

It goes without saying this is the most important one. You must be happy where you work so take time to visualise yourself in that business and see which feels better. Talk to friends and family and get others to offer their thoughts as they may look at it differently to you.

7 Jun, 2021
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By Slice
blog, Jobs, Recruitment, Recruitment agency

Getting the best from your social media

Is your business on social media? If not, why not?

If you are not on social media and your competitors, are you are putting yourself at a massive disadvantage right from the outset. Effective and consistent use of social media can have all sorts of positive impacts. It can improve your business’ reach, build your brand, increase conversions, establish a strong network and even, in some cases, improve customer service.

Social media requires commitment, but if you can commit you can have some great success. Here are our tips for getting the best out of your social media.

Commit to the cause:

If you intend to dip in and out of various platforms you are probably wasting your time. To build a following you need to commit to it. You should research and plan what it is your going to say. You can of course react live almost to what is going on in your business or industry day to day but that should be on top of a firm plan. The best way to do this is to pencil in some time in your diary on a weekly, monthly or even quarterly basis to get some content together that will form the basis of what it is you are trying to say.

Get some training:

There are plenty of short courses being run now that can help you build a social media strategy and help you how to make the most out of social media within your business.

Use a Content Calendar:

The key with social media is to be organised. A strategy will help you identify who your audience is, what type of content will get them to engage, and the best times, dates and frequency in which to post. Once you have this information you can use your calendar to make sure you do not miss any important dates and to help you form a plan. It will also allow you to get a visual on what is going out in the weeks/months to come so you can see immediately the kind of mix of content you are putting out.

Get what you can for free:

This is something you wont normally hear us say however once you have decided what platforms are the most effective for your business there are plenty of free resources and in some cases even tutorials available from the platforms themselves. These can be full of useful hints and tips to help you get more from your social media.

If you need some help identifying which platforms are for you, or creating engaging posts please get in contact today and we can offer some advice on where to start.

the interview process recruiter Sheffield

The Interview Process, 3 Top Tips to Getting It Right!

Interviewing is a 2-way street. Yes, it is your opportunity to find out more about the candidate sat in front of you however it is also their chance to understand more about your company.

Recruitment done poorly is costly both financially and potentially to your reputation. If a bad decision is made it could also result in a loss of productivity and a negative effect on the team. We are all guilty of oversharing a bad experience and this will impact your reputation so getting it right is of paramount importance.

Have you gone through the process via your candidates’ eyes? Is it clear what your company values are? Are you being clear about your culture? Here are our top 3 tips to make the whole experience a better one for the candidate:

1. Get the Team Involved

Nothing shows off your company culture more than the team. Let them meet not only their manager but some other key people such as team members they will be working closely with and other members of the management team.

2. Keep the Line Of Communication Open

Make sure the candidate is kept in the loop throughout the process. Keeping the candidate engaged not only shows you are interested but also how you operate as a company.

3. Feedback

Make sure you always feedback to a candidate. Good or bad they can learn from this.

24 May, 2021
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By Slice
blog, Business Tips, Jobs, Onboarding, Recruitment, Recruitment agency

5 Reasons To Consider Making A Change

Deciding to look for a new job is a big decision, so timing is key, however if you are feeling any of the things mentioned below the time is probably right:

Monday Dread

We have all been here. That knot in your tummy on a Sunday evening and that pit of dread on a Monday morning while you are traveling to work. If this is you, its time to make a change.

You Have Hit a Ceiling

Have you taken your current role as far as you can? Can you do your job standing on your head and you feel it no longer challenges you? Is there no progression left for you in the business but your still hungry for more? Its time to make a change.

Thank You Never Comes

Are you feeling like you break your back for your employer but never get a thank you? Are you feeling undervalued? Its time to make a change.

You Feel Like A Number

Do you feel like if you were not at your desk it does not really matter as there are loads of other people who could step into your role at the drop of a hat? Do you know due to the fact you don’t feel valued your employer isn’t getting the best from you? Its time to make a change.

You Do not Have a Great Relationship with Your Boss

We see this often and this one is normally the toughest to get past. Does the though of having a conversation with your boss give you anxiety? Are you thinking there is no point as they won’t listen anyway? Its time to make a change.

All these things will influence your mental health and no job is worth that. If you have answered yes to any of the above, we will say it again, its time to make a change!

If you are unsure as to where to start, contact us for a confidential chat.

17 May, 2021
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By Slice
blog, Business Tips, Jobs, Recruitment, Recruitment agency

7 Reasons Why You Should Consider Going Paperless

Is your business paperless? If not, why not? Trust us when we say when you do go paperless you will wonder why you never did it before. How much time are you wasting searching though endless filing cabinets to try and locate that document that you need?

If your office is drowning in piles of timesheets, invoices, contracts etc then here are some reasons why you should consider taking your business paperless.

SAVES TIME

Looking for that 1 document in a mountain of paperwork is like looking for a needle in a haystack. How much quicker would it be to type the document name into the search bar on your computer!

MORE EFFICIENT

If a document is saved as a file on your computer, you can very quickly make any amendments and send on rather than re produce it.

SECURITY

It is a lot harder to lose a document that is saved to the cloud as opposed to a piece of paper.

ENVIROMETALY FRIENDLY

Reduction in paper usage will not only save trees but reduce the waste going into landfills.

FREES UP SPACE

A less cluttered workspace means a more organised and productive workspace.

ACCESSIBILITY

If your documents are saved to the cloud you can access from anywhere which means flexible working and home working becomes an option within your business.

SAVES MONEY

Have you added up how much your business spends on printing? A paperless business means a reduction in costs!

If you need a hand to go paperless give us a call. We can sort through your paperwork and recommend a system that will support your business and even create an organised system for storing your files.

10 May, 2021
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By Slice
blog, Business Tips, Recruitment, Recruitment agency

keep new hires engaged recruitment agency Sheffield

5 Top Tips for Keeping Your New Hire Engaged

So, you find yourself in a situation where the recruitment process is and dusted. You are about to onboard a new candidate that you know has the right skills and will fit into the team perfectly so you can breathe a sigh of relief and put that all behind you now, right? Forget all about it and move on to the next project……. WRONG! At this point you are laying the foundations of how the candidate will see you and your business going forward and set the tone for how to conduct themselves within your business. Don’t forget, you hired the best, but their current employer will be losing the best and will be thinking of ways to keep them.

To make sure it all goes to plan here are some top tips:

Be quick to confirm:

Make sure the new candidate receives their offer letter and contract within a week of offering the role to them. Its human nature to require an element of security, many candidates’ wont hand their notice in until they have an offer in writing so don’t leave it to them to chase you for this as not only could it hole things up, but it does not create a great 1’st impression.

Keep in touch:

Be their support when it comes to handing in their notice. It’s a big deal for some and potentially life changing so make sure the candidate feels comfortable to call you or better still, drop them a text to wish them luck or call them and find out how that conversation went.

Remember the little things:

We send all our new starters a card wishing them luck in their new role. Its little things like this that can make a massive difference. A card from the team saying they are excited to be working with them will help the candidate feel comfortable with the move.

Invite them in during their notice period:

Be it for a quick coffee and a catch up or a drink away from the office with the team again it will all help the new starter feel comfortable and again excited about starting with you.

Keep them in the loop:

Any changes that happen during this period or any big wins, share it with the new candidate. It will make them feel part of the team before they have even stepped foot in the business.

4 May, 2021
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By Slice
blog, Onboarding, Recruitment, Recruitment agency

How do I find a new job in the current climate?

We have said it before and we will say it again, the last 12/18 months have been tough for everyone. The world in which we live is vastly different to the one we knew before March 2020. People have lost their jobs, businesses have having to close and a lot of those that have remained open, are doing so by the skin of their teeth.

Regardless of if you are looking for a new job out of necessity, or just for the fact that you feel the time is right for you, we can help.

What can you do?

The first job is to sit back and think of all your current skill sets and make sure they are highlighted in your CV, look back at our past blog for hints on this. It may look like you have had a similar job title throughout you career, so you are pigeonholed, but your skills can adapt to many different roles, so shine a light on these.

Where do you want to work?

Have you ever seen a business or heard a friend talk about where they work and thought, “id love to work there!”, well that is now your starting point. Do some research into what that company looks for in an employee and see if it matches your own work ethic and values. If it does check their career page on the website. Even if they’re not listing any vacancies, call us. They may just be a client of ours and companies always want to speak to good people who have a desire to work for them. We may be able to help you open that door and it wont cost you a penny.

Update your CV

This is the 1^st impression a potential future employer will build of you so it has to be sparkling. Talk about what you have been doing during the pandemic, did you work from home? That shows you are adaptable, a quality an employer will love. Have you lost your role due to the changes? We are seeing this a lot so do not feel it’s a negative, unfortunately its just the world we live in right now and employers understand this.

Make sure your CV sells you. Check for errors, repetition, grammar! Get it checked over by a friend or better still send it to us to review. We offer a CV update service for just £25 where you will have a consultation with one of our consultants and we can make the changes for you.

Join professional groups on LinkedIn and get active. Post comments and make yourself visible but stay away from constantly posting that you are looking for work, you don’t want to appear desperate.