Google have proposed 13 new emojis representing women in a wide range of professions. With the aim of “highlighting diversity in women’s careers and empowering girls everywhere”, Google recognises that for many people across the world, emojis are an increasingly important part of everyday communication and “a strong representation of culture”. Continue reading
It’s National Receptionists’ Day today. Originally started in the US in 1991, it is now recognised in Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Receptionists are seen as the welcoming voice and face of an organisation, greeting all visitors, answering calls and generally ensuring everyone’s day runs smoothly. It’s a job I’ve held myself so I know there are many skills needed to thrive (or even just survive!) behind the reception desk and to mark this years’ National Receptionists’ Day we thought we’d have a look at just some of these skills, demonstrated by some well-known and well-loved fictional receptionists: Continue reading
Follow me here on LinkedIn or over on twitter and you’ll see me use the phrase “I love my job” quite often. This is particularly true when I have weeks like this one, when my role at Escape gives me the chance to meet new and inspirational people, encourages me to do something I’ve not done before and makes me stop and take time to think about what I’m doing and how I’m doing it. Continue reading
Following up on our post: “Do you have any questions? Part 1” we thought we’d share some hints and tips from our team on questions you could ask at interview.
At interviews candidates expect, and are hopefully prepared to answer questions. However are we prepared to ask questions as well?
And as hirers and recruiters are we prepared to turn the tables and be the ones answering questions for a change?
As recruiters we always look to connect with individuals who are interested in new career opportunities and have the skills, experience and qualifications our clients are looking for. So whilst we search through databases, build our networks and connect with jobseekers, how can you make sure that we find you…..and your CV? Continue reading
It’s that time of year when many of us spring clean our spare rooms, attics, cars, garden sheds and, if you’re like me, your office desk! But what about your CV?
Very often we simply keep adding information to our CV with each new job or qualification we gain but few of us seem to really clear out old or irrelevant information, give it a really good tidy up or dare I suggest even start again! Continue reading
Having administered ability tests for jobs ranging from call centre staff, sales advisors and graduates to finance, HR and technical professionals I know that very few of us (if any!) look forward to sitting a test as part of a job application process.
However with studies just last year showing that “80% of FTSE 100 companies use aptitude tests in the recruitment process” and “8 out of ten facing psychometric tests” at managerial level, it’s something many of us these days need to prepare ourselves for. Continue reading
I was recently involved in an interview training session with Young Enterprise Lothian, a programme which encourages students aged 16 to 18 to set up and run their own company over the course of one academic year.
At the moment the students are busy preparing, not only for their prelims but for their end of year company interviews. For many participants this is the first interview they have taken part in and as anyone who has been interviewed knows, they can be a nerve-racking experience, especially if you’re not sure what to expect.
One of the most popular tips the group picked up was the STAR interview technique, a useful tool to help interviewees effectively talk through an example or scenario in an interview. Continue reading
What would you put in letter to Santa if he could bring you your dream job this year?
We’ve always known that salary is just one factor in whether people are happy or unhappy in their job and only one of the things people consider when accepting a new job offer.
We also know that what’s important to one person might not be of interest to another but after reading various surveys, blogs and polls online and speaking to our colleagues about what jobseekers and employees value in their job here’s what we think might be in many jobseekers’ letters this Christmas….
Why not vote for what you’d wish for in our poll at the end of this post. Continue reading
Escape: the blog 