Whether you currently have a permanent job or are a contractor, when considering a change you should look into and research interview tips and interview best practise. If you are applying for a new job through a recruiter, then lean on them for recruitment support and make the most of their recruitment expertise. A good recruitment consultant will be more than happy to take the time to have an impact on your job searching journey.

As professional recruiters operating within the Apprenticeship, Skills, Education, and IT sectors, we have come across many job searching stories either from our colleagues or from first-hand recruitment success. We have only 1500 words but intend to share some of the key elements of our guide to recruitment. Whether you are looking for a full-time job, part-time job, remote working, or a job abroad, these key tips can help you embrace your job seeking journey and explain the benefits of working with a recruitment agency.

Let us start with Interview Preparation.

Recruitment data shows that on average 47% of candidates are rejected at interview stage because they had only a vague idea about the job role they were interviewing for. Isn’t that just crazy. To think job seekers have gone through the recruitment process, from sending their CV, speaking with a recruiter, hiring manager or human resources professional, to then getting to the interview and completely flunking based on something which should be an absolute given.

As recruitment professionals we pride ourselves on being advocates of the true art of recruitment. This means that here at TeachTech Solutions, we provide candidates with all they need in order to research the company they are off to interview with. We will have good old fashioned chats on the phone, followed by an email confirming the name of the company, a link to their website, as well as an interview tip sheet. However, over the years we have still seen a small percentage of job seekers, despite being under our watchful eyes and guidance, failing to prepare adequately for their impending interview – you can take a horse to water and all that recruitment jazz.

Let’s take the Skills, Apprenticeship and Education sectors as an example. If you do not know the lingo they use for their employees, i.e. coach or facilitator, tutor or trainer then you’re at a loss. A simple search on LinkedIn will enable you to be in the know of the lingo used across the whole company. If you haven’t reviewed their OFSTED report, why not? Surely you want to know what you are in for if successful in being offered a job. Good or bad and whether it makes any difference to your decision in accepting a job role, it is not just courtesy to do this level of research but key in allowing you to make an informed decision.

Preparation is key in securing a new job. Here are some of the absolute MUST DO’s that we offer you in this guide to recruitment and how good quality recruitment agencies work.

  • Who are the company?
  • Where are they based?
  • What are their core values?
  • What are their company reviews like?
  • What would the job entail?
  • Who are the people interviewing?

Research is essential in identifying as much information about the company and the new job role you have applied for. You want to ensure you establish that the company is right for you and ensure you have no hesitations when asking and answering questions regarding the company and their recruitment process.

It is commonly reported that people only have 7 seconds, on average, to make a great first impression! How do you get yourself ready for that, just 7 seconds? Prepare!
Dress to impress – smart casual or business formal wear
Be a little early, 10 minutes is best if a face to face interview, 5 minutes if online.
On time is late!
Practise positive body language such as keeping your shoulders open and head held high. Definitely do not cross your arms.
Be ready to sell yourself – Believe in your own abilities and competencies.

Next up is Practise.

People tend to overlook the practising element ‘I am talking about me, I know me!’
Yes, okay, but have you thought about the questions they may ask you?

In preparation for your job interview, practice giving answers to potential questions that may be asked during the interview stage of the recruitment process. Although you cannot predict the exact questions for each interview, look up common topics hiring managers discuss when interviewing for positions within Education, Training, Skills and IT. Consider why you want this role and what your strengths and weaknesses are.

Practise verbalizing these answers in front of a mirror or with a friend or family member and adjust your body language, posture and expression when needed.

You may consider trying on your interview outfit and making sure you feel confident and comfortable. Try to eliminate all possibilities of feeling uneasy at your interview.

One other thing we like job seekers to consider as part of their recruitment journey, is patience. We all know that hiring companies have seen hundreds of CVs. On average companies only shortlist 6 candidates for interview, despite having seen a ton of CVs.

Whether you applied for a job as a tutor, lecturer, IT Service delivery manager or 1st line support, you should be proud when you are shortlisted and invited for an interview, it’s important to have self-assurance and praise yourself when praise is due.

After the interview, you can often expect to wait up to seven days for feedback and a decision, unless a shorter time frame has been discussed with you prior to your interview. Whilst patience is often a difficult emotion to harness, giving hiring managers time to think often shows an understanding of their time and the other responsibilities they may have.

Even if you are unsuccessful, remember that you did great to get that far, the job market in 2023 is no easy feat. Take 5 minutes to be disheartened, evaluate the interview, and regain your composure. Put your professional head back on and onto the next interview. Practise makes perfect, right?

Whilst we can and will help you and guide you along the way, it is ultimately up to you to utilise the recruitment advise we provide, ultimately going on to nail that interview for the job of your dreams.

In 2021 there were over 6,000 recruitment agencies registered with Companies House, another increase from 2020 by 3%. One would think therefore that it’s impossible for people in the UK to not know of a recruiter and what their role involves. But what recruiters do every day can still leave people baffled. Whether it’s a friend, family member or acquaintance, us recruitment consultants would certainly have been asked at some point throughout our careers “So, what do recruitment agencies actually do?”

As we reach our 8th year in Business, our favourite element of being a recruitment agency is building relationships, nurturing them and ensuring the longevity of them.

We recognize what questions need to be asked along the way for Tech jobs, tutor jobs, lecturer job and beyond. Calling candidates and having a verbal conversation is our number one priority. We are lucky to have an ‘old school’ ethos of phone calls always coming first. Whilst we love an email, LinkedIn message or even a cheeky WhatsApp; picking up the phone and having a good old-fashioned conversation is truly the only way we can come to fully understand the needs of a candidate who is looking for a new job.

Having read the first part of this blog it is key to understand that the recruiters job doesn’t end after the candidate is represented to a potential employer, consistency in communication is key and we will always aim to keep candidates in the loop every step of the way. From considering a new job role, to securing a new job role, the benefits of using a recruitment agency are endless.

When it comes to feedback, it’s important to recognise that the opinion and feedback from the candidate is just as important as the potential employer’s feedback. It’s all well and good getting an offer in, but if the candidate didn’t enjoy the interview, have been put off by their own research or something someone’s brother’s cousin told them about said potential employer, the offer is pointless. Interviews are for candidates to explore how a potential employer behaves, not just the vice versa.

As recruiters within the ever-changing IT, Education and Skills sector, we pride ourselves on building relationships and laying good foundations.

If you come across a recruitment agency in IT or a recruitment agency in Education who are willing to lead you through your journey, not just drop you in a big ocean and hope for the best, embrace it, take their hand, and feel your shoulders relax a little. It is what we do, and it is what we love, being there for you every step of the way.