Infinity Recruitment

Author: Anthony

  • Interview technique – it’s all in the body language

    So much of human communication is non-verbal that we almost forget the importance of it. In fact a recent study has suggested that 93% of daily communication is actually non-verbal, this includes things such as facial expressions, body language and posture.

    In an interview situation where someone is trying to make a good impression it’s important that all of these things are taken into account when trying to present yourself.

    Facial expressions – it’s important to have an open face, this means that your face stays relaxed with a naturally smile that is not obviously put on or un-natural looking. People with an open expression often come across as warm and friendly, honest and open.

    Body language – this should also look quite open, avoid folding your arms as this can look defensive and also avoid any fidgeting as it can make you look over nervous and uncomfortable.

    Posture – you should always try to maintain good posture throughout an interview, avoid slouching or slumping as this can make you look disinterested and give the impression that you don’t care.

  • Can volunteer work help get you a permanent job?

    When you’re looking for work and struggling it may not cross your mind to take up some volunteer work however this can be a great way to keep your foot in the door of the working world. Most people aren’t aware that even if you’re on job seekers allowance you are still allowed to do volunteer work provided that you are still looking for paid work as well. The basic rules are that you can’t be paid for any work that you do and if any of your expenses are paid then you have to declare this to the job centre.

    Volunteer work can give you great transferable skills that you can use to help you get a permanent job too and can give you the opportunity to get an up to date reference as well. It’s a great thing to add to your CV that will allow you to show a prospective employer that you have been keeping regular working hours and have stuck to commitments even when not employed.

  • Job search advice – Support for people with disabilities

    Finding a job can be hard enough for the average Joe with a broad set of qualifications and experience, so imagine how hard it must be to find a job if you have learning difficulties or you are disabled.

    Looking on your own can be extremely difficult and can leave people feeling disheartened and depressed about their situation.

    That’s why there are now companies set up specifically for people who are finding it a struggle to get work due to their disabilities. These companies start with an assessment process where they can look at your skills and current qualifications, they will then talk with you about what kind of job you’d like to do and discuss routes into that career. The supporting agency will then help you to write a clear and concise CV and give you assistance with looking for a job and completing application forms.

    Once you get an interview the support agency will help you with interview techniques and also continued support once you enter employment, they can also offer support to your employer about your needs and learning styles that suit you for training and career development.

  • The importance of upskilling

    Upskilling is a business terminology for self-improvement and gaining extra qualifications within your current role or company. It is being pushed as a vital part of job progression and career development to ensure that you continue to earn more money and climb up the progression ladder instead of sitting in a stagnant job that could become redundant.

    A good employer should promote upskilling to its employees and use it as part of your individual development plan. It often involves studying for additional qualifications in your own time to further your career. An employer may offer a benefit of a pay increase once you gain a certain qualification or they may offer future promotion prospects once the qualification is achieved.

    If an employer insists that you need a certain qualification to be able to continue to do your current role then ideally they should fund this and provide you study time during the working day to carry out your revision.

    However it’s important to remember that if an employer pays for any further training and you leave the company shortly after they may try to recuperate the cost of the training from you.

  • Utilising LinkedIn to boost your career prospects

    Whatever your profession it’s really worth creating a LinkedIn profile to allow you to always have a professional representation of yourself available for possible recruitment head hunters or potential employers to view and contact you.

    There are many options when you start a profile, some of which you can set up for free some that you have to pay for, but if you are looking for a new job then spending that bit extra could really help you here.

    As part of the profile you can upload a picture of yourself, this is a good idea as it makes it easier for people who know you to find you and it also can give an impression of what sort of person you are in a professional situation.
    The photo should always be a smart professional looking one and NEVER a selfie or group shot from a night out! This would not show a professional manner and could put potential employers off.

    The content that you choose for your profile should be fairly short and to the point avoiding rambling and information that’s not necessary.

    Lastly, it’s important to proof read all the content on your profile as if you were sending off an application as spelling and grammatical errors could give a negative impression.