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! 

The good, the bad and the ugly side of using social media for your job search. Part 2

Facebook

In the last blog, Kubo looked at LinkedIn and how it can help your job search, but what about when something you have said or done online comes back to bite you! This week Kubo are looking at Facebook, and like many people, you probably think that LinkedIn is for professional use and Facebook is for personal use, but unfortunately social media doesn’t work like that. What you say and do on your personal profile has a habit of catching up with you when you least expect it.

Most employers will Google their prospective employees before their interview, so your chosen profile picture and past pictures are the first thing an employer can see in search results. This is probably a good time to check your privacy settings and make sure your profile is set as private and be sure to select an appropriate profile picture, because these are viewable to everyone!

Whatever is viewable on your Facebook timeline tells an employer about you. If you don’t want future or current employers looking at your recent posts then lock it down via your privacy settings, because what you post may well hinder your chances of getting that job! Below are examples of how Facebook has cost a few people their job!

• In 2009 a female employee had a bit of a moan on Facebook about her new job “first day at work. omg So dull!! Unfortunately for her this post found its way to her manager and 3 weeks later she was fired! 

 

• In March 2009 a Swiss women was fired after phoning her boss and telling him she couldn’t come in because she had a migraine and the lights and glare from her computer would make it worse. She was later seen on Facebook and it was presumed if she was well enough to be on Facebook she was well enough to be in work! She was subsequently let go!
• It’s never advisable to criticise your boss on social media, especially when you have them as a friend on Facebook! Below is the actual response that this young lady got from her boss! 

 

• A male employee in the UK wrote this on his Facebook page, ‘I work at [insert company here] and can't wait to leave because it's s***"." He quickly got his wish and was sacked!!

 In many cases, potential employers can find their way onto your Facebook page even if you have enabled privacy settings by going through other employees or friends. So be careful what you post on Facebook and who can view your profile.! The first thing most potential employers do is Google or Facebook their candidates. Start by doing a Google search of yourself and see if you are happy with results. Don’t stop yourself getting that perfect job by having incriminating evidence on your Facebook. Once you do have that job think carefully what you write as you may well find yourself without one!

Let us know if you have ever got into trouble over a post you have wrote?

 

The Good, the bad and the ugly side of using social media for your job search: Part 1

Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook are all great ways of networking and aiding you in your job search, but what happens when you’re personal life back fires on your professional one and hinders instead of helps you. With stories in the media about people being fired over posts that their work colleagues have seen, Kubo are looking at the 3 main social networking sites and advice on how to use them effectively for your job hunting.

Part 1 LinkedIn

LinkedIn is designed specifically for professional networking, and 89% of employers who were asked in a 2012 survey of 1,000 recruiters by recruiting-technology Company Jobvite, said that they have made a hire through LinkedIn so you should try to keep everything professional on your profile. Below are top tips on how to use LinkedIn effectively.

• Photo- Keep your photo professional at all times, no pictures of you pulling funny faces or nights out with your friends where you went dressed as a pirate. Try to look happy in your photo; no one wants to see a miserable person staring back at them when they are looking for a potential candidate it gives the wrong impression. A simple head shot of you looking professional is perfect.




• Headline-The headline is the first line under your name that people see when you come up in a search.　 This is basically your first impression to a potential employer, so sell yourself and stand out from the crowd. If you’re looking for work then say you are and it’s also a good idea to put key words of your desired role as you will come up in more searches.




• Get Connected- LinkedIn is all about networking so the more connections you have the more connections you can make. LinkedIn works on a 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd connection basis so this means you are able to view more people and profiles the more connections you have.




• Join Groups- LinkedIn has groups for near enough everything, so find the industry and groups relevant to you and get joining. Groups will open you up to hundreds of new connections that are outside your network and also allows you to message other group members for free!




• Contact info- If an employer or recruiter is doing a search and you are their 3^rd or 4^th connection they will not be able to message you (inmail) without the specific paid version. So having your email address somewhere on the page gives them the opportunity to contact you directly so you won’t miss out on that new opportunity!




• Profile- Getting all the correct information across on your profile and in a clear and precise manner is key! Outline your current and past jobs leaving no gaps with a brief description of your job role is the best way, as it looks tidy and is easier for prospective employers to read! LinkedIn also has a step-by-step guide to help you complete your profile.



• Recommendations and Endorsements- having past work colleagues or customers recommending you and your work is a great way of showing potential employers evidence of your successes. LinkedIn recently introduced endorsements which allows your connections to endorse particular skills.




• Follow Companies-Companies usually list job openings on their company page which then show up in your news feed if you are following that company. Then you will never miss a job opportunity!

Are you following Kubo Recruitment on LinkedIn yet? We constantly list job openings on our company page in the life sciences and clinical research sector.

In part 2 Kubo will be looking at how you should be very careful about what you post on Twitter and Facebook because things may come back to haunt you!

　

Kubo's Commitment to Training and Learning Opportunities; Win a Free Pass to a Global Pharma Event

Kubo Recruitment is committed to continuous learning opportunities in the life sciences sector and training events for talent in pharma, biotech, clinical research and life sciences. The healthcare sector is the fastest growing job market promising the largest number of new jobs. However, employers often face challenges in finding the right talent. In fact, one of the top workforce problems is a mismatch between worker skills and jobs, along with a growing pool of untapped talent. 

Kubo Recruitment supports training and networking events where professionals can discuss and debate current trends in the industry. This autumn, Kubo is sponsoring events around Europe and the U.S. which focus on training and provide attendees with a certificate of attendance for their training logs. 

We want to give professionals a chance to attend this events! Therefore, we are holding a drawing to give away one free pass to each of the events listed below. All you have to do is follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter to enter your name in the drawing!

Kubo Recruitment LinkedIn Page

Kubo Recruitment Twitter Account

Below is the list of upcoming events and forums:

ePharma Day 2013

ePharma Day is a training and networking initiative that deals with the most relevant issues concerning clinical trials. This year's events focus on "Letting Your Strategy Drive Your Technology Decisions" which highlights the difficulties faced by those in charge with procuring technology in a sector where integrated systems are important but still unusual. An expert panel will discuss how to introduce the right technology in protocol feasibility, adaptive design, integrated summaries, functional service provision, late phase studies, diagnostics and medical affairs. All events are conducted in English and the host country's native language. 

Here is the schedule of this autumn's events:

• German ePharma Day: 23rd of September in Frankfurt, Germany
• Spanish ePharma Day: 24th of October in Barcelona, Spain
• UK ePharma Day: 31st of October in London, United Kingdom
• U.S. ePharma Day: 12th of November in Boston, Massachusetts, USA

European Statistical Forum

18th November in Amsterdam, Netherlands

The 4th Annual ESF focuses on "Missing Data in Clinical Trials" and expert speakers will discuss state of the art statistical methodologies, real-life case studies of clinical trials showing how missing data can be handled and regulatory viewpoints.

Epidemiological Forum

8th of October in Milan, Italy

The 3rd Annual EPI forum focuses on Real World Data for the evaluation of healthcare technology and emerging opportunities and challenges for the innovation of healthcare technology and the improvement of healthcare quality.