Job Of The Week - Retail Night Shift, St Neots

 We are seeking candidates for this week's Job Of The Week...Retail Night Shift for our client based in St Neots.

We are looking to recruit 8 members of staff for this position. Four to start this week and another four next week. It is full time, ongoing work with a fantastic opportunity for a permanent contract if all goes well.

We are looking for reliable, switched on candidates. The role is physical and involves the use of computers. 

Shifts are 18:00PM to 06:00AM. Wage starts at £6.50 per hour.
Due to the location of the job, own transport is required. 

If you are interested and feel like you fit the job description then give Helena a call on 01733 344382.

Choosing The Right Recruitment Agency

This week, we decided to change up our weekly blog post a little bit. We thought we would give some advice to any Business clients who are searching for a recruitment agency. We know just how important it is to find the right agency so we have come together and created a post with a bit of advice to help you make your decision.

We thought we would start by giving you some pro's to using an agency. This is for the companies that are sat on the fence and are indecisive as to whether or not they should use an agency...

Why use an agency? - 

- Specialist expertise in market place

- Reduced advertising costs

- Access to key strategic skilled worked force

- Save you time and therefore money. Only see CV’s/Candidates that are suitable for the job. No wasted time sifting through unsuitable applications.

- Access to people who aren’t actively looking for a new job
- Relieves the stress of having to find a suitable candidate.

Now you have decided that using an agency is the best choice, we are going to help you choose one. We have come up with four top qualities to look for when choosing the right agency to suit you and your businesses needs.

Choosing an agency.. - When choosing an agency, there are some important things to ask yourself... 

- Do they recruit the staff you are looking for? - If you are looking to recruit Warehouse Operatives then don't contact an IT recruitment company. You'll be wasting your time and theirs. Make sure you find out beforehand what sectors the agency recruits for. The majority of the time, you can find this out online through a simple Google search! 

- Are they really specialists? - Do they understand your needs? Are they able to meet them? Make sure you are dealing with an agency who have experience and are going to be able to help you. The last thing you need is something going wrong further down the line. A good way to find out if a company really are specialists is to request a reference. Don't be afraid to do so, at the end of the day it's the fate of your business in their hands. 

- Do they ask you questions? Do they want to come and meet you and see your premises, to find out about the company and its culture, or are they just order takers? - Are they showing a genuine interest? This is important as recruitment isn't an easy business. It takes a lot of time and doesn't always go to plan. Because of this, you need to make sure you have an agency who are going to be there for you 24/7, no matter what. You need to ensure that if you urgently need five more staff members for that day, that they can get you that. Don't settle for anything less.

- Do they belong to professional organisations such as REC/GLA/ALP? - REC, The Recruitment and Employment Confederation, GLA, Gang Master Licensing Association and ALP, Association of Labour Providers. Belonging to a professional organisation means that the business is not alone. They have access to professional/legal advice when they need it and more importantly they are not alone. It's not good for a business to isolate itself, when joining forces, you are able to offer better services and learn from not only your own experiences, but others too.
- Do they offer any in-house training or admin support? - Does the agency offer any extra support to you or your potential employees? This can be done through; English tests, health and safety testing, payroll support, invoices etc. All of this will contribute towards taking the stress away from you and ensuring you receive the best standard employees possible. 

So there you have it, a bit of advice when you're looking for a recruitment agency. We wish you all the best in your search for finding the 'perfect' agency to cater to your individual business needs.

Job Of The Week - Call Centre Operatives

It's time for Job Of The Week again, and this week we are going to be telling you about the fantastic opportunities we have available for Call Centre Operatives.

Work is based in Hampton, Peterborough so you must be able to ensure that you can make your own way there. The job is working in the call centre department taking calls from members of the public who have been involved in vehicle accidents.
Due to the nature of these calls you must remain calm and clear at all times and ensure that all the data inputted into the system is accurate and spelt correctly.
Please note, no sales are involved in this job role. 

If you have knowledge of insurance and/or vehicle terminology as well as the phonetic alphabet then you will be at a distinct advantage although this is not essential as a comprehensive 4 week training program is provided for all new starters.

The shifts are Monday - Friday working between the hours 0600 - 2200 on a 4 week rotation, 8 hours per day. Every 1 in 4 weeks you will need to work a Saturday but will get time off in lieu.

After a qualifying period you will be taken on as a permanent employee by our client. 
Pay starts at £6.50 - £7.00 per hour.
Immediate starts.

If you feel like you are right for the job then get in touch today!

Job Of The Week - Production Operatives & A BIG Thank You!

Good Morning everyone. It's Monday again, which means one things...it's time for 'Job of the Week'!

This week, we are going to be telling you all about our new Production Operatives role.

The role is based with our client in St Neots so candidates with their own vehicle will be highly sought after! The job is working for a major producer of chocolate.

Shifts are 06:00 - 14:00 and 14:00 - 22:00 (employees must arrive twenty minutes before the start of their shift).

You will be working on a line packing food so previous food factory/packing experience would be highly desirable though not essential. Safety boots are required.

Wage is £6.50 per hour and this is full time, long term work (minimum three months). 

Immediate start!

Another positive note, here at City Resource, we would like to say a BIG thank you to all of our wonderful candidates who showed up for the giant selfie! We successfully took a fantastic picture and have submitted it for the Peterborough Arts Festival! We were also fortunate enough to feature on the Peterborough Presents Facebook page, which you can see here! Thanks again to everyone who took part!

NB: Submitted selfies will be available to see during the Peterborough Arts Festival on the 4th and 5th September.

Do I Need A Cover Letter?

An important question that people always ask themselves when applying for a job. Do I need a cover letter? Well, as there isn't really a straightforward answer, we have put together a pro's and con's list so you can decided for yourself.

Pro's:

• You'll stand out. - There is no point in giving out a cover letter that you found off Google and several other people will have also found and handed in. Make it unique to you. This is your chance to shine. 
• It's all about you! - When written  properly, a cover letter is the perfect opportunity for you to truly express who you are and what you enjoy doing without having to cram it onto a CV. Do not rush it. 
• Improved CV? - Make sure your cover letter is going to blow the potential employer away! Not only will the letter catch their eye, it'll also make your CV appear better than it might actually be! However, make sure your cover letter matches up with your CV and makes sense.
• Know your stuff.. - Is the letter relevant to the position you are applying for? This is of huge importance. Making sure it's relevant can prove to the employer that you know your stuff and are passionate about the role in question. 

Con's: 

• Time consuming - Writing a good cover letter does take more time than just submitting a CV. However, surely its worth it if you get the job of your dreams?
• Wasted Opportunity? - Have you done enough to make your cover letter stand out? If not, you've wasted your time. Don't let that happen! Make sure you really put in the effort in order to get the most out of your cover letter.
• Don't bore your employer... - Employers don't always require a cover letter so make sure you find out if they do beforehand. The last thing you want to do is bore your employer, as by doing so, you could put your CV at risk. Make sure your letter is interesting and worth their attention!

So, now it's up to you. Are you going to keep handing the same letter to every potential employer? Maybe, you're going to write your first cover letter? Whatever you have taken from this, we hope we have given you an insight on whether or not a cover letter is really worth it...

Job Of The Week - Warehouse Supervisor

It's Monday again, which means one thing. Another blog post advertising our Job of the Week. This week, it's for a Warehouse Supervisor position with our client based in Bretton, Peterborough. 

Your daily responsibilities will include, leading the warehouse team and line manage appropriately, maintaining and improving the warehouse operating environment and ensuring incoming and out-going goods are delivered OTIF. You will be tasked with ensuring that the processes are respected and improved where possible. You will be responsible for controlling consumables, interacting with consumable suppliers and internal stakeholders. You will be held responsible for the cleanliness of the portion of the yard owned by the warehouse team. 

Key Tasks:

➣  Line manage the warehouse team (currently of 3 people), and ensure adequate training and development to do the job is completed.

➣ Ensure internal deliveries of material are on time in full and in good condition to meet the needs of the business.

➣To follow and improve internal processes and procedures relating to internal logistics.

➣ Liaise with the customer service, procurement and quality teams to ensure customer satisfaction and internal process adherence.

➣ To ensure safety in the warehouse environment and safe actions of the warehouse team.

➣  Manage the consumable materials in conjunction with the procurement department.

 ➣Ensure the warehouse and local environment is kept to world class 5S standards and that this ethos is respected by their team.

➣ To lead by example, and support the warehouse team in conducting their duties in the warehouse.

➣ Maintain the warehousing procedure in accordance with ISO 9001

➣Any other reasonable duties reasonably required.

This is a full time, permanent position. 

Two years minimum previous warehouse experience is required. 

If you think that you fit the bill then send your CV to Toby at toby@cityresourceltd.co.uk

Interviews - Are You Prepared?

Can you hold your own during an interview? Do you find it easy to talk to a potential employer? Then well done you! In a recent survey of 2000 bosses, 33% claimed that they know within the first ninety seconds of the interview whether or not that person is suitable for the job. The average interview is 40 minutes.

Fear not, City Resource are here to help again. We have created a list of five of the most commonly made mistakes during interviews. We are going to explain why you should avoid these things and how avoiding them is going to work in your favour during the interview ahead.

Hand gestures - You do not need to wave your arms around frantically during an interview. Chances are the employer is not appreciating them, with 9% of employers saying that candidates used too many hand gestures during interviews. Keep the hand movements to a minimum, seriously.

The neon tie...maybe not? - 55% of employers said that the way a person dresses is one of the most influential factors when meeting new people. Unless you are applying for a job in fashion then that big fur coat or the bright red shoes might not be appropriate. You need to show the employer that you are professional and business minded, not a fashionista. Unfortunately, this mistake is quite a big one with 70% of employers saying that they don't want their employees to be fashionable or trendy and another 65% of employers saying that clothes are the deciding factor between two candidates. With that said, lets leave the spotty tie for another day..

Look them in the eye.. - Interviews are scary at the best of times, let alone when you actually have to make eye contact with the employer! 67% of employers said that lack of eye contact during an interview is one of the most commonly made mistakes. It isn't that bad. It shows you are a strong, confident candidate and employers will appreciate it!

You're not a robot! - You are only human! It's ok to show emotion, personality and humour...employers will appreciate that! Don't be afraid to have a laugh during your interview! As long as everything remains professional then no harm can be done! Employers want to know they are hiring someone with personality and the ability to get on with the rest of the team. This is your only chance to prove that that person is you. Make a lasting impression...

Winging it.. - Are you prepared? No. Bad move. It is so important to make sure you are prepared for the interview, read up on the company, have some questions prepared..know your stuff! Do not, leave it until last minute and then end up forgetting. Doing so, might lose you your chance.

Source: All of the above survey references were taken from the Career Geek Blog.