&nbsp;
In today's competitive job market, having a strong LinkedIn profile is essential for job seekers. But simply having a profile is not enough; you need to optimize it to ensure recruiters and companies can easily find you amidst the vast sea of professionals on the platform. In this blog post, we will explore effective strategies to optimize your LinkedIn profile for search, increasing your chances of being discovered by recruiters and landing your dream job.
 So how can you optimise your profile for better search visibility? 
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Utilise Relevant Keywords:</h3>
Keywords play a vital role in search optimisation. (Also known as Search Engine Optimisation SEO - the process includes making online content more visible and easily discoverable by search) Identify relevant keywords that align with your industry, skills, and job market. Incorporate these keywords naturally throughout your profile, including your headline, summary, experience section, and skills. This helps search algorithms and recruiters find you based on specific criteria.
&nbsp;
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Leverage Recommendations:</h3>
LinkedIn recommendations not only validate your skills but also contribute to your search visibility. Request recommendations from colleagues, supervisors, or clients who can speak to your expertise and work ethic. These recommendations not only enhance your profile's credibility but also contain keywords that further optimize your visibility.
&nbsp;
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Regularly Update Your Profile:</h3>
An updated profile shows that you are actively engaged on LinkedIn and increases your visibility in search results. Regularly update your profile with new skills, certifications, accomplishments, and relevant industry keywords. Be sure to include details of recent projects, promotions, and any other relevant information to reflect your current professional status accurately.
&nbsp;
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Make Use of LinkedIn's CV Upload Feature:</h3>
LinkedIn now offers a new feature that allows job seekers to upload their CV and share all the information with recruiters via the "resume search" function. By including your CV on LinkedIn, recruiters can find you based on skills and keywords from your CV, even if they haven't visited your LinkedIn profile yet. Rest assured, your full CV remains private unless you submit it for a specific job opening.
&nbsp;
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Utilise LinkedIn's Advanced Search Features:</h3>
LinkedIn's advanced search features are powerful tools to find relevant job opportunities and expand your professional network. Use filters such as location, industry, experience level, and keywords to narrow down your search. By tailoring your searches, you can discover opportunities that align with your skills and experience.
&nbsp;
Optimising your LinkedIn profile for enhanced search visibility is crucial for job seekers aiming to stand out in the competitive job market. By incorporating relevant keywords, leveraging recommendations, and regularly updating your profile, you increase your chances of being discovered by recruiters and companies. Be sure to take advantage of LinkedIn's CV upload feature to expand your reach and utilize the advanced search features to find opportunities that align with your skills and experience.
Remember, a well-optimised LinkedIn profile increases your visibility and puts you on the radar of potential employers! Invest time and effort into optimizing your profile and watch as new career opportunities come knocking at your virtual door.

Optimising Your LinkedIn Profile for Enhanced Search Visibility

&nbsp;
Having a solid online presence is crucial for job seekers in the competitive job market and LinkedIn is the go-to platform for professional networking, offering powerful networking opportunities. If you're on the hunt for a new job, LinkedIn should be your chosen tool to connect with industry peers, stay updated on industry trends, and search for job opportunities.
It&rsquo;s also a recruiter&rsquo;s best friend. Eligo consultants use it to source excellent talent like you for our live roles. So, it&rsquo;s important to make sure you enhance your LinkedIn profile to make an impression on recruiters and prospective employers.
Let&rsquo;s delve into the importance of having a strong LinkedIn profile and cover some valuable tips for creating one.
Reasons why LinkedIn is great: (we are in no way sponsored by LinkedIn for this blog post, we're just big fans)
&nbsp;
Networking Opportunities:
LinkedIn is an ideal platform for expanding your professional connections. In building a strong LinkedIn profile, you can connect with like-minded people, industry leaders, recruiters, and potential employers. This can lead to gaining some valuable insights about your industry, job opportunities, and referrals that can only improve your career prospects.
&nbsp;
Job Searching:
LinkedIn's dedicated job search feature has revolutionized the way people search for job opportunities. Your strong LinkedIn profile serves as a digital resume. You'll showcase your skills, experience and accomplishments to potential employers. Optimising your profile with keywords relating to your industry and job can also increase your chances of being discovered by recruiters actively searching for qualified candidates.
&nbsp;
Staying Up-to-Date:
Beyond being a great job search tool, LinkedIn is also a valuable resource for staying informed about industry trends, news, and insights.
Grow your knowledge and create opportunities for meaningful conversations by following industry influencers, join relevant groups and engage in conversations. (Comments on a post are best!)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Tips for Creating an Effective LinkedIn Profile:
&nbsp;
Choose a professional headshot Opt for a high-quality, friendly, headshot to make a positive first impression and make it authentic to you and your personality.
&nbsp;
Craft a compelling summary This is your chance to show off your unique personality and highlight your most relevant accomplishments. Showcase skills, experience, and career aspirations.&nbsp; Be concise but engaging. And incorporating relevant keywords to your industry, job role or desired role.  
Highlight skills and experience Skills and experience sections are the bread and butter of your profile. This is where you showcase your expertise, accomplishments, and that killer internship you rocked back in the day. Be specific, be concise, and don't be afraid to flex your professional muscles and capture recruiters&rsquo; attention.  
Request recommendations Encourage colleagues, managers, or clients to provide recommendations that confirm your skills and expertise, to enhance profile credibility. Some nice words said about you from a friend and colleague can help your profile shine, and a nice ego boost too.  
Engage with the platform&nbsp; Actively participate in discussions, share industry-related content, and comment on relevant posts on a regular basis to establish your presence, expand networks, and boost your visibility on the platform.
&nbsp;
In the current job market's competitive landscape, a strong LinkedIn profile is no longer optional but a necessity for job seekers. It serves as a powerful tool for networking, job searching, and staying up to date on industry trends.
&nbsp;
By following the tips mentioned above, you can create a compelling LinkedIn profile, maximize your chances of landing a dream job, expand your professional network, and establish yourself as a thought leader.
&nbsp;
Invest time and effort into crafting a strong LinkedIn profile and reap the benefits of this invaluable professional platform!

Tips for Creating an Effective LinkedIn Profile

Job interviews can be nerve-wracking experiences for many candidates. The pressure to perform well and make a lasting impression can trigger interview anxiety. However, with the right preparation and mindset, you can overcome those jitters and ace your interviews. In this blog, we'll provide practical advice, effective techniques, and real-life examples to help you conquer interview anxiety and land your dream job.
&nbsp;
<h4>Prepare Thoroughly</h4>
Research the company: Gain insights into its mission, values, and recent news. Tailor your responses to showcase how your skills align with their goals.
 Understand the role: Study the job description and requirements. Identify key skills and experiences they seek, and prepare relevant examples to demonstrate your suitability.
 Practice common interview questions: Anticipate the questions you may be asked and rehearse your answers. Practice with a friend or record yourself to improve your delivery and confidence. 
<h4>Master your body language</h4>
 Positive posture: Sit upright, maintain eye contact, and lean slightly forward to show engagement and confidence.
 Smile and gestures: A warm smile and appropriate hand gestures can help build rapport and convey enthusiasm.
 Active listening: Show attentiveness by nodding, maintaining eye contact, and responding thoughtfully to the interviewer's questions.
&nbsp;
<h4>Visualise success</h4>
Mental rehearsal: Imagine yourself succeeding in the interview. Visualize a positive outcome, confident responses, and a good rapport with the interviewer. This technique helps reduce anxiety and builds self-assurance.
 Positive self-talk: Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Remember your strengths, accomplishments, and why you're a strong candidate.
&nbsp;
<h4>Emphasize your accomplishments</h4>
 Use the STAR method: Structure your responses using the Situation, Task, Action, and Result format. Highlight specific achievements and quantify the impact of your actions whenever possible. For more on how to use the STAR method, <a title="STAR interview help blog" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/could-you-provide-a-star-interview-answer-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read this.</a> 
Relate experiences to the role: Connect your past experiences to the requirements of the job. Share success stories that demonstrate your ability to handle challenges and contribute to the company's objectives.
 Prepare questions for the interviewer: Show interest and engagement by asking thoughtful questions about the company, team dynamics, or the role itself.&nbsp;Examples: "Could you describe the company culture?" "What opportunities for growth and professional development exist within the organization?"
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
<h4>Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques</h4>
Deep breathing exercises: Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat this several times to calm your nerves. Mindful meditation: Prior to the interview, spend a few minutes focusing on your breath, observing your thoughts without judgment, and cultivating a sense of calm. 
 Overcoming interview anxiety requires diligent preparation, positive visualization, and effective communication techniques. By implementing the strategies mentioned above and practising them consistently, you can build confidence, present yourself authentically, and leave a lasting impression on your interviewers. Remember, interviews are opportunities to showcase your skills and experiences. With the right mindset and preparation, you can overcome anxiety and secure the job of your dreams. Good luck!

Mastering Interview Anxiety: Expert Tips and Techniques for your next job interview 

Eligo Medical
Time to dust off the cobwebs of winter and look towards spring, a change of scene and new starts.
Eligo Medical work with a large range of primary care providers including leading GP practices, surgeries, prisons, out-of-hours and walk-in centres that are looking for Locum GPs to work flexible sessions.&nbsp;
Our medical consultants can offer you a personalised, specialist service for Locum GPs and Nurses, with a dedicated consultant, weekly payroll, and a constant steady stream of bookings, our Medical team want to continue to redefine the medical contract recruitment world and share our successes.
As such we are happy to announce that this month to celebrate the change of seasons, we have a great offer for all new Locum GPs and Nurses who are looking to work with an agency that is tailored to their needs and will provide them with the work they want.
For all new Doctors and Nurses who fully register with us this month, we are offering;
* One extra hour on your first timesheet *
All you need to do is get in touch with us for a quick chat and quote &ldquo;Spring Medical Offer&rdquo; and fully register, it&rsquo;s as simple as that.
We&rsquo;re very excited about bringing you our expertise in the medical contract recruitment market and successfully helping you gain excellent medical contract and locum work at top rates, hassle-free!
&nbsp;
What can you get from booking your GP sessions through Eligo?
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">Fast-track registration and dedicated one-to-one support from an expert medical consultant</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">GP jobs with a wide variety of medical opportunities, rates, locations and institutions available</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Top rates of pay, paid weekly through our in-house payroll function.</li>
</ul>
We&rsquo;re really looking forward to working with you!
To find out more about Eligo Medical please take a look <a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/sectors/medical">here</a> or contact one of our expert consultants <a title="Contact medical" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us">here.</a>
<img src="https://cdn.sourceflow.co.uk/b4nsfayyvsqwvrk3dl1vr5vl0vhq" alt="" width="400" height="267"><img src="https://cdn.sourceflow.co.uk/92tq33hvk2hy5v7rzqarse1346aw" alt="" width="400" height="267">
&nbsp;
If you would like to view our current vacancies please&nbsp;<a title="medical jobs" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs/medical/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>.
&nbsp;
Eligo Medical are a leading medical contract recruitment agency placing Locum GPs, Locum Nurses, Phlebotomists and more across a range of primary care providers (both private and public) including GP Practices, Surgeries, Out-of-hours, HMP Prisons, Walk in Centres (WIC), or Urgent Care Centres (UCC) We also have a large number of positions within these primary care providers across London and the South.

Looking for Locum GP or Nurse Work? Take advantage of Eligo Medical’s Spring Offer! 

When the time comes to move onto your next&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/job-search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&amp;search%5Bquery%5D=SAP&amp;search%5Blocation%5D=&amp;search%5Bradius%5D=50.0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SAP role</a>&nbsp;it is important to make sure you take the time to write a&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(216, 0, 115);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/blog/2015/12/how-to-write-a-successful-cv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">successful CV</a>. The first thing a future employer generally uses to decide whether they will consider you for the job is your CV. Learn how to write a successful SAP CV and you will impress very quickly whilst a bad CV will be disregarded even quicker!
Your SAP CV is a showcase of yourself, and will give off an immediate impression to your future employer, therefore its important you consider the following areas before writing your SAP CV, as well as ensuring you highlight your talents and experience in order to stand out from the rest of the SAP crowd.
<ul>
<li>The look and feel:&nbsp;&nbsp;a successful SAP CV should look crisp and clear not only to be aesthetically pleasing but to ensure it is easy to follow.</li>
<li>The structure:&nbsp;the structure of your SAP CV should be logical and not confusing.</li>
<li>The style:&nbsp;this is not only in terms of the visual look of the CV, the language, tone, and punctuation also speaks volumes. SAP is an industry with its own terminology and specifics; ensure that your knowledge of this comes across in the style (more on this later)!</li>
</ul>
With SAP becoming a more and more of a crowded market, and many employers making their minds up almost instantly after reading a CV, it is crucial that you know how to write an SAP CV that has considered these points and understands what SAP employers are looking for.
<h4>How to write a successful SAP CV</h4>
The look and feel, layout, structure and style are all important in writing a successful SAP CV. The use of bold, spacing, alignment and bullets can really help employers quickly view the information that is important at a glance.
Sticking with a neat structure and starting with a professional profile that paints a brief picture of your career achievements, skills and experience will dramatically improve your SAP CV.
Make sure to include each of these within your SAP CV:
Profile and/or objective
<ul>
<li class="ql-indent-1">This is where you do your perfect sales pitch. 5 sentences maximum, giving a rapid snapshot of your main area of expertise, which industry sectors you&rsquo;ve worked in, and what you&rsquo;re looking for now. The reader needs to be able to quickly identify who you are and if you are suitable.</li>
</ul>
Education
<ul>
<li class="ql-indent-1">Ensure the most recent qualifications are given priority! SAP certifications and qualifications such as Prince2, ASAP, or PMP, as well as MBA or Bachelor degree, should be clearly listed!</li>
</ul>
List SAP&nbsp;and Technical / Functional Skills
<ul>
<li class="ql-indent-1">Remember that recruiters search on keywords! Ensure repetition of the skills you want to be located for. A simple skills matrix listed in order of expertise and the no. of years worked on within that area is easy to read and quickly delivers the required information.</li>
</ul>
Key achievements
<ul>
<li class="ql-indent-1">Bullet point 5 or 6 measurable key achievements during your SAP career. It might be quantifiable cost saving brought to the business through your work, or implementing &pound;x projects according to x timeframe and budget. Using something such as the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/star-interview-answer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">STAR answer method</a>&nbsp;will ensure you make it clear what the business benefits of hiring you are!</li>
</ul>
Company names with clear dates /&nbsp;Job titles /&nbsp;Responsibilities&nbsp;
<ul>
<li class="ql-indent-1">Give emphasis to the most recent projects and less to the historic. It&rsquo;s an easy trap to fall into where you update your SAP CV each time you move, resulting in a 10+ page SAP CV with a whole page devoted to a project you worked on 10+ years ago! Keep it brief and punchy, giving enough information to demonstrate your position without boring the reader.</li>
</ul>
Inject some personality!
<ul>
<li class="ql-indent-1">Keep it brief, show you have a healthy work/life balance with interests or something interesting the potential interview can talk to you about.</li>
</ul>
When structuring the above details it is important to be logical. If you have a mass of experience in the SAP field ensure that your experience comes first, however, if you are just entering the market, highlight your education and training along with your key skills.
An untidy or illogical layout can be fatal, equally, it is just as important to ensure the content is strong, so once it&rsquo;s typed&nbsp;up and&nbsp;before you consider it finished, run through the following questions:
Does it match what the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(216, 0, 115);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/how-to-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">employer will be looking for</a>&nbsp;for this role?
<ul>
<li class="ql-indent-1">Always read around the employer, role, and job description. If you are working with an SAP recruitment agency, talk to your SAP recruitment consultant. Understanding what the employer is looking for is key to successfully demonstrating it on your SAP CV.</li>
</ul>
Does it use SAP terminology, keywords, and skills?
<ul>
<li class="ql-indent-1">Ensure you get found by including key SAP terminology and keywords as well as adding SAP into your job title (e.g SAP Retail Consultant)</li>
</ul>
Does it include important facts &amp; figures?
<ul>
<li class="ql-indent-1">Particularly with Change Managers within the SAP sector, it is crucial to highlight the size of projects worked on and a number of stakeholders dealt with.</li>
</ul>
Does it provide details not only of previous experience but also your skills and personal characteristics?
<ul>
<li class="ql-indent-1">List the skills you have as well as any SAP training and accreditation you have completed. Ensure to state how many years&rsquo; experience you have with any SAP modules you have trained in (e.g FICO / PM /QM, etc.)</li>
</ul>
If you are happy all the above points are covered, it is well worth asking a friend to or specialist recruiter to read through to check for typos, make sure it makes sense, and it fits with the role and company. Additionally, before you consider sending your CV to anyone, make sure you know your CV and the facts and figures you have included. It is amazing how many people will quote different facts to those detailed on their CV!
Take into account all these points and you&rsquo;ll be able to write a successful SAP CV in no time and will be well on your way to securing your perfect job.
Our specialist SAP recruitment team have put together the below SAP CV Template to help you on your way. Please don&rsquo;t hesitate to get in contact for any further help with your SAP job hunt or career (we&rsquo;ll also be more than happy to review your CV for you).
&nbsp;
<a style="color: rgb(216, 0, 115);" href="https://email-eligo.co.uk/p/4V9F-KE/sap-cv-template-download" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CLICK HERE FOR A SAP CV TEMPLATE&nbsp;TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL SAP CV</a>
At Eligo we have a team of specialist SAP Recruiters working with clients and candidates to aid in their SAP recruitment needs. Eligo Technology&nbsp;enjoy SAP Vendor Status, and are one of three official SAP suppliers to the Middle Eastern region. If you would like to discuss your SAP career, SAP job vacancies, or your SAP CV with us, please get in touch, we&rsquo;d be more than happy to help!
At Eligo Recruitment we offer a personal, consultative recruitment service, happy to review your CV, and advise on interview techniques and how you can secure your next dream job. We listen to you and provide specialist advice to help match you to the right job opportunities.
&nbsp;

How to write a successful SAP CV

Relationships have good days and bad days.
It started out all rosy. For the first 3-6 months, everything in your eyes was PERFECT and you wanted to shout it from the rooftops.
But often after a long period of time, you just aren&rsquo;t getting out what you put in. Most people find it difficult to break up from their job and current company, fearing that whatever is on the other side might not be as green as they say.
If you&rsquo;re feeling conflicted about saying goodbye to your current role, then the first step is to check these warning signs that it&rsquo;s time to break up with your job.
&nbsp;
You&rsquo;re not getting out what you put in&hellip; you&rsquo;re stressed, tired and burning out often
Have you lost the spring in your step you had at the start of your job? Are you now dragging your feet to work and the commute that didn&rsquo;t seem too bad, now feels like the worst journey every morning and evening? Are you sleeping less, irritable and lacking in high spirits?
These are all symptoms of an increase in stress &ndash; and clear warning signs from your body and mind that things aren&rsquo;t the way they should be.
You put in the graft but if you&rsquo;re left feeling stressed and burnt out, then its time to look elsewhere for a role that doesn&rsquo;t affect you like this.
&nbsp;
The spark is gone
When you first accepted your role and started working for the company you had high hopes, and it seemed full of possibility. But recently the office atmosphere has changed drastically, and your confidence in the company and organisation has disappeared.
The company might have chosen some commercial or tactical decisions that you don&rsquo;t agree with or maybe a change in management has brought about rifts within the team and has not been a change for the better.
The spark in the mantle you once held for the business and their values might have also been extinguished because your own values have evolved, and they no longer align with the company. If this is the case, it&rsquo;s time you start looking for a company you can invest your trust in.
&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ve outgrown your current role and it no longer matches your personal goals and interests
Just like any relationship if both parties can&rsquo;t grow together, its doomed to fail. It can be hard to accept that despite how much you like your co-workers and your company, the role itself just isn&rsquo;t doing it for you anymore.
Naturally, your skills and interests will grow and change over time which also leads to you wanting to take on new challenges. But it&rsquo;s often the case that your company doesn&rsquo;t have the time or resources to be able to further develop your career. If you&rsquo;re goals and interests no longer match up to your role, it may be time to break up with your job, so don&rsquo;t hesitate to start looking at other options elsewhere.
&nbsp;
You start thinking &lsquo;this is better than nothing&rsquo;
Your job makes you unhappy due to stress, outgrowing the role and misaligned values, but you still resign yourself to thinking that It&rsquo;s better than nothing! You are not really being honest or fair to yourself. Handing in your notice and searching for a new role can be scary, but if it means you find a new role that matches you perfectly, then it will be fully worth making that choice.
&nbsp;
You spend your free time and every waking hour thinking about what else is out there
If you are not happy where you are, it&rsquo;s completely normal to think and look to see what else is out there for you. Most people don&rsquo;t get all their key needs met in their job, but you should get at least most of them. The important thing to do in this situation is ask yourself, what are your primary needs and are these being met at all.
If this is not the case, its time to break up with your job and look for a new role that meets your interests and needs to the fullest.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s time to make a commitment to searching for something new and start on the path to a new career today.
&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ve come across this article looking for a sign you should break up with your job!
There&rsquo;s no denying it, if you&rsquo;ve experienced one or more of the signs mentioned above, then it might be time to break up with your current job and<a href="https://eligo.co.uk/jobs">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://eligo.co.uk/jobs">find a new role</a>&nbsp;ASAP!
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
As they say, there are plenty more fish in the sea, but if you feel like a fish out of water when it comes to job searching then we can help. At Eligo we offer a personal, consultative recruitment service and we&rsquo;re happy to advise on everything to do with finding a new job, from interview techniques to how you can secure your next role. We listen to you and provide specialist advice to help match you to the right job opportunities out there.
Our areas of expertise cover jobs all levels, permanent, contract and temporary in industries such as;&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Technology</a>, <a href="https://eligo.co.uk/erp">ERP</a>,<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/fire-and-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Fire and Security</a>,<a href="https://eligo.co.uk/events">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://eligo.co.uk/events">Events</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://eligo.co.uk/medical">Medical.</a>
Click the links above to view our latest job vacancies or&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/upload-cv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">upload your CV here!</a>
&nbsp;

Warning signs it’s time to break up with your job

&nbsp;
&nbsp;
It's obvious that people are hired based on their experience and skills, but the difference in being hired or fired all depends on the individual&rsquo;s attitude and behaviours to their role and the company.
Your skills and experience can make a big impression in your new role, however, it is usually down to your attitude and approach to your work which makes you stand out from the crowd. The first 3 months of any job are the most important in making a good impression on your employer, and in these first crucial months, it is a great idea to go out of your way to be positive and demonstrate drive, ambition and flexibility to the role. Demonstrating these personality traits alongside a passion and a commitment to the company as well as being a cultural fit are guaranteed to fast-track you in your role.
So it&rsquo;s now 3 months into your new job and you&rsquo;ve settled into your role nicely. You&rsquo;ve established some workplace relationships and your efforts are showing that you are a valuable asset to the company, but what more could you do to succeed and progress in your role? And how can you take charge of your career in the long run
&nbsp;
<h4>Aim high, set goals</h4>
One essential way to succeed is to set some goals to reach and strive for; set big goals such as where you want to be in the next 3/6 or 12&nbsp;months, or small goals such as organising your priorities of what you want to achieve each day at work. Your employer may already work with you to set your targets for achievement, but by creating your own goals big or small you will constantly improve yourself and demonstrate to your employer your ability for self-development.
&nbsp;
<h4>Show your hidden talents</h4>
You convinced your employer that you&rsquo;re perfect for the job with your relevant qualifications and previous experience. But now you&rsquo;ve settled into your role, it&rsquo;s the perfect opportunity to show off your talents and skills that you may have not mentioned on your CV or during the interview. These hidden talents could help you become an indispensable employee from assisting the company to win new business or solving a problem that they&rsquo;ve been struggling with, if your talent or skill can provide them with a solution then you&rsquo;ll be seen as a vital asset to the business.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>Always own your mistakes </h4>
Hands up who&rsquo;s ever made a mistake at work? We&rsquo;ve all been there&hellip; This can be a tricky one for many, but in owning up to your mistakes immediately you will be seen as responsible and by offering a solution you also prove that you can handle tricky situations and be relied upon to take necessary risks safely.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>Carpe Diem (Seize the day)</h4>
It&rsquo;s a struggle for non-morning people (myself included) to be as chirpy as some are first thing in the morning. But there can be benefits to getting a head start on your working day; waking up 20 mins earlier than usual and leaving for work before your usual time can give you extra time to prepare and organise for the day ahead, so that pile of work on your desk doesn&rsquo;t seem so daunting.
&nbsp;
In today&rsquo;s competitive job market, it can be hard to stay relevant and indispensable to your employer, which is why it is so important to demonstrate a positive attitude and that you care about your role and the business. Your skills and experience can easily be replaced by another equally qualified candidate, but it is much harder to replace someone who cares and is passionate about their role and the company. By keeping this in mind along with these steps to succeed at work you can become a vital employee and ultimately take charge of your career.
If you&rsquo;re still looking for your perfect role, why not take a look at our relevant job boards across <a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/events-recruitment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Events</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/fire-security-recruitment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fire &amp; Security</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/medical-recruitment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Medical</a>,&nbsp;ERP&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/it-recruitment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Technology</a>. Also, Take a look at our blog on how to find a new job.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

How to take charge of your career

Whether you work to live or live to work, money is important. Find out how to fight for a fair salary review;
Many people feel underpaid and therefore undervalued by their current employers. In lots of these cases, they have made numerous requests for a pay review to no avail, hence they contact us! Interestingly many of these are then offered a pay increase when they hand in their resignation! This in itself needs to be managed carefully, if you would like our advice on this, check out our &lsquo;How to handle a counter offer&rsquo; article.
&nbsp;
Obviously, it is ideal to have a regular review of your performance and salary in which you and your employer can discuss your objectives, achievements, progression, and remuneration. If you do not have this scheduled as standard then you should ask your manager if it is possible to schedule a meeting for this purpose at an appropriate time in the year.
&nbsp;
When broaching the subject of a salary review you should:
&nbsp;
<h4>Know your market</h4>
You need to do your research into what your competitors pay (remember to consider if the company is comparable and the full package available, basic, bonus, pension, health, gym, socials, etc). Find out what the level of demand is for a candidate of your skills and experience if you were on the market.
&nbsp;
<h4>Know your value</h4>
You need to be confident in yourself but with good grounds. You need to be able to demonstrate your value with specific examples and details e.g. contracts you have negotiated, cost savings you have made, projects you have delivered, specialist skills and knowledge you have, etc.
&nbsp;
<h4>Be reasonable and not confrontational</h4>
You should approach your salary review with an open mind and be willing to listen to your employer&rsquo;s reasoning. You want to demonstrate you are an asset that deserves reasonable remuneration and not demanding or above your station. A confrontational approach is likely to be unsuccessful and detrimental to your overall progression.
&nbsp;
<h4>Be clear and confident&nbsp;</h4>
Plan exactly how you are going to bring it up and practice the exact wording. Some people find talking money difficult and you do not want to get flustered and start waffling when getting to the crux of the point.&nbsp;Succinctly state what you would like and why you feel it is deserved and reasonable.
&nbsp;
<h4>Be prepared for success and disappointment</h4>
If you are successful, be positive and appreciative without going over the top. You want to leave room for future negotiations.
If you are not successful in your salary review, you can tell them you are disappointed but you should keep it professional. Do not go down the road of ultimatums, comparisons with colleagues, or emotional rants! You could ask if it is possible to review the situation again in 3 or 6 months, perhaps even be willing to suggest some deliverables or KPIs for you to work towards in order to reopen the discussion.
If you have taken the above steps and after taking everything into account, you conclude you would like to look for another job, you can at least be confident you have given your current employer the chance to pay you what you&rsquo;re worth and keep you.
We are always happy to give objective, confidential advice on matters such as this, so please do feel free to get in touch if you would like some help on how to approach a salary review, to get an idea of your market value or if would like to know what opportunities are out there for you.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us">Get in touch</a> with us for support and guidance on your career, or <a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/upload-cv">Upload your CV</a> to find your next role.

Feel like you always have to fight for a fair salary review?

CV being rejected? Think you&rsquo;re right for the role? Just want to get in front of the hiring manager and then you know you&rsquo;ll be able to sell yourself? It might not be you; it might be your recruiter&hellip;
In this blog, I&rsquo;m going to cover 5 things to discuss with your recruiter before letting them put your CV forward. Points such as those below could be the difference between getting interviewed or being rejected, so if this really is the job of your dreams make sure that you cover these 5 questions to ask your recruiter next time you speak.
&nbsp;
5 questions to ask your recruiter.
&nbsp;
The CV: Is your recruiter hell-bent on having your CV?
Maybe your recruiter has insisted he or she cannot proceed in the process without your CV. This may indicate your recruiter is only dealing with the hiring company via email, and this will likely mean a weak relationship between them. Remember, the best way to introduce a candidate to a hiring company is via the good old telephone and to tell the company why this candidate (you) is right for the role.The client should generally be able to commit to a phone interview or face to face interview there and then, with the CV to follow. This will happen when the hiring company trust the recruiter&rsquo;s judgement enough to not even have to see a CV, which brings me on to point 2&hellip;
&nbsp;
The hiring company: has your recruiter met the hiring company? 
&nbsp;
It could be a coffee at the local golf club, a pint in London or a drop-in to the office; they are all opportunities for your recruiter to build a solid relationship with the hiring company. How many times have they met? If not, then why?
The chances are that if your recruiter has not even been able to close a meeting with the hiring company, the relationship between them and ensuing lack of trust significantly limits your chances of getting an interview there too.
&nbsp;
The Hiring Manager: Is the recruiter dealing with the hiring manager, or HR / internal recruitment?
Not to knock the people over at HR &ndash; they have a difficult job to do &ndash; but they more often than not deal with a very strict application process and may even reject CVs that a hiring manager wouldn&rsquo;t. The hiring manager does the job daily and will be working directly with you, so they are the best placed to explain the opportunity and identify who would be the right fit for the role.
&nbsp;
If your recruiter has direct access to, and even better, a good relationship with the hiring manager it is a lot more likely that your CV will be given the time of day and won&rsquo;t be rejected on the off-chance that you fail to tick every single box on a corporate candidate requirement sheet.
&nbsp;
The Role : This is an especially important one; ask your recruiter how much they know about the role, and I mean how much do they really know about the role.
If their response is anywhere close to &ldquo;oh, well the company told me they had this role and sent me a job spec&rdquo;&nbsp;then the likelihood is not much. How many times have you read a job spec and come away thinking about the ground-breaking in-depth revelations you have gained from it, not to mention what kind of personal characteristics you should have to be considered for the role. &ldquo;You must do this&hellip; you must have this&rdquo; &hellip; Boring and useless.
Your recruiter should be able to tell you what steps they&rsquo;ve taken to really be able to home in on finding the right candidate for the role, and how you fit with that. A great example of this would include having asked competency-related questions to discover exactly how the successful candidate will be measured in their first 6 months to be deemed a successful hire. A question such as this also makes a great question to ask the company come interview time, read more about that here.
&nbsp;
The History: How many times has your recruiter placed someone with the hiring company? Is it the first time they are working with them?
&nbsp;
If your recruiter has placed 10 people in this company before, chances are that the hiring manager at the company trusts the recruiter&rsquo;s judgement and is open to meeting the candidates that said recruiter puts in front of them.
Another question to ask is how long has your recruiter been working on this role? If it&rsquo;s been 10 months and this role is still unfilled this will again give you a good indication. There may be a communication or relationship breakdown, or maybe the recruiter isn&rsquo;t able to speak to the right people and is having to deal with complicated application processes that almost bring hiring to a standstill.
The most important element when working with a recruiter is communication. You should never feel like there are questions you can&rsquo;t ask your recruiter and your recruiter should never be cagey in their answers. The best recruiters will keep you constantly updated throughout the process of working with you and ensure that the outcome is what is best for you. That said, it is a two-way process, and mutually beneficial for both parties to be open, honest, and responsive, so it is advisable that you always reply to emails and calls quickly, even when you are not sure or happy. A good recruiter can be hard to come by so make an effort to build your relationship as it&rsquo;s likely there will be an opportunity again to work together in the future.
&nbsp;
Good luck!
Want to discuss this topic further? &nbsp;Another 5 questions to ask your recruiter, or would simply like to discuss your career? <a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us">Get in touch</a> with us at <a href="mailto:hello@eligo.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hello@eligo.co.uk</a>
&nbsp;

It’s not you, it’s your recruiter: 5 questions to ask your recruiter

Whether you are just starting out as a Locum Nurse or an experienced medical contract worker, we&rsquo;ve got some top tips to ensure you make the most of Locum Nurse opportunities within the midlands and secure the bookings you want.
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" title="medical jobs link" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs/medical/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out our latest Locum Nurse sessions available in the Midlands here</a>
&nbsp;
Decide what work you are looking for
When working with an agency be clear about what locum Nurse work in the midlands you can do, such as the number of sessions a week, what location in the Midlands and how far you are willing to travel.
Think about the types of workplaces in the midlands you want to work in, such as local surgeries, OOH, walk-in centres, Prisons or in the community.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
 Prepare your relevant documents
Keep all your career documents including your CV, and personal and work profiles up to date and professional.
Poor presentation on these, any unexplained gaps in your locum Nurse work history or missing qualifications or certifications might result in you not being considered for work.
 
 Also, make sure all these documents are up to date and keep all certifications hard and electronic format for future reference.
At Eligo we will create a personal Locum work accreditation pack for locum nurses in the midlands, so you are ready to start sessions as soon as possible.&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(216, 2, 115);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/upload-cv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to upload your CV.</a>
&nbsp;
Be flexible and compliant
Being flexible is essential when working as a locum Nurse. It will help recruitment consultants find you work easily if they know you are able to pick up shifts at short notice, or if you are willing to work bank holidays. To ensure this, you need to be fully compliant with annual certifications and disclosures up to date.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Stay organised
Working as a locum nurse in the midlands means shifts could arise or cancel at any time, which means staying organised is key. Manage your diary carefully and be sure to include all your locum sessions in there as soon as they are agreed upon.
Let your consultant know in advance of any issues with your session booking, or any problems that arise as soon as possible to make sure you can secure locum nurse work in the midlands in future.
&nbsp;
 Do your research
When you have decided what types of places you would like to do your locum Nurse shifts in the Midlands, it&rsquo;s always recommended to do some brief research. Find out the location, how long will it take you to get there?
&nbsp;
Be prepared
Always allow plenty of time to get to your session and have the surgery number to call in case of any problems. Failing that always keep your recruitment consultant updated on any problems.
Make a note of who you should report to on arrival and make sure they know when you have arrived.
&nbsp;
Meet people and build relationships
Working at different surgery locations across the midlands offers a great opportunity to make new friends and you are more likely to get a good reputation and repeat bookings if you make an effort to build a good rapport with your colleagues.
A good first impression can be the beginning of a long relationship and more nurse locum work being sent your way.
&nbsp;
Get help from a recruiter
Let us help you! &ndash; a big benefit to working with a leading medical recruitment agency such as Eligo Medical is that we provide a weekly payroll service.
To get paid on time you must submit your signed timesheet on time and be sure to keep your bank details up to date!
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Eligo introductory offer!
For all new nurses and doctors across the midlands who fully register with us this month, we are offering;
One extra hour on your first Locum Nurse or GP&nbsp;job timesheet!
You can&nbsp;register via our website&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(216, 2, 115);" title="register upload cv link" href="https://eligo.co.uk/upload-cv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/users/register/new/registration" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;</a>or request an application pack below.&nbsp;
Locum Nurses are in demand, with Locum Nurse work across a range of excellent primary care providers currently available across the Midlands. As a leading medical recruitment agency, at Eligo Medical we build long term relationships with our Locum Nurses across the midlands to help place them in temporary and contract sessions.
If you would like to see a list of current vacancies for Nurse Locum work across the midlands,&nbsp;<a title="medical jobs" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs/medical/">click here.</a><a title="medical jobs" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs/medical/">&nbsp;</a>If you&rsquo;ve got any further questions,<a href="https://eligo.co.uk/contact-us">&nbsp;</a><a title="contact us" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us/">please get in touch!</a>
 ​
&nbsp;

Tips for finding Locum nurse work in the Midlands

It&rsquo;s a crazy and unpredictable time we&rsquo;re going through, and with many people and businesses being affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. We are trying to support all of our candidates and clients as best we can.
With a drastic cut on face-to-face interviews due to Coronavirus, recruiters and clients are turning to online video platforms to conduct their interviews.
During these trying times, it&rsquo;s important to stay connected and keep going despite the challenges. Video interviews are one of the best ways of doing this!
If you&rsquo;ve got an interview video coming up, we&rsquo;ve got you covered with some simple tips so you can master the video interview.
&nbsp;
 ​
&nbsp;
Create the right environment
Before you start your video interview, make sure you are in a space where you won&rsquo;t be interrupted, with no outside background noise. The interviewer should only be able to hear from you.
Top Tip:&nbsp;You should also be aware of what the video is capturing, check that your background is clear with no distractions or a cluttered room behind you.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
 
 
Camera, Lights&hellip; Action!
There are a few elements you need to make sure of after you&rsquo;ve chosen the right environment for your video interview.
Lighting! Can you be seen clearly with no lights casting shadows over your face?
Top Tip:&nbsp;If you can, sit facing a natural light source such as a window or aim to have lights behind and to the left and right of you.&nbsp;
Top Tip:&nbsp;You&rsquo;ll also want to check the position of your camera. Are your face and shoulders in full view? Make sure the camera is the right height.
&nbsp;
 
 
&nbsp;
Eye Contact
It can be hard to know where to look during a video call, so during the interview be sure to keep eye contact with the camera. It will then look like you are looking directly at the interviewer.
Top Tip:&nbsp;Always angle the camera at eye level, not above or below. You don&rsquo;t want the camera looking down on you or up your nose.
&nbsp;
 
 
&nbsp;
Body Language
Your body language can say a lot about you, even via a video interview. Remember you are presenting an image of yourself as soon as you turn on the camera.
Top Tip:&nbsp;Be aware of your body language throughout the interview, have good posture and relax your shoulders.
Appear pleasant and switched on throughout the interview, you want to leave a positive impression with the interviewer.
&nbsp;
 
 
&nbsp;
Dress for success
Even though you won&rsquo;t be meeting your interviewer in person, you still need to dress accordingly.
First impressions ALWAYS count, whether that&rsquo;s face to face or over a laptop connection.
Top Tip:&nbsp;Feel free to wear your fluffy slippers, but make sure that whatever is in view of the camera during your video interview is appropriate.
&nbsp;
 
 
&nbsp;
Practice on camera
If you are not used to talking on camera you may feel self-conscious about the prospect of a video interview.
Top Tip:&nbsp;Ask someone you know to help you do a mock interview by asking you questions via video. This will help to reduce the nerves and give you extra practice to get your eye contact and expected answers right.
&nbsp;
 
 
&nbsp;
Use notes
A key benefit of video interviews is that you can glance at some notes if you are struggling with questions at any point.
Top Tip:&nbsp;keep a few post-it notes or a copy of your CV nearby, but try not to look at them too often and make sure your eye contact always returns to the camera.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Relax, Don't Panic
Perhaps you're not used to being on camera and you're feeling slightly more nervous than usual.
Being on camera&nbsp;doesn't change anything and once you're over the invisible barrier, speaking via video&nbsp;will come naturally.
Top Tip:&nbsp;Try not to overthink it, treat it like a normal interview.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
If you follow all these tips to mastering the video interview, all that's left is to impress the interviewer by being yourself!
 
 For further&nbsp;advice such as&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/top-tips-for-a-successful-telephone-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">top tips for a telephone interview</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/quick-fire-tips-on-how-to-prepare-for-an-interview-and-questions-you-should-ask/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to prepare for an interview</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/could-you-provide-a-star-interview-answer-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to&nbsp;answer star interview questions</a>, check out our&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">career advice blog.&nbsp;</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
At Eligo Recruitment we offer a personal, consultative recruitment service, happy to advise on interview techniques and how you can secure your next dream job. We listen to you and provide specialist advice to help match you to the right job opportunities. Our areas of recruitment expertise are the following industries; Technology, Development and Testing, ERP, SAP, Infrastructure and Support, Fire &amp; Security, Medical, Events and Marketing.
&nbsp;

Your ticket to a standout events CV + free CV template

&nbsp;
Deciding to leave your job and hand in your notice can be a difficult process, or perhaps something you have longed for. Either way, it is important to know how to hand in your notice in a professional manner, leaving no doors fully shut, and ensuring the process goes smoothly and amicably.
There are some definite do&rsquo;s and don&rsquo;ts in how to hand in your notice, it can be a delicate, often nervy stage following the acceptance of a new job or perhaps just the decision to leave your current. As a leading recruitment consultancy, we have heard some horror stories about how some candidates have handed in their notice, we also have collective expertise on how to do it right, so here are our top 5 tips to follow on how to hand in your notice.
 
 
<h4> How to hand in your notice</h4>
 
 
Take a moment to reflect
An obvious one, but think about why you want to leave. There may be a number of reasons, for instance,&nbsp;you may already have a new job lined up, in which case you probably have already thought this over. If not, take some time to think about your decision and talk it over with your partner or a close friend.
Do&nbsp;constructively lay out your reasons for leaving and sleep on it. Approach these reasons again afterwards and if your decision is still the same proactively follow these next steps.
Don&rsquo;t&nbsp;make a decision after an incident at work or feeling angry or stressed.
Remember&nbsp;there may be a chance that your employer will&nbsp;<a style="color: blue;" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/how-to-handle-a-counter-offer-when-you-hand-in-your-notice/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">come back with a counteroffer</a>&nbsp;or additional incentives to get you to stay; reflecting on your reasons for leaving prior to this will enable you to deal with this appropriately.
&nbsp;
Write a letter of resignation
It&rsquo;s important to have a short and concise resignation letter ready for when you hand in your notice. Don&rsquo;t linger on the reasons for your resignation;&nbsp;keep the letter&nbsp;official, formal, and professional.&nbsp;
Do&nbsp;clarify your notice period and include this in your letter.
Don&rsquo;t&nbsp;feel like you have to give the reasons for your resignation or go into specific detail.
Remember&nbsp;that it is important to maintain a positive relationship with the company and its staff, ensure a personal element to the letter using lines such as &ldquo;it is with regret&rdquo; and thanking the company/manager for your time there.
&nbsp;
Make a date with your Manager
The first rule of how to&nbsp;hand in your notice, never hand it in without having a face-to-face meeting with your manager or relevant work contact. Leaving your resignation letter on their desk or emailing them will both be awkward and come across as dismissive.
Do&nbsp;arrange a meeting as soon as possible in a private location, be it their office or grabbing a coffee together during or after work.
Don&rsquo;t&nbsp;lose your professionalism during the meeting, know what you are going to say before you begin and ensure that any loose ends such as leftover pay and holiday are clarified.
Remember&nbsp;to thank them for your time spent with the company and to leave on a good note ensuring no door is ever fully closed.
&nbsp;
The Counter Offer
Your decision to hand in your notice can often come as a shock to the company and they will be sad to see you go. Not only may you have been extremely valued but it can be both costly and timely to fill the position you are leaving. To prevent this, you may be made a counter offer or offered a promotion. Whilst this can be enticing, it is important to consider a number of factors.
Do&nbsp;read our advice on how to handle a counter offer and the things to consider when made one&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/how-to-handle-a-counter-offer-when-you-hand-in-your-notice/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Don&rsquo;t&nbsp;instantly change your mind upon being made a counteroffer. This will not only come across badly but may be a knee-jerk decision you will regret.
Remember&nbsp;you have carefully thought about your reasons for leaving and handing in your notice. An improved offer from your current employer may seem great but it may affect your future prospects within the company. If you are thinking about leaving purely for salary reasons, take a look at our article on how to fight for a fair salary review&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/blog/2014/04/feel-like-you-always-have-to-fight-for-a-fair-salary-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.
&nbsp;
Follow-up
You&rsquo;ve made it this far, you&rsquo;re fully clued up on how to hand in your notice and have done so successfully. There are a few more steps to take before you leave for good to ensure you don&rsquo;t leave the rest of your company in the lurch and you leave on a good note. Think of who else needs to be notified of your leaving&nbsp;and agree with your manager about who will communicate what and when. Plan a detailed handover of the role to your colleagues and be sure to deliver in a professional manner.
Do&nbsp;ensure that any loose ties are tied, and you remain positive and productive throughout your notice period.
Don&rsquo;t&nbsp;refuse to work your notice period, your employment contract is legally binding and you don&rsquo;t want to leave on a bad note.
Remember&nbsp;that you&rsquo;ve invested a lot of time and energy into your personal and professional relationships at your workplace, ensure that this isn&rsquo;t wasted;&nbsp;inform your colleagues you&rsquo;ll be leaving and exchange contact details, you never know what may happen in the future.
Leaving a job is always a hard decision and a tough process, depending on how you hand in your notice, it can transpire in a number of ways. Hopefully, these 5 top tips and do&rsquo;s and dont&rsquo;s prove useful in knowing how to hand in your notice effectively and not only will you leave your current job with happy memories (and a good reference) but you&rsquo;ll be well on your way to newer and better things!&nbsp;
&nbsp;
 If you&rsquo;re currently in the process of leaving or thinking about leaving your current role, or would like advice on the current job market, Eligo&rsquo;s leading team of specialist recruiters can help! Please don&rsquo;t hesitate to get in touch for a confidential chat. hello@eligo.co.uk 
&nbsp;

How to hand in your notice - Our top 5 tips 

I recently met with the MD of a small but growing Fire &amp; Security business to discuss how we can help them to improve their hiring, onboarding, retention, and ultimately the results that they are producing. During our conversation the topic of what is more important to look for in a sales hire came up; do you look for attitude and habits or product knowledge?
Whilst we discussed the topic at length, agreeing that the main qualities salespeople need to have included the right habits, behaviours, and attitude to get out there every day and win the business, the discussion around product knowledge continued.
&nbsp;
Does having product knowledge give a salesperson the edge during the hiring process and is it needed to be successful in Fire &amp; Security?
To answer the question it&rsquo;s best to look at the psychology of sales, and buying habits. In reality, people don&rsquo;t actually buy the product that you sell, they buy the results that it gives them; security, peace of mind, increased productivity, increased efficiency, and so on.
In order to sell these results to the customer you first need to know the outcomes they are looking for. Is the main priority to increase efficiency? Is it to reduce costs? Is it purely to feel like the systems are upgraded and thus have renewed peace of mind?
The only way to discover these outcomes is to ask the right questions. Through doing this, the customer will do the majority of the selling for you. Once this has been done, product knowledge can be correlated with those needs and the correct products suggested.
It&rsquo;s likely the deal will already be sealed.
Having extensive product knowledge is by no means the downfall of a salesperson, it is in fact much more of an added benefit when used correctly. The issue lies when the product knowledge is thrown at the customer too soon; for example, talking about technical specs before assessing the needs and wants. This can be deadly and result in a reduced sale or no sale at all.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>So, does a salesperson need product knowledge to succeed in Fire&amp; Security?</h4>
Does not having that product knowledge make having that sales professional any less of a hire for your Fire &amp; Security Business?
Whilst there&rsquo;s no hard and fast answer, ultimately not having this product knowledge does not make them any less of a great hire. Success within a sale usually lies behind the right habits, behaviours, and attitudes, all of which are very hard to teach. When it comes to product knowledge, however, so long as the salesperson has the cognitive ability to learn, this can be much easier to pick up.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>How do you measure this?</h4>
Use the interview process to test for things such as the cognitive ability to learn, to assess attitudes and behaviours, and get a better scope. If you already know what you are looking for in your salesperson this will be much easier to judge.
To assess cognitive abilities try asking for repeat examples of where they have had to learn a new technology or skill before; most people will have a stock answer but you need to dig further to find out whether it is a habit.
To assess the attitudes and behaviours, which again are much harder to teach, I&rsquo;d suggest using something such as a psychometric test which in conjunction with a properly designed job brief and requirements will easily highlight the best individuals for your role.
&nbsp;
In summary, if choosing between these behaviours or product knowledge, I would look for someone who has the former, however, if you can find a combination of being excellent in both aspects, then you will certainly be hiring within the top 10% of the market!
If you need help defining which of the above attributes are essential for your role, how to assess them as part of your interview process or any other questions regarding the best hiring strategy for your fire and security business, please don&rsquo;t hesitate to get in touch.
&nbsp;
I have similar conversations with Directors and Hiring Managers at leading Fire &amp; Security firms around the country and would be more than happy to bring my expertise to your aid too.

Does a salesperson need product knowledge to succeed in Fire & Security?

The end of a year is a great time to re-evaluate your current situation, and if you're not happy in your current role why not get the ball rolling?
Get a head start on the new year and take a look at our top tips to find a new job and advance your career.
&nbsp;
<h3 class="ql-align-center">Finding a new job&nbsp;&ndash; Our Top Tips</h3>
&nbsp;
In the spirit of the New Year clich&eacute;, and everyone&rsquo;s favourite Linkedin post material, we&rsquo;ve found some inspirational quotes to accompany our top tips to find a new job this year.
&nbsp;
<h4 class="ql-align-center">1. Take stock, and set your goals</h4>
<blockquote class="ql-align-center">&ldquo;The better you know yourself, the better your relationship with the rest of the world.&rdquo;</blockquote>
<blockquote class="ql-align-center">Toni Collette, Will&rsquo;s Mum in&nbsp;About a Boy, cemented firmly in my top 5 films of 2002</blockquote>
&nbsp;
Remember; no man is an island
Take stock of your experience, skills, strengths, and weaknesses. Compare these to your aspirations and goals. This will help you spot any barriers to entry, enabling you to be realistic or take steps to improve your position, whilst identifying your main selling points.
Your goals should be realistic, taking account of what you&rsquo;re looking for in your search for a new job, what you would like to achieve, and how soon you want to achieve it. Once you have these, make a simple plan of action utilising our advice.
Top Tip: Update and tailor your CV and professional profiles such as LinkedIn towards your goals.
If you&rsquo;re struggling with your CV,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/how-to-write-a-successful-cv-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read our advice on writing a successful CV here where you can also find a free CV template</a>!
<h4 class="ql-align-center">2. Research the market</h4>
<blockquote class="ql-align-center">&ldquo;If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.&rdquo;</blockquote>
<blockquote class="ql-align-center">Sun Tzu, Chinese Military Strategist, 500BC</blockquote>
Trying to find a new job may seem like an uphill battle, but there are many things you can do that&rsquo;ll make it seem like a walk in the proverbial park.
Research is key, as is staying in touch with your market. Try to understand the level of demand for a candidate with your skill set, what experience will be required, and what the best way is to gain entry into your chosen market. Utilise resources such as industry publications, company websites, social media and LinkedIn, as well as a mass of other specialist sources such as expert Recruitment blogs to aid you.
Top Tip: Further engage with these, following company pages, joining groups, and participating in discussions, and you&rsquo;ll quickly build up your knowledge whilst becoming recognised as someone active within the field.
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/eligo-recruitment" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Follow our company page on LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;for advice blogs, market commentary, and much more.
<h4 class="ql-align-center">3. Work your network</h4>
<blockquote class="ql-align-center">&ldquo;You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.&rdquo;</blockquote>
<blockquote class="ql-align-center">Dale Carnegie, author of&nbsp;How to Win Friends and Influence People&nbsp;which Warren Buffett credits as one of the factor&rsquo;s to his success, 1936</blockquote>
&nbsp;
The quick way to achieve the above is by a steady stream of Jordan Belfort quotes on Linkedin. Or, you could be Toby Young.
We&rsquo;ll be honest. Remember being told it&rsquo;s all about who you know? It&rsquo;s often true.
Many of our positions here are filled through referrals, with companies across the spectrum of sectors utilising the same technique, and at times, not advertising a position at all.
Be proactive: make professional connections by reaching out to contacts and old colleagues, attending networking events, engaging with professionals online as discussed above, and providing value to others (they&rsquo;ll remember you). Recruitment consultants are able to further provide access to an excellent wide, industry-specific network whilst offering a variety of opportunities. Not only do they know their industry and the people within it, they are there to help you find a new job (and will do so in confidence!).
Top Tip:&nbsp;Ensure you protect your current position and reputation when networking to find a new job by being discrete.
The best way to get to know a recruitment consultant and discuss their knowledge and how they can help is simply to get in touch.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us">Contact us here.</a>
<h4 class="ql-align-center">4. Stand out&nbsp;from the crowd</h4>
<blockquote class="ql-align-center">&nbsp;&ldquo;You have to learn the rules of the game. And then, you have to play better than anyone else.&rdquo;</blockquote>
<blockquote class="ql-align-center">Albert Einstein, popularised MC decades before&nbsp;U Can&rsquo;t Touch This&nbsp;was ringing in our ears, 1905</blockquote>
Made it this far? You probably already stand out in your search to find a new job, but there is more that you can do.
In the technological age, optimising your CV and professional profiles for things such as SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), can ensure you are found. This means including key words / phrases such as crucial skills, job titles, industry-specific terms, and more across your CV&nbsp;and professional profiles.
Additionally, you should ensure you have an online presence, with at least a LinkedIn profile in active use. Build on this by joining the world of twitter, posting about your interests, and showing your engagement with your chosen industry. Employers will check this, so remember to keep it professional!
Remember to build upon your career and industry research and find out more about the company you plan to apply to, personalising each application in turn. But most of all, dare to be different and let your personality shine through.
Top tip:&nbsp;Have someone read over your application and do a mock interview when finding a new job, ensuring a polished process when it comes to the application and interview stage.
We&rsquo;ve prepared a number of useful resources free to use for you in order to find a job successfully:
<ul>
<li><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/2021/03/15/12/47/48/a794c136-e347-4b1d-9b69-0da332f2b9b9/Top%20CV%20tips%20and%20template.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Things to consider when writing your CV</a></li>
<li><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/2021/03/15/17/16/52/e8d42269-5a6f-43f0-a546-4ff43ade74f4/Interview%20Preparation%20Tips.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to prepare for an interview</a></li>
<li><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/2021/03/15/17/40/56/68e54651-1648-4ad1-a97d-d565512885ee/Interview%20Questions%20to%20expect.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Questions You May be Asked in Interview</a></li>
<li><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/2021/03/15/17/41/15/a379b362-a4c4-423a-a9c8-de58de1cb10a/Questions%20to%20ask%20the%20interviewer.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Questions to ask in an interview</a></li>
</ul>
<h4 class="ql-align-center">5. Aim High</h4>
<blockquote class="ql-align-center">&ldquo;All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.&rdquo;</blockquote>
<blockquote class="ql-align-center">Walt Disney, you&rsquo;ve probably seen a film by his company, 1938​</blockquote>
Know your own value, and be open-minded when you want to find a new job, but remember to set your sights and aim high. Have confidence in your abilities and remember your goals, working your way towards achieving them. You will be more successful with the right company, working in a job that you enjoy!
Top Tip:&nbsp;Stick it out. Trying to find a new job can be time-consuming, tough, and hard work, but if you put the effort in, follow our top tips, and keep at it, you&rsquo;ll soon find a new job this year, reaping the rewards in the process.
<h4 class="ql-align-center">&nbsp;Good Luck!</h4>
&nbsp;

How to find a new job : 5 top tips

<h5><a style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(215, 0, 115);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Interested in a chat about your career in SAP?&nbsp;Click here</a></h5>
Working for an end customer is now considered, by more and more consultants, as the maximum aspiration that a SAP professional can aspire to.
In short, the Sacred Grall of counseling, the panacea for all ills.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since there is no single and fitting answer for all of you consultants, I decided to equip you with a small arsenal of reflections, with which to orient yourself in a decision that is anything but trivial.
&nbsp;
<h5>Professional growth</h5>
Am I an expert in my field?
How many people are more skilled than me in my team?
How many and what areas of growth do I see in my group?
Which training course?
The plurality of activities, sectors, customers and projects to which one is exposed in consulting, leads to a forced growth, which rewards those able to withstand tight and competitive work patterns, with an experiential background second to none.&nbsp;This experience, with the right moves, leads to a faster career advancement, as well as to a better economic treatment compared to the end customers' realities.&nbsp;Not to mention that very often the consultancy, compared to an end customer, is more incentivized to train and keep its employees abreast with the times, even if only for a matter of mere opportunism.
&nbsp;
<h5>Excessive specialization</h5>
How transferable is the competence I gained in my work?
How common is this module / verticalization?
Is my figure strongly in demand on the market?
So as in consultancy it is vital to be employed on stimulating activities, which increase our experience, placing ourselves in front of new challenges, it is equally important to work for an end customer that allows us to cultivate skills and skills that can also be transferred to other realities 'work.&nbsp;Sometimes customers use systems that are so personalized (costumized), that it is unlikely that the skills acquired over years of work will be usable within the same industrial sector.
&nbsp;
<h5>Work and private life</h5>
What are my priorities?
Am I willing to travel and frequent trips?
Do I have my time or am I responsible for others?
Also the man has his seasons and with them our priorities also change.
There is just enough time to travel, run, compete and learn (even if we know that you never stop learning) and one to walk, perhaps alongside someone.&nbsp;The consultancy has important schedules, requires flexibility and availability to travel, both national and international.&nbsp;In this perspective, an end customer usually allows normal office hours and limited travel needs.
As a final consideration, I urge you not to make a choice based on a clear contrast between advice and end customer.
&nbsp;
On the market there are now very different realities: consultancies that offer projects with work from home, vertical part-time and limited travel, as well as end customers that require frequent foreign transfers and "flissibility" on timetables.
As a decision-making compass, establish the ability of your future employer to understand your needs or, in any case, rely on professionals, who will advise you before listening to you.
Are you interested in learning more?
To discuss career opportunities in SAP call 00 44 208 9444180 or send an email to&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="mailto:mattiab@eligo.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mattiab@eligo.co.uk</a>&nbsp;specifying when it is a convenient time for a phone call.
<h5 class="ql-align-center"><a style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(215, 0, 115);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Interested in a chat about your career in SAP?&nbsp;Click here</a></h5>
&nbsp;

Consulenti SAP: e’ il momento giusto per passare dalla consulenza ad un cliente finale?

You might have noticed: Security Engineers are in demand. You may have fielded calls from multiple recruiters or you may see other companies paying much more for a role you&rsquo;re doing for less at yours; ultimately the market is currently driven by engineers like you.
Recently I wrote an article for companies trying to attract the best security engineers in this market, for the companies that believe that those security engineers should be queuing at the door to work at a company such as theirs. I asked them to consider the same as I&rsquo;m going to ask you now:
Do you know your own value as a Security Engineer?
Your value as a quality security engineer should not be underestimated, and it comes down to more than just the numbers written on your pay cheque at the end of each month. When choosing a role, or evaluating your own it&rsquo;s important to take considerations such as additional benefits, culture, and opportunity, as well as your salary, however, that&rsquo;s where I&rsquo;ll start.
<h4>Salary</h4>
It may seem an obvious one, but a phrase that is often bandied around is that you are worth, what you are worth, and ultimately this comes down to what employers are willing to pay you. Saying this, however, the market is a candidate-driven one, with mass demand, and mass shortage, so it&rsquo;s important to know what the industry average is for the security engineer role you currently occupy.
Aside from scrolling through hundreds of job ads, the best way of finding this information is through an industry-wide salary survey. Here, at Eligo Fire &amp; Security, we&rsquo;ve conducted one across all the employers and candidates we work with this year to put together what the average salary is for positions across the Fire &amp; Security Industry.
Whilst &pound;&pound;&pound; signs ring out for the larger salaries, it&rsquo;s important to remember there are further selling points and benefits to a role that can more than make up for a slightly smaller salary.
<h4>More than just a paycheque</h4>
You aren&rsquo;t just a commodity, and there is much more to enjoying your job and feeling your true value than money. When assessing companies to join and your current value as a whole it&rsquo;s important to consider additional benefits offered. Question whether you receive, or will receive additions to your package such as;
<ul>
<li>Do you have to use your own tools or does the employer offer these?</li>
<li>Are you being offered any other equipment such as a company mobile, laptop, or tablet? What about multi meters?</li>
<li>Do you get to choose which company vehicle you are offered? Do you get to use this for your own private use? Does the company offer a fuel allowance or card?</li>
<li>Are you provided time off the day after a call out?</li>
<li>Is there a company health scheme? Are you offered a pension?</li>
<li>Is there a personal development plan in place for you to grow and improve your skill set? Are the costs of training covered by your company?</li>
</ul>
Each of these additions can massively make a difference to life as a Security Engineer and provide much more benefit than a small addition to your pay cheque.
<h4>Opportunity</h4>
A Linkedin study recently highlighted the top reasons why employees choose to change their job, and surprisingly salary and a dislike of management didn&rsquo;t come top. The number one reason why employees were driven to move roles was simply that they didn&rsquo;t believe there were sufficient opportunities to grow.
I touched on it a little in the additional benefits, however, your personal development and growth should be a priority within your career for both yourself and your employer, given the benefits it can have.
<ul>
<li>Are the opportunities for advancement and growth within your company?</li>
<li>Is there a clear structure for progression laid out by the employer?</li>
<li>Is the role clearly defined, with specifics about the future of the role and company?</li>
<li>Is the company open to utilising new technologies within the business and exposing you to these early on?</li>
</ul>
Though some are particularly good about it, employers aren&rsquo;t always entirely honest on the subject of opportunity. Make sure you are able to get a rounded picture by speaking to current and past employees, reading testimonials, visiting sites such as Glassdoor, or consulting someone such as ourselves that truly know the company inside out.
<h4>Your value</h4>
You spend most of your adult life working; it can often certainly feel like more! It&rsquo;s important to be able to know your value and ensure you are being treated according to it, especially with the current Security Engineer market as it is. This doesn&rsquo;t mean jumping straight onto your high horse or demanding the world from every employer or recruiter you speak to, but it does mean assessing the above points and your happiness in your current role.
If you would like to discuss your career or the above points further, please don&rsquo;t hesitate to <a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us">get in touch</a> and I&rsquo;ll be more than happy to have a chat. You never know what you may be able to achieve.
&nbsp;

Security Engineers: Do you know your value?

The main contributor for mental illness in the workplace is something we have all suffered from time to time.
It appears when you&rsquo;re up to your eyeballs in tasks and that all important deadline is hanging over your head.
It&rsquo;s there when your overwhelming to-do list just keeps getting longer and longer without ever being able to cross tasks off, and it rears its head with the inevitable fear of making mistakes in a new role.
You guessed it,&nbsp;STRESS!
Mental health is the number one cause for sickness absence at work and one fifth of workers believe that &lsquo;powering through&rsquo; stress is part of organisational culture. Pushing aside and ignoring stress on a regular basis is not only bad for employee&rsquo;s mental health, it&rsquo;s also detrimental to organisational culture.
According to&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://learning.linkedin.com/blog/advancing-your-career/stress-at-work-report--who-is-feeling-it-the-most-and-how-to-com?trk=lol_c.scin_stress-graph3_learning" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Linkedin stats</a>, the biggest drivers for workplace stress are;
Work-life balance/workload&nbsp;- 70%&nbsp;
Confidence in job future&nbsp;- 64%
Sense of purpose / direction&nbsp;- 64%
Colleagues/work politics&nbsp;- 63%
Access to tools to do your job&nbsp;- 62%
Different work pressures affect people in different ways, but it is possible to reduce stress in the workplace. With help from the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/blog/less-stressful-workplaces-what-we-can-all-do?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mhaw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mental Health Organisation</a>, there are some handy tips to not only help you avoid stress in the workplace but make sure you take care of your mental health at work.
 ​
Top tips to reduce stress and help support your mental health at work include;
&nbsp;
Eat and drink well
&nbsp;
 When we&rsquo;re feeling low, run down and stressed out its very easy to turn to caffeine, junk food and alcohol and all those unhealthy things that we think make us feel better. Try and resist and instead opt for healthy, nutritious meals at regular times in the day alongside upping the amount of water you drink.
We&rsquo;re all guilty of eating our lunch at our desk or grabbing a sandwich on the go when we&rsquo;re busy but try and avoid doing so! Physical health makes a big impact on your mental health.
&nbsp;
Take regular breaks
28% of us feel less productive at work because of stress, and an effective way of increasing your productivity is taking a step back from what you are working on and taking regular breaks throughout the day.
From your morning commute to your usual breaks in the working day, take advantage of all of them and do something different. Use these times in the day to take some time for you. On my morning commute, I actively avoid looking at my phone and enjoy getting lost in a good book! However, if you're working remotely from home, as most of us now are! It can be hard to separate work from home life;&nbsp;there are some great tips for how to achieve a good work-life balance while working from home&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.comparethemarket.com/mortgages/content/achieve-a-work-life-balance-working-from-home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here.</a>
 
 Top Tip:&nbsp;be sure to plan and use your holidays and always make time to recover if you&rsquo;re unwell.
&nbsp;
Sleep is the holy grail
We all have different sleeping patterns, be you a night owl or an early bird sleep is SO vital to your not only your physical but mental health too. 32% percent of us find ourselves thinking about work in our personal time, and often this can be the cause of disrupted sleep. If you feel you&rsquo;re not getting enough shut eye or find it hard to drift off, avoid thinking about work before you hit the pillow. Before bed, get lost in a good book, take a long relaxing bath or mediate.
&nbsp;
Keep fit
I will openly admit that I&rsquo;m guilty of not exercising enough, creating excuses of &lsquo;not enough time&rsquo; or &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t have enough energy&rsquo; but making time for some exercise in your day is a great way to improve your mental health. You don&rsquo;t have to run a 5k mile or sign up to your local gym, a short walk around the block or in the local park can really help lower stress levels.
&nbsp;
Keep in touch
A quarter of us compromise our health to get work done, but that also means we even compromise our relationships (16%). It can be hard work maintaining friendships and keeping in touch with family when you&rsquo;re busy and constantly on the go which is why keeping a work-life balance is vital. Relationships are KEY to our mental health and sacrificing them and having a poor work-life balance has even shown to be as detrimental to our health as smoking or obesity!
 
 So, make sure you take some time to call your mum/dad/sibling/best mate once and a while!
&nbsp;
Always ask for help
We&rsquo;re not perfect and we&rsquo;re certainly not superhuman! Everyone gets tired and overwhelmed with work at some point and there is no shame in asking for help. Speak to a work colleague that you are close to and trust. Your employer will also have services available or for help outside of work your local GP is always there to suggest and offer help in various ways.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Stress in recruitment
Working in recruitment can be great, but it can also be extremely stressful.
Life as a recruiter comes with its ups and downs, one minute you&rsquo;re celebrating accepted offers and placements, the next day you&rsquo;re dealing with interview no-shows and counteroffers.
With Eligo consultants having to deal with these pressures on a daily basis, we asked them how they relax, let go and unwind after a particularly stressful day.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Jaimie Dickson-Davies
 
For years I never used to take a break but as a weathered recruiter I have learned how valuable taking a break is. I often go for wellbeing walks on my lunch break &ndash; here in Birmingham I have been all over exploring the city, the canal being my favourite place to go at the moment. In London I used to find the nearest park to the office and head in that direction and just walk and breathe, I once found myself just enjoying the fallen leaves and the snap in the air cringey as it sounds. I used to encourage my team to get away from their desks too because it does help. Also if I&rsquo;m enjoying a good book I find a good spot at lunchtime and get involved for half an hour indoors or out.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Rick Deller
Spending time with my wife and Girls is what helps my stress levels. I get home and my wife and I do the CBeebies bedtime song with the girls, we then have cuddle time followed by story time and put them to bed and that relaxes me.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Anne Rooke
Lying on a lounger in the sun helps me feel less stressed generally, but sadly that&rsquo;s not always possible! After a a long stressful day in the winter months I like to have a soak in a bath with lavender oil and some nice skin soothing bath products then light some scented tea lights and sit down to watch an episode of the latest good Netflix or TV drama I&rsquo;m following. In the Summer I find daily watering of pots of plants I&rsquo;ve planted strangely calming and just love looking at them too! Year round I also find putting together some great Spotify playlists and playing them out loud is really good.
Failing all that&hellip;. wine is often the solution but sadly never the answer!
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Martina Lagomarsino
Would it be really bad if I said, &ldquo;drinking wine&rdquo;? Just joking &ndash; to de-stress I usually go for a run by the river, with no music, and that really helps to clear my head.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Martin Fahey
For me it can be a few things that help me destress; a good gym session, taking my dog on a walk to get some time in the fresh air to think things through, spending time with my kids and re-assessing the values of life.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Anezka Kolmanova
I like to go for a walk outdoors to relax and&nbsp;I also find keeping hydrated and drinking lots of water helps me focus.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Atif Ahmed
I enjoy playing football and it really helps me unwind. When I&rsquo;m particularly stressed, I try to take control of the situation (if possible) and manage/prioritise my time and workload accordingly.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Karolina Samsel
A good gym session or exercise class really helps to significantly lower my stress levels.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Fabrizia Pavan
Usually, if I feel really stressed, I write down on post-it notes&nbsp;all my worries and tasks to do and I order them in terms of importance or &lsquo;silliness&rsquo;. It helps me organise my feelings and workload. Also, I love walking in nature to relax and to reconnect with the environment.
&nbsp;
 
 
Jake Cooley
If I'm having a bad day, belting my heart out to the office playlist is always a good laugh!&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Aleks Dimitrova
A quick walk outside tremendously helps, especially if there is a park around- green relaxes my eyes and recharges me with energy.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
With April being Stress Awareness Month it&rsquo;s a better time than any to promote mental health in the workplace. And with news that the economic and social cost of mental health problems in the UK amounts to more than &pound;100bn every year and with around 70m work days lost due to sickness absence, companies can&rsquo;t afford to ignore mental health issues in the workplace!
&nbsp;
Sources:
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/blog/less-stressful-workplaces-what-we-can-all-do?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mhaw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/blog/less-stressful-workplaces-what-we-can-all-do?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mhaw</a>
 <a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-support-mental-health-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-support-mental-health-work</a>
&nbsp;

Tips To Reduce Stress at Work 

We all have our good days and bad days at work, and&nbsp;those bad days may have increased for many with the complete change in the way we work due to the&nbsp;pandemic. During 2020 &amp; 2021 levels of anxiety, stress and depression were high.&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://championhealth.co.uk/blog/employee-wellbeing-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">According to an employee sample study</a>&nbsp;of 2,099 people 58% experienced some form of stress at work, 69% moderate-high levels of stress in general, and 73% had trouble relaxing.
This inability to relax comes as no surprise, with many having to work remotely from home it became hard to separate work from our private lives. I felt the effects of home working and the pandemic on my mental health, and I was very grateful to have a management team that was always at the end of the phone for a chat, or a short slack message to check-in, as they noticed I wasn&rsquo;t my usual self despite not seeing each other in the office.
But not everyone has that outlet to discuss their mental health at work, or if there is, how they go about finding that support in the workplace. Today is&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://timetotalkday.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time To Talk&nbsp;</a>day, which is about all of us being open to the idea of talking to help support each other&rsquo;s mental health.
It&rsquo;s not about encouraging someone to talk but making them aware that there is an option. A safe space and an ear to listen if they need to talk. It&rsquo;s not always easy to be open about how we are feeling to our work peers let alone friends and family, so how can we make it easier to talk about mental health at work?
&nbsp;
<pre class="ql-syntax" spellcheck="false"><a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/client-advice-insights/how-to-support-employee-mental-health-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Employers: here&rsquo;s how you can support your staff and their mental health
</a></pre>
&nbsp;
A few things that can make it easier to talk&hellip;
&nbsp;
<h4>Ask &amp; Listen</h4>
How many times have you answered the question &lsquo;how are you?&rsquo; with &lsquo;I&rsquo;m fine&rsquo; or &lsquo;good thanks&rsquo; when really that&rsquo;s not the case. It can be hard for people to know when or how to speak about how they are really feeling. Asking questions can open space and direction for someone to talk about their mental health, but make sure to avoid leading or judgemental questions.
If you think someone has been acting differently it&rsquo;s OK to mention if it is done in a kind and open way. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ve seemed a bit quiet recently, is everything alright? I&rsquo;m here if you want to talk.&rdquo; This shows that you care and opens the door for them to chat when they&rsquo;re ready.&nbsp;(Find more tips on how to start a conversation&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/personal-stories/5-ways-to-start-conversation-about-mental-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.)
&nbsp;
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
<h4>Don't treat them any differently</h4>
Many people find it hard to open up because they don&rsquo;t want to be treated any differently by their colleagues. Offer patience and do check in with them more regularly, but still behave how you normally would around them. Some might not be ready to talk when you offer the opportunity to do so, but it only means they will be more comfortable the next time you try.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>Time and Place</h4>
It can be intimidating and daunting for some to talk face-to-face about mental health, especially in a work setting. Some may find it easier to talk over the phone, via email, text or even finding the right situation can help. Whether that&rsquo;s one-to-one catchup over the phone, during a lunch break, or even after-work drinks at the pub, one of these settings could be a safe space for them to feel comfortable enough to talk openly.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>Listen some more, and&nbsp;don&rsquo;t try to&nbsp;fix</h4>
If you find out that someone you know is struggling with their mental health, it can be instinctive to try and fix that. But it&rsquo;s not an instant fix. Learning to manage and recover from poor mental health can be a long process, so just talking and listening can be a great first step in helping them with their own mental health goals.
&nbsp;
These are some helpful starting points to make it easier to talk about mental health at work, but even if you&rsquo;re not talking, you can offer support simply by offering&nbsp;extra help at work, sending a message to let them know you&rsquo;re thinking of them, or offering to meet up outside of work.
&nbsp;
<pre class="ql-syntax" spellcheck="false"><a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/client-advice-insights/how-to-support-employee-mental-health-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read about more ways you can support mental health in the workplace here
</a></pre>
&nbsp;
For further advice and mental health support at work visit:
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mental Health at Work&nbsp;</a>
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://timetotalkday.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time to Talk&nbsp;</a>
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://https//www.time-to-change.org.uk/personal-stories/5-ways-to-start-conversation-about-mental-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Time to Change</a>
Disclaimer: the guidance in this blog is provided for general information purposes and is not in any way legal or professional advice. You should consult a professional or legal advisor regarding employee mental health where appropriate.
&nbsp;
Sources:
https://timetotalkday.co.uk/&nbsp;
https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/personal-stories/5-ways-to-start-conversation-about-mental-health
https://championhealth.co.uk/blog/how-to-talk-about-mental-health-workplace/
​

How to make it easier to talk about mental health at work

Decidere&nbsp;di&nbsp;lasciare il tuo lavoro e comunicare le tue dimissioni può essere un processo molto difficile, o forse il tuo desiderio più grande.In entrambi i casi è molto importante sapere come comunicare le tue dimissioni in maniera&nbsp;professionale. Per professionale si intende assicurare che il processo venga svolto nel modo migliore possibile,&nbsp;senza danneggiare la tua reputazione a lavoro o le relazioni con i tuoi referenti e colleghi. Solo in questo modo potrete sempre rimanere in buoni rapporti.Probabilmente ti stai ponendo domande a cui non puoi rispondere:“Sto facendo la scelta giusta?”“Starò meglio? Sarò felice? Sarò accettato e apprezzato?”&nbsp;“Riuscirò a raggiungere i miei obbiettivi professionali?”<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/80408e5b-54a0-4cdf-b60a-027eb988f705.jpeg">&nbsp;Tutte queste domande provengono da quella parte di te che non vuole affrontare un cambiamento, che non vuole uscire dalla tua comfort zone, dal tuo lavoro attuale o forse dalla paura&nbsp;di&nbsp;cominciare un lavoro completamente nuovo.Magari non ti trovi bene come prima, le dinamiche all’interno del tuo gruppo&nbsp;di&nbsp;lavoro sono cambiate e ci sono dei problemi nel tuo team e solitamente pensieri come questi causano emozioni contrastanti come sensi di colpa, tristezza e ansia.Infatti, lo scopo di questo articolo è proprio quello di aiutarti nel mettere i pensieri in ordine, di pensare al “QUI” e “ORA” e quindi a mettere i piedi per terra. Solo in questo modo puoi visualizzare la semplicità di questo processo e motivarti nell’affrontarlo con un approccio graduale e nella maniera più giusta possibile.Noi, leader nel campo del Recruitment, abbiamo sentito delle vere e proprie storie disastrose riguardanti candidati che dovevano comunicare il loro periodo di preavviso. Ciò nonostante, sono state proprio queste esperienze a darci la possibilità di maturare una solida conoscenza nel comprendere quelli che sono i metodi più efficaci, cosa fare e cosa NON fare per comunicare l’interruzione contrattuale al tuo datore di lavoro.Di&nbsp;seguito, i 5 step necessari per comunicare le proprie dimissioniStep 1) Firmare la lettera&nbsp;di&nbsp;impegno e&nbsp;di&nbsp;assunzione che ti è stata mandata. Ricorda, le tue dimissioni partono proprio dal momento in cui hai firmato quest’ultima.Cosa fare: Prenditi un momento per riflettereUn’azione molto ovvia ma che spesso si dimentica&nbsp;di&nbsp;fare. Rifletti in maniera approfondita sulle ragioni che ti hanno spinto a intraprendere un iter o piu iter selettivi. Poniti le domande giuste:“In queste settimane che cosa mi ha motivato nel chiedere giorni&nbsp;di&nbsp;permesso per andare a svolgere dei colloqui per cui mi sono preparata/o?”“come mi sono sentita/o quando mi hanno fatto l’offerta?”Le motivazioni possono essere molteplici: carriera, crescita, trasferte, una vita più equilibrata, l’opportunità di avere più tempo da passare con la tua famiglia o magari più tempo per te stesso.Ritagliarsi uno spazio di riflessione è un fattore importante, solo in questo modo potrai ascoltarti, avere maggior consapevolezza dei tuoi stati d’animo, delle tue emozioni e di conseguenza una maggiore chiarezza dei tuoi obiettivi, determinazione e motivazione nel riprendere la strada giusta e raggiungere il benessere interiore e di godersi la vita.Cosa non fare:&nbsp;Non reagire impulsivamente, PENSA prima di agire, non farti controllare dall’impulsività altrimenti il tuo cammino sarà oscurato.STEP 2)&nbsp;Organizza un colloquio nella prima data possibile con i tuoi referenti.Cosa fare:&nbsp;Segna una data con il tuo manager,&nbsp;è importante richiedere un incontro&nbsp;di&nbsp;persona con il tuo referente ed in quella sede comunicare la tua volontà&nbsp;di&nbsp;interrompere il rapporto lavorativo.Non&nbsp;perdere la tua immagine professionale durante il meeting e cerca&nbsp;di&nbsp;prepararti su quello che devi dire prima che cominci il meeting. In questo modo sarà più semplice non farsi sopraffare dalle emozioni e rimanere lucidi. Assicurati che vengano chiariti tutti gli aspetti vincolanti come la retribuzione residua e le ferie. Ricordati&nbsp;di&nbsp;ringraziarli per il tempo passato nell’azienda&nbsp;e assicurati&nbsp;di&nbsp;lasciarti in buoni rapporti.Definisci insieme al tuo responsabile una data definitiva per il termine del tuo&nbsp;periodo&nbsp;di&nbsp;preavviso. Qualora la nuova azienda dovesse chiederti&nbsp;di&nbsp;anticipare l’uscita da quella attuale, non onorando il&nbsp;periodo&nbsp;di&nbsp;preavviso, parlane apertamente con il tuo referente, spiegando la volontà da parte tua&nbsp;di&nbsp;fare un adeguato passaggio&nbsp;di&nbsp;consegne ed allo stesso tempo non perdere la bella opportunità lavorativa che hai deciso&nbsp;di&nbsp;cogliere.Cosa non fare:&nbsp;&nbsp;Avere un atteggiamento arrogante e comunicare un feedback negativo.&nbsp;Il tuo feedback può essere&nbsp;di&nbsp;aiuto all’azienda, ma non deve diventare uno scenario o una situazione in cui ti vuoi levare un sassolino dalla scarpa, né uno scenario in cui ti concentri troppo sui motivi che ti hanno spinto ad andare via. Piuttosto metti in evidenza la tua voglia&nbsp;di&nbsp;cambiamento e la gratitudine che hai maturato per l’esperienza acquisita.&nbsp;Ricordati che i professionisti parlano in modo trasparente e produttivo dei problemi.Non aspettare 2/3 settimane per comunicare le tue dimissioni, può capitare che i tuoi manager abbiano capito che vuoi lasciare l’azienda ed è proprio per questo che stanno rimandando l’incontro. Oppure sono solamente sommersi di impegni, in entrambi i casi è importante non perdere tempo e comunicare le dimissioni al più presto, anche per rispettare le tempistiche dell’altra azienda.STEP&nbsp;3) La controfferta:&nbsp;La decisione&nbsp;di&nbsp;consegnare le tue dimissioni può spesso essere uno shock per l’azienda per cui potrebbe essere triste vederti andare via.&nbsp;Per provare a trattenerti, considerando il tempo e le difficoltà che potrebbero incontrare nel sostituirti, non solo potrebbero provare (finalmente) a valorizzarti con promesse ed aumenti, ma potrebbero spingersi anche ad offrirti una promozione.Cosa fare:&nbsp;Il colloquio con i tuoi referenti ti ha messo in crisi? Non ti aspettavi questa controfferta, ma inconsciamente sapevi che te l’avrebbero fatta?Presi dalla paura di affrontare questo periodo senza di te e dall’ansia di ricercare un sostituto che sia all’altezza, ti hanno promesso delle opportunità.Riflettici sopra, in questo caso non essere impulsivo cerca&nbsp;di&nbsp;tenere la stessa freddezza, la stessa calma che hai dimostrato durante l’iter selettivo.Se la tua azienda vuole veramente trovare un modo per trattenerti e valorizzarti, faranno in modo che tu possa prendere una decisione ragionata e consapevole, e non ti chiederà un riscontro immediato.Una controfferta può essere molto attraente, sia per un aspetto materiale che per una forma&nbsp;di&nbsp;riconoscimento del proprio lavoro. Nonostante questo, è una prassi comune nel tuo settore.PENSA...“come mai determinate opportunità scenari e promesse che fino a ieri non erano disponibili, oggi sono tutte e portata&nbsp;di&nbsp;mano?”Infatti, il nostro consiglio è quello&nbsp;di&nbsp;riflettere nuovamente sulle motivazioni che ti hanno portato a chiedere un incontro per comunicare le dimissioni ai tuoi referenti, oltre che aver ricevuto una proposta dalla tua azienda, e dormirci sopra.Se al tuo risveglio le ragioni che ti hanno spinto a cambiare&nbsp;se i ragionamenti fatti restano gli stessi e la tua decisione non è cambiata, resta fedele ai tuoi propositi.Cosa non fare:&nbsp;Prendere immediatamente una decisione e dare una risposta durante l’incontro stesso per paura di perdere l’opportunità che al momento ti sembra molto attraente.PENSA… “come reagiranno i tuoi colleghi? “Per quanto tu possa pensare “Andrà tutto bene, capiranno”, è&nbsp;impossibile negare che la tua percezione a livello lavorativo cambierà.Hai dedicato tanto tempo a questo iter selettivo, se la tua azienda attuale tiene veramente ti darà del tempo per considerare questa proposta. Quindi, prenditi il tuo tempo per riflettere e gentilmente declina.STEP 4) Come svolgere le dimissioniCosa fare:&nbsp;Inoltra le dimissioni online tramite il portale INPS.Le dimissioni telematiche sono infatti rapide e semplici, basterà seguire questo link per avere una breve guida:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inps.it/nuovoportaleinps/default.aspx?itemdir=50916" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;">https://www.inps.it/nuovoportaleinps/default.aspx?itemdir=50916</a>Per ulteriore aiuto e informazioni puoi: utilizzare YouTube per visualizzare i tutorial, affidarti al recruiter che ti ha seguito o chiedere un consiglio all’HR dell’azienda per cui lavorerai.Cosa non fare:&nbsp;è sconsigliabile visti i lunghi&nbsp;periodi&nbsp;di&nbsp;attesa, fare richiesta online per il pin necessario per lo svolgimento delle dimissioni telematiche. Non aspettare l’ultimo secondo per svolgere le tue dimissioni online, per i seguenti motivi:ll primo motivo è la percezione del tuo futuro datore&nbsp;di&nbsp;lavoro, quanto prima notifichi che hai con successo svolto le tue dimissioni online, quanto più il tuo comportamento sarà visto come professionale, entusiasta e risoluto.&nbsp;&nbsp;Non rischiare di far sorgere dei dubbi rispetto alle tue motivazion nel tuo nuovo datore di lavoro.Presta attenzione al tipo&nbsp;di&nbsp;inquadramento contrattuale che hai. Alcune tipologie&nbsp;di&nbsp;contratto come quella del commercio considerano valide le dimissioni a partire dal primo o dal sedicesimo giorno del mese (se non stai attento alle date rischi di allungare di due settimane il tuo periodo di preavviso) Nel dubbio chiedi al tuo HR.Per poter comunicare le dimissioni online sarà necessario recarsi presso un ufficio INPS per la raccolta del codice pin o recarsi presso un CAF.STEP 5)&nbsp;Passaggio di consegne e saluti finaliSe vuoi aggiungere un tocco personale, scrivi un’e-mail ai tuoi referenti con cui hai condiviso la maggior parte delle attività. Esprimi la tua gratitudine, augurando il meglio a tutti coloro che hanno lavorato con te.&nbsp;La gratitudine è una delle chiavi, forse una delle più importanti, per il successo.Gli ultimi giorni saranno molto difficili e molto pesanti perché non vedrai più te stesso in un contesto professionale in quanto&nbsp;si va a chiudere quello che é stato un capitolo importante della tua esperienza professionale e della tua vita.Cosa fare:&nbsp;Le prime e le ultime impressioni sono quelle che rimangono sempre, sarà importante quindi che tu ti rivolga sempre in maniera positiva e professionaleAdesso che hai visto i passi per comunicare le tue dimissioni puoi approcciare questo processo in modo più sereno, visualizzare i vari passi e le varie azioni che dovrai compiere senza ansie e preoccupazioni.Puoi tranquillizzarti e sapere che i tuoi colleghi avranno un ricordo positivo&nbsp;di&nbsp;te e che invece che uscire sbattendo la porta hai concluso un’esperienza lavorativa con il sorriso e un attestato&nbsp;di&nbsp;stima.

5 modi migliori per comunicare il tuo periodo di preavviso

Perhaps you are looking to work in tech or looking to change up your career. Have you thought about coding?Code is everywhere. It’s no secret that we live in a technology-focused world, with new technologies being developed every day. We are constantly on our phones, talking to AI bots, and checking our location-tracking apps for the weather, traffic, and more, which means there are plenty of exciting areas of programming to learn about and become a part of.So, why should you learn how to code? I’m not a coder myself, but I’ve been working with developers and coders for nearly 10 years, placing them in exciting and forward-thinking companies across UK and Europe. So, if I were to offer my two cents on why you should learn how to code, I’d say there are a couple of great reasons.<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/0c07a9c5-1f13-4d02-b29c-a42549013d27.jpeg" alt="why learn how to code top 5 tips"> <h4> </h4><h4>Vast Opportunity</h4>There are tonnes of opportunities out there for job roles that pay VERY well - particularly software development.Coding is a fundamental skill for software development and with technologies that are constantly evolving and growing, this has led to a shortage of software developers worldwide. By learning how to code you will be able to prove to employers that you have a clear software aptitude as well as the ability to process information and analyse data. <h4>Gain new skills</h4>Aside from the obvious technical skills, you will be learning, coding can also improve your problem-solving and logical skills, working the left side of your brain.Whether you want to learn how to code to either to build software, apps, or websites, understanding the fundamentals of programming will also teach you computational thinking and problem-solving skills that can be applied anywhere.It also improves your interpersonal and non-technical skills. We’ve got a list of the top non-technical skills you’ll need to have for a successful coding career&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/blog/2021/08/4-non-technical-skills-to-improve-your-coding-career" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;">here</a>.&nbsp; <h4>The Community</h4>I can tell you first-hand after visiting many coding and developer events over the years, there is a big community out there in the coding world. Full of people who are constantly learning (just like you will be) and people who are generous with their knowledge and time. If you ever get stuck there will always be answers, with plenty of free resources online.<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/94924afd-3d24-4aef-8418-e8ad06992381.jpeg">​<h4>Anyone can do it.</h4>Yep, that’s right, you don’t need to pay thousands in Uni fees or an existing degree, and it doesn’t take years to achieve. It can be done online and from anywhere working around your other commitments. Flexible learning is another plus to learning how to code, you can learn in your own time and at your own pace. <h4>Never stop learning</h4>When it comes to learning how to code, there are so many options for learning and once you’ve got one or two programming languages nailed, there’s no stopping you from learning others. Here are the top 10 places you can learn online. <h4>Where to start?</h4>Now you know you want to learn how to code – you’re probably wondering where to start? We’ve got that covered in our blog - 'how to choose a programming language' where we cover each programming language, its uses, and what you could earn.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/blog/2017/03/how-to-choose-a-programming-language-thats-right-for-you" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;">Check it out here.</a> Any other questions about development and coding careers get in touch with me at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rick@eligo.co.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;">rick@eligo.co.uk</a>, you can also check out our technology jobs here for the types of development roles we usually recruit for.

Why learn how to code? Top 5 reasons

How you can make an impact with non-technical skills as well as your code.
When we think about people skills, and using them, in a technology environment, examples can vary from showing empathy for users to having self-awareness and good problem-solving techniques. These examples of non-technical&nbsp;transferable skills actually can make a much bigger impact on your role and become just as important as your coding ability.
You know that it&rsquo;s your technical talent and expertise that make you qualified to fill a software developer role within a company. But how can you stand out from the competition? Once you&rsquo;ve landed your dream coding role, do you have the right transferable non-technical skills to further develop your career?
Some of these skills you may already have and are using successfully, read below to find out.
&nbsp;
<h4>Communication</h4>
<ul>
<li>The ability to communicate effectively is a skill that all employees need, but it can also be one of the most challenging to master for some. It is important to remember that interactions with others in the business and on your team, end up mattering more than the code you write.</li>
<li>When interacting and working with others in the company it's essential to communicate without jargon, so that you are able to communicate with everyone on all levels. Not only are your interactions more important than the code you write, but the code you write can also improve your interactions with others.</li>
<li>The key to good communication in your team is to always ask questions! In any situation, it&rsquo;s vital to ask why, to listen, and be able to respond effectively. Poor communication can lead to a lack of progression in a project and disrupt the team dynamic; if you are overlooking and not discussing problems you may be having at work it can lead to tension between employees and in the long run, inhibit your growth in the company.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h4>Teamwork and social skills</h4>
<ul>
<li>Whether you work remotely or on-site, you are always going to be a part of a team. Teamwork is not just about working together as a group it&rsquo;s also about social skills and support. Knowing each team member's strengths and weaknesses and being able to empathise can benefit immensely.</li>
<li>You might be a team leader assigning tasks to the team to improve efficiency or struggling to track and eliminate a bug in your code and by fully understanding the people you work with, you will know the person in your team that you can turn to for help.</li>
<li>When working as a team, the little things are important &ndash; from greeting your colleagues in the morning, complaining out loud less, avoiding being cynical, and being more aware of opportunities available. Having a positive attitude will not only make things easier for you when facing challenges and obstacles but will also lead your colleagues to offer you help in return.</li>
<li>The key to great teamwork is to voice your opinion constructively, inspire others and be trustworthy.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h4> Adaptability</h4>
<ul>
<li>Change in the workplace can range from having to learn new skills, taking on extra responsibilities, and having projects being canceled to a change in working hours, relocation, and business mergers. It&rsquo;s unreasonable to expect all change to be embraced by everyone, but how you react and handle these types of change demonstrates your ability as a successful developer.</li>
<li>Remember that it&rsquo;s hard to work with people who reject change, by reacting to change positively and looking for the benefits and opportunities within it, you can keep yourself and your team motivated and positive during hard times of change.</li>
<li>Whether you work for a large corporation or a small start-up, being adaptable and wearing many hats is essential and can make a bigger impact on your career than the code you write.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h4>Creativity</h4>
A Quora user&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.quora.com/Is-software-engineering-a-creative-field" target="_blank" rel="noopener">once said</a>&nbsp;&ldquo;[Software Engineering] is perhaps the most creative field imaginable&rdquo; &ndash; &ldquo;It&rsquo;s just your thoughts and a screen waiting to be filled with code. In that screen, you can create anything.&rdquo;
<ul>
<li>Being creative essentially means having the ability to come up with&nbsp;something new, and every time a developer writes code, he or she is on the way to creating a solution that has never been created before.</li>
<li>Creative thinking can be a great skill to have in your developer arsenal in the workplace; from coming up with a new idea for a product or feature that could be an asset to your company to ideas for a better system or how to manage internal processes.</li>
<li>Creativity and having an intrapreneurial (proactive and self-motivated) mindset can also show you are invested in your company and work because you are determined to develop and improve on it.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Non-technical skills are just as important as technical ability when working as a developer,&nbsp;and having both can&nbsp;make a talented individual into a great employee, and a top-notch team player. Having these skills paired with great technical talent will not only make you a better developer but&nbsp;will also help you to build up a successful coding career.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re looking for new development or coding opportunity, then take a look at our current developer and open-source roles&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>! Alternatively, why not&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" title="Upload CV link" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/upload-cv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">upload your CV&nbsp;</a>for further advice and help to find your ideal role in coding.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

4 non-technical skills for a successful coding career

In our previous blog, we mentioned a visit from CTO James Oughton, who gave a talk on his view of the hiring process from the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/hello-side-desk-insight-hiring-cto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">other side of the desk</a>. A great takeaway from his talk was his insight into the interview process, what he expects from candidates, and the types of questions he asks in technical interviews.
Using my own experiences of interviewing candidates and discussing interview practices with clients, I wanted to take this further and offer steps that you can follow as candidates to stand out in a technical interview. To achieve this, you need to be prepared, communicate your skills and attributes effectively, and present your problem-solving skills.
The main thing CTOs are looking for during the technical interview is whether your technical ability and personality can work well within their team to solve problems for the business.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>Be prepared to...be prepared</h4>
Being adequately prepared for an interview is an obvious one, but we have heard from many CTOs/hiring managers that candidates still come to interviews unprepared with their minds not in the right frame at all.
Get your head in the game, so to speak, and mentally prepare yourself. Get to the interview 10-15 minutes early to relax and forget about remembering your long list of accomplishments, they&rsquo;re just buzzwords, go into the interview modest, open-minded, and focused.
Align yourself with the company by finding out as much about the business as humanly possible. It&rsquo;s crucial that you find out and understand the company goals and technologies they work with and focus on how you would fit in with the team. The way in which you portray this and your attitude throughout is a great way to rack up bonus points at the interview stage.
What is always helpful is to have notes on the company, technical skills, and examples of your problem-solving ability, this way if you get stuck on a particular question you can refer back to your notes. This will show the interviewer that you have done your research and put effort into preparing for the interview.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>Expect the unexpected</h4>
When answering technical questions about the position&nbsp;make sure your technical experience&nbsp;stacks up&nbsp;against what&rsquo;s mentioned on your CV&nbsp;&ndash; and be prepared to go into depth about how you have felt when making decisions previously and why you like to use certain frameworks over others.
As well as the technical questions regarding your skills and how they relate to the role, you should also be prepared to answer personality and emotion-related questions such as;
 
 &ldquo;When was the last time you lost your temper?&rdquo;&nbsp;&ndash; it can seem like a bizarre question to be asked but it is fully relevant to finding out what gets you emotionally driven and how you will work in a team environment.
&ldquo;What is the worst business relationship you have been in?&rdquo;&nbsp;&ndash; hiring managers use questions like this to understand the maturity of the interviewee and a test to see if you are able to recognise your own maturity in such situations.
Think carefully&nbsp;about how you answer these types of questions and a good way to stand out in a technical interview is to offer a solution of how you worked around and overcame such conflicts in your team. Ultimately showing the interviewer how you communicate in the workplace.
If you are also applying for a role within a team, the hiring manager/CTO will want to know how you work with others and handle setbacks that arise. When answering these types of questions, be sure to give real-life work examples.
While the technical interview might seem like the perfect chance to show off your skills in programming, it&rsquo;s also an invaluable opportunity for the hiring manager to discover how you solve problems.
In this case, you will be asked about problems you may have faced in your current/previous role to get an insight into whether you have understood your impact on the business. If you offer a purely technical answer then this is unsatisfactory to the hiring manager, they want to know how you understood the root of the problem and worked with other colleagues to solve it.
It&rsquo;s all about how you think and approach the problem they present you with, if you are struggling to explain, a great idea would be to use your notepad (if you brought one) or ask for paper or a whiteboard to take the CTO through your process and portray your problem-solving ability.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>Show your interest - COMMUNICATE</h4>
At some point during the interview, particularly towards the end, the interviewer will turn the tables and ask &lsquo;any questions?&rsquo;.
Don&rsquo;t wait for this question to arrive but equally don&rsquo;t be too pushy with your questions. When communicating with the hiring manager during your interview it&rsquo;s great to ask questions throughout and show your interest in not only the role but the business as a whole.
To stand out in a technical interview, hiring managers want to hear about what gets you excited about the company's mission and its product.
Asking questions about current projects and the development team gives the interviewer an insight into how you will be able to communicate with the whole company and whether your interests and skills compliment the team to solve problems for the business. If the CTO mentions any current problems they are facing, again use this as an opportunity (if they haven&rsquo;t asked you) to show how you have solved a similar problem before.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>Remember, use your recruiter!</h4>
One sure-fire way to get prepared and make sure you stand out in a technical interview is by getting as much information as you can from your recruiter about the interview process beforehand.
Ask questions about the location, where is it going to take place? The office or a public place such as a coffee shop? How long it&rsquo;s going to last? That way you can mentally prepare yourself if you know it&rsquo;s going to last a couple of hours or half a day.
Make sure you push your recruiter for all the information you need to be prepared, especially so if the recruiter doesn&rsquo;t know the answer to a question. We love it when candidates ask us questions that we have never been asked before, as it pushes us to be better recruiters and furthers our knowledge and experience of what candidates are looking for.
&nbsp;
We hope these steps will help you to get prepared and make sure you can create a great impression to the CTO. If you want any further help with how to stand out in a technical interview, please don&rsquo;t hesitate to contact me on the usual&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="mailto:rick@eligo.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rick@eligo.co.uk</a>&nbsp;or call&nbsp;+44 (0) 208 944 4180
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

How to Stand Out in a Technical Interview

The life of a developer contractor comes with superior earning potential than that of a permanent employee, and other perks such as flexible hours, and being your own boss. These benefits often compensate for the potential negatives, namely, the lack of a regular stable income, and job security.
Whilst some contractors develop excellent relationships with specific clients, the uncertainty about where the next contract developer opportunity is coming from often remains. One way to counter this is to use a contract developer recruiter, which not only can ensure that you are able to pick up contract opportunities steadily but also brings a range of benefits with it. We've highlighted 5 of the benefits of working in partnership with an IT contract recruiter for your next developer contract role below.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Top 5 Benefits of Using a Recruiter to Secure Developer Contract Roles
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>Getting noticed - let someone else do the leg work for you</h4>
Have you ever applied directly to a role and wondered what happened to your application without being contacted? It may be that you have tried speaking to the wrong person and even if you have spoken to the correct contact, you may feel too pushy to follow up on it. Contract recruiters know the companies that fit your experience and requirements and know the right people to put your CV in front of. It is also in our interest to ensure that any application is followed up on, ensuring that appropriate feedback is always provided, whilst further seeking to help you elsewhere if you&rsquo;re unsuccessful.
&nbsp;
<h4>Market knowledge and contacts - increase your opportunities</h4>
As contract recruiters, we have spent years building excellent relationships with companies that require developers, and often many companies, particularly the larger ones, will only hire directly through a trusted recruitment agency. Contract recruiters have an excellent insight into the current market for developer contractors and which skills are required and where. We can give you this information and open doors to jobs you may not ever have had access to otherwise.
&nbsp;
<h4>Negotiation - Get the best rates! </h4>
We need to talk about contract recruitment. There is an opinion amongst some that contract recruiters will try to achieve the highest markup on your rate, making as much money as possible from you, whilst leaving you worse off in terms of pay rate. This is not the case, particularly in the world of digital and technology where 3rd parties involved include internal recruitment, HR, Finance, and so on. Contract recruitment in the 21st century is a lot more transparent than times gone by, with mark-up percentages agreed upon beforehand, meaning the more money you receive, the more we do, so who is better to negotiate on your behalf?
&nbsp;
<h4>Payment / Payroll - get paid on time, every time</h4>
Credit control and payroll are one of the most difficult aspects of self-employment to manage. As a direct contractor, you are at the mercy of the client as to when you get paid, however using a contract recruiter takes the risk out of this, with payment terms set up meaning that you are paid regardless, on time, every time. This is particularly relevant in today&rsquo;s market where the upsurge in start-ups and the volatility of business means that protection is ever more important.
&nbsp;
<h4>Compliance and Admin - Someone's got to do it</h4>
Again, the pitfalls of self-employment strike, particularly when it comes to administration and compliance. A contract recruiter takes care of all these worries for you, creating a compliance pack, fulfilling all client requirements in terms of eligibility to work, and handling the administration surrounding contracts, payment, and more. Forget the stress and concentrate on completing the work!
&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;d like to have a discussion about your developer contract career, or the current developer contractor roles available get in touch with us at <a href="mailto:hello@eligo.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hello@eligo.co.uk</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Eligo Technology offer a range of developer contract roles including those for: iOS Developer, Android Developer, Windows Phone Developer,&nbsp;Xamarin Developer, .NET Developer, Python Developer, Front End Developer, UX (designers), AEM (CQ5) Developer, JavaScript Developer (ReactJS), Gaming (Phaser), CMS (Magnolia, Sitecore), PHP Developer, Full Stack Developer, Java software engineers &amp; technical leads (including Scrum Masters).

5 Reasons to Use a Recruiter to Secure Your Next Developer Contract Role

If you are a business that regularly hires contractors (off-payroll workers),&nbsp;or a contractor supplying services to clients in both the public and private sector through your PSC (i.e. your limited company). Then you might have heard about the upcoming changes to the IR35 regulation. These changes were supposed to take place last year, but due to the Covid19&nbsp;pandemic, IR35 off-payroll changes have been moved to this April 2021.&nbsp;
IR35 is a complicated piece of legislation for many contractors and businesses, with the government even being<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/04/08/ir35_westminster_hall_debate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;criticised on its clarity over IR35</a>&nbsp;and a recent blunder of&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.contractoruk.com/news/0014421hmrc_leaks_its_own_ir35_payroll_guidance_online_publishing_error.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">leaking its IR35 off-payroll guidance</a>&nbsp;in an online publishing error.
But stick with me! In this article, we'll help you get past the panic and noise and hopefully answer your questions about the changes to IR35 and what you need to know. From when the changes come into play, who's responsible for what, how to determine status and where you can get further information and advice.
Still with me?... ok let's go.
&nbsp;
What is IR35?
First introduced back in 2000, IR35 is a law designed to increase the collection of income tax from people who work through an 'intermediary' such as an umbrella or personal services company (PSC). (i.e. a limited company).
If you are a contractor supplying services to an organisation in the public or private sector through your own limited company (PSC) you should consider the upcoming changes to IR35.
&nbsp;
Okay, so what's changing?
In a nutshell,&nbsp;the new IR35 changes will be implemented in April 2021&nbsp;for private sector contractors, transferring the responsibility of assessing whether IR35&nbsp;will be applicable to any Assignment (or booking, for contractors in the Medical sector) from contractors to medium and large organisations.
This will apply to all payments made on or after the 6th of April 2021,&nbsp;regardless of when the work was carried&nbsp;(e.g. you are a nurse you will be paid x amount on 7th&nbsp;April for work carried on 30th&nbsp;March, IR35 will be applicable to that payment)
The 'end-client' (please note this wouldn&rsquo;t be your recruitment agency)&nbsp;will be responsible for determining the IR35 employment status of all their off-payroll workers' assignments,&nbsp;whilst the fee-payer (usually a recruitment agency) will be responsible for deducting the relevant tax and National Insurance contributions (NIC) at source.
Financial implications due to IR35 could be&nbsp;particularly significant for workers as it could reduce total net income by up to 25%, however,&nbsp;a lot of umbrella companies have introduced the &ldquo;salary sacrifice&rdquo; method that could decrease this gap by up to 20%.&nbsp;
Right, so how is contractor employment status determined?
End-clients are responsible for creating a 'Status Determination Statement' or &ldquo;SD&rdquo;/&rdquo;SDS&rdquo; for short, that states if a contractor's role is 'inside' or 'outside' IR35.
While making the determination, the Client should take a lot of details into consideration, such as but not limited to; the&nbsp;control exercised over the contractor, mutuality of obligation, right to substitution, and financial risk(s) involved to ensure the correct outcome of the SDS.
&nbsp;
So, what is my responsibility as a hiring business (end-client)?
As the hiring organisation, it is important that you provide the 'Status Determination Statement' which states whether you believe IR35 applies to the contractor's assignment to both&nbsp;the recruitment agency and the contractor, including all&nbsp;reasoning behind it.
Until this statement is provided you will be classed as the fee payer, making you IR35 liable and responsible for deducting the appropriate tax and NIC's from the contractor before paying this to HMRC.
&nbsp;
 As an end-client,&nbsp;how can I determine if IR35 applies to my organisation?
You would need to prepare for the changes if you are:
<ul>
<li>A medium or large-sized non-public sector organisation which engages contractors (off-payroll workers) who work through their own intermediary (i.e. limited company)</li>
<li class="ql-indent-1">If your organisation is a&nbsp;private&nbsp;entity, consider if the "small company exemption" applies to you.</li>
</ul>
Under section 382 of Companies Act 2006, a company qualifies as &ldquo;small&rdquo; if it is part of the private sector, and if two of the following three conditions are met for&nbsp;two consecutive financial years:
<ul>
<li>Annual turnover &ndash; not more than &pound;10.2 million</li>
<li>Balance sheet total &ndash; not more than &pound;5.1 million</li>
<li>Number of employees &ndash; not more than 50 employees</li>
</ul>
Where the small company exemption applies, the responsibility and liability for IR35 remain with the Contractor (as it is currently in the private sector), meaning it is business as usual, and no further changes will be needed.
<ul>
<li>A public authority &ndash; there are additional changes from April 2021</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
 ​These rules will not apply to small companies that meet two or more of the following conditions:
<ul>
<li>No more than 50 employees</li>
<li>Turnover no more than &pound;10.2 million</li>
<li>A balance sheet total of no more than &pound;5.1 million</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
 I'm a contractor, what should I do/expect?
<ul>
<li>The end-client must contact you in writing (it may be via email) about their decision whether your Assignment(s) after 6th&nbsp;April would fall inside or outside IR35, providing you with an SDS including all details around their decision.</li>
<li>Where your Assignment falls inside IR35 you would have to be put through an umbrella company, and for relevant Tax/NIC to be deducted at source.</li>
<li>Where your Assignment falls outside IR35 it would mean business as usual, and you could still be paid via your PSC (limited company).</li>
<li>It may be the case that you are engaged on Assignments that are inside IR35 and others that are outside IR35. That is not something to worry about, as each SDS&rsquo;s outcome is dependent on a lot of different factors that may be different for each end-Client.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
What happens if the contractor or fee-payer disagrees with an IR35 decision?
If any party, the contractor or fee-payer oppose the IR35 decision, the client has 45 days to respond and must provide reasoning for the decision made. If the end client fails to do this, the IR35 liability will transfer to them and they will then become the fee-payer.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
How do companies prepare for the IR35 reform?
<ol>
<li>Start by taking a look at your current workforce and identify individuals who are supplying their services through personal service companies, what are their roles?</li>
<li>Talk to your contractors to see if the off-payroll rules apply to their role.</li>
<li>Review payroll processes and how these could be applied for workers inside IR35</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
 ​How do contractors prepare for the IR35 reform?
If you think you may be affected, you should seek a Status Determination Statement from your hiring company.&nbsp;(this would not be the recruitment agency, but the end-Client you supply services to)
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to be relied upon beyond general education for contractors and businesses to improve their understanding of IR35 legislation. We advise to seek professional expertise when assessing contracts or dealing with HRMC enquiries.
&nbsp;
Sources to find out more about IR35
Off-payroll working &ndash; (IR35)&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.gov.uk/topic/business-tax/ir35" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.gov.uk/topic/business-tax/ir35</a>
Preparing for the off-payroll rules (IR35 Reform)&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.qdoscontractor.com/docs/default-source/resources/white-paper_-preparing-for-ir35-reform-july-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.qdoscontractor.com/docs/default-source/resources/white-paper_-preparing-for-ir35-reform-july-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=6</a>
Guidance for Contractors&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.taylorhopkinson.com/ir35/#proposed-changes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.taylorhopkinson.com/ir35/#proposed-changes</a>
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.contractorweekly.com/ir35/ir35-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.contractorweekly.com/ir35/ir35-guide/</a>
Prepare for changes to the off-payroll working rules -&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-changes-to-the-off-payroll-working-rules-ir35" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prepare-for-changes-to-the-off-payroll-working-rules-ir35</a>
Factsheet for contractors-&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/857148/Contractor_factsheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/857148/Contractor_factsheet.pdf</a>
HMRC CEST tool -&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-employment-status-for-tax/disclaimer" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-employment-status-for-tax/disclaimer</a>
&nbsp;

IR35 off-payroll changes and how it effects contractors and businesses.

How to choose a programming language that’s right for you

<a style="color: rgb(237, 38, 140);" href="https://email-eligo.co.uk/p/4V9F-180/free-cv-template" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CLICK HERE FOR A TEMPLATE TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL CV&nbsp;</a>
<a style="color: black;" href="https://eligo.co.uk/5-steps-finding-a-new-job/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Searching for and getting the perfect new job can be difficult</a>. So, when you find your perfect role, it is important to make sure you take the time to write a successful CV. The first thing a future employer generally uses to decide whether they will consider you for the job is your CV. Learn how to write a successful CV and you will impress very quickly whilst a bad CV will be disregarded even quicker!
As with any form of communication, elements of a CV provide connotations and meanings which are interpreted almost subconsciously. Before even reading the words on the page, the eye and mind will start to draw conclusions.
It is important for both the writer and the reader to become aware of these subconscious assessments as they can be very influential.
Key areas to consider when you start to write a successful CV are:
<ul>
<li>The look and feel:&nbsp;&nbsp;a successful CV should look crisp and clear not only to be aesthetically pleasing but easy to follow.</li>
<li>The structure:&nbsp;a successful CV structure should be logical and not confusing.</li>
<li>The style: this is not only in terms of the visual look of the CV but the language, tone and punctuation also speaks volumes. Ensuring you tailor the style to the job and company you wish to apply for will set you on the way to write a successful CV.</li>
</ul>
It&rsquo;s common knowledge that employers will make their minds up within the first minute of reading a CV. With a lot of top recruiters and recruitment managers reviewing up to 200 applications for one role, it is crucial to understand exactly what they are looking for and what you need to consider and include in order to write a successful CV.
 
 
<h4> How to write a successful CV</h4>
&nbsp;
The look and feel, layout, structure and style are all important in writing a successful CV. The use of bold, colour, spacing, alignment and bullets can really help employers quickly view the information that is important at a glance.
Make sure to include each of these within your CV:
<ul>
<li>Profile and/or objective</li>
<li>Education</li>
<li>Company names with clear dates</li>
<li>Job titles</li>
<li>Responsibilities and skills</li>
<li>Key facts and metrics such as clients, products worked with, projects worked on etc</li>
<li>Key achievements</li>
</ul>
When structuring the above details it is important to be logical, unless exceptional circumstances dictate otherwise, the most recent experience/education should come first, for example a recent graduate should feature education over a short work placement whilst someone with over 5 years work history should lead with their experience.
An untidy or illogical layout can be fatal, equally it is just as important to ensure the content is strong, so once it&rsquo;s typed it up, before you consider it finished run through the following questions:
<ul>
<li>Does it match what the&nbsp;<a style="color: blue;" href="https://eligo.co.uk/how-to-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">employer will be looking for</a>, for this role?</li>
<li>Does it follow the&nbsp;<a style="color: blue;" href="https://eligo.co.uk/star-interview-answer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">S.T.A.R method</a>&nbsp;in describing your roles?</li>
<li>Does it include the important facts &amp; figures &ndash; dates, reasons for leaving, revenues, key skills, systems and software worked with etc?</li>
<li>Does it provide details not only of previous experience but also your skills and personal characteristics?</li>
<li><a style="color: rgb(237, 38, 140);" href="http://careers.theguardian.com/careers-blog/optimise-cv-online-database" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Does it include relevant industry&nbsp;</a><a style="color: blue;" href="http://careers.theguardian.com/careers-blog/optimise-cv-online-database" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">buzz words, the reader will be searching for</a>?</li>
<li>Does it include internal jargon which may mean nothing to those you don&rsquo;t work with? It shouldn&rsquo;t!</li>
</ul>
If you are happy all the above points are covered, it is well worth asking a friend to or specialist recruiter to read through to check for typos, make sure it makes sense, and it fits with the role and company. Additionally before you consider sending your CV to anyone, make sure you know your CV and the facts and figures you have included. It is amazing how many people will quote different facts to those detailed on their CV!
Take into account all these points and you&rsquo;ll be able to write a successful CV in no time and will be well on your way to finding your perfect job.
Our team of specialist recruiters have put together some additional documents to help your find out how to write a successful CV, including an easy-to-use successful CV template.&nbsp;
<a style="color: rgb(237, 38, 140);" href="https://email-eligo.co.uk/p/4V9F-180/free-cv-template" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CLICK HERE FOR A CV TEMPLATE&nbsp;TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL CV</a>
&nbsp;
At Eligo Recruitment we offer a personal, consultative recruitment service, happy to review your CV, and advise on interview techniques and how you can secure your next dream job. We listen to you and provide specialist advice to help match you to the right job opportunities.
Our areas of recruitment expertise are the following industries: Fire &amp; Security, Technology, ERP, Medical, Digital Marketing and Events. We have jobs and candidates of all levels across Permanent, Contract and Temporary.
&nbsp;

How to write a successful CV 

It&rsquo;s official, January is a hard month. With the continued dark mornings and freezing temperatures&nbsp;it&rsquo;s no surprise that they call today &lsquo;Blue Monday&rsquo;.
After the long Christmas break, most of us are still coming down from a turkey and mince pie fuelled high with a crash. With &lsquo;new year, new start&rsquo; messages popping up everywhere, many of us look to check in with our current career situation.
If you&rsquo;re coming back to the same job, wanting to move on or actually starting a new role this year. One thing you might have in common is the tiny voice at the back of your head whispering:
&nbsp;
&ldquo;I have no idea what I&rsquo;m doing&rdquo;
&ldquo;How am I still here?&rdquo;
&ldquo;Am I good enough for this role?&rdquo;
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t deserve this promotion&rdquo;
&ldquo;How did I get this new job?&rdquo;
&nbsp;
That little annoying inner voice of career self-doubt is probably what is known as,&nbsp;imposter syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome is&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/impostor-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">defined as</a>&nbsp;&ldquo;the feeling that your achievements are not real or that you do not deserve praise or success&rdquo; or &ldquo;the persistent inability to believe that one&rsquo;s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one&rsquo;s own efforts or skills.&rdquo;
Are you critical of yourself at work? Do you dismiss your achievements as nothing? Perhaps your thinking of making a big career change, starting a new job or landing a promotion? &ndash; These thoughts often come with a side order of self-doubt and sense of inadequacy.
We&rsquo;ve all experienced different levels of imposter syndrome at some point in our career lives (I know I have).&nbsp;But the good news is there are ways to overcome these feelings of self-doubt and gain the confidence to appreciate your abilities and continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/how-to-take-charge-of-your-career/">take charge of your career.</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
1. Pin-point the trigger of your doubt
New job in a new environment? New job title with extra responsibilities? Wanting to move on, but wondering if you&rsquo;ll be good enough?
Realise what it is that is causing the doubt in your mind and remember &ndash; don&rsquo;t sell yourself so short. You are here for the right reason and earned your place. One helpful way to deal with those niggling doubts is to write them down. Using a notebook or post-it notes are a cathartic way to troubleshoot those troubles.
&nbsp;
2. Identify your strengths and talents
It&rsquo;s not only knowledge and technical skills that are important in your career. By identifying your inner strengths and personality traits (which you may have forgotten along the way) you can centre your career on these to help overcome imposter syndrome.
Are you a listener? A learner? A teacher? Are your relentless or persistent?
 &ndash; Identify and find how they work for you.
&nbsp;
3. Celebrate your successes and achievements
Reflect back on your career and all your achievements and successes that have got you this far.
These are evidence of the hard work and skill &ndash; you did that.
It&rsquo;s not narcissistic to celebrate your career achievements &ndash; it&rsquo;s&nbsp;healthy and good to build your confidence. Doing so on a regular basis will be a real boost to banish the imposter syndrome and self-doubt.
&nbsp;
4. Reach out and create a support network
The worst thing to do when imposter syndrome hits is to isolate yourself from others. Especially colleagues at work that can provide helpful and constructive feedback.
If you haven&rsquo;t already, make the effort to build relationships with your co-workers. This way, you not only have someone to go to lunch with but a group of people or person that you can approach for support.
The most important relationship to nurture is with your manager. Don&rsquo;t wait until your quarterly or annual meeting to gain feedback, ask for a chat about how you&rsquo;re doing and what you could improve on.
&nbsp;
By recognising the cause, identifying your strengths, celebrating your successes and reaching out for help you can find new career confidence, love your career and overcome imposter syndrome for 2020.
And remember &ndash; you&rsquo;re not the only one! Nearly everyone else and many of your work colleagues are probably feeling the same as you. Through self-love and appreciation of your ability, you can ditch the self-doubt this year!
More importantly, if the likes of Donald Trump can get to be the President of the United States (<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="http://time.com/5340877/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-summit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">and continues to believe himself to be better than the rest &ndash; and the country</a>) then you can do absolutely anything!
On that note, I&rsquo;m off to hand in my application for the next US presidency.
Peace out ✌​
&nbsp;

What really is imposter syndrome and how can you overcome it?

Daily life and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/tips-to-reduce-stress-at-work-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">work stress</a>&nbsp;can take its toll on our mental health and admitting that you are struggling and suffering with a mental health issue is most definitely a difficult step to take.
Not long ago I found myself having to take this step. There&rsquo;d be days when I couldn&rsquo;t focus, and was getting upset and this wasn&rsquo;t great for me or my colleagues. By no means was it an easy step but there were some great starting points including talking to my friends, family, and local GP.&nbsp;
Maybe you&rsquo;ve experienced days like mine, you&rsquo;ve been through periods which are tough, or are going through one now? Firstly, know that you can make it through this, and that you&rsquo;re not alone. Based on my experience, I wanted to write a couple of things about what has helped on my journey, and how you can implement certain things within the (recruitment) workplace to promote well-being and support mental health.
&nbsp;
<h4>Small steps and process</h4>
Talking is obviously a huge step, and as I mentioned I started with those close to me; my family, my friends, and after that, my local GP.
Being able to receive insight into what it is you are going through and that there are others out that are also experiencing really helped, particularly in the understanding of why I was feeling the way I was. Based on this I found it really helpful to spend time reading books and articles focused on wellbeing and mental health from a scientific and holistic point of view, which further helped me to dig deeper and understand my issues better.
From there, I also started taking lots of other smaller steps to improve my well-being and support my mental health healing process which included:
<ul>
<li>Spending my lunch breaks away from my desk and taking at least a short walk around our lovely Wimbledon area</li>
<li>Going to the gym and sauna on a regular basis and improving my diet</li>
<li>Visiting museums/galleries at least once a month</li>
<li>Making sure that I challenge myself on a regular basis by trying something new (like taking Arial Hoops classes!)</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/2d436467-750f-4137-83a4-33b11c06f510.jpeg">
Note: You don't need to have a mental health problem in order to&nbsp;feel the benefits of practising wellbeing! It means that you already have practical steps in place&nbsp;to ensure you are supported when you aren't feeling great. You may also find other things suit you better but whatever it is it&rsquo;s taking these small steps that can help to begin to improve your wellbeing.
All the above contributed to an improved mood and productivity at work but one of the largest parts of my healing journey has been down to how the team and managers here at Eligo have listened, understood and supported me. Speaking to your employer about mental health is hard and I am lucky to have had such great support from them, particularly given that there is still the occasional stigma attached to mental health in the workplace &ndash; and recruitment industry.
The guys at hunted have done some wonderful things around Mental Health in Recruitment. You can read more about their mission and what they do&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.hunted.com/industry-content?terms=mental%20health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.
Similar to what Hunted are doing, Time to Change &ndash; an initiative led by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness aiming to end mental health discrimination - launched the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/get-your-workplace-involved/employer-pledge" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Employer&rsquo;s Pledge</a>, a commitment to raising awareness of mental health in the workplace. It has been a fundamental pillar to creating cultural change and addressing mental health stigma in the workplace.
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/c3fbb6ce-6acc-4713-ac05-9f07f46bc72c.jpeg">
Take a closer look at the pledge&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/get-your-workplace-involved/employer-pledge" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>
&nbsp;
<h4>Helping others&nbsp;</h4>
Work can be good for our health, but a stressful or negative working environment can also lead to physical and mental health problems. So, within the workplace, what have I found has helped me and are just some of the small things you can do to promote wellbeing and supporting mental health?
&nbsp;
<h5>Stick it to stigma</h5>
Mental Health Awareness is on the rise with many national campaigns and more people talking about it, but people with mental health problems still face discrimination especially in the workplace.
Fear of discrimination and shame are top reasons why people don&rsquo;t tell their colleagues about their mental health problems but by creating a workplace culture that allows people to be themselves, it makes it easier for people to speak out about mental health concerns without fear.
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/f43d48f9-087b-44c0-8035-00a1e6ffb8b7.jpeg">
&nbsp;
<h5>Support Colleagues</h5>
Talking and being an open book about your mental health can seem intimidating and when asked &lsquo;how are you today?&rsquo; the easy answer is to say &lsquo;yes I&rsquo;m fine&rsquo; even if you&rsquo;re not. Asking someone how they are doing and coming across as authentic and actively listening, means a lot to someone who is having a rough time.
If a person you are reaching out to is open to talk, arrange a time for a longer chat in a place that&rsquo;s comfortable for them and away from the busy office.
As we spend so much time at work, often we see our colleagues more than our family members, therefore it&rsquo;s extremely important to look after one another in the workplace and support each other if we notice our colleagues struggling. It might be difficult to start the conversation but you can find very useful tips here:&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/sites/default/files/rightplace-non%202018champpack.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/sites/default/files/rightplace-non%202018champpack.pdf</a>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/b362a08a-7359-4adb-af78-33da1bf3f923.jpeg">
&nbsp;
<h5>Educate others</h5>
A good way&nbsp;to promote good mental health and wellbeing is by educating others in your organisation about mental health. Breaking down what mental health problems are and ways of identifying people who may be struggling with mental health at work and by giving people positive reasons to disclose mental health issues, you can help to establish a culture that values authenticity and openness.
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/dca04222-7317-41e9-bacc-6cfd9a4cde16.jpeg">
&nbsp;
Here are some further education and sources around mental health and wellbeing;
<ul>
<li>The Mental Health Foundation</li>
<li><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/how-to-support-mental-health-at-work.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/how-to-support-mental-health-at-work.pdf</a></li>
<li>Managing Mental Health: Introductory module for managers, developed with Unum&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.unum.co.uk/managing-mental-health-mhf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.unum.co.uk/managing-mental-health-mhf</a></li>
<li>Be Mindful Online&nbsp;evidence-based Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy/Stress Reduction course available to individuals and businesses&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.bemindfulonline.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.bemindfulonline.com</a></li>
<li>Time To Change&nbsp;- #timetotalk&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/sites/default/files/rightplace-non%202018champpack.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/sites/default/files/rightplace-non%202018champpack.pdf</a></li>
<li>Healthy Working Lives&nbsp;NHS resources for supporting health at work.&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.healthyworkinglives.com</a></li>
<li>SeeMe at Work&nbsp;National anti-stigma programme co-delivered by the Mental Health Foundation and SAMH&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.seemescotland.org/workplace/see-me-in-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.seemescotland.org/workplace/see-me-in-work</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

My experience of mental health at work (and how you can help at your workplace)

Not every job is perfect and finding happiness at work can sometimes seem like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Working in a recruitment office comes with many ups and downs - sometimes you get the gold when your placed candidates are all happy and those commission cheques roll in.
Other times it feels like everything is working against you no matter how hard you try.
Drop-outs, cancelled interviews etc, you name it.
It might&nbsp;just be a case of actively&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/tips-to-reduce-stress-at-work-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">managing stress</a>, but the first step in finding happiness is, well, figuring out what makes you happy.
&nbsp;
Usual reasons for happiness in the workplace come down to;
<ul>
<li>You enjoy the work you do and feel you have a purpose</li>
<li>You&rsquo;re happy with your salary and commission structure</li>
<li>You mesh well and have a good time with your co-workers</li>
<li>You know you have room to progress</li>
<li>You feel respected and acknowledged</li>
<li>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Bearing in mind happiness and satisfaction is subjective, you might not need all the above to be a happy recruiter, or you might hold salary and commission above liking your co-workers and vice versa.
But if you find you can&rsquo;t see the drivers for happiness mentioned above in your current recruitment role, there are a few things you can do to find happiness as a recruiter;
&nbsp;
<h4>Adjust your schedule</h4>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/b2ba3303-2869-4d85-bf7a-0a83d3766a73.jpeg">
&nbsp;
Working in recruitment can mean long hours spent on the phone, sometimes with no breaks which can leave you feeling brain dead and completely zapped by the end of the day.
It&rsquo;s all about finding a work-life balance, and not the spinning plates kind of balance. Think more about setting boundaries and maintaining a more flexible schedule.
Work out what times of day you are more productive and creative to write that job ad you&rsquo;ve been putting off. Figure out the best time to get hold of your candidates and smash out that call list.
(It helps if your work also offers flexible working!)
&nbsp;
<h4>Get involved</h4>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/c4a93f35-14ec-4aaf-baf4-90c53f772815.jpeg">
Getting more involved and building relationships with your colleagues is a great way to find a sense of belonging and happiness. Whether that&rsquo;s getting involved with the monthly office social or getting to know a co-worker on your lunch break.
This can also include helping a co-worker out, research shows that altruism, the act of helping others can make us feel happier.
&nbsp;
<h4>Find a sense of accomplishment</h4>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/38fda629-0f88-4759-a693-7beb3372755c.jpeg">
Being a recruiter is all about achieving goals and seeing the results from your hard work, so if you&rsquo;re not feeling a sense of accomplishment from your goals it might be a good idea to take a step back and re-focus on what you want. Work with your manager to set benchmarks and organise regular check-ins to see the progress of your efforts.&nbsp;
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
<h4>Look out for positive reinforcement</h4>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/d629609a-0b28-4cce-95e1-69e65d7b3cf6.jpeg">
Aside from gaining a sense of accomplishment, feeling appreciated as a recruiter is another driving force of happiness. Recognition for hard work and goals achieved can come in many forms from a monthly incentive trip, a bonus, promotion or salary increase.
If you&rsquo;re not getting positive reinforcement from your company, it might be a good idea to actively seek feedback from your manager.
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
<h4>Find autonomy</h4>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/1e137405-bead-44b3-85c3-65f6078f91d3.jpeg">
A sense of autonomy and independence can be a great driver to find happiness as a recruiter. Often recruiters can fall prey to micro-management.
One way to deal with this and give your manager confidence in your ability is by providing a progress report. Show them you can hold your own and ask for more responsibility outright.
&nbsp;
If you still can&rsquo;t find happiness as a recruiter and if your current recruitment job doesn&rsquo;t bring you joy, make like Marie Kondo and get rid!&nbsp;Take a look at our latest recruitment roles&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/life-at-eligo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h5>How does Eligo keep their employees happy?</h5>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/1bdaf856-df4e-4d8e-9be2-95abb6f264c2.jpeg">
When we first started Eligo, we set out to start a company where recruitment could be done differently; placing our staff and their passion for recruitment and the partnerships we make at the heart of the business. So ultimately our employees would not only enjoy coming to work but were supported to develop even further every day.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/77b73751-d546-4a1e-af97-b0e4355a5614.jpeg">
&nbsp;
Every recruiter deserves more from a recruitment job, whether it&rsquo;s more support to grow or freer rein in how or who you work with we offer a range of benefits for our Eligoids;
<ul>
<li>Incentives and Competitions</li>
<li>Duvet Days</li>
<li>Guaranteed Pay Reviews and Personal Development</li>
<li>Flexible working</li>
<li>5-year sabbatical</li>
<li>Nights out and socials</li>
<li>Extended lunch and early finish Fridays</li>
<li>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h5>&nbsp;</h5>
<h5><a style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(216, 2, 115);" href="http://www.eligo.co.uk/life-at-eligo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more about what it&rsquo;s like to work for Eligo</a></h5>
<h5>Take a look at our latest&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(216, 2, 115); background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recruitment roles</a></h5>
<h5><a href="http://www.eligo.co.uk/upload-cv">Upload your CV here.</a></h5>
&nbsp;

Are you happy at work? How to find happiness as a recruiter

Working as a nurse or doctor can be a rewarding career, but it can also be notoriously stressful. On-going stress and constant pressure in the workplace can often lead nurses and doctors to suffer from exhaustion and in some cases, burnout. Mental health is equally as important as physical health and as a doctor, nurse or medical professional it can be hard to self-diagnose burnout.
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
<h4>What is burnout?</h4>
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as:
&nbsp;&ldquo;syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.&rdquo;
Essentially &lsquo;Burnout&rsquo; is a state of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion caused by excessive or prolonged stress and is usually associated with workplace stress.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>Recognising the signs of burnout</h4>
We are all human and burnout can come from multiple areas in your life. Therefore, it can be hard to recognise that you are suffering from burnout and are not just simply under normal amounts of workplace stress. In order to recognise signs early on, it helps to take a step back and ask yourself if you are feeling symptoms such as;
<ul>
<li>Feelings of depleted energy and exhaustion (even after regular sleeping hours)</li>
<li>Low immune system and regularly catching viruses, colds and coughs etc.</li>
<li>Negative feelings towards your career and increased mental distance from your job</li>
<li>Feelings of failure, self-doubt and lack of control</li>
</ul>
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
<h4><img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/174ec600-b9b6-4333-b39a-8b766acd58dc.jpeg" alt="recognise signs of nurse or doctor burnout"></h4>
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
&nbsp;
<h4>So how do I manage burnout as a nurse or doctor?</h4>
Working as a nurse, doctor or another type of health professional in a high-pressured environment can be very demanding at times, especially in cases when your practice is short-staffed. So, in order to manage burnout as a nurse or doctor it might help to;
&nbsp;
<h5>Assess your options</h5>
If you feel that burnout is affecting your work, it can help to discuss your concerns with your supervisor or manager to see if time off is needed, or a possible change in work patterns. Consider booking or organising your shifts in advance if you can, to make your shifts more manageable. (Speak to one of our medical consultants* to see how we can help you with this!)
&nbsp;
<h5>Look for support</h5>
Is there someone you can talk to about your burnout? Perhaps a friend, family member, spouse, manager or colleague? Talking about your stress and feelings of being overwhelmed can help you cope and manage burnout.
&nbsp;
<h5>Get active and stay hydrated</h5>
Drinking lots of water is an obvious one which as a medical professional you will often tell your patients the positive benefits of, because it works! Doing regular physical exercise can also help to deal with stress and take your mind off work, and as a bonus exercising releases those feel-good hormones, endorphins.
&nbsp;
<h5>Invest in mindfulness</h5>
If you are struggling to sleep as a result of burnout and are constantly feeling bombarded by negative thoughts, meditation and mindfulness can be a great activity. It includes focusing on your breath flow, becoming aware of your feelings at that moment without interpretation or judgement. &ndash; it can also help you to relax before bedtime so you can get more restful sleep.
&nbsp;
Everyone is different and it can take some time to recover from excessive exhaustion and stress, but hopefully, with some support and by looking after your mental and physical health, you are able to manage burnout.
&nbsp;
Sources:
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/burnout-definition-world-health-organization#6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/burnout-definition-world-health-organization#6</a>
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/burnout" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/burnout&nbsp;</a>
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/managing-workplace-issues/burnout-response" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/managing-workplace-issues/burnout-response</a>
&nbsp;
*Eligo Medical consultants are a dedicated point of contact to help with all your locum and medical job needs. They're the loveliest people and are focused on making your life as easy as possible!&nbsp;You can <a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us">get in touch</a> with one of them&nbsp;<a style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(216, 2, 115);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/medical" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a>
&nbsp;

How to manage burnout as a nurse or doctor

Moving abroad for work can bring with it a whirlwind of emotions: excitement, stress, joy and fear. Landing a new job and upping sticks across the globe can be tricky and in order for you to settle down into your new job and place of residence without any hiccups, there are a few things to tick off your working abroad checklist.&nbsp;Get to grips with the cultureEvery country conducts business slightly differently and you’d be surprised at the alteration between countries, provinces or states work-life balance. Some countries are more formal in their approach to business than others, whereas some can be laidback.But with these differences comes a chance to interact with new people and different cultures, often including tasty food and drink, and the opportunity to create potential long-term friendships.It’s worth doing your research beforehand; do you know someone who currently works or has worked and lived in the country your moving to? If not, try looking at online forums to find out more about the culture, and pose the question to your new employer at the interview stage.&nbsp;Get to know the Visa requirementsEach country has varying types of work visas so it’s a good idea to fully research regulations surrounding the one you will be under. Sorting out your Visa is an essential part of the working abroad checklist and a very time-consuming task, so make sure you start this way ahead of time. Information regarding Visa’s can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);">here</a>&nbsp;and if you’re working with a recruitment consultant, they will also be able to give you helpful advice on the type of Visa that’s right for you.&nbsp;Figure out the financesAn important part of getting ready for working abroad means figuring out your finances and making sure you research and prepare for international taxes, banking and national insurance. Let your bank account back home know where you will be moving to, as using your card abroad without telling your bank can lead to your card being blocked for security.You will also need to open a local bank account as soon as you arrive at your new location, so you are able to receive a wage and pay for rent. Be sure you take into account the difference in currency and calculate your earnings with the cost of living, make sure you don’t get caught short and research general costs etc beforehand.Are you a contractor? You may not be allowed to use your limited company in the country you choose to work in and may have to go through an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.itcontracting.com/umbrella-companies-a-complete-guide/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);">Umbrella company</a>, if you don’t have one of these ask your recruiter to consult you on this. It’s usually the case that the recruiter already works with an Umbrella company and can advise one suitable for you.&nbsp;Getting set up&nbsp;for the moveWhen getting ready for the actual move, you should pack the essential items straight away and save the not so urgent items for later. Moving to another country can be a little stressful so have a clear out and try and get rid of unnecessary items and get some help from family and friends if you can.Another key working abroad checklist item is sorting out your accommodation. Make sure you arrange your accommodation before you arrive and keep in mind you might need a copy of your employment contract and local bank account details in order to rent a temporary residence.Got kids? Then setting up school arrangements will also be on your working abroad checklist. Don’t forget their educational certificates (translated and officially stamped) and if you think they may need additional help with the local language, make sure you speak straight away with the school or local council.Once you move it’s also a good idea to scout out the area, including the transport and how you will be commuting to the office. Your fellow colleagues will also be able to advise you on the best route to work, along with the best places to eat and drink.&nbsp;Be certain of your decision to work abroad&nbsp;&nbsp;Choosing to work abroad can be an easy decision for some but difficult for others. Have you weighed up the pros and cons of moving? Have you spoken to your partner and family members? Moving can have a big impact on your personal and social life but often for the better!&nbsp;Enjoy it!Working abroad can be scary at first but it can also create some of the best experiences of your life, by stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring and embracing the local culture you won’t regret your decision to work abroad.If you’ve been working with a recruiter to find your new role abroad then they will have advised you about some, if not all, of the things mentioned in our working abroad checklist. However, if you’ve worked with a recruiter previously but came away with a poor experience make sure you are&nbsp;<a href="https://eligo.co.uk/questions-to-ask-your-contract-recruiter/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);">asking your recruiter the right questions.</a>Working abroad isn’t as scary as it sounds and can lead to endless opportunities, professionally and personally. If you’re currently considering a new role, or the chance to relocate for a change of scenery take a look at our&nbsp;<a href="https://eligo.co.uk/#sector-jobs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);">latest vacancies</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://eligo.co.uk/find-a-recruitment-consultant/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);">get in touch with us.</a>

Working Abroad Checklist: Are you ready?

Anything between 45 minutes and 2 hours can decide the future of your career. It&rsquo;s therefore hard to believe how so many people leave it to chance and shun the most crucial stage of the interview: the preparation.
Having spent many years interviewing candidates, sitting in on interviews, and advising clients on how to effectively interview top Fire &amp; Security candidates, I have put together some quick fire tips on how to prepare for an interview and the types of questions you should ask to help you on your way to securing you next Fire &amp; Security job.
&nbsp;
Quick Fire Tips on How to Prepare for an Interview
&nbsp;
Knowing the company you are interviewing for is crucial. If you understand the company&rsquo;s goals, how they work, and the types of people and clients you will be working with you&rsquo;ll be one step ahead of the rest.
Do your research:
<ul>
<li>Take a look at the company&rsquo;s website, social media presence, and latest news and blogs, taking note of anything particularly interesting.</li>
<li>Make a list of things that stand out to you about that company whether they are positives that would entice you to work for them, or challenges you have noticed that you would love to solve and take on.</li>
<li>Find out who their clients are and see if there are any case studies for the types of projects they have worked on, have you worked in similar sectors?</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
In the small amount of time you have to impress, one of the biggest assets you have in convincing the interviewers that you are right for the role is your appearance and body language.
&nbsp;
Dress the part. 
<ul>
<li>Dress appropriately. Don&rsquo;t be afraid to ask your recruiter or the company for advice on this, it&rsquo;ll make all the difference.</li>
<li>When you&rsquo;re in the interview don&rsquo;t forget to smile and make eye contact &ndash; you will never get a second chance at a first impression, so make it count!</li>
</ul>
In the same way that your body language and appearance can make a huge difference so can the way you speak. A few little psychological tricks can go a long way.
&nbsp;
Get acquainted 
<ul>
<li>Find out your interviewer&rsquo;s name(s) and use them during the interview. It sounds basic but research has suggested that someone&rsquo;s own name in the word that people most like to hear.</li>
<li>Further show your engagement throughout by acknowledging the interviewers questions and answers and take brief notes if you need to. It&rsquo;s all about showing your engagement and the value you see in what they are saying.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
 Answering questions on the spot can be especially nerve-wracking, so prepare for the questions you think you&rsquo;ll be asked and have a strategy for answering them. The likelihood is that you will answer many of those questions you have prepared for and in doing so will come across as confident, knowledgeable, and accomplished, you will also be able to use the best examples rather than the first that comes to mind in that exact moment.
Ask the right questions
<ul>
<li>Prepare a list of 7-9 questions which will be crucial to the role, and practice your answers to these beforehand, ensuring that your answers talk about past achievements rather than just duties.</li>
<li>If there are negatives in your answer, finish up your response with a positive; be honest about the things you can&rsquo;t do but discuss a previous example of a time where you didn&rsquo;t know something but overcame that situation or went the extra mile to learn a new skill.</li>
<li>If all the questions you have prepared for don&rsquo;t come up, turn them into a question for the interviewer, due to your preparation and relevance of the question, you will be able to agree with much of their answer and give examples of how you have previously accomplished this.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Through your prior research you should be able to name a couple of things about the company that excite you, whether they are exciting policies or problems that need to be solved that you would love to take on. It&rsquo;s important to express this interest in the employer throughout, however the perfect chance to do this is when they ask if you have any questions.
Go the extra mile.
<ul>
<li>Use what you have learnt about the company through your research to add to your list of questions ready to answer and ask.</li>
<li>If you are using a recruiter, make sure to ask them if there is any further info they can provide you that will help you stand out.</li>
<li>A perfect question that is able to give you an insight into the key criteria that the client is looking for and allows you to raise appropriate strengths would be as below;</li>
</ul>
&ldquo;What would someone have to have achieved in 6 months in this position for you to consider them an exceptional hire?&rdquo;
&nbsp;
With a little bit of research and knowing how to prepare for an interview the process can be a lot less nerve-wracking, and you are much more likely to stand-out from the crowd and show you are the perfect fit for the role.
Remember, you have made it this far based on your career history and experience, this is now your chance to show how well you have applied your skills during this time and how you would fill the needs of your new employer going forward, in the modern business landscape companies don&rsquo;t just require skills to survive, they also need talent!
&nbsp;

Quick fire tips on how to prepare for an interview and questions you should ask

<h5>It&rsquo;s time to face the facts. Mental health is just as important as physical health.</h5>
The lucky few of us experience long periods of good mental health, however, others will experience mental ill-health which can be caused by a chronic condition or triggered by life events.
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/ShawTrustMediaLibraries/ShawTrust/ShawTrust/Documents/Shaw-Trust-Mental-Health-at-Work-Report-2018-full_1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">One in four</a>&nbsp;people in the UK will experience a mental health condition in the next year. One in six will experience poor mental health within the next week.
Triggers can include personal life changes such as a relationship breakdown, or a change at work (including happy events) such as starting a new job or dealing with an increased workload.
&nbsp;
Hands up who of you would feel confident talking to your manager about your mental health?
Or to call in sick due to stress rather than a physical condition like the flu?
You&rsquo;re likely not the only one who kept your hand down.
&nbsp;
1 in 5 people have taken a day off due to stress, but the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mental Health Foundation</a>&nbsp;has found that a whopping 90% of us feel unable to tell their employer that mental health is the reason for their absence.
Despite a huge increase of awareness about mental health issues at work, there has also been an unfortunate increase in negative attitudes and stigma towards those with mental health &ndash; leading to a&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/ShawTrustMediaLibraries/ShawTrust/ShawTrust/Documents/Shaw-Trust-Mental-Health-at-Work-Report-2018-full_1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">growing lack in confidence</a>&nbsp;of employers discussing the importance of mental health with their employees.
We all want to be valued for who we really are in the workplace.
Here are some top tips on&nbsp;how to manage your job search and navigate the employment world&nbsp;when you are experiencing a period of mental ill health, and to those already employed on&nbsp;how to disclose you have mental ill health&nbsp;to your employer.
&nbsp;
<h4>Look After Yourself</h4>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/07d87c2d-a87d-48ca-ac03-07e6bca178ce.jpeg">
Looking for the right job can be really tough. It can be frustrating, time-consuming, isolating and it if you are living with a mental health condition it can feel 100 times worse.
So try your best to keep things in perspective, don&rsquo;t let looking for a job overwhelm you, and make sure you take time to look after yourself during the process.
Take time out to relax (perhaps some meditation, read a book or spend some time with friends), try to do some exercise (even a walk can help), try to get a regular sleeping pattern, and make sure you&rsquo;re eating well too (a healthy diet is proven to make you feel better)!
You also need to be realistic about the job hunting process and manage your expectations.
The marketplace is competitive, the interview process can take a long time depending on bureaucracy at the company, and it might take some time to find the perfect fit. Don&rsquo;t be disheartened when it doesn&rsquo;t happen overnight!
You can do this!
&nbsp;
<h4>Manage your time</h4>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/a0f6eda4-cc4d-45c2-a8a8-f4e65622e5f2.jpeg">
Do you find yourself constantly applying for anything remotely close to what you want to do?
Do you think that your job search is all about quantity over quality?
In most cases, this will be counterproductive, and your time would be better spent focusing on specifically tailoring your CV and cover letter/application for each role that you REALLY want (4-5 is a good number). Rather than &ldquo;spraying and praying&rdquo; sub-standard applications!
You may find it beneficial to&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://eligo.co.uk/questions-to-ask-your-recruiter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">build a relationship with an agency recruiter</a>&nbsp;that you trust, who knows you and what you want, and can send you across to the companies where they have built great relationships with their clients and can ensure the role is a perfect fit for both. It also helps with saving you time and effort!
If you suffer from anxiety and get easily overwhelmed, you will also find a recruiter useful for managing the interview process for you and as well as all the employer contact, and negotiating the best offer possible on your behalf.
Or if you prefer a DIY approach, you may find it useful to create a job search plan at the beginning of your search (Jobsite has a good&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.jobsite.co.uk/worklife/how-to-get-a-job-action-plan-13417/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">template</a>). As well as a job application tracker (Huntr is a useful&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://huntr.co/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">free app</a>) to help focus your time and help you feel less overwhelmed.
According to David Clift, HR Director of Stepstone UK,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.jobsite.co.uk/worklife/how-to-get-a-job-action-plan-13417/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">it&rsquo;s all about time management.</a>
&ldquo;The key is to break your time down into manageable chunks so that you can keep yourself motivated. Utilise your time well; use your lunch breaks, evenings and weekends to search for roles, write your applications and prepare for interviews. Subscribing to job alerts is also a good way to help you keep on track of listings 24/7.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
<h4>Nail your CV</h4>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/6ac9f9f5-764a-4e28-a243-ac7d30f29b12.jpeg">
A clearly formatted and well-laid out CV is also an essential, often overlooked, part of the process. This will be your first impression on the hiring manager &ndash; and as we all know first impressions count to get to the next stage!
Here are some top tips to ensure it looks as polished as possible:
<ul>
<li>Tailor your CV for each application you make</li>
<li>Use a standard font such as Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman that is easy to read, with good font size (10+)</li>
<li>Include a brief summary at the beginning giving an overview of your experience and what you&rsquo;re seeking to achieve in your next role</li>
<li>Following that, include a list of key skills which highlights technologies and experience you&rsquo;ve had. Make sure technologies/experience listed in the job specification that you&rsquo;ve had experience in is included here.</li>
<li>Work history comes next, be sure to include company names with clear dates, job titles, responsibilities and skills.&nbsp;Key facts and metrics such as clients, products worked with, projects worked on and key achievements.</li>
<li>Education follows experience &ndash; if you have a degree, don&rsquo;t worry about including GCSEs but remember to include all the relevant certificates and courses.</li>
<li>If you have any gaps between jobs don&rsquo;t leave this open to interpretation. Write a short line between jobs explaining the reason for the gap such as:</li>
</ul>
&lsquo;Between Sep 2015 and Jan 2016 I took some time out for personal development where I completed X course&rsquo;
&nbsp;
<h4>Prepare for your interview</h4>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/f1bd620c-598f-4329-a629-078118038c9e.jpeg">
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Can you please explain what you were doing for a year between Dec 2012 and 2013?&rdquo;
Your pulse starts racing, your throat goes dry, and you stumble over your words, as you struggle to explain that your ongoing battle with depression and anxiety caused you to take some time out to recover after having a breakdown.
You want to tell them the truth but fear it will go against you getting the role.
It is reasonable for a potential employer to ask about what they see as &ldquo;red flags&rdquo; on your CV.
Red flags include employment gaps and short stints at companies (i.e. &ldquo;job hopping&rdquo;); as they could perceive this as that you are an unreliable employee that loses interest quickly, and perhaps isn&rsquo;t very skilled if it takes you a long time to get a new role.
When you have been invited for an interview &ndash; first of all &ndash; congratulate yourself!
Job seeking is not easy, so it&rsquo;s important to celebrate every success, big or small.
Rejection is tough, made worse for people living with mental health conditions. That is why it is so important to recognise the importance of each achievement, each step of the way!
Next &ndash; you need to prepare, practice and then put in more practice.
A good recruiter will help any candidate prepare for the interview as standard &ndash; providing an overview of the interview, the role and company, what the interviewer will be looking for, tricky questions to prepare for, and remind you what your strengths and weaknesses are.
(<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://eligo.co.uk/quick-fire-tips-on-how-to-prepare-for-an-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Take a look at some more top interview tips like this here</a>)
Further to this they will give you homework to do your research, and read thoroughly through the company website and job specification, and thinking through answers to potential questions.
If you know you have red flags, you need to take this preparation to another level and analyse your CV. Fiona Thomas, a mental health blogger&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://metro.co.uk/2018/02/19/5-ways-to-tackle-mental-health-questions-during-a-job-interview-7316214/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advises to think about what stands out on your CV</a>&nbsp;as a red flag for potential employers, and advises to be prepared to address those concerns.
Have you changed jobs a lot recently or even changed career?
Are there any long gaps of unemployment?
Although they might not even ask you any questions about this, it is always better to be prepared rather than unprepared!
It&rsquo;s important to not see gaps on your CV as a barrier to future employment &ndash; lots of people have gaps in their employment history, but the key to overcoming this is knowing how to talk confidently about the gaps, and what experiences you gained during them.
&nbsp;
<h4>Know your rights and how to disclose&nbsp;</h4>
<img src="https://oliver-dev.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbs/500x500/b2ba76fa-9b1f-4dd7-ae49-cc5a844938c8.jpeg">
Is it legal to be questioned about your mental health during a job interview?
When do I have to disclose?
No it is not legal. According to ELAS employment law consultant&nbsp;Jacob Demeza-Wilkinson, &lsquo;A candidate does not have to mention any medical condition during a job interview,&rsquo; he says. &lsquo;Even if asked, there is no obligation to answer the question.&rsquo;
Disclosing your mental health condition is a personal choice &ndash; you don&rsquo;t have to disclose until you decide you want to.
Legally, under the Equality Act, employers cannot discriminate against people experiencing long-term mental ill-health, however, some employers are less aware than others, so it is important you have the right advice and information before doing anything.
To find out more about knowing your rights and disclosing your mental health, take a look at some of the links at the end of the article.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Hopefully, after your preparation, you will have now made it through the interview process AND have been made and accepted your job offer. You will have also positively disclosed your condition and have started your new job, requesting the workplace adjustments you need.
If you need any further support, there is a free and confidential in-work support service run by &lsquo;Remploy&rsquo;, supported through the government&rsquo;s Access to Work programme and is designed for anyone starting employment that is experiencing mental health problems.
Their services include: return to work plans, communication techniques, confidence building, Implementing reasonable adjustments or actions, mediation between employer and employee, using the parachute tool to help pinpoint the issues, and signposting to appropriate services such as counselling. Their web address is:&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.remploy.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.remploy.co.uk/</a>
&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m one of the lucky few
Eligo has a fantastic supportive culture and has implemented a duvet day scheme. Woken up and feel that the world is too much? You just need some time off to chill out? No problem. Whatever it is, you&rsquo;ve got 4 to use per year, no questions asked, in addition to your holiday and extra time off over the Christmas period.
Interested in finding out more about what it&rsquo;s like working for Eligo? Find out more on our&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.hunted.com/companies/278/eligo-recruitment" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hunted page.</a>
If you have any questions about any of the above topics or would like some help on your job hunt, please don&rsquo;t hesitate to get in touch!
katiep@eligo.co.uk
020 8971 1883
&nbsp;
Helpful links
<ul>
<li>ELAS, Jacob Demeza-Wilkinson, Mental Illness and Job Interviews:&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.elas.uk.com/mental-illness-job-interviews/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.elas.uk.com/mental-illness-job-interviews/</a></li>
<li>Contact the Aim4Work employment advisors at Shaw Trust, who are able to offer you advice on disclosing (<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/aim4work" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shaw-trust.org.uk/aim4work</a>).</li>
<li>Shaw Trust, How to Positively Disclose Mental Ill Health at Work:&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/en-GB/Media-policy/Blog/April-2017/How-to-Positively-Disclose-Mental-Ill-Health-at-Wo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/en-GB/Media-policy/Blog/April-2017/How-to-Positively-Disclose-Mental-Ill-Health-at-Wo</a></li>
<li>The government website &lsquo;Access to Work&rsquo; provides information on reasonable adjustments as well as other really useful information. Their web address is<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">gov.uk/access-to-work/overview</a></li>
<li>Telling my Employer:&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/discrimination-at-work/telling-my-employer/#.XEWzulX7SUk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/discrimination-at-work/telling-my-employer/#.XEWzulX7SUk</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

How to look after your mental health when searching for a job

The post-summer blues and impending cold weather can leave many professionals facing a slump. As a result, now is often a popular time of year for workers to reignite their job search and consider a career change.
If this sounds like you, we&rsquo;ve got good news! The latest data from&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.cv-library.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CV-Library</a>&nbsp;reveals that the number of advertised jobs increased by 5.1% last month. So, now is the perfect time to change things up with a new role.
If you&rsquo;re looking for your next opportunity, check out our guide of the 10 top cities for finding a job right now.
&nbsp;
<h3>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Glasgow</h3>
First on our list, with jobs up by a staggering 23.2%, is Scotland&rsquo;s biggest city, Glasgow. There&rsquo;s a range of key industries to find work in here, especially if you&rsquo;re looking for a role in engineering or the financial sector. But even better, salaries rose by 4% last month in this city, making it perfect for those that are looking for a pay rise this month.
<h3>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Liverpool</h3>
This northern city earns second place on our list, with jobs up by 13.3% in September. Sectors such as manufacturing are booming in this city, with the industry alone&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.liverpoollep.org/growth-sectors/advanced-manufacturing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">employing 50,000</a>&nbsp;people in Liverpool. What&rsquo;s more, the city is home to a number of big name companies, such as Very and Jaguar.
<h3>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Edinburgh</h3>
Shortly after Liverpool is Scotland&rsquo;s capital, Edinburgh, with an increase in jobs of 13.1%. The city also saw salaries rise by 11.8% in September, making now a great time to land a new opportunity with a higher pay packet. The city is known for its strong economy, good transport links and interesting history.
<h3>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Manchester</h3>
<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.cv-library.co.uk/career-advice/start/location-guides/manchester/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fancy living and working in Manchester</a>? Also known as the &lsquo;uncrowned capital of the north&rsquo;, the city has experienced a 10.5% increase in jobs over the past year. Big names such as the BBC and ITV have bases in this northern city and the manufacturing, sales and finance sectors provide a lot to choose from when it comes to finding a job in this city.
<h3>5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Leeds</h3>
If you&rsquo;re looking for work in Leeds or thinking about making the move, good news &ndash; job vacancies are currently up by 10.1%. Finance and business account for over a third (38%) of the key sectors in&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.leeds.gov.uk/business/leeds-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leeds&rsquo; economy</a>. However, retail, leisure, construction, manufacturing and the creative and digital industries are also important sectors in the city.
<h3>6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;London</h3>
If you&rsquo;re looking for work in the south of England, look no further than London. Jobs are up by 8.6% in the capital, as well as salaries increasing by 3.7%. With a vibrant nightlife, great transport links, a number of vast industries and the opportunity to work at the heart of the UK&rsquo;s economy, London is a great pick for your next role.
<h3>7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nottingham</h3>
This Midlands city is number seven on our list, thanks to its impressive 8.4% increase in jobs this year. That&rsquo;s alongside a 6.8% growth in average pay, making Nottingham a great option for those in search of a role this autumn.
<h3>8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cardiff</h3>
The Welsh capital also saw an 8.4% increase in jobs last month and is a great pick for finding work in a variety of industries. What&rsquo;s more, notable companies such as the AA, British Gas, Admiral Insurance and Legal and General all have bases in this city.
<h3>9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Brighton</h3>
The southern seaside city makes our list, with a 5.3% growth in jobs. In addition, if you&rsquo;re looking for the perfect work-life balance, Brighton was declared the &lsquo;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://revitalise.org.uk/blog/brighton-happiest-city/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">happiness capital of the UK&rsquo;</a>. Industries such as arts, tourism, digital and new media businesses are popular in the city.
<h3>10.&nbsp;Bristol</h3>
Last but not least is Bristol, with a 5.3% growth in jobs this year. Big industries in this city include tourism, information technology, aerospace and finance. Plus, its great public transport system makes it&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.cv-library.co.uk/career-advice/start/location-guides/bristol/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the ideal location to live and work in</a>.
&nbsp;
<h4>Ready to find your next job?</h4>
With so many exciting opportunities across some of the UK&rsquo;s key cities, right now is the perfect time to look for your next role &ndash; so don&rsquo;t miss out! Check out what amazing opportunities these locations have to offer you.&nbsp;<a style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(237, 38, 140);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/jobs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View our current roles here.</a>

Top 10 cities to find a job in right now

Do you ever read a piece of content that is so over worded and full of corporate jargon that it no longer makes sense?
Sometimes CV&rsquo;s can be overloaded with an excess of keywords and catchphrases it can be hard to see the wood through the trees, bearing in mind that it takes less than a minute for hiring managers to read a CV and decide if you&rsquo;re right for the role.
When applying for a job you need to make sure you have a&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/how-to-write-a-successful-cv-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">successful&nbsp;CV&nbsp;</a>that looks good and is easy to follow.
It should be tailored to the company and job your applying for and most importantly, avoid littering your CV with overused, nonsense buzzwords.
You need to use your CV as a showpiece to tell the employee or recruiter why you&rsquo;re the best person for the job.
The best way to achieve this?
Get to the point.
CityAM has put together some of their top CV Buzzwords to avoid using and we&rsquo;ve collated them below.&nbsp;When writing your next CV consider these and remember; be transparent, be yourself, and most importantly ensure it&rsquo;s tailored to the company and role.
&nbsp;
Highly Motivated
​Alternative:
Tell the employer the motivations in your life and career and how they link to the responsibilities of the job role you are applying for.
&nbsp;
<h4>Dynamic</h4>
Alternative:
This buzzword is extremely overused and everyone in the business world claims to be so. Instead, explain how you&rsquo;ve adapted to changes and progressed in your career and your CV should demonstrate this.
&nbsp;
<h4>Communication Skills</h4>
Alternative:
Communication skills is a very broad term, instead give examples of how you&rsquo;ve used this in practice, for example, how your created and executed the company newsletter, or how you&rsquo;ve worked on a project with different teams in the business.
&nbsp;
<h4>Outcomes-focused / Results - Driven</h4>
Alternative:
Isn&rsquo;t everyone working for a specific outcome and keen to see results? Your career history and experience on your CV will tell people this, in every job or project you been have working towards an outcome, show and tell this.
&nbsp;
<h4>Passionate</h4>
Alternative:
If you have a &lsquo;passion&rsquo; for something and if your CV is well written your passion for your career and achievements will be transparent.
&nbsp;
<h4>Self-starter</h4>
Alternative:
This morning you woke up and got out of bed, this makes you a self-starter. So, what set&rsquo;s you apart? Explain through your career history on how you have worked from your own initiative without direction.
&nbsp;
<h4>Leader</h4>
Alternative
This can be a misleading term, not all businesses owners are good leaders and many people get promoted on the basis of technical skill, not leadership qualities. Don&rsquo;t say you are a leader unless you can give examples on your CV of where you have led and inspired people in your career.
&nbsp;
For further CV advice why not take a look at our blog on&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(216, 2, 115);" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/career-advice-insights/how-to-write-a-successful-cv-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to write a successful CV&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;download a&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://email-eligo.co.uk/p/4V9F-180/cv-template-download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free CV template here.</a>
&nbsp;
Sources
City.A.M&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(217, 26, 112);" href="https://www.cityam.com/purge-your-cv-of-these-nonsense-words-and-phases/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.cityam.com/purge-your-cv-of-these-nonsense-words-and-phases/</a>
&nbsp;

CV buzzwords to avoid when applying for a job

Moving to a different city or country can bring out different emotions; exciting and challenging, or scary and stressful, and potentially all four. Having to settle down and adapt to the new place, job, and people is difficult and a few things should be taken into consideration in order to make the process smoother. We have prepared a quick overview of the most important things you should take a look into before you start with your new challenge, complete with handy links to help you along the way.
&nbsp;
So you're thinking about moving for a new job?
Why do people relocate? The benefits to moving can seem obvious, whilst the hurdles along the way are not so. There are often multiple reasons for a job relocation, ones that can bring about big changes in terms of finances, social life, and of course country! Some of these include;
&nbsp;
<h4>You need a change</h4>
Stuck in a rut, sometimes all you need is a physical change. For some, a holiday will do, for others, a move across the country or continent can be just medicine. If something new is what you want, relocation is for you.
&nbsp;
<h4>Relocation allows you to work with different people and enjoy cultures you haven't before</h4>
This is especially applicable when relocating for a new job in a different country, though you&rsquo;d be surprised at the difference between counties, provinces, or states (for our international friends). These all bring interaction with new people, and different cultures, often including some very tasty food, and potentially long-term friendships.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h4>Cost of living can dramatically vary from location to location</h4>
This may serve as a slight negative in some cases, but one thing to note when relocating for a job is the difference in price range in terms of cost of living. This includes anything from rent prices, to the cost of a pint down the local. As much as I love London, the price of a cold pint up North is always tempting.
&nbsp;
<h4>Experience a new work environment </h4>
Silicon Valley is well known for its hub of modern offices complete with canteens, chill-out pods, and foosball tables. You&rsquo;ll be pleased to know this isn&rsquo;t the only location where the work environment differs, both in terms of culture, and day-to-day of the workplace.
&nbsp;
<h4>Work for a business only located in certain areas</h4>
If you want to work for a certain business, you&rsquo;re lucky if you live within a commutable distance. Relocation can be very positive when it means you&rsquo;ll be working for your dream company.
We&rsquo;ve helped many candidates move, particularly from the EU, to the UK for developer and technology positions. In our experience, there are a couple of things that may seem obvious but aren&rsquo;t always fully considered. Below we&rsquo;ve listed our top considerations for those relocating for a new job, as well as some handy links to help you! Our final piece of advice on top of this is to make sure you have always fully considered your decision and are ready to make that commitment. It&rsquo;s sure to be an adventure, good luck!
&nbsp;
<h4> Considerations to make before relocating for a new job </h4>
&nbsp;
Your partner and family:&nbsp;This is number one. Always gauge your partner or family&rsquo;s thoughts on relocating for a new job as it will affect their lives as well as yours.
The right paperwork: Since some institutions may ask you for more than one proof of ID make sure your Driving Licence, ID card, Passport are renewed and valid. Furthermore, obtain birth, marriage, education and medical certificates and bank statements (for the last 3 months) and have them translated and officially stamped: there are a lot of occasions you might be asked to provide them.
Money Matters: It is highly important that you plan carefully your finance before you take the step of relocating. Assess how much is the cost of living, transport, council tax, bills, average prices of food, clothes and necessities and make a calculation. If you have a friend, who is living already here, it might be worth asking them about their main expenditures. Also be prepared to have cash for at least one full month of living before your first wage. Bear in mind that you might need to pay deposit (usually worth one month of rent) and booking fees for your accommodation.
Tax Rules: they differ from country to country, so it is important to check them, so you know how much you will actually be earning. If it is unclear: hire a tax adviser.You can find more about taxation in the UK on the government website here:
You can find more about taxation in the UK on the government website here:<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.gov.uk/topic/personal-tax/income-tax" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">&nbsp;https://www.gov.uk/topic/personal-tax/income-tax</a>
Visa application:&nbsp;Do not forget, this is a time- consuming task, so it is important to start in advance.More information on visas can be found here:
More information on visas can be found here:&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration</a>
Accommodation: Make sure you arrange accommodation before you arrive in the country, preferably temporary. Bear in mind that you might need to have a copy of your employment contract and a local bank account in order to be able to hire a house/flat. Hence, getting something temporary is a good idea, until you sort out your paperwork and get to know the place and available accommodation. It is always a good idea to check local associations of estate agents for tips and specific information.A great place to start to look for temporary accommodation is
A great place to start to look for temporary accommodation is&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.spareroom.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spare Room</a>&nbsp;which enables you to find places with a spare bedroom, or join with others to rent a place. Alternatively, there are many great property websites such as&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="http://www.zoopla.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zoopla</a>.
Relocation Package:&nbsp;Have you asked if there is a relocation package available to you? This can depend on company policy and the supply of your skill-set within the area, but do make sure to check with your future employer or recruiter first, every little helps.
Bank Accounts: Let your bank back home know your future location. If you use your card abroad without notifying your bank, there is a chance they block your debit card for security purposes. Also, as soon as you arrive, you will need to open a local bank account, so you can receive your wage and pay your rent.A useful guide to opening a new bank account in the UK can be found&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.bba.org.uk/publication/leaflets/opening-a-bank-account-if-you-are-new-or-returning-to-the-uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.
Health Insurance: Check the health regulations in your new country and if you are insured straightaway. Make sure you bring all of your health and immunisation records, so your future GP is aware of them. EU members moving to another EU country do not forget your&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/europe-travel-insurance/ehic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EHIC card</a>, which entitles you to free state- provided medical help.
School arrangements for kids:&nbsp;Do not forget to bring their educational certificates, they have acquired so far (translated and officially stamped). Also, if you think they need additional help with the language, speak immediately to their school or your local council.
The UK Government have put together advice for choosing a school for your child&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.gov.uk/find-school-in-england" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>, whilst many property websites include details about local schools nearby to where you are searching. The&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="http://home.rm.com/schoolfinder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">RM School Finder website</a>&nbsp;is also particularly useful including OFSTED ratings and much more.
Actual Move: Pack separately items you need straightaway and not so urgent ones. Moving things from country to country can be a little stressful, so try to dispose of as much unnecessary stuff as possible and enlist the help of friends where possible.
Culture Shock:&nbsp;This is something very important you need to be aware of before you arrive in your new location. Culture shock is the way people react when they change their familiar surroundings with brand new atmosphere, climate, food, people, culture and way of living. Different individuals deal with it in different ways, some might not even realise they are experiencing it. You might feel anxious, emotional, confused, distressed&hellip; do not worry; it is normal and gradually disappears with time.
Your new co-workers will help massively with this, as will getting out and exploring and embracing the culture.Time Out produce excellent guides on what&rsquo;s on in the near future in major cities within the UK. Find out more here:&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="http://www.timeout.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">http://www.timeout.com/</a>
Embassy or Consulate of your home country:&nbsp;find where the Embassy or Consulate of your home country is: very useful information in case of any type of emergency or even homesickness. Along with their immediate help to all their citizens abroad, they might be organizing various cultural and community events.Find your nearest embassy here:
Find your nearest embassy here:&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk</a>
&nbsp;Good luck!
&nbsp;
Relocating for a new job doesn&rsquo;t have to be as scary as it sounds, and can open up a mass of opportunities both professionally and personally. If you&rsquo;re currently considering moving to the UK for work and would like advice on your<a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs">job hunt</a>, or are in the middle of relocation for a new job, we&rsquo;d be more than happy to help.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us">Get in touch.</a>
&nbsp;

Relocation, Relocation, Relocation – What to consider before relocating for a new job

The STAR interview format is often used by employers who hold structured competency based interviews but understanding STAR can help you be the STAR in any interview.&nbsp;
So first things first . . . what is STAR?
Situation
Task
Action
Result
This format is a universally recognised technique for assessing responses in an interview setting.&nbsp;
Some interviewers use STAR to score you based on how well you communicate your answer across each element of STAR. They do not always disclose that they are using this technique, in which case you could be losing &lsquo;points&rsquo; without knowing.
More forgiving interviewers give you advance warning of a competency-based interview, in which case you should assume they will use STAR. Others will not necessarily judge you based on your STAR structure but may use it to probe and guide you to get further information and the full picture e.g. &lsquo;What was the situation that lead to you taking that action&rsquo; or &lsquo;What was the result of that action&rsquo;?
There is a strong possibility that any interview you attend could follow the STAR structure, so it is always good to prepare yourself. Regardless of whether an interviewer is expecting your answers in this format or not, by providing clear, structured answers you will not only improve how you communicate, it is likely that you will make the interviewer more receptive.
So, when preparing for an interview we recommend that you get a clear understanding and write a list of the desired skills and competencies that the employer is looking for. Think about and write out some STAR examples of how you can demonstrate that you have the required skills and experience.
Each answer should be concise and informative; you may find bullet point notes help you with this.
<h4>Situation</h4>
Describe the situation that you were confronted with to set the context. This one should be short and sweat e.g.
&ldquo;When I started as the Project Manager the EOY budget closed with a loss of &pound;400,000 with issues of both overspending and low revenues&rdquo;.
<h4>Task</h4>
Describe the task or responsibility you had. Keep it simple but be sure to include all elements e.g.
&ldquo;It was my responsibility to get the P&amp;L to break even, without damaging the integrity of the product and thus securing its profitable future.&rdquo;
<h4>Action</h4>
This is the most important section and should demonstrate and highlight the skills and personal attributes that the question is testing.
Whilst still being concise, you should provide some details here. Explain what you did, how you did it, and why you did it. 5-10 bullet points should be sufficient.
<h4>Result</h4>
This is probably the most crucial part of your answer; you need to explain what you accomplished with tangible, measurable details. Here you can describe the outcome and also what you learnt in that situation which makes the answer personal and enables you to highlight what skills you would bring to the interviewer&rsquo;s company. 5-10 bullet points should be sufficient e.g.
 &bull; I saved x money
 &bull; I increased x revenue
 &bull; I increased product output by x
 &bull; I delivered x projects on time
Your results should demonstrate that the actions you took had specific objectives and were effective.
Once you have been through the above steps for each of the key competencies and required skills it is important to review them and learn them!
The process of thinking about and writing out the above steps will make sure you can recall all your stats and figures etc and automatically improve the flow of your answers. It may not be appropriate or possible to talk about every bullet point but you can read the interview and cherry pick the suitable ones at the time.
At Eligo we tell our candidates &ldquo;You are only as good as your interview&rdquo;, which is why it is important to put the time and effort into your job interview preparation.
Eligo Recruitment offers a personal, consultative recruitment service. We listen to the people we work with, provide specialist advice and help match the right people to the right jobs. Our areas of recruitment expertise are the following industries; Technology, ERP, Medical, Fire &amp; Security, and Events. We have jobs and candidates of all levels and across Permanent, Contract and Temporary.
&nbsp;

Could you provide a STAR interview answer?

So, you have secured yourself a telephone interview. Believe it or not, an interview over the phone is just as important as a face to face one, and you will have to work just as hard (if not harder) to impress the interviewer. Although many people realise the importance of properly preparing for an &lsquo;in person&rsquo; interview, very often they neglect to place the same importance on those conducted over the phone. This is the first of a number of mistakes potential employees make and it can really put them at a disadvantage in the face of strong competition.
So what can you do to ensure you make a good impression in a telephone interview?
1. Accessibility &amp; Location
 Make certain that you are in a position to properly take the call. This includes ensuring that you have a full phone battery, good signal and that you are in a quiet location, completely free from any background noise or distractions. Never think it will be fine just to take yourself off to the corner of a room. Take the time to prepare a proper space on your own and to make sure you are not in the middle of an activity when the call comes through.
2. Voicemail
 Evaluate your voicemail message. Would you feel happy for a potential employer to hear it? As fun as they may be, joke voicemail can potentially harm your chances of securing employment as they can make you appear unprofessional. Instead, ensure your message is a serious one &ndash; clear, concise and to the point.
3. Clarity &amp; Focus
 When the telephone interview is taking place, don&rsquo;t forget to speak in a clear, even tone. Keep your answers concise and listen carefully to what the interviewer is asking you. It can be more difficult to remain focussed when interviewing over the phone, so make the extra effort required to ensure you do.
4. Enthusiasm
 Think about how you would use body language to communicate your enthusiasm in a face to face interview. It is important to do the same over the phone. Even though the interviewer cannot see you, they can detect subtle changes in your voice. If you are smiling they will be able to hear this in the way you are speaking. A bright, interested and expressive tone is essential.
5. Research &amp; Preparation
 Regardless as to how the interview is to be conducted, it is important to carry out proper research beforehand. This includes finding out about the company you are hoping to work for, thinking about what strengths you can bring to the role and why you are interested in the position.
6. Interview Documents
 Ensure you have all relevant information to hand when the telephone interview takes place. This is likely to include details of job specifications, your CV and any other information which can guide you in your answers. It is also a good idea to have a list of questions ready to ask the interviewer, to show them you have really thought about the role.
7. Confirm a face to face
 Finally, if you are still keen, finish the telephone interview by enquiring about a meeting face to face. This will tell the interviewer that you are still interested in the role and are will to be proactive about securing it.
At Eligo Recruitment we offer a personal, consultative recruitment service, happy to advise on interview techniques and how you can secure your next dream job. We listen to you and provide specialist advice to help match you to the right job opportunities. Our areas of recruitment expertise are the following industries: Fire &amp; Security, Technology, ERP, Medical, Digital Marketing and Events. We have jobs and candidates of all levels across Permanent, Contract and Temporary.
&nbsp;

Top Tips for a Successful Telephone Interview

It only takes hiring managers 6 seconds to review a CV application, so how can you make sure your CV makes a good first impression? &ndash; Follow these 4 ways to make your developer CV stand out and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(237, 38, 140);" href="https://email-eligo.co.uk/p/4V9F-HG/developer-cv-template-download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">download your free developer CV template.&nbsp;</a>
Through your CV&nbsp;you are giving the hiring manager a brief impression of who you are. This is achieved by adding a personal touch to your CV without going overboard and by simply adding just a few elements that present your experience and interest in tech in the right light.
Sure, you can Google; &ldquo;Developer CV template&rdquo; and there will be a mass amount of advice for how to write a CV, formatting and what mandatory sections need to be included. However, while there is a great amount of help for the construction of a CV there is less advice for how to make your developer CV a true reflection of you and your career.
So, if you want to make sure you create a great first impression, follow these steps to make your developer CV standout to hiring managers.
&nbsp;
<a style="color: rgb(237, 38, 140);" href="https://email-eligo.co.uk/p/4V9F-HG/developer-cv-template-download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download your free developer CV template here&nbsp;</a>
&nbsp;
<h4>Keywords, Keywords, Keywords</h4>
Important keywords are the crux of any developer CV, this is because in the short space of time that a hiring manager reviews your CV they scan for important keywords that pop out such as coding languages, stacks and tools.
When it comes to listing your technical skills, less is more! Most developers might have a long list of technical skills under their belt, but when it comes down to it you are better off listing just a few of your most important skills and giving examples of where and when you have used them.
&nbsp;
<h4>Link to your website / online portfolio</h4>
Including your website link on your CV is a great way to expand on your personal profile including qualifications, projects you have worked on, and even a blog. The humble blog is underestimated when it comes to adding value to your professional profile and is a great way to write about current events and topics related to the industry.
It may seem like a minor change to add to your C.V but it can make a big impact in helping your developer CV stand out to hiring managers. Just make sure your website is up to date and relevant to the role you&rsquo;re applying for!
&nbsp;
<h4>Outside Projects</h4>
Projects you have worked on outside of your current work can be a vital element to make your developer CV stand out; from building websites, apps or committing code in your spare time, all demonstrate your range as a developer as well as the ability to grow your skill. However, this could all fall flat if you simply put a list of random projects on your CV and to really stand out an outside project should demonstrate expertise relating to the role you&rsquo;re applying to.
A great way to present and describe your side projects is through the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="http://insights.dice.com/2016/05/09/showcasing-side-projects-on-your-resume/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">C.A.R approach</a>; Challenge, Actions and Results &ndash; a simple framework to effectively summarise your achievements in short sections.
&nbsp;
<h4>Demonstrate a passion for tech</h4>
One thing hiring managers always look for on a CV is evidence of initiative and passion, both your personal profile and side projects can work as a great portfolio of independent work that showcases that you genuinely enjoy what you do.
The key is &ndash; show your passion for tech and show off your projects in the process.
Are you involved in the tech community in some way? Do you attend tech meetups? Include this on your CV, not only does it demonstrate your passion for tech but it also shows you are eager to learn and develop.
&nbsp;
Follow these 4 ways to make your developer CV stand out from the competition and
<a style="color: rgb(237, 38, 140);" href="https://email-eligo.co.uk/p/4V9F-HG/developer-cv-template-download" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Download your developer CV template&nbsp;here.</a>
&nbsp;
 If you are looking for further CV advice or if you need help with your job search; or contact us today at&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(217, 26, 112);" href="mailto:technology@eligo.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">technology@eligo.co.uk</a>.
&nbsp;

4 ways to Make your Developer CV Stand Out: Free CV Template

TED talks go hand in hand with technology; teaching and creating a platform for discussion to help inspire people to do great things in technology.
Are you feeling low on creativity? Want to learn the secret to success? Or perhaps you&rsquo;re looking for some new inspiration to become a better developer.
These 7 TED talks are sure to inspire you as a developer and get that creative spark going&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h5><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.ted.com/talks/linus_torvalds_the_mind_behind_linux" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Linus Torvalds: The man behind Linux</a>&nbsp;</h5>
Linus Torvalds transformed the internet not only with the Linux Kernel, but more recently with Git, the source code management system used by developers worldwide. In a 1 to 1 interview, he discusses the personality traits that encouraged his unique philosophy of work, engineering and life.
&ndash; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m perfectly happy with all the people who are walking around and just staring at the clouds&hellip;but I&rsquo;m looking at the ground, and I want to fix the pothole that&rsquo;s right in front of me before I fall in&rdquo;.
Have you ever thought about how your personality shapes your work as a developer?
&nbsp;
<h5><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_suarez_a_12_year_old_app_developer" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thomas Suarez, a 12-year-old App Developer</a></h5>
What were you doing when you were 12? Probably playing video games, right? Not Thomas Suarez, the 12-year-old app developer taught himself how to create games and apps for iPhone. He&rsquo;s now on a mission to teach others his age to do become developers.
This talk shines a light on the popularity of technology-based learning with the youth of today and inspires a &lsquo;go-getter&rsquo; attitude.
What got you started into programming? Watch this video and get inspired about development again.
&nbsp;
<h5><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.ted.com/talks/david_pogue_10_top_time_saving_tech_tips" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 top time-saving tech tips&nbsp;</a></h5>
Do you have any valuable time-saving tech tricks? David Pogue shares 10 simple and smart tips for computer, web, smartphone and camera users.
You might know a few of these already -such as pressing the space bar to scroll a page at a time &ndash; but I bet there&rsquo;s at least one you don&rsquo;t.
Increase your productivity and save time with these tech hacks.
&nbsp;
<h5>&nbsp;</h5>
<h5><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.ted.com/talks/laura_vanderkam_how_to_gain_control_of_your_free_time#t-2937" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to gain control of your free time</a></h5>
This one is a personal favourite of mine! So you&rsquo;ve got those tech time-saving tips down to a tee, but do you ever feel as a developer you aren&rsquo;t making full use of your free time? Out of the 168 hours in each week, are you often left wondering where your free time went?
Time management expert Laura Vanderkam explores various ways and strategies that can help you gain control of your free time. &ndash; So, you can achieve more of what makes you happy as a developer.
&nbsp;
<h5>&nbsp;</h5>
<h5>&nbsp;</h5>
<h5><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.ted.com/talks/jay_silver_hack_a_banana_make_a_keyboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hack a banana, make a keyboard!</a></h5>
Do you think outside the box enough? What about using two slices of pizza as a slide clicker? Why shouldn&rsquo;t you make music with Ketchup?
Inventor Jay Silver is inspired to not just change existing products but change the world by thinking creatively and outside the box.
In his talk, he encourages you to do the same with his product &lsquo;MaKey MaKey&rsquo; which lets you turn everyday objects into computer interfaces, inspiring fun and practical new inventions.
&nbsp;
<h5>&nbsp;</h5>
<h5><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success#t-6905" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">8 secrets of success</a></h5>
Why do people succeed? Is it down to being smart or pure luck?
The secret is, it&rsquo;s neither! Although this talk was recorded in 2005, Analyst Richard St John offers the real secrets to success that are just as relevant today as they were then.
Looking to be successful in work and life? Follow these tips.
&nbsp;
<h4>&nbsp;</h4>
<h4><a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_kelly_on_how_technology_evolves#t-222639" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How technology evolves</a></h4>
Have you ever wondered if technology had the desire to grow, what would be its essential motivation?
In this philosophical talk, Kevin Kelly explores technology from the question of &ldquo;what does it want?&rdquo;.
This more philosophical thinking is due to the rapid growth of the tech field which is constantly changing. This talk asks questions that provoke conversations and new thoughts about technology development. 
Eligo technology are specialists in Technology recruitment, covering jobs in Development, Big Data, Sitecore, Digital, IT support and more. We also offer advice about the jobs market and C.V. writing. If you are looking for a job in Technology, contact us at <a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="mailto:rick@eligo.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rick@eligo.co.uk</a>&nbsp;or call 020 8944 4187.&nbsp;You can also check out our&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://eligo.co.uk/technology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">page</a>&nbsp;for the latest jobs in development, data, digital market

7 TED Talks to inspire developers

Last week the Eligo Medical team attended the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.bestpracticeshow.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Best Practice Show</a>&nbsp;at the NEC in Birmingham, an event Keynote speaker Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Health, labelled &ldquo;the most important primary care conference in the year&rdquo;.
Amongst the other messages in his address, Hunt called Primary Care the &ldquo;most exciting place to be in the NHS, both today and over the coming years&rdquo;. After 2 days spent meeting hundreds of GPs, Nurses, and Practice Managers from all over the country, we can most definitely say that both of these statements ring true.
As specialists in Primary Care Recruitment and Locum Jobs we loved the opportunity to engage with the medical professionals we work with daily on a personal level and further understand their problems, needs, and what we can do to help.
For us, the event started the night before the conference with the set-up of our stand, which, being only 4 foot 9, was eventful to say the least! Luckily I had the rest of the lovely Eligo Medical team there to help and we successfully prepared for the conference ahead.
Located on stand K80, close to GP Theatre A and Theatre 1, it was great to be able to chat with the growing crowds of GPs gathering for the mass of excellent lectures, seminars, and talks that had been arranged. We were also excited about some new additions to our stand including sweet dispensers, and a raffle we were running to win Apple Watches, Phone Chargers, Hand Sanitiser and more.
Throughout the 2 days which Best Practice ran, the importance of the Primary Care workforce was continually emphasised along with how GPs can be central to the transformation of our healthcare system. This was particularly relevant as the conference fell on the same date as Fab Change Day, a day for collective action by NHS staff to demonstrate the difference they can make.
Meeting so many passionate GPs and Nurses, we&rsquo;d definitely agree with this sentiment. We spoke to so many new and existing clients and candidates that Christina actually had almost lost her voice by the end of the show.
With all the talks taking place, our Eligo sweets including classic retro love hearts were proving especially popular, with the Eligo goodie bags we had made up also a hit as they included something everyone within the Medical industry could do with!
We gave away many prizes during our raffle, but we came back with one more Apple Watch that we didn&rsquo;t manage to give away. As such we&rsquo;ve decided that if you register with us as a Locum GP or get in touch with your session requirements for Locums before the end of November you&rsquo;ll be put in the final draw for the Apple Watch.&nbsp;We&rsquo;ll also give you an extra &pound;100 on your first timesheet or a free hour&nbsp;off your booking for Locums. Simply g<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://eligo.co.uk/find-a-recruitment-consultant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">et in touch</a>&nbsp;quoting Best Practice Offer or click here to&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.eligo.co.uk/upload-cv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">upload your CV</a>&nbsp;now.
Overall, our time at the Best Practice show was an amazing experience, so much so that we have already booked a spot at next year&rsquo;s show where we hope to meet all those that we met this year and hopefully some new faces too. Jeremy Hunt said in his keynote speech that we all need to &ldquo;bang the drum for primary care&rdquo; and that is something we will keep on doing for a long time.

Bang the drum for Primary Care: Eligo Medical Recruitment at Best Practice

<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://email-eligo.co.uk/p/4V9F-HG/developer-cv-template-download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download our Developer CV Template here!</a>
&nbsp;
As specialists in open source development recruitment we often get asked by our candidates, &ldquo;How can I stand out to get the developer job I want&rdquo;?
I always explain that the best place to start is to think of yourself as a brand that you are marketing.
&nbsp;
To do this, ask yourself some key questions &ndash;
<ul>
<li>What sort of reputation do I have in the industry?</li>
<li>What do I offer in terms of expertise?</li>
<li>What are my strengths?</li>
<li>What am I passionate about?</li>
<li>What are my aspirations for the future?</li>
<li>How do I want to be known?</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
The answers to all of these will give you an idea as to the nature of your own&nbsp;personal brand. You then need to ask yourself how you can communicate this to people within the technical community whom you potentially want to work with.
The reality is you need to work on building your personal brand as an employee. To do this it is important to find opportunities to&nbsp;show off your skills&nbsp;in your CV and elsewhere. Consider your experience and make sure that the relevant people are aware of previous successful projects which you may have led or with which you have been involved. We&rsquo;ve put together a&nbsp;<a href="https://email-eligo.co.uk/p/4V9F-HG/developer-cv-template-download">Developer CV Template</a>&nbsp;to use to get started.&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://email-eligo.co.uk/p/4V9F-HG/developer-cv-template-download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Download here!</a>
As you know, one of the most useful platforms in the modern business world is&nbsp;social media.&nbsp;There are a variety of networks through which you can build your personal &ldquo;stock&rdquo;. I&rsquo;m sure you are already active across a range of platforms, but do you consider your employability and &lsquo;employee brand&rsquo; when doing so?
Contribute to&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="http://www.stackoverflow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stack Overflow</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="http://www.cpan.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CPAN</a>,&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://github.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GitHub</a>&nbsp;and similar wherever possible; build upon your coding experience to showcase your capabilities. Many employers will check your activity here, but it is also always good to reference it in your CV.
I suggest you use&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://twitter.com/PerlRick" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twitter</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="http://uk.linkedin.com/company/eligo-recruitment" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;talk about coding and development,&nbsp;which demonstrates your passion and enthusiasm. Make and elicit&nbsp;recommendations&nbsp;for and from managers and senior developers to demonstrate the strength of your reputation and network. Use&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://www.facebook.com/eligorecruit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a>&nbsp;to post development-related links and discussions.&nbsp;Connect&nbsp;with the right people, at the right time and you are halfway there.
The way in which you operate in the &lsquo;real world&rsquo; is also important. Always aim to leave a lasting impression and never burn bridges. It is vital to maintain a strong presence within your community, whether that is online or in real life.&nbsp;Networking, meetups and events&nbsp;remain as important as ever, but we now have the advantages of technology to connect with a vast pool of potential customers, clients, and colleagues on a whole new level.
&nbsp;
If you would like to discuss what employers are looking for, how you could effectively build your personal brand or events you could attend in order to stand out as a Developer when competing in the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="https://eligo.co.uk/tchnology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IT job market</a>&nbsp;then please do get in touch on 020 8944 4187 or&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125);" href="mailto:Rick@eligo.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rick@eligo.co.uk</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;

So, you want to stand out as a Developer in a competitive job market?

&nbsp;
Locum GPs are in demand, with Locum GP working across a range of excellent primary care providers currently available. As a leading medical recruitment agency, at Eligo Medical we build long-term relationships with our Locum GPs to help place them in temporary and contract sessions.
Here are our top tips to ensure you make the most of these Locum GP work opportunities and secure the bookings you want whether you are just starting out as a Locum GP or an experienced medical contract worker.
&nbsp;
<h5>1) Get Your Professional profile Up to Scratch</h5>
Keep your CV, career documents, and personal and Locum GP work profiles up-to-date and professional.
Bad presentation, unexplained gaps, missing qualifications or accreditations may result in you not being considered for work.
&nbsp;
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<h5>2) Think; What GP Locum Work Do You Want?</h5>
Be clear about what Locum GP work you can do and what Locum GP work you want to do.
Ensure you are experienced in the systems (e.g. EMIS Web, EMIS LV, or System One) of the surgeries you choose to work at.
&nbsp;
<h5>3) Get Together Your&nbsp;GP Professional Documentation</h5>
Hold all your professional documents (including Certifications, GMC/NMC, MDU, Performers List registration, and References) in both hard copy and electronic format for future reference.
A leading medical agency should aid you in your creation and updating of accreditation so you are ready to start Locum GP work at any surgery.
At Eligo Medical we will create a personal Locum Work Accreditation Pack for you so you are ready to start Locum GP work at any of our surgeries, but for us to create this you will need all your professional documents.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h5>4) Get Organised</h5>
It is important to manage your diary carefully and diarise all your Locum&nbsp;GP work sessions as soon as they are agreed.
Letting us know of any issues with your Locum GP work booking or any problems you have ASAP, we&rsquo;ll be able to help sort it out, and further secure you more Locum GP work.
&nbsp;
<h5>5) Prepare for your session</h5>
Allow plenty of time to get to your session and take the surgery number to call in case of any problems.
Make a note of who you should report to on arrival and make sure they are informed when you arrive.
It is always advisable to carry a basic set of equipment when attending a new surgery or Locum job too.
&nbsp;
<h5>6) Build a relationship</h5>
You are more likely to get a good reputation and repeat bookings if you make an effort to build a good rapport with the people you work with.
Your first booking may only be for 4 hours but a good first impression can be the beginning of a long relationship and more GP Locum work, a bad first impression can be the end.
&nbsp;
<h5>7) Help us help you!</h5>
One of the benefits of working with a leading medical recruitment agency such as Eligo Medical is that we offer a weekly payroll service.
The only way you can get paid on time however is to submit your signed timesheet on time and to keep your bank details up to date.
We hope these tips help you on your way to securing plenty of locum work.
&nbsp;
For an introduction offer to Eligo Medical, please see below.
&nbsp;
For all new Doctors and Nurses who fully register with us this month, we are offering;
&nbsp;
*One extra hour on your first Locum GP job timesheet*
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If you would like to see a list of our current vacancies for GP Locum Work and Nurse Locum Work <a title="medical jobs" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs/medical/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. If you have any further questions, we&rsquo;re happy to talk, please don&rsquo;t hesitate to<a title="contact us " href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> get in touch.</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/medical">Eligo Medical</a> are leading specialist in providing Locum work for GPs and Nurses, if you&rsquo;re looking for experts to help <a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/submit-a-vacancy">fill your Locum vacancies,</a> please <a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us">get in touch</a> to discuss how we could help.

7 Top tips to get Locum GP work

<h5>Following on from our recent selection as finalists in 4 categories in the Merton Best Business Awards including Best Enterprising Business, Best Business in Wimbledon, Best Business in SW19, and Best Customer Service, we&rsquo;re extremely proud to announce that we have now been selected finalists as Staffing Agency of the Year in the General Practice Awards!</h5>
&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s been a busy year and a half since Eligo Medical&rsquo;s formation, growing to a team of 4, introducing dedicated in-house payroll as well as a compliance officer, whilst building excellent relationships with clients and candidates throughout.
We&rsquo;ve extended our services to clients and candidates across a whole host of primary care providers through both the private sector and NHS. Ranging from single local practices to multiple location social enterprises, we&rsquo;re proud of our work with each of them.
&nbsp;
Summer further saw us host our first annual local networking event during the famous tennis championships here in Wimbledon! &lsquo;Pimms O&rsquo;clock&rsquo; gave us the opportunity to meet some of our GPs and Practice Nurses as well as the individuals behind the Surgeries and Primary Care Providers we work to match them with. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed building further on our relationship with our clients and candidates, we hope that those who came did too! If you didn&rsquo;t have the opportunity to attend this year, be sure to look out for an invite next summer: Pimms, Strawberries, and excellent company guaranteed!
&nbsp;
We&rsquo;re looking forward to the&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.generalpracticeawards.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">General Practice Awards</a>&nbsp;gala on the 26th November and regardless of the result are extremely proud of being selected as&nbsp;GP Staffing Agency of the Year&nbsp;and of the progress and work the Eligo Medical team have done so far.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Interested in working with&nbsp;Eligo Medical&nbsp;as a&nbsp;locum GP,&nbsp;Practice Nurse&nbsp;or more?&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(216, 0, 115); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to register your interest</a>&nbsp;and let us&nbsp;pay you an extra hour on your first timesheet&nbsp;whilst we&rsquo;re at it!
If you&rsquo;re a&nbsp;primary care provider&nbsp;who would like to work with Eligo Medical on filling your sessions&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(216, 0, 115); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">please don&rsquo;t hesitate to get in touch</a> to find out how we can help!&nbsp;
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Proud to be GP Awards finalists as GP Staffing Agency of the Year

<h4>How to get more Locum work as a Nurse or GP</h4>
As leading medical and healthcare recruiters, at Eligo Medical we build long term relationships with our Locum GPs, Nurses and Practice Manager&rsquo;s to help place them in temporary and contract sessions. Our dedicated team of medical recruitment consultants have provided the following insight into what you can do if you are looking to secure a good flow of GP &amp; Nurse Locum work.
&nbsp;
<h5>Keep your professional profile updated</h5>
Keep your CV, career documents, personal and work profiles up-to-date and professional. You may think that because you are not looking for permanent work this is not important but both medical recruitment agencies and practices will use it to understand your experience and skills, to screen and match you to locum work. Bad presentation, unexplained gaps, missing qualifications or accreditations may result in you not being considered for work.
&nbsp;
<h5>Be clear about what Locum work and sessions you can and want to cover</h5>
It is important you are clear about what you can do and what you want to do. You may really want the session offered at the surgery at the end of the road, but if you&rsquo;re not experienced in the systems (e.g. EMIS Web, EMIS LV, or System One) they use or don&rsquo;t like working within a particular specialism (e.g. substance misuse, immunisations, or out-of-hours)&nbsp;then it is unlikely to be a successful repeat booking for either party and this may affect your future opportunities.
<h5>Professional documentation</h5>
At Eligo Medical we will create a personal Locum Work Accreditation Pack for you so you are ready to start Locum work at any of our surgeries, but for us to create this you will need all your professional documents. We suggest you hold all your documents (including Certifications,&nbsp;GMC/NMC, MDU, Performers List registration, References)&nbsp;in both hard copy and electronic format for future reference.
&nbsp;
<h5>Organisation is crucial to being a good locum and securing repeat bookings</h5>
Locum bookings can be made a day or a month in advance so it is important to manage your diary&nbsp;carefully and diarise all your sessions as soon as they are agreed. Being late or missing a booking causes havoc at the surgery and jeopardises the reputation of both you and us. As a leading medical recruiter we work on behalf of both the client and locum GPs &amp; Nurses and keep the best interests of both in mind. By letting us know of any issues with your Locum work booking or any problems you have ASAP, we&rsquo;ll be able to help sort it out, and further secure you more Locum work.
&nbsp;
<h5>Preparation for your session booking</h5>
Be clear about where you are going for your Locum job; allow plenty of time to get there and take the surgery number to call in case of any problems. Make a note of who you should report into on arrival and make sure they are informed when you arrive. It is always advisable to carry a basic set of equipment when attending a new surgery or locum job too.
&nbsp;
<h5>Build a relationship</h5>
Practice Managers and patients both like to get to know and trust their Doctors. You are more likely to get a good reputation and repeat bookings if you make an effort to build a good rapport with the people you work with. Your first booking may only be for 4 hours but a good first impression can be the beginning of a long relationship and more Locum work, a bad first impression can be the end.
&nbsp;
<h5>Help us help you get paid on time!</h5>
One of the benefits of working with a leading medical recruitment agency such as Eligo Medical is that we offer a weekly payroll service. The only way you can get paid on time though is to submit your signed timesheet on time and to keep your bank details up to date. It is often the same Locum GPs and Nurses that are guilty of repeatedly not submitting their time-sheets or not getting them signed which creates lots of administration for the agency and can make you a less appealing Locum work booking.
&nbsp;
If you would like to see a list of our current vacancies for&nbsp;GP Locum Work&nbsp;and&nbsp;Nurse Locum Work<a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/medical">&nbsp;click here.</a>
&nbsp;
If you have any further questions, we&rsquo;re happy to talk, please don&rsquo;t hesitate&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/contact-us">get in touch.</a>
&nbsp;
Eligo Medical are leading specialists in providing Locum work for GPs and Nurses, if you&rsquo;re looking for experts to help fill your Locum vacancies, please <a href="https://eligo.co.uk/upload-cv">upload your CV</a> to discuss how we could help.

How to get more Locum work as a Nurse or GP

Have you ever wondered what the key stages that take place during a hiring process are, what companies are looking for in a candidate, and ultimately how to get hired?
Last week, Eligo were fortunate to host the internal recruiter from one of Europe&rsquo;s leading technology groups to answer each of these questions and provide further insight into what goes on inside a major company during the hiring process.
Emphasising key points made in our previous blogs on&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/client-advice-insights/how-much-do-you-pay-when-you-get-it-wrong-hire-right-and-cut-your-recruitment-costs-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">effective hiring processes to reduce staff turnover and increase the quality of hire</a>&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://www.eligo.co.uk/client-advice-insights/how-to-attract-and-hire-the-next-generation-of-developers-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">how to attract the best candidates</a>&nbsp;,&nbsp;the move into 21st&nbsp;century recruitment was clear throughout. This broadly covers 3 areas of which both candidates and employers can take note;
The Value Proposition and Company Culture
The battle for talent is being fought harder than ever. For employers, this means that the value proposition needs to be clear for candidates. Companies are now turning their attention to culture, opportunities, and environment. Think career development options such as training, support, and the chance to grow in the organisation, extending to working practices such as flexi-hours and telecommuting.
As a candidate the big companies want to know what makes you tick, how you will take to the environment, and what you will bring to further that. During the interview process be sure to talk about what you love, what you loathe, and demonstrate your wider participation within and outside of your field.
Different candidates will always match to different organisations, it is important to find the right fit for the both of you.
Getting Social
The interview isn&rsquo;t the only stage where an employer will gauge your fit, your participation, and what makes you tick. Don&rsquo;t underestimate the power of social; employers will check out your online presence.
They are looking at who you interact with, who you follow, who you like, what are you contributing, and are you only participating within a singular field. Employers are looking for a rounded candidate.
We have heard stories of internal recruiters cancelling interviews upon checking out twitter accounts to find some developers are confrontational to the point of bullying. It happens.
Psychometric Testing
Increasingly prevalent in today&rsquo;s hiring processes, psychometric testing is not something to be scared of. The process which enables employers to understand key personality traits, attitudes, how a candidate will deal with certain situations, and more, can play to your advantage &ndash; but be honest!
Today&rsquo;s employers are looking for what the sporting world calls a utility man (or woman) &ndash; a&nbsp;<a style="color: rgb(229, 40, 125); background-color: transparent;" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Milner" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">James Milner&nbsp;</a>type, as the internal recruiter put it. They are reliable, able to adapt, and aside from performing excellently in their area can offer something more, whether it be leadership or helping out on another team or another skill.
The three above areas enable employers to find this candidate and are to be welcomed into the hiring process.&nbsp;There are key takeaways in understanding these processes as a candidate which can be used to enhance your job hunt and secure your perfect role.
It was a fascinating talk enabling Eligo, as leading open source technology recruiters, to gain a vital insight for candidates on how to get hired that further enhances our ability to ensure that top developers secure the right roles for themselves and the company they are entering, and further be able to offer expert advice to anyone seeking a job at any large company.
If you are currently seeking an open source role please don&rsquo;t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your career and current opportunities or for further advice on how to get hired.
hello@eligo.co.uk |&nbsp;+44 (0) 208 944 4180&nbsp;

Internal Recruiter Talks: How to get hired and what takes place during the hiring process

If you are offered a pay rise in response to handing in your resignation, we would advise you to proceed with caution.
It can be easy to be enticed by the money, be wooed by your manger&rsquo;s flattery and comforted by the familiarity of what you know but before you accept the payrise and agree to stay, we recommend you consider the following &ndash;
1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Why did you want to leave in the first place?
If you were feeling undervalued, frustrated or keen for a new challenge these things are not likely to change.
2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Why did it take a resignation to prompt the pay rise?
If it&rsquo;s about money, are you going to have to go through this drama every time you want a pay rise? They are probably still saving money, think about how much it would cost to replace you.
3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What does the future hold for you with your existing employer?
Will they trust you and be happy to develop you if they think you are looking at new opportunities, or perhaps they offered you a pay increase as a quick fix and do not see you with them long term?
&nbsp;4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Why were you interested in the new role?
Something attracted you to and possibly even excited you about the new employer and job, ask yourself if your existing employer can offer the same?
&nbsp;
In most cases an external move brings the greatest opportunity for both career progression and growth in earning potential but it is always worth carefully considering your existing employer&rsquo;s offer, especially if it is a particularly good deal. However if you decide to continue as planned and make the move, still be sure to thank them for putting together an offer and leave things on a positive note.
&nbsp;
Eligo Recruitment offers a personal, consultative recruitment service. We listen to the people we work with, provide specialist advice and help match the right people to the right jobs. Our areas of recruitment expertise are the following industries; Technology, ERP, Fire &amp; Security, Medical and Events. We have jobs and candidates of all levels and across Permanent, Contract and Temporary.&nbsp;

Career Advice