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Would you make a good Healthcare Assistant?
Healthcare Assistants are our day-to-day heroes! They have such a demanding but rewarding job that require a diverse range of qualities. A Health care Assistant needs to be an equal mixture of soft and strong. Capable of empathy but strong enough to handle traumatic situations! This is why it requires a special type of person to become a Healthcare Assistant. Here are some of the top 5 qualities you will need… #1 – Passion This is possibly the most important quality that a Healthcare Assistant should have. Whilst skills and training are essential – it is the passion that a Healthcare Assistant has that truly makes all the difference to the service user’s life! #2 – Dedication Dedication is also paramount in the Healthcare industry. You are responsible for a vulnerable individual’s well being, so the role is not something that can be done half-heartedly. #3 – Communication Healthcare Assistants commonly interact with individuals from different backgrounds with different health issues. These health issues may affect their ability to communicate well. So, your ability to speak clearly and to listen effectively is paramount. #4 – Reliability For many service users – Healthcare Assistants are their second brain. The majority of carers are responsible for ensuring their client eats, drinks, takes their medication (if required) and makes their appointments. If these are not met, the outcome could be dramatic. So Healthcare Assistants need to be reliable for the sake of the service user’s health. #5 – Patience Anyone who has spent time with an older person will know that even the simplest of tasks can take a lot longer. This is where you need to be patient with them and understanding. It is essential. If you’re reading this and thinking you have all these qualities and you want to pursue your career as a Healthcare Assistant – take a look here to see what vacancies we have available here at Swanstaff!
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4 ways to deal with rejection whilst job searching
When job searching, most of the advice and support you receive focuses on the positive aspects of the process. However, very few people will warn you about the rejection and how to deal with it – this may be a good thing as it can be very difficult to pluck up the courage and put in the effort needed to job search! With this in mind – here are our top 4 easy steps to dealing with rejection… #1 – Ask for feedback! Don’t let your disappointment get in the way of ensuring you get the constructive feedback you need in order to improve. If you’re working with a good hiring manager then gaining feedback should be simple and easy! If you’re struggling with how to form your request for feedback, here is a sample we have whipped up for you to use… “Dear (Hiring Manager Name) Thank you for getting back to me about your decision and keeping me in the loop. While I am obviously disappointed to hear that I was not chosen for the (Job Title) position, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to have had an interview for the role and meet some of the members of your team. I really enjoyed learning about your company and would love to keep in touch for any future vacancies. If you have a moment, I would be interested in gaining any feedback you have regarding my application and interview. I’m sure anything you can provide will be helpful for my job search! Thank you again for your time and consideration. I wish you and the rest of the team all the best moving forward. Sincerely, (Your Name)” #2 – Would YOU hire you? Try asking yourself “would I hire me?” This is a good idea and way to address the circumstances you are in and evaluate whether you are employable amongst hundreds of other applicants going for the same role! If your answer is no, think about what you can change in order for the hiring managers answer to be yes! #3 – Gain a little perspective Job rejections are normal. They happen to almost all job seekers and being rejected just means that you are one step closer to getting the job that is right for you. You shouldn’t be concerned about the rejections and not being the perfect fit, it happen. In fact, on average, you apply for 12 jobs even before being accepted for an interview! So don’t sweat it! #4 – Change up your job searching strategy Have you hit a brick wall in your job search? Do you want to change up your technique? Here are the kinds of things you could change in order to improve: · Lowering your salary expectations · Widening your commuting area · Revamping your CV/cover letter · Join local/professional groups · Attend networking events Dealing with rejection will always be hard, but hopefully with these top tips you will get through it and stay motivated in your job search process! For tips on how to stay motivated during your job search, click here!
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5 signs it’s time to leave your job
Everyone has bad days at work, it’s normal! What is not normal is to be having more negative days than positive. But how do you know when to bite the bullet and hand in your notice? Take a look at our top tips to knowing when to resign… #1 – You don’t want to get out of bed in the morning Whilst it’s very common to go through periods in your life where you feel miserable in your role, it should not be a daily occurrence. Staying in a role you find un-motivating and uninspiring will slowly eat away at your mental health and self-worth. When you feel like this – it is a strong sign that it’s time for you to resign. #2 - It’s taken its toll on your health Can you see your sick days adding up? Are you taking as much time off as humanly possible? Is this because you’re working so many hours that you don’t have any ‘you’ time? No job is worth sacrificing your mental and physical health for. So if you’re noticing that you’re feeling run down or ill a lot of the time, you should take a look at your situation at work. #3 – The work environment is negative/toxic If your co-workers and/or boss is constantly complaining and is unhappy, the probability of you being content is extremely low. A negative atmosphere can even kill the passion you have for the industry you love. If you find yourself in this environment – get out as soon as possible! #4 – You vent about your job way too much Have a think about your most common conversations. Do you feel yourself constantly complaining about your work load, your colleagues or your workplace? A job should be giving you more positivity than negativity, and if it isn’t then you need to decide whether you want to stay or find somewhere more suited to your character. #5 – There’s no room for progression There is no point in wasting your time in a job trying to prove yourself and work your way up when there is simply no possibility of it happening. If you’re asking about promotions and nothing is coming of it – it might be time to move on. Do any of these ring a bell? If they do, it is a strong sign that you need to leave your job and find one more suited to your personality and skill set. If you’re in the middle of your new job search and you’re struggling to keep motivated, take a look at our top tips on how to keep motivated here!
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The top 6 HGV Driver interview questions
The interview is the toughest and most nerve racking part of the recruitment process – but if you can get through it, you can get through anything. But, if you’re super nervous, take a look at our blog for tips on how to ace it! So, you’re probably wondering what kind of questions to expect when you attend your HGV Driver interview. We have put together the top 6 questions you could be asked. If you're wondering what being a HGV Driver entails, click here!
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3 ways to cope with shift work in Healthcare
Shift work is becoming more and more popular throughout the Healthcare industry. Although, this flexible approach to working can take its toll on some employees. It’s not easy stuff. It involves working against your body clock and your natural rhythm. However, it has to be done. So follow our top tips on how to cope! #1 – Ensure you are getting the right amount of sleep Getting the right amount of sleep between shifts is essential. You want to regulate your sleeping pattern as much as possible. Whilst you may not be sleeping at the same times each day/night, it is important to at least get the same amount (or close to). Ensure you are getting around 7/8 hours sleep! #2 – If you’re on a night shift – don’t eat a heavy meal before hand Sometimes eating a full meal before having to go and do something puts you in that dreaded Food Coma that we can all only deal with after a big roast on a Sunday afternoon! Eating a full and heavy meal before going to work can unfortunately do this to you, making your feel tired and giving you fatigue – making you not actually want to work! If you are hungry, try eating a lighter meal before your shift and ensure you are prepared with snacks and a meal for your breaks! #3 – Try not to sit down for too long Sitting down when you have an active job is not the best thing to do for too long. This is because it can make you feel deflated and sleepy. It’s best to be moving around and keeping active to stay awake. If you are in a job where you’re sitting down for a majority of the day (like an office job) then it might be a good idea to get up and go for a 5 minute walk around the office or workspace to keep alert! If you’re currently looking for work, why not visit our vacancy page by clicking here? We are recruiting for Healthcare jobs near you!
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5 Times Candidates Aced their Job Application
Standing out from the crowd when you are looking for a new role can often be tough, however with some creativity and determination it is possible to almost guarantee some traction with your job search. Check out these examples below for some inspiration to help you land your dream job! #1 - Iris Iris Dudek applied for an internship role with the purrfect confectionary company Candy Kittens, she didn’t just submit a bog standard CV though, she spent lots of time and effort perfecting a perfectly branded Candy Kittens CV that was sure to secure to grab the attention of the hiring team! Since applying her application efforts have been recognised by celebrity owner Jamie Laing who shared the application with his 875k instagram followers – a sure fire way to get noticed! #2 - Nina Nina’s dream employer was Airbnb, but after multiple attempts of trying to get a call back, she decided to get creative. Nina created an application in the same format as Airbnb’s website and spent time researching how she could make an impact at the company and where there were gaps in the market. Nina secured an interview by Tweeting her efforts to the CEO and CMO who were impressed by her creativity. (source: www.resume.com) #3 - Adam Adam Pacitti was a Graduate struggling to land a job. He decided to invest in his own future with the little money he had and placed a billboard advertisement with a link to a website hosting his CV and a contact form. Adam’s investment and creativity paid off and he was reported to receive 60 interview offers. (source www.resume.com) #4 - Robby Interactive Designer Robby Leonardi’s Interactive fully playable Gaming Resume was sure to get him to the top of the shortlist! The game took hirers on a tour of his virtual CV, highlighting his key skills and showcasing his Design capabilities at their best! (www.codegrape.com) #5 - Ryan Ryan Dunkle was applying for roles in the Automotive industry, with experience under his belt he really wanted his application to stand out from the crowd and he managed to persuade more than 10 people to give him a video testimonial about why he should be hired. The combination of creativity and authentic social proof of his credentials was a sure fire way for Ryan to secure his next role. How will you apply for your next role? Whether you go all out with an interactive job application or simply sass up your CV, make sure you stand out from the crowd!
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3 reasons why you’re not getting a response to your job applications
In an ideal world, each application you send in would get an email or some form of contact from the hiring manager to let you know if you have been successful or unsuccessful. However, nowadays this is rarely the case. Your confidence levels can be so fragile in the recruitment process so job seekers can quite easily jump to the worst conclusions when they don’t hear anything regarding their application. There can be a number of reasons as to why you’re not getting a response to your job applications and we are here to explain them for you, take a look… #1 – The role was already filled Sometimes we see adverts for companies on job boards such as Total Jobs or CV Library that may have kept the advert active for longer than the company actually wanted. This means that even if the role has been filled or the company decide they don’t need to hire for that role any longer, some job boards will keep the advert on their websites available for job seekers to apply for, unless the company request it to expire. This is one of the most common reasons why the hiring manager has not got in contact with you. #2 – The hiring manager was flooded with applications As we all know, there can be hundreds of applications per job role that is advertised. This means that the hiring manager has to skim through each application until they find the most qualified candidates, which may mean that if you’re CV is hard to read, or the relevant bits are not clear, it may not pass their shortlisting process. Make sure you include a bespoke and personalised cover letter with your CV which highlights the key reasons you are suitable for the role. You could also make your CV stand out from the crowd… watch this space for our upcoming blog on Superstar CV’s! #3 – You didn’t tailor your CV to the job role you have applied for Today, many employers are using application tracking systems (ATS) to sort job applications. This software programs work by searching for certain keywords, which typically appear in the job posting. This is why you should be matching your application to the requirements stated on the advert. Follow our CV writing master class here for top tips on how to tailor your CV to each job role! Okay, but what should I do now? If you request feedback and still don’t get a reply, don’t hound the hiring manager. Move on. As much as it pains you to see that job slip from your grasp, know that there are plenty of other awesome opportunities out there. Need some help? Register with Swanstaff here to see what jobs we have available for you!
