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12 ways we celebrated Christmas
Our favourite festive period may be over for another year but we want to reflect on what made Christmas great at Swanstaff in 2019! We have shared our 12 different ways we celebrated this year and inspiration for you and your team to “step into Christmas” in 2020. Take a look… STEP 1 Put up the office Christmas tree! Finding a spot in the office that’s best to showcase your amazing tree can be the most difficult part of this activity – the rest is just you and your team bonding and having fun! STEP 2 Nothing gets us in the Christmas spirit more than decorating our desks with Christmas lights and Christmassy decorations! STEP 3 Not only can playing music througout the workplace boost morale, playing Christmas music can be a way of getting your employees engaged and in the Christmas mood! You’re missing out if you haven’t heard Swanstaff’s rendition of “All I want for Christmas is you”! STEP 4 Introducing Christmas Jumper Fridays throughout December can be a great way to get your team engaging with work and also with eachother. Showing off funny Christmas jumpers can be a good bonding excerise. Check out our teams Christmas jumper pictures… STEP 5 Buying your team their own advent calanders doesn’t have to break the bank and it can be a great way to show your appreciation to them for their hard work and dedication to the company. STEP 6 Dressing up for National Elf Day is such a fun day that everyone can participate in. It is also a good way to do your bit for charity by raising money for Alzhiemers on the 6th December each year. STEP 7 Holding a Christmas Hat Day is another day that everyone can participate in – however ensure that they are appropriate! STEP 8 I think this one is everyone’s favourite – hold a company Christmas party! This is a bigger way to show how appreciative you are of your staff and a chance to let their hair down! STEP 9 Collecting Christmas charity donations can be a great team building excerise. This year Swanstaff’s internal teams have chosen different charities to send a crate of goodies too. Each team buy, decorate and deliver the goods to the charities in Christmas crates around the Christmas period. STEP 10 The same as decorating your desks – you and your team could decorate the kitchen area together! STEP 11 Back in October for our Wellbeing Week – Swanstaff hosted a Potluck Picnic and it was voted a favourite by our staff – so we have decided to host a Potluck Christmas Lunch for the teams! STEP 12 We took part in secret santa and found that it was a great way to boost engagement and morale within the teams! We also had a surprise visit from Santa himself! Saying goodbye to the festive season has been hard but 2020 is a year to look forward to and achieve great things! If you're looking to base your new years resolutions on your job search, click here!
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Employer Brand: 10 Things Every New Starter Needs
We all know how it is. That rush of nerves on the first day of a new job. Even the most confident of us falter when it comes to stepping into the office on the first day! So how can you make it easier and give that new starter everything they need to make the first day go well? We’ve put together a list: Notepad and pen It’s a basic but a good one and something you should give them as soon as they are shown their desk. It can really help make someone feel comfortable to have somewhere they can make notes or write lists of things they need to know about the office. A handwritten welcome note or card Depending on the size of your company this could be anything from a card signed by everyone in the office to a handwritten note from their manager or the CEO welcoming them to the business. Access to perks Ok, so the first day is a bit overwhelming and at times they may even wonder why they signed up to this so give them access and explain the perks system. This is a great motivator and reminds your newbie why they wanted to join you. At Swanstaff we use the Perkbox app and explain it as part of our induction so people know about it and can use it. The tools to do their job Whether it’s a phone, a laptop, a uniform or business cards it is best to have these ready for the day the person starts to help them settle in quickly and feel comfortable. Comprehensive induction There is nothing worse than getting to a new company and not being able to understand the various aspects of the business. Here at Swanstaff, we have a full induction for new staff which includes a video introduction to the company, PowerPoint presentations about what it is like to work here, a welcome to the business and segments from managers of each department, explaining what they do and how it will relate to the new starters role. A first-week buddy Choose someone the person will be working with or near to guide them and answer any questions. This can be anything from how to work the printer or kettle to where to find the stationary. An office tour This should be something their buddy should do when they first get in. Showing the new starter where everything is will not only be a great way to make them more relaxed and comfortable but it will also allow you to introduce them personally to people as they go around the office. Make their first lunchtime good Whether this is taking them out to lunch or eating lunch with them to chat, make it special. We take our new starters out for lunch and use it as an opportunity for them to meet people in the other areas of the company. Send an email or announce their arrival This may not be the most fun part for a new starter if they are quite introverted but it is good to announce them and introduce them to the team so they can be made to feel welcome. At Swanstaff, we send an email around and encourage responses welcoming them to the company. Schedule an end of the day and end of the week meeting It can be really helpful to a new starter to be able to meet with their line manager for a few minutes at the end of their first day so they can ask any questions that may have come up and speak to them about how they feel their first day has gone. Another can be set for the end of the first week to see how they are finding things and if there is anything they need. Once your new starter is settled in, we're sure you will want to keep them happy and smiling. If you need ideas, then check out our blog on the 10 ways we made our employees smile this week! Are you looking to hire a staffing agency? Please fill the form given below and we will be in touch soon. Form ID:5382
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4 productive things to do on your commute to work
Your daily commute does not have to be the most boring part of your day. With a bit of strategic planning you can use your commuting time to recharge and boost productivity. Here are some good examples of how you could spend your commuting time to ensure a more productive day. #1 – Pump up and wind down The morning commute is the perfect opportunity to get into a good mood and energised for the day ahead to make sure you start the day with the right attitude. This can be done by listening to upbeat music through headphones or any music that sends your mood rocketing. You can also do this by light exercising – I.E. cycle or walk to work – exercise releases endorphins that trigger positive feelings in the body and is great for maintaining good Mental Health. Winding down on your commute home is also essential. This is especially true if you have had a long and stressful day. Winding down can be done by listening to calming music, downloading calm and wellbeing apps, reading a book or listening to an audio book, playing a game on your phone or simply having a conversation with someone. #2 – Check voice mails and get ahead of emails If you’re not driving or in control of a vehicle – it can be productive to get ahead and check any emails that may have come through after you left work the previous evening. Also, make sure you check any voice mails from phone calls you may have missed. Getting ahead of these can ensure you are fully focused on your work today. #3 – Create a to-do list By using your commuting time to create a to-do list, you are creating more time to actually complete the tasks once you arrive at work (because you don’t have to waste 10-15 minutes writing down what you need to do). On your commute, you can sit and think about what there is to do today and what should be prioritised. This sets you up for an organised and productive day. Writing a to do list is also a great way to manage stress as you’ll feel more prepared and in control of your working day. #4 – Actually switch off Using your commuting time to actually switch off can be very beneficial. Your commute doesn’t have to be full of brain teasers and work emails. Sometimes, in order to recharge you just need to rest and do nothing. Not only will doing this make you more relaxed and calm – it will also mean you will go into work with enough energy to start the day. You may choose to practise mindfulness techniques to make the most of your downtime. Are you tired of completing the same commute day in day out? Take a look at our job page here to see how we could help with that!
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4 top tips for choosing the perfect LinkedIn profile picture
Being present on LinkedIn is essential when job hunting. What is equally important is how you present yourself. Your LinkedIn profile picture is one of the first things peers and potential employers will look at when viewing your profile, this is your first chance to impress. There are many ways you could go wrong so follow our top tips below for some assistance in choosing the best LinkedIn photo. Take a clear head shot The image of yourself should have a clear, non-distracting background. Your face should take up a good part of the frame and not include other people. It is important for your potential employer to be able to see your image clearly in high quality. Pick the right outfit It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for an entry level or senior position in a large corporation – you should take your LinkedIn profile picture wearing the clothes you would usually wear to work or to an interview. Keep the colour of your outfit solid or neutral. Floral, patterned and bright colours are not always deemed professional. Although at the same time, dependent on the industry you work in you should take into account that using this as an opportunity to show off your personality could also work in your favour. Avoid selfies Selfies are only really acceptable on Facebook and Instagram – not a professional platform like LinkedIn. Ask another person to take this picture for you and do not (under any circumstances) use filters! A black and white filter is acceptable, however it is good for your potential employers to see you in natural light – so only use this if you think it helps to improve the image. Maybe ask for a second opinion on this if you decide to use black and white, just to be sure. Take the picture in natural light In the world of photography – lighting is everything. Harsh lighting can tint your pictures and create unwanted shadows on your face. Using flash can be a bad idea too as this can cause your face to look shiny. Hopefully you have taken these points into account when choosing your LinkedIn profile photo and showcasing your personal brand, however this is just the start in your LinkedIn journey. Why not take a look at our blog “How to find a job on LinkedIn” for some extra support or alternatively check out our job page for all our latest jobs.
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HGV Driver Safety Permits
The Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and Safety Permits for HGVs have been in place since October 2019 and were put in place to improve the safety of all road users (including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists) in the Greater London areas. So, what does this mean? It is part of the Mayor of London’s Vision Zero plan to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London’s Transport Network by 2041. From 26th October 2020 – all HGVs more than 12T (GVM) that enter or operate in the Greater London areas will be required to hold a valid HGV Safety Permit. The permit will be in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 356 days a year. What if I don’t have one? As of 26 October 2020, if you drive a HGV within the Greater London areas without a valid permit, you may receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) of up to £550 – which will be reduced to £275 if paid within 2 weeks (14 days of issue). Vehicles from outside the UK HGVs over 12 tonnes, that are registered from outside of the United Kingdom that enter and operate in London will also be required to hold a valid Safety Permit. This is available to apply for in the same way as UK registered vehicles. Foreign documents will be accepted when registration documents such as a V5C log book is asked for. For more information on the HGV Safety Permit, click here. If you’re looking for a new Driving role, click here to see how we can help you.
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6 Ways You Can Cultivate Positive Company Culture
Not every company is perfect. But it can constantly evolve and pave its way towards perfection. One way to achieve this is by fostering positive company culture. By focusing on changing company culture and constantly improving it will create a happier, more engaged and stronger workforce. 3 Benefits of Fostering Great Company Culture Better Recruitment Strong company culture is one of the best reasons to attract new talent. Implementing effective recruitment strategies along with positive company culture will give you a competitive edge. Everybody wants to work for a company with a good reputation, and building a great work culture makes hiring that much easier. Higher Job Satisfaction Any company that boasts of positive company culture will have high job satisfaction amongst its employees. You can be assured of having happier and productive employees if you provide them with a positive workspace. Better Performance If you invest in the well-being of your employees, you will see a boost in their productivity. Strong and positive work culture will enable the employees to be motivated and enthusiastic about their work. 6 Tips to Foster Positive Company Culture Define Clear Core Values What are your company’s core values? Having a clear answer to this question will help you shape the company culture. The core values give the employees a clear direction and something to refer to when things get tough. Define values that work uniquely for your company and be authentic about it. Open and Efficient Communication There is nothing more important than having clear communication channels to promote a great company culture. Open the communication lines - right from the senior management to all those facing customers. Have a suggestion box, take surveys or just encourage everyone to communicate if they have any queries, ideas or suggestions. Foster Inclusion An ideal company culture is the one that promotes inclusion. Include every single employee in the company’s journey and listen to what each one has to say about improving the work culture. An inclusive workspace says that you value each employee and their ideas. When people feel like they are being heard, they will be more dedicated to their work. Cultivating inclusion doesn’t just make the employees happy but it would be great for your company as well. Implement Positive Distractions Employees love positive distractions. It is one of those awesome company culture ideas that makes everyone happy. And when employees are happy, the company benefits. Some excellent positive distractions include: Team volunteer days Company trips Hosting holiday lunches Potluck parties Bringing in inspiring speakers These help in building a collective team and allow the employees to strengthen their relationship with each other. Positive distractions nurture trust between departments. Lastly, the employees will feel appreciated and valued. Generate Healthy Competition Nobody really accepts this but everyone loves some healthy competition. Generate healthy competition between different departments or within the same department. Make clear rules regarding the competition. Mention the rewards when one surpasses the goal. You can either reward team members within one department or an entire department when they hit their goals. Offer Recognition Ditch the recognition awards that the company hands out annually. There are many more ways to acknowledge the achievements of your employees regularly, not just annually. Some examples of limitless recognition include: Publicising success through the company newsletter Peer-to-peer recognition Giving gift coupons Handwritten thank you notes Designated parking spots Building company culture enables the business to grow and expand. Remember - when you take care of your employees, your employees will take care of the company. Author Bio: Kelly Barcelos is a progressive digital marketing manager for Jobsoid - Applicant Tracking System. She is responsible for leading the content and social media teams at work. Her expertise and experience in the field of HR enables her to create value-driven content for her readers - both on Jobsoid's blog and other guest blogs where she publishes content regularly.
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5 signs your job interview went well
“Did it go well?” This is the question we all ask ourselves over and over again once the interview has finished. Interviews can be a daunting experience from start to finish, so it is only normal that we question ourselves until we hear back from the Hiring Manager. Luckily, there are a few things you can look out for that can tell you if the interview has gone well. Take a look here… #1 – They tried to sell the job to you If the interviewer is sharing detailed information about the job role with you such as current projects and how you would fit into them, perks and benefits of working for the company and day to day tasks – they are trying to sell the role and the company to you, which is great as this means they see you fitting in with the rest of the team. #2 – You were introduced to the wider team Meeting the rest of the team is a big and bold step. Usually the Hiring Manager will only do this if they are really interested in you and either they want a second opinion from the team or they want to see how you will fit in with the culture of the company. Ensure you make a good impression, speak clearly and hold your head high! #3 – The conversation was flowing Have you ever been to an interview that felt more like an interrogation? This can be an indication that things aren’t going as well as they could be. However, if you’re having an actual conversation with the interviewer that strays away from the usual interview chat – you can almost guarantee things are going well. #4 – The interview over ran The next sign to look out for is how long the interview lasted. The Hiring Manager will usually have multiple candidates to see, so it the interview runs over the predicted time scale – you can bet it has gone well. #5 – They said goodbye in a certain way The final hint to look out for is the way the Hiring Manager says goodbye. I.e. “see you soon” or “I’ll be in touch within …” is usually a good sign that you’ll be hearing from them in the near future. “Thanks for coming” or “I’ll be contacting the successful candidates soon” aren’t always the best to hear when leaving the interview. Although, don’t get too hung up on the goodbyes as language can be perceived differently. The main thing is to remember to stay positive – only time will tell whether you have made a lasting/good impression. Although if you recognise these positive signs, there’s a very good chance that you’ll get the job, land a second interview or at least hear back from them with some positive feedback. If you're looking for a new role for Christmas - click here.
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4 ways to motivate a flat lining team
Motivating and inspiring your team are two important leadership skills that cannot afford to go unnoticed and not get the attention they deserve. So, if you’re struggling with ways to motivate your team – follow our top tips below… #1 – Keep on top of your one to ones. Having regular one to one meetings with your team is really important. This is where you can discuss each individual team member’s goals within the business and put together tailored plans to reach them. This will let your team know you care about them and their progression and success within the company. This can also give your team members the chance to give out their suggestions, ideas, problems and issues. #2 – Find out what interests them. To find out the things that motivate, interest and encourages your team members, you could simply ask them. Getting to know your team doesn’t have to be done in secret. You could send out a survey asking what they’re interested in, if they won a prize what would their ideal prize be, etc. The most popular answers may be: Money Days out / nights out Team/individual activities #3 – Give them what they need In order to do a job well – your team may need extra resources. Take it upon yourself to ask “is there anything else you think you could benefit from to help you?” If the answer is yes, then adapt your budget to accommodate their needs. It will make them more appreciated and therefore more motivated to perform well. #4 – Motivational messages Writing your team members individual, tailored messages can make each of your team feel much appreciated, inspired and motivated. This doesn’t have to be a long message; just a sentence on post it notes can go a long way! Some examples of motivational messages are: Great things never come from comfort zones Success doesn’t find you – you have to go out and get it It’s going to be hard, but hard doesn’t mean impossible The key to success is to focus on goals – not obstacles Success only comes to those to dare to attempt Don’t count the days, make the days count There are no shortcuts to anywhere that is worth going Motivation is an essential part of any workplace and you should be constantly striving to make your employees feel motivated and inspired. If you do this, you’re sure to achieve the results that you need. If you’re looking for easy staff rewards – click here to check out our blog 8 easy staff rewards anyone can do.
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The daily struggles of a HGV Driver
Working in the Logistics and Transport sector is not an easy job to do by any means. HGV Drivers deal with problems that other careers may not come across. This is fatigue to difficult manoeuvers and more. These issues can lead to serious health problems, both physically and mentally – and keeping on top of them can be hard work. Fatigue Have you ever completed a journey across a country (or maybe two)? All you can do is drive – and whilst this is a great way to see the wonders of the world, it can be very tiring (and quickly become boring) to listen to the same songs on the radio and to be sat in the same position for hours on end. An unhealthy lifestyle A life on the road can be a very unhealthy lifestyle in a number of ways. Sitting in a lorry for the majority of the day can be detrimental to the driver’s health and can also cause neck and spine issues. The meal options on the road are not always the best or healthiest either, so often HGV Drivers diets are not the healthiest. Short haul drivers can sometimes take their own food in and make time for exercise in the evenings – but for long haul drivers who sleep in their trucks, this is near on impossible. Mental health can also be affected due to being isolated and away from homes and loved ones for long periods of time. Being on time whilst staying safe Even though there are legislations and regulations in place to dictate how long a HGV Driver can actually spend driving – this can make it difficult to stick to tight deadlines. However, you must always remain safe for yourself and other road users. Here are some ways to say safe on the roads: Get enough sleep Stay alert at all times Keep checking your mirrors (but be careful this doesn’t distract your concentration on what’s happening in front of you) Be spatially aware Stay focused Do not lane hog – this can cause other drivers to speed up and over take which could be hazardous if they drive too fast. Difficulty manoeuvring So, manoeuvers don’t sound that bad to car/small van drivers, but when you drive a HGV that can be as big as 7.5 Tonnes, even having to navigate the HGV through busy traffic, narrow streets and through towns and cities without causing chaos can be difficult. It can be an exhausting task that can lead to high stress and anxiety, especially when you know you have to go through it all again tomorrow. A HGV Drivers job is very demanding and it definitely not for everyone. It takes a certain kind of person to become a HGV Driver, but if you think you are up for the job, click here to see how we can help you. Form ID:4196
