A day in the life - Amelia
Here at ESA Group we have a great team of people all dedicated to offering the best service possible to all our clients and candidates. Our latest blog post looks at a typical day at ESA Group for our Procurement & Supply Chain Resourcer Amelia.
Amelia Frizzell - Resourcer for ESA Procurement & Supply Chain
What is a typical day like for you at ESA Group?
My role as a Resourcer mainly focuses on finding the most experienced candidates on the job market within the Procurement and Supply chain industry. This involves finding candidates via online jobs and our company data base and then contacting them to find out more about their experiences and aspirations to see whether they are suitable for the role I am recruiting for. Once a candidate is put forward for a role I then guide them through the interview process and offer them support and advice when needed.
Why did you join ESA Group?
I joined ESA back in January of this year, since graduating with a Degree in English Literature in November of 2015 I was looking to join an organisation which would utilise the skills I had gained at University but also somewhere with a young and dynamic environment. I could really see myself developing within the company as I got a real buzz from the ESA brand. The company seemed to be rapidly expanding its divisions and had a vision for success with the aim to be a leading recruiter within the Midlands. Though I originally joined on a temporary basis as a Marketing Administrator, I quickly progressed to a Resourcer within the Procurement and Supply Chain division. Since joining the company I have received the best support and training I could have hoped for from my fellow colleagues and can see myself improving and developing on a daily basis.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The thing I enjoy the most about my job is speaking to candidates and placing them in organisations that they have always wanted to work for. The process of seeking that perfect candidate and being part of their journey of success really motivates me, as I feel I am able to make a positive impact on people’s lives. The second thing I enjoy is building relationships with candidates on the market, even if we may not have a vacancy quite right for them I think it is important to keep in touch until we find exactly what they are looking for
What do you like to do after work?
As our offices are central Birmingham in Victoria Square, there are so many restaurants and bars to go to after work… one of my personal favourites is Gas Street Social in the Mail Box.
Where is your favorite place to go for a drink after work?
My favourite place to drink is Chameleon Bar which is right by Victoria Square, the whole office usually goes there most Friday’s, their two for one cocktails are some of the best in Birmingham, my drink of choice would be the Bacardi Party!
You can find Amelia's LinkedIn page here.
If you’re interested in finding out more about ESA Procurement and Supply Chain and what we can do for you as an organisation or candidate, then you can read more here.
Networking in Birmingham
Attending networking events is a great way to build lasting relationships with other driven and ambitious people and it will help you grown both personally and professionally. As the second city Birmingham has a wide range of networking groups to suit all organisations. We’ve listed some popular groups below, to give you a glimpse of what Birmingham has to offer for both your career and your business.
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce hosts events around the city with over 5000 attendees a year. The Chamber runs a variety of events including networking, seminars, training courses and exhibitions. Although some events are exclusive to members, non - members are open to attend the majority of events as an opportunity to network. With members from all business sectors the Birmingham Chambers events are a great place to network with key decision makers.
Birmingham Business Breakfast Club
The Birmingham Business Breakfast Club is the oldest networking event within the city and has been running for almost 30 years. Taking place every third Wednesday of the month at Hotel Du Vin, the event runs from 7-9am. Every session typically features a guest speaker discussing local business issues, upcoming speakers include PJ Ellis from Love Brum and Judith Armstrong CEO of Millennium Point.
BNI
BNI Business networking has been in the city for 15 years and currently has 16 groups within the Birmingham area, with over 15,000 referrals a year totalling up to £13.6m of a business a year. Each group only allows one member from a particular business sector so that you are not in competition with other organisations. As well as business networking the BNI also offer training events and business workshops.
The Brummies Networking
The Brummies Networking group is held every second Tuesday in the month at the G Casino in Fiveways from 10am – 12 noon. There are no membership fees and attendees are free to arrive and leave at any time. With no set format the atmosphere at Brummies Networking is fairly laid back with attendees free to grab a coffee and biscuits and have a chat.
Of course these are just a selection of networking groups you will find within Birmingham. Websites such as Eventbrite and Find Networking Events have listings of all upcoming business networking events around the Midlands region.
To read further about the benefits of networking you can read our previous post here.
Women in the Tech Industry
In recent years there has been a lot of talk about the gender gap within the technology industry and steps the tech community can make in order to encourage more females to enter the industry. According to the 2015 Women in IT Scorecard published by BCS within the UK only 13% of those employed as programmers or software developers are female and less than 10% of IT directors in the UK are women.
Even huge global tech companies such as Google and Twitter have a gender gap problem. Only 30% of people employed at Google are women, with 18% of those being technical employees. Whilst over at Twitter the number of women working in technology is so low that one of their company goals for 2016 was to increase the number to 16%.
Many feel that the lack of women within the technology is due to the lack of resources available which allow them to explore the possibility of a career within the industry.
In order to change the perception of career within technology for women many initiatives have been formed in order to ensure more young girls are given the opportunity to learn more about technology.
Even female figures in the spotlight are doing what they can to encourage girls to pursue a career within technology. Supermodel Karlie Kloss takes time out of her schedule to attend coding classes at the Flaitron School and recently opened up application for her ‘Kode with Klossy Career Scholarship’ where one applicant a month will gain free access to a 9 month coding class.
Other initiatives include;
- Girls Who Code
- Google’s Made With Code
- WISE
- TechFuture Girls
ESA Technology have a wide range of technology roles available throughout the West and East Midlands. Take a look at our current opportunities here.
The benefits of interim employment
Interim or fixed term contracts are a popular option for both professionals and organisations, and are a great option for those who may find themselves on the market due to reasons such as redundancy and are now immediately available for work. In this post we look at the benefits of interim contracts as both an employment option and for organisations.
Benefits of hiring interim contractors
- Hire for a specialist project
You may find that your organisation doesn’t need to make a permanent new hire but require someone with a specialised skill set to carry out work that your current workforce may not be qualified to do.
- Immediately available
The majority of interim professionals are immediately available, which means if you find yourself in a position where a role urgently needs filling you can make a quick temporary hire whilst you look for a candidate to permanently fill the role.
- Immediate results
Unlike permanent employees who need time to settle into their new role, interim professionals are able to hit the ground running quickly and businesses are able to see quick results. Benefits of working interim contracts
Benefits of working interim contracts
- Temporary roles may lead to full time employment offers
If you make a good impression within your time there you may find that this could lead to an offer of full time employment. Even if this isn’t the case, you may find you are contacted if a suitable position arises as they will already know your skill set and you are already familiar with the organisation.
- Flexibility to take time out between contracts
One of the unique benefits of interim work is that it allows you the flexibility to take time out between contracts. This is ideal if you have personal commitments or even if you want to take time out for that dream trip!
- Each new organisation will bring further experience to your CV
Interim work provides the opportunity to work within a variety of different organizations allowing you to gain a wide range of experience within a shorter amount of time.
- Make a positive change within the company
Often interim professionals are hired to carry out a specific task during their time with the company, so at the end of your contract you will be able to have examples of the positive impact you have made during your time there.
Beneficial skills for an interim contractor to have
- Work well under pressure
- Strong communication skills
- Hand over proficiency
- Adaptability
If you are considering interim employment or are on the lookout for interim contract roles then why not register with ESA Group here and one of our experienced consultants will be in contact to help find the right role for you. Alternatively you can email us on info@esa-group.co.uk or call 0121 210 5100.
How to prepare your graduate CV
With summer just around the corner many final year students around the UK are nearing the end of their university life and are eagerly awaiting their degree results. Thousands of graduates around the UK will be looking to put their degrees to good use and find a role within their chosen industry, but how can you make your CV relevant you’re fresh out of university with no experience? Writing your graduate CV straight out of university may seem like a daunting task when you have little to no industry experience, but there’s no need to worry. Below we have compiled some tops tips to help you create your graduate CV.
Personal Statement
When it comes to writing your personal statement it is always best to ensure it is tailor made for the specific role you are applying for, no one likes reading generic statements and people will probably be able to tell. It can be useful to read through the ‘desirable skills’ section of the job specification to see what kind of person the organisation are looking for and use this as a basis for you to write your personal statement.
Be sure to talk about your career objectives and how you’re looking to achieve them within the next few years, employers will want to see that you are focused and career minded.
Education
When listing your education details it is always best to list them in reverse chronological order, as follows;
- Degree
- A Level
- GCSE’s
As your degree will be the area that you have the most relevant experience in it is best to focus on that and only add the basic details for A Level and GCSE to allow for more space. For example with GCSE’s you can just write the number and your general grades; e.g. 11 GCSE’s grade A-C.
When writing about your degree give the reader an idea of your university course and the experience you obtained. For example, if you have experience of in areas such as project management, presentation skills or leadership make sure you include these as they are transferable skills that can be used in the workplace.
It’s not necessary to list all the modules you took whilst at University but if you feel they are relevant to the job role then be sure to include it.
Previous employment
At first glance you may feel that you don’t have enough previous work experience but don’t be dismayed, as a recent graduate potential employers will know that you will have limited industry experience.
Don’t forget to include any internships, work experience or voluntary work you may have undertaken, these are a great way of showing any relevant skills you have developed.
Layout example
- Company name, Job title, Dates
- A sentence outlining your role
- Bullet points summarising your specific responsibilities
- Any evidence you may have of any specific achievements within this role
Hobbies and interests
This isn’t a vital section to include but if you feel that you have hobbies or interests outside of work that you feel are relevant to your application then feel free to include them in your CV. It’s also nice to show a bit of your personality shine through.
If you’re a recent graduate looking to take the first steps in your future career then why not register with ESA Group here and one of our experienced consultants will be in contact to help find the right role for you. Alternatively you can email us on info@esa-group.co.uk or call 0121 210 5100.
How to ace your telephone interview
With so many candidates within the job market telephone interviews are now a common practice among organisations as a quick and cost effective means of whittling down candidates to advance onto a face-to-face interview. Below we’ve compiled some top tips for acing your telephone interview.
No distractions
Although you aren’t face to face with your interviewer it is important to stay engaged throughout the process and ensure there is nothing around you that may distract you from the conversation. Make sure all technology around you such as your TV or laptop is switched off. It’s also best to ensure any friends or family are out of the room.
Research the company
Just as you would with any interview researching the company is vital pre-interview preparation. The best place to head to is the company website as it will have all the background information required and also any other news and future plans they may have as a business. Information like this can help set you apart from other candidates.
Have your CV to hand
When taking part in a phone interview it is always best to have your CV printed out beside you. Although your interviewer will most likely have a copy with them, it is always best to have your CV to hand ready to refer to when asked questions about your experience.
Be professional
This one should really go without saying but you should always maintain your professionalism throughout your conversation as you would with a face-to face interview. Make sure the conversation gets off to a good start by answering the phone in a professional manner. “Good morning, John Smith speaking”, is a good way to answer. As the interviewer can’t see your face it is also important that your voice reflects your enthusiasm for the role.
Take notes
Taking notes throughout the conversation will help you flag any questions you may want to ask the interviewer. It may also be useful to take note of any questions and your responses that you can refer to if you proceed to the next round of interviews.