No two candidate’s routes into employment will be the same, and in an age where employment structures and processes are continually evolving and changing stories vary from employee to employee.
Whilst it’s the norm to find that companies will have various different employment strategies, candidates are also turning to alternative ways to find employment. From using social media to gaining employment through internships and work experience placements the route into employment has never been more varied.
Social Media
Whilst for many of us social media is one of our favourite downtime activities, many are now using social technologies to find their dream jobs too. Social media is becoming one of the most powerful recruitment tools out there in the digital realm and many employers are using social to aid their strategies.
For employers social media has become part of a social hiring routine and has enabled recruiters to promote job roles and seek out potential candidates through this method. For employers ensuring their social media and contact information is up to date should be of the highest importance, after all candidates will look to those with information which is readily available and the easiest to locate.
Tom Bourlet, Senior Digital Marketing Executive at The Eventa Group found his role through interacting with the company on social media. Tom commented; ‘I had a discussion with a member of the marketing team regarding digital marketing tactics and strategies on Twitter. I then moved the talk onto digital marketing conferences being held in Brighton over the next month and whether they would be attending. A few of them were heading to one so I got myself a ticket and met them on the day for a drink and a chat. I held a general chat with them and also talked through different ways they could enhance their marketing strategy, while I tried sneaking in talk of any job opportunities. They mentioned a member of the team had handed in his notice, so an interview would be possible. 7 months on, I’m here and loving it!’
Candidates are using social media to facilitate their recruitment search and actively engaging with employers and recruitment teams to find their next role. However, keeping you social media profile employer friendly is important with many looking at social media profiles to check out candidates. LinkedIn is the largest professional network and has enabled businesses and candidates to search for new jobs in a solely business dedicated platform.
Aimee Teesdale from Act Coach found her employment through LinkedIn, ‘I posted a status on LinkedIn to say I was looking for a role. A connection got in touch – match made!’
Internships
For many with little or no experience, interning in their desired industry can also help to lead on to potential job opportunities. Undertaking work experience can help to build up a CV, in particular if you’re new to the industry or a recent graduate and can help to show your enthusiasm and interest for that particular company or area.
Gaining an insight into the real world of employment can help candidates to understand what it’s like to work in that industry in a professional environment. For employers it can also help to test the market for potentially new positions and help to find new upcoming talent.
If you’re considering taking on an internship placement then it’s important to know your rights as you are entitled to be paid for your time there if you are doing a job which a normal ‘worker’ would usually take on. The National Minimum Wage should be paid by an employer and interns may also be eligible for employment rights according to the government.
Contacts
Nepotism, the practice of favouring those with family or friend connections, is one of the most popular ways for candidates to find a job role, with 7 in 10 using family connections to start their career. It’s no surprise that connections through family and friends are one of the most popular way for popular way to find a job role. After all, who better to give you a glowing reference than someone who knows you inside and out.
Having the right connections can help many get their foot in the door, when they don’t know where to start looking or are struggling to find the correct opportunities.
Kieron Mayers found employment by contacting a recruiter he knew and said ‘she then passed my details on to her boss and eventually the client to arrange my interview’.
Networking within your chosen industry is still as important as ever and can help to fill up your book of contacts. Often, you never know who you might meet and where the opportunity could lead to, so keeping your options open will always help to aid your recruitment strategy.
At Hales Group we are continually evolving our recruitment strategy and we work across a variety of industries and sectors to find candidates the right job roles.
Search for your next opportunity or register your details at: http://www.halesgroup.co.uk/
