Welcome to our candidate information hub!
If you are already registered with Swanstaff then this is the place to be! The information below will give you essential information to assist you in your role.
Thanks so much for choosing Swanstaff as your agency – don’t forget to download our recruitment APP on your phone for latest shift alerts, to send us your availability or submit feedback!
If you are not yet registered with Swanstaff for work, visit our temporary recruitment pages for more information.
Refer a friend
Did you know that we offer cash bonuses if you refer your friends? You can earn up to £200 per referral – it’s as easy as A, B, C!
- Refer Your friend via the form below or directly with your branch contact
- We will contact your friend and ask if they’d like to register with us
- Once they are registered and have worked 100 hours you will receive your bonus!
There is no limit to the number of referrals you can make – if you think you could refer regularly you may also want to look at our Ambassadors programme which has even more perks!
What bonus can you earn?
- £25 Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker/Warehouse Operative/3.5t Driver/Kitchen Assitant
- £50 7.5t Driver
- £75 Chef
- £150 HGV Driver (Class 1 or 2)
- £200 Nurse
Top Tip! You may have friends that you could refer that don't live near your local branch - you can still refer them to our national recruiting team or one of our other branches and if they register with us you can still claim a bonus.
Ambassador Scheme
As a Swanstaff Ambassador, you always go the extra mile to ensure you are reliable, work to the highest standards and always with a smile! You will be proactive in promoting Swanstaff to other potential workers and make regular referrals.
The benefits of being a Swanstaff Ambassador
- Expedited referral fees
- Access to our Perks scheme with discounts on high street shopping, travel and leisure, days out, dining out, free mobile phone insurance and LOADS more!
- Ambassador Pin
- Ambassador Business cards to make referrals easy
- Ambassador welcome pack and how-to-guide
Think you have what it takes? Contact your local branch to discuss becoming an Ambassador.
Download our App!
The Swanstaff APP is available to download now in your Android or IOS app store!
With the app you can:
- Receive Shift Alerts
- Send your Availability to your local branch
- Refer a friend
- Send us Feedback
- View the lastest Swanstaff and Industry News
Useful Documents
Career advice feed
-
Interview body language dos and don'ts
First impressions are not only vital, but are nearly impossible to change. Did you know on average it takes just seven seconds for someone to create their first impression of you? In an interview, you are judged from the very minute you walk into the building, so greet everyone you come into contact with, with a smile and speak clearly… you never know who’s opinion could be the make or break of your job offer. We have put together some body language dos and don’ts for when you attend an interview. Check them out… DO’S Walk in confidently Don’t portray yourself as being scared of the interviewer or nervous around them. Walk in with confidence and give them a firm handshake, although don’t be too over confident that you come off as if you think you’re too good for the role. Sit right back in the chair and sit up straight, do not slouch – it can make the interviewer think you are not taking it seriously. Keep eye contact Keeping eye contact with your interviewer is the best way to show you’re actually paying attention and engaging with the situation. Of course this doesn’t mean stare blankly at them, but strive to hold eye contact for a few seconds at a time. If you’re meeting with more than one interviewer, be sure to make eye contact with all of them. Address the person who asked the question, then hold eye contact with the other interviewer for a few seconds, before returning your attention to the first interviewer. Smile Smile and nod where appropriate, and laugh when the interviewer does. You want to show you have a personality and you’re paying attention to what’s being said. It goes without saying that you should listen to the interviewer and try not to interrupt. Focus on keeping your tone of voice relaxed and polite. Too soft and you’ll seem timid, too loud and you’ll seem overbearing. DON’TS Slouch Sitting hunched forward, or lounging with arms and legs everywhere has the effect of looking a little too relaxed. You don’t want to sit there tightly clutching your fists in your lap, but you also don’t want to portray a casual, not bothered attitude. From the moment you arrive in the reception area, you need to keep your posture perfect. Always be aware of your body position. Sit up straight and lean forwards a little when you’re asked question, it gives a sense of curiosity and engagement. Zone out This is a big no-no! This could possibly be one of the worst things you could do in an interview as it says to the interviewer that you couldn’t be less interested in the opportunity possibly being given to you. It is likely that if you do zone out, the interviewer will just terminate the interview and ask you to leave! Fidget This includes tapping your fingertips in the arm rest or jiggling your leg up or down. It’s a sign of boredom and impatience. Keep both feet planted firmly on the floor to avoid the temptation. It’ll help to keep your posture straight and focussed on your interviewer, which in turn will make you seem more focused. Chew gum Do not chew gum in the interview room. This is really unprofessional and it can make the interviewer think you’re not interested in what they think of you. It also makes you look like you’re too comfortable meeting them, you should be a little bit nervous as this could be your new career! Do you have an interview coming up and are not sure what to where to look professional? Click here to follow our top tips. Can you think of any other Dos and Don’ts for interview body language? Drop them in the comments below!
-
How to gain valuable work experience in the Healthcare sector
When it comes to your job search, having previous experience to shout about on your CV and cover letter can help you stand out from other candidates. Not to mention that taking on work experience gives you an insight into the industry, enabling you to begin strengthening your skills. If you’re just starting out your career in the healthcare sector, work experience can be invaluable. Here are our top tips on finding and securing yourself the role that could kick-start your career. Put together a starting CV Putting together a CV is an important first step. This doesn’t have to be in depth, especially if you don’t have any relevant experience. Instead, talk about your education and hobbies and how these will be beneficial to your career in healthcare. You should also make a list of the types of experience you’re looking for and what you hope to gain from it. This will help you if you have to fill out an application, or can be used as a great tool when speaking to employers about the opportunities you’re after. Do your research A quick online search will reveal local businesses that offer work placements and even present you with a range of careers sites to explore. Alternatively, you could use networking sites like LinkedIn to search for opportunities or connect with other healthcare professionals who may be able to help you out. There are also a number of sites out there dedicated to finding and preparing candidates for work experience. For healthcare experience, Prospects and Health Careers are both useful sites. And don’t forget to check the NHS website as well. Start reaching out Once you have a good idea of the type of work experience you’re after, you can begin reaching out to local organisations. Before you begin contacting GPs directly, look at their careers pages and websites. They might have a dedicated page that can tell you everything you need to know about any work experience schemes they run and even let you apply for the role. Alternatively, if you can’t find what you need online, it’s time to pick up the phone or visit them in person. This will not only show that you’re keen, but allow you can have a proper conversation about the opportunities available to you. If you’re still in education, you might also have a dedicated career advisor that can help you by offering contacts, or pointing you in the right direction. If you have access to such a person, they can be a great resource for finding a work placement. Volunteering You should also consider volunteering, even if this is in a different area of healthcare to the one you want to work in. You could volunteer in the social care sector, or perhaps work with mental health charities to support those in need. All of these opportunities look great on your CV and can be a good way to gain relevant industry experience. And there are plenty of healthcare organisations out there looking for extra support! In summary Finding valuable work experience in the healthcare sector is about researching what opportunities are available to you and not being afraid to reach out! Right now the sector is suffering from staff shortages, making organisations all the more grateful for those looking to volunteer or take on work experience. CV-Library is the UK’s leading independent job board. For more expert advice on careers and the workplace, visit their Career Advice and Recruitment Insight pages.
-
4 ways to beat the Blue Monday feels whilst job searching
Monday is the least favourite day of the week for many people. It's the first day back at work after a weekend of relaxing and it can often seem harder to motivate yourself to get started. January 21st otherwise known as Blue Monday… well, it's not only considered the worst Monday in January it’s actually considered the worst day of the year. The party season is over, we're already failing our new year resolutions and the grey days and potential of snow don’t make things easier! Luckily for you, we have put together some top tips on how to beat this depressing day and stay positive with your job search! Step one – Morning exercise Exercise has been proven to enhance your mood and to fill you with motivation. It is best to do this at the beginning of your day so you are motivated for the rest of the day and ready to be productive in your job search! Step two – Smile Smiling releases endorphins which are responsible for making us feel happy and they help to lower stress levels. With this in mind, try smiling whilst sat at your screen job searching – also listening to your favourite song can help to put a smile on your face and make you genuinely happy. It has also been said that listening to music can help you focus during tasks – so remember to have a listen whilst you job search! Step three – Avoid any last minute stress If you know that you have a lot to do on application day, then try to prepare yourself for it over the weekend. If something can be done in advance, such as CV preparation or completing a cover letter ready to be sent off, then find time during the weekend to do this. Doing so will mean that you have less to do on the day applications open and you will be less stressed at the thought of applying. Step four – Sleep well The amount of sleep you get is important to how you wake up feeling the next morning, as well as the quality of sleep you get. If you don’t sleep well or don’t get enough sleep then you are likely to wake up feeling irritable and unproductive! The best way to avoid this is to cut off all distractions for at least an hour before you fall asleep, this way you have more of a chance of waking up feeling refreshed and ready to start your productive day. Trust us, if you just pick even one of these ways to beat Blue Monday you will feel much happier! Can you think of any other top tips to get over Blue Monday? Let us know in the comments below.
-
Don't let social media stop you from getting your dream job
Social networking sites in 2017 are a part of our everyday lives; they help us connect with people from all over the world in both a personal and professional manner. There’s just no getting away from it! From your laptop your phone and now even on watches, trying to avoid social media in some sense is near enough impossible. 10 years on from the creation of Twitter and 1.65 billion Facebook users later we find ourselves too often posting without considering the content of our posts and what the future ramifications could be from this. Try to remember when using social media that your main objective when job hunting is to promote yourself to potential employers. They want to see that you possess certain qualities that make you an employable candidate. Employers hold all the key information they need to find your online profile easily, some even use external screening companies. I don’t mean to alarm anyone because that’s not what I’m here to do; employers aren’t necessarily looking to find bad information about you by looking at your profile they are simply just using this process as a precaution as to see that by employing you would not draw any bad attention their way in the future. Be smart about what you post! Be more aware and take some consideration into whether your tweet or Instagram picture could be considered inappropriate in some manner. Examples of things employers have said that has turned them off a candidate are as follows: An unprofessional screenname or handle Bad mouthing previous employers/colleagues Evidence of excessive drinking or drug use Provocative photos Narrow-minded/offensive comments in regards to race, religion or gender Evidence of criminal behaviour Statistics found 73% of 18-34 year olds found their last job through social media. With the mases of users that are signed up and logged on to these sites daily you should utilise this tool and promote yourself well. If you want to read more about how we here at Swanstaff think you can use social media to find yourself a job use the link below… http://www.swanstaff.co.uk/swanstaff-blog/how-to-use-social-media-to-find-a-job
-
Myths about HGV driving training that needs to be put to rest
There are a lot of false impressions about HGV driver training. So we thought we’d address some of the main myths and finally put them to rest. Take a look at these 4 most popular myths and we will set the story straight for you... Myth #1: It’s difficult to get on a training course You don’t actually need any specific qualifications to train to be a HGV driver other than to be over 18, hold a UK driving licence and be eager to learn from the right trainers. There are many different training providers who will accommodate you; you just need to find the one that’s right for you. Myth #2: The medical test is scary The law states that all HGV drivers are required to be in a suitable state of health in order to control their vehicles on public roads. That is why every new driver must go through a medical exam and has to be re-examined every time their licence needs to be renewed. Honestly though, this is not as daunting as it may sound. There is no training or preparation that needs to take place prior. It is just a simple check-up that will give you and the DVLA the necessary reassurance that you are fit to drive without being a hazard to other road users. Myth #3: It’s a sexist field to be in While female HGV drivers are undeniably the minority in the industry, there are more and more women taking up a career behind the wheel. Of course, the small number of women drivers means that sometimes people find themselves double taking every now and again but, in society in general, people are now far more accepting of women being behind the wheel of a HGV. Myth #4: There are next to no jobs at the end of the training This myth couldn’t be any further from the truth! Haulage companies are bending over backwards and digging deep into their pockets to attract new drivers… As the economy continues to grow, there are more than enough driving jobs to go around and that are available for people working locally and nationally too. Some European nationals who are living and working in the UK are choosing to return to their original country after 2016’s Brexit vote. This means that there are even more vacancies for qualified drivers. Another reason that there are lots of HGV jobs is the rise in online shopping calls for more delivery drivers and their lorries! Are you looking to become a HGV driver but don’t know where to start? Click here to see what roles we can offer you! Have we forgotten anything? If you can think of any more myths that need to be left behind then post it in the comments below…
-
How to turn a Christmas temp job into a career
So Christmas is just around the corner and we are so ready to play Mariah Carey until our ears burst! But there are some things we should discuss before we pack up for the festive season. We thought we would help you out by putting together some top tips on how to turn your Christmas temp job into your full time career! Check it out… Attitude When entering a new role, you always should have a positive attitude and give it your 100% effort even if it’s only a part time role. Having the attitude that “it’s only a temp role” will give you the mind-set that you don’t have to put maximum effort, when in actual fact, you will not have any room to progress and turn the role into a career. Also you need to remember that even if you don’t end up in this role, the employer will still be called as a reference by your next role, so make a lasting impression! Quick one to one meetings By asking your manager for one to one meetings (or even just some small feedback) you are showing that you are bothered about the job. This can also be beneficial to the employer, not just the employee. This is due to the fact that it gives the employer a chance to tell you what you can improve on and what you can do to make the operations of the company run smoother and better. Show initiative Don’t just focus on progressing in your initial role, showcase all of your skills by asking to experience different departments. Also this will show that you are willing to put yourself outside of your comfort zone and help your co-workers in different departments when they need you. Apply for internal positions This is obviously a biggie. Applying for internal positions can show your employer that you want to work for their company and not just that you needed a temp job for Christmas. If there are no vacancies then have a chat with your employer and express your interest in the company and the fact that it is the place you want to work for long term. Socialise Socialising with your co-workers is a massive help when wanting to turn your temp job into a career. This is because you can build up relationships with them and they can put in a good word for you if you tell them you want to work for them full time. You can do this by going to their Christmas party, arranging dinner after work or even just going to sit with your co-worker or a group of them at lunch – join in on their conversations, see if you have anything in common. This can help you to figure out if you want to work there full time! Availability Making yourself available for all shifts that need covering or staying overtime in the office to get all the work completed and not just leaving at your finishing time. This will allow your employer to see you are a reliable worker and this can contribute to being able to progress in the role and take a step closer to turning it into a career. Hopefully these top tips have helped you think about how you can turn your Christmas temp job into a career! Or, are you currently looking for a Christmas temp job? Click here to see what we have to offer you!
