Jobs & employment blogs

  If you have an interview coming up for a cyber security role, preparation is everything. And there are two hot topics most employers want to know about now: the zero trust model and ransomware.   Why are these topics important for today’s cyber security jobs?   The pandemic has permanently changed our outlook on remote work – with 82 per cent of company...

  It’s no secret that an up-to-date and engaging LinkedIn profile can help you to get noticed by recruiters – whether you are actively or passively looking for a new role. But does that mean that CVs are becoming less important? The short answer is no. Your CV and LinkedIn profile are two separate, but complementary entities which serve different purposes both to a recruiter and to...

  Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to find a new job? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, according to our recent poll, a huge three-quarters of people are planning on looking for a new job this year, so you may well be facing some competition. So, how can you really make your CV shine bright amongst the rest? One of the best ways is to showcase your skills in a way that...

  Used properly, LinkedIn is one of the best ways to establish your professional identity, grow your network and exchange insights and opportunities with other professionals. Consider it a living, breathing version of your CV; available for other professionals to discover, even when you’re busy elsewhere. Find the most up to date LinkedIn profile advice here. LinkedIn gives...

  On Friday 5th November I was part of a panel at COP26 in Glasgow, brought together to discuss the topic of green skills in the future world of work and their role in the journey to Net Zero. During the event, I spoke about the skills gap and how green skills are needed across the specialisms in which Hays operates. Meanwhile, the increased prevalence of “sustainability” in job...

If you, as the Executive (boss, manager, CEO, C-Suite director), want your Assistant (EA, PA) to help you reach your full potential and do the most effective job you can, then there is immense value in building a powerful partnership. A proactive Assistant will do all the traditional tasks plus much more as they are a treasure trove of untapped potential. I have received testimonials from...

  What technical and soft skills do cyber security professionals need right now? How can you develop and learn the relevant skills to boost your employability? How can you future-proof your career?   I recently spoke to some of our cyber security recruitment experts from around the world to find out the answers to these questions, and many more. In this blog, you can read...

The world of work is changing faster than ever before. Huge technological, structural and demographic shifts mean that in order to remain competitive, our organisations must start to better leverage the skills and expertise of their employees. So today we’re joined by Dr Maggi Evans, Director of Mosaic Consulting and co-author of from Talent Management to Talent Liberation. Maggi...

  The pandemic has forced change across the world of work and, now that global businesses have had time to adapt, leaders have the opportunity to look ahead and drive innovation as they navigate the new normal. Today I’ll be chatting with Hays CFO, Paul Venables. Paul will be discussing how the pandemic has impacted upon the role of CFO and outlook as a finance leader and giving us...

  We’re coming up to the time of year when many people will overindulge during the festive holiday and then make ambitious resolutions about all the healthy behaviours they are going to undertake in the new year. Gym memberships tend to explode in January, but it is usually quiet again a couple of months later. The problem is we all have some unhealthy habits and replacing them with...

  Being great at giving and receiving feedback speeds your development, accelerates the development of the people you interact with, and builds trust in all those relationships, making you more influential with others (whether those others are across the C-suite or around the dinner table).  And the first step to improving your feedback practice is to work...

  Fresh thinking and creativity are recognised as core skills that help workers and businesses to thrive.  Most experts agree that innovation follows when these creative ideas are turned into something practical and of value. We often hear about the big and sexy innovations, the hubs and labs that are developing breakthrough new approaches and products such as...

Many job adverts can attract hundreds of applications. So, what is it that makes your CV stand out from all the rest? The answer is simple – its ability to succinctly answer these three key questions: Why are you interested in this job, company, and industry? What value can you bring to the organisation? What is your current and future potential? Your CV is your living,...

  You weren’t even actively looking for a job – you thought you were reasonably happy in your current one, but now, almost out of nowhere, you’ve received a message on LinkedIn from a recruiter saying that they want to have a discussion with you about a job opportunity. This isn’t an uncommon situation to find yourself in. Digital technology has seen the recruitment industry evolve at...

  Gone are the days when a salary-boosting counter offer would successfully retain a resigning staff member. Today people leave jobs for a range of reasons, which are seldom addressed by a counter offer. From looking for a new challenge to career advancement, a desire to work with newer technology or within an organisation where they can contribute and feel valued, people change...

  Whilst consumer preferences for online channels were unquestionably present prior to the COVID-19 crisis, the unexpected global events of the pandemic accelerated this trend on an unprecedented scale.   Many businesses reacted to the onset of the crisis by fast-tracking their digital transformation initiatives, and there was a sharp increase in the number of businesses...

Ah, the ever important job advert. No matter how technology changes the way employers sell themselves to candidates; whether it’s giving Virtual Reality tours of the office, or accepting “Snaplications” via Snapchat – job adverts will always remain key to attracting talent. I’ve spoken before on how to get this right, and which mistakes to avoid. But one area I am yet to cover, is the...

Have you ever noticed how many of the metaphors of talent are linked to water? We’ve had talent pools, talent pipelines, talent flow, talent leakage, talent waves… and I’d like to now add another, the talent puddle. I was recently having a conversation with an HR Director in a global tech business. She was bemoaning the limited supply of talent in her business, saying that it was...

The pressure for companies to go green is growing, from both consumers and employees. Furthermore, they need to show authenticity when evolving. But how can organisations take steps to improve their green credentials, and can it benefit their business? The drive towards a more sustainable, low-carbon way of life to tackle the threat of climate change continues to build momentum. It’s...

“Skills” and “competencies” are two terms you’ll come across regularly when searching for your next job.  It might seem as if these two words are interchangeable – but it’s actually not quite right to describe “competency” as a mere synonym of “skill”. There is, in fact, a very real difference between these two terms. If you’re looking for a new job or are keen to understand how you...