Boyce Blog

Boyce Temp of the Month (April 2008)

manuela — Thu, 01 May 2008 08:15:00 +0000

Well done Jairus Obayomi for receiving temp of the month.

A 2007 graduate Jairus has been working for Boyce since November last year. Currently she is working for a leading translation agency in Central London as a proofreader , however she has been quick to develop her skills to offer help to other areas within the business.

Jairus has been recognised for her versatility and “can do” attitude . Always willing to lend a hand she is keen to get as involved as she can despite the fact that she is working as a temp.

“She will stay until the work is done and is reliable. It has been great seeing her development form the beginning to the point that she is at now, involved with the project and eager to do better. A very hard worker. ”

“Our business is not a 9-5 job and Jairus has helped out in many instances where we needed extra help late in the evenings to proofread something. Also, she catches things that other proofreaders may have overlooked, which is very important in this business. Thirdly, she knows quite a bit about computers and their software which has helped us out in many occasions. Fourthly, she speaks Italian, and was thus able to help out in several Italian-related projects.”

Congratulations to our first temp of the month

Osborne Brook Partnership — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:22:00 +0000

We are delighted to announce that Carla Lynx has been elected as the Boyce temp of the Month for February 2008.

Carla has been a long standing member of the Boyce temp team and has worked primarily onsite within the creative services division of a major Investment Bank in the City.

Her commitment and exceptional approach to her work and her peers has earned some wonderful feedback including some of the following comments:

“Carla has consistently proven her ability as an operator to deliver exceptional quality of work to our bankers. She regularly receives excellent feedback from those bankers she works for. Carla is always willing to accept change and is more often than not able to offer her ideas and experience where she sees the need for an improvement in our service. She will always lend a hand when someone asks for assistance and will readily give bankers desk-side support to fix problems they are experiencing.”

“Carla is a fantastic operator, her skills are exceptional and her attitude is first class. She often offers assistance to others without question and can usually fix problems that arise. Carla is a very reliable person and a pleasure to work with.”

“Carla is an outstanding member of our team. She has a full understanding of all our processes and procedures and follows them to the letter. She is very dedicated and conscientious. Her general demeanor is always bright and happy and has a calming and settling affect on those around her. Her communication with bankers is first class, she is well liked both by her peers and her clients. On the whole, Carla is an asset to our department.”

Thank you for all your hard work and well done Carla !

Temp of the month

manuela — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 09:16:00 +0000

Temps don’t often get recognition for the work they do, especially when they stand in for unplanned absences or extended sick leave without any formal company training.

It takes a special person to be a long term temp, and it takes a lot of confidence to pick up the pieces when starting a new assignment, although admittedly it isn’t always about falling into a minefield of chaos.

We have launched Temp of the month this week. We ask you to nominate anyone you feel is worthy of such a good cause and also tell us the reasons why.

Personality of the week - Public Relations

manuela — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:54:00 +0000

Public relations is amongst the most popular career choices for graduates. While this area may be viewed as glamorous and exciting, it is also worth noting that intense competition exists to enter, that high standards are demanded and hours can be long. the CIPR (Chartered Insitute of Public relations) estimates that there are over 48,000 people working in PR roles in the UK.

Public Relations professionals can work ‘in-house’ or for a consultancy/agency. Some consultancies specialise in one sector, e.g. healthcare, IT, consumer.

PR activities include:

interacting with the media;

writing and editing;

planning, research and evaluation;

event management.

Lobbying is also within the PR sector, and involves persuading policy makers and/or putting a particular viewpoint across to influential people such as MPs. Lobbying can be done in-house, e.g. for a charity or NGO, or by a specialist consultancy.

This weeks feature is Hana Esselink an experienced PR, writer and communications officer with a colourful freelance background.

Name: Hana Esselink

Industry: PR, press and communications

Job Title: Freelance writer and communications officer

What was the last album you bought? Sam's Town, the Killers

Who is your favourite celebrity? Nelson Mandela and Angelina Jolie

What books are on your bedside table? How to interpret the Tarot, Salmon fishing in the Yemen

What is your favourite accent? New Zealand (on men)

Items for Room 101? A photo of my grandma

What is your favourite holiday? India (Taj Mahal)

Who is your least favourite person? Wouldn't like to say, ok then, George Bush

What was the last thing that made you smile? A guy at speakers corner

What was the last film that you saw? Michael Clayton (and it was brill)

What is your biggest irritation? Flaky people

How did you get started in this industry? At Ealing council as a freelance journo working on the first Holocaust memorial day exhibition

What tips would you give someone starting out in this industry? Work hard, don't worry about ego-tripping journos and stay true to yourself

What has been the best moment of your career to date? There's two - working on the climate change bill - (the UK is leading the way on climate change world-wide) and the Holocaust exhibition at Ealing council

What is the most valuable skill you have learnt in your career? The ability to communicate verbally and in writing to a variety of people across the board

What three adjectives might other people use to describe your personality? Passionate, driven, honest

And what three adjectives would you use to describe your job? n/a all contracts are different!

What do you hope to achieve in your career in the next decade? The ability to reach a variety of audiences and to make a difference (no matter how small) to an interesting organisation

When did you last go on holiday and where did you go? Two weeks ago to Brazil and then Amsterdam

What do you spend your money on? Clothes, sponsoring a child, travelling, life coaching sessions

If I knew then what I know now... I would have been a wiser person, but I believe we only know what we're meant to know at certain points in our lives! Try that for quote of the day!

Peronality of the week - Presentation Manager

manuela — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:15:00 +0000

This week our ‘Personality of the Week’ is a Presentation Manager within the Television industry. A Presentation Manager is responsible for a team of Presentation Schedulers and manages the Presentation Scheduling Department. They are responsible for what is seen on screen by us, the audience. The role involves a high level of attention to detail and reactivity to changes that may appear in the schedule as well as responsibility for the ultimate appearance of the channel before it is transmitted. It also involves line management responsibilities, and requires strong communication and people management skills.

If you are interested in a role as a Presentation Manager then please contact us at info@boycerecruitment.co.uk

Name: Paul Nolan

Job title: Presentation Manager

Industry: Television

Favourite animal: Pug dogs

Favourite book: The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien

Favourite film: Little Miss Sunshine.

Favourite food: Everything, I have a stomach to match a goats, but Tapas is a current beau.

Favourite accent: French

Most memorable holiday: Cyprus; going to the gorgeous capital Nicosia and wandering down old, narrow streets, visiting Crusader forts and the amazing food (Meze).

Favourite catchphrase: The last lines of a Robert Frost poem called The Road Not Taken where Robert Frost declares that taking the road "less traveled by... made all the difference".

Items I can’t live without: A picture of my old pug dog (see photo), my oyster card & my sudoku book.

What are the first three things you do in the morning: hit my alarm clock, thump my alarm clock, fall back to sleepppppzzzzzz.

How did you get started in the industry? I dated a girl in a recruitment agency who happened to get me a temp job at Sky working in acquisitions!

What do you enjoy the most about your job? The fact that the marketplace is so competitive which means you have to be constantly on top of your game.

What three adjectives would other people use to describe you? Dedicated, proficient, thoughtful.

What three adjectives describe the skills you need to do your job? Communication, accuracy and a thick skin.

What is the most valuable thing you have learnt in your career? Learn who the goodies and the baddies are in your organisation and choose sides accordingly.

What tips would you give to someone starting out in this industry? Make a career plan & constantly revisit it, revise it and most of all action it.

What has been the best moment of your career to date? Gaining praise in a packed meeting full of peers and bosses after project managing a very successful commercial ad campaign. I glowed for days.

What do you hope to achieve on your career in the next decade ? Perhaps one day becoming a channel director overseeing lots of broadcast departments.

When did you last go on holiday and where did you go? I last went to Poznan (Poland) for a Polish / Italian wedding which was also a short break. To my embarrassment I was out-sung, out-danced and out-drunk by the Italians. The shame still lives with me.

What do you spend your money on? Loose women and fast cars.

If I knew then what I know now I ......I would have listened to my Grandmother&rsquos advice about women and relationships.

Personality of the week - European Bond Support Manager

manuela — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:41:00 +0000

This week our Personality of the Week works for a financial information company. They are a leading global provider of financial market data, analytics and related services to financial institutions, active traders and individual investors. Our personality works in the Fixed Income evaluations department where he is the manager of the European Bond Support team. He is responsible for dealing with client requests and queries daily, and helping to support the evaluations team with any issues they may have. This role requires excellent market knowledge and strong client services skills.

If you are interested in a role like this, then please contact us at info@boycerecruitment.co.uk

Name : Paul Graham

Job title: Manager – European Bond Support

Industry : Finance

Favourite animal: Orangutans

Favourite book: Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha – Roddy Doyle

Favourite film: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Favourite food: Thai

Favourite accent: Yorkshire

Most memorable holiday: Salar de Uyuni (Salt Plains) in Bolivia

Favourite catchphrase: Don’t have one…

Items for room 101: People with catchphrases, kids with hooters at football matches, people who carry small dogs everywhere.

What are the first three things you do in the morning: Yawn, swear, put the radio on

How did you get started in the industry? Boyce found me a graduate position actually!

What do you enjoy the most about your job? The people

What three adjectives would other people use to describe you? Calm, approachable, musical (possibly)

What three adjectives describe the skills you need to do your job? Self-motivated, analytical, team-focused

What is the most valuable thing you have learnt in your career? Ensure you’re working with the right people

What tips would you give to someone starting out in this industry? Don’t become complacent – decide what you want to get out of the industry, focus on it, and become an expert in that area; if it turns out that’s not for you, move into another area.

What has been the best moment of your career to date? Seeing various members of my team develop, achieve and improve

What do you hope to achieve in your career in the next decade ? To still to want to come into work everyday!

When did you last go on holiday and where did you go? South of France, and last week

What do you spend your money on? Music, food and drink

If I knew then what I know now I…would like to think I’d do exactly the same things again

Featured personality of the week - Alana Bowman

manuela — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:52:00 +0000

This week our Personality is a Recruitment Consultant here at Boyce!

Job-hunting is something that every single one of us has been through. It can be a very stressful and challenging time, both for you and for the company that is searching for a new employee. Recruitment agencies work to facilitate that process – finding the right fit for both candidates and clients. It is a cross-sector business that involves a real range of companies and a constant mix of personalities.

As a people-focused career, Recruitment requires a broad spectrum of skills from team-working to individual drive. It is a fast-growing industry that is always challenging, but can offer great rewards, both in terms of personal satisfaction and remuneration.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is the industry professional body, and an REC affiliated company adheres to a Code of Professional Conduct that insists on the highest calibre of service and emphasizes integrity and professionalism.

The REC also offers training and professional qualifications for Recruitment Consultants to hone their skills and prove their commitment in striving to provide an ever better service. REC qualified Consultants are considered to be front runners in the Recruitment industry.

If you are interested in working in Recruitment, please email us at info@boycerecruitment.co.uk.

Name : Alana

Job title: Recruitment Consultant

Industry: New Media Recruitment

Favourite animal: Snakes (yes, I know they are reptiles!). The love of my life is my Boa Constrictor called Slim!

Favourite book: Trainspotting – Irvine Welsh

Favourite film: Reservoir Dogs – a true classic

Favourite food: Thai

Favourite accent: Irish (family) and Geordie (mates)

Most memorable holiday: Vancouver – I went to see family who I hadn’t seen in ages, which of course made it great. It’s a beautiful place, and we stayed in a fantastic log cabin with its own hot tub on a private island – perfect!

Favourite catchphrase: “Cool and deadly!” (supercool for those who aren’t in the know!)

Items for room 101: Morrissey (he’s just so annoying!), Kids on heelies (every kid I’ve ever known has broken something whilst on those!) and Tuna (this really is just for cats…)

What are the first three things you do in the morning: Throw the alarm clock across the room, make an “aaragh” sound whilst standing in front of my wardrobe, and then put some music on.

How did you get started in the industry? I registered for work with an agency who offered me the job of Recruitment Consultant there and then – in fact, they wouldn’t let me leave until I accepted it! It was a great company – within 3 months, I was flatmates with the guy who registered me!

What do you enjoy the most about your job? Being part of a diverse team, and the buzz of converting a client or making a placement (it’s addictive!)

What three adjectives would other people use to describe you? Loyal, Competitive, and Smooth

What three adjectives describe the skills you need to do your job? Passion, Drive and Commitment

What is the most valuable thing you have learnt in your career? PERSEVERANCE! Also, the old cliché is definitely true – you get back what you put in!

What tips would you give to someone starting out in this industry? Don’t do it… only joking! I would advise them to plan ahead and to persevere

What has been the best moment of your career to date? Getting the job at Boyce (see, smooth!)

What do you hope to achieve on your career in the next decade ? World domination! Or failing that, heading up a team of New Media consultants here at Boyce.

When did you last go on holiday and where did you go? Three long years ago! A girl’s holiday to Zante (Zakynthos) where I laid in the sun all day and danced all night!

What do you spend your money on? Stuff! I have no idea where it actually goes, but I do have 50 pairs of shoes that cause me great pain (but, of course, look fab!)

If I knew then what I know now I ... would have got into Recruitment a lot earlier (and I wouldn’t have bought all those shoes!)

Featured personality of the week - Celine Lheritier

manuela — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 13:30:00 +0000

This week, our Personality of the Week is an International Mobility Consultant within a consultancy firm. International/Global Mobility is also known as Relocations, and a consultancy within this sector specialises in the delivery of fully (or partially) integrated relocation and moving services within the corporate market place. These services are wide ranging. They include cultural, language and business training, and the management of all aspects of expatriate administration and global mobility. Amongst other services, this covers pre-assignment assistance, tax and payroll advice, home-finding, visa and immigration assistance, moving services, repatriation services and a full range of in-country support.

These services are provided on a global basis for many of the world's leading multinational organisations and government agencies. In addition, there can also be in-house positions available for International Mobility Consultants with blue-chip firms who have an extensive network of expatriates around the world. Those employed within this field need to have an understanding of the corporate world and their client’s business needs, as well as a strong knowledge of the international marketplace and an awareness of different cultures and working practices.

If you are interested in working within International Mobility, please contact our team at info@boycerecruitment.co.uk

Name: Céline Lheritier

Job title: International Mobility Senior Consultant

Industry: Consultancy

Favorite animal: I love my red cat - “a 6kg heart with hair”

Favorite book: In her shoes or Memoirs of a Geisha

Favorite film: Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth

Favorite food: Chocolate

Favorite accent: English or Italian people speaking French

Most memorable holiday: Hiking in Utah, climbing on Ayers Rock – Uluru, Horse-riding in Arizona – Monument valley.

Favorite catchphrase: The best way to predict your future is to create it.

Items for room 101: Unfair situations and people, and insincere people

What are the first three things you do in the morning? Try to open one eye, boil the water for the tea and feed the cat.

How did you get started in the industry? I started out as an Intern, and was then given a great opportunity when they offered to hire me.

What do you enjoy the most about your job? The fact that I get to work in an intercultural and international environment.

What three adjectives would other people use to describe you? Enthusiastic, Resourceful, Honest

What three adjectives describe the skills you need to do your job? Accurate, Flexible, Patient, Autonomous, Strong analysis skills (that’s more than three!)

What is the most valuable thing you have learnt in your career? Be mindful of what you are saying and to who, as it can come back like a boomerang – its important to stay professional

What tips would you give to someone starting out in this industry? Always keep trying!

What has been the best moment of your career to date? The creation of the first website within my company for expatriates. It was my first experience of project management, and the budget management restraints made me very creative! We were a team of 5 people from different backgrounds, with different experiences and from different cultures, so in lots of ways it was very challenging. We successfully achieved our project in 12 months, and then it became a Group project and other entities within the Group have been working on it for the last 4 years.

What do you hope to achieve on your career in the next decade? I hope to face lots of challenges, and of course successfully overcome them!

When did you last go on holiday and where did you go? I’m going on holiday tomorrow - hiking in Mexico.

What do you spend your money on? Adventurous Travel!

If I knew then what I know now I …. would be much more relaxed and take it easy a bit more!

Featured personality of the week - Diego Molinaroli

manuela — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:39:00 +0000

This week our Personality of the Week works in Accounts for a Corporate Services company.

Accounts is the heart of any organisation, and working within it gives you the chance to be hands-on with the fundamentals of a business. Accounting is a highly respected profession that presents opportunities in a myriad of careers – public sector, private sector and multinationals all require accountants of varying specialities.

The global demand for finance professionals is high, and the field of accounting offers increasingly varied and challenging work. A career in accounting offers the chance to influence a business and contribute to key decisions about the direction of any organisation you work or advise for. Professional development plays a major part in career in accounting and it is highly recommended to seek one of the established accounting qualifications to further enhance your skills and knowledge.

Our Personality of the Week is AAT qualified, which is a qualification from the Association of Accounting Technicians. This qualification suits anyone working in Financial Services, Professional Services, Commerce and the Public Sector who is starting their career in accounting. It is a combination of experience and exams, and there are a number of levels to be completed, each level representing a qualification in its own right.

If you are interested in a career in Accounts, please let us know at info@boycerecruitment.co.uk

Name : Diego Valeriano Molinaroli

Job title: Company Accounts & Administrator

Industry: Corporate Services Company (accountancy, tax, VAT)

Favourite animal: gorilla

Favourite book: Don Camillo – it’s an Italian romance

Favourite film: Braveheart

Favourite food: Any Sea food dishes!

Favourite accent: London accent

Most memorable holiday: with my friend in Rimini (Italy) years ago. We really enjoyed it!

Favourite catchphrase: Always take every opportunity when it comes up! In Italy we say "Sometimes the right train passes only once"

Items for room 101: Over-crowded places, disrespectful people, litter in the park, loud people in quiet places and anti-social behaviour.

What are the first three things you do in the morning: Have a shower, have breakfast, watch the news

How did you get started in the industry? When I came to the UK, I knew I wanted to work in this industry. I had heard about the AAT and was very interested in it so I started the course. After applying to lots of different places, I was finally given the opportunity to join an accountancy practice in South Devon.

What do you enjoy the most about your job? I enjoy the fact that I can see the hard work of many people behind the figures that I analyse. I can also understand their strategies, investments, policies and decisions – it gives you a great insight into a company.

What three adjectives would other people use to describe you? Generous, kind, tenacious

What three adjectives describe the skills you need to do your job? Analytical, patient, precise

What is the most valuable thing you have learnt in your career? To work hard in order to be successful in my career, and that I have to take any opportunity to learn as much as I can, especially considering that I am only at the initial stages of my career.

What tips would you give to someone starting out in this industry? Never give up! At the beginning, it felt as though every door was closed to me. But after sending my CV to lots of different companies, suddenly the right opportunity came up. It can happen to everybody!!!

What has been the best moment of your career to date? When I knew I had my job in London. Another good moment was when I found out that I had passed my first AAT exam!

What do you hope to achieve on your career in the next decade ? I hope to learn as much as I can and to continue to progress within the finance and accountancy industry.

When did you last go on holiday and where did you go? I have not been on a proper holiday for far too long, but I take any opportunity to go home (Verona, Lake Garda, Soave area) to relax and visit family and friends.

What do you spend your money on? Books, magazines, air tickets, nights out with my girlfriend and my friends.

If I knew then what I know now I… would have travelled and gained much more international experience. Living, studying and working abroad are all fantastic experiences!

Personality of the week - Amelia Bradshaw

manuela — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:47:00 +0000

This week our Personality of the Week feature is looking at a Human Resources Manager working within Corporate Services.

A good business strategy, one which is likely to succeed, is informed by people factors, and the role of Human Resources is to manage the ‘people’ aspect of any business. This integral function of a company can be crucial to their success.

Human Resources (HR) combines administrative personnel functions with performance management, employee relations, training, development and resource planning. A successful HR employee will be very skilled in working effectively with people, and in managing problems that may arise with the workforce.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the leading professional body for those involved in the field of Human Resources. Membership of the CIPD is highly respected by employers looking for Human Resources employees.

If you are interested in working within Human Resources, please contact us to find out more about available vacancies.

Name: Amelia Bradshaw

Job title: Human Resources Manager

Industry: Corporate Services

Favourite animal: Cats – I have 2 who rule the house.

Favourite book: Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Favourite film: Plan 9 From Outer Space (yes I know it’s meant to be the worst film ever, but I love it because it’s so bad)

Favourite food: Olives, black or green, I’m not fussy.

Favourite accent: Welsh, because I’ve lost most of my Welsh accent

Most memorable holiday: Going to Malta for a week. I didn’t go anywhere near a beach (sun + Amelia = very burnt skin) I can’t recommend it highly enough though. It’s full of so much history and is totally fascinating.

Favourite catchphrase: Don’t know if it’s a catchphrase but the last 2 lines of an Emily Dickinson poem I love say “Narcotics cannot still the tooth that nibbles at the soul”. A lesson for us all on a Friday evening.

Items for room 101: Magnolia paint, sachets with ‘tear here’ marks that you can’t open for love nor money. British Gas.

What are the first three things you do in the morning: Turn off my alarm, Stroke the cat, Grab my bathrobe (not very exciting really)

How did you get started in the industry? I got into HR almost by accident. I started off as an Office Manager, but also took on HR duties as there was no-one else in the company who did it. I discovered that I actually enjoyed it far more than Office Management and it all grew from there.

What do you enjoy the most about your job? Dealing with tricky situations. Other people are the biggest puzzle mankind will ever have to deal with, but I like it when I’m able to resolve problems for them or put their minds at ease.

What three adjectives would other people use to describe you? Unconventional, a smooth talker and witty.

What three adjectives describe the skills you need to do your job? Diplomacy, patience & a good memory for all that legislation.

What is the most valuable thing you have learnt in your career? I’ve learnt how to help my friends and family when they have employment problems.

What tips would you give to someone starting out in this industry? I’d recommend anyone interested in getting in HR to think long and hard about doing the CIPD qualification, it’s really important if you want to get on.

What has been the best moment of your career to date? Too many to mention. Defusing delicate situations is high up there.

What do you hope to achieve on your career in the next decade ? I want to become a HR Director and I want to prove to people that it’s okay to be an individual and still have a career. You don’t have to be a corporate clone.

When did you last go on holiday and where did you go? The last big holiday I had was in January when I went to Italy (Rome, Umbria District, Florence & Venice in that order), but I had a little holiday at Easter when I went to Whitby in Yorkshire. I also went to the Isle of Man in the Spring. Time for another holiday, me thinks…

What do you spend your money on? Jewelry and dvds have to feature quite highly…

If I knew then what I know now I ... I’d have married a very rich old man and be living the life of Riley in a big country house somewhere. No seriously, I think life is about making mistakes and learning from them. People who don’t make mistakes don’t move out of their comfort zones and you need to do that to grow.

Personality of the Week - Amy Hart

manuela — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:11:00 +0000

This week we have another featured personality. Our personality of the week is again a Presentation Scheduler within the Television industry. A Presentation Scheduler is responsible for organising everything that gets seen on screen by us, the audience. The role involves a high level of attention to detail and reactivity to changes that may appear in the schedule as well as responsibility for the ultimate appearance of the channel before it is transmitted.

If you are interested in working as a Presentation Scheduler please contact our Broadcast and Media team, who will be keen to hear from you.

Name : Amy Hart

Job title: Presentation Scheduler

Industry: Media

Favourite animal: Cat

Favourite book: Romeo And Juliet

Favourite film: The home of the lucky egg!! Cool Runnings!

Favourite food: Chocolate!

Favourite accent: You can’t get much better than Irish :-)

Most memorable holiday: Sri Lanka

Favourite catchphrase: I’m afraid I still use the word “Ace”!

Items for room 101: Chewing Gum, Gwen Stefani, Ear Wax.

What are the first three things you do in the morning: The three ‘t’s - tea, toast, and t.v!

How did you get started in the industry? Work experience.

What do you enjoy the most about your job? The creativity.

What three adjectives would other people use to describe you? Happy, honest, hungry!

What three adjectives describe the skills you need to do your job? Proactive, flexible, creative.

What is the most valuable thing you have learnt in your career? Be flexible!

What tips would you give to someone starting out in this industry? Be proactive.

What has been the best moment of your career to date? Helping to launch my own channel.

What do you hope to achieve on your career in the next decade ? Manage a presentation department.

When did you last go on holiday and where did you go? I went with my partner to Sri Lanka in June of this year.

What do you spend your money on? A whole! lot of jewellery.

If I knew then what I know now I ... would never have joined Facebook!

Featured Personality of the Week!

manuela — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:22:00 +0000

Each week we will be featuring a different personality profile – giving you a unique insight into individual roles. It also gives you a preview of an industry and a snapshot of what is like to work there.

If you would like to contribute to this blog with information about your own experiences within this industry, or to request a profile within a specific industry sector, then please do post a comment.

This week our personality of the week is a Presentation Scheduler within the Television industry. A Presentation Scheduler is responsible for organising everything that gets seen on screen by us, the audience. The role involves a high level of attention to detail and reactivity to changes that may appear in the schedule as well as responsibility for the ultimate appearance of the channel before it is transmitted.

Name : Jamie Watkins

Job title: Presentation Scheduler

Industry : Television

Favourite animal: The Sloth

Favourite book: The Shadow Of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Favourite film: The Goonies or Airplane

Favourite food: Cauliflower cheese or Sausage and Mash

Favourite accent: Kath and Kim style Australian

Most memorable holiday: My Gap Year round the world trip - did the whole SE Asia thing - was amazing

Favourite catchphrase: "Tom, you're so deep in the closet you're finding Christmas presents." Or anything else Brian Griffin from Family Guy says.

Items for room 101: Screaming children, mobile phone ring tones, rude commuters, toilet attendants, Frank Skinner (I could go on forever)

What are the first three things you do in the morning: Snooze the alarm, snooze it again, then once more

How did you get started in the industry? I began as a trainee television scheduler for a small broadcast company working on their music video channels

What do you enjoy the most about your job? the responsibility that goes with it - as a Presentation Scheduler you're the last point before the material goes to air - so it's critical that everything is correct otherwise the channel's on-air look can be compromised

What three adjectives would other people use to describe you? Relaxed, understanding and outgoing

What three adjectives describe the skills you need to do your job? Organization, time management and patience

What is the most valuable thing you have learnt in your career? The way that large broadcasters work and the different career paths that Scheduling can take you

What tips would you give to someone starting out in this industry? If you're serious about a career in broadcasting then take every opportunity to get that foot in the door - be it work experience placements or unpaid contracts. If you have the motivation and ambition then you can quickly advance from that trainee level to something more rewarding

What has been the best moment of your career to date? Being involved in the re-branding of a channel - having the chance to put forward my creative ideas and see them eventually put to air

What do you hope to achieve on your career in the next decade? I would like to move into the programming side of broadcasting and become more involved in the Video-on-Demand services that are evolving

When did you last go on holiday and where did you go? I went to Abu Dhabi in the UAE for Easter - less hectic than Dubai and still retains some of its cultural heritage

What do you spend your money on? Apart from bills, most of my money probably goes on going out, but I do buy a lot of DVDs

If I knew then what I know now I ...I would never have watched Hostel 2!

Top interview tips

manuela — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:25:00 +0000

This week we're looking at general interview tips. We asked our clients to give us any additional top tips that they felt would help you in the planning and process of the recruitment interview. Here they are :

Be on time! Get the train before the one you think you need and go for a coffee first!
Listen to the question!
Be yourself
Prepare!
Research the company and the role extensively, request a job description if you don’t already have one.
Be positive about the job that you are going for rather than negative about the job that you are leaving.
Be confident!
Let them know well in advance if you need to rearrange the time or date.
Dress smart! It is better to be too smart than too casual.
Look at the company website and find out not just who they are, what they do but also press releases and current events that the company are involved in.
Be aware of the job description and what is expected of someone in that role.
Try and make small talk at the beginning, as it breaks the barriers whilst you are on the way to the interview room.
Be nice to everybody - being rude to security or reception will get back to your interviewer, and is neither professional nor very nice!
Try to stay calm and relax
Present yourself well, but realistically. You need to be confident in your skill sets but not sell things you don’t have!
Emphasise your people skills - you can teach people the nitty gritty of the job but you can’t teach them good people skills!
Try to think of at least one good question to ask at the end of the interview, but preferably three.
Ask relevant questions about the role, the department or team, or about the company. If you really do know everything about the job (which is unlikely!) ask questions anyway as it shows that you are interested and alert. '
Example questions – “What's a typical day like? What’s the team like? Who will I be working with?”
Be yourself so that they can see your personality – it will help you shine above other candidates.
Remember that your CV is just the facts about you - you need to bring it to life.
Highlight any relevant qualifications and achievements you have made - be confident in your achievements.
Get some idea of the culture of the company before you go (either from the website or from your recruitment consultant). This will give you an idea on how to present yourself and ensure that you get the correct degree of professionalism in your personal presentation.
Think about how your experience matches the role, and what gaps there are in your experience and how you would fill those in order to perform the job more effectively.
Make sure you respond to a competency based question with something you have actually done, rather than what you would do in an example situation - many people get this muddled.
Tell the truth! It IS obvious if people are exaggerating!
If you are passionate about the job, do let it show, this is exactly what interviewers want to see!
Have the right mindset - walk in there thinking positively about the job, even if in reality you are not sure, and use the interview to ask questions to answer any concerns or queries you might have about the role.
Think before you answer!
Be aware of your body language and the way you communicate.
Be absolutely clear in your mind why you are going for interview. Why does the job appeal to you? The interview is to find out, both for you and for the employer, if this is the right fit.
Be prepared to laugh a bit - don’t take it too seriously!
Understand that interviews are a scoring based system, and that they need concrete examples of their skills in order to confirm that you are capable in these areas.
Appear completely in charge and completely in control - rise above the occasion! You don’t want the interviewer to miss out on your personality because all they can see are your nerves!
Remember to maintain eye contact.
Don’t be overly familiar - even if the interviewer is quite relaxed and friendly.
Do not ask the interviewer personal questions.
Take a CV, notepad, and prepared questions.
Do take notes if you need to.
Be communicative, try and give explanatory answers rather than monosyllabic answers!
Be actively interested - remember that the interviewer has taken the time out to speak to you!
Be enthusiastic!

The Best Answers Given At Interview

manuela — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 10:05:00 +0000

In this post, we're looking at the best answers given at interviews. When we asked our clients for what they thought made a great answer we were given a wide range of answers. But they broke down in to the following areas and themes:

ENTHUSIASM & CONFIDENCE

Those candidates who sweep you along with them by their sheer enthusiasm and energy.

A comfortable candidate is much more impressive than a nervous candidate. Having something to say is very important, and many interviewers would prefer people to be forthcoming and confident even if the answer is not perfectly accurate. It is important to be able to explain that you don’t know something, but perhaps talk about how you would go about finding out the answer.

A candidate who was very confident particularly impressed one interviewer. In fact, the interviewer asked, “Given that I gave you this job, what job do you think you would be doing in 3 years?”. The candidate replied, “Your job!”. This really impressed this interviewer as they were looking for a strong candidate who was really driven to succeed. (Industry – Banking and Financial Services)

A good answer is a very prepared answer. Also, those who make an attempt at answering, even if they aren’t sure of the answer, as this shows that they have the ability to communicate under pressure.

Candidates stand out if they show that they are passionate, particularly about the relevant industry. Those who have an outside of work interest in the area that they want to work can be particularly impressive (depending on the industry!).

“I love television, this is completely what I want to do”. In other words, those who are genuinely passionate and enthusiastic about the industry and the role. (Industry – Television)

An honest and open answer is the most impressive.

The best answer speaks from the heart. An interviewer can tell if someone is genuinely passionate about what they are doing. They must be truly interested in the role, as it should be a not just a job, but a mutually agreeable arrangement.

GIVING EXAMPLES TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWERS

Those who give good concrete examples to the competency based questions, and in those answers show how they have been able to maintain integrity and professional ethics when interacting with stakeholders, and have acted with openness and honesty at all times.

Those who draw on their experience when talking about their strengths and weaknesses - for example, “that situation happened to me, and I tackled it like this…”

PREPARATION , RESEARCH AND PLANNING

Someone who has done their research and really understands what the company does, and who has ideas for ways the company could improve.

One candidate was particularly impressive and was aware of the company’s financial results - which had only been released the day before and only commented on in that day’s papers!

Those with passion for the role and the organisation, as opposed to any old job. If they can show their passion to the interviewer through their preparation and research then that is brilliant and really makes them stand out.

One candidate going for a presentation scheduling role was very well prepared. This candidate had looked at the actual schedules – in fact, the only candidate who has ever done so! This candidate then asked a relevant and informed question to the manager – “What was their greatest challenge was in regards to scheduling the advertising breaks?”. In this way, the candidate almost turned the interview round so that they were much more in control, and displayed a strong knowledge of the company, the day-to-day activities involved in the role and the potential challenges ahead. (Industry – Television)

Those who stand out are those who have researched the bank and the role, and are able to expand on why they are interested in the position – they really shine. (Industry – Banking and Financial Services)

One interviewer was recently very impressed by the fact that a candidate was more up-to date with company news than the interviewer himself was. (Industry – Banking and Financial Services)

ASKING QUESTIONS AND THINKING ABOUT YOUR ANSWERS

The best candidates are those who have understood the job description and who have asked questions about the company culture and can explain how they would fit in within the organisation.

interviewer: “Who do you consider to be your customers?”

candidate: “Everyone” (from your colleagues to your clients - the whole range as you should be conscious of the relationships that you build across the board, and the best way to develop them productively).

Those who listen carefully to the question, are eloquent and adaptable, and don’t just make broad statements but give concrete examples of skills.

Next week, we'll be looking at some more general interview techniques. Happy job hunting!

The most unusual questions asked at interview

manuela — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:01:00 +0000

As part of our series on interview technique, we asked our clients what was the most unusual (or in some cases entertaining!) answer that they had ever been given by a candidate. Whilst a lot of the responses were fairly entertaining they were all inappropriate for an interview and did not impress their interviewers.

INTERVIEWER: "What is your greatest weakness?"CANDIDATE: "Chocolate!" (Not appropriate for an interview!)

INTERVIEWER: "Why did you apply for this position?"
CANDIDATE: "I don't know - I just saw it on the Internet and thought it looked ok..." (Not impressive - show lack of research and enthusiasm - big no no!)

"A girl was doing an aptitude test and asked for a glass of water. I left to get her one and returned and she had stopped doing the test and had drawn a picture of herself on the whiteboard in the room, with a speech bubble saying 'I'm worried!'. Needless to say, she didn't get the job!"

INTERVIEWER: "Why are you interested in this company?"
CANDIDATE: "Not really bothered about the company actually, just thought the job looked alright" (Unsurprisingly they didn't get the job!)

INTERVIEWER: "What are your outside interests?"
CANDIDATE: "Collecting clocks..."

A candidate who had said she had strong language skills, and then when the interviewer asked her something in that language, did not even understand the question!

A candidate started telling them about the social problems (crime and violence) in her home country and started crying about this. Whilst this was obviously an upsetting subject, the interviewer was a bit baffled as to why the candidate brought it up...

INTERVIEWER: "Do you have any particular skills you could bring to the role?"
CANDIDATE: "I can do an Orville voice..." and then proceeded to sing in his Orville voice to his interviewers!!

INTERVIEWER: "Why do you want to work for us?"
CANDIDATE: Doesn't speak, just shrugs!!!

INTERVIEWER: "So why do you want to work in this particular aspect of the business?"
CANDIDATE: "Actually, what is it that you do?"

INTERVIEWER: "Why market research?"
CANDIDATE: "Whilst I was backpacking around the Australian outback, I picked up a friend's book on Marketing, read the chapter on Market Research and decided that was the career for me!"

Candidates who get very distracted from the purpose of the interview are very frustrating for interviewers. One guy who told them how he had lost 17 stone thanks to his gastric bypass. He even brought out before and after pictures! (impressive, but not all that relevant!)

We also asked clients what the best answer that they had ever been given by a candidate was, or alternatively if a candidate really stood out, then we asked them why. Some of the clients' responses were industry-specific, however many of them were useful comments for all candidates. We'll be looking at those answers next week

Competency-based questions

manuela — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:27:00 +0000

For the second issue of the Boyce Blog we're looking at competency-based questions that are coming up more and more often in job interviews.

Many clients told us that they are increasingly using competency-based questions. These are questions that are designed to find out about certain skills and abilities (for example, team-work, ability to work under pressure, and customer service skills), and examples of times that you have displayed these skills. They are also called skills-based or behavioural questions.

Clients gave us examples of the most common competency-based questions. To answer these questions effectively, you must use an example from your experience. Don’t be too scared though – it can be an example from any job, or your studies, or sometimes even from an outside activity.

The best way to answer these questions is to describe the situation, explain the action that you took, and then give details about the final outcome.

Next week we'll look at the lighter side of interviews, with some of the most unusual answers our clients have received at interview

Most Common Competency Questions

Examples of competency-based questions that some of our clients use regularly are below.
Can you tell me a time when you dealt with an angry customer? What was the situation? How did you deal with it, and what was the outcome?
Tell me about a time when you have changed a way of doing things? Why did you want to change things and how did you go about implementing this?
Can you tell us about a time when you have worked well in team?
How have you managed a situation of conflict within a team?
Can you give me an example of a time when you have worked well under pressure?
Interacting with others can be challenging. How would you go about managing a situation of tension within a team?
Tell me about a time when you solved a problem, and how you went about it?
Imagine you are working here already. Your senior managers are in an important board meeting and have asked not to be disrupted. An urgent call comes through for one of them. What do you do?
Can you give me an example of a task you have successfully completed that has benefited the company?
You have an angry customer on the phone - how do you respond?

The Top 20 Questions asked at Interview

manuela — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 09:39:00 +0000

Welcome to the first post in the Boyce Recruitment Blog. We hope our blog will give you useful job-seeking advice - please feel free to let us know if there's a particular topic you'd like us to cover in future.

Our first few posts are going to concentrate on interview technique and tips. The posts will include tips and advice from some of our top clients on what makes a successful candidate and on how you can give the best possible interview.