Infinity Recruitment

Blog

  • Getting back to nature can improve wellbeing at work

    Some employees find that working in an office or factory environment has a detrimental effect on their mental health and so look for other types of work that may suit them better. Working outdoors for the majority of the day can have huge benefits as spending time outdoors has been shown to improve mental health and wellbeing. Being able to do this and earn a living for many people can be a helpful experience.

    There are many different jobs on offer that involve working outside not just working on a farm as many people may think. Modern technology is changing the face of agriculture and therefore there is an increased need for engineers, scientists and researchers in farming.

    Working as a gardener can be a very rewarding job as often it is on a self-employed basis which means you can choose your own hours of work. Being your own boss can be a major factor in someone’s wellbeing and job satisfaction is high amongst people working in this field.

    If being self-employed is not something you want to do, many large country houses and estates employ a team of gardeners and grounds people to maintain the large gardens. Large tourist attractions and theme parks are also a good place to seek employment that involves outdoor working so if you are not afraid to work in all weathers why not give it a try?

  • How to improve your interpersonal skills in the workplace

    Excellent communication skills can make an enormous difference to your career. But how do you go about improving your skills in this area?

    The best place to start is simply by listening and watching. Observing how others in your office interact with colleagues and management is a great way of gaining a better understanding of what works in your company. Once you have this understanding, try to replicate it and practise it in your day-to-day life both at work and in your leisure time.

    Another way to improve your interpersonal skills is to always try to remain positive, even when it is hard as it is important not to allow negativity to encroach on your interactions at work. Always try to remain calm and find the positive aspects of any situation.

    Emotions and empathy are important in the workplace, but it is even more important that you have control over them. Whether you are irritated or happy, always try to express yourself in a calm and patient manner.

    Everyone wants to be appreciated so showing that you recognise and appreciate their talents is an effective way of building trust with co-workers. Our lives are much more than our work so getting to know more about your colleagues develops and solidifies your relationships, giving you a better understanding of them as a person.

  • As the UK starts to recover, now may be the perfect time to start job hunting

    If you have been out of work due to the pandemic or were in the process of job hunting when Covid hit, you may have decided that you needed to wait until jobs were more readily available and secure before starting the application process. Many businesses have had to completely shut down or at least make some huge cut backs during the last 12 months. This is especially true for those that have not been able to trade or have had to switch all their trading online, which may have meant that certain roles within the business became redundant.

    As the UK finally seems to be able to start easing restrictions and more and more people are returning to work, now may be the idea time to start looking for that new job. It may be that you are already currently employed but have not wanted to look for another job with all the uncertainty going on at present. If this is the case, then you can finally start to apply for positions that you feel you may be suited for.

    The whole recruitment process may be very different to what you are used to as lot of companies are doing as much of the recruitment online as possible. This means that not only will you submit your application online or via email but you may also have your interview done through video call rathe than face to face. For come candidates, this may suit them better, but for others, video calling can be nerve wrecking and they may struggle to get used to this new interview process.

    Think carefully about what sort of role you want to go for and make sure that you have the necessary qualifications and experience. You may need to try and gain additional experience before applying which could mean doing voluntary work. It is always worth applying for a job, even if you do not have all the experience they require as sometimes they are willing to put your though training to gain the experience you need. This may mean starting off on a slightly lower salary, but you can always negotiate a pay increase once your training is complete.

    If you are worried about starting job hunting then why not get in tough with a recruitment agency who will be able to work with you to give you the best opportunity to land that dream job you have always wanted.

  • You only get one chance to make a first impression

    If you are starting a new venture whether it be beginning a new job or starting a new training course the first impressions that you make are vitally important and can make the first few weeks a success or not. There are some general principles that if followed should enable a smooth transition from newbie to valued colleague in no time at all.

    Although it may seem irrelevant, the work dress code is important to how well you fit in with colleagues. Both dressing too casually or too formally can send out the wrong impression to fellow workers. This is something that is difficult to find out beforehand unless you have had an opportunity to visit the workplace, but it is a good idea to ask about dress code if you get the chance as some companies have a dress down day just on Fridays. If in doubt it is always wise to dress smart initially.

    Being open and friendly is really important when trying to make that positive first impression and although you may feel nervous about the new role most people will understand and remember what it is like to be unsure about work etiquette and routines. Simply asking questions of colleagues is an important part of learning about the job and showing your willingness to be part of the team.

  • Is an apprenticeship the best way to get a job?

    As the cost of higher education has become more expensive in recent years many more young people are considering doing an apprenticeship as a route into getting not only a good job but also training. The attraction of being able to earn while you learn is driving the popularity of apprenticeships in all fields as school leavers fed up with classroom learning want to begin their career.

    Apprenticeships can be undertaken from the age of sixteen and last at least twelve months. They usually comprise of some practical work alongside experienced colleagues and either time spent at college or online learning. Many apprentices are taken on after their apprenticeship has finished as the company know their capabilities, reliability and the training that they have received.

    There are many benefits to completing an apprenticeship. Probably the greatest is to be able to gain qualifications whilst working and getting paid, but another huge benefit is not incurring debts that will need to be repaid in the future. On average those workers who have undertaken an apprenticeship earn potentially more over their working life than someone who has not so it should certainly be considered and compared to the route of A levels then university.