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With so much discussion about austerity, belt tightening, and general down beat forecasts you could be forgiven for worrying about your future career prospects – or indeed whether you’ll have a job next week! For what it’s worth, we’re sure that things are beginning to improve. Nevertheless, if you are concerned about the future, it can pay to evaluate whether or not your employer considers you a good employee – and, of course, how motivated your employer will be to retain your services if the going gets really tough again in the future.

If you ask employers what constitutes a good employee they usually cite words such as hard working, dependability, punctuality, communication skills, flexibility, motivation etc. These words mean different things to different people and nobody trains you how to be flexible, motivated and dependable – so how do you know if you are behaving as a good employee? Most employers assume that their employees will be punctual, honest and dependable and it’s wise to concentrate on the personal attributes that form the building blocks of most ideal employees. So ask yourself the following questions:

How hard do I really work? Ouch! Look at the most productive person in the office and copy them! In these uncertain times, nothing really matches a real grafter.

How loyal am I? Loyalty counts for a lot in today’s marketplace and always speaking positively about your employer is one of the measures of company loyalty.

How flexible am I? Be willing to take on extra responsibilities and learn new skills could be just what you employer is looking for you to suggest. And within reason it’s best not to avoid doing something just because it wasn’t listed in your job description.

Do I take initiative? Look around for things that need to be done – don’t wait to be asked. Suggest new ways of doing things if it’s appropriate and come up with new ideas.

Would I want to recruit an employee like me? Really think about this one – if you arrive for work at 8.55 am when all your colleagues are there at 8.30am would you consider yourself for the next expensive training course, promotion, or even extra responsibility? Possibly not. So lead by example and do to your employer as you would want done to yourself. In today’s world it’s absolutely crucial to have the right mental outlook. As an employee you should look “to do” first and seek reward and recognition second; far too often these two activities are mixed up with dramatic consequences for your job security!

Would I want to work with people like me? Try taking time out to help junior colleagues – suggest a mentoring system if there isn’t one in place – it’s a great thing to have on your CV. If this may seem grandiose, simply make sure that you are positive to all around you and consistently strive to be the best that you can be.

Am I motivated? Appear eager to be at work each day and make sure that you’re keen to keep learning. You need to have that willingness to learn and move with the times. Never fall in to the trap we refer to as “Veteran’s syndrome”. Things never stand still and what you know today may be of no use to the employer of tomorrow so make sure that you keep learning.

The work ethic may differ from company to company but genuine hard work, honesty, punctuality, a positive attitude together with motivation and flexibility will all make for a valuable employee. If you’ve portrayed yourself at interview as dependable, ethical and flexible with a real desire to succeed then as long as you really work on those attributes, you won’t go far wrong, no matter what the economy is doing!

Temporary workers can be beneficial for businesses looking to fill gaps without committing to extra headcount. Our Managing Director Nick Peacock explains the process of bringing temps on board.

According to the latest news reports unemployment levels have risen across the UK, but is the situation in Milton Keynes really that dire? We don’t think so.

Our Managing Director Nick Peacock, recently appeared in a Milton Keynes Citizen article arguing this case, and here’s what he had to say:

We’ve had a real push on intelligence gathering and sales work and our findings are very positive, there appears to be a lot of optimism and hope in Milton Keynes in the Office Support Sector. Demand for permanent employees  is consistent but there is a surging demand for well qualified, flexible temporary office workers  within the professional environments that dominate the  Milton Keynes business community.

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, the combined unemployment figures reported for Milton Keynes North and South support this optimism. The BBC Economy Tracker which breaks down the employment figures reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that unemployment figures for Milton Keynes in January have dropped by over 1,000 since the same time last year.

The Milton Keynes economy is growing and there are a lot of opportunities around if you look in the right places – it’s really not all doom and gloom here!” Nick continued. “Only a few weeks ago I read another BBC article which suggested the economic gap between UK cities is ‘widening’. Whilst the headline made for miserable reading, the article itself featured some very good news for Milton Keynes.

According to research Group, Centre for Cities, the gap between cities is widening as the struggle to create private sector jobs plays out differently across the UK. The figures show however that Milton Keynes, along with Aberdeen, are ‘well placed to drive the national economic recovery, as they had seen a large number of business start ups and were highly innovative, with significant numbers of patents registered.’ Not only is this fantastic news for the Milton Keynes business-sphere, but also for Milton Keynes job hunters. With more business opportunities cropping up in the area we are likely to see an influx in local job vacancies.

Check out the full Milton Keynes article online and watch out for Nick’s monthly column in the printed edition http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/business/jobs/jobs-unemployment-situation-isn-t-all-doom-and-gloom-1-3584769

One thing I stress to the Ascendant Recruitment team, and in turn to our candidates, is the importance of preparation. Whilst we may be fully aware of the benefits of being fully prepared for an interview process, candidates in the job market might not as they will not be subjected to the interview process as regularly as recruiters are.

To counter this, and to ensure we provide the best service possible for our clients and candidates, we make it part of our role to give candidates everything we can to help them when it comes to interview preparation. This isn’t just the basic list of do’s and don’ts either. We provide candidates with interview notes for each stage of the process and then do our best to prepare them emotionally for the process.

Taking part in an interview can be a daunting prospect and it’s all too easy for a fantastic candidate to buckle under the pressure simply because they feel unprepared. Whilst it is easy to find out some of the more basic preparation required such as information on the company and the role itself, there are other areas which you may not realise you need to prepare for.

For example, do you know how you would explain why your skills and experience make you the best choice for the role? Sounds simple enough but so many candidates don’t think this through clearly before an interview and this will show to the interviewer. Before you go to the interview list your skills against the job requirements and make sure you take this note with you so you cover off everything. Think of examples to support this as well.

We’ll always go through interview tips with our candidates before they head to any interview, but there are five key points for everyone to remember:

1)      Enthusiasm is infectious – if you show you’re enthusiastic about the role and the industry, the interviewer will pick up on this and be more enthusiastic about hiring you

2)      Sell yourself in a confident, professional manner – It’s not about bragging or being modest. You need to find the balance between the two by giving examples of what you’ve done well in previous roles and highlighting the relevance of your skills to the role you’re applying for

3)      Never make an assumption – what you don’t tell the interviewer they will not know. Even if you’ve mentioned something in your CV or covering letter, mention it again in the interview.

4)      Do the confident thing to feel confident – offer a firm handshake and a warm smile. These small actions will make you look and feel confident

5)      Express your interest in the job – you may think it is obvious that you are interested in the job, but in this competitive candidate market you really need to make sure you stand out.

Once again we have some good news to report for Milton Keynes!

I read an interesting article on the BBC this week which suggested the economic gap between UK cities is ‘widening’. Whilst the headline made for miserable reading, the article itself featured some very good news for Milton Keynes.

According to research Group, Centre for Cities, the gap between cities is widening as the struggle to create private sector jobs plays out differently across the UK. The figures show however that Milton Keynes, along with Aberdeen, are “well placed to drive the national economic recovery, as they had seen a large number of business start ups and were highly innovative, with significant numbers of patents registered.”

Not only is this fantastic news for the Milton Keynes business-sphere, but also for Milton Keynes job hunters. With more business opportunities cropping up in the area we are likely to see an influx in local job vacancies.

It’s not just permanent job seekers who look set to gain either, those looking for temporary administrative work should be very pleased with this news. As business start-ups open their doors locally, it is likely they will need experienced, temporary admin staff to get them up and running.

Whilst this is all good news for people looking to work in Milton Keynes, it doesn’t mean that it will be easier to get a job and candidates should not become complacent in light of this news. Although there are likely to be more job opportunities with this increase in businesses, as unemployment levels climb, people are spreading their reach further across the UK in their job hunt.

For those temporary job hunters who already have experience in temping locally, you’re background is likely to set you apart from other applications. But for the rest of the candidates applying for administrative roles, you will need to make sure you stand out in the recruitment process to be in for a chance. Our earlier blog, How to Ace you Interview,  gives an idea of how to make an impression, but here are some more useful tips:

•  Keep your CV short and sweet  – recruiters and employers on the hunt for new staff will trawl through hundreds of CVs so make sure yours includes the vital facts and is easy to read
• Tailor your CV – different organisations and different roles will ultimately require different skills. Make sure you tailor yours to the role you’re applying for
• Be professional – the way you present yourself to a potential employer plays a major role when it comes to a job offer. If you turn up to an interview looking unkempt or answer your phone to the interviewer in an unprofessional way you could damage you chances of being offered the job
• Show added value – show them what more you can bring to the organisation above and beyond the job specification they have outlined.

Has this BBC news story motivated you in your local job hunt or to start your search for a great new person? Why not give the team a call to see how we can help you on 01908 200270

One of the legacies of past recessions has been a new and more ruthless approach to staffing. Out went the old ideas of large departments and corporate hierarchies and in came flat management structures and, most importantly for employment prospects, the notion of small permanent teams supplemented by temporaries or contract workers. Although the recession is arguably ( and hopefully) behind us, the business philosophy of low overheads, that it generated, still continues. Too many companies had their fingers burnt in the ‘boom’ years to fall into the trap of over-optimism again. Consequently more and more people are finding themselves working on a temporary or short-term contract basis.  So with the employment market increasingly moving away from the concept of long-term security, how do we make the most of these new ways of working?

My own view is that there is good news behind the growth of temporary employment. For example, while temporaries and contract workers are still often used to ‘hold the fort’ in cases of sickness or maternity, a significant number are now employed on the sort of projects associated with an increase of business confidence, such as new product development, systems implementation, mergers and acquisitions and the like. Secondly, our experience suggests that many temporaries are not simply passing through but are taking part in ‘working interviews’ where the employer is recruiting for a permanent position and both parties get an opportunity to assess each other before committing to a long-term contract. Working interviews are becoming increasingly popular across a range of industries and have been welcomed as a way of introducing flexibility into the labour market. While a potential employer may lay down very precise requirements in a job specification in terms of experience or qualifications, they are often less rigid about the background of a contract worker, who then has the opportunity to prove their worth from the inside of the organisation.

Temping can also provide the chance to build up a much wider range of experience than would be possible in any one company or succession of permanent jobs. Moving from employer to employer can offer exposure to a wide range of different sectors and a variety of different management styles and business practices.

For some on short-term contracts the most appealing aspect of this way of working in the stressed-out 21^st century,  is the freedom it can bring. Although every employer will expect their money’s worth and few would regard temping as an easy option, it can offer a degree of flexibility unknown to the permanent employee. With good organisation and a little luck, contractors and temporaries can find family commitments easier to deal with, study for further qualifications and even contemplate the sort of long-distance travel that standard holiday entitlements makes impossible.

The temping option is by no means perfect for everyone, but is certainly no longer the poor relation of the permanent job and, properly handled, can play an important role in the development of a twenty first century career.

What do you think? Do you use temporaries or do you temp yourself?-  I’d be really interested in your views.