What is International Nurses Day?

With all the attention and controversy surrounding the NHS in recent months, International Nurses Day is probably more relevant and important than it has ever been – but some people still haven’t heard of it!

So what is International Nurses Day?

International Nurses Day is a celebration of nurses and the nursing profession in general, across the world. It is an opportunity to thank nurses for the often thankless work they do, helping people every day.

What type of nurses is it for?

All types of nurses. No matter their level. Today is a day to celebrate everything they do.

Why 12th May?

The International Council of Nurses chose 12th May to be International Nurses Day as it was Florence Nightingale’s birthday. She is often called the founder of modern nursing and even though some people might disagree, the date stuck!

How can you celebrate?

It can be anything from writing a social media post thanking a nurse to visiting a nurse and saying thank you in person by giving them a gift, as Swanstaff branches across the UK will be doing for their superstar nurses working today!

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If you’re a nurse looking for a career change or looking to get back into work, Swanstaff Recruitment can help. We have vacancies across the UK. You can get in touch with your local branch here.

 

How to use social media to find a job

Social media and social networking are popular tools right now on both a personal and a business level. It’s human nature to want to connect and so we are all doing it more and more often. Online offers such an easy avenue to make connections on platforms where we can be introduced to a wider network of people.

This is perhaps why a lot of job seekers are taking their job hunt social!

If you are unsure of how to start your job search online here are our top tips:

 

Using LinkedIn for your Job Search

• Create a detailed LinkedIn profile. Don’t forget to fill in as much as you can. This can act like an online CV and by using keywords you can help potential employers and recruiters to find you.
• Follow the business pages of companies you’d like to work for. Not only will you be able to see if/when they advertise vacancies but you may also learn some useful things about the company that you can mention in an interview.
• Network! Network! Network! The best part of LinkedIn is the fact that you can network with a number of people very easily. If you are looking for work in a specific sector, you can connect with recruiters and industry professionals to aid in your search. The best way to do this would be to use the search function to find a recruiter, for example “HGV Recruiter Kent”. Once you have found one you can ask to connect with them. It may be worth at this point personalising your message and saying something like “Hi ——, I am a HGV2 Driver in Kent and I’m currently looking for work. Check out my profile and if you think you have any vacancies that might suit me, please let me know. Many thanks —–“
• Get your colleagues/ex-colleagues to endorse our skills our post recommendations for you on your page. 
  

  
  Using Facebook for Job Hunting

  

  • Make sure your profile is “employer friendly”. Try to either hide inappropriate photos or make sure you are not tagged in them – or you could change your privacy settings so that only your profile image and banner image are visible to people you aren’t connected with. Also make sure that nothing on your profile is controversial or political as this can sometimes lead to bias when someone is looking you up.
  • Use Facebook to let family and friends know you are job seeking. You never know who might know someone who can help you or can share a vacancy they have heard about.
  • Facebook groups! We cannot sing the praises of these enough. You can search for Facebook groups for example “Jobs in Kent” and this will come up with a number of results. Join any relevant groups. Then you can see people posting current vacancies in your area or alternatively post yourself. However, there are a few things to need to know:

– When posting keep it professional “want work”, “need work now” and “work?” are not going to cut it! Instead try to be more detailed. “Hi, my name is Susie and I’m a Healthcare Assistant. I have three years’ experience in a care home where I sometimes covered for the deputy care home manager when needed and have worked as Team Leader for the past 6 months. I have a Health and Social Care Level 3 qualification. I’m looking for full time work in Kent as I can drive and am willing to travel. I have references on request. Please feel free to message me here or click this link for my LinkedIn profile to find out more about my experience.”

– Engage with other posts. If you see someone else looking for the same type of work as you, click the small arrow in the top right corner of the post and “turn on notifications” to see when people comment on it and what they say.

– Engage with Recruiters. A lot of recruiters post within these types of groups. It is usually quite obvious when it’s a recruiter posting. If one posts about something similar to the type of work you are looking for, you can comment and say “I know you are looking for Support Workers but do you have any Healthcare Assistant Jobs at the moment?” It can’t hurt to ask!

 

How to make your Twitter profile work for your job search!

• Put your job pitch in your Twitter bio. For example “Hi I’m Susie, Healthcare Assistant, Mother, Friend, Looking for work in the #Kent area” You can let your personality show through if you would like to but remember to keep it professional and try to avoid using slang.
• Use a professional-looking avatar. Try to get a professional headshot type photo – like the one you would use for LinkedIn – or pick a photo that shows you in a good light. Not falling out of a bar!
• Tweet about your job search. Letting people know you are looking can really help your search. However if your profile is private, people aren’t going to be able to see your tweets and if you are job hunting whilst still in work you don’t want to publically tweet in case your current employer sees it.
• Include a link to an online CV in your bio. The best way to do this would be to link to your LinkedIn profile. You will need to make sure this is complete and up to date. It should be detailed enough for an employer to be able to decide if they would like to contact you.

 

Some of these tips may seem obvious but you’d be surprised how many people make these mistakes!

Do you have any other tips you’d give to someone looking for work and trying to use social media?

To find out all the jobs Swanstaff currently have available in your area, please visit  the jobs page on our website here.

Is RPO for you?

We recently published our article “what role does outsourcing have in recruitment” and promised you more information on how RPO can benefit your company. This blog is to help you find out if RPO could be for you.

If you answered yes to any of these then RPO could be for you! To find out more call 01322 618100 or click here.

National Apprenticeship Week – A day in the life of an Accounting Apprentice

The following is written by Nathan Shutt, an Accountancy Apprentice here at Swanstaff

A normal work day for an Accounting apprentice like myself consists of inputting the day’s cash into the accounting software, collating all the relevant remittances and reconciling the bank once all the cash has been input. I would then either go on to doing any invoice queries that are outstanding or I would chase any clients for PO’s we are waiting for. I would also enter any invoices that need to go onto a 3^rd party system around this.

Some of my day would be dealing with any new client clearances that the branches may have during the day, which means I need to create the necessary client accounts and link them up so when the invoices are generated they get billed to the correct account. Another responsibility I have is to take calls for the Credit Control department throughout the whole day for any client to relay queries to ourselves and then I can deal with them accordingly.

In the afternoon, I would either continue with any remaining queries/PO’s outstanding or if there was none to do, I would instead be inputting and scanning in the days cheques received in the post.

If it is the latter half of the week, I would start checking the week’s invoices for any errors, seeing if they can be corrected and if not enter them onto the error log report. After all the invoices have been checked, I scan them into our emails to be sent out by the automated invoicing software.

As it gets to the end of the day, I finish up on any last minute queries that need to be dealt with and I retype any invoices that need it, for PO purposes or general invoicing structure. Finally, before I leave for the day I tidy up on a bit of filing to keep myself organised and set up tasks for tomorrow.

 

If you’d like find out more about apprenticeships click here

If you’d like to find an apprenticeship, you can search here

To find out more about the company I work for Swanstaff Recruitment, you can click here

National Apprenticeship Week – An Accountancy Apprentice Story

 The following is written by Nathan Shutt, an Accountancy Apprentice here at Swanstaff

Why I decided to do an apprenticeship?

I chose an Accountancy apprenticeship because it gave me scope to get a hands-on look into what I wanted to pursue in my career whilst also learning the theoretical basics in learning, which gives me additional knowledge which can go a long way in the workplace.

Another reason why I chose an apprenticeship over going to uni/full time work is that I feel it is much more beneficial in the long run because you learn so much more in a practical environment than just in the classroom.

Why I love being an apprentice?

There are a few reasons why I love being an apprentice, the first being that I get to learn whilst gaining practical experience, which is both beneficial for the role I’m in but also it adds more to my CV, showing that I am passionate about what I do and am eager to learn whilst working. Additionally, it also gives me the option to try different roles in the department I work in, seeing what I enjoy and don’t enjoy.

Where I hope my apprenticeship will lead me

I hope my apprenticeship will lead me into an avenue of options which I can explore and say “I like this role” or “I don’t like this role” so I can get a firm understanding of where I want to go in the Accounting industry, and by completing this apprenticeship this will enable me to do this. I also hope my apprenticeship will lead me to a decision of what path I want to take after completing this step into the Accounting industry.

 

If you’d like find out more about apprenticeships click here

If you’d like to find an apprenticeship, you can search here

To find out more about the company I work for Swanstaff Recruitment, you can click here

National Apprenticeship Week – A Business Administration Apprentice Story

The following is written by Tamzyn Roscoe, a Business Administration Apprentice here at Swanstaff Recruitment.

I decided to do an apprenticeship because I wanted to get straight into working rather than continuing education at college or University. After looking into it, I discovered an apprenticeship would be the best option, as I could still get my qualifications whilst also gaining experience.

It’s a great way to get the skills employers are always asking for, while still getting paid and gaining a nationally recognised qualification along the way.

A day in the life of a Business Administration Apprentice here at Swanstaff Recruitment can include anything from answering the phone at reception and directing the calls to in depth client mapping tasks. I can find myself posting job adverts for our branches one minute and completing coverage reports and data cleansing the next. My role is so varied and constantly evolves to meet the needs of the business.

Nadine Agasi, PA to the Directors and Tamzyn’s manager said:

“Tamzyn really is a credit to Swanstaff. This is partly to do with her personality and work ethic, and partly thanks to her apprenticeship. Throughout the course she has gained confidence and skills to become a valuable member of this team.

As someone who was initially sceptical about apprenticeships and not sure they would produce the right sort of person, I have been thoroughly converted! If you are currently considering taking on an apprentice, I would highly recommend it.”

If you’d like find out more about apprenticeships click here

If you’d like to find an apprenticeship, you can search here

To find out more about the company I work for Swanstaff Recruitment, you can click here

National Apprenticeship Week – My Story

The following is written by our Marketing Apprentice, Amy.

As you may or may not know, this week is National Apprenticeship Week. I’ve decided this might be a good time to share my story. It took a long time for me to work out what I wanted to do when I “grew up” but essentially for me it boiled down to a love of creativity and writing, which led to the BTEC Media course I took at college.

After I had completed the course I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next, so I ended up as an Office Administrator in an Estate Agent. Whilst I loved the people and the world of work, I knew this wasn’t something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

A number of people suggested I go to University, but I wanted money and independence rather than a mountain of debt. I know there’s more to Uni than debt – for a lot of people it’s really important on a social and educational level – but I knew it wasn’t for me.

This was when I discovered Apprenticeships. My parents were very supportive and thought they were a great idea, which was brilliant as I knew a lot of people whose parents didn’t really understand them. I knew right away the hands-on style of working that apprenticeships offered was for me. Earning, learning and no debt; it was perfect!

I took my Level 2 Apprenticeship in Social Media for Business at Springfield Education and Training Ltd, before moving to Swanstaff Recruitment for my Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship. Throughout both levels of my Apprenticeship I have gained knowledge, skills, and experience; both of marketing and the way businesses are run in general.

I feel like they have really given me the opportunity to flourish and develop personally and professionally. My confidence has grown significantly and I love being a member of a dynamic team. I am trusted with tasks and projects that I can plan and really take pride in. I feel very fortunate to have found a career that I enjoy so much.

Anyone who says an apprenticeship is just about making teas and coffees (though I do make a great cuppa!) has clearly never experienced one. The best thing about my job is working with great people who really believe in my abilities and encourage me every step of the way. I have even been lucky enough to take part in charity events, attend awards evenings and go to parties. It’s a real experience to be an apprentice and not just work wise!

If you’re umm-ing and ahh-ing about University then I’d definitely recommend an apprenticeship as another valid option. An apprenticeship won’t stop you from going to university in the future but it may help you decide exactly what you want to do, so that you can pick a course you know you’ll enjoy.

If you’d like find out more about apprenticeships click here

If you’d like to find an apprenticeship, you can search here

To find out more about the company I work for Swanstaff Recruitment, you can click here

April 2016 – Nurses Revalidation Process

From April 2016, all nurses and midwives will have to prove every three years that they are practising safely and effectively. 

The new process of revalidation has been described as one of the biggest changes within the profession in its history.

From April 2016, all nurses and midwives will have to demonstrate that they “practise safely and effectively” every time they renew their place on the register of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) under a new system of revalidation to allow them to continue to work in the UK.

The process means that nurses and midwives will have to revalidate every three years when they apply to renew their place on the NMC register.

They will be asked for various pieces of information including:

• The need to provide evidence of 450 hours of practice (950 if they are also a midwife)
• Provide evidence of 35 hours of continued professional development (CPD)
• Provide 5 written reflections based on four themes in a new code of professional standards
• Provide evidence of 5 pieces of practice related feedback from others including patients, relatives and colleagues
• Reflective discussion with another nurse or midwife
• Health and character declaration
• Professional indemnity arrangement

The NMC requires that nurses and midwives set up an NMC online account so they can find out the deadline for revalidation and when their registration expires.. Help is being provided by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which has a number of advice leaflets and CPD resources on its website under a special learning zone.

 

Benefits of Recruitment Process Outsourcing

We recently published our article “what role does outsourcing have in recruitment” and promised you more information on how RPO can benefit your company.  Our full white paper is due out on April 1^st but we thought we would give you a preview…

Below are 6 key benefits of RPO and HR outsourcing:

1. Increased Effectiveness

One of the most important benefits of RPO is scalability. Many employers have vastly fluctuating recruitment needs, due to industry trends and seasonal activity. If that’s your business then RPO can scale up for busy periods and scale back down at other times. It is also useful for companies experiencing high growth who need help scaling their recruiting capacity to meet demand.

 

2. Mitigating Risk

With RPO recruiting, every element of recruitment can be monitored by your RPO supplier – allowing comprehensive tracking, reporting and auditing of the recruitment function. This allows companies to have a fully transparent system and feel assured that high standard of training and compliance are in place and that their processes protect both them and employees.

 

3. Improved Efficiency – reduced recruiting costs

This is one of the top reasons why businesses choose RPO solutions; it is also one of the biggest benefits of RPO. Many companies will spend a lot of money on head-hunters or trying to recruit in house and taking staff away from their other duties. Particularly for companies with a high turnover rate this can waste money and resources. A significant advantage of an RPO agreement is the reduction in time to fill a vacancy – which improves the overall efficiency of the business.

 

4. Increased Candidate Quality

A great candidate is more than just experience and qualifications. Things like personality and company culture/team fit are vital. If hiring managers are pressed for time to fill a position or have a huge volume of applications to sift through, they may not look at these additional things which can help you know whether a candidate will have longevity. A good RPO supplier will take time to assess your company culture, skills sets for roles and special requirements. These will then be at the centre of their candidate sourcing process. This also results in an enhancement of your employer brand and values.

 

5. Detailed Insights – Analytics and reporting to aid with prompt decision making

RPO suppliers will utilise specialist technology platforms, like Swanstaff’s S-Recruiter which allows for “real time” reporting at a click of a button. With features such as the ability to authorise timesheets, have visibility of hiring costs and generate detailed analysis reports your hiring process becomes seamlessly integrated and stress-free to monitor.

 

6. A Bespoke, Tailor-Made Hiring Process

A fantastic advantage of an RPO is having a dedicated account manager and support team that will look at every aspect of your hiring process. From company culture audits, to candidate sourcing, to bespoke induction programmes, an RPO really can be a “one-stop” solution. Equally, you may only wish to outsource certain stages of your recruitment process and there are flexible solutions available, whatever your needs.

 

Here at Swanstaff Recruitment we have the capacity to create bespoke, comprehensive RPO services. We can support you at every stage of the hiring process, including proactive candidate sourcing, competitive market mapping, initial screenings, interview scheduling (including travel and meeting room arrangements), interview feedback, contract negotiation, new hire on-boarding, and post-placement follow up. We will work in partnership with you to create a recruitment structure which is perfect for your team and organisation. To find out more click here

To sign up and be the first to receive our Benefits of RPO white paper click here.

What Role Does Outsourcing Have in Recruitment?

What role does outsourcing have in recruitment? This is a question that doesn’t really have a straightforward answer. It needs to be answered in several parts.

Firstly, what is RPO?

RPO is a business process outsourcing in which an employer hands over all or part of its recruitment process to an external provider. Recruitment Process Outsourcing providers can manage the entire process from recruitment to hire, or can manage one or two parts of it becoming an extension of  your HR department.

 

What can RPO include?

While some RPO providers take over the entire process of recruitment (this can be known as a managed service) for a company, in most cases they are taken on to provide specific services that improve what the client already has in place to ensure smooth running for the business.

Here are just some of the potential services an RPO provider can offer:

• Candidate research
• Compliance tracking
• Reporting and Audits
• Hiring Manager Training
• Process Mapping
• Technology Consulting
• Third Party Vendor Management

 

Why Choose RPO?

Are you looking for a solution that is different from using a head-hunter or staffing agency? If so RPO could be for you. RPO is much more of a partnership with an in-depth analysis of your needs and culture. It helps to boost employer brand and find the best talent possible rather than just filling positions with people who are qualified.

If any of the following statements apply to you or your business you may find RPO would be a great option for you:

“My HR Department doesn’t have the time or staff to recruit for the business” – the recruitment process can be quite long winded from sorting through CV’s, to interviewing people, to writing the job descriptions.  A HR department is not necessarily the same as a recruiting department and requires different knowledge.

“I feel like I’m wasting money on recruiting companies” – the fees can add up if you are looking to recruit a large number of people. An RPO company won’t charge extra if your recruiting needs change or fluctuate throughout the year.

“I need to make significant infrastructure changes within the company” – If the problem with your recruiting is more than “we need better candidates” or “we need more administrators in this area” then an RPO company could be a good solution.

 

To find out more about Swanstaff Recruitment’s Outsourcing services click here

Watch this space for our next RPO Blog… the Benefits of RPO coming March 7^th 2016

Public sector? Visit YPO and ESPO to find out more about their staffing solution frameworks