How to make my CV stand out | Planwell Recruitment

Benefits of temporary employment

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 13:28:17 GMT

Benefits of temporary employment

Most people do not accept temporary positions but instead, prefer to wait for permanent jobs no matter how long it takes. With the uncertain economic times and companies shifting their preferences to temporary hires, waiting for permanent jobs doesn’t seem like a smart idea. Most of the people and companies that embrace temporary employment understand the many benefits of short-term positions. Some of these benefits include;

Opportunity to learn new skills

Today, most companies tend to hire temporary staff to keep overhead costs low or bring in skills that they lack in their in-house teams. This is especially common for IT firms that outsource new tasks like operating new software. When temporary employees come in, it’s always an opportunity for both the temporary and permanent workers to learn new skills. This is, therefore, a gain to both the employee and the company.

Provides flexibility

Most short-term jobs will last anywhere between a day and a few years. Once the assignment is over, you have the freedom to choose your next move. You can immediately go back to employment, take a break or even work in a completely different industry. For small companies, offering temporary employment gives them more flexibility in an unstable economy. Hiring permanent workers during busy periods and firing them when business dips is always a hectic process and can hurt staff morale. The best fix is, therefore, to hire temporary personnel for only a specific period.

Creates a wider professional network

Taking short-term positions means you will work in many companies over a short period of time. When you work in many organizations, you get to meet more people and develop relationships. These people become close contacts who can update you on other job opportunities. They could also be your references when you apply to other jobs.

Acts a psychological boost

Ever been out of work for an extended period? If you have, you’ll understand just how hard it is to get back to employment. You may start to doubt your skills and fear applying for conventional jobs. Getting temporary employment is a great way to put your doubts aside and put your skills to work. Over time, it will help you keep your industry knowledge current and give you the mental boost, and prove you’re indeed capable of working and performing well.

Sample different industries

One benefit of temporary employment is that you get a chance to test the waters at different industries before you decide what works for you. For instance, as an accountant, you can choose to temporarily work in a healthcare firm, government office, or educational institution and decide where you like it most.

Can lead to quality hires

Sometimes the hiring process doesn’t always lead to quality hires. You may spend a lot of time taking applicants through the hiring process but still end up with substandard candidates. Temporary employment can help you get quality hires because you get time to evaluate candidates while on the job. This means you only hire candidates who have performed on the job.

Summary

The above benefits of temporary employment are proof that these jobs can be a great choice as you wait for a permanent contract. So don’t shy away from applying for temporary jobs as they can set you on the path to your dream career.

Here at Planwell Recruitment, we can help you find a temporary staff member, job or employer. We have job roles available within London, Essex, and parts of Kent for warehouse, manufacturing and office roles. View our full list of vacancies on our website here and apply with us today!

How to make my CV stand out

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 09:11:58 GMT

With many other applicants, it can be a tricky task to make your CV stand out from the rest. Even if you have plentiful experience and a great skill set - a poor CV can greatly hinder your chances of being offered an interview and therefore, a job.

As a recruitment company that will review thousands of CVs throughout the year, we know exactly what will make your job application stand out from others. If you’re looking for a new job and need a guide to help you produce a fantastic CV, then take a look at the tips we’ve listed below!

A strong summary about yourself

Every great CV needs to have an impactful statement about yourself. This can be a summary of your key skills and accomplishments, which will let the recruiter know exactly who you are. You really want to make a great impression here, so we’ve provided an example of how you may write this:

“I am a highly motivated, conscientious individual with a strong background within warehouse operative roles. I have fantastic problem solving and communication skills that have enabled me to progress significantly within my current role. I am eager to be challenged further in order to grow and expand on the skillset I have gained through my experience in the warehouse industry.”

Alter your CV (and cover letter) for each job you apply for

It is easy to just send out your CV to any job application in hopes that the recruiter will contact you. However, to make sure you increase your chances of being successful, we would recommend that you adapt your CV depending on the role you’re applying for.

For example, if a particular role you’re applying for states: “Customer service experience essential” - it is important that this is highlighted in your CV. Make sure the requirements listed by the employer are included here so your skills match their expectations.

Avoid a cluttered CV

Your CV must be formatted well. If it is too busy and has little structure, this can be a big hindrance to your overall application as it does not give off a positive reflection, even if you are fully qualified for the role.

We would recommend a free CV building tool such as Canva that allows you to populate your information into a great selection of different, professional designs. Google Docs also provide CV templates that we would recommend taking a look at. You want to ensure your application can look the best it can be! These helpful templates will enable you to structure your skills, experience, awards etc. effectively.

Include what you have achieved in previous roles

It is easy to list out your current responsibilities, but what do these achieve?

It is important that instead of listing something along the lines of ‘packing parcels’, you could adapt this to ‘carefully preparing hundreds of goods for transit to achieve business targets’, for example, adapting it in this way demonstrates that your work impacts the business positively.

Job seekers can underestimate their achievements very easily, but we suggest you use this tip in your future applications as it demonstrates that you recognise your worth within the company.

Avoid the obvious or overused terminology

Many recruiters all too often will read the words ‘hard-working’ ‘passionate’ etc. Although these words may represent you very well, they can become a bit of a cliché as they are very overused.

Here at Planwell Recruitment, we would suggest that it may be worth taking a different approach to how you would describe yourself. If you are hard-working and want to showcase this in your CV, use a Thesaurus to find alternate adjectives for this. If you are using this word, it is then important to back it up with an example. Without an example, these are essentially empty promises which will not appeal to recruiters.

Include extracurricular activities

Where you think outside events that are not directly related to the role may not be worth including within your CV, you are wrong.

Many recruiters will be curious to see any achievements outside of work, showing a great work/life balance.

Whether you have completed online courses, have run charity events, play sport, run a side business etc. This will all help to make you appear much more interesting, in comparison to those who may not include information like this. It also demonstrated that your hard work doesn’t stop outside of work.

Proofread, proofread, proofread!

Reading over your CV to make sure spelling and grammar are all correct is vital. A simple spelling mistake can easily prevent your application from being considered for an interview, and this happens all too often.

We would recommend using the free Grammarly tool which will flag up any spelling or grammar issues found within your CV.

Also, be careful with American spellings. Make sure if you’re using a spell checker, that it is set to English (UK).

Summary

We hope that these tips will help you land your next dream job role! Here at Planwell Recruitment, we have job roles available within London, Essex, and parts of Kent for warehouse, manufacturing and office roles. View our full list of vacancies on our website here and apply with us today!

Top red flags when interviewing candidates

Mon, 10 May 2021 14:47:23 GMT

Choosing the ideal candidate for an open position involves risks. While interviewing you can discover the candidate’s work style, attitude, and character. It is difficult to get a full picture of your candidate in a thirty-minute interview, but that is what it boils down to. To see through the practiced responses, watch for these red flags that may signal that they would not be the best choice.

Watch for these red flags

No Eye Contact

Confident people can carry on a conversation while making eye contact. Whether this is a result of dishonesty or lack of confidence, it could spell trouble to add them to your team.

Spotty or Inconsistent Work History and Path

Have your candidate review their work history with you and explain why each position ended. If they reveal that they left their position due to disagreements with managers, they may be difficult employees. If they have made multiple changes in the industry this may show that they will soon get bored with your company and move on. If candidates are unable to explain gaps in employment, they may have issues acquiring and retaining jobs because of their performance.

Lack of Examples from Work Situations

When asking technical and behavioral questions related to their experience, they should be able to produce answers that recall real-world encounters with actual situations.

Gossiping

While not everyone will love their prior employers, there should not be a flood of complaints when asked about them.

Showing Up Late to an Interview or Not Showing Up at All

This is a sign that they have difficulty with time management. If they cannot make it on time to the all-important interview, how will they behave on a daily basis? If a candidate reschedules or misses interviews this could signal that they are unreliable.

Demanding Perks

When a candidate begins demanding certain schedules, parking accommodations, and the like during an interview they are prone to be a high-maintenance employee.

Inattentiveness

Candidates who do not answer the question being asked, repeat the same questions, or trail off during an interview may not be truly interested in the position.

Not Asking Questions

Either they have not given much thought to the position or company or they are not proactive meaning they won’t do the work to find solutions on the job.

Issues in their Background

Finding numerous issues in a candidates’ background check may show that they are irresponsible.

Errors in their Resume and Cover Letter

When candidates have errors in their resumes, cover letters, and emails with you it could mean that they either rushed through the composition or do not pay attention to detail.

Unprofessional or Inappropriate Language

Candidates who use the word “like” or foul language during an interview display a lack of respect for the process and the interviewer. This is not who you want on your team.

Showing Up Empty-Handed

A candidate who doesn’t bring a resume or needed documents to the interview shows a lack of motivation and seriousness about the position.

Taking all the Credit

While we need candidates to show why they are the best person for the job if they continuously brag about themselves, they may not be team players.

Unkempt Appearance

When a candidate does not care enough to put their best foot forward during the interview process, this could be a sign of laziness or that they do not take the position or company seriously.

Unflattering Online Presence

When reviewing your client’s online presence look for negative attitudes in their posts, especially about previous employers, or work in general. Inappropriate photos are a sign of a lack of professionalism and respect.

They Seem Overqualified

Candidates with experience and history in your industry often make a great choice. But ask them why they want the position as they seem overqualified. They may be using your position as just a pit-stop until they find a better position.

Summing It Up

It is possible to find the perfect candidate but watching for these small signs and how they perform during the interview session can provide a lot of insight. With these red flags in mind, you will be better prepared to make the best decision for your company.

Planwell is a recruitment agency passionate about helping companies find the right staff for their production, distribution, and logistics positions. When you need someone on a temporary, contract, or permanent basis, partner with a company with a reputation for providing outstanding candidates and customer service. Partner with Planwell today! Call us today or visit our contact us page to discuss your staffing needs.

What does Brexit mean for jobs?

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:04:15 GMT

The Brexit countdown, after nearly four years, finally came to an end when we left the EU on 31st January. Britain has benefited over the years, from continued membership of the single market and customs union, with British citizens retaining the right to freedom of movement around Europe.

The transition period has now brought widespread changes for British businesses and citizens. This is where the new chapter in the country’s relationship with its neighbouring countries now begins. The referendum, which happened in 2016, has led to over four years of guessing. This means many companies have struggled to plan for the future due to Brexit. A study from the University of Leuven , which was published in June 2019, predicted job losses in the UK could be around 140,000 for a soft Brexit and 526,000 for a hard Brexit. Due to predictions and the unknown, several companies have gone bust or moved their bases away from Britain altogether. For example, Barclays Bank has moved £166 billion worth of assets to Ireland and has created 150 new jobs in Dublin, Ireland while in the process, rather than the UK.

Not only will Brexit have an impact on your job stability but you must also take into consideration the Covid-19 pandemic, which is currently interfering with the UK job market. Three lockdowns in and the UK are still spiralling jobs into redundancies and instability however, we are only a few months in 2021. It is hard to see the true impact of Brexit but, if the economy is negatively affected by Brexit, companies will be less likely to hire, which means fewer job opportunities and overall, tougher competition for even minor roles. The ManpowerGroup surveyed 2,101 UK employers and found out that hiring confidence, in December 2019, was at its lowest for seven years. Could this be due to the uncertainty around Brexit? Additionally, the research revealed that hiring intentions for the first quarter of 2020 were down to 2% - the lowest since 2012. Chris Gray, director of ManpowerGroup said: “Employers want certainty before they can make investment decisions and firm up hiring plans.”

In addition to UK employment, EU nationals may find it harder to become employed in the UK too. Anyone who is a non-UK citizen wishing to start work in the UK will need to apply for ‘European Temporary Leave to Remain’. Click here to find the form on Gov.UK’s website. Also, from now any applications will be approved based on a ‘skills-based immigration system’, much like what Australia has in place. Want to know more about how this could affect you? Click here to read more about the new immigration system.

Summary

To summarise, we have only just officially left the EU, so it is hard to tell whether the job market and economy will suffer greatly. Many recruiters suggest that there could be a job shortage and worry about hiring as a result of Covid-19 and Brexit. However, if you are worried about being employed, you are an employer or are struggling to get a job,- there are ways of protecting yourself simply by pre-planning and making sure you’re ahead of the curve.

Save time, save money, plan well. Here at Planwell Recruitment, we offer great employment opportunities for employees and can provide the best candidates for employers. If you’re looking for a production, distribution or logistics job or applicant, you’ve come to the right place!

We build relationships based on trust, honesty and recruitment expertise that meets the staffing needs of our existing and future clients across London, Kent and Essex. Planwell Recruitment specialises in recruiting staff on a temporary, contract and permanent basis. Your time is valuable and you need someone who cares as much about your business as you do. Click here to browse our current vacancies . Please get in contact with us here if you would like to find out more about how we can help with your hiring process .

How to choose a recruitment agency

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 11:24:10 GMT

Finding the best candidates for a job role can be far from simple, so how do recruitment agencies work? A recruitment agency’s purpose is to make the hiring process a breeze for businesses. This is achieved by delivering full support and communication with candidates, providing specialist knowledge, finding the highest quality candidates and making the whole recruitment process much more efficient.

Not only that, it takes a large weight off a business owners shoulders, allowing them to focus on other areas, knowing that a very important part of their business is being managed by experts.

With all of this in mind, there are thousands of recruitment agencies in the UK. So how do you know which one to choose to find the perfect candidates for you? Here at Planwell Recruitment, we have put together some very helpful tips to guide you in the right direction.

How to choose a recruitment agency?

Here at Planwell Recruitment, we are a recruitment agency covering London, Kent and Essex, with over 10 years experience which enables us to fully understand a business’s needs.

If you have identified that your organisation is in need of an additional set of skills to help achieve your goals but, you do not have the internal resources to acquire new staff members, then a recruitment agency may be the answer for you. However, even if you have the internal resources to recruit new team members, many may struggle with a high turnover, finding qualified candidates for the role, or cannot complete the recruitment process efficiently enough.

Recruitment agencies exist to eradicate these common issues, allowing businesses to hire the most applicable and talented candidates for the roles they wish to fill.

With all of this in mind, how do you choose a good recruitment agency that is best suited to your business’s needs? Read our guide below to help you:

2. Contact agencies directly and read their reviews

Before committing to using a recruitment agency for your business, it is ideal to ask questions beforehand. Here at Planwell Recruitment, for example, we welcome any enquiries you may have in regards to how our agency would benefit your business. Carrying out this initial step will allow you to gain an idea of which agencies can provide the services you need to achieve your goals. It may also be worth asking for any statistics on businesses in a similar industry to determine if their results outshine another agency.

You can easily gather information regarding particular recruitment agencies based on their reviews and testimonials too. Look across their social media, Google reviews and website testimonials to find out if both employers and candidates have had a positive or negative experience. Overall negative reviews can possibly indicate that there may be issues with the services they offer.

2. Look for specialisations

Each recruitment business will have their own specialist areas, approach and methods on talent acquisition that may or may not be aligned with your brand, goals and values.

At Planwell Recruitment, for example, we are specialists in finding candidates for manufacturing, warehouse and office jobs. We work with national corporations and smaller companies to attract high quality staff to fulfil these roles.

Having an extensive applicant database and access to local and national CV boards allows our resourcing team to find the most relevant applicants for your role. Our account managers will communicate with you throughout the process to ensure that we are meeting your specification.

It is important to find out if these attributes that recruitment agencies have are most compatible with your business and hiring goals.

3. Join their online networks

You can gain a strong insight into an agency by looking at their online presence. LinkedIn, for example, is somewhere you should be looking to see how they interact with candidates and increase their brand awareness.

How do the agency’s recruiters look online? Are they active on social media networks? Do they contribute to industry discussions? These are just some of the few questions you can ask yourself and investigate to gauge how they use their online presence to attract top candidates for their clients.

Do you want to carry out some research into our social networks? Click our social media links below and follow us!

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To summarise, there are many steps each business owner should take to make an informed decision on which recruitment agency to choose. It is important that this research is carried out so you can have a great experience with the agency you choose, helping to achieve your recruitment goals.

Here at Planwell Recruitment, we build relationships based on trust, honesty and recruitment expertise that meets the staffing needs of our existing and future clients across London, Kent and Essex. Please get in contact with us here if you would like to find out more about how we can help with your hiring process.

Planwell Recruitment are proud members of the Stronger2Together Group

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 14:54:56 GMT

Planwell Recruitment Ltd are proud members of the Stronger2Together Group

The Stronger 2 Together Group is a business-led initiative aiming to reduce modern slavery, particularly forced labour, labour trafficking and other hidden third party exploitation of workers.

You can find out more about this group and what they do by clicking here to visit their website.

Planwell Recruitment have gained a GLAA Licence

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 14:56:57 GMT

Planwell Recruitment Ltd have gained a GLAA Licence

Planwell Recruitment have gained the GLAA Licence, supplying to the food production industry since 2017. The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority is a UK agency which helps to protect labour workers from exploitation.

Planwell Recruitment are now on the Panel of agencies working with GRI

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 15:02:07 GMT

Planwell Recruitment Ltd are now on the Panel of agencies working with GRI

Working with Geometric Results Inc. in the UK gives suppliers the potential to supply temporary staff to more than 150 client organisations across the public and private sectors.