Think International Knowledge Busters

Think Global Recruitment thought it would test its international general knowledge last night and enter a team into a popular local pub quizz. 

It is not about the winning, but winning certainly feels good.  So winning we went for and winners we were! 

It was not a 'walk on the park' though.  There were certainly some excellent teams amongst the 10 that participated.  

The most fun part and probably the thing that got us to the winning point, was working as a team.  Everyone had something to offer to gain us those much needed additional points.

Well done 'Think' quizz team!  A great fun and interesting night out. 

The Rain in Spain

...apparently doesnt always stay on the plain. 

Headed across to Madrid for a long weekend late Thursday night, curtesy of my favourite airline. EasyJet.   They might be a cheap airline.  However, EJ are the friendliest, most fun and customer orientated airline I have flown on in a long time.  They are also the most ontime airline.  Believe me I get on an airplan more often then a bus..... or potentially even in a car.  Ok Emirates are not far behind.  However, I do business with them, so hope for an above average service.

Back to Madrid.  Landed late Thursday and instict said 'go try the nightlife'.  Head said bed... so I did.

Woke up Friday feeling good and enrgised by amazing sunshine and warmth.   Something I hadnt seen in Edinburgh since the strangely warm March we had.

After breakfast sitting outside in the sun, watching business people grab a bite before their hectic Friday I secided to make the most of my day off and headed into the older part of town. 

I do really enjoy utilising the metro in cities throughout the world.  Knowing they were modelled on our, now ageing, London Underground brings some sense of pride.  I love it that the UK has been pioneers for so many things, despite our wee landmass. 

The metro too me to Sol station and a short wonder around to an old square with great buildings, surrounded by resteraunts with outside tables and of course lots of tourists.  I joines the tourists for a lovely long lunch in the sun. 

After a few hours of eating and sipping nice wine I decided to have more of a wonder.  I walked through winding streets of great old architecture.  Onto larger streets with a tredy modern shopping feel.  Then into a great narrow street crammed with botique type individual shops.  It was fun looking in each and wondering at the wide range of price tags, literally from one end of the spectrum to the next.

After a long afternoon of window shopping and sun, I thought time to head back to my hotel and relax, then get ready for the evening ahead. 
I had booked a hotel in the business district.  Lovely and modern with fun gadgets, sunken bath, funky and clean.   I decided, seeing as the room was so nice, to relax for an hour or two... and so I did....

Suddenly, before I knew it, it was 10pm.   Probably the usual time for adults to go out in Madrid.   However, for some reason I was so very tiered.  Maybe a day off and 'slowing down' confused my system.  Whatever the reason, I decided to stay in the hotel, eat in the bar and get a relatively early night.  After all, I did have a training run set for the next day.  So, that is what I did.  Eat average food in a hotel bar and drink an exceptionally large G@T before going to bed not long past midnight....

Waking with even more energy, I knew I could do a decent training run for the Edinburgh half marathon the following weekend.  On looking at the metro map, I identified that I could travel, without changing lines, to a huge park Casa De Campo.   The internet told me I could easily get a decent 10k run without hills, so off I went.

Casa de Campo is a lovely park.  Everyone was out to burn off the Friday night's excesses before starting again as one does on a Saturday night.  There was mountaim bikers.. 

runners, walkers, tennis, volley ball, canoeing.. you name it. Great to see so many people exercising. Well time has moved on and I am now home, enjoying and even warmer weekend in Edinburgh. I had managed a 10 mile run on the Saturday and a 5 mile run on the Sunday. I visited more of the old parts of the city. Some of the vibrant shopping streets and all in all had a great weekend in Madrid. However, I still feel I need to go back sometime to do the city justice... watch this space. Have you been to Madrid? Do you have recommendations for things to do there or in other European cities? Abigail, happiest in the sun, Not the rain

Time for a Run...

Unusually early I am sitting waiting to run my first half marathon of the year. I love this distance, it is a challenge, but does not consume my life leading up to it and not too high a threat of injury if I keep my fitness good inbetween races.

My fun running has taken me all over the globe, one of the reasons I am so pationate about finding positions for people overseas. Seeing what the world has to offer is enlightening.

Living in two continents has helped me run in Australia, New Zealand, England and Scotland on many ocassions. The trickiest run I had was going from snow and minus 15degrees in Scotland to running in plus 38 degrees 48 hours later.

Other hot places I have ran in include Thailand, Cambodia, Borneo, Panang, Hong Kong, Cayman Islands and Malaysia.

Oops better go, got a half marathon to run...

Which countries have you ran in?

Abigail

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

Isn't life easier now it's so mobile...

As you can see, it's been a while.  Like many, I just never seem to find time to post my bloggs.  I have started many, but never finished them.  I have been inspired to write many, but forgot by the time I stepped off that train.  Why it has taken me soo long to download blogger onto my phone is beyond me.   Well here I am now!

What has been new since the last blogg?  So many great things.  Visits to Barcelona, London, Australia and New Zealand to name but a few.

Australia has certainly 'hotted up' and not just because the wet summer is finally having a rest, but in the recruitment sense.  We have had a good number of requests from firms seeking accountants to join their teams.  The roles are spread accross the entire vast country, offering exciting, different places to live for everyone.  From Sydney to Melbourne, Perth to Adelaide to Brisbane and other far spread beautiful locations.  The positions are just as varied including audit, transactions services, recovery/insolvency, financial and management accouting and advisory. How great is that!?

Back in Europe opportunities continue to flurrish, especially, but not exclusively, if you have language skills.  We are delighted to have assisted a large number of accountants to secure roles in Switzerland, Luxembourg, Holland, Belgium, the UK mainland and offshore in the last couple of months.  Seriously there is a world of opportunity out there!

Another exciting thing at Think Global Recruitment, is that we are speaking to our wide range of clients and other businesses to find out if we can expand the industry experience they seek internationally.  If there are any employera out there that can not find the best tallent locally and want to Think Global, then please do get in touch.  We would love to see if we can assist.  Likewise if you are an experienced international recruitment consultant/manager or believe your specialist sector experience could Think Global I would live to hear from you.

So it is all about vacancies and worldwide opportunities.  Think Global Recruitment is expanding through success.  My personal biggest challenge at the moment is attracting the very best experienced consultants and managers to join our team.    I believe other consultancies are experiencing this and we would welcome any tips on how to do this?

Round the world in 40 days!

13 aeroplanes boarded, 6 cities and 4 countries visited in just over a month! Few you could say I have been busy!

Starting out in Edinburgh a quick visit down to Twickenham, London UK between Christmas and New Year. This was more of a social visit to see my family. So lovely to see my wee niece who at the time was almost walking, but not quite. Just a few weeks later and she is moving around showing early signs of being a great runner, like her mother, one day. What did this 1 year old get for Christmas from her father? No more than her own plaque at Twickenham! Wow I am so jealous.

Then, on the 3rd of January Glasgow to Dubai - that ever changing city. Who knows if building work will ever finish, but its amazing every time I visit it looks like a different place.

4th January Dubai to my favourite city in the world, Sydney. What an amazing visit. Managed to catch up with accountants we have assisted find positions there. Some contacts at companies we work with and even an ex member of my team. On top of this managed to take in some shows at the Sydney Festival including these two amazing acts Le Grand Cirque at the Opera house and Ashes from Australia for the first time in 24 years! The atmosphere and celebrations with the Barmy Army was great.

19th January Sydney to Wellington NZ. Juggling working with a mini tour of New Zealand is achievable, but challenging because of the many stunning distractions. Wellington is a lovely city, but very windy! After a few days there, including a trip 1 hour out of town into the hills, I boarded a ferry and sailed to Picton. I have done this trip a couple times before, but always forget how stunning the scenery is as you sail through the Marlborough Sounds. It is described as probably one of the most beautiful ferry journeys in the world.

From Picton we drop to Blenheim where the most obvious thing to do is go on a wine tour of Marlborough wines! My favourite white wines have always been Sauvignon Blancs from Marlborough. So you can imagine I was in my element. My favourite winery for flavour, venue and hospitality that I visited was Top House Bar and B&B. It has the smallest bar in New Zealand, an amazing view, a lovely B&B. The Barman is an amazing story teller and they even have their own ghost.

31st January Nelson to Auckland. Visited a number of companies we have assisted in recruiting accountants to join and refreshed my memories of the city. The Viaduct area has always been my favourite with great restaurants overlooking the marina and yet right in the heart of the city where people carry out business. Not a bad place to spend your lunch break.

1st February Auckland to Sydney. A couple of days to catch up with exercise, work and friends before flying back to New Zealand.

3rd February Sydney to Wellington for 3 days off work.. it was the Wellington

When in Rome...

I am off to one of my favourite European cities today.. Rome. What a lovely city. The buildings, the history, the people, the food, the drink... I can not think of anywhere better to spend the weekend. There is also the weather. As its been getting colder and colder here in the UK, going into minus figures in Scotland, I am looking forward to 18 degrees in lovely Rome.

As you may tell from lack of blog updates, its been a busy few weeks leading up to this break. The international accountancy job market has gone mad. Heaps of new vacancies coming through from all corners of the world. Australia, New Zealand, Far East, Middle East, Bermuda, Caribbean, Europe... you name it we have roles there! Now all we need is to find qualified accountants with the right experience to fit each role.

Post recession companies are still being very choosey regarding the experience, qualifications and personalities they are recruiting. There is certainly competition for the Hot Roles. However, I am told by the accountants we work with that we give the very best interview preparation they have ever received, thus giving them an edge over other applicants. The statistics seem to back this up, showing our applicants are more likely to secure a role than any other. We truly believe time invested in this area pays off. After all, all we want to do is Improve Lives....

Here's a question... How long do you spend preparing for
an interview?