Christmas Pudding Recipe

December 8th, 2011

Christmas isn’t that far away now and we’d like to share our Christmas Pudding recipe with you.  As the saying goes…”The proof of the pudding is in the eating”, so we challenge you to try it and let us know what you think!

Christmas Pudding Recipe

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Ingredients:

12 cups (metric: years) – experience in marketing recruitment
1 cup of already satisfied clients
1kg of dedicated and specialist marketing recruitment consultants
A selection of interim and permanent contracts*
1/2 tsp flexibility
A pinch of knowledge and enthusiasm
100g chocolate (we like chocolate, what can we say – and it is Christmas!)
A partridge in a pear tree (optional)

(*Variations: CRM, e-CRM and direct marketing, Marketing communications, including brand management & internal comms, Online marketing, web/content management & digital/new media, Product marketing, category & product management, Strategy, planning & market development/analysis, Event management, Public/media/analyst relations.)

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Preparation Method:

Take the dedicated and specialist marketing recruitment consultants and mix with the experience in marketing recruitment.  Combine with already satisfied clients and add a selection of interim and permanent contracts (other variations include: Marketing directors, managers, executives).  Once these ingredients have all been thoroughly mixed together, dance around the kitchen to Christmas music singing into the wooden spoon, add the flexibility, knowledge and enthusiasm.

Serve and call 01189 123 100 (Thames Valley and Home Counties) or 0207 100 5477 (London) and talk to us about the marketing vacancy you are recruiting for.  Eat the chocolate.  Decorate with the partridge in the pear tree (optional).

How to have the perfect relationship with your Recruitment Agency

November 22nd, 2011

So, you’re job hunting and you’ve decided to use a recruitment agency to help you find your next job.  Everyone obviously hopes for the ideal scenario – which is demonstrated in this simple formula:

(Candidate + Consultant) + Job + Interview + Job Offer = Happy Candidate + Happy Consultant

Surprisingly, things don’t always follow this pattern and it often boils down to the success of the relationship formed between the recruitment agent and the candidate.  We are sure you’ve often pondered how you could have a perfect relationship with your Recruitment Agency.  Well, now you can!

Any relationship is about balance, respect, trust and equality.

  1. Everyone needs to work together.  See it as a partnership, with everyone having the same ultimate goal in mind.
  2. Don’t just sign up with an agency, then assume you’ve handed over all responsibility to them to find you a job.  You need to work with them to help them find you a job.
  3. Once you’ve decided to use a recruitment agency, make sure you choose an appropriate agency for the type of work you are looking for.  There is no point sending out your CV en masse to agencies – an IT specialist agency isn’t going to have the marketing job you are looking for.  Have a look at the jobs as well as their clients and work out whether they are the right agency for you.  You shouldn’t spread yourself too wide with agencies either. Keep the number of agencies you register with to a sensible number.
  4. If you’re applying for a job online, try to apply for jobs you really want and are actually qualified or experienced enough to do.  It is a waste of your time, (and the recruitment agency’s time) to submit an application for a job you’re not able to do.
  5. Once you’ve applied, don’t keep ringing the agency every five minutes.  It’s perfectly acceptable to give them a call to check they have received your CV, but they will contact you when there is news to tell you – they’ll be as pleased as you are.
  6. If you are selected for an interview, make sure you go – or advise your consultant in plenty of time if you are unable to attend (or have changed your mind)!
  7. Once you’ve been to your interview, it’s always nice to give your recruitment consultant a call to let them know how you got on.  They’ve helped you get to interview, so it’s only fair for you to share the experience with them!
  8. Be honest with your recruitment agent throughough the process.  If you don’t like the sound of the job, let them know.  If you’ve got other irons in the fire, tell them.  If you get offered an interview and have doubts or change your mind, be upfront.  Everyone is working together.
  9. If you do get offered the job, keep your agent updated on how you are getting on.  It can sometimes be like reading a book and not having the last page and you never find out how the story ends.
  10. Send chocolates – they always go down well!  (No ulterior motive here of course, but if you insist on sending them to us, then we feel it’s only right to eat them!)

And there you have it.  The key to a successful working relationship with your Recruitment Consultant!

Headliners have a great track record of good relationships.  You don’t have to take our word for it though.  Check out the various quotes on our website to see what others have said about us.

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20 Things Candidates Hate

November 7th, 2011

They say there is a fine line between love and hate, so having the best possible Consultant-Candidate working relationship is definitely the way forward.  To help out, here are some of the things that drive candidates crazy:

  1. False adverts or adverts for expired jobs
  2. Not having their phone calls returned
  3. Being treated as a CV rather than a person
  4. Not getting feedback
  5. Having to chase for updates
  6. Having a consultant who doesn’t know their client well enough
  7. Having a consultant who isn’t listening to what they are looking for
  8. Receiving emails about jobs that aren’t relevant or suitable for what they are looking for (see 7 above)
  9. Not being honest
  10. Not hearing from the consultant again once the job has been offered
  11. Not being given information about the length interview (parking charges, other plans, returning to work)
  12. Being put forward to make up numbers rather than because it’s their ideal job
  13. Not being given information about who they are meeting for interview
  14. Asking why do you want this job when they’ve been headhunted
  15. Long drawn out interview processes with little feedback along the way
  16. Not being advised in advance that the interviewer will be late
  17. Seeing jobs on a job board they think they should be put forward for and not getting called
  18. People mis-reading their CV
  19. Not being advised of the dress code – turning up in a suit on their first day and everyone else is in jeans
  20. Not getting feedback (already mentioned, but it really is a big pet hate!)

By the way, we feel your pain, we hear your needs and we aim to please!  Here at Headliners, we will always try our very best to make sure we don’t do any of the things candidates hate, but there is, just maybe, an random and rare odd occasion where we aren’t perfect.  An occasion where we accidentally falter from perfection – please excuse if we do.  We are only human after all!

So, now we are all well on the way to a harmonious working relationship!

Good Luck!

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Office Characters, Part Deux

October 25th, 2011

We know how much you all enjoyed our last Office Characters post, so we’ve decided to give you some more.

The Paper Swampee
The Paper Swampee is a creature of mystery but is perfectly harmless.  They will often build walls around them made entirely of paper and emerge infrequently for the sanctuary they create for themselves.  You may only ever see their head or just their eyes and they are often extremely busy creatures.  Tidying up is not an option for the Paper Swampee because this removes them from their natural habitat.  Even if their desk is tidy for a short period of time, you will find they are naturally drawn to replenishing their paper mountains.  The Paper Swampee will thrive best by a printer and the provision of a shredder is futile.

The Glory Seeker
The Glory Seeker is a predator.  They don’t always officially achieve themseles, but take the credit for everyone else’s hard work.  Like a cat on the hunt, they’ll sit back quietly, observe and then…POUNCE.  You didn’t see them coming, but they snatched the credit right from under your nose.  They will then strut around the office proudly, chest plumped up and advise others of their success.  Regular pats on the back are essential for these creatures and they will do anything to get one!

The Charity King
The Charity King is a kind creature but needs to be monitored.  They always have a fundraising project on the go and rarely go out without a sponsorship form in their pocket.  They have a big heart and a selfless nature but can sometimes get addicted to their mission.  This has no effect on them, but can lead to others around them to lose a few pounds.

The Toy Collector
Every office has one.  The Toy Collector is a harmless creature that likes toys.  They have toys around their desk, on their computer, on their keys…everywhere.  They are easy to buy gifts for and have a fun, playful nature.

Corporate Lingo Lover
The Corporate Lingo Lover can be difficult to understand at times.  They are prone to speaking in a language that only a select few speak and understand.  They often ‘touch base’ with people about things in the ‘pipeline’ and focus themselves on ‘the end user perspective’.  They ‘go for the low hanging fruit’ and can be found ‘singing from the same hymn sheet’ as other Corporate Lingo Lovers, whilst ‘orchestrating innovative synergies’ in their spare time.  Excellent for Jargon Bingo.

The Inconsiderate Emailer
The Inconsiderate Emailer is a creature who, as far as we can gather, is unable to speak.  There have been many reported instances of Inconsiderate Emailers and it is very rare for them to actually talk to people.  Instead they opt for sending emails about anything and everything, quietly filling up your inbox from afar with emails that don’t necessarily need sending.  They like to keep others updated about their every move.  Rarely seen with a telephone in their hands, the Inconsiderate Emailer is happiest with a keyboard.

Over Happy Chappy
The Over Happy Chappy is a very positive, upbeat creature.  There’s never a negative when they are around and they are SO happy about EVERYTHING.  Nothing gets the Over Happy Chappy down.  A positive creature to be around, but can sometimes be overwhelming – especially if you are having a ‘down day’ and want to wallow a bit!

The Expert
This creature comes in 2 forms – Guru and Deluded.  The Guru knows everything.  They are the one to go to whenever you need to know something about anything.  If they don’t know the answer, they know where to go to find it or who to ask.  The Guru Expert is often friendly and happy to help – definitely one to keep on side.  The Deluded Expert THINKS they know everything and tries to convince others that they know things.  Beware.  They don’t know half as much as they make out they do.  Opt for the Guru Expert every time.

If you’ve got any others, let us know!

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October Offer – Interim / Temporary Marketing Staff – First Month FREE!

October 5th, 2011

Interim or Temporary Marketing Staff – First Month FREE!

For this month only, Headliners are offering you the chance to have your next marketing interim / temporary candidate (or freelance contractor) FREE for one month.*

Speak to one of our consultants to claim your fee reduction:
Tel:  01189 123 100
(Thames Valley & Home Counties)
Tel:  0207 100 5477 (London)

The Offer:

Instruct Headliners in October 2011 to find your next interim marketing team member and you will get them FREE for one month.*  Only the candidate’s direct costs (i.e. their pay and any applicable N.I.) need to be covered.  The usual management fee that would normally be charged by Headliners will be waived completely for one month!

If you would like to take advantage of this month’s offer, just give us a call and speak to one of our senior consultants today:
01189 123 100 or 0207 100 5477.

Headliners are specialists in marketing recruitment with over 12 years experience recruiting middle and senior management level marketers.

Don’t forget to join us on Twitter so you don’t miss out on any future offers!

P.S.  If you are considering recruiting someone to your marketing team on a permanent basis this month, we may still be able to offer a discount so you don’t miss out.  Give us a call and we’ll see what we can do for you.

* Terms apply


Terms:
1. Offer applies to new clients only. (i.e. a client who has not had a candidate placed / contract with or by Headliners since 30th June 2010). 2. Offer applies to new interim / temporary briefs given to Headliners during October 2011 and ends 31st October 2011. 3. The usual management fee that would normally be charged is waived for one month. The candidate’s direct costs (i.e. their pay and any applicable N.I.) will need to be covered.  4.  No cash alternative will be given. 5. The interim / temporary / freelance assignment must be for a minimum of 3 months. 6. Candidate must commence placement by 31.12.11 for offer to apply.
7. Headliners reserve the right to withdraw this, or any other offer at any time without notice. 8. Offer applies to each new candidate placement and there is no limit on candidate placements per company. 9. Headliners’ decision is final.