Post holiday blues
With summer just around the corner many of us will soon be jetting off on our summer holidays for a relaxing break. It’s always a bit of a struggle getting back into the swing of things when you head back to work but below we’ve compiled some top tips to ensure your return to the office is as smooth as possible.
1. Get the ball rolling
Starting your day off with a few easier tasks that you know you can complete without any fuss is a great way to help get back into the swing of things. Once a few of these are ticked off your list you’ll be feeling motivated and ready to tackle the rest of the day.
2. Arrange a catch up
Why not arrange to have a catch up after work, that way you give yourself something to look forward to at the end of the day! Having a catch up gives you a chance to have a chat about your holiday and keep the excitement going a bit longer.
3. Dress to impress
Why not plan to wear your favourite outfit for your first day back to work? Wearing your favourite outfit has been proven to brighten your mood and give you a boost of confidence.
4. Write a list
Making a to do list can really help you work out what it is you need to do upon your return to work. Try doing a task list for the day and then for the week and then the whole month so you know exactly what it is you need to do and you’re not inundated with work your first couple of days back into the office.
5. Prioritize your emails
When you return to work your email inbox will no doubt be inundated with emails which can be overwhelming. To tackle this go through your emails chronologically and sort them into the following categories;
- if it can be dealt with now, then do it straight away;
- if it needs further action, then move to your action list;
- if you don’t need it, delete it;
- if you need to keep it for reference, file it.
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.
Increase in Birmingham job applications
In light of last Friday’s Brexit shock many are now unsure of what the future holds for Britain but one is for sure business in Birmingham is booming. Last month Birmingham businesses saw a 19.5% increase in job applications according to CV Library’s job market data from May 2015 to May 2016. According to the data last year also saw a 7.1% increase in jobs available across Birmingham.
CV Library reported that growth was seen across many sectors across the second city. The top 10 industries to see an increase in applications in May 2016 are;
- Hospitality – 100.8% growth
- Legal – 91.5% growth
- Catering – 77.1% growth
- Electronics – 73.2% growth
- Property Services – 67.2% growth
- Distribution – 57.5% growth
- Automotive – 42.1% growth
- IT – 34.4% growth
- Administration – 33.4% growth
- Marketing – 27.3% growth
In recent years Birmingham has seen an influx of new arrivals in the city and many more are announcing their intentions to make a move.
In May the BBC announced that its BBC Three would relocating to the city by 2018. The team will be located in the Mailbox where BBC Birmingham is currently based. The BBC has currently increased its investment to £125 million a year in Birmingham, with around 700 employees within the city currently.
HSBC will be bringing 1000 more jobs to the city upon completion of its new 9.2 acre UK headquarters at 2 Arena Central in 2019. The Midlands is currently the UK’s fourth biggest financial services hub behind the South East and North West but HSBC’s move will bring the Midlands closer to ranking third.
Upcoming developments such as HS2 and expansions at Birmingham Airport will no doubt add to the economic growth within the region, with the West Midlands Combined Authority setting a target for 500,000 new jobs within the West Midlands within the next 15 years.
5 Alternative CV's
Last week graduate Sumukh Mehta hit the headlines for his stand out CV which landed him an internship with GQ magazine without even having to go to an interview. In recent years alternative style CV’s have become increasingly popular with applicants across the globe determined to make themselves stand out in the job market. With everything from YouTube videos, board games and milk cartons being used by candidates to gain that competitive edge we’ve compiled our five favourite alternative CV’s below.
Robby Leonardi
Web designer Robby Leonardi designed this Super Mario style video game in order to get himself and his work out there to potential employers. As the ‘player’ of the game you are taken through Robby’s experiences, skills and examples of his work. You can play the full game yourself here.
Sumukh Mehta
Sumukh Mehta created a 20 page replica GQ magazine complete with stories about his life, work experience and education. The CV took 3 weeks to make with Sumukh carrying out all the graphic design, photography and content writing. The CV was sent to GQ offices in London, New York and Mumbai and Sumkh was subsequently offered an internship at British GQ without even having to go through an interview.
María Ortiz
Marketer María Ortiz created using her CV using online presentation programme Prezi. María wanted to create something visual which would keep potential employers reading and wanting to know more.
Her goal was to create a CV that “captured the reader’s attention and curiosity, tell her story and who she is and where she’s come from. María’s CV includes comments from friends and ex colleagues to help give a glimpse into her personality as well as her professional experience.
Miguel Rato
Miguel Rato came up with the idea to produce a “creative lunch box” in order to make himself stand out from the crowd and secure his dream role at Wieden & Kennedy. Since creating his milk box CV Miguel has worked with some big industry names such as Google.
Melissa Washin
Graphic Designer Melissa Washin wanted to put across her passion for sewing to potential employers and as a result created these fabric CV’s.
Melissa printed her information onto iron on paper which she then transferred onto white fabric and then sewed into patterned fabrics. The effort paid off with Melissa being offered the very first job she applied for out of college!
What do you think of these alternative style CV’s, are they just a flash in the pan or a great way to ensure you stand out from other candidates in the market?
If you’re looking for some more traditional CV tips then why not check out our top tips for CV writing here.
Graduate Advice
Leaving university is both an exciting and nerve wracking time, after three years of studying it’s finally time to enter the real world and put that degree you’ve gained to good use. We’ve compiled some top tips to help you get your life after university off to a good start.
Your CV
Writing your CV straight out of University may seem like a daunting task but a great CV can make the difference between whether you get that interview or not.
Your graduate CV should contain the following;
- Personal statement
Ensure this is tailored to each individual application as the reader will most likely be able to tell it is a generic statement.
- Education
Within this section your degree will be the main focus as it will be the area in which you will have gained the most relevant experience within your chosen field.
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
Although you may feel that your previous employment may not be relevant to your application 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.
- Hobbies and interests
This isn’t a vital section to include but it’s nice to let a little bit of your personality shine through to your potential employers.
You can read our full article on Graduate CV’s here.
Internships
Internships are a great way to gain real industry experience after leaving University. As well as helping to get your foot in the door of the industry, internships also benefit your personal development and enables you to improve on key skills such as time management and team work. You may also find that internships can potentially lead to job offers.
You can read our full guide to Internships here.
Graduate Schemes
Graduate schemes are notoriously popular amongst University leavers, with the chances of gaining a place within a large organisation statistically being 1-in-10. Most graduate schemes take applications from January – September for the following September with an average starting salary of £25,000.
The career opportunities for those accepted onto graduate schemes can be huge, as all of your training will be done on the job your chances of progression within the company are vastly increased.
Networking
Networking is a great way to engage with other professionals within your industry and will help you grow both personally and professionally. By regularly attending networking events you will find that your personal profile within your industry will start to increase. Networking not only allows you to find out the latest industry news and developments and engage with other professionals but you may also find that it presents potential work opportunities.
You may come across individuals or business that are hiring or looking to collaborate and you can use the opportunity to talk about your experience and the skills you have gained whilst at University. Even if this isn’t the case you can utilise the time with experienced people within your industry and get advice on how you can get your career off to the best start.
You can read our full article on the benefits of networking here.
Recruitment agencies/ Job boards
Whether online or in the local paper, job boards and local advertisements are a tried and tested way of finding jobs.
ESA Group have a variety of Graduate roles available throughout the West and East Midlands region. Our dedicated team of consultants deal are specialists within their fields and can help you find your ideal job with Marketing, Technology, HR and Procurement and Supply Chain. To find out more click 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.