Kubo will donate to the World Cancer Research Fund for every business card you give us!

Kubo have chosen to support "World Cancer Research UK" as our nominated charity for 2014 through to 2015. World Cancer Research UK, funds research on the effects of diet, nutrition, body composition and physical activity on cancer prevention and survival. This vital research is an important part of their vision of living in a world where no one develops a preventable cancer.

This coming Monday 17th November, Kubo Recruitment are proud to be a sponsor of the 2014 ESF conference in Brussels. The focus is on "The current status of the application of Bayesian Methods in Drug Development"

Kubo are exhibiting at the event and will be donating to the "World Cancer Research UK" for every business card we receive.

We would welcome the opportunity to meet you and discuss how Kubo can help you. If you can only spare a few minutes, please do stop by our booth and leave your business card in our WCRU bowl!


We look forward to meeting a few old and new faces at the event on Monday!

Overtime should count towards Holiday Pay rules Tribunal!

Yesterday, the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that overtime should count towards an employee’s holiday pay. This could see up to 5 million employees claiming back holiday pay!

In August, Kubo blogged about the differences in annual leave across the world and discovered that it varies greatly from country to country. More surprisingly, America had no official rule on holiday and it was down to the individual companies Annual Leave policy.

In the UK, it is a minimum requirement that a worker receives 5.6 weeks annual leave, so with an average working week of 5 days, that is 28 days a year (which can include bank holidays). Workers that are required to work overtime as a regular part of their job argue that they should receive extra holiday pay for the overtime time worked.

The ruling may be referred to the Court of Appeal, which means it could be years until a final decision is made. The firms involved in yesterday’s judgement have been given permission to appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal. When asked if they are going to appeal a spokesman for the firms said they are "considering their options".

After the hearing, Business Secretary Vince Cable said "Government will review the judgment in detail as a matter of urgency. To properly understand the financial exposure employers’ face, we have set up a taskforce of representatives from Government and business, to discuss how we can limit the impact on business. The group will convene shortly to discuss the judgment"

What was the tribunal about?

Yesterday’s ruling followed an appeal by Bear Scotland, a road construction and maintenance firm, against an earlier decision by an employment tribunal. The tribunal found Bear Scotland had made unauthorised deductions from the wages of two employees, David Fulton and Douglas Baxter, by failing to include overtime and other payments associated with their work in calculating the holiday pay they were entitled to.

Two separate companies, Hertel and Amec, also appealed a decision stating they had made unauthorised deductions from wages of employees working on a construction site at West Burton in England, by failing to include overtime when calculating holiday pay. As the cases raised the same issues, they were heard together at the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

All three cases centred on the right to paid holiday under the Working Time Regulations 1998, now the Working Time Directive 2003, which states: "A worker is entitled to be paid in respect of any period of annual leave to which he is entitled, at the rate of a week's pay in respect of each week of leave."

Back dated claims

There were concerns that the business sector could be crippled by pay outs on back dated claims from employees. As a result, backdated claims have been limited. The tribunal ruled that employees cannot claim more than three months after the last incorrect payment. This still means that businesses could suffer a real blow and potential job losses could occur as a result, as 23% of men and 12% of women working full time regularly work overtime.

Kate Hodgkiss, partner at DLA Piper Scotland LLP, which represented the firms said, “Those carrying out non-guaranteed overtime, which is offered by an employer on a contractual basis, are more likely to have an entitlement claim as they could argue this is normal remuneration. However, those who perform overtime on an ad hoc basis are under no obligation to do this, meaning it's not part of the normal remuneration package, therefore, they're less likely to have an entitlement to claim." 

What do you think? If your job requires you to work beyond your contracted hours should this be taken into consideration when your holiday pay is calculated? After all, if you take holiday on a day where you would normally work overtime, you would lose out on the overtime pay for that day, if it is not included in your holiday pay. Or do you think that you should see overtime as a bonus and not as part of your basic pay?

Kubo would love to hear your thoughts on this, so get in touch!

Interviews then and now! .....How have they changed?

This week Kubo looked at how the process of finding a new job has changed in the last 20 years!

Technological advances and discrimination laws have dramatically changed the way that people look for a new role. Nowadays there are even apps that allow applicants to scroll through vacancies and receive notifications as new vacancies become available.  These apps also make it possible to apply for roles on the move, all from a smart phone!

In 1994 Robert J. McGovern began NetStart Inc the first online tool for job seekers and in 1995 six major newspapers joined forces to group their job listings online and created Careerpath.com. This new revolutionary idea of people being able to sit at home and see all the jobs available to them meant it was much easier and quicker for people to apply for a new role. Previously people had to look through the jobs pages of newspapers and apply by post or deliver in person!

As a result people can see roles all across the World now and apply at the click of a button, does this mean that applicant are applying for everything and anything because it's too easy to do so? Has this changed the way companies need to whittle down candidates to find the perfect person?


Kubo Spoke to Julia Bedford a Business and Finance manager about her experience of looking for a new role recently. I firstly asked Julia how she found applying for roles " there is a lot more emphasis on qualifications now than 20 years ago. Companies want to see that you have qualifications before they will even look at your experience". I went on to ask about the interview process and how she felt this had changed, " Historically you would have a much less informal one on one interview normally with a manager, but now you get interviews with panels. At my last interview there were four senior members of staff, which followed a group interview with the other candidates, during which we were given tasks and had to research and prepare a group presentation on a given topic". 

Kubo also spoke to Kevin Gutsell a CEO of a trade association about his experience of finding a new role recently "The first interview nearly always involves some form of presentation" Kevin said " which for some is quite daunting. The trick here is to stick to the subject and stick to time! I have experienced 2,3 and 4 interviewers so the more senior the position the more likely you will be presented with a panel consisting of Board members and experts." Kevin went on to say "I was invited back for a second interview as other candidates had been discounted, yet there was still a need to confirm the decision of the panel who took the opportunity to put me under more pressure (akin to the pressure I may experience in the job) After an hour I was asked to sit downstairs while a final decision and subsequent offer was made" 

In conclusion, it seems the whole interview process has become more involved and companies are having to be more stringent during the selection process.The simple one on one interview just isn't enough for some. It is also much easier for a company to do a background check on a hopeful candidate using social media. All a company has to do is type your name in and up pops your Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin profile picture.

As mentioned in last weeks blog, Skype interviews are now very popular, so people don't need to travel miles for an interview and the company can have an informal interview with you first before taking it to that next step.

As it is so easy to apply for roles now, some companies will only use recruitment agencies as they act as a filter. Companies don't have to spend hours looking through CV's and having that first interview with a candidate. This is where engaging an agency like Kubo Recruitment can help with the process, by ensuring that the candidate and company are both suited before the first interview, reducing a lot of wasted time on both sides.

It seems to me that the process of looking for a job has been helped and hindered by advances in technology. Its great that jobs are so easily accessible to everyone now, however the fact that more people are now able to apply means that the process of securing that position is a lot tougher now. Looking for a new job can be tough, but when applying for a role make sure you only apply for roles you are really suited for. Your passion and enthusiasm will come across to recruitment agencies and employees.

To make sure that you don't miss out on that dream role read through Kubo's helpful interviews tips


If you would like to share your experiences on finding that new role Kubo would like to hear about them! 

MK Lightning Ice Hockey Update! Sad to say goodbye, but pleased to welcome....!

MK Lightning have confirmed that Kubo Recruitment's sponsored player Tom Carlon is sadly leaving  to pursue work commitments outside of the sport. He has been offered an unmissable opportunity which sees him and his wife moving to another country.
In a statement released by the club he said " This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. It doesn’t feel like very long since I signed for Lightning…certainly not long enough. I wanted to become one of the core players of the club and saw myself finishing my career with MK, so I’m gutted that I can’t. But I really can’t turn down this opportunity – I wouldn’t want to let it go by and then always wonder ‘what if’. I would never have wanted to leave mid-way through a season, but I have to take the offer now, while it’s there – so I apologise for leaving everyone in the lurch.”

Kubo would like to wish Tom and his Wife the best of luck in their future endeavors and are sad to see such a talented player leave the team. 

Although Kubo are sad to be saying goodbye to Tom whom we have sponsored for the last 2 seasons, we are pleased to welcome forward Leigh Jamieson to the Kubo team as we will be sponsoring him for the remainder of the season. Leigh was born in Milton Keynes and has played for his hometown since the start of his ice hockey career. This years ice hockey season has only just got under way and Leigh has already had 6 appearances and 8 penalties for the team! 


Keep up to date with MK Lighting on Kubo's Blog and Twitter page @kuborecruitment!!

Skype interviews, How to succeed!

A latest survey by Right Management shows that 82% of hiring managers have used Skype and 18% of candidates have experienced a Skype interview, so as Skype interviews become more and more popular there are a few things you need to know before you make that Skype video call and potentially risk your chances of securing that new role! 

Skype interviews have their advantages, for example you don't need to go into work suited and booted and have everyone asking you awkward questions like "oh you look very dressed up for work today, doing anything nice?". You can communicate across countries without the cost and hassle of travelling and for more local interviews you don't have the stress or worry of getting stuck in traffic and running late. There is also the advantage that a Skype interview is a good way of you getting to know the company and the employer getting to know you a little before you have a face to face interview, but even though this isn't the formal interview there are still a few pit falls that could stop you getting to that next stage!


Look and dress the part!
Even though you are behind a computer screen you still need to act as if you are meeting face to face. The interviewer may only be able to see your top half and unless you stood up wouldn't be able to see your Mickey- Mouse PJ bottoms, but to help you get in the right frame of mind always dress smartly and professionally. It is also recommended not to wear too much patterned or striped clothing as this may be distorted and come across badly on the camera. 


Have a look at what they can see!
If you are conducting the interview at home or in a public place like a coffee shop, always have a look at what the interview can see. If you are sitting in your kitchen or home office make sure it is tidy. Have a look at what is behind you, is this what you want the employer to see? This is the first insight a company will get into who you are, so by presenting your surroundings professionally they will see you as a professional they can picture in their company. 

Technical issues
We all have them from time to time and sometimes no matter what you do, you just can't get your computer to do what you want. If this does happen then you should be honest and open about the problem, tell the interviewer if you are having trouble hearing them and if things really are not working suggest the call is rescheduled when you have resolved the problem. To alleviate these issues arising, make sure Skype is up and working before the call and try a test call with a friend first. This way you know that you have done everything to make sure you are ready for the call.

Timing
Sometimes when you are talking to someone over the internet there can be a time delay. Make sure that you don't talk over your interviewer and let them finish before you start to answer. It may feel awkward at first if there is a slight silence, but use the time to think about your answer. Better that than everyone talking at once.


Eye Contact and body language!
Its always awkward at first when you talk to someone over Skype because you are sat on your own in a room talking ever so slightly louder than normal to make sure the other person can hear you clearly, but remember this is their first impression of you, so eye contact and body language is everything! I know it doesn't always feel right and it can be tempting to look at your image on screen or down at your notes, but by looking straight into the camera and sitting up straight you are making eye contact and your body language is strong.

Use Skype to your advantage!
The fact that you are behind a computer screen doesn't have to be a bad thing. You can keep notes on the company or notes on what you want to say handy without the interviewer seeing them! Obviously you don't want to be reading your notes out like a robot word for word or looking down at them all the time, but it is good to have them there to jog your memory every now and again if required. Another bonus of a Skype interview is that you can easily attach your CV or files of previous work during your call, so there is no risk of you forgetting to bring that important file as everything is on your computer!

It looks like Skype interviews are becoming the new way for employers to speed up the interview process and are here to stay, so by making sure you have prepared yourself and your surroundings all you have to do now is win them over with your knowledge and experience! Oh and don't forget to smile!

Kubo Recruitment are proud to sponsor the 2014 European Statistical Forum!

Kubo Recruitment are proud to announce that we are sponsoring the 5th annual European Statistical Forum which will be held in Brussels on Monday the 17th of November. 

This year the forum will be focusing on "The current status of the application of
Bayesian Methods in Drug Development" 

In the last years the biostatistics community has increased its interest in the application of Bayesian methodology in drug development as it provides a framework for determining probabilities relevant to inferences from current trials and previous knowledge.

Bayesian statistics has the potential to play an important role throughout the drug/device development process life cycle and in particular in the decision-making process. Its range of applications contains early phase studies, dose- finding, safety analyses, meta-analyses, decision theory as well as the quantification of the benefits and risks essential to health economic evaluation. While the use of Bayesian methodologies has significantly increased in the recent years in exploratory clinical trials, its use in confirmatory clinical trials is still not common.

In total there will be 13 representatives at the Forum all of whom bring considerable expertise and a wide knowledge of the industry. Chairing the discussions will be Frank Fleischer who is the Global BCA at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. Giacomo Mordenti the Senior Director Compound Development & Branding-Head of Biostatistics for Grünenthal, Jens-Otto Andreas who is the Head of EU Biostatistics at UCB Biosciences GmbH and Lisa Comarella who is the Director of Biostatistics and the Senior Project Manager at CROS NT Group. 

The speakers at the forum will be;
Bruno Boulanger- CSO and Company co-founder of Arlenda.
Emmanuel Lesaffre - Professor in Biostatistics and Chair Department of Biostatistics.
Giuseppe Palermo - Statistician at F. Hoffman-La Roche.
Foteini Strimenopoulou - Senior Exploratory Statistician at UCB.
Pantelis Vlachos - Principal Biostatistician at Cytel Inc. 
Heinz Schmidli - Statistical Methodology at Novartis Pharma AG.
Eugène Cox - Vice President & Managing Director for Quantitative Solutions BV.
Nicky Best - Senior Director at Statistical Innovation Group, GSK.
Dominic Magirr - Postdoc, Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Statistics and Informatics and Intelligent Systems.

The day promises to be interesting and informative for all industry professionals within biostatistics. Kubo are honoured to be a part of this and look forward to meeting with you. Feel free to call by our stand and introduce yourself during the coffee breaks.

For more information about the ESF and to register visit https://2014-esf.eventify.it/registration  

The Office of National Statistics report for April - June 2014 showed UK unemployment rate at lowest for 6 years!

Official figures state the unemployment rate fell to 6.4% in June to April this year, the lowest since late 2008.

The number of people unemployed fell by 132,000 to 2.08 million and the average wage excluding bonuses increased by 0.6% in the year to June, the slowest rise since records began in 2001.

Including bonuses, wages fell 0.2%, the first fall since 2009. The Office for National Statistics said average wage rises were affected by an unusually high number of employees deferring bonus payments until after the top rate of tax was cut from 50p to 45p last year, which have skewed year-on-year comparisons.

The national statistics show that approximately 40% of the increase in employment levels in the UK over the past year was among people who were not born in the UK. The number of UK-born workers increased by 502,000 and the number of workers born overseas went up by 326,000.

Employment from ex soviet countries such as Poland, Lithuania and hungry increased by 178,000 in a year. which is an increase of more than a quarter since they joined the EU in 2004. 

New statistics show that unemployment has now fallen below the eurozone average of 11.5%, though it's still higher than the entire EU average of 10.2%.

To see all the current job opportunities that Kubo Recruitment have in the UK, Europe and the US please visit www.kuborecruitment.com