Video calling is almost always the first step of any interview process. It may sound obvious, but it's amazing how differently people can treat a video call/interview to a face-to-face interview. Follow these best practices to make the most of your chance when engaging with your potential new team:

Make sure you are presentable

Ditch the home clothes and make sure that you dress up in the same fashion that you would have dressed for a face-to-face interview. A first impression here is just as important as it would be if you were meeting in person, but it's also proven to get you in the right mental state to perform at your best.

Don't set up in your laundry room (or anywhere messy)

Okay, I know you probably won't set yourself up in the laundry room, but this is important. Make sure that the surrounding area - the room that you're in - is tidy and kept free from any unnecessary props.

Cafes are great for working in... but not great for an interview.

Avoid anywhere that has noise if possible. Think about the environment you'll be video interviewing in. Choosing an inappropriate environment says a lot about how serious you are about making the right impression.

"I can hear you, can you hear me?"

I've started a video call saying (and seeing someone say) those words on more than one occasion and it's such a frustrating way to start a call. It just kicks everything off on the wrong foot. Don't get me wrong, it's not the end of the world and the call can definitely be brought back from that awkward start, but why take the risk? Check your audio settings. Make sure your 'Output' settings are mid-to-high and that your 'Input' settings are low-to-mid (to limit outside sound). Also, whether you are using the speakers and mic on your computer or headset, make sure they are connected properly. Check it once, test it with a friend, and you'll be off to a smooth start.

'Hello? You've frozen again...'

That leads nicely onto my next big frustration - internet connection. If you know that your internet at home is a little dodgy then go somewhere where it's not. It only takes two or three interrupted connections before both sides start feeling exasperated.

Where are you looking?

When you're sitting in front of a person on a screen in a room, it's sometimes easy to forget the face-to-face etiquette. It's easy to start looking to the side when you're thinking, or distracting yourself when they're talking, particularly when they aren't focusing on the screen either! But don't fall into that trap. Look at the screen, as if you're keeping eye contact, or look into the camera. Just make sure your gaze is focused.

DON'T FORGET THE PHONE

The phone is still an important bit of kit and you'll find that first stage interviews, or even final confirmations, might be done over the phone. A lot of the rules from above actually apply to the phone as well: get dressed up (you'll feel sharper), stay away from noisy places, and go somewhere you know has good signal. But there is another golden rule:

Get across your enthusiasm

A video call can bridge the gap between that and a face-to-face interview, as you can still show your enthusiasm with on-screen demeanour, but that's a little harder to get across on the phone. Some people can be genuinely excited and interested in an opportunity, but without seeing them you'd never know. It's easy for your voice to get a little flat and monotone, especially if you've been talking a lot when answering questions. Be mindful of this. Try a little harder to get across your enthusiasm and positive energy at the exciting opportunity you have in front of you.

Are you ready? Contact any of our team for an free Visa Sponsorship Key Facts document.

Have a new team member joining in the coming weeks (or months) ? Message any of our team for a free guide to onboarding remotely.

 

 

Latest news from the Engineering job market

 

Overall the number of candidates placed into permanent roles has accelerated as demand for staff remains strong - especially in IT & Computing and Engineering, which have shown the sharpest increase of number of vacancies.

 

In addition to this, starting salary inflation holds close to multi-year high which is due to a sustained fall in candidate availability. There are many possible reasons for this fall in candidate availability ranging from tight labour market restrictions as well as growing uncertainty due to Brexit.

 Are you considering a move into a new position?

 

 

On Tuesday 17th July 2018 Google launched it's much anticipated job aggregation tool in the UK. Users will now see direct links to adverts at the top of the page for relevant searches.

It also provides commute times, salary comparisons, ratings and other information where available.

 

September is THE month when it comes to companies hiring staff. Last year, we secured the highest number of interviews & new job vacancies for our candidates during September compared to any other month that year, and we know from talking to our clients that this September will be no different.
 
So, what do you need to do?
Send your updated CV to mail@enterpriserecruitment.com take advantage of our new job prospects.

 
Why should you do this?

• Updating your CV now will put you in the best position for new job vacancies as they come in.
• Preparing now will put you ahead of your peers/competition.
• Make use of the Summer which can be a ‘quieter period’ to get your CV in shape!

 
When should you do this?

• Now! We work with many sought-after organisations whose opportunities won’t stay open for long, in fact, many positions we come across are filled before they reach the open market.

 
What else can I do?
Set yourself up for job alerts on our website – you set the criteria and we email you relevant jobs. 
 
Our Top Tip:
Update your CV as you gain new responsibilities and skills, that way it’s always ready with your latest achievements and experience!

If you've reached the end of the year with one eye on the Christmas break being a chance to dust off your CV and get out job hunting then you are not alone.

But why waste time worrying if your CV is up to scratch when you could be sending it out for job applications instead?

With something as important as your career it pays to not waste a single second and this is where you can make use of a service that not only gets your CV into ship shape order but also gets you into the unadvertised job market.

Best of all, it's FREE to any engineers in our core sectors!

If you would like an expert to review your CV then please call Jamie on 01442 874884 or mail@enterpriserecruitment.com before 5pm on Monday the 19th of December and you will have a top notch CV prepped before Christmas ready to grab interviews for your next move.

If you already have a brilliant CV and would simply like to start the job search then just use our CV upload button. Many positions we come across are filled before they reach the open market.

 

If you know someone who may be suitable for a Recruitment Consultant role at Enterprise then why not refer them to us and earn £500 if they get the job !

See our "Work for us" page for more details.

Real interest in technology can be difficult for employers to gauge when considering candidates, especially candidates without years of employment experience. A level and GCSE results are considered good indicators of academic and intellectual ability but may not be the best criteria by which to judge a candidate’s technical ability or interest in a technical area.

Increasingly recruiters are being asked to look for hobbyists and tinkerers. What employers want to see is a candidate who has genuine interest in a relevant area and has taken steps outside of their learning environment to pursue that.
For these reasons it is important to highlight your relevant technical interests within your CV and make clear that you have taken the initiative and pursued those interests, beyond your academic studies.
Employers want to see motivated candidates who they can rely on to finish tasks. Getting involved in community projects in Open Source or building a profile of development on Github are great ways of showing real technical ability and a willingness to learn new skills unprompted.

In many cases, successfully demonstrating technical ability in a hobby can offset poorer academic results. After all, employers would much rather bring on candidates with technical interest and proven ability than those without. So next time you are looking at your CV don’t be afraid to mention that game you have been working on in your spare time.