TLP Recruitment in the news - Tackling driver shortages

TLP Recruitment are delighted to feature in the August issue of Logistics Leaders magazine, focusing on the driver shortage within Logistics & Supply Chain and how to address it; with comment from our Managing Director Graeme Doyle.

Flexible Working: a win-win

A recent study on flexible working found that: 79% believe working flexibly would make them more productive 81% of people believe that flexible working would make a job more attractive to them, compared to 70% in 2018 35% of people would request flexible working over a pay rise There are many benefits to flexible working, both for employees and employers, with greater control over work-life balance and looking after your health and wellbeing, along with a more diverse, happier and productive workforce. There has been a big increase in its popularity in recent years, backed up by the fact that it’s been proven that implementing flexible working practices can improve staff engagement and motivation. For many companies and staff, there is no longer the standard 9-5 Monday to Friday working week, but instead replaced by a more fluid way of working to meet the changing needs of customers and staff. With technology as it is these days, it is increasingly easier to work flexibly and therefore it makes little business sense for companies not to offer it. Flexible arrangements often benefit the company or organisation as much as the employee, by helping to reduce absenteeism, increase productivity and enhance employee engagement and loyalty. Research has shown that staff can often value flexibility over other more traditional forms like remuneration, so there’s a positive financial implication for organisations to consider too. At TLP Recruitment we recognise and embrace this and some of our team members have staggered start and finish times to suit their personal requirements. This enables us to ensure that we are catering as well as we can to the needs of our team, but also extends our opening hours and service offering to our customers; a simple benefit which helps everyone involved. If an employer is able to offer some flexible adjustments it can help protect employees and helps ensure they are providing the best duty of care possible to support their teams. The balance between work and home life is something that can easily become difficult to manage, and stresses of long hours or personal responsibilities can negatively impact personal and professional productivity. Of course, this is not possible in every workplace, and some companies will still reject the notion, but with so many different roles that could accommodate some sort of flexible working arrangement … compromise from the employee and the employer can often lead to an outcome that works for everyone. If your job isn’t offering you enough anymore, then why not look at our latest jobs or speak to a member of our team to see if we can help you find a new position. We have hundreds of the leading jobs within supply chain and logistics.

The art of interviewing

So you’ve secured an interview – well done! That’s the first hurdle out of the way, but no it’s time to prepare to ensure you boost your chances of success. Regardless of the type of interview you face, doing plenty of research and planning is absolutely key so that you can feel more confident going in. Here’s some advice to consider when preparing for your next interview: Ensure you have fully researched the company you are interviewing for, and try to retain some key snippets of information that you can relay to show you have done your homework. Be aware of who is interviewing you and their position Know your CV like the back of your hand! Make sure you are prepared to elaborate on any areas of it and be confident when talking about the decisions you have made as well as your achievements, or even failings. Consider how you might explain difficult situations that have arisen in previous work / life experiences and how you dealt with them. Be prepared to explain any problematic aspects of your career, such as gaps in your work history or having many jobs close together. Identify the skills, interests and experiences that the organisation is looking for by looking at its website and social media channels. Prepare answers to common questions, and also make sure that you have a few questions to ask your interviewer in return. Research the markets/sectors the company operate in and try to familiarise yourself with current news, issues or trends affecting the organisation. Plan your journey to the interview in advance and arrive 15 minutes before it is due to begin. You could even do a ‘dry-run’ so you know exactly where you are travelling to and how long it will take you. On the night before your interview, it’s a good idea to prepare your outfit so it saves time in the morning. Finally, don’t worry if you don’t get the job. You did your best! Just make sure you follow the above for your next interview or contact us for more advice!

Why use a specialist recruitment consultant?

Perfecting and tailoring your CV and cover letter, spending hours searching and applying for your next job…then there’s the interview preparation and feedback - it’s a daunting and time-consuming exercise finding and securing a new role! Using a specialist recruitment consultant can provide a wide range of benefits for applicants, and help the whole process run smoothly and effectively. A good recruitment consultant helps to guide you through the new job process, and understands the needs, wants and strengths of each of the candidates they work with. When you work in partnership with a recruitment consultant, you can trust that they have many years of experience and will ensure they have your best interests at heart and be dedicated to finding and securing you a new position. Recruiters have direct access to hiring managers, as well as in depth knowledge of the roles they are recruiting for, along with any previous interviews and downfalls that have happened from these. This means they are able to ensure that applicants are prepared the best that they can be and armed with knowledge to help them to (hopefully) succeed. When you apply directly to a company you will only get the basic information about the interview process, and you could potentially also be going up against candidates who have had the benefit of an expert consultant guiding them with the inside knowledge of those little extra traits the hiring manager might be looking for that are not as obvious from the job description. An agency that has been recruiting in a certain field over a long period of time will have seen every different position offered by the industry. They will (hopefully) be bona fide experts in their field and be in the best position to help and advise companies and employees. At TLP Recruitment, we have years of experience within our specialist industries, giving all of our candidates and clients alike, the reassurance that we are true experts and have the skills and contacts required. Indeed, we have worked repeatedly with many clients and candidates over the years, who come to us as the first point of contact when hiring, or searching for their next position. We know how to have the difficult conversations on your behalf – negotiating a salary is a very difficult conversation to have with a company as it is a fine line to tread, but we are always well-placed to take this worry out of your hands. Some of the other key benefits of using a recruitment consultant include: Recruitment agencies are free of charge for candidates. They are working on request and are paid by their clients (companies). Therefore, there are no costs for you as a candidate. You are getting help for free! Recruiters have an excellent knowledge of their market. They know which sectors and companies are forming exciting opportunities for people with your knowledge and expertise, and which expectations are realistic. Recruiters have a large network. Therefore, they can often quickly get you in contact with interesting clients and projects. Recruitment consultants have access to jobs that you as a job seeker often cannot see. They may have unique opportunities that aren’t available anywhere else. Through many years of partnership with clients, agencies can be the first to hear about particular roles. Recruitment consultants will follow up your application in the best way and gain feedback. You will receive feedback and/or will be assisted from initial interview to salary negotiation. Using a recruitment consultant when looking for your next position could really make all the difference. Our expert team here at TLP Recruitment will always give you honest and reliable advice. We're long-standing experts in our field for a reason. Get in touch today