HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THINK GLOBAL RECRUITMENT!

It was big celebrations at the Think Global Recruitment HQ in Edinburgh this week, not only have we secured new positions for a number of professionals seeking international moves but we also celebrated our 13th Birthday. It was the 7th July 2000 that the company was formed and ever since then we have made it our mission to IMPROVE LIVES of everyone we work with.

From a team of 3 that had a small office space in Edinburgh to now having a penthouse HQ that looks onto Edinburgh Castle and having placed professionals all over the World from Australia to Canada and everywhere in between.

It is an exciting time to be part of the company as it continues to grow and develop. We recently launched an International Oil and Gas division to go along with the International Accountancy and Finance.

We have also recently started a series of webinars where we present information to professionals who are looking to gain advice on many different areas of the recruitment process whether it is internationally or locally. To keep up to date with when the next webinar is please click here and we are more than happy to take suggestions as to content and subject matter that we discuss.

Here's to success for the next 13 years!

Cheers!

TGR HQ

THINK GLOBAL RECRUITMENT LAUNCH GLOBAL RECRUITMENT WEBINARS

Last month Think Global Recruitment launched ‘Global Recruitment Webinars’ allowing the company to invite industry leaders in both recruitment and accountancy to present to professionals on a host of topics.

Presented by Abigail Stevens (Managing Director– Think Global Recruitment), the first webinar discussed ‘Interview Preparation’ and was presented to an enthusiastic audience. Covering the full interview process from phone, video and all the way to face-to-face, Abigail has almost 20 years recruitment experience and has conducted literally thousands of interviews both for internal and external vacancies, covering a whole variety of roles and therefore knows every potential pitfall and is excellently placed to advise professionals seeking advice.

Although a new service line for Think Global Recruitment it is something that the company hugely enjoyed setting up and promoting. Abigail Stevens received great feedback from the participants. They all agreed that they felt far more confident and prepared for any interviews in the pipeline. All attendees that supplied feedback noted that they are more aware of how imperative it is that you tailor each application to the role and company that you are applying for.

Some top tips that were discussed in detail were:

TOP 10 TIPS TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW PROCESS

1. Research - Read up on the company and do your research. Look at web site, financials, media page etc (keen)
2. Key Skill - Know what key skills are required and whether you have them (capable/confidence)
3. Practice - Practice answering difficult questions - Put yourself in the interviewers shoes
4. Salary - Never bring up the topic of salary before the interviewer does.  It is often best to discuss salary at offer stage. Ensure they know its not all about money (keen)
5. Most important - The interview practice is invaluable. It’s better to turn down an offer than be rejected. You may decide mid-interview that you really want the role but interviews feedback shows you have already blown it by that time (first five minutes)
6. Recap - Recap through your experiences.  Know your key achievements
7. Sell Yourself - Be confident in an interview but do not rely on your CV.  Remember to sell yourself.
8. Turn weaknesses into positives
9. Questions - Prepare questions before the interview (keen)
10. Closure - Ask what the next step will be and   indicate that you are keen (keen)

  

The GlobalRecruitment Webinars are an opportunity for professionals who are considering their next career move to receive first-hand advice on such things as ‘Interview Preparation’, ‘Living and Working on Offshore Islands’ and ‘Living and Working in Emerging Markets’. We are always open to suggestions on subject matter and topics that can be discussed so please feel free to leave a comment in the space below of any suggestions of topics.  We look forward to meeting you there.

The next two webinars cover the following:

Interview Preparation - 11th July 2013 at 10:30am GMT
Living and Working on Offshore Islands - 18th July 2013 at 7pm GMT

ACCOUNTANCY WORLDWIDE ONLINE WEBINAR

Dear Reader...

OK, so, some blatant advertising below...However, I just didn't want anyone to miss out on this.  

Everyone know's they have a strength at something and interview preparation is most certainly an area I receives excellent feedback on.  I thought I should share the extensive experience I have in this area.   If you sign up and do not feel you received value for money from this Webinar, please do let me know and I will refund your registration.

Happy to receive feedback after on this blog.

Kind regards,   Abigail 

ACCOUNTANCY WORLDWIDE ONLINE WEBINAR

 Interview Preparation for Career Progression(Video/Phone/Face to Face) 

Thursday 6 June 20137pm UK time 8pm Central European/South African time 

Presenter:  Abigail Stevens, Managing Director,Think Global Recruitment

Fellow Recruitment and Employment Confederation

Interviewing can be nerve racking enough, but sometimes the thought of doing it by phone or video conference can be even harder to get your mind around. This valuable, not to be missed webinar will not only cover the various types of interview techniques for face to face interviews, but also tips on getting through a telephone or video interview.

The topic of discussion will be ‘Interview Preparation for Career Progression – Video/Phone/Face-to-Face’ and will be delivered by Abigail Stevens who has around 20 years’ experience assisting professionals secure roles throughout the globe.

This amazing opportunity will give professionals who are interested in advancing their career, now or in the future, the opportunity to find out what it is required of them during the interview process, providing hints, tips and advise on potential stumbling blocks.

This webinar that could improve your life costs just £10 (c. 11.70 €) to attend. To register and pay please follow this link:

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/6797789371

To allow us to tailor the presentation for the audience or if you have any questions please contact Gordon Barclay via email – gbarclay@thinkgr.com or telephone +44 131 260 5850.

We look forward to registering you for this special event.  Please feel free to share this with others that would be interested in attending.

EVENT INFORMATION

Presenter

Abigail Stevens FRIP

Program Title

Interview Preparation for Career Progression (Video/Phone/Face to Face)

Presenter Biography

Abigail Stevens is professionally, exam and time qualified as a full member of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). Having spent 8 years working in marketing, Abigail moved into the recruitment industry in 1996 and founded Think Global Recruitment in 2000. In the 18 years since Abigail has placed accountants at all levels, all over the world and has experience of living and working in Australia,England and Scotland. Throughout her career Abigail has traveled extensively conducting presentations and networking with global organizations and institutes and has presented to ICAS and ICAEW members as well as MBA University students, she has visited; UK, Ireland, Wales, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, Holland, Spain, Prague, Poland, Boston, LA, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Grenada, Australia (lived 3 years), Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Bali, Thailand, Cambodia, New Zealand, Egypt, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, South Africa, Canada.

Program Summary

Together we will explore the full interview process and how to successfully secure that opportunity of your dreams.  

We will cover not only generic tips, but specific techniques for the international interview process including telephone and video interviewing.  Interviewing can be nerve-wracking enough, but sometimes the thought of doing it by phone or video conference can be even harder to get your mind around.   This Webinar will leave you feeling confident and capable of carrying out the very best interview you can and allow you to put your questions to an expert in the field.

Think Global Recruitment does Oil and Gas

Having successfully recruited exclusively for the international accounting and finance sector for over 12 years, Think Global Recruitment is delighted to announce that we are operating in a new sector. We have now got a division actively recruiting into the international Oil and Gas industry.

With this new division comes a new team, with a new team comes new clients, new clients lead to new jobs and with new jobs leads to a world of new professionals that are looking to take their career international! This excites all of us at Think Global Recruitment as nothing gives us a better feeling then meeting new people and discussing the ways in which we can improve their lives. We are a recruitment consultancy that has been built upon ensuring that we give the best service to the professionals we work with and the companies that we recruit for.  

Managing Director Abigail Stevens has been investigating this avenue for some time and has decided that now is the best time to launch it, she said; “Having successfully used our model to assist companies recruit the best Accountancy and Finance talent across the globe, we felt we could use the same model for another sector.  We wanted a sector that was not as reliant on the same economic factors, but one that sometimes found it hard to find the professionals it required on its doorstep.  That’s where we can come in and source for those hard to fill vacancies by providing applicants from overseas with the right skill set and motivation to make the move.  Oil and Gas ticked all the boxes.”

Furthermore, Operations Director Cramond Perry who has over 15 years experience in the Oil and Gas sector is equally optimistic with the path that Think Global Recruitment have taken when launching the new sector of the company and said; “ I've always been impressed by how international the teams were in the oil and gas industry generally and how mobile and flexible most of the workforce are prepared to be. I enjoyed seeing more of the world at the same time as progressing my own career and am looking forward to supporting this sector which is currently booming on buoyant commodities prices and a severe skills shortage.”

Andrew Sharp has been assigned the task of establishing the Oil and Gas department and with extensive experience not only recruiting into this sector but also on an international scale, Andrew is a great fit to make a success of  this new venture.

Having assisted hundreds of professionals to make the ever daunting international career move, nobody is better suited to give advice not only on the role and company that each professional will be applying for, but also the in-depth advice on the location and social opportunities that each location provides. Think Global is not only about helping find that perfect job for you, but also about helping you find the location that suits you best; socially, financially and professionally and that is why our vision is “Improving Lives”.

Job Hunting Mistakes

It is amazing how many 'stories' you hear regading the mistakes people make when job hunting.  Being in recruitment I have witnessed a few first hand.

Top 10 Mistakes:

10.  Interviewee ate an excessive amount of garlic night before.  Rejected.

9.  Applicant for professional office job turned up with excessive jewelry, including pierced nose and tummy button!  Rejected.

8.  Spelling mistakes on application covering email for PA role.  Rejected.

7. Getting the interviewers name wrong at the start of the interview and continued to do so, but with different names each time!  Rejected.

6.  Applicant had final interview with the Managing Director.  When discussing possible career progression an organisation chart was produced.  The applicant asked 'So where do you fit in on this chart'.

5.  Applicant asked why they wanted to work for the organisation they applied to.  Replied 'because the agency told them to'.  Rejected.

4. Interviewer asked applicant if they had any questions.  Applicant 'Firstly, what salary will you pay me'.  'Secondly what hours do I have to work? I am looking for a life balance'.  Rejected.

3.  Interviewee when asked if had any questions about the job replied 'yes can you tell me what your company does?' Rejected.

2.  Financial Services professional thought he had a job in the bag.  He was almost right.  A specialist with highly sort after skills, moving from one major international firm in London to another.   He turned up to his final interview late, with a black eye.  No apology, but when asked said 'I was out with a few of your staff last night and we got drunk, I fell over'.  He really thought the name dropping re socialising with other members of their team would clinch the deal!  The interviewer had been desparate, but not that deaparate.  Rejected.

and finaly, the biggest 'oh no she didnt do that!'

1.  Applicant had already applied to same company 2 years previously, but the process hadnt moved to offer because they went elsewhere.  Company was delighted to see they were applying again, until the original interview notes were pulled out.  The dates on her previous cv and new one did not match.  Whole jobs had been left off.  Yes the new cv was more impressive.  However, it was a pack of lies.  Rejected!

NEVER lie at application or interview stage.  You will be found out.  Infact my motto is never lie ever!

I hope this blog has been interesting, maybe even made you chuckle or cringe.   If you are unsure why any of these were reasons for reject then please do not hesitate to conatact me and I would be happy to explain.

At Think Global Recruitment we provide extensive detailed interview briefings and preparation for all applicants we secure interviews for.

Do you have any horror job applicant stories to share?

Abigail