Want to work with the best of Generation Y? Here’s how to attract the top talent.

Retaining and attracting the best talent in any business is difficult and it’s even more important for a growing company in a competitive marketplace.

Smart companies know that they're only as good as their most gifted workers, and will therefore prioritize seeking out the best of the best for their organizations.

As technology continues to evolve, it will play an increasingly important role in the way companies and HR teams approach the talent search and the hiring process. So, what's on the horizon for this important area of business operations?

The future is digital

When LinkedIn and online job applications first emerged, they were seen as supplements to the traditional paper résumé and in-person interview. Today, the world of recruiting is nearly 100% digital.

CVs are starting to be displaced by evolving digital representations of an individual’s experience, skills, and aptitudes. Innovative tools that use social media, big data and other tech will give hiring managers detailed insights into a person’s aptitude that was never possible before.

Not even twenty years ago, the résumé was just a piece of paper. And most people would struggle to verify that even half of it was true. Now, recruiters can assess whether a person will ‘fit’ with the personality of their business, and accurately learn whether they have the right skills for the job by using a wide array of digital tools.

Want to hire somebody from another country? Now there’s no need to fly them in at great expense. Simply use a video based interview over Skype or similar, along with a variety online assessments, and you can quantify your candidates just as efficiently as if you met them in person.

Streamlined applications

Today's job seekers know their worth and are aware of the competitive landscape. They see opportunities everywhere, and if one employer takes too long to respond or makes it difficult to apply, they'll quickly pass it up for another job opening.

Talent acquisition has suddenly become a seller’s market. One way to address this is by using recruitment marketing technologies such as candidate job portals, employee onboarding and specialty tools that foster employee referrals.

Although some small employers can’t afford sophisticated tech, they can still use the basics. Even by posting a job ad on their own website, together with a campaign on any existing social media networks, they can still reach job hunters with an engaging and simple process.

Maximise your employment brand

Savvy candidates will evaluate company brands before applying to or accepting a job, much in the same way they evaluate consumer brands when shopping. They’ll be researching you just as much as you are them, so it’s important your public facing brand meets their expectations.

A poor website or inactive social feeds will soon turn a potential employee off. They’ll want to be actively engaged with you company before they apply, or they’ll be unlikely to understand whether their personality will work with yours.

Similarly, don’t forget that there are even digital hubs out there that are starting to review how good your employees perceive you as a business. Sites such as Glassdoor are becoming increasingly important when it comes to looking after your brand.

Focus on passive candidates

As the number of Generation Y — and soon, Gen Z — workers continue to increase, recruiters are learning that these employees' expectations about the hiring process differ from those of older generations.

Those who’ve been raised on technology don’t really accept the legacy concepts of recruiting and many are used to head hunters coming to them, rather than vice versa. This is even starting to become true for junior roles too.

It’s becoming more and more important for a recruiter to be proactive when finding candidates, such as through LinkedIn and other social profiles. Today’s professionals take their online positioning very seriously and many even have their own website to showcase their work.

Whilst digital tools will never fully replace the human instinct necessary for identifying the right candidates, an ability to stay on top of technological trends could be a company’s biggest advantage going forward.

Taking advantage of tools which go beyond paper will help you ensure you make the right hire and ultimately save your business time, headaches and cash.

To find out how ESA Group can use digital tools to find you the best candidates, contact us today for a free consultation.

6 Leadership Qualities to Develop If You Want To Be a Great Manager

These personality traits can be developed and nurtured to help further your career and your role as a leader, at work, in your community, or in life in general.

Even if you’re not currently a manager, or don’t wish to be, these qualities can still be really useful in the workplace and help you on that road to promotion:

1. Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another is incredibly important in any workplace environment and can help manage conflict. However, it’s become even more important as businesses compete to better understand the needs of their customers. Customers don’t want to be analysed. They want brands to understand what they want and need. Empathetic leaders tend to function better within a company and can fuel growth by bringing the team together more efficiently.

2. Optimism

You might think that, if someone is being optimistic, it indicates confidence (and in some cases arrogance) in a successful outcome. Whereas blind optimism and egotism isn’t a good thing, optimistic leaders can inspire and motivate teams with energy and positivity.

3. Forgiveness

No one enjoys the boss who lords every mistake they’ve ever made over their head. There is real power in allowing employees to take calculated risks, but they have to know it’s not going to be held against them later. Doing so kills creativity and motivation. It causes people to think twice before bringing a new idea to the table, or experimenting with a new process or product. Learn how to forgive mistakes to nurture creativity and inspiration and your team will pay you back ten-fold.

4. Altruism

Looking after colleagues and helping them to do better, feel better, and perform better will create a good, productive atmosphere in the office. Famously, no man is an island. Shared credit will help you all look better to board. Although this isn’t a traditional leadership quality, those with great power and strength will always look to those around them for help.

5. Eloquence

The ability to speak and write persuasively has gained importance in the age of digital communications. People expect leaders to communicate and they want to be “wowed.” An eloquent speech can close a deal. An eloquent memo to staff can quell fears, dampen dissent, or inspire people to reach new heights. Practice your writing and speaking to become a more effective, persuasive leader.

6. Modesty

No one likes to hear how awesome someone else is all the time, especially when it’s someone blowing their own horn. Let your work speak for itself. Confidence can a great trait, but should be tempered with modesty to gain the most respect.

This article was based on an idea by Larry Kim.

Five Tips to Work Smarter, Not Harder, in 2017

Five top tips for a productive 2017.

Here are some useful pointers to help you work smarter and not harder during 2017:

1) Create mental space at the start of the day

What’s the first thing many of us do as soon as we wake up? Or once we’ve found a (cramped) space on the train or bus for the daily commute? We grab our mobiles and check social media or the latest news.

Whether you commute to an office or work from home, create space in your mind at the start of the day for internal reflection on what you want to achieve.

Try and avoid getting caught up in the first thing that looks urgent or interesting, without really thinking about your broader priorities. Do nothing for 15 minutes, leave your phone switched off and give yourself some space to think high level.

2) Break regularly

Reflecting on how successful you’ve been on a task largely only happens when you’ve stopped doing it. Take regular breaks to reset your mind and give you some closure on your recent work. Although powering through can feel like you’re being more productive, your end result may end up being less successful.

Also, ensure you get at least 30 minutes for lunch. Give your mind some time off and avoid looking on your computer phone for the duration. When you return to your desk, you’ll feel far more refreshed.

3) Monotask

There aren’t many of us who are brilliant at multi-tasking. Although we might think we are great at doing many different things at the same time, our brains can’t cope with focussing on each task as a whole.

When our brain switches between lots of different focus points, we become tired and less productive. So, instead, try monotasking more often. Choose one thing to work on and do that thing for 60-90 minutes. Any longer and you may lose momentum.

Prioritise your tasks and reduce your stress by writing each task down first and working through them in order.

4) Manage interruptions

Anybody who has a mildly stressful or busy job will tell you that they’re often being pulled multiple directions on an hourly basis. How can you get anything done?!

Ringfence time for yourself and don't feel guilty for doing so. Turn off your notifications, and close down your email when you’re trying to finish off that important proposal. When you’re done, you can answer those emails that came through whilst you were busy.

Many of you may think this is unrealistic; you need to be available for your clients at all times, right? Not necessarily. Your clients don’t know where you are, or what you’re doing every minute of the day. They won’t expect you to reply immediately. Create your own ‘available’ times and let your clients know when they’ll receive the answer they require.

5) Look after your body

Clarity of mind is closely linked to the condition of your body. If you feel sub-optimal, you'll perform that way. You don't need to hit the gym every day; it's more about the small things. Go for a short walk on your break, even just to the local coffee house; it will get the blood flowing. We also underestimate the importance of oxygen and water.

Dehydration limits brain function, so keep a 1.5 litre bottle of water on your desk and finish it by the end of each day

Whatever your challenges in 2017, remember that everything is within your control. With a little discipline and dedication to managing your environment, you can make it the best year yet!

This post was based on an original idea by Urban Guru.

Why You Should be Career Planning for 2018, Not 2017.

Before writing the first chapter of the Harry Potter series of books, J. K. Rowling planned for seven years at Hogwarts. J.K. Rowling is now one of the most read authors of all-time.

Before creating the first Stars Wars movie in the 1970’s, George Lucas planned for at least six films and started at episode four, rather than episode one. Almost 40 years later, the entire world continues to be excited with the release of a new Star Wars film. This would not be possible if Lucas hadn’t thoughtfully and largely planned ahead.

The principle is simple: Don’t just plant a tree, plant an orchard.

How different might Harry Potter have been if Rowling started the book without any intentions or plans beyond the first book? It may have just been a book about a boy who went to school and killed a bad guy. Perhaps, at the conclusion of that story, Rowling might or might not have decided to write a sequel.

Yet, by “beginning with the end in mind,” Rowling was able to direct and position the first book much differently. The first book, although amazing in itself, was a means to an end, clearly leading the reader to the next book.

Not only that, but by having a long-term objective, Rowling was able to create a much bigger story. She was able to foreshadow to things the reader wouldn’t learn about for sometimes several years!

But she planted those seeds early and thoughtfully, and as a result, each book was a continuation of the next, rather than several disconnected and random stories.

Very few people think this way. But you can and you can apply this to your career goals.

You are the writer of your own narrative. Yet, how often do you plan each year based on what you intend to do during the next year, or the one after that?

What if, like Rowling, you were living this year based on what you intend to do in 1, 3, and 5 years from now?

It’s all in the set up. Career goals are means, not ends.

Everything you do is positioning. Are you positioning yourself to do AMAZING things in 1, 3, or 5 years from now? Have you got enough knowledge to be able to do that job you want to be promoted into this year? Can you get on a training course to give you the skills that you and your company needs?

But you can’t plan for the future, you may say! The real world isn’t Hogwarts! What about Brexit? What about Trump? Well, so what.

Obviously, the world is changing fast. You can’t plan for everything. There will be barriers thrown in your way. But, if you can keep yourself motivated, and stay committed to reaching your goals then you will be in the best position to succeed.

Here's a simpler example: Have you got a new year’s resolution? Have you managed to keep it so far? Stats suggest that only 8% of people keep their new year’s resolutions. This is because most people aren’t fully committed in their decision making and don’t position themselves to reach their goals.

Giving up alcohol is a common resolution for a lot of people. However, in the majority, the temptation to drink can become too great before the end of January.

So, how can you make it more likely to achieve your goal?

Try removing your temptations and put yourself in the best possible position to succeed. Take all the alcohol in the house and put it in a box. Tape the box up and put it somewhere that you won’t pass it daily.

Get an invite from friends to meet up in a bar or pub? There’s no need to decline, but ask your pals to meet somewhere they don’t serve alcohol. Failing that, don’t take out enough cash to allow you to buy the beer or wine you’ll no doubt crave when your friends are opening the next bottle of red.

Stay driven. Remind yourself why you’re making the resolution. Write some motivational post-its and stick them to the fridge.

But, what happens when it becomes too difficult?

According to one of the core theories of motivation, motivation involves three components:

• The value you place on your goal.
• Your belief that specific behaviours will actually facilitate the outcomes you desire.
• Your belief in your own abilityto successfully execute the behaviours requisite to achieving your goals.

If you don’t truly value the goal, you won’t be motivated. If you don’t believe you have effective means of achieving your goal, you won’t be motivated. If you don’t expect yourself to do what it takes, you won’t be motivated.

This theory is known as “Expectancy Theory,” and it highlights that what you expect to happen often does. Hence the term, “self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Interestingly, there is a related concept known as “The Pygmalion Effect,” which shows that what other people expect of you in large measure determines how well you do.

The principles are simple: Expect amazing things to happen and they generally will. Surround yourself with people who have high expectations for youand you’ll generally live up to those expectations.

Conclusion: Be humble.

Does everything in life go exactly how you plan it? Of course not.

Here’s the principle: Expect great things to happen, be happy even when they don’t.

However, just because things don’t go exactly according to plan doesn’t mean you aren’t in control. It is your decisions, not your conditions, which determine your destiny.

When you take up the responsibility to live your life according to design rather than default, you will constantly be humbled and in awe. You’ll be blown away as you watch life unfold as you saw it in your head — as your physical world conforms itself to your thoughts.

You absolutely can live your life how Rowling wrote Harry Potter and how Lucas wrote Star Wars.

You can dream and live BIG.

You can achieve those grand career goals you desire!

But you must think further ahead. 2017 shouldn’t be viewed in isolation. It’s an obvious continuation of 2016 and the precursor to 2018. Whatever skills and knowledge you need to bag your dream job in the future. Start to plan how you acquire them today.

This blog post was adapted from an original idea written by Benjamin P Hardy.

The Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Autumn Expo 2016

The Barclaycard Arena was the setting for the annual Chambers of Commerce Autumn Expo last Friday and two members of the ESA team Lisa and Ben went along to take a look at the exhibitors and do some networking with local businesses. Our Marketing Manager Lisa gives us the lowdown on the popular event below.

What is the Autumn Expo all about?

The Autumn Expo is an eventful day full of opportunity; there is a real strength in attending either as a delegate or an exhibitor, because under one roof you’ll find pretty much every business that matters across the Birmingham region. The event was attended by over 500 SMEs and there were over 75 exhibitors from lots of business sectors; so with Birmingham being at the centre of ESA Group’s locational remit, it was fundamental to attend. It’s an ideal occasion to meet potential customers and engage with the wider business community. In a nutshell, the Autumn Expo was a great way for us to:

• Network
• Promote our company
• Increase our service profile
• Find new suppliers for marketing needs
• Generate sales leads
• Make new business contacts

What aspect did you enjoy most about the event?

The free tea and coffee…..haha joke!

On a serious note, these business events are about much more than just showing up, grabbing free snacks and passing out business cards. They are about meeting people and what this can lead to for your business. The BCOC Autumn Expo was a great way for myself and Ben, one of our Marketing Consultants, to raise ESA Group’s profile with others in the Birmingham business community. For me personally, as Marketing Manager, it was great to meet potential suppliers to support our marketing needs, for example website and printing services. Also great for developing existing business relationships, because this was the first time I met Paula, our Account Manager at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. It was good to finally meet someone face-to-face and get to know them better, and understand more about how our partnership with BCOC can benefit ESA Group.

Why do you think networking is important?

• Networking is a great way to stay current on trends in your industry and those of your target market - particularly relevant if the event is given by your industry field
• Attending events allows you to learn from and be motivated by powerful speakers or businesses
• It gives you the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with other like minded professionals

To read more information on the benefits of networking take a look at our blog post here.

Did you go to any of the seminars?

Unfortunately, we missed the one which would have been great to attend – Connect your Business to New Opportunities through Social Media. We were too busy talking to some of the exhibitors to realise the time and they were unable to let us in (understandably) once it has started.

If you would like to find out more about the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce then head over to their website here.

The Importance of Supporting Good Mental Health in the Workplace

Monday saw Mental Health Awareness day take place, which is a day to educate and raise awareness of mental Illness and the effects it has on those around us. Over half of workers (53.2%) report that stress is an issue for them in their current workplace according to research carried out by CV-Library to coincide with National Work Week.

The top causes of work place stress given by those asked were;

• Bad management – 65.8%
• Low morale within the workplace – 38.1%
• Unfriendly colleagues – 35.7%
• Heavy workloads – 34.1%
• Long working hours – 29.3%
• Poor work/life balance – 25.5%

Worryingly 89% of workers surveyed think that being susceptible to stress at work can have a negative impact on their career progression. The recently published Mental Health at Work Report also showed there is lack of knowledge and awareness amongst employers.

It goes without saying that good physical and mental health and wellbeing of employees are essential to the ongoing success of a company.

According to the Mental Health Foundation over 70 million working days are lost each year due to poor mental health. This includes everything from symptoms of anxiety and stress to the more complex mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

So what can employers do to ensure they are supporting good mental health and awareness in the workplace? The Mental Health at Work Report (2016), suggests that employers can take the following calls to action;

1. Talk

Break the culture of silence that surrounds mental health by taking the Time to Change employers pledge.

2. Train

Invest in basic mental health literacy for all employees and first aid training in mental health to support Line Manager capability.

3. Take action

Close the gap by asking all staff about their experiences in order to identify the disconnect that exist in the organisation between what you are committed to and what you employees are experiencing.

You can find out more about the Mental Health Report here and access the Mental Health tool kit for employers here .