The top companies hiring in August 2017

The top companies hiring in August 2017 by Michael Cheary Desperate to get away this month? It’s not you, it’s your job… We’re not saying that you aren’t entitled to a break in August. But if the main reason you’re frantically searching for flights and stockpiling sun cream is because you aren’t happy in your current position, it’s definitely time for a change. #SeamlessSegway.To help you find a job that doesn’t make your Mondays miserable, here are five of the top companies hiring on reed.co.uk in August:Audi Looking for an A1 career? Want a job you really R8? Just need to put your abundance of witty car puns to good use?Audi is one of the world’s leading automotive brands, manufacturing sophisticated and innovative cars for more than a hundred years.Their success is built on their core values of creativity, commitment and enthusiasm â€" and a large part of that comes down to keeping their customers’ desires at the heart of everything they do.They’re currently recruiting for Sales Advisors, Customer Care Managers and Technicians, to work in locations across the country. Think you’ve got what it takes?Vorsprung durch Technic (also, you know, apply now).Locations:  Throughout the UKView all jobs with Audi nowBurberry If cars aren’t really your thing, why not use August to add to your wardrobe?Founded in 1856, Burberry is the quintessential luxury British brand â€" offering everything from premium clothing and fashion accessories right through to sunglasses, fragrances and cosmetics.They’re also pretty big on tartan.This month they want to add significant numbers to their teams in accountancy and finance, as well as customer service and HR.Aside from an excellent taste in trench coats, successful applicants will be expected to fully embrace the ‘brand first’ mentality â€" understanding the great heritage that comes with working for Burberry, and using your ingenuity to help move the business forward.N.B. this may or may not include buying an abundance of disco unted Burberry products…Locations:  Throughout the UKView all jobs with Burberry nowCaffé Nero For some of us, coffee is more than an early morning pick-me-up â€" it’s practically an art form.Caffé Nero happen to share that same philosophy, and have been crafting premium Italian coffee (not to mention making people’s mornings more productive) ever since 1997.They know that there are no shortcuts when it comes to sourcing great coffee. And just like pouring the perfect espresso, finding the right staff is something that can never be rushed.They’re looking for Baristas, Shift Leaders and Store Managers to join the Caffé Nero family all throughout August. And many positions don’t even require previous experience in the industry to get started.All you need is the perfect blend of customer service skills, enthusiasm, passion and positivity. Also, you may actually need to know what a macchiato is.Tea drinkers need not apply…Locations:  Throughout the UKView all jobs with Ca ffé Nero nowHSBC The world’s local bank are hiring right now. And if you live in Thame, Oxford, Birmingham or Banbury, they’re even hiring locally to you.That’s right. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (thanks abbreviations), want to add to their numbers all across the country, and are recruiting Cashiers and Customer Service Staff to join their ranks throughout the summer.As you might expect, working for a globally recognised and respected brand has its perks.In return for your service, youll get a competitive salary and a discretionary annual bonus, as well as other perks ranging from private healthcare for you and your family, through to a market-leading employer pension contribution and even life insurance.You’ll also get excellent rates on everything from credit cards to loans and mortgages. You know, if you like that kind of thing.Your chequebook may never look the same again…Locations:  Throughout the UKView all jobs with HSBC nowNestlé Got the Munchi es? We might have found your perfect position…Ok, so we can’t promise you a position as a professional chocolate taster just yet. But we do have a range of excellent opportunities on offer with the Swiss food and drink giants â€" covering everything from marketing and media through to engineering.There’s even a vacancy for something called a ‘Culinary Specialist’. Which, at the very least, should probably see at least a few extra Smarties thrown your way.Other than the obvious perks (e.g. salary, bonuses, Kit Kats, Milky Bars), you’ll get all the benefits that come with working for one of the world’s biggest brands â€" including access to their award-winning training and development programmes, and excellent promotion opportunities as standard.Also, possibly the best employee vending machines the world has ever seen. Because, you know, chocolate…Locations:  Throughout the UKView all jobs with Nestlé nowReady to love Mondays?  View all of our current vacancies now.Fi nd a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features Where can I work?

7 Tips for Getting Discovered by the Best Companies

7 Tips for Getting Discovered by the Best Companies Many people are noticing  a huge skills gap in the U.S right now. Basically, we have a lot of jobs available, but not the right kind of people to fill those jobs. And hiring is harder than ever. As a result, employers and recruiters are getting more and more creative with how they find employees. Knowing these recruiting techniques can help you land your next job. Here are 7 of the most common ways employers and recruiters find candidates now. 1. Pay attention to social media Social media is still a popular tool for recruiting, partly because it makes it easier for employers to get in front of passive candidates that is, candidates who aren’t looking for a job. It almost goes without saying that you’ll want to make sure your social profiles are clean. If you think something you’ve posted could raise a future employer’s eyebrow, just delete it. Beyond that, start monitoring industry related hashtags on Twitter. For example, if you’re looking for a job in electrical engineering, you’ll want to setup a search for #electricalengineering or just #engineering, with #jobs, #careers, #hiring and other recruiting related tags. Also, search for recruiting related social media accounts for companies you’re interested in working for. Many companies, especially larger ones, have created accounts just for this purpose, where they post job openings, hold QA sessions about jobs, and share other relevant information. 2. Participate in online communities For many careers, there are online communities related to the job. Employers may often post jobs on these, or keep an eye on them to find  candidates. An easy way to find them is a quick Google search like this: intitle:forum [job title]. For example, if you’re looking for online communities related to electrical engineering, you’d do this search: intitle:forum electrical engineer. This is a great way to network with potential employers and future colleagues, keep up with trends and find out about job openings before they get to job boards. Also, I recently noticed that Automattic, the company behind WordPress and other web products, mentions in their job description for “Happiness Engineers” that the ideal candidate is probably already helping out on their forums. This shows that employers see value in this kind of social contribution. 3. Participate in real life communities This one is probably healthy for those of us that work remotely and spend lots of time in front of a screen. There are some great real life associations and communities out there. If there’s one in particular that relates to your work, you should consider joining it. You’ll make connections, and perhaps end up meeting recruiters who are out hoping to discover a gem. You can make finding a group like this really easy by going to Meetup.com. They’ve got groups related to just about any profession or hobby you can imagine, especially if you’re near a large city. 4. Get on the shortlist Lots of time, things don’t work out when you apply for a job. Maybe it was a really tough choice, and it was just chance that you didn’t get the position. Or perhaps they just wanted to see a tiny bit more experience before hiring you. Regardless, good recruiters are trying to build lists of the great candidates they’ve passed on, so that next time a similar position opens, they have candidates ready to go. If you want to be on that list, be cordial when they decline you as a candidate. Then, make it easy for them to keep you on their list by sending them occasional updates about where you’re at in your career. 5. Rock your LinkedIn profile LinkedIn continues to be a powerful tool for recruiting. But one thing to think about these days is that there are a lot of people on the network. Recruiters looking for a hire are probably spending very little time skimming your profile. Consider that the average recruiter spends just 6 seconds on your resume. You should assume they spend even less on LinkedIn. So, keep your profile as concise as possible. Use numbers to prove your point don’t just say you grew sales, tell us that you grew them by $500,000 annually. Finally, be sure that your LinkedIn profile and your resume square up. If there are positions on your profile that aren’t on your resume, or dates that don’t match up, you’ll want to fix the inconsistency, or be prepared to explain the difference in an interview. Want more? Here are 18 steps to nailing your Linkedin profile. 6. Referrals still rule Referrals are an extremely popular way companies use to find employees. What does this mean for you? Well, you’ll definitely want to spend some time on tips 2 and 3 to help grow your network. Beyond that, it’s good to keep in mind no matter where you’re at in your career. The people you work alongside today may be the ones helping you get a great job tomorrow. A lot of smart recruiters and employers will ask their best hires who their favorite people where to work with in the past, and keep these people on their shortlist. 7. Freelance your way in Freelancing has become a more and more popular way for employers to fill jobs. It gives them several advantages, one of which is the ability to try someone out for a job, see how well things go, and then consider them for regular employment. If you’re on the lookout for freelance opportunities you can do virtually, you might try signing up with Upwork or Toptal. For local opportunities, have a look at Craigslist. Ok, good luck with the job hunt. It’s a great time to be looking. With the right skills and a little strategy, now could be the time to land your dream job. About the author: Paul Peters is content marketer and job ad writer with Betterteam. Before that he spent 6 years building an education startup, where he was was involved with many aspects of the business, including hiring and marketing. He lives in Whitefish, Montana.

10 Inevitable Moments at Every Office Christmas Party

10 Inevitable Moments at Every Office Christmas Party The office Christmas party finally an opportunity to let your hair down and put all the usual stresses of the workplace on hold for an evening. The  annual event that just wouldnt be the same without inappropriate antics and colleagues embarrassing themselves! Though its meant to be a time for you to  have some fun with your colleagues and celebrate your successes from the last year, remember that you do have to work with these people still after the night is over, so stripping off after a few too many drinks or telling someone EXACTLY what you think about them probably isnt the wisest idea! Though we all know this deep down, judgement often goes out the window when alcohol  is flowing and spirits are high, so there are a few inevitable moments that will always occur at  the office Christmas party! Here are a few of them that may ring some bells 1)  The first half hour will be highly uncomfortable Nobody wants to be the first one to arrive at a party. You think youve timed it perfectly so that you turn up fashionably late, but somehow you are STILL  early and begin to regret not having a drink before you left the house. 2) Youll be forced to make awkward small talk  with a colleague you dont know Considering there are only 3 of you in the room, you are faced with little choice over who to talk to, so I guess that guy from IT who you spoke to once 2 years ago will have to do. Whats his name again? 3) Someone will  turn up in a novelty Christmas jumper Unless youre Mark Darcy, this isnt often the best look. 4) Everyone will flock to the free bar Itll only be a matter of time before someone  suggests doing shots. Approach with caution. 5) Someone will abuse it and have to be put in a taxi home Theres always one person who cant handle their drink and becomes incapable of walking by 10pm. 6) The quiet one will throw some serious shapes on the dance floor With alcohol comes lowered inhibitions. The shy and innocent  girl will go from Hannah Montana to Miley Cyrus circa her Wrecking Ball era in the matter on minutes. 7)  Someone will make a move on their office crush After a year of checking them out across the office, they decide that tonights the night. Meanwhile someone else will develop an entirely new office crush as beer goggles take affect and suddenly a  completely unexpected individual becomes more appealing. 8) People will become far too honest Things will get heated and someone will get carried away with their comments about other staff. Dangerous territory! 9)  Beware of the sober one Who cares what you got up to, everyone was too drunk to remember come Monday right? WRONG! There will usually be one person who chooses not to drink and will therefore be aware of and remember  all of the antics from the night. 10) Monday morning shame Come Monday morning everyone in the office will be gossiping about the nights events! By this point the incriminating photos have probably all been uploaded to Facebook,  so dont think youre getting away with anything! [Top Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Social Versus Market Norms

Social Versus Market Norms I get asked for career advice all the time, and I’m happy to give it. It’s part of my job at CareerSource Northeast Florida, of course, but it’s also my personal mission to help as many people as possible find meaningful work and become successful. So I give my time freely, and for free (two different concepts.) I mentor college students and help friends of friends. Only once has someone done something so egregious that it stopped me in my tracks and almost brought an advice session to a screeching halt. He offered me cash. The reason this was such a jarring and unpleasant experience is now clear to me. It’s explained in the excellent book Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely. He’s the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University, and he’s spent his career wondering why â€" and how â€" we humans make decisions. His research indicates that we seldom make decisions on what to pay, what to buy or how hard to work based on economic factors (despite what we tell ourselves.) In fact, we can be wildly irrational in how we behave, and be consistent in our irrationality. One chapter of the book is dedicated to the concept of the two worlds we live in: the world of social norms and the world of market norms. The world of social norms is where we conduct our relationships. Our friendships, our love lives, and our civic engagement are governed by rules about how we feel about each other and how we should act based on our values and other guiding principles. Social norms tell us we help out our brother because he’s family. We give gifts to our girlfriend because we like to make her happy. We bring a hostess gift to show appreciation when we’re invited to dinner. We donate to charity or mentor young people because we’re making the world a better place. The world of market norms is transactional. We pay for something or get paid for something, and we expect to get our money’s worth. “Fair” is an important part of the market norms world, and we’re quick to point out situations that don’t match our expectations about the transaction. Dan Ariely writes that both worlds coexist peacefully as long as we have a strong firewall between them. We are happy to do things for others, but not when we get paid to do them. This phenomenon has been noted by other researchers and authors as well. When study participants are asked to do a simple task as a favor to the researcher, they outperform those who are paid for the same task. In fact, they outperform those who are paid a nominal amount (say, 50 cents) and those who are paid a relatively high amount for the same task (five dollars.) Ariely writes that you’re much more likely to get people to volunteer to help than you would be if you offered to pay them. He cites a specific example: “A few years ago, for instance, the AARP asked some lawyers if they would offer less expensive services to needy retirees, at something like $ 30 an hour. The lawyers said no. Then the program manager from AARP had a brilliant idea: he asked the lawyers if they would offer free services to needy retirees. Overwhelmingly, the lawyers said yes. What was going on here? How could zero dollars be more attractive than $30? When money was mentioned, the lawyers used market norms and found the offer lacking, relative to their market salary. When no money was mentioned they used social norms and were willing to volunteer their time. Why didn’t they just accept the $30, thinking of themselves as volunteers who received $30? Because once market norms enter our considerations, the social norms depart.” When the person who asked me for my time slipped a $20 bill across the table to compensate me, I was instantly offended, in part because my time is worth much more than that. When people I offer to help ask about my hourly rates, I usually laugh and tell them they couldn’t afford me. My advice will also be more brilliant if it’s free; trust me on this. The moment you pay for something, you look at it differently. The moment you introduce market norms into a social situation, you have poisoned the social norms. And Ariely’s research indicates that it’s very hard to get the social norms back. So never mention money on a date or talk about the cost of a gift or an evening of entertainment.  And never offer to pay someone for helping you unless it’s clear you’re hiring them in the first place. It will ruin their pleasure in helping you and probably ruin your ability to appreciate their help. Irrational, possibly, but also predictable.

What to Do When You Have Writing Skills

What to Do When You Have Writing SkillsNow, we know that you have a passion for writing and an open mind in creating your own resume, so is it time to understand how to put your personal touch in resume writing? It's just one of the questions that make people dissatisfied and create a grudge with them. In resume writing, the first thing that you need to do is to write on your resume what you know about.Resume writing for writers can be quite difficult as most of the writer's are not aware of how to start writing a resume. If you write every day, you will be able to get the job of a writer by writing a resume. You should understand that if you are unsure of your writing skills, then it will be hard for you to be hired as a writer by an employer. Here are some simple tips on resume writing for writers.Writing a resume consists of two parts- the content and the format. There is no point in writing a resume that does not give any quality information. This will only make you look unprofes sional.Writing a resume is like a mini-book of your life story. Just remember that it should not be written in a word processor. Choose the best words that fit your personality.If you are not sure about how to write a resume, you can find simple resume template that will help you. It is important to remember that one should have writing skills. Without having a clear idea of the meaning of the resume, the employers may reject your resume because it is useless. In resume writing, it is always important to get to know the basic format and style.A large number of resumes are written without the knowledge of the employer, which make the resume impossible to read. The resume writing software will make you learn the correct format and style of resume writing. There are many advantages of using this kind of program.Resume writing for writers should focus on things that the employer is looking for. The format of resume writing should follow the standard format of resumes. You should also ke ep your resume writing software regularly updated to make sure that it would be readable and easy to read.The format of resume writing should give importance to the words and the information that you have to write in the resume. There are many software available on the internet that would help you in this aspect. Remember that in resume writing, the first step is to write what you know.

How to Avoid Volunteer Burnout - Hire Imaging

How to Avoid Volunteer Burnout - Hire Imaging Warning Signs to Consider Many of my clients have found great satisfaction â€" and open doors to career opportunities â€" through volunteering. Without a mindful approach to volunteering, however, burnout can occur. There are also similar signs that can point to workplace burnout in general. If your mood is low and your anxiety and stress high, you may be experiencing volunteer burnout. Warning Signs to Consider Do you dread doing things that you used to enjoy? Are you doing more but feeling less productive and less fulfilled with your achievements? Are you mentally unfocused? Do you lack enthusiasm? Are you frequently worried? Are you dropping the ball on your commitments? Has your personality changed? Were you at one time upbeat but now pessimistic or withdrawn? Are your words becoming increasingly negative, peppered with frustration? Are you irritated by day-to-day challenges and distractions? Do you feel guilty about your performance or situation? Common Causes to Consider Not saying “no.” Do you struggle with the word “no”? Is it elusive when you need it? Keep in mind that sometimes saying no to requests and commitments is just healthier; sometimes self-care has to come first. It’s hard to be productive in the throes of resentment, physical weariness, or too many balls in the air. Overcommitment. If you’re in a job with high demands, raising children, and caring for aging parents, adding heavy volunteer commitments may not be a good idea. High expectations and perfectionism. Perfectionism can be counterproductive and time-consuming. This is probably the most frequent issue to arise in discussions with my clients who are experiencing the symptoms of burnout. Mark, an executive in career transition (and job search) and an active volunteer in the public school system, said, “A very hard lesson for me to learn has been that sometimes B+ is good enough.” Not taking a break. Spending years or even decades in the same volunteer position without breaks can lead to burnout. Put some breathing room between your commitments â€" mix them up. You may well realize a quick rejuvenation! Misplaced roles. Volunteers, like paid workers, should be positioned for success based on their preferences, skills and talents. Just because a person has an MBA, doesn’t mean he or she should sit on a financial committee. Perhaps that person’s best fit might be on the front lines, working the food shelf or greeting folks. If you find yourself in a role that doesn’t feel right, ask to move out of it and into another. Taking on too much accountability too soon. New volunteers need time to assimilate into the life of the organization. Think about starting with short-term volunteer opportunities before progressing to more challenging leadership roles. Taking from the same pool too often. Every organization has a few “yes” people who tend to take the volunteer roles. Well-meaning volunteer recruiters go back to those same few again and again. The result is that a core group of folks shoulder the main load. It not only increases their chances of burnout; it also poses potential difficulty for others who may feel they can’t step forward and volunteer. As an individual volunteer, it’s a good idea to take inventory of these signs and causes of burnout. Then see where you might make changes to maximize your optimal comfort and success. As a volunteer recruiter, here are a few suggestions for creating a volunteer-friendly environment: Have a clear vision and communicate it. Show appreciation in real time, not just with end-of-year celebrations. Have a well-organized volunteer program with written job descriptions. Ensure that the job is doable. Perhaps shared duties works better than one person manning the fort alone. Design commitments with specific end dates. Open-ended obligations can lead to burnout. Provide an off-ramp for volunteers. Empower them to say “no” if they are overextended or overwhelmed. Match the right person with the right job by asking people about their interests and passions. Do you have experiences or insights regarding volunteer burnout? I’d love to hear from you!

What REALLY differentiates you in a job interview - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

What REALLY differentiates you in a job interview If you are interviewing (especially for senior level positions), do you know how to make yourself stand out from other candidates? As an experienced professional, every one of your competitors has climbed the corporate ladder in very similar ways. Those are/were your responsibilities … things you did that got you to where you are today. From a marketing perspective, though, relying on responsibilities delegates you to commodity status. Standing out from the competition means you’ve moved from what you did â€" to how you impacted â€" and in a very measurable way. Here are two of my tips for moving clients to high-impact A-player positioning. These are questions you must ask yourself, and answer in tangible terms, to win market differentiation. 1. For each new position and every promotion, there are two critical questions that rarely get answered in most candidates’ CVs/resumes … what were you hired to do, and did you accomplish it? If that goal was met, provide the details and how accomplishing it positively impacted the company. If you didn’t accomplish the objective for which you were hired, it needs to be explained. If you did achieve that goal, it builds a track record of success you bring with you to a new position. Making it crystal clear how you achieved the goal for which you were hired is key to distinguishing yourself from the competition. 2. Describe each of your contributions in C-A-R + SI format. Challenge â€" Action â€" Result â€" Strategic Impact. What was the challenge, problem, situation, or issue that necessitated the action. How long was it going on? What would have been the potential outcome or potential risk of doing nothing? What action(s) did you take? Who else was involved? How long did it take? And finally, what did those contributions mean to the bottom line of the organization? What was the longer term impact? What could the company do that they could not have done otherwise? How did this favorably position them against the competition? As a leader, the emphasis is on “leading” and the resulting positive impacts to the bottom line. Responsibilities are important, but they also commoditize you. Initiatives you’ve visioned, executed, and which have made the company money, saved the company money, or positioned the company to do something they couldn’t do before … are what differentiate you. Companies (and recruiters) who are seeking senior executives want to understand how prospective candidates think and how that translates to solving the problems it is facing. Incorporating these two strategies into your personal marketing documents and communication message will make it easier for a decision-maker and/or recruiter to gauge if what you bring to the table is worth buying. If youd like to book a complimentary consultation to discuss how I could help you in your career, please answer a few questions at  https://interview-coach.co.uk/talk-with-margaret/ Warm regards, Margaret Buj Interview Career Acceleration Coach