Cuts in JSA benefits to impact on workers.

This week it has been announced that the terms of Job seekers Allowance is changing in a bid to get more people into work. The changes will help to cut out those who excuse themselves for work by simply 'signing on' without really looking for work by making it harder to claim. Changes include:

- Individuals looking to claim JSA will now wait a minimum of seven days after leaving employment, up from the previous 3-day period.
 - Meetings with Job Centre upped from  fortnightly to weekly, with the exception of those genuinely working hard to find work.
- Individuals must provide a CV with their application along with a longer interview slot.
- New claimants must attend classes to improve their English if they are of a poor level. (As to bypass the issue of language barriers affecting employability.)
 (Source: BBC News)

 The changes are set to be brought in next April, and are thought to bring in £350m in savings, as cuts will affect the 1.51m current claimants (as of May 2013). The 16+ unemployment levels are 2.51m, meaning one million unemployed are not claiming currently - and most likely won't change their minds with the stricter policies taking place.
(Source: BBC Economy)

Will 3D printing change the face of the manufacturing industry?

The revolution of 3D printing has meant that for a relatively small price (starting from around £1000) individuals can purchase one for themselves to use in the comfort of their own home to use for small gadgets and toys. This of course means that businesses can join in too, when purchasing an upgraded model the printer can expand into printing with metal and bigger, more complex designs. This means businesses are able to use the machine to print out both prototypes and end products - bypassing the need for warehouse manufacturing. The question is, how far will the bypassing go? Shall we say goodbye to warehouses and factories?

Richard D'Aveni, business professor at Dartmouth College believes so; "We're on the verge of the next industrial revolution, no doubt about it, "D'Aveni's predictions invovle 'entire industries' disappearing, meaning that "Countries relying on mass manufacturing are going to find themselves with no revenues and no jobs." (Source: Gadgets.NDTV.com)
The beauty of 3D printing is that if something is broken, a replacement part is easily printed off to repair it! That is why it's not only retail that is impacted by 3D printing - medical professionals have been able to produce replica body parts, braces and replacements, which in the future will work wonders for surgery - especially for those in wars, who cannot afford to wait for parts to be flown in to assist surgery for the injured soldier.

The other side of the story is that 3D printing might not be as amazing as you're imagining. Nick Allen, founder of 3D Print UK wrote this article on the flaws of 3D printing for the home. He reinforces his love for the machines, but doesn't believe the quality or usefulness will deem 3D printing a new household item.

So we don't have to worry about the longevity of our warehousing and manufacturing industries?
Simply put: No. Nick has a few reasons...

- 3D printing is expensive, and bulk buying items won't reduce costs.
- Not many things are made purely out of one material! The printers that work with more complex materials cost a lot more money - best to leave to the professionals.
- Some materials are not desirable to work with, or even safe. Definitely not the type of stuff you want in your office!
- It's not as speedy as you think. It could take hours or days to print your item, as the machine works by printing layer by layer.
- Coding. The printer needs a design to base the item on, and this means learning a computer langugage to create this. File libraries are appearing online, but as with anything found on the internet there is a risk factor as to its usability.
- Strength it it's weakness. Nick compares it to a lego wall - strong from above, weak from the side. (again, due to the layers).

Basically, the machines have a long way to go until they hit similar standards to the existing manufacturing industry. So you can still use us to fill those warehousing vacancies! Give us a call - find your local branch here.

The effects of the e-cig on employees.

Smoke breaks have led some very controversial discussions over the years, and with the introduction of the e-cig, the matter has become even more blurred. In 2007, the law changes rolled out across the UK meaning you could no longer smoke inside the workplace, meaning hoards of smokers would gather outside the office doors - meaning more and more time spend away from their desks. The time spent on the cigarette breaks has obviously been questioned regarding the fairness on non-smokers, who may only be taking their designated breaks (Workers are entitled to a 20 minute break when working a 6 hour period).

The introduction of the e-cig meant that smokers could once again smoke legally at their desks. The implications of this are great for both employer and employee

- higher productivity levels due to not having to disturb tasks outside of designated breaks.
           - leading to less money wasted to the employer, in terms of productivity/payment.
- staying warm and dry in the winter!
- non-smokers not feeling any unfairness with extra breaks.
- health benefits from leaving the tobacco behind whilst quitting/hindering smoking cigarettes.


However, the latest news is that the e-cig could soon be medically controlled, meaning they would be prescribed by a doctor as a method of controlling smokers who have decided to quit. The reasons behind this are fairly simple - the NHS stated 'e-cigarettes don’t contain any tobacco – only nicotine, which is highly addictive but much less dangerous'. The e-cigs so far have 'only [been] associated with mild adverse effects (slight mouth or throat irritation, a dry cough), however other medical professionals remind us that nicotine has been 'linked to anxiety – and research suggests nicotine plays a direct role in the development of blood vessel disease.'


What are your opinions? Do you use an e-cig, or does anyone in your workplace?

Let us know how you feel. 
Sources: Acas, Legislation.gov, NHS

10 reasons you should be using Temporary workers

Imagine you need a new member of staff. Do you instantly write up a job description, post it on a vacancies board and then wait to see who replies? If the answer is yes, perhaps you should be considering the benefits of hiring temporary staff. Here's our top ten reasons to use temporary workers - find the areas that relate to your needs and see how you could improve your workforce!

1. Peaks and Troughs
In many supply and demand businesses, it can sometimes feel you are understaffed for breif periods of time. You may have considered hiring extra staff, but decided against it when trade dipped back down. These situations are perfect for temporary staff - you can ring in the morning and have someone sent over the same day - a few hours or a few weeks, they could be yours.

2. Busy trade periods
 The workload can picks up at certain times of the year, usually holidays or big events which drive consumers into overdrive. It could only be an 8 week period that you are in need of extra staff, and therefore the hassle of recruiting someone new could seem daunting. Temporary staff are prepared to work in these periods, and will have experience of adapting to new environments quickly.

3. Special Project
 Have you excited yourself over the thoughts of a new business venture, but don't have those vital helping hands? Whether you want to take your existing staff with you and cover their roles in their absence, or gather yourself a temporary workforce to pursue the dream - temps are your calling. 

4. Sickness / Holiday cover
 It's Monday morning and for some mysterious reason, your staff are failing to turn in. Rather than making the whole team take on the missing worker's responsibilities, hire a temp for the day (or the week...)

5. Hire an Apprentice
Maybe you do need someone part time, but you're running short on money. Maybe you need to get your fill of good deeds. Whatever the reason, hiring an apprentice could be your solution. Visit Essential Recruitment's Training Essentials for the low down on how this works, or check out Apprenticeship Q&A for all your queries. With costs from only £2.65 an hour, and training costs full government funded for 16-18 year olds (50% funded for 19-24) this could be the answer you're looking for.

6. Find the right candidate
The prospect of finding someone new can seem daunting, especially if business is busy. Using an agency to source a temporary worker means that the time consuming process of the search and selection can be taken off your hands. Using a temp to perm program, you will receive pre-screen candidates who are suitable for the job. You can test out these employees for up to 12 weeks, and then make up your mind. This ensures adequate time spent working together and peace of mind for you. If it doesn't work out, the candidate leaves as a temp. Otherwise, you've sourced yourself a permanent worker - hassle free.

7. Hassle of recruitment
It's not always just that you're not sure how to go about hiring someone new - you might just not have the enthusiasm to sort through applications, sit through interviews, perform background checks et cetera. Using agency leaves you free to do what is important to you.

8. High turnover / Worker burnout
In some industries, worker turnover can be very high. Places like bars, restaurants and retail tend to have a high turnover due high percentages of young people who are either studying, relocating or deciding what they really want to do in life. Whilst there will be many applications for roles in these sectors, this only makes the process more time consuming. You can use temporary workers to fill in the gaps, and perhaps even keep them for your own.

9. Avoiding confrontation
You might be the shy type - don't worry, some of us are! You're only human. However, this can cause problems when it comes to firing. The solution? Get someone else to do it for you. Through the temp to perm program, you can ensure the employee is right for you before turning the role into a permanent one - and if not, we'll do your dirty work.

10. Unsure of future of the business
If you're just starting out or on the rocks, you probably don't want to expand the workforce for fears of losing too much money. However, you most likely need this staff to make the business thrive. Catch 22? Of course not! You can get someone to help you in the short term, and take each day as it comes.


Sound like a plan? Give us a call today - find your local branch at our Essential recruitment website.

Interview guide pt.2

It has come to our attention that no matter how much preparation some individuals do for an interview, no matter how much research they have done on a company, and no matter how long they take picking out their interview attire, they still rattle with nerves before that all important meeting. Last week we told you what to do, this week we're telling you how to do it.

The internet houses thousands of worried applicant's desperate last minute attempts to console themselves, on sites such as Yahoo! Answers and TheStudentRoom.com, as well as being greeted by countless blogs and sites containing instructions, tips and tricks on how to calm and prepare yourself. There are a few popular solutions, some pharmaceutical, some mental and some physical - but which ones make the grade at essential? Here's our ultimate guide to conquering those interview nerves.



PRESENT. Nothing can reassure you more than simple planning. Dress up and play around with your outfit until you can confidently look at yourself and know you look great - both professional and presentable.

PREPARE: Maybe this is your first interview, maybe it's your hundredth. Hey, maybe you've lost count altogether! You can always benefit by practicing sample interview questions in front of either the mirror or family/friends. There are so many of these floating around the web, you'll be sure to find some that match your criteria.

RELAX: Yes, this is important, but remember that your interviewer is only human. Before your interview, listen to your favourite music, watch a funny film, or take a long walk - whatever relaxes you. Imagine you are an expert in your field and that you love what you do. The confidence will pay off by showing through body language and eye contact, as well as more fluent speech and no nervous slip-ups.

RELATE: Watch how the interviewer acts around you. Relate to their personality and gauge how much you can loosen up around them. If they can relate to you, and you create a rapport, this will benefit you in countless ways. You'll leave a great impression, a friendly vibe and you'll be remembered. This is a person who will either have to work around you, or let you work around their other employees, and therefore will not be someone who leaves a bad taste in their mouths.

KNOW YOURSELF: Read and re read your CV. It may seem simple, but you need to make sure you can answer any questions relating to content on there. This is a paper representation of you which they will most likely keep for shortlisting after the interviews. You could perhaps benefit from showing a family member or a friend, and asking whether they feel this is an accurate reflection of yourself.

Quick guide: Smile. Body Spray. Toothpaste. Clean clothes. Ban yawns. Mobile off. Take documents. BREATHE.

P.S If you're wondering how to get an interview in the first place, give us a call.

Temp to Perm success

 

Here at Essential, we run a service for clients called Temp to Perm. It's a kind of try before you buy offer, where both the candidate and client can work together for a period of time, and test compatibility. The worker starts as temporary and dependent on the employers verdict, can result in a permanent placement.

We've had some great success with this service, with our Ripley branch turning 71 temporary positions into permanent roles in the past 6 months alone.

Some of the great benefits of Temp to Perm are:

- Working with a candidate with the freedom of mind, that if they aren't -to your standards- suitable for the job, then you can end that candidates time with you.

- The service comes without the hassle of terminating a full time employees contract.

- A candidate can showcase their talent much more than they could through a CV or interview.

- A candidate has the chance to gain new skills and improve their CV, and also to explain any gaps in work history by working part time.


So why not join us in our success, and see how we can supply you with the very best candidates for your company, hassle free. Contact a branch.

The Perfect Workforce Guide

Your workforce is your lifeline. A team of people you employ to represent you, help you and progress your business. It is essential therefore that this group of individuals need to be the best at their role, and prove their worth. There is however a vital responsibility for the employer to keep their workers in check, and this means monitoring needs and changing circumstances - the needs of your people are not static, and neither are the needs of your business.

When pursuing a new type or work, you may have to chose between up-skilling your current employees, or hiring a completely new one. If you have analysed the skillset of your current workforce, you may be able to make a decision instantly - otherwise, check out DCR Workforce's 7 key steps to achieving the right workforce balance:

Anticipate – The fact remains that business environments are  in a constant state of flux. Companies need to pay attention to the probable changes in business needs and the demographic pressures which could affect their workforce needs.

Plan – Workforce planning to meet future business needs requires an analysis of the goals and strategies of the business, the structure of the organization, and the talent requirements dictated by its business objectives.

Break Down Business Silos – In many companies, Human Resources focuses on regular employees while temporary employees are addressed by some combination of Procurement, Line & functional Managers, and Human Resources.  Take a collaborative, Company-wide view of all personnel engaged in your business success.

Be Global and Local – A location-wise need for skills may have to be analysed, factoring in short and long term changes

Tweak Your Design – Existing processes and needs for talent sourcing would need to be re-engineered and/or designed – factoring in the prospects for the business and the plans for growth.  Consider how additional talent sources can reach hard to find candidates.

Automate and Innovate – An effective technology to automate the processes will need to be chosen to help in deciding between the types of talent which work best with the requirement/project needs.  Innovative new systems provide the facts and insights needed to evaluate your current workforce, project future needs, and make actionable decisions.

Source:  http://blog.dcrworkforce.com/6-steps-achieving-right-workforce-mix#comment-1995










 But how do you ensure you're inviting the right kind of candidate to the interview?

It's all about the job description. This needs to be straight to the point, easy to understand and very specific. An accurate job description can help a candidate make the first decision on whether they are suitable for the job - whether they've had a similar role previously, or feel they could easily adapt.With this, a summary of the candidates duties and responsibilities will also eliminate some of the under-skilled applicants.

If you're looking for particular qualifications or experiences, state them here. It is not helpful to either you or the candidate if requirements are not met when meeting for an interview. The more specific the better, and a brief statement of whom need not apply can also help to cut out unsuitable applicants.
 e.g 'Applicants without at least a 2.1 degree in Mathematics need not apply.'


Sound like too much? Essential can help. We specialise in recruiting within the industries of manufacturing, warehousing & logistics, utilities, food and engineering. We screen our candidates for eligibility, analyse their CV and locate past experiences. We can then forward the suitable candidates on to our clients, ensuring a great match.

Give us a call today, find your local branch here: http://www.essentialrecruitment.co.uk/contact-us/contact-a-branch/

Social media for job sourcing?

The job market is tough, and thus the creative types have been working on new ways to get themselves noticed when applying for vacancies. Thousands of people are looking to bag a job through social media - sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogs proving the most popular in the search, with secondary sources which are definitely outside the box - Billboards, videos, pinterest resumes...

The logic behind the move is simple - the internet is a free platform on which to broadcast yourself, showcase your skills and grab the attention of those hard to impress employers. Sometimes the hardest part of the job search can be getting noticed, and gaining a chance to show the employer how you really are, rather than how you can portray yourself in a CV. Here at Essential, we like to meet our candidates, have a bit of a chat and get to know you. Any skills you've got will be noticed by us, and then we use our knowledge, expertise and experience to connect you to the right employer. Think of us as a social media platform: you register, input your skills, log your interests and then wait for the results to roll in.


Are you interested in broadcasting yourself? Here's our top tips.


Twitter:

Use your bio effectively. State your location, employment status and career interests. You could link to a blog or another website which gives more detailed information and perhaps a CV, as well as contact details and how best to contact you.
Don't use Twitter to post rants which could work against you in the job search. Either have a private account, change your name to an alias or go through your tweets and delete and risky ones!
Connect to local accounts who post about job vacancies or updates in your area - new businesses for example always need staff!

Facebook:

Connect to local accounts and keep an eye on their posts, looking out for any opportunities. Pages you 'like' do not generally have access to your personal account providing you've kept it private (as opposed to a business making a personal account - the type you 'friend' rather than 'like'. These accounts can interact with your as any other friend can, which means access to those drunken photographs!).

LinkedIn:

Use this as a virtual CV - make it look impressive and professional, so an employer would know at a glance whether you're the candidate they're looking for. You can also link with employers you would like to work with, so if they post any vacancies, you're already part of their network.


Essential Recruitment:

Sign up, let us know a bit about you and let us put you forward for suitable jobs. Gain some experience here, some experience there, update your CV and when you've found your calling you can stick with it. Perfect.


Contact us today http://www.essentialrecruitment.co.uk/contact-us/contact-a-branch/

Positive Monday: Daring Career Moves.

The media obsesses over those who have taken the plunge and made a risky move with their career. It's exciting, inspiring, and makes us a little green. It can sometimes feel as though you are stuck in a rut with your current work life, but these stories show that a leap of faith can be the golden ticket.

Thomas Backlund

Thomas is the guy who gave everything up to live with the trees and write code in a tent. He received the publicity as a by-product of using thelistserve.com (an email lottery service, allowing the winner to send out an email to everybody subscribed) to tell people about his story. Rather than directly selling his site Blockie.io, to the recipients, he told the story of how he left his home, his job and everything he had to live in a tent. His story had viral potential, as people find it hard to grasp that someone may be able to risk everything to live a dream.  Is he worried about failure? 'If you want to do this kind of thing, it’s not the end of the world if it fails.' Success.

Elizabeth Lowman

At age 30, Elizabeth decided to relieve herself of unemployment and application rejections, and take on an unpaid internship writing for a magazine. These types of placements are usually filled by student-types in their 20s, and so Elizabeth found herself in strange territory. Although she decided it ultimately wasn't right for her, she appreciated the experience, saying ' It’s a chance to dip your toes into a field you've always wondered about, it can keep your skills fresh or expose you to new ones, and it could even open doors you never expected and start you on a whole new, exciting path.'.


 Don't forget, with Essential you can broaden your horizons and gain experience with new companies - it's not too late. If you're willing to work odd shifts here and there during your jobsearch, you can visit new industries, learn new skills and even land yourself a full time position. Visit our site at www.essentialrecruitment.co.uk and see what you can do for yourself.

Have you ever done anything out of your safety zone, or know anyone that has? Comment below. 


Sources: Metro: Thomas Backlund, Dailymuse: Elizabeth Lowman

Are the unemployed unemployable?

 

The saying goes simply that it's easier to get a job if you've already got one - but exactly how much truth lays in that statement? Being in employment says a few things about a candidates personality; This person is employable, at least by someones standards! And whoever employed them doesn't seem in any rush to give them the sack. Also this person is most likely interested in your company rather chasing any old work and therefore less likely to have applied for every vacancy in the area. A candidate with a firm idea of what they want to do will have done the research, and can explain to you whey they want your better job than the one they currently work.What about the advantages from a candidate point of view? You can escape the awkward questions about why you're unemployed, what happened in your last job, what you've been doing whilst out of work... you know the ones - the grillings that makes you squirm. You're probably less nervous than the unemployed candidate - after all, you've already got a job. Confidence can do wonders for your body language, eye contact and general mannerisms.

 You might have experienced rejection from an interview whilst unemployed, at maybe feel at a loss - but fear not! Signing up with an agency can help you in millions of ways. We can get you back into employment, trialling in different industries and gaining you some really valuable experience, and of course re instating your self confidence. You've got nothing to lose, but a lot to gain!

Contact your local branch and arrange to register today.

Chesterfield - 01246 278000
Essential Recruitment, Blenheim Court, 17 Newbold Road, Chesterfield S41 7PG

Barnsley - 01226 285888
Essential Recruitment, 2nd Floor, 28-30 Eldon Street, Barnsley S70 2JB

Burton - 01283 553210
Essential Recruitment, Repton House, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Burton on Trent, DE15 0YZ

Mansfield - 01623 643777
Essential Recruitment, 29a Church Street, Mansfield, NG18 1AF

Ripley - 01773 513310
Essential Recruitment, Park House, Park Road, Ripley, DE5 3EF

Wakefield - 01924 856006
Essential Recruitment, Raines House, Denby Dales Road, Wakefield, WF1 1HR

Worksop - 01909 478800
Essential Recruitment, 13 Gateford Road, Worksop, S80 1DY







Sources: The Wise Job Search, Career Change

If you're all working hard and playing hard, are you sleeping?

It's Thursday. That's almost Friday, and that means it's almost the weekend.
Will you be using this as an oppurtunity to refresh yourself with a couple of lay ins, or will you burn the candle at both ends?

Sleep fact: Feeling tired can feel normal after a short time. Those deliberately deprived of sleep for research initially noticed greatly the effects on their alertness, mood and physical performance, but the awareness dropped off after the first few days.
Sleep recharges and refuels and if you're not getting enough, it's fair to say you're going to suffer. The Guardian has linked a lack of sleep to low productivity, a drunk-like state, and even depression. According to their research, only 38.5% of the 38,784 of participants quizzed actually got the 7-8 hours of sleep recommended.  (Source: Guardian). The other 61.5% are at risk of a lowered IQ the following day, high levels of glucose and fat in the body after a meal, various illnesses, depression and other ailments similar to that of jet - lag. (Source: Daily Mail)

Sleep fact: A new baby typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year
 
So what should you do to ensure you're ready for the day ahead?
helpguide.org have compiled a bunch of helpful tips to get you sleeping better, covering everything from nap time to taking your sunglasses off.
Or if you'd rather cheat, here's the lowdown on sleeping pills and natural sleeping aids.
And when you're ready to sleep, here's some bed-yoga...

Sleep fact: The "natural alarm clock" which enables some people to wake up more or less when they want to is caused by a burst of the stress hormone adrenocorticotropin. Researchers say this reflects an unconscious anticipation of the stress of waking up.

Hopefully now Monday morning won't be such a drag.

Pre-interview jitters? Not sure what to wear? Check out our guide to bagging that job:


The Look
You should be dressing to impress. The way you dress is important, as you are inviting the prospective employer to judge your personality based on how you've chosen to present yourself. Make sure you're clean, you smell good, and your clothes are in good condition - show the employer you can represent the company. Keep the flesh to a minimum and jewelry at bay, ladies!
Hint: Try to look at how the other employees dress, by either popping in or checking website photographs.

The Talk
Don't moan about previous jobs/bosses. Keep your mobile off. Maintain good eye contact throughout the interview. You want to give an air of confidence, a shot of personality, and a friendly vibe - but remain professional. Don't use this as a time to chat, use it as a time to show off what you can offer the company.
Hint: Think before you speak. Don't dig any holes or portray yourself as problematic.

The Grilling
A common interview question asks you to confess a weakness - an opportunity to show off a strength. You're doing face-to-face calls? You're a lot better at talking in person than you are over e-mail. You're  a painter? You'd rather stay that extra half hour to make sure you've done the job right.
Make sure you've really thought about your job description - do you fully understand it? Could you explain why you can do these tasks more efficiently that anyone else?
It's also essential that you've swotted up on the company. Get to know what their targets are and how you believe you can help them work towards those goals.
Hint: There are hundreds of resources available for free, online, which will help prepare for an interview. You could download a set of questions and practice in the mirror or with a friend. 


Whatever you do, make sure you check out these interview horrors..


Job Interview Howlers
A video from Louise Peacock at the Guardian.


Worst Interview Utterances
Kate White describes her interviews whilst working for Cosmopolitan.



'Worst Interviews Ever'
User contributed horror stories.


Heineken's Worst Interviews Ever
Todd Wasserman reports on how Heineken are joining in with the Trend of 'punking' their target demo.



Ridiculous Interview Questions
Anne Fisher brings you a selection if insane interview questions.

Increase in personal tax allowances.. what will you spend it on?

Yesterday BBC News reported that 'Increases in personal tax allowances will sees basic rate taxpayers taking home nearly £300 extra this year.' (Source: BBC News)The allowance for those under 65 is set to raise from £8,105(12/13) to £9,440(13/14) and then up to £10,000 (14/15)  meaning around 257,000 workers will be exempt completely. (Source: HMRC) Allowances are frozen for over 65's at 10,500 and 10.660 for over 75's. (Source: Guardian)
 
So what should you spend your extra money on? We'll stick to the £300 budget that the BBC report states for our top 5 buys...

1. ULTIMATE TRIPLE ASTON MARTIN DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Need I say more? 3 cars, 3 hours, and a fiver left over for a cuppa to calm your adrenaline fueled body. 

2.Bacon. Lots and lots of bacon.
Bacon salt, Baconaise (lite option available!) Lip Balm, Hot Sauce, Candles, Eau de Bacon, Wrapping paper, Soda, Work Attire, Chocolate... the list goes on and on and on.


3.VW Camper Van Tent
A tent that looks like a van. A 4 man tent, tall enough to stand in, tent that looks like a van.

4. I'm Watch
A touchscreen, android operated mobile device. It sits on  your wrist and lets you access the internet... not sure exactly why you'd need this amongst all the other mobile devices available in this age, but hey - you've got an extra £300 to get rid of.

5.Honeyman 2-Seater Hardwood Swing Chair with Canopy
Perfect for relaxing after a hard days graft. Hard-wearing and even has a canopy to keep you cool.




Ofcourse you could always celebrate by going a step up from supermarket own brand beans if that's more your thing....

6 reasons to use a recruitment agency, for both recruiters and job seekers.

Sure, you've probably heard of recruitment agencies but if you've never used them, do you know how they can help you? Here's 6 reasons why both employers and job seekers benefit.

1. We do the hard work for you!
Employers - We're sure you've got plenty to do, and you don't need to fill your time up scouting for that candidate.We can select the perfect person from our database of eager job seekers, and leave you free from the search process. You can however view CV's before taking a candidate from us. If for any reason you're not satisfied with the candidates we provide, there is no fee.
Job Seekers - We can provide you with vacancies suited to you the moment we hear about them, meaning you can rest assured you're getting the best chance of a job. Alongside your own job search, how could you go wrong? There is never any charge from you, neither direct or from a wage deduction. The money you earn is all yours.

2. Build up experience in various sectors

Job Seekers - Whilst out of work, temping can be a great way of trying new things. A few shifts here and a few shifts there can do a number of things. It could help sway a decision over what you'd like to do, it could lead to a permanent job, and it will definitely improve your CV. There's nothing to lose!
 
3. Take the hassle out of payroll
Employers - When using us to recruit on your behalf, we control the candidates pay, including holidays, sickness etc. All you need to do is supply us with a completed timesheet and our accounts team do the rest!

4. Find the best candidate for the role...
Employers - We refer candidates based on their efficiency for the role, meaning no interview process for you. If you simply need someone to fill in for a shift, or through a busy season, we can provide the right worker for you. (You can do this if you wish, however!)


5. ...and find the right role for you!
Job Seekers - Choose what you want to do, and find an environment that suits you. We will contact you if your skills and experience match a vacancy, and you have registered interest in the particular kind of work. You don't have to take the work we offer you - as long as we get a straight answer!

6. Banish last minute worries

Employers - Is your day ruined by employees not showing up or calling in sick? Fear not! We have a hoard of potential candidates just waiting to hear from us. All candidates are told that they could potentially be contacted in the morning to start shortly, so rest assured and contact us today!

Customers payment habits changing in the utilities market, and what this means for business.

A debate for businesses in the global utilities industry is now whether to optimise profits, or give the customers greener solutions. 'Bain estimates that in Germany, the big four utilities will lose about a third of their annual operating profits from generation, or about 2.5 billion euros, by 2020, due to the shift in spending.' (Source: Reuters) The change in habits comes from customers looking for new ways to cut expenses, such as solar panels, one-off payments to consolidation firms, energy efficient lightbulbs, and low-cost electric appliances (over gas, petrol and so on). 

Bain consultant Berthold Hannes believes that total customer spending has not decreased, rather it is distributed the more efficient suppliers in the industry.  It seems investment in these areas is likely to pay off as customers increasing feel the guilt of planet ruining greenhouse gasses! Never a more profitable emotion that guilt, right? In the UK, the governments "decarbonisation" target (to be hit by 2030) was rejected in the house of commons, resulting in the BBC reporting that 'environmental campaigners [are] arguing it shows David Cameron's pledge to lead "the greenest government ever" has not been fulfilled'.(Source: BBC)
Energy secretary Ed Davey still firmly believes in the Energy Bill however. He comments "In any case, we're already bound by law to cut emissions across the whole UK economy by 50 per cent by 2025, and the Energy Bill will bring about substantial decarbonisation of the power sector as part of that." (Source: Utility Week) which still supports the German customer's new spending habits.

Good news all round!

It is a brilliant week for the working man (or woman!) as blue collar industries are showing great improvements. Surveys relayed by BBC news report that the 'manufacturing sector created jobs for the first time in four months', brilliant news for both job seekers and recruiters. There is also a significant increase in residential building, meaning a a season of growth for the construction industry. Almost half of the firms involved expected to see a expanse in business over the next year. (Source: BBC News) The good vibes are being backed up with bright industry reports, such as 'Reeds Rain and Your Move owner LSL Property Services reported 22,000 first-time-buyer transactions in April, up 2,900 from March.'.(Source: Independent)

So what do these big movements in the industry mean?

It's a great time to expand. Business is growing at a steady rate, and you need to enure the supply meets the demand. Using a recruitment agency such as Essential means you can have extra workers for a unexpected shift, safe in the knowledge that the candidates are hand picked and ready for the job at hand.
We here offer a Temp-To-Perm service which enables clients to trial candidates without the commitment and hassle of recruiting permanent staff.

Social Media... opinions are divided.

Almost everyone who uses the internet will have some kind of social networking profile - it's how we in the modern age connect to our old friends, and branch out to new ones. But how are these profiles affecting our working lives? Just how much do employers take these into account? A study by OnDevice research reports that 9% of UK respondents aged 16-24 have been rejected because of comments or pictures on their profile, and as many as 16% in China. (Source: OnDevice) Even more worryingly, one individual has been rejected for a job based on his Klout score. (If you're asking yourself what this is, it's probably a reasonable indication of the absurdity.) Lauren Fisher, who reports on this scandal, believes that employers who scour the social media profiles of potential candidates have only 'a limited understanding of what the information they're finding really means' and that the act itself 'constitutes overstepping the mark' (Source: SimplyZesty)

What many people do not realise, is that everything you post online remains there, laying dormant until it is discovered. Most profiles are harmless enough, but should you fill yours with drunken photographs or worse - are you prepared for what the consequences could be?  The TUC’s Worksmart website, quoted in bdaily.co.uk, states that ‘(employers) wouldn’t follow an employee down the pub to check on what they said to their friends about their day at work. Just because they can do something like this online, doesn’t mean they should’ (Source: bdaily) Perhaps employers feel that the internet has given them a valuable tool which takes the mystery of the client out of the recruitment selection - but doesn't everyone have the right to a seperate work and personal life?

Let us know what you think...

We are Essential

Here at Essential, we aim to provide our customers with a consultative, honest, high quality and efficient
service which then develops long term relationships. Ensuring we become the
preferred consultancy for all clients and candidates in the recruitment industry.

We aim to identify and develop new services, be innovative in our approach to providing
recruitment solutions and to maintain and improve our competitive edge in the
marketplace.We know that this will lead our employees towards excellence, recognise achievement and provide opportunity to develop their careers.

Essential is supported by a dedicated team who believe in a hands‐on approach; who are always highly motivated and understand the need to provide you as our customer with a standard of excellence and flexibility to complement your business needs; and take pride in delivering a standard of work that mirrors the company ethos to be the best! We maintain the integrity in the recruitment market that is synonymous with success, value for money, honesty and partner relationships.

At Essential, we maintain 5 key values which are applied to the inner workings of the company:

care	to create and promote a company that cares for the welfare of clients and candidates alike
passion	we are passionate about our service and the positive reputation that follows
excellence	our goal is to consistently achieve excellence in all that we do
professionalism	we commit to always conduct ourselves in a professional, ethical and fair manner
ambition	to achieve our full potential by embracing new challenges, supporting each other and creating a thriving and enjoyable workplace We hope you enjoy what we have to offer! Emma @ Essential.