CONTENTS

• Weekly Tips (John Cowell, Advanced Resource Managers)
• Article One (Ask The Expert by Steve Finkel)
• Article Two (Top 10 Tips: Building and maintaining a recruitment website by James Whitelock of Empresaria Group)
• Online Recruitment Update (UK Recruiter Plus Favourites - Hitwise Top 10 Recruitment Sites - Louise's UK Recruiter Blog - Discussion Board Summary - UKRecruiterJobs)
• Don't Miss This (PR: European HR Directors Summit - PR: REC Launches their Business Health Check Services to the Recruitment Industry. - PR: Recruitment start-up funding is now available as Voyager Software and Calverton Factors announce a unique offering – supporting both Recruitment Start-ups and the wider SME Recruitment Sector. - Recruitment Mergers, Acquisitions, Investment Opportunities and Partnerships - PR: StepStone changes the game for recruiters and jobseekers with the launch of an instant-on, web-based Candidate Tracker service)
• Subscribe/Unsubscribe
• Feedback & Advertising Information

Visit http://www.ukrecruiterjobs.co.uk for the latest recruitment industry jobs 

Weekly Tips - If I've Learnt Three Things

1.  Do what you say.

2.  Give all "customers" the formal chance to give their opinion on your company's service. Listen. Act.

3.  Go that extra mile.

Provided by  John Cowell, Quality Manager, Advanced Resource Managers   www.arm.co.uk

Why not submit your 3 favourite web sites. See the guidelines at http://www.ukrecruiter.co.uk/articles.htm

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Article One:  Ask The Expert by Steve Finkel

Dear Steve the Expert,

My question concerns planning. My manager is quite insistent on this, and I am doing my best. It is not, however, my natural inclination, and I am finding it to be difficult.

Do you have any suggestions?

Frazzled

Dear Frazzled,

With great regret, I must admit that your manager is right. It is a problem for many people, and not necessarily a bad one. A reluctance to plan is frequently a “linked characteristic” with a solid sales personality. So there is a good chance that some serious positives come along with this negative as well. You are not alone!

Nevertheless, this is a very important part of doing well in this business. Paul Hawkinson, long-time editor of top US newsletter The Fordyce Letter in its heyday, wrote that one of the few things all top producers in our business have in common is that they are well-planned. If you want to be one of them, those are words to heed.

Common Knowledge

There are two keys to Daily Planning that your manager has probably emphasized. First, it must be done every day, at the end of the day. Secondly, it must be written out, not just left as a stack of cards, files or computer screens (if you could stack them).

Both of these hypotheses are time-tested and correct. At the end of the day, your mind will still be in the “thrust of battle”; you will know what has been achieved, what has not been, and what needs to be done on the morrow. Leaving things to be mentally resurrected the next day is a formula for disaster. However long you intend to stay at the office, stop all else at least a half-hour before you leave and plan.

The concept of writing things out is frequently misunderstood by new recruiters. What will actually get you results is not the planning, but the implementation of the plan. As you have seen, this is not easy; it requires commitment. The act of writing things down engenders this commitment as does no other organizational means; crossing things off on a list and seeing that crossed-out Daily Planner at the end of the day will give you a sense of satisfaction and forward movement that filing cards or deleting computer files cannot possibly yield. If you are skipping this step, you are making a big mistake.

Outstanding author and trainer Larry Nobles in his landmark foundational book Search and Placement! A Handbook for Success (www.larrynobles.com or Amazon US) maintains that recruiters who achieve only mediocre results actually spend less than two hours a day on the phone! This is a pure function of poor organizational skills, both of planning and operating your desk, which is why four solid chapters of his book address this subject. Highly Recommended.

Dynamic Planning

Most planning tends to be somewhat structured and rigid. Nevertheless, it does work — for most people. It is worth noting that an alternative does exist. Each day in our business is different, and thus planning on the basis of how to “solve the puzzle” to yield best results the next day can make sense. This requires the analytical ability, problem-solving and quickness of mind that a sales-oriented personality such as yours will find much more enjoyable than a more structured format. Chapter 6 of the book Breakthrough! Exploding the Production of Experienced Recruiters (Amazon US) covers this somewhat different “dynamic planning” methodology in great detail.

The Million-Pound Question

Here’s a Dynamic Planning Question you can use no matter how you plan. It will focus your mind on what’s important.

Let’s say we have a million pounds cash stacked up in your office, all in used bills of small denominations. Outside your office, we have a squad of armed Royal Marine Commandos, all sworn to secrecy. They will take that million pounds to your house and hide it under your bed (or to a safety deposit box of your choice), and then forget about it. It is yours!

However – to get that million dollars you must do one thing. Set up a first interview tomorrow! It doesn’t have to happen tomorrow, but you must set it up. And you can’t pay a client a quarter-million to interview a candidate.

Under those circumstances, what do you think would be the odds of your earning that million? And how would you do it?

That’s a good example of Dynamic Planning. Moreover, while you may not get your million every day, you’ll surely get a lot closer than by no planning at all.

Either one of the sources mentioned will expand on this critical-for-success topic for you.

Questions? If you have a question for Steve Finkel, e-mail to louise@ukrecruiter.co.uk. Put “Ask the Expert” on the subject line. We cannot reply to every question, but will publish those that are most broadly applicable.

Acclaimed author and trainer Steve Finkel is a veteran of 30 years and 6 Recessions in our industry. He is referred to by Personnel Consultant Magazine, produced by the US National Association of Personnel Services, as “possessing the most in-depth knowledge of search and recruitment in industry history”. The producer of many excellent training products, his newly-revised 360-page hardbound book “Breakthrough!”, designed for experienced recruiters and now in 25 countries, is the best-selling book in industry history. For information, access his website at www.stevefinkel.com or call 314-991-3177.

Steve is also a contributor to UK Recruiter Plus.  You can use your free trial to view up to three articles on the site including two Steve has provided for us; Predicting the Future and Growth in a Recession

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Voyager to the rescue?

Voyager Software, a leading supplier of software and solutions for the recruitment industry, together with Calverton Factors have combined their efforts and launched a new package to aid recruitment start-ups and existing recruitment agencies with software funding, factoring and additional professional SME business services.

Voyager Sales Director, Paul Thompson commented, “It is essential in these turbulent times that you have a sound business foundation when starting up a new venture. The partnership was prompted in recognition of the increased number of recruitment start-ups in 2009. Recruiters require more than slick software and services these days. Recruitment businesses need the very best chance of survival.”

If you want to learn more about this unique offering, please contact:

0800 008 6262 www.voyage.co.uk sales@voyage.co.uk

Article Two: Top 10 Tips: Building and maintaining a recruitment website by James Whitelock of Empresaria Group

1. Disability access

Your website should be accessible to everyone, no matter what their ability to use a computer, in fact it’s a legal requirement.
This doesn’t mean you have to a have a website that looks like teletext, but that your designers and developers need to be aware of the latest programming practices.

http://www.w3.org/WAI/  http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/code/public_rnib001951.hcsp

2. Jobs, jobs, jobs

Jobs are your websites most unique and valuable commodity, so don’t hide them deep inside your website.  Make sure jobs can be found from your homepage easily, this will not only let candidates find them easier but also lets the search engines find and index them easily.

3. Local / regionality

Recruitment is fundamentality a local business, with most candidates and clients searching for jobs and agencies in their area. Make sure your website is specific when it comes to which regions you operate in. Target the content including jobs, news and testimonials to your region.  If you work across several regions consider having different sections or pages for each office (sometimes called micro sites).

4. Simple application process

So you have found the job you want, now all you need to do is complete the 4 page application form…  Where possible keep application forms as short and simple as possible with the ability to return at another point to complete a larger form if necessary.  Obviously some industries require a certain amount of pre-screening. In these cases be up-front with the candidate and be explicit that the application process will take 10mins and you will need to have some specific information to hand.

www.thinkjobs.com  www.careerbuilder.co.uk

5. Keep your promises

So you have completed the application process and you get a message or email that states a consultant will get back to you in the next 24 hours.  A week goes past and nothing and you decide not to apply through the same agency again…  It’s a common story and can be solved very easily. Manage you candidate’s expectations, if you can’t get back to the in 24 hours don’t say it. Be realistic and say that ‘due to the quantity of applications you may only receive an email but to follow up the application please call this number 0120******* in a few days.’  This is reasonable and most candidates will be satisfied with this.

For the full article please click here to access UK Recruiter Plus.  With over 275 guides, training tools, proformas and articles UK Recruiter Plus (free trial available) is the definitive online guide to the UK recruitment industry.

James Whitelock is a seasoned online recruitment expert, working for Vedior, Randstad and now as Digital Strategy Manager for Empresaria Group plc.  At Empresaria, James is responsible for designing and deploying an online strategy for the Group and act as a point of contact for the operating companies on all online, digital and eBusiness matters.  Empresaria Group is an international staffing group with specialist temporary and permanent recruitment, training and process outsourcing operations worldwide. The company has achieved rapid growth through investing in existing businesses, new start ups and management led acquisitions.  www.Empresaria.com

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Factoring, Funding, Payroll, Invoicing – you choose 

We understand that recruitment agencies need a back office solution that is as flexible as they are. Our services include the preparation of payroll, payment of temporary staff and raising client invoices. We can also provide factoring through our sister company Calverton Factors ensuring a seamless, fully integrated service.

We are offering a 25% discount on our standard charges for the first 6 months of the agreement when you quote ‘UKRecruiter’.

Contact Mark Byrne at markbyrne@calvertonfactors.co.uk or 01908 268888

Or visit our website www.calvertonfactors.co.uk and follow the link to Payroll Finance.

Online Recruitment Update  

UK Recruiter Plus - Favourites
These are this week's favourite articles from UK Recruiter Plus as chosen by the UK Recruiter team: 
- Terms of engagement with temporary workers
- A candidate's guide to psychometrics
- Credit Insurance
We are currently offering a £25 discount when you sign up to UK Recruiter Plus; the definitive online guide for the UK recruitment industry.  www.ukrecruiterplus.co.uk and a free trial  - www.ukrecruiterplus.co.uk/trial

UKRecruiterJobs: Traditional, On-line and Corporate HR Recruitment Job Board 
The UK Recruiter job board is run in conjunction with Changeboard.  Here is a selection of the latest vacancies on the site:
- Resourcing Assistant
- Senior EMEA Recruiter with European Languages (ideally German)
- Recruitment Consultant - London
- Recruitment Consultant - Scientific & Medical - St Ives - Cambridgeshire
- Recruitment - Branch Manager - Construction Trades - Nottingham
The UK Recruiter job board is run in conjunction with Changeboard. We are currently offering free trials for recruitment consultancies to post their recruitment jobs. To set-up a free trial, please contact Bekki at Changeboard on 020 8675 8851 or email bekki@changeboard.com and quote UK Recruiter. 

Hitwise top 10 Recruitment Sites, week ending 18 September 2009
The most visited UK recruitment sites last week, starting with the most popular, were www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk, www.jobs.nhs.uk, www.linkedin.com, www.reed.co.uk, www.totaljobs.com, www.jobsite.co.uk, www.tes.co.uk, www.monster.co.uk, www.jobrapido.co.uk & jobs.guardian.co.uk. For more information about Hitwise, visit http://www.hitwise.co.uk

Louise's UK Recruiter blog
You can read Louise's UK Recruiter blog at http://ukrecruiter.typepad.com. She has recently posted about Recruiter as Living Art & Is LinkedIn a PSL Selection Tool. You can also keep up to date with other recruitment blogs from the UK via the UK Recruiter blog watch page at http://www.ukrecruiter.co.uk/blogs.htm. 

Discussion Board Summary
Don't forget to visit The Discussion Board. Current topics on the site include:
- Free Recruitment Software
- Job Sites
- Recruitment Investor
- Accountancy Recruiters
You do not need to be registered to post or view messages on the discussion board.  Visit the site, ask questions and share your knowledge.  

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UK Recruiter Plus - FREE TRIAL now available

The definitive online guide for the UK recruitment industry, UK Recruiter Plus, has been designed exclusively for recruiters, researchers, Recruitment Process Outsourcing specialists and in-house recruitment specialists.

UK Recruiter Plus is a comprehensive set of recruitment guides, advice, training tools and solutions written and provided by industry experts.  The site has a number of additional benefits - http://www.ukrecruiterplus.co.uk/signup/benefits-of-membership.php 

We are currently offering everyone a FREE trial of the site - http://www.ukrecruiterplus.co.uk/trial.  In addition there is a discount of £25 available to the first 100 subscribers to the site.

Don't Miss This 

European HR Directors Summit 2010
19th – 20th January 2010, Birmingham, UK - Venue: ICC, www.theicc.com.  Do not miss Europe’s leading conference specially designed for senior HR professionals! Subscribers of the UK Recruiter newsletter can save as much as £770!  For as little as £195 you will benefit from a full conference package including;  Keynote presentations – leading practitioners debate the current trends in HR, Practical case studies – senior HR Directors provide insight into their specific challenges and business goals, Panel debates – conversations on the most relevant items on the HR Director’s agenda, Workshops – interaction and debate with the principal HR suppliers and providers, Masterclasses – showcasing the latest ideas and solutions from exhibitors at the summit, One-to-one Meetings – structured meetings between HR Directors and leading suppliers of HR service, Evening entertainment – unique wine tasting challenge.  To claim the discounted rate, please visit www.hrevent.com/offer or contact Nicola Sykes at Nicola.Sykes@wtgevents.com before 30th September.  (All delegates must be currently employed in an HR related capacity for their organisation – for all sponsorship + exhibition enquiries please contact Nicola Sykes)

REC Launches their Business Health Check Services to the Recruitment Industry.
"The REC recognise that during such volatile economic times, it is important for recruitment businesses to be able to review their company practices whilst obtaining sound business advice from recruitment experts.  As a result of this the REC will be launching a range of specifically designed consultative products and services to aid you in making crucial business decisions, whilst offering peace of mind as you make them.  To mark the launch of these services the REC are running a prize draw, offering 3 FREE Mini Health Checks for recruitment businesses.  Mini Health Checks will include a review of the following;  Company Finances, Sales Performance, Marketing Strategy, People & Processes, Compliance, Future Business Plans.  We can then work with you to develop a list of action points and development plans to help you to achieve the results you seek as you exit the current downturn and look forward to the future.  For more information please click through to the following link: http://www.rec.uk.com/academy-for-business/business/minihealthchecks or visit the REC website. http://www.rec.uk.com/academy-for-business/business"

Recruitment start-up funding is now available as Voyager Software and Calverton Factors announce a unique offering – supporting both Recruitment Start-ups and the wider SME Recruitment Sector.
Voyager Software and Calverton Factors have combined their efforts and launched a new package to aid Recruitment Start-ups and existing recruitment agencies with software funding, factoring and additional professional SME business services.  Voyager Sales Director, Paul Thompson commented, “It is essential in these turbulent times that you have a sound business foundation when starting up a new venture. The partnership was prompted in recognition of the increased number of Recruitment start-ups in 2009. Recruiters require more than slick software and services these days. Recruitment businesses need the very best chance of survival“.  Calverton’s Managing Director, Mark Byrne added “We are delighted to team up with Voyager to offer a uniquely packaged facility to recruitment businesses. We appreciate that cashflow is particularly tight in the early months of an agency’s life so we have developed a package that provides Voyager’s market leading software combined with Calverton’s finance and back office support – with no upfront commitment required from the client. This enables the management to concentrate on what they do best – getting business.”  This unique offering now means that there are no set-up fees for Recruitment businesses to adopt a Voyager solution and all existing Voyager customers now benefit from an exclusive pricing structure from Calverton.  For more information, contact: Paul Thompson, Sales Director at Voyager Software Limited on +44 (0)800 008 6262 or email sales@voyage.co.uk

Recruitment Mergers, Acquisitions, Investment Opportunities and Partnerships
We've recently added a new page to the UK Recruiter website where we list recruitment business that are for sale or are looking to buy. This page is available for any recruiter or service provider in the industry to use. We will list projects regardless of whether they come direct or via a corporate finance/vc company. These projects may be around the sale, purchase or request for investment in a recruitment consultancy, research firm, or supplier to the industry (eg, job board, software company etc). If you wish to list your current project simply send the full details to mike@ukrecruiter.co.uk and we will publicise it for you as soon as possible. http://www.ukrecruiter.co.uk/manda.htm eg. Project Green Shoots An established independent online jobs board that is concluding a £250,000 expansion capital placement. They seek additional angel investors to make up part of the placement.

StepStone changes the game for recruiters and jobseekers with the launch of an instant-on, web-based Candidate Tracker service
"StepStone, a global leader in talent management solutions, has launched a new instant-on web service, Candidate Tracker, which for the first time brings the power of enterprise class recruitment management solutions to companies of all sizes recruiting on a listing-by-listing basis. Candidate Tracker will make life easier for recruiters and hiring managers by automating much of the administration in hiring staff, from posting a new job on multiple online sites to managing the offer process. Candidate Tracker enables customers to purchase web access to functionality previously only available in StepStone’s e-recruitment products on a listing by listing basis, to post listings to multiple job-boards and to manage all responses in one place for a single, fixed fee.
Candidate Tracker is launched today and available immediately in eight languages both for customers using one of StepStone’s many global jobsites, and for companies looking for a service to help manage all online sources of candidates.  “Candidate Tracker is a new service that is the result of our unique expertise gained in working both with many thousands of employers worldwide and millions of jobseekers that use our jobsites ,” said StepStone CEO, Colin Tenwick. “It brings immediate operational, time and cost benefits to hard-pressed recruiters at an entry-level price, instantly improves the candidate experience, and opens the door to a seamless upgrade to our enterprise-level technology.”  Candidate Tracker is available from today, for a low per-listing fee, to all new and existing StepStone customers booking new job listings on multiple sites or using existing contract arrangements. Special discounts are available for a limited start up period – more details from local StepStone offices or jobsites.  For more information see: www.stepstone.com."

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