As an avid foodie, I love the programme, obv. But contestants, WHY do you put two Continents on one plate? With the exception of definitely not home-made ChipsNCurry sauce (I sometimes enjoy a hedonistic lifestyle full of culinary adventure), it generally doesn’t work.
Contestants - when did you ever think that unglazed/unbuttered and therefore untasty vegetables are going to be enjoyable?
And why oh why do you blight a perfectly good hot course with a cold salad or a bush sized portion of herbs on top?
Don’t get me wrong, a delicious bowl of Moussaka served with a side of Greek Village Salad is absolutely heavenly, but greenery – know your place!!!
Tuesday 17 February 2009
Government help for jobless? Don’t believe a word …
The PM & Government are feeding us mistruths at a time when they should be bending over backwards to instil confidence and trust to a nation in despair. They deliver us pomposity, unclear and unkept promises and a trail of propaganda about how they are doing everything they can to help the unemployed. Today, I’m going to talk about the elephant in the room.
The vast majority of job seekers are decent, honest people who given the opportunity will thrive to the benefit of their families and employers. It’s devastating to lose your job, your position, your pride and your ability to make a worthwhile contribution. There are people with an array of important skill-sets out there and too many of these talented hard workers are without jobs and having to sign on the dole.
What makes me the expert? Well, I’ve experienced all sides of the fence - I’ve been an employee, I’ve had 20 years in recruitment and I’m a small business owner. I’ve witnessed the fear of losing a job, I’ve seen in others the devastation being without a job brings and its consequences. So Mr Brown & Co, I can speak, I can put my view, I can make judgments because I have acquired knowledge and common sense. You can disagree with me, frankly I don’t care, I’ll still have my say, just stop reading if I bore you.
Mr GB actually said he intends to “maximise the chances of the unemployed getting jobs”. Soundbites with no substance and no clear intentions.
In Nov 08 I wrote to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, with a similar letter sent to the MarComs Director at Train to Gain (sent both by email and post) and then subsequently to the Office of the Director of External Relations for JobCentrePlus. All of these organisations had spent and are spending obscene amounts of money on media advertising extolling the virtues of their wonderfulness. Except for the fact that they aren’t doing enough to help the unemployed either get jobs or retrain.
Our letter set out how, as an experienced business with an online recruitment facility, we were keen to be of help AT NO COST to them. We told them how we were self funded and were going to be building (at our expense) a part of our website to be dedicated to training & education. Being commercially aware, we know that a lot of employers would not advertise directly with JobCentrePlus and so we could do our part to bridge the gap if they allowed job seekers to be able to see our site and the jobs our clients had to offer, by simply having a link on their site. This had a three way benefit – the jobseeker gains access to a bigger choice of proper full time jobs, the employer could get their job filled and we have satisfied our customers and by doing so will have repeat business - thus all three parts of this jigsaw would be putting money back into the economy. Win, win, win for everyone.
Proper jobs I hear you say? Yes, 25% of JobCentrePlus jobs are non-jobs i.e. part-time and under (sometimes well under) 16 hours a week.
So what response did I get from the great and the good? After I made some phone calls (I had no response from them) I found out from the Head of PR at UKCES that essentially they are a think tank (cos we need more think tanks) subsidised no doubt by a huge sum from you and I. The role of this qwango is to advise government that they should offer training. No, I’m not making it up.
As for Train to Gain, no courtesy of a response at all. JobCentrePlus were unprepared to step outside the comfort zone and actually do anything or take on board any suggestions because they have a system. A system that isn’t working, but a system nonetheless. A system you and I are paying for.
I don’t have all the answers, I can’t solve the problems, but I can do my bit to help and if just one family are given back their dignity then it’s all worth it. The problem is, I’m obstructed by the Government and its team of jobsworths and plebs (the most printable words I can use to describe them).
The vast majority of job seekers are decent, honest people who given the opportunity will thrive to the benefit of their families and employers. It’s devastating to lose your job, your position, your pride and your ability to make a worthwhile contribution. There are people with an array of important skill-sets out there and too many of these talented hard workers are without jobs and having to sign on the dole.
What makes me the expert? Well, I’ve experienced all sides of the fence - I’ve been an employee, I’ve had 20 years in recruitment and I’m a small business owner. I’ve witnessed the fear of losing a job, I’ve seen in others the devastation being without a job brings and its consequences. So Mr Brown & Co, I can speak, I can put my view, I can make judgments because I have acquired knowledge and common sense. You can disagree with me, frankly I don’t care, I’ll still have my say, just stop reading if I bore you.
Mr GB actually said he intends to “maximise the chances of the unemployed getting jobs”. Soundbites with no substance and no clear intentions.
In Nov 08 I wrote to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, with a similar letter sent to the MarComs Director at Train to Gain (sent both by email and post) and then subsequently to the Office of the Director of External Relations for JobCentrePlus. All of these organisations had spent and are spending obscene amounts of money on media advertising extolling the virtues of their wonderfulness. Except for the fact that they aren’t doing enough to help the unemployed either get jobs or retrain.
Our letter set out how, as an experienced business with an online recruitment facility, we were keen to be of help AT NO COST to them. We told them how we were self funded and were going to be building (at our expense) a part of our website to be dedicated to training & education. Being commercially aware, we know that a lot of employers would not advertise directly with JobCentrePlus and so we could do our part to bridge the gap if they allowed job seekers to be able to see our site and the jobs our clients had to offer, by simply having a link on their site. This had a three way benefit – the jobseeker gains access to a bigger choice of proper full time jobs, the employer could get their job filled and we have satisfied our customers and by doing so will have repeat business - thus all three parts of this jigsaw would be putting money back into the economy. Win, win, win for everyone.
Proper jobs I hear you say? Yes, 25% of JobCentrePlus jobs are non-jobs i.e. part-time and under (sometimes well under) 16 hours a week.
So what response did I get from the great and the good? After I made some phone calls (I had no response from them) I found out from the Head of PR at UKCES that essentially they are a think tank (cos we need more think tanks) subsidised no doubt by a huge sum from you and I. The role of this qwango is to advise government that they should offer training. No, I’m not making it up.
As for Train to Gain, no courtesy of a response at all. JobCentrePlus were unprepared to step outside the comfort zone and actually do anything or take on board any suggestions because they have a system. A system that isn’t working, but a system nonetheless. A system you and I are paying for.
I don’t have all the answers, I can’t solve the problems, but I can do my bit to help and if just one family are given back their dignity then it’s all worth it. The problem is, I’m obstructed by the Government and its team of jobsworths and plebs (the most printable words I can use to describe them).
Sunday 8 February 2009
Job Hunting - 9 things you need to know
In this recession, managing your career throws up some challenges, so what you’ll need is a determined and focused attitude with a lot of net research thrown in for good measure. Look at the bigger picture, research your industry and use the search engines to help you look at articles about your sector and check out what the most recession-proof jobs are, so that you can target them.
Change the way you think
It’s a different type of market now. You may be brilliant, with an exceptional academic record and bags of experience, but in this climate you also need to remember that there are lots of other people out there with equally good or more diverse skills, so you need to stand out. Start thinking from the employer’s perspective and what will be in it for them if they employ you. Of course you need to confident, but not to the extent that you think they can’t do without you. The fact that you’ve been in your last job for years and know everything about your role inside out, will not guarantee you the next job. It’s up to you to demonstrate how you can be an asset to them, not the other way round.
Show your achievements
Your CV is a sales tool so make sure it is up to date, with good detail on your previous posts – employers cannot guess what you have done or your skills set! Without a good CV, there will be no interview (more CV advice later in the series). Write a concise and warm covering letter which introduces you, has a paragraph summarising your experience and the last paragraph should thank the reader for the time they have spent considering your application. By all means use CV / Covering letter templates that you find on the web as a guide, but don’t copy them verbatim, as you should always personalise your communications.
Demonstrate your abilities
When you go to an interview, the company will look not only at your previous experience but on what you can bring to them. Will you help their organization save money because of the skills you have and your ability to decrease wastage or maximize staff performance? Or does your experience mean you will make them money due to your up-selling skills? Whatever your strengths, make sure it is on your CV and in your conversations with the company.
To get the point across, you need to think about what you have been able to achieve in your previous jobs i.e. where you improved departmental performance, how you saved the company money and why you can motivate others to be more effective. Show your prospective employer what a benefit you will be to their team by stating the percentage by which you increased productivity or sales. It’s far more impressive to say “decreased wastage by 18% in the first quarter” than “also decreased wastage”. Or, “sales increased by 15% in the first quarter, through e-targeting existing clientele” which is far better than “increased sales for the company”,
Talk to yourself
Once you’ve got your job functions clear in your own head and you have written it into your CV, you need to do some role plays i.e. mock interviews. Yes, I do mean either getting a friend to play the role of employer firing questions that you must answer with clarity or, just use a mirror and play both the roles of employer and yourself. You may laugh, but this practice will be invaluable to you and when you get into a real time situation, you’ll handle it with ease. Practice really does make perfect.
Network
Speak to people in your sector, use social networking sites and get yourself out there. If you know someone who works for a successful company, why not offer to help out for a week or two at no cost to the company? This is a foot in the door and will also give you the benefit of additional experience. By making sure your contribution shines, you could be noticed by the employer. Remember, an employer is far more likely to take someone known to them for a permanent role when they arise, because they have been able to measure your skills and you have been brought in by someone they trust.
Freelance
Contact companies (by email with that all important CV and covering letter attached) that you’d like to work for, letting them know of your skills and experience, and say that you are available for short term contracts. In this market, you may be just what they need as they may not have the budget as yet for a full time permanent role yet could have an opportunity that needs to be filled by you.
The Search
Look for jobs online, through trade publications, in newspapers and on the websites of your industry trade associations. Be organised and do a spreadsheet or list of all the jobs you have applied for, the contact details and the date you sent your application. Do another list of all the websites you’ve visited that you like and want to return to. It may take a few days for your application to get a response but after about a week, follow up your application with a polite email or phone call. It may be that the company had a glitch in their system and didn’t receive your details, so don’t just write them off until you have checked the status.
Prepare
Once you have secured a meeting with a potential employer, you must research the company so that you can show your understanding of what their business is all about and why you would like to be a part of it. This research will also give you the tools to make a list of questions you would like to ask of them on interview and will also give you something to talk about.
Most importantly
Start doing the above and you have a better chance of being hired. As Winston Churchill once said “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”.
Coming next – Productive Job Hunting
© Linda Meehan, CEO & Recruitment Advisor
Change the way you think
It’s a different type of market now. You may be brilliant, with an exceptional academic record and bags of experience, but in this climate you also need to remember that there are lots of other people out there with equally good or more diverse skills, so you need to stand out. Start thinking from the employer’s perspective and what will be in it for them if they employ you. Of course you need to confident, but not to the extent that you think they can’t do without you. The fact that you’ve been in your last job for years and know everything about your role inside out, will not guarantee you the next job. It’s up to you to demonstrate how you can be an asset to them, not the other way round.
Show your achievements
Your CV is a sales tool so make sure it is up to date, with good detail on your previous posts – employers cannot guess what you have done or your skills set! Without a good CV, there will be no interview (more CV advice later in the series). Write a concise and warm covering letter which introduces you, has a paragraph summarising your experience and the last paragraph should thank the reader for the time they have spent considering your application. By all means use CV / Covering letter templates that you find on the web as a guide, but don’t copy them verbatim, as you should always personalise your communications.
Demonstrate your abilities
When you go to an interview, the company will look not only at your previous experience but on what you can bring to them. Will you help their organization save money because of the skills you have and your ability to decrease wastage or maximize staff performance? Or does your experience mean you will make them money due to your up-selling skills? Whatever your strengths, make sure it is on your CV and in your conversations with the company.
To get the point across, you need to think about what you have been able to achieve in your previous jobs i.e. where you improved departmental performance, how you saved the company money and why you can motivate others to be more effective. Show your prospective employer what a benefit you will be to their team by stating the percentage by which you increased productivity or sales. It’s far more impressive to say “decreased wastage by 18% in the first quarter” than “also decreased wastage”. Or, “sales increased by 15% in the first quarter, through e-targeting existing clientele” which is far better than “increased sales for the company”,
Talk to yourself
Once you’ve got your job functions clear in your own head and you have written it into your CV, you need to do some role plays i.e. mock interviews. Yes, I do mean either getting a friend to play the role of employer firing questions that you must answer with clarity or, just use a mirror and play both the roles of employer and yourself. You may laugh, but this practice will be invaluable to you and when you get into a real time situation, you’ll handle it with ease. Practice really does make perfect.
Network
Speak to people in your sector, use social networking sites and get yourself out there. If you know someone who works for a successful company, why not offer to help out for a week or two at no cost to the company? This is a foot in the door and will also give you the benefit of additional experience. By making sure your contribution shines, you could be noticed by the employer. Remember, an employer is far more likely to take someone known to them for a permanent role when they arise, because they have been able to measure your skills and you have been brought in by someone they trust.
Freelance
Contact companies (by email with that all important CV and covering letter attached) that you’d like to work for, letting them know of your skills and experience, and say that you are available for short term contracts. In this market, you may be just what they need as they may not have the budget as yet for a full time permanent role yet could have an opportunity that needs to be filled by you.
The Search
Look for jobs online, through trade publications, in newspapers and on the websites of your industry trade associations. Be organised and do a spreadsheet or list of all the jobs you have applied for, the contact details and the date you sent your application. Do another list of all the websites you’ve visited that you like and want to return to. It may take a few days for your application to get a response but after about a week, follow up your application with a polite email or phone call. It may be that the company had a glitch in their system and didn’t receive your details, so don’t just write them off until you have checked the status.
Prepare
Once you have secured a meeting with a potential employer, you must research the company so that you can show your understanding of what their business is all about and why you would like to be a part of it. This research will also give you the tools to make a list of questions you would like to ask of them on interview and will also give you something to talk about.
Most importantly
Start doing the above and you have a better chance of being hired. As Winston Churchill once said “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”.
Coming next – Productive Job Hunting
© Linda Meehan, CEO & Recruitment Advisor
Saturday 7 February 2009
Getting a job in a recession – top tips to help you find a job, Part 1
Even in good times, getting a new job can be stressful and now we’re into a recession, you might feel like it’s a mission too far, especially if you’ve been out of work for a while. You need to pay the bills and everything you read and all the news you hear doesn’t make you any less anxious. It isn’t going to be easy to be optimistic and positive, but that is exactly what you do need to be.
It’s not all bad
There is an upside and downside to most things and where unfortunate companies have laid off staff or had to close in a particular service sector, other firms will pick up the business available which may lead them to having to increase their own workforce, thus creating an opportunity that just may suit you.
Network
When you find yourself becoming frustrated and down, take the afternoon and go for a walk, read a book or do something which will help you clear your mind so that you can be ready to face the challenges ahead. Talk to your friends and family, go online and chat to others in similar circumstances and surround yourself with supporting elements to help you feel stronger. By networking with others, you never know what opportunities could come your way.
Gain new skills
Whilst you are looking for a job, learn a new skill and look into whether there are any additional qualifications you could get or courses you can study as cross training will give you the advantage. Check out online courses that will give you additional knowledge and qualifications, so that you can continue studying when you do get that job.
Focus
You must focus on showing others the positive side of your personality and remember all the skills you have that you can bring to an employer. When you get to an interview, employers want to see a confident person who knows their value and what they can bring to the company.
Of course, your ideal would be a job which matches or betters your previous role in your chosen industry, but you must now be realistic and practical which may mean taking a job a couple of steps down the ladder so that you can work your way back up again. You need to be realistic because there is a lot of competition out there and you have to stand out.
Start doing
Searching for work should be your full time job until you get a paid one! To succeed you must get into a ‘work’ routine of job hunting from 9am-5pm at the very least. And yes, take a break for lunch! Be organised and prepare for your day. You must be committed, focused and invest your time and energy into securing yourself a job.
The first thing you need to do is create a great CV (more articles about this later in our series) and then surf, surf, surf. If you haven’t got a computer, get dressed and be at your local internet café by 9am sharp! Make sure you have printer paper / notepad and pen to keep a record of the jobs you’ve applied for, helpful websites and job leads. Everything you do matters and you will reap the rewards for the efforts you make.
Market yourself
You’ll need to market yourself well and I’ll say it again, the strength of your CV can decide your fate. If you look at the top retailers, they know that great quality products have great packaging, great promotion and sell well. You need to do the same.
Think about your quality with all the qualifications, experience and skills you’ve gained and your packaging – well you are a nicely turned out, friendly and professional person – now you should really be in demand.
Now it’s about promoting yourself. Yes, I’m going to mention that great CV again, which should be complimented by a relatable covering letter (there is more about covering letters later in this series).
Once you have identified jobs that are suitable for you, send in your application / CV and covering letter. If you don’t get interviews, it may well be that your CV lacks information or clarity. If you get interviews but no offers, you need to revise your interview technique (more about interview techniques later in this series).
There are many ways you can get your CV in front of prospective employers by using the web, registering with job boards – particularly those that are specialist or niche to your industry, contacting employment agencies, local papers, trade press, using social networking tools and cold calling or making speculative applications to relevant industry companies in your area, to see if they are looking to hire.
Salary
Don’t price yourself out of the market – things have changed now and you need to focus in on getting the right role even if it means taking a pay cut. It’s better to be in work on a slightly lower salary than on none at all. Of course you shouldn’t undervalue your skills and experience but you must be realistic of what the market place has to offer and how much competition there is for each job.
By following these simple tips, you’re on the way to beating the blues, getting out of the doldrums and getting gainful employment.
So make the best out of the person you are, and as Nelson Mandela once said “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Coming next – Job options in a recession
© copyright - Linda Meehan, CEO & Recruitment Advisor
It’s not all bad
There is an upside and downside to most things and where unfortunate companies have laid off staff or had to close in a particular service sector, other firms will pick up the business available which may lead them to having to increase their own workforce, thus creating an opportunity that just may suit you.
Network
When you find yourself becoming frustrated and down, take the afternoon and go for a walk, read a book or do something which will help you clear your mind so that you can be ready to face the challenges ahead. Talk to your friends and family, go online and chat to others in similar circumstances and surround yourself with supporting elements to help you feel stronger. By networking with others, you never know what opportunities could come your way.
Gain new skills
Whilst you are looking for a job, learn a new skill and look into whether there are any additional qualifications you could get or courses you can study as cross training will give you the advantage. Check out online courses that will give you additional knowledge and qualifications, so that you can continue studying when you do get that job.
Focus
You must focus on showing others the positive side of your personality and remember all the skills you have that you can bring to an employer. When you get to an interview, employers want to see a confident person who knows their value and what they can bring to the company.
Of course, your ideal would be a job which matches or betters your previous role in your chosen industry, but you must now be realistic and practical which may mean taking a job a couple of steps down the ladder so that you can work your way back up again. You need to be realistic because there is a lot of competition out there and you have to stand out.
Start doing
Searching for work should be your full time job until you get a paid one! To succeed you must get into a ‘work’ routine of job hunting from 9am-5pm at the very least. And yes, take a break for lunch! Be organised and prepare for your day. You must be committed, focused and invest your time and energy into securing yourself a job.
The first thing you need to do is create a great CV (more articles about this later in our series) and then surf, surf, surf. If you haven’t got a computer, get dressed and be at your local internet café by 9am sharp! Make sure you have printer paper / notepad and pen to keep a record of the jobs you’ve applied for, helpful websites and job leads. Everything you do matters and you will reap the rewards for the efforts you make.
Market yourself
You’ll need to market yourself well and I’ll say it again, the strength of your CV can decide your fate. If you look at the top retailers, they know that great quality products have great packaging, great promotion and sell well. You need to do the same.
Think about your quality with all the qualifications, experience and skills you’ve gained and your packaging – well you are a nicely turned out, friendly and professional person – now you should really be in demand.
Now it’s about promoting yourself. Yes, I’m going to mention that great CV again, which should be complimented by a relatable covering letter (there is more about covering letters later in this series).
Once you have identified jobs that are suitable for you, send in your application / CV and covering letter. If you don’t get interviews, it may well be that your CV lacks information or clarity. If you get interviews but no offers, you need to revise your interview technique (more about interview techniques later in this series).
There are many ways you can get your CV in front of prospective employers by using the web, registering with job boards – particularly those that are specialist or niche to your industry, contacting employment agencies, local papers, trade press, using social networking tools and cold calling or making speculative applications to relevant industry companies in your area, to see if they are looking to hire.
Salary
Don’t price yourself out of the market – things have changed now and you need to focus in on getting the right role even if it means taking a pay cut. It’s better to be in work on a slightly lower salary than on none at all. Of course you shouldn’t undervalue your skills and experience but you must be realistic of what the market place has to offer and how much competition there is for each job.
By following these simple tips, you’re on the way to beating the blues, getting out of the doldrums and getting gainful employment.
So make the best out of the person you are, and as Nelson Mandela once said “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Coming next – Job options in a recession
© copyright - Linda Meehan, CEO & Recruitment Advisor
Tuesday 3 February 2009
Jame's doing something - what about us?
Jamie and other high profile chefs are at least trying to do something to make us all aware of provenance and welfare issues. We should be supporting this by looking at what we purchase, where it’s come from, how animals are reared and checking labels. One man (or a few passionate enthusiasts) cannot change the whole system and it’s up to us to play our part and do whatever we can to back it up. Telling us to turn vegetarian is not the answer and a whole nation is not going to do that. So let’s work with reality and raise standards.
Monday 2 February 2009
Supporting your local restaurant
On his Kitchen Nightmares, Gordon Ramsay came up with the idea of supporting local restaurants by getting more people in on quiet weekday nights by having a pie night. Now more than ever, restaurants need to come up with quality produce and great food at affordable prices. The concept seems to be right on the money, as this will create interest among the local clientele and also reduce the costs of production for the restaurant. Hopefully, the restaurants will be able to buy bigger quantities from their local suppliers which will help them too.
It’s a fair point to say that quite a lot of restaurants may close due to this credit crunch, so maybe even local hotels could run theme nights to generate interest with music or comedy to compliment the food. When Ramsay highlights this issue, he’s doing a great service to the hospitality industry (perhaps not so much of the swearing though!) and I think he deserves the full 5 stars.
It’s a fair point to say that quite a lot of restaurants may close due to this credit crunch, so maybe even local hotels could run theme nights to generate interest with music or comedy to compliment the food. When Ramsay highlights this issue, he’s doing a great service to the hospitality industry (perhaps not so much of the swearing though!) and I think he deserves the full 5 stars.
Pie night in your local restaurant?
Watched Gordon Ramsay Kitchen Nightmares where he suggested a pie night to bring in the punters midweek.I thought this was a good idea, both from the kitchen point of view, because its less labour intensive and then the focus would be on the quality and also, I’d visit my local restaurant midweek if I knew they did a special feature (as long as it was good, of course!).
Asda boss rips into celeb chefs for highlighting poor animal welfare
Andy Bond, Asda CEO has ripped into Celeb Chefs for having the nerve to complain about 'chickens crammed in sheds' under the guise that consumers can’t afford to pay more. So, does he mean that provenance and welfare issues like this shouldn’t be highlighted? It’s all about choice and if a well reared chicken costs a pound or two more and the budget is tight, people could choose to buy chicken less often and make it go further (leftovers made into a pasta or rice dish) rather than eat an animal that has been reared inhumanely. It appears that Mr Bond is trying to endear himself as being a man of the people and is assuming we’d all rather eat any old rubbish as long as it’s cheap. From his comments, I can only interpret that he advocates vile conditions for the animals which leads to the food we eat on our plates, at the cost of ethics and decency. What do you think?
Asda boss says chefs are ‘amateurs’
Andy Bond, CEO of Asda has said “celebrity chefs are projecting themselves as experts in areas where they are amateurs” (referring to the awareness campaigns on animal provenance and welfare issues - http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=196901).
Celeb chefs get more people interested in food which means people buy more products from supermarkets. Why bite the hands that feed you Mr Bond?. I think what he really means, is that high profile people shouldn’t say or do anything that increases consumer awareness and may affect Mr Supermarket. All you celeb chefs out there – keep on informing us!
Celeb chefs get more people interested in food which means people buy more products from supermarkets. Why bite the hands that feed you Mr Bond?. I think what he really means, is that high profile people shouldn’t say or do anything that increases consumer awareness and may affect Mr Supermarket. All you celeb chefs out there – keep on informing us!
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