February 2012

2011 was a great year for Network HR and as such we would like to thank you our Clients and Candidates for playing such a major part in our success. We are hoping that 2012 will be an even bigger and better year.

When Network HR was established in 2003 by Claire Needham the plan was simple – to provide quality led HR recruitment solutions, honest advice and in-depth market knowledge that both clients and candidates could truly benefit from and to this day 9 years on these remain our core principles. The team will be going on a night out to celebrate and in the meantime cakes and flowers are a plenty!

We look forward to working with you in 2012 and thank you for all your support, great comments and communication with us in what was an exciting 2011.
 

Job hunting is highly unlikely to be a first-minute success. Preparing yourself for a few rejections along the way is probably a realistic approach, but remember never take rejection too personally.

Job seekers have to be reminded that a rejection letter is an accomplishment. A bad interview is an accomplishment.

It may not seem so at the time, but it is all part of the learning curve towards getting the right job.

Once you get a rejection letter or email, it’s worth looking back and asking yourself:
- Was my CV targeted and relevant for the job in question?
- Was my cover letter tailored and concise?
- Did I have most - if not all - of the qualifications and skill set the company were looking for?
- Was I prepared and professional for the interview (if you got that far)?

If you answered yes to all of the above, you can pat yourself on the back - you’ve been rejected but you don’t need to take it personally.
The jobs market is competitive and you simply weren’t selected because someone else was. Always ask for detailed and constructive feedback after an interview, every interview is an opportunity to hone and improve your skills as an interviewee.
 

Friday 27th January 2012

I have recently joined Network HR having spent a little over 5 years within another specialist recruitment consultancy, covering both interim and permanent vacancies specifically within HR across every industry you can imagine. With this in mind I hope to utilise the skills and experience I have gained in order to further enhance the already excellent reputation Network HR has within the Midlands.

When I was working in direct competition with Network HR I was always surprised to find out how many of the regions largest employers the business had established relationships with. Now joining the ranks it is obvious to see why they excel within the market; clearly establishing the requirements of their clients; understanding their candidates’ key motivators; excellent communication both internally and externally; and having an uncompromising knowledge of the marketplace within the Midlands.

In my role as Consultant I will be utilising my knowledge of both the interim and permanent markets across a range of industry sectors including Manufacturing, Construction, Transport, Retail & Leisure, Not-for-Profit, IT, Telecommunication, and Energy & Utilities. I look forward to reinforcing Network HR as a Recruitment Consultancy of choice with a number of organisations across the Midlands as well as developing relationships with organisations further afield.
 

Matthew Greenberg

Consultant@networkhr

Thursday 19th January 2012

2011 has been a great year for Network HR and as such we would like to thank you our Clients and Candidates for playing such a major part in our success.

We are hoping that 2012 will be an even bigger and better year and to start the year off with a bang we are excited to announce that in January we will have two new additions to the Network HR team and we will contact you in the New Year to advise of their skillset, areas of specialism and expertise. In order for everything to be as update to date as possible going into 2012 it would be great if you could let us know if your details have significantly changed. Please do send through a new CV or any changes to your notice period, availability, salary and benefits package etc. so that we are contacting you about the most suitable opportunities.

To say farewell to 2011 we thought we would put together a brief snapshot of Network HR’s highlights and these are outlined below.

January – A new recruit Emma Wright - a fantastic addition to the Network HR team.
February – Network HR celebrated our 8th Birthday....... cake and drinks all round!!
March – Kate Young Senior Consultant celebrated her 6th Year with the business.....more cakes and drinks all round!!
April – We completed our first “Network HR Guide” entitled Guide to Competency Based Interviews – Great reviews have been received.
May – CV Letter and Covering Advice guide followed this was welcomed as a great success.
June – Lucy Anker’s successful promotion to Senior Consultant ...... Well done!
July – Advice and Guidance for Graduates Starting Out was a timely piece for all newly qualified graduates.
August – Network HR like a large proportion of the HR community took a break from news releases for the holiday season .....apologises to you all!.
September – Our two Senior Consultants attended a charity event in aid of Midlands Air Ambulance and The Connie Watts Fund with a special performance by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO). It was a successful evening with lavish Italian food and exquisite wine enjoyed by all!
October – The Job Search - Where Do I Start, was the next instalment in Network HR’s Guide, positive feedback received!
November – Plan your Job Hunting followed and we know that you will be eagerly awaiting our next instalment in December.
December – Claire Needham, Director will be taking a short break from the business to await the impending arrival of Needham No. 2 due on the 23rd December – we will await news on whether it is a pink or blue bundle.........

In 2012 as Network HR have fully embraced the social media scene we look forward to also introducing to you more up to date news, discussions, polls and latest job roles. This enabling you the candidate to have a wider variety of methods of communication to us the Network HR Team. The social media channels we are using are;

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr&gid=3344663

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/networkhrjobs

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Network-HR-Recruitment-Ltd/178898945523143

We look forward to working with you in 2012 and thank you for all your support, great comments and communication with us in what has been an exciting year.
 

When looking at advertisements for jobs, you need to ensure that you do the following:

Carefully read the content.
Do not just read the job title - Does it match your skills set?
Do you understand the duties?
Can you meet the requirements?

If you answer ‘yes’ to all of these questions then apply for the role. There is a lot of competition and you want your details to grab the employers/ agencies attention.

Do exactly what the employer/ agency asks - if the advertisement says to email a CV, do not continuously telephone the employer/ agency.

When providing a CV ensure it highlights the skills you can bring to this particular job, in particular your key achievements.

Tailor your CV to each role, it is your selling tool! Ensure it incorporates keywords and skills mentioned in the job advert.

Keep copies of the original advertisement for reference. This will also help you should you be selected for interview. Make a note of the closing date so you are aware of how the recruitment process should be unfolding.

Keep track of all your applications, but if you have not had a response, a polite phone call into the company might be sensible. Do not come across as over-eager, it does show your willingness, it will also help you to discover whether you are being considered or not. If you are not successful, its time to move on and focus on other opportunities.
We hope that the above advice will help you on the road to a fruitful job search and you take the next exciting step in your career.
If you require further advice then contact Network HR who has a reputation as a quality led recruitment specialist and who are proud to be part of Network Group Plc, a diversified group of specialist recruitment companies.
Our website offers a comprehensive overview of the services we offer as well as many testimonials from both our clients and candidates, please take a look www.networkhr.co.uk or call on 0121 450 5030.

Thursday 8th December 2011
 

By Network HR Recruitment Ltd. 17/11/2011
It is a good idea to tackle a career change as a business project.

Job hunting can be a stressful and time consuming experience. Whether you are currently employed or immediately available on the job market, planning job hunting means you stay on top of things!
If you are currently not in employment plan a few hours out of your day to apply for jobs, read up on the companies you want to apply for and amend your CV accordingly.

Create a file on your PC or hard copy. Keep a record of job hunting activity including; company and contact names, date applied, response received, copies of job vacancies and adverts, dates and details of interviews attended, names of interviewers.

Try not to pin all of your hopes on the first few applications you make. This could be a drawn out process and is dependant upon the current HR market conditions and economic climate.

Be realistic and consistent in the types of applications you make. Applying for many roles at a range of levels can lead a potential employer or consultancy to have concerns about your motivations for applying.

If a recruitment company have submitted your CV to a client and are representing you then insist upon a weekly update. You have a right to be kept informed about the status of your application!

Being notified that you have not been successful at interview can be very disappointing. Make sure that you always request full feedback from clients and recruitment consultancies alike. Feedback may involve comments on the following: your skill set, communication style, cultural fit for a business, appearance. Be open-minded and consider the feedback carefully. It may be that the organisation or role just simply weren’t right for you but it may also provide you with a useful insight into how you are perceived and may therefore help you with future applications and interviews.

Be organised and planned in your application, keep a steady momentum going which will see you through highs as well as the possible lows of the process.

It is a good idea to set up a system which will support your search and give you a sense of purpose. Having an organised and positive outlook will hopefully give you the confidence to carry on the job search and potentially land you your dream job.

We hope the information provided will help you to start planning your job search.

Network HR has a reputation as a quality led recruitment specialist and we are also proud to be part of Network Group Plc, a diversified group of specialist recruitment companies.

Our website offers a comprehensive overview of the services we offer as well as many testimonials from both our clients and candidates, please take a look www.networkhr.co.uk or call on 0121 450 5030.
 

With the current economic market looking to be a little uncertain over the next few months, Network HR has seen a flurry of reactivated and new candidates on to our ever increasing database. We have decided to put together some tips to help you get started. If you are employed and thinking of a career change or are out of work, there are many things you can do in the search for a new job.

There are a number of consultancies that specialise in HR Recruitment who will list job titles and areas of the country where the jobs are based to register with in the first instance. There are all also commercial/high street agencies who recruit and advertise certain junior entry level HR positions as well. Many companies choose to post their own vacancies online so make sure you check recruitment consultancies websites like Network HR’s who post all Jobs to their own website first – you will also be able to gain first hand support and advice about your job search and CV from a specialist Consultant. There is no harm in registering with a few HR Recruitment companies as this will only increase your chances of hearing of a wider number of jobs to suit your skill set and experience. Just remember to keep a record of who you have registered with and which jobs you are being represented on to avoid duplication of your CV with clients.

Specialist magazines for HR will often advertise jobs and the company website which will allow you to do your own research to find out more about them.

Job Boards are a must. There are a number of specialist HR recruitment job boards which will list specific jobs in different areas of the country and others which categorise them by job type. There are also more generic Job Boards – both of these are worth registering your CV with. Recruitment consultancies not only carry on-line comprehensive listings of their latest vacancies but also Companies often post their own vacancies on-line. Register with any of the above to increase your knowledge of the job market and be flagged of suitable opportunities.

Networking also plays a key part in searching for a new job so make sure that you are tapping into your own network and using tools such as Linked in etc.

The above will assist you in your job search but make sure that before you start applying for jobs that you have thought about the type of work you want, is it a career change, do you want to move up the ladder? Research companies you could see yourself working in and start to network/ talk to people who already work in that industry to make sure that it is a sector that you want to actively pursue. If you are serious about finding the right job then draw up a plan, re-evaluate your CV and sell yourself, your experience and achievements and consider whether you are willing to relocate for the right role?

We hope that the above advice will help you on the road to a fruitful job search and you take the next exciting step in your career.

If you require further advice then contact Network HR who has a reputation as a quality led recruitment specialist and who are proud to be part of Network Group Plc, a diversified group of specialist recruitment companies.

Our website offers a comprehensive overview of the services we offer as well as many testimonials from both our clients and candidates, please take a look www.networkhr.co.uk or call on 0121 450 5030.
 

Thursday 27th October 2011

Recently our Senior Recruitment Consultant’s Kate Young and Lucy Anker attended together with Network Recruitment Partnership an annual Charity Evening. This event was an excellent opportunity for both organisations to liaise and network with key clients to both businesses.

 This annual event is organised by Network Recruitment Partnership in aid of their two chosen charities, Midlands Air Ambulance and The Connie Watts Fund. The event was attended by a representative from each charity, raising over £1000. This will be split equally between the two charities.

(Lucy Anker pictured with Network HR’s Client - Sarah Bannister)

The Charity event was held at Cuccina Rustica in Birmingham. The highlight of the evening was a lavish Italian buffet followed by a special performance by a quintet from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO)

(The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra)

 A silent auction with prizes that included a ride in a P1 racing powerboat and signed sporting memorabilia, raffle tickets were also sold at the event.

 The event has been described by all as a huge success and Network HR Recruitment Ltd would like to thank Network Recruitment Partnership for inviting us and our guests for attending.

 Network HR has a reputation as a quality led recruitment specialist and we are also proud to be part of Network Group Plc, a diversified group of specialist recruitment companies.

Our website offers a comprehensive overview of the services we offer as well as many testimonials from both our clients and candidates, please take a look www.networkhr.co.ukor call on 0121 450 5030.  

Thursday 22nd September 2011

Getting your first job in HR can be hard, but Network HR have put together some useful tips to help you get started. Employers can afford to be picky and will usually choose a candidate with HR qualifications rather than a candidate with none. Not having any HR qualifications can limit the number of positions you could realistically apply for. However ‘there are HR Professionals who have made it into the field without training and qualifications, but they are in the minority’ (personneltoday 08/2006)                      

Tips

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

Research joining the CIPD, it will give you professional recognition in the workplace  and the resources to keep you updated in HR. Being a member of the CIPD could also allow you to network and gain valuable contacts within HR. (CIPD 2011)

CV and Covering letter:

Keep it short: Two pages will be sufficient.

Stick to a simple layout: Do not use fancy graphics or fonts.

Quantify your achievements and Skills: What you can do for an employer e.g. organisational skills.

Tailor your covering letter: The covering letter is your selling tools ensure it incorporates key words and skills mentioned in the job advert.

Be selective in the information you include: Only include the information most relevant to the job.

Start at the Bottom:

As a graduate the realistic place to start looking for jobs is at entry level. It would be beneficial to gain experience in another role e.g. administrator or HR administrator. Gaining prior experience of working in an office will also increase the amount of administrative skills you have to offer.

Network:

When trying to enter a new industry it is useful to Network. Use HR events to gain advice from HR professionals and improve your understanding of the profession.

Sign up to agencies:

There are a number of agencies both commercial and specialist that specialise in junior HR Recruitment, who would be working on entry level vacancies and could offer a source of advice and information. Some agencies cover temporary vacancies, which could give you the experience you need.

We hope that the above advice will help you to gain the experience you need to gain a foothold in the HR market.

Network HR has a reputation as a quality led recruitment specialist and we are also proud to be part of Network Group Plc, a diversified group of specialist recruitment companies.

Our website offers a comprehensive overview of the services we offer as well as many testimonials from both our clients and candidates, please take a look www.networkhr.co.ukor call on 0121 450 5030.

Personnel today 2006 http://www.personneltoday.com/topics/

CIPD 2011 http://www.cipd.co.uk/Membership/

Thursday 7th July 2011

As the market starts to see an increase in HR vacancies and therefore becomes more competitive, Network HR have decided to put together some simple advice and guidance on preparing your CV and Covering letter to ensure you get the  best  response.

DO:

• Keep it short
  As a general guide try to keep your CV to 2 or 3 pages, unless you are a Senior HR professional or career interim. Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page. Generally most Recruiters/Hiring Managers are likely to make a decision about your application at a glance.  Remember – the more you write the more room you create in which to waffle or make mistakes.
• Stick to a simple layout
  We advise HR candidates to not use fancy graphics or fonts. Network HR recommend Tahoma, Times New Roman or Arial are generally more suitable. Start with a personal profile at the top of your CV followed by your career experience in chronological order. Include under the name of each employer you have worked for one line to explain the nature of the company. We recommend that you bullet point your CV to make it easier for the Hiring Manager to read.  Your contact details and address can go at the bottom of the page – recruiters scan CVs from top to bottom, left to right, so the most important info, e.g. your personal profile, should take the top slot, not your address details.
• Quantify your achievements and skills
  Prospective employers don’t just want to see what you did in a previous job, but what difference you made. For example, instead of writing ‘I improved absence management in my team’, tell them by how much – ‘I introduced a new shift system that reduced staff absence from nine to three days per year, the lowest in my division’. This kind of information tells the employer a) that you are a person who takes initiative, and b) what you could do for them.
• Tailor your covering letter
  The covering letter is your selling tool to show the Recruiter/Hiring Manager that your CV is relevant for their job. The best cover letters incorporate key words and skills mentioned in the job advert.
• Be selective about the information you include
  A CV is not an autobiography. Only include the information that is most relevant to the job you’re applying for. The relevant information may get buried, less really is more.

DON’T:

• Overdo the personal information
  Legally, in the UK, employers are not permitted to ask you about your marital status etc, so you don’t need to include this info in your CV. You don’t have to include your interests and hobbies – it’s up to you. If you do include them, make sure they are real as you may be asked to talk about them at interview.
• Leave unexplained gaps
  The more recent the gaps, the more attention they will attract. The best way to acknowledge any gaps on a CV is by adding in the dates and a brief explanation. You can just leave the CV with gaps, as long as you are prepared to be asked about them.
• Include negative info
  Watch out for quirky email addresses, e.g. ‘madasahatter@hotmail.com’. They don’t give quite the professional impression you want to convey.
• Forget to spell check
  More and more candidates are falling at the first hurdle in the job application process because of typos in their CV or covering letter. A lot of Hiring Managers will not consider applications that contain spelling or grammar mistakes.

We hope that the above advice will help in the writing/tweaking of your CV. If you would like further advice on your CV then please feel free to upload your details and register as a candidate via our website and request one of our consultants to contact you or please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Network HR team on 0121 450 5030.

Network HR has a reputation as a quality led recruitment specialist and we are also proud to be part of Network Group Plc, a diversified group of specialist recruitment companies.
 

Monday 16th May 2011

As the job market becomes more competitive employers are being increasingly selective and thorough in their recruitment methods to ensure they make the right hire.

More and more of our clients are increasingly using competency based interviews as a method of selecting the right candidate for their role. This can be daunting for some candidates so Network HR thought we’d provide some advice and guidance to help you prepare and get you ready for your interview.

Competency based questions are used by interviewers to assess a candidate’s suitability to the job. The questions focus on how a candidate deals with real world situations.  

From a CV, and sometimes a first stage informal interview, it is not always easy to see who the right candidate for the role is. With a competency based interview the interviewer should be able to ascertain who would suit the role better. The answers that are given will help the employer to assess if the candidate will fit the team, the organisation and have the ability to deal with problems and challenges that they may face.

The competencies will relate to the job role and/ or the values of the company and normally be based around things like decision making, problem solving, communication, team playing and possibly conflict management.  This will then demonstrate how candidates have performed in the past in certain key areas.

Competency based interviews are a useful way of comparing one candidate against another, giving an unbiased view.

Below are some examples of questions you may be asked in a competency based interview:

How do your managers motivate you?

What skills do you need to develop most?

What is the biggest mistake that you have made?

What do you think about being mentored?

How would you handle a situation where your mentor recommended an approach that you disagreed with?

Tell us how you influence colleagues?

Tell us how you would manage a conflict with a third-party provider, quoting your experience.

If you would like any further information, advice and guidance or if we can provide you with any additional information around competency based interviews please do not hesitate to contact our team of Consultants at Network HR on 0121 450 5030. 

 Network HR is extremely well established as a specialist recruiter of HR & Training professionals and have a wide range of positions available both interim and permanent including: HR Advisor – South West, L & D  Manager – Warwickshire, HR Advisor – Warwickshire, Training Administrator – Birmingham, Interim Recruiter – West Midlands, Interim HR Advisor – West Midlands, Interim HR Advisor – Devon.

Network HR has a reputation as a quality led recruitment specialist and we are also proud to be part of Network Group Plc, a diversified group of specialist recruitment companies.

Our website offers a comprehensive overview of the services we offer as well as many testimonials from both our clients and candidates, please take a look www.networkhr.co.ukor call on 0121 450 5030.

Tuesday 26th April 2011

The ever increasing growth of social networking websites has significant ramifications for employers. Recent press around employees facing disciplinary action or even dismissal for use of social networking sites means that it has never been so important for employers to have clear policies on internet use.

 We have not only seen a rise in cases of internet misuse during the working day but more recently cases involving employees facing disciplinary action for making comments on their private social networking sites which employers have deemed to be damaging or derogatory to the organisation and/ or its employees reputations.

 Advances in technology are having a serious impact on how we communicate both in and out of work and the implications for employers and employees alike are huge.  Ensuring that your business has a talented, astute and knowledgeable HR function has never been more important than today.

Thursday 14th April 2011

I would like to congratulate Kate Young for reaching her 6^th year of service with Network HR earlier on this month. Kate is Network HR’s most senior member of staff and has progressed her career to Senior Consultant within the business and is a highly respected, knowledgeable and trusted member of the Network HR team.

Kate specialises in the recruitment of HR, Training and Recruitment positions from middle to senior level appointments within the FMCG, Manufacturing, Engineering, Construction, Distribution, Transport and B2B sectors.  Kate has been recruiting HR professionals for Network HR for 6 years and has a further 4 years recruitment experience where she worked in a managed service capacity recruiting on site for Atos Origin.

Kate is currently dealing with a wide range of positions including HR Manager – Wales, Assistant HR Advisor – Manchester, Regional HR Manager – West Midlands, HR Business Partner – Coventry, HR Manager - Staffordshire

The Network HR team are all exceptionally proud of Network HR’s reputation as a quality led recruitment specialist and we are also proud to be part of Network Group Plc, a diversified group of specialist recruitment companies.

Wednesday 23 March 2011

The Network HR team are all exceptionally proud to celebrate Network HR’s 8^th birthday……….

When Network HR was established in 2003 by Claire Needham the plan was simple – to provide quality led HR recruitment solutions, honest advice and in-depth market knowledge that both clients and candidates could truly benefit from and to this day 8 years on these remain our core principles. The team will be going on a night out to celebrate and in the meantime cakes and flowers are a plenty!

Thursday 10 February 2011

Network HR would like to welcome its newest recruit Emma Wright to the HR Community.

Emma has a wealth of recruitment experience  - 10 years in fact working both Interim and Permanent desks,  2.5 of those within HR recruitment so she will be an asset to Network HR’s clients and candidates alike. Emma will be concentrating on the recruitment HR professionals within a variety of private and public sector organisations and looks forward to the challenge of her new role and working with you all.

Monday 24 January 2011