TOP RECRUITMENT TIPS

With decades of experience supporting people into employment, our consultants know recruitment inside out. Some of our long serving Connect Appointments team members share their top tips, plus what we can do for you

GARY SLOSS

SERVICE DIRECTOR

First impressions are very important and first contact will often be by phone, so find a quiet room and have a copy of your CV to hand. Also, remember to smile and stand up while talking on the phone. Doing both injects your voice with more energy and strength.

When invited for your interview, be that virtually or face-to-face in the office – adhering to all social distancing and coronavirus guidelines – make sure you research the company beforehand, be punctual and dress appropriately; it’s best to over-dress than arrive too casual.

LYNDA MCLAUGHLIN

SENIOR CONSULTANT

Tailor your CV to the job you are applying for by looking over the job description, details and the skills required. Make yourself an obvious fit.

Don’t overthink as this will only lead to being stressed. Just relax, be yourself, make sure you stand out and at the end of your interview, always thank your interviewer – you will be amazed at how far this simple act of courtesy can go.

“First impressions are very important”

WILLIAM SIM

DIRECTOR

Having a list of target employers allows you to conduct your job search in a more precise and purposeful manner. Stay active by commenting on, liking, and sharing content, to stand out against other LinkedIn allstars in your industry.

For people to really get to know you as a professional, you’ll need to engage multiple times. You have to think like a marketer if you are to land your dream job. Recruiters are always sourcing social media for new talent. To catch their attention, you need to promote yourself.

Get tailored and specific advice for your industry by visiting our website (connectappointments.co.uk) or contact your local branch.

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU

JULIE MCALLISTER

BRANCH MANAGER

We’ve had a lot of people reaching out to Connect Appointments who have been in the same job for a long time; most have never worked for an agency. First of all, we talk candidates through our process from start to finish, we match a person up to the best job we can, and we discuss weekly wages – we will talk you through the process, you will not just be placed into a role. We understand this is all new for you.

BARBARA BUJALSKA

REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER

We are here to help you find employment. Whatever stage you are at, from being made redundant and never worked with an agency before, to returning for temporary work: we will go into detail about the processes and explain stage by stage how we work at Connect Appointments from the interview to employment procedures.

STAND OUT

FROM THE CROWD

Understanding what an employer wants from a job description isn’t as hard as you might think. Using our years of recruiting experience, we reveal exactly what employers are looking for in a candidate

In 2021 the job market is more competitive than ever due to redundancies and job losses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Although the market is competitive, it doesn’t mean there’s no hope of finding employment: our tips will help you to stand out to prospective employers by highlighting your industry skills and experiences.

HIGHLIGHT

Your CV and cover letter are the first impression an employer will have of you, so it’s important to showcase any skills and relevant experience you have for each individual position you apply for.

The buzzwords included within a job application should be utilised to pinpoint the skills that are important to a potential employer. Understanding these buzzwords will allow you to tailor the skills and experience listed on your CV for each role you apply for.

The top buzzwords for recruiters include flexibility, effective and communication skills.

These phrases can be quite ambiguous, how are you effective? If you can prioritise tasks, have good organisational skills and are productive, that means you can work effectively. If you always strive to arrive ahead of time, prepare for a role when necessary and always come to work with a

positive attitude, you can be considered as reliable.

A top tip from our expert consultants: make sure you bring all of the relevant documentation to your interview with us. Do this and we will know immediately that you are prepared.

ADAPT

Alongside highlighting your key skills and qualifications on your CV, it is important to take the time to adapt each CV or covering letter that you may write. No matter where you are in your career, be that using an agency for the first time, a seasoned temporary worker or looking for employment after a job loss, your CV is your most essential tool to find a job.

If you’re coming to Connect Appointments looking for work in a specific industry, research similar CV effective if you have worked in a similar role, or a role that requires the same skills as you have utilised before. If you’re target-orientated, highlight goals you have met in the past to prove this. For resilience, demonstrate how this attitude has helped in former roles in employment or even volunteering.

Showcasing that you have a strong work ethic, are willing to listen and learn from your mistakes, your reliability and enthusiasm, means you’re halfway there.

examples for that field. This means you can see exactly what employers are looking for so you can focus on the experiences and accomplishments you know will make you stand out from the crowd.

ATTITUDE

Coming in with the right attitude and a good work ethic will see you go a long way in any role. Whether it is a temporary or permanent role, taking pride in your work is critical. Plus, showing our recruitment consultants a positive attitude will let us know how you will fit in with our clients.

Similarly, instead of simply listing your personal qualities on your CV and any job applications, go further and provide examples of how these qualities were beneficial in previous work placements. This is especially

Top tip: Always aim to be relevant to a job position you are applying for

EXPERIENCE

Any previous employment or volunteering experience will see you picking up a plethora of skills that you might not even realise you have. These can be split into soft skills and hard skills.

Soft skills are non-industry specific attributes, for example leadership and problem solving. Different soft skills will be relevant to different jobs, but these are often transferable and important in a range of roles. Of course, it is also important to highlight any hard skills you might have picked up from previous industry experience. This could be an industry-specific qualification or certificate, technical skills and training, or machine operating licenses.

It’s a good idea to list both your relevant hard and soft skills in your job application, this will showcase all of your strengths and give you a boost over other candidates.

Now that you know what employers are looking for, you’re well-equipped to fill in the application form with confidence.

ON THE ROAD WITH CONNECT DRIVER SOLUTIONS

Taking pole position in the world of recruitment for the transport industry, Connect Driver Solutions is in the fast lane of all your driver needs

Our specialist driving division, Connect Drivers Solutions (CDS) is proud to be one of the leading names in the sector. Established in 2015, the team behind CDS has a plethora of experience both working directly in transport and recruiting in the field.

Looking for your next career challenge or searching for reliable, talented and qualified staff, CDS has proven success in matching the best candidates to positions across the UK.

TRUSTED

Get your services and products from A to B with the company that is the driving force behind the industry.

Under the directorship of Stuart Steven, CDS matches hard working staff with transport and logistics organisations across the UK. Combined, the team has more than 100 years’ worth of experience in the field of transport recruitment, so your staffing solutions or job seeking needs are in expert hands.

QUALIFIED

“The staff that work for our business are some of the most knowledgeable in the market,” enthuses Stuart. “They are experienced within the industry and have the most up to date training.”

By providing specialist training, including Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence), CDS ensures candidates are ready to get behind the wheel. We also provide specialist training to support recruiters, ensuring that your workforce is in line with industry standards.

GET APPY

Take the stress out of searching for driving and transport positions with the brand-new, state-of-the-art Connect Driver Solutions app – available to download now for Apple and Android devices. Get the latest vacancies straight to your phone (with push notifications that you can set to your preferences), meaning you will never miss out on the latest positions for LGV drivers, multi-drop drivers, forklift drivers and more, applying at the touch of a button. Select the locations you are interested in working in alongside your availability, and you will be notified when a job meeting your tailored specifications becomes available. Our dedicated driver recruitment consultants continually update the app so you can get into gear for your next position.

Discover the opportunities available at Connect Driver Solutions online, connectdriversolutions.co.uk