May 2018

Believe it or not, a lot of people think that hiring is easy.

They honestly think that they can put together a badly worded ad (or even worse, a job description), throw it out to a couple of job sites, sit back and wait for people to start banging on the door.

There’s any number of reasons why that’s just a narrow minded, redundant way of thinking and I’ll cover them somewhere in the future, but the long and short of it is that by the time we get to work on the jobs the damage is already done.  We’re then bought in as a back up and have to mop up the mess.  It’s not ideal and certainly not the way we like to work but it does still happen.

Some of the problem seems to stem from hirers that believe that there’s a magic tree in a field somewhere that grows perfect candidates that are happy to work for salaries under market value.  When that doesn’t work and we’re called in, they throw out incredibly specific lists of demands and assume that we then disappear back into our holes and start whatever arcane rituals we’ve picked up.

Spoiler Alert – It’s not like that and what we do is a little more in-depth and sometimes our best suggestion may be to take a risk and go for passion and willingness to learn over experience.  Especially in industries where the hiring pool is becoming smaller and smaller.

Sure, there’s a trade off – you’ll actually need to take time and effort to train and develop the “raw talent” but when you look at the long term benefits they far outweigh the downsides.

With some support, guidance and your input you’re able to get that perfect candidate.  Someone that gets to know the company inside out, knows the procedures and really understands the role.

But this’d all be window dressing if we weren’t prepared to put our money where our mouths were so that’s exactly what we did.

We put an ad out for people to come and join us and the response was pretty good.  Candidates had the skills and background we needed but there was always something that didn’t quite “fit”, we’re a pretty tight team and the thought of toxicity was always a concern.

Then we met Tom.

He doesn’t have the skills and experience yet, but he does get what we’re all about and he’s willing to learn.  To us, that’s just as important and it’s our responsibility to make sure he gets all the training and support he needs to make it work for both parties.

Tom’s first lesson?

We told him the big secret – there is no Magic Candidate Tree.

Qube Recruitment are based in Kent and We provide a bespoke recruitment solution, led by our dedicated team of qualified specialists that fully support you throughout every step of the recruitment process

Have you given up all hope of finding employment? Are you questioning your own self worth and struggling to find the motivation to continue applying for jobs? These handy top tips will discuss the best way to find a job.

“Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.” – Samuel Johnson

1. Be consistent with applying and don’t give up!

Too often rejection from a job we really wanted causes us to have massive self doubt, and we take this to heart. Sometimes this even impacts on our self belief. We have to understand that rejection, although it isn’t the best news, is something we can learn from it. For example, if you get a “no” from a recruiter, don’t be afraid to request some feedback from them. Usually they will discuss with you the reasons why you were not successful, and this can be for a variety of different reasons. This can include your level of experience, your interview, and your fit for the company etc. Consider the possibility that sometimes it could be nothing to do with you, it could simply be due to the fact that the job position has been taken down and is no longer available or other changes have taken place within the company.

2. Update your LinkedIn Profile and CV

Make sure your LinkedIn Profile is clear and concise. Include descriptions of previous job roles and specific experience you gained or areas you became qualified in. This will help boost your profile and means that recruiters can then look for your specific skill set. Furthermore, update your CV with your previous job role(s) and make sure you highlight your skills clearly. Don’t bombard your CV with unnecessary information, and organise it well. A messy CV that is not clearly set out and is a few pages long will not capture attention and will most probably be disregarded. You can check out our handy guide on writing the perfect CV to ensure you cover all the key elements.

3. Use our job search tool

A good way to find a job is on our website. We have a handy tool that allows you to search for a variety of jobs within the Kent area. It is quick and easy and allows you to search for different positions within different industries. Make sure you keep checking for new roles as we update them.

4. Use cover letters

Finding a job is much harder than it use to be with competition being so high. As well as relevant experience laid out on a CV, it is just as important to send a cover letter alongside your application. This shows the employer you are genuinely interested in the company, as you have taken the time to write one. It is also the perfect chance to highlight your skills and areas of expertise, of course linking this with the job role you are applying for. Within the cover letter, you will want to discuss the job role and why you think you are perfect for the role, but also the reasons why you want to work for their company specifically. This shouldn’t be a cringe fest and come across as a desperate plea to be employed, more like a professional and concise letter that discusses your experience, tying this in with the company itself and the job role.

5. Don’t limit yourself!

If you know what industry you want to get into but you are trained/qualified in a variety of different areas then you can apply for various different job roles. For example, if your experience is within Transport and Logistics, and your previous experience includes forklift driving, transport planning and warehouse operations, then this broadens your job search and your likelihood of finding a suitable job.  On our website you can find a variety of different job roles within a variety of sectors using our job search tool. Consider applying for a few variations to help increase your chance of employment and finding your next long term job.

6. Networking

Networking is key – staying connected online as well as going out to specific events targeted for recruitment is significant in making vital connections. Even when you’re out and about it is always handy having your business cards or CV handy, in case you see a role available that you’d like to apply for. Remain confident and positive, you never know who you might meet and where it will lead. Always be prepared! This is a great way to find a job. If you find yourself leaving an event without any offer of an interview or a job, it is still a great opportunity to get yourself out there, and companies may bare you in mind for future opportunities.

The best way to find a job: it isn’t always easy…

Some people may be lucky and find a job relatively easily. For the majority in today’s society it is becoming increasingly hard to land a dream job. The biggest factor which is significant to all of these points is staying positive and never giving up – keep on searching and enquiring. Be consistent and believe in yourself and eventually your efforts will pay off.