Eventus, Author at Eventus Recruitment Group

07Mar

Eventus Recruitment expands legal division with new training programme and two new hires

The Eventus Recruitment Group have expanded their legal division and launched a new training programme to encourage talented professionals to take up a career with them in recruitment. We are delighted to welcome Simon Scott and Elle Clarke to our ever-expanding team and are excited to see what the future holds.

Now a team of 11, here at the Eventus Recruitment Group, we are dedicated to providing enhanced employee benefits, incentives and offering flexible working to our employees. Simon has joined our fully remote team and Elle has joined our Wilmslow office.

Simon Scott has joined the Eventus Recruitment Group as a Senior Recruitment Consultant with over 10 years of recruitment experience. The most recent 8 of which have been within the legal market. So, he is excellently placed to further develop their offering within the South Yorkshire and East Midlands market.

Elle Clarke has joined us as a Recruitment Consultant within their Wilmslow office, working alongside their finance recruitment specialists Jo Hood and Shelley Gilchrist. Elle will be focussing on the legal market within Cheshire, Staffordshire and North Wales. Whilst new to recruitment, Elle has worked in the Wilmslow area for the past 3 years for a highly regarded estate agency and has long wanted to make the move into recruitment. Elle joins our brand-new extensive training programme, which has been developed utilising their directors’ many years of recruitment experience in partnership with a business adviser.

Siobhan Courtney, Managing Director of the Eventus Recruitment Group, said: “Simon joins us with a wealth of experience and we are delighted that he chose Eventus Recruitment Group for the next stage in his career. We are incredibly excited to see what the future holds for him, and as mentioned we are just so pleased that the future will be with us.”

“Elle has joined us on our new training scheme and she is the perfect person for this due to her previous sales experience and her super enthusiasm and integrity. Having had a large insight into law in her previous role she is best placed to join the legal team based out of our Cheshire office. A huge warm welcome to both Simon and Elle.”

After a successful 18 months helping businesses in Law and Finance fill staffing shortages and providing confidence to professionals to take the next step in their careers during uncertain times, we are excited to be expanding their offering further into Cheshire, North Wales, South Yorkshire and the Midlands with the help of Simon and Elle.

About the Eventus Recruitment Group

Due to our unique approach to recruitment, The Eventus Recruitment Group are the recruitment partner of choice for many businesses in the Legal, Finance and Accountancy sectors. We help private sector organisations with a range of recruitment services across the UK. From permanent and interim recruitment to targeted campaigns on a retained basis.

Our award-winning recruiters support businesses and professionals throughout every stage of the recruitment process. Ensuring that exceptional talent and skill fit are matched to the perfect job opportunity, whilst ensuring the best possible outcome for both client and candidate. To find out more about the Eventus Recruitment Group and our services click here or contact us for a confidential discussion.

“Nikki headhunted me when I wasn’t even looking for a job. She explained the opportunity without being pushy. Was supportive through the interview and offer process. Kept in touch during notice period. Rang to wish me luck the week before starting and checked I was OK after starting. Excellent service, best I’ve had in 22 years in legal. We’re already working together again on my new vacancies.”

Steve Bradley, Practice Manager

24Feb

Ways to make your employees feel valued

People are a company’s greatest asset and it can only be as good as the people it keeps. As a result, it is essential to make your businesses’ employees feel valued in the workplace. Valued employees are more satisfied and motivated, which in turn leads to increased productivity, creativity, improved morale and teamwork. On top of this, a valued workforce leads to higher employee retention, which is key a element of a successful business.

As Henry Ford said: “Coming together is a beginning…Keeping together is progress…Working together is success.”

How to make your employees valued

Valuing employees can mean different things to different people, so it is important to tailor your approach to each individual. Here are a few ways to make employees feel appreciated and valued:

Acknowledge their contributions

Make sure to thank your employees for their hard work and dedication. You can provide a platform for your colleagues recognition. This could be through employee of the month awards, peer-to-peer recognition or simply saying ‘thank you’ for a job well done.

Invest in their continued professional development

Checking in with your employees regarding career goals and progression is key. You can determine what steps are needed to get them there and support them in doing so. Investing in an employee’s professional development is an effective way to show that you value the individual.

Regular communication

Communicating with employees frequently and clearly can ensure that they feel heard. Employers can also provide transparency and listen to their opinion; this will make employees feel trusted and an integral part of the company.

Provide feedback

Regular feedback is essential to ensure employees are on the right track. Offer constructive criticism and praise to give employees the guidance they need to be successful and feel valued.

Give your employees a voice

Let them have a say in the business. Regularly ask for their opinions and provide them with regular updates on business performance. Allow your employees to approach you with their ideas. Always thank them, and provide them with recognition if you use their idea and if you don’t provide them with the reasons why you aren’t using it at this time. Regularly asking for feedback and listening to staff’s ideas and concerns can also help to make them feel heard and appreciated. Have a open door, hold discussions and / or anonymously survey employees regularly.

Offer rewards

Nothing motivates employees and makes them feel valued more than recognition and rewards. Offer incentives such as bonuses, company events, gift cards and flexitime to motivate and reward employees for their efforts.

Review your benefits

Providing your employees with the employees benefits that will enhance their way of living is a excellent way ensure your employees are valued. Ask them what they want and what will be beneficial for them. For example, flexible working hours can be a great way to give employees autonomy and make them feel appreciated.

Support

Providing employees with the tools and support they need to do their job successfully can make a large impact on feeling valued. This could be through clear expectations, adequate training and flexible working hours.

By implementing these simple steps, you can make sure your employees feel valued and appreciated.

As Stacy Sherman said “If you don’t appreciate and value your employees, your competitor will. They are looking for great talent.”

Get expert Advice

We are award winning recruitment specialists in the Legal, HR, Finance and Accountancy sectors, who go above and beyond traditional recruitment by offering an all-round consultancy service. Including, tailored specialist advice to enhance job searches, recruitment and retention strategies. Contact us today for a no obligation, confidential discussion.

"Excellent service received by both Amy & Lucy. They both fully understand the businesses and the candidates we require both academically and culturally. They both always go above and beyond. 1st class service received."

James, Watson Woodhouse Solicitors

Networking for Business and Career Success

How to Network for Business and Career Success

Love it or hate it networking is an essential part of many of our careers. Networking is not only good for business, but it can also be useful for if you find yourself looking for a new job too. On the flipside, if you are a hiring employer, there is potential to meet future employees at networking events. Furthermore, networking is great for brand awareness, both personally and for your business.

Networking for Career Success

Networking is a key part of any successful career. It provides the opportunity to meet potential employers and colleagues, develop new skills and learn from other people. It can also help to increase our visibility, build our reputation and strengthen our contacts. By getting to know more people in our chosen field, we can gain valuable insights into the industry, stay up to date with the latest trends and find out what is happening in our area of expertise. You might even gain some new business!

Networking for Building Relationships

Networking can also open up new opportunities and help us to establish relationships that can last a lifetime. It can help us to make new contacts and to build relationships with those already in our industry and those who can help us in our careers. For example, recruiters.

The value of networking shouldn’t be underestimated. By building relationships and meeting new people, we can open the door to new opportunities and help to further our career.

Personally we enjoy it – getting out there meeting other professionals and sharing ideas and feeling part of a community where you can recommend each other’s businesses.

Top Tips for Networking

Not everyone is keen and it can be quite difficult at first. So, we thought we’d share some top tips for making the most of networking events:

Networking Tip 1: Do your research – Check out the event agenda, list of attendees and any other information available about the event. Check out LinkedIn and who has attended past events. This will help you identify the people you want to talk to, so you make the most of your time.

Networking Tip 2: Prepare – Prepare some topics in advance so you have something to talk about. Have a few questions in mind that you can ask to help start conversations.

Conversation Starters for Networking

Some good questions to use as conversation starters at networking events include:

What do you do?
How did you get into that industry?
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
What are you working on right now?
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned so far?
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you started?
What do you enjoy most about networking events?
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Networking Tip 3: Have a good introduction – Introduce yourself and what you do. We’re not looking for war and peace but a brief overview of what you do and how you can help. Share a little bit about who you are as a person so people can get to know you. For example, any interesting hobbies? Take business cards if you have them.

Networking Tip 4: Ask questions – Don’t be afraid to ask for advice and insight from experienced professionals. This is a great way to learn and build relationships.

Networking Tip 5: Follow up – Make sure you stay in touch with the contacts you’ve made. Connect with them on LinkedIn and send them a message to thank them for their time. Then, be sure to stay in touch and keep the conversation going. Also, take some photos and create a post on LinkedIn about the networking event, what you learnt and enjoyed. Tag the organisers and people you met in the post. It will help promote the event, create further engagement with the attendees and boost your online presence. To read more on boosting your professional online profile and presence, read our blog here.

We hope you have found this article helpful. Let us know your thoughts on networking and comment below with your tips for networking.

"I can’t speak highly enough of the service I was provided by Eventus, specifically Amy Watson. Amy kept me updated throughout the recruitment process, ensuring that I was well equipped and providing me with the confidence required to be successful in securing a new job. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Eventus again for in the future and would highly recommend them to both friends and family."

Elizabeth, Solicitor

09Feb

Self-awareness during a job search

“Self-awareness”; a phrase which connotes personal development or growth, aspirations, and one’s own potential. All of which are, by and large, true. Equally true, I would say, is the idea that self-awareness is a valuable tool that can be cultivated and used to benefit one’s own job search.

Self-awareness can be defined as having an understanding of your personality, behaviours, habits, emotional reactions and motivation. It’s about being conscious of what you’re good at while acknowledging that you still have things to learn.

So, with that in mind, just how can “self-awareness” be used during a job search?

First things first, identify your skills

Before embarking on the search for a new job, it’s worth asking yourself the following question: “What can I bring to the table?” This seems, at least on first blush, a simple question. However, it’s a question that you need to answer honestly, and that requires some critical self-reflection.

When applying to a job, it’s important to effectively sell yourself. So, make sure that you consider what skills you have, and how you can best utilise them for your new employer.

Apply your skills to the work environment

For example, are you good at business development? If so, how do you develop business leads? What skills do you use to create and progress good working relationships? What figures (financially speaking) have you brought into the business because of your commercial acumen? Will these business relationships come with you to your new role? If not, what plans do you have to develop new leads and avenues to explore?

Always reflect on how your skills are applicable to a work environment and the job role you are applying for. Give examples of how you’ve utilised and applied your skills in the workplace, and the outcomes.

Identify your Soft skills

Also consider and be aware of the soft skills you have. Are you good with people? If so, how have you used this to your strength? Have you garnered repeat business because you’re personable? Again, if so, how much business, and what is it worth in monetary terms? Equally, if you’re good with people, how have you used this to help the already existing team? How do you boost morale?

In summary, at the start of your job search it’s important to analyse your skills and be aware of how your skills align with advertised job vacancies. This will ensure that you will only apply your roles where you skills align with the job.

Be Aware of your Weaknesses

Also important throughout the job search is having awareness of your weaknesses. Being self-aware, understanding your weaknesses and how to turn them into an advantage, will stand you in good stead throughout your job search. Don’t be surprised if the interviewer asks you about your weaknesses. We all have weaknesses, so embrace them!

What about the job for you?

So, you have a clear sense of self, or indeed, “self-awareness”. What next? I would argue that you need to use your self-awareness to determine the sort of job for you. You ought to be considering job opportunities that you are confident you will thrive in. Afterall, you spend so much your life at work. You ought to find a working environment that will allow you to thrive in it.

Not only does self-awareness allow you to make an informed decision about the next role that you will find yourself in, but it stands you in good stead for the future. For example, suppose you do find a role that you take a great deal of satisfaction in, and you are good at it, but for whatever reason, you find yourself wishing to move into a new role after a few years. Having that steady role on your CV shows that you don’t just move from job to job, and further contributes to the longevity of your working career.

Conclusion – The importance of self-awareness during a job search

Self-awareness is an absolute must have when you’re looking to move jobs; even when you are weighing up the sorts of jobs that you can apply for; or indeed the sort of job you may wish to accept, if you are in the fortunate position where you are given multiple job offers.

Being self-aware throughout the job search process is conjunctive to how you come across to potential employers. Additionally, having self-awareness is vital to your performance throughout the interview stage and your overall success to acquiring a new job.

By being able to take a step back from yourself, and then critically assess yourself, you can go a long way to ensuring that you find the right job for you.

Get Support with your job search

We’re here to be a friendly face and help you at every stage of your job search. To find out more about how we support professionals in the Legal, HR, Finance and Accountancy sectors, click here. Alternatively click here to arrange a confidential, no obligation discussion with our recruitment specialist for your sector and region.

"Nikki contacted me after seeing my cv online. I had been really unhappy at my job and was worried about staying in the legal profession due to this. Nikki had a job opportunity for me within a day and arranged an interview for the next day. Nikki rung me on the day of the interview to help me prep, after the interview and then kept in contact with me even after starting the job. She helps you through every step of the process and has helped me gain a position at an amazing firm and I couldn’t be more thankful. She genuinely cares and doesn’t sugarcoat opportunities to make them seem better than they are. Everything she told me is true to this day and I couldn’t recommend her more!"

Kimberley (Placed legal professional)

How to increase productivity at work

Do you ever finish your workday feeling like you weren’t able to accomplish everything on your to-do list? If this is you, then don’t worry as it is something that many of us experience from time-to-time, and in this article we will explore ways to increase productivity in the workplace.

Not completing our set daily tasks, with new competing priorities coming in, is often a regular occurrence to many of us who work in high pressured working environments. However, if you don’t feel in control of your workload, it can cause unnecessary stress, decrease your productivity and lead to burn out.

Many of us strive to be productive at work, but it can be difficult to maintain the motivation to do so, particularly in high pressured working environments and when our workload piles up. There are numerous ways to increase productivity and efficiency at work, and it’s important to remember that not all methods work for everyone. Here are some tips to help you stay focused on the task at hand, increase productivity and manage your time in ways that are conductive to your productivity.

How to increase productivity at work

Decorate and Personalise your Workspace

Add pops of colours or live plants. Use bright coloured post it notes, notepads, calendars etc… Take time to organise your workspace and files. Doing so will help you stay on track and get things done more efficiently. Add personal items to your desks, like photos to give you some relief in stressful moments.

Establish a comfortable workspace

It will help you feel more organized and efficient. Make sure you have a comfortable chair, a well-lit desk, and all the tools you need to get the job done.

Establish a routine

Making sure you stick to a regular schedule can help you stay focused and organised. Use calendars and to-do lists to plan each day. By scheduling blocks of time for tasks, will help you stay on track and keep productivity levels high.

Create lists and use weekly planners

Create a plan for each day. Make sure to break down your tasks into smaller, manageable chunks and set specific goals for each task. This will help you focus and stay on track.

Don’t multitask

Attempting to do too many things at once can be overwhelming and lead to mistakes. Focus on one task at a time. Sometimes, we have distracting thoughts about other tasks we have to do it. Make a note of these, so you don’t forgot. Doing so will allow to fully concentrate on the task at hand and prevent productivity levels dipping.

Limit Distractions

Put personal technology in your bag or a drawer. Turn off email notifications to help you concentrate. However, have set times to check your emails to ensure you don’t miss anything urgent.

Take regular breaks

Frequent breaks are important for staying energised and productive throughout the day. Take a few minutes to step away from your desk and give your mind a break. Go for a short walk, make a drink or grab a healthy snack.

Set yourself realistic goals

Setting achievable goals can help to motivate you and keep you on track. Think about what you need / would like to achieve and set SMART objectives. Objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

If you are unhappy at work or are looking for your next legal, finance or financial services job opportunity, click here to find out about the support we can offer you. Alternatively click here to contact us to arrange a confidential careers consultation.

Kimberley Fisher

We’re a Finalist for a Red Rose Award

The Eventus Recruitment Group are ecstatic to be a Finalist for the Professional Services Award at the 2023 Red Rose Awards. What a fantastic way to start the new year and a great follow on to their recent Business Support Services Award win at The Bay Business Excellence Awards.

The Red Rose Awards are the region’s largest business award ceremony, and they celebrate the most innovative, impactful and successful Lancashire businesses. It is an absolute honour to be a Finalist and included on this list.

Siobhan Courtney, Managing Director of the Eventus Recruitment Group, said: “It is an absolute honour to be named a finalist for a Red Rose Award. Having been a judge in previous years, I’ve seen first-hand the huge impact that being part of the Red Rose Awards has on businesses.”

Here at the Eventus Recruitment Group, we’ve had a strong start to 2023 with some fantastic new job vacancies coming in, proving once again the resilience of the legal and finance job markets. On top of this we’ve welcomed Sam Heraghty to the Eventus team as a Resourcing Consultant last month, and she is already making an impact to the job search of legal professionals. Furthermore, we will be welcoming a further two Recruitment Consultants to the team at the end of the month.

We are now keeping our fingers crossed and looking forward to the awards ceremony on Thursday 9^th March, where the winners will be revealed.

A recruitment service with a difference

Working with integrity, as recruitment consultants we always do these three things:

Get to know you – We take time to get to know you personally. For businesses we will get to know more than your job requirements. We will find out about you, your business, company culture and goals. For legal and finance professionals, we will find out more than just what you are looking for in your next role. We will get to know your background, career, interests, and motivations.
Put our clients and candidates first – We only place a professional in a company if it is 100% the right decision for both them and the hiring firm. Our bespoke service, and through us getting to know our clients and candidates, enable us to quickly establish the perfect match for talented professionals and businesses.
Tailor our service – Our team of experienced recruitment consultants will offer you unique insights into the recruitment industry and your candidate / job search tailored to your requirements. Always working with confidentiality and discretion, we add value to the selection process through impactful guidance and support. Similarly, we offer realistic, honest and straight forward advice to both candidates and clients.

Find Out More

If you are hiring, click here to find out more about our recruitment services and how we can help you find talented staff to help grow your business. Alternatively, if you are job searching in the legal and finance sectors, click here to find out more about the comprehensive support we can offer you in securing a new job that is perfect for you.

"The team at Eventus Legal always take time to fully understand the needs of the business and each role they are involved with, putting forward only those candidates who closely match our requirements. Feedback from successful candidates sourced by Eventus Legal has been excellent and they offer full support throughout the whole process from initial stages to job offer."

Marsden Rawsthorn Solicitors

"I initially contacted Eventus Legal to help me secure a new role…I was introduced to Nikki Phillips, who was keen to assist. She was friendly, pro-active and determined to help me. Nikki was amazing throughout the whole process. She certainly went above and beyond! She even communicated with me out of hours! Nikki swiftly assisted me in securing a new role and was there for me throughout the whole process. I could not recommend her enough!!"

Elizabeth Bolton (Placed legal candidate)

24Jan

Hiring in 2023? Recruitment Trends and Tips to recruit in the Legal and Financial Sectors

In 2022, we saw that in order for business’s recruitment and retention strategies to be successful they had to get creative. With the rise of counteroffers, quiet quitting and inflation, it looks like the need for creativity will continue into 2023 and beyond. Let’s explore what job applicants are looking for and tips for recruiting in 2023.

What are legal and finance professionals wanting in 2023 from their careers?

Daily, we have conversations with professionals who are unhappy in their current role or are looking to take the next step in their careers. To help you with your recruitment and retention strategy, below I’ve detailed the main reasons why they come to us and the reasons they state for seeking new career opportunities:

Wanting more flexibility and a better work-life balance – in our recent candidate survey, most people said that their ideal working pattern is hybrid
Lack of training and development opportunities
Wanting to be challenged in their role
Wanting more responsibility or the title / rewards for the duties they currently undertake in their job
Feeling undervalued / underpaid by their employer
Better management / working procedures

What is the best way for your business to recruit in 2023?

There are many different ways to recruit – all with their strengths and weaknesses – including contingent and retained recruitment. So you can reach all areas of the candidate market, not just those actively job-seeking, in this guide we explain and analyse all the different types of recruitment. The guide will help you to make an informed choice about the best recruitment method/s for your business.

Furthermore, today’s job market is still very much candidate led. With combined experience of over 80 years in recruitment, read our top tips for writing the perfect job advert and our top tips for ensuring your recruitment process is engaging and successful in attracting the top talent.

Hiring in 2023?

If you would like tailored advice and support to help you fill job vacancies in 2023, please do not hesitate to contact us here or call our head office on 01524 34400. We are a team of experienced recruitment specialists operating across England and Wales and in the legal and finance sectors. We are well-connected in your area, have a database of candidates and are often the go-to recruiters when professionals are starting their job search. To find out more about our recruitment services click here.

"Nikki headhunted me when I wasn’t even looking for a job. She explained the opportunity without being pushy. She was supportive through the interview and offer process. Kept in touch during notice period. Rang to wish me luck the week before starting and checked I was OK after starting. Excellent service, best I’ve had in 22 years in legal. We’re already working together again on my new vacancies."

Steve Bradley (Practice Manager)

13Jan

Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid

Common Interview Mistakes to Avoid at Interview stage of the job search process

A couple of weeks ago my eldest son had an interview for a sixth form … en route to the interview I flipped from Mum, giving him a lift, to Recruiter and started discussing with him how he must handle certain questions and how he must enthuse about the reasons he wanted to attend this sixth form … I could tell my advice and words were falling on stoney ground from his silence. However, he let me finish my prattle and turned to me and said he could only be himself and honest! Wow that stopped me in my tracks!

Interview Mistake 1: Never lie and pretend to be something or someone who are not

My son was completely and utterly spot on. Whilst I thought my words were wise and based on many years’ experiences as a recruiter he was absolutely utterly right! Why would you present anything other than the best version of your true self at an interview? As recruiters we are always saying a job interview is a two-way process and equally about whether the business is right for the applicant. The only way to know this is to be yourself. So based on this I guess the biggest mistake would be to not be your authentic wonderful self … it worked for my eldest as he got offered a place.

However, I appreciate this is a more complex scenario and over and above being true to yourself there are many other things to consider. Having interviewed many candidates over the years and taken numerous feedbacks from job interviews there is one massive thing that lots of it can compensate for other mistakes and lack of it can make good points fade into insignificance and that is, wait for it …. Interest and enthusiasm.

Interview Mistake 2: Not showing interest or enthusiasm

There is nothing more attractive than an interested and enthusiastic candidate. I, and most of my clients, love this! If a candidate can demonstrate that they are genuinely interested in the role and show some enthusiasm and passion for the role and company that they are interviewing for then they are well and truly on the right path. Any other small interview misdemeanours can be forgiven. Employers can train and upskill a candidate once they are in their care, but interest and enthusiasm are either there in a candidate naturally or they aren’t!

I am going off piste here aren’t I? I am writing about what we should do at interview as opposed to what we shouldn’t! So back to what we shouldn’t do … I feel these are all practical and basic points really but things, as an interviewee, are very much in your control …

Interview Mistake 3: Don’t be late

Don’t be late – plan your journey, do a dummy run if needed. This said being too early can be deemed equally disrespectful as being late. If you are very early to an interview, find a café, have a drink and go over your notes and preparation to kill some time. Don’t arrive at the job interview more than 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.

Interview Mistake 4: Never Dress Inappropriately

If in doubt dress smarter. It’s best to feel a little over dressed than to be on the back foot feeling tatty. If you don’t have any smart clothes, there are places where you can hire smart clothing for job interviews.

Interview Mistake 5: Not researching the company and role before the job interview

Don’t rock up without absolute clarity on the role – make certain you have seen the job specification that you are interviewing for. Make sure you are able to highlight all the areas of the spec that you are competent within. Also, make sure you research the company and their culture in detail. This will give you extra details to reference and you can highlight where your personality and values match the firms. Showing that you’ve taken the time to do research, shows your interest and that you are pro-active; putting you ahead of other candidates who haven’t done this.

Interview Mistake 6: Don’t ever be negative

Avoiding being negative in a job interview is huge. There is nothing more repellent than a candidate negativity regardless of the point that they are trying to get over. A point can always be made, and a story told without resorting to being negative. No good ever comes of negativity and it won’t get you the job. If asked why you would like to leave your current firm, don’t bad-mouth them.

For me these are probably the main ‘Don’ts’ from a job interview perspective… so avoid these, sprinkle with lots of enthusiasm and interest and be your true authentic self and the jobs yours … Simple!

Written by Jo Hood, Principal Consultant at Eventus Recruitment Cheshire.

Job Interview Resources

The following resources will help you to prepare for a job interview and to succeed at the interview stage of the job search process:

Job Interview Hints & Tips

Questions to as the Interviewer in a job interview to win them over

If you are looking for a new job we are here to help you find the perfect job opportunity in the Legal, HR, Finance and Accountancy sectors. Get in touch today for a confidential discussion about job opportunities available and your career. We offer support at every stage of the job search process, from CV writing, sourcing job opportunities, interview preparation, to managing and negotiating offers of employment.

Jo kept in touch with me over the last 6 months and called me out the blue about a role she had. There was no hard sell, just a genuine nice call asking if I was interested although the client had gone to 2nd interview with another person. Jo kept me up to date with regards to an interview and feedback and I had a lovely feeling that Jo was completely on my side with regards to me securing the position, which I did. Jo is a credit to your agency.” – Sharen, finance and accounts professional

09Jan

How to recruit – find the best way to recruit for your business

There are many different ways to recruit and to fill your job vacancies; each with their own positives and negatives. Here, we explore the different methods to recruit, so you can make an informed decision on which approach is most suited to your requirements and business.

Traditional Recruitment

Traditional recruitment is where you target candidates who are active in the job market. This can be done through advertising on job boards, social media and other traditional methods like utilising your previous applications or databases of CVs. This is often referred to by Recruiters as contingent recruitment. In addition, contingent recruitment is often the default recruitment method by companies when filling job vacancies.

Positives of Traditional / Contingent Recruitment

Traditional recruitment gives you access to active candidates, those who are genuinely looking for a new role.
Can be quicker, applicants are motivated to move.
Often gives you the choice between multiple candidates, useful for benchmarking.

Negatives of Traditional / Contingent Recruitment

Contingent recruitment doesn’t give you access to the whole market, just those currently job seeking.
Not guaranteed to get any interest or applicants at all.
Job boards have an associated cost, which you pay regardless of filling the role or not.

Headhunting

This is where you go out and look for candidates and professionals who you think are suitable for the role and contact them directly. This method is an option often used for senior roles but also those vacancies where there is a lack of active candidates in the market. This is often referred to by Recruiters as retained recruitment if they are operating in this way, as the client is retaining their services to map and speak to all individuals in the market.

Positives of Headhunting / retained recruitment

A headhunt or retained recruitment gives you access to better quality candidates and ones who aren’t actively looking for a job.
You are able to reach the whole market, useful to ascertain whether what you are looking for actually exists.
Candidates typically are flattered and enjoy the process.

Negatives of a headhunting / retained recruitment

Headhunting is a slower process than contingent recruitment and often can be time consuming to find professionals suited to the role.
Candidates who aren’t looking for a role often need more meetings to encourage them to move (and often a higher salary and benefits package).

Using a Recruiter

A recruiter can help you with both contingent and retained recruitment.

Positives of using a Recruiter

You get access to a recruitment expert who specialises in your sector and geographical region. They will dedicate their time to finding the best candidates for your vacancies, and work at this all-day, every-day.
Recruiters are generally well-connected with talented professionals and have a database of candidates who are actively looking for new roles, so they provide you with a wider talent pool.
Most recruiters (like us) will provide you and your candidates with support at every stage of the recruitment process, even once the successful candidate has started their new job with your company. This allows you to concentrate on your job, and not be worrying about your internal recruitment.
Your jobs will be seen. We list your jobs on industry specific job boards, Google Jobs, social media and on our website free of charge.

Negatives of Using a Recruiter

They don’t know the business as well as you, so you must invest time at the start to discuss everything thoroughly. We take time to get to know more than your job requirements. We will find out about you, your business, company culture and goals. This unique approach enables us to quickly establish the perfect match for talented professionals and businesses. On top of this, we will only place an individual in a company if we are 100% confident it is the right decision for both them and you as the hiring company.
There is a cost to using a recruiter. With us, there are no hidden fees and we don’t charge a different price for contingent and retained recruitment (just a different pay structure).

Recruiting on your own

Many businesses will try recruiting on their own first before approaching a Recruiter. However, we find once clients has used us for the first time, they come back to us again when they need to recruit.

Positives of recruiting on your own

Recruiting on your own you have full autonomy over the applications.
It’s the cheapest method of recruiting. No agency fees.

Negatives of recruiting on your own

Time cost is very high. You have to oversee the whole recruitment process. Trust us, the vast majority of applications you receive will be irrelevant and clog up your inbox. Work out how much it costs you in time cost to recruit and it could be cheaper to pay an agency to recruit for you.
Applicants often enjoy using an agency. We manage the process for them and negotiate on their behalf. So, often some applicants will only apply for agency roles.
It’s likely less applicants will be received – your jobs will be less visible to active professionals in the job market. Plus, as so many professionals are registered with agencies, they know the vacancies will come to them, rather than them having to go searching job boards.

What is the cost difference of using a recruiter for traditional recruitment (contingent) and headhunting (retained recruitment)?

There is no difference in the cost, however the payment terms are different. With contingency recruitment, often described as “no win no fee”, the recruiter searches the market for active candidates and the fee is charged to the client on the placed candidate’s start date. The cost is the same for the retained service but there is an up-front fee to cover the cost of the time spent compiling the research, which is often very lengthy. The remainder of the fee is then paid when the candidate starts.

The fact that part of the fee is paid up front puts extra pressure on the recruiter to fill the role, so a good recruitment consultant should never suggest a retained service for a role they don’t think they can fill. When we consider this option for our clients we always take into account the job role, geographic, the firm’s culture, values and the benefits they can offer prospective candidates before agreeing to this service level. It has to be an attractive option in order to appeal to professionals who aren’t actively looking for new employment.

What resources do candidates use when looking for a job?

The above image shows the results from our recent survey. In the survey we asked legal and finance professionals which resources are they likely to use when looking for a new job. 70% of respondents listed Recruiter as their top go-to resource when looking for a new job.

Which is the best recruitment option for your business?

We hope the above has helped you to understand the different methods of hiring for your business. Before coming to a decision on a recruitment method, think about the role, what sort of candidates you would like, any database of candidates you may have, your budget and time costs to recruit. We find that some companies use us every time they are hiring and that some businesses only come to us with the job vacancies they are struggling to fill themselves.

If you decide that using a recruitment agency is the best option for you, you will have a choice between a contingent or retained recruitment search. Both options have excellent benefits. A good recruitment consultant will want to understand more about the role, what you have done so far and why you think you are having difficulty filling the role before making a recommendation on the best option. Their advice will be based on their expert knowledge of the market in your geographic.

Whichever option you choose, the most important element is ensuring your recruitment consultant has a thorough job specification and understanding of the firm. If you can you should meet face-to-face so your consultant can talk about the firm and the environment with first hand experience.

It’s important to remember that candidates don’t just want to know about the job role and the salary, they want to understand about the culture, vision and values along with why people enjoy working for the firm and the employee benefits.

Get direct recruitment support and advice

If you would like to discuss any of your current vacancies and how we can work with you to hire the best talent, please get in touch here. Our specialist consultant for your geographical region and sector will then be in touch to provide you with their honest advice and to discuss your requirements. Alternatively, email info@eventuslegal.com or call 01524 34400.

What do our clients say about our recruitment service?

Excellent service received by both Amy & Lucy. They both fully understand the businesses and the candidates we require both academically and culturally. They both always go above and beyond. 1st class service received.” – James, Watson Woodhouse Solicitors

“The team at Eventus Legal always take time to fully understand the needs of the business and each role they are involved with, putting forward only those candidates who closely match our requirements. Feedback from successful candidates sourced by Eventus Legal has been excellent and they offer full support throughout the whole process from initial stages to job offer.” – Marsden Rawsthorn Solicitors

“Eventus is our default provider because they understand our business. Time has been taken over the long term to really understand the various elements of the services that we provide, which means that the candidates they provide are capable of delivering what we need when we need it. In addition, we feel that we can pick up the phone at anytime to discuss potential developments and we know that Eventus will always take a long term view of our requirements and put our business needs first. – Sharif, Ormrods Solicitors.

Additional Reading on developing your recruitment process and strategy

Tips to ensure your recruitment process is engaging and successful in attracting the top talent to fill you job vacancies.

Employee benefits your staff and future employees want.

How to write job adverts that stand out to the top talent working in your sector.

04Jan

Beating the January Blues – Starting January in the right way

More than one quarter of Brits have the ‘January Blues’ and admit to feeling more miserable than they do at any other time of the year. A study of 2,000 UK adults has revealed that the first month of the year can be bleak for many. (SWNS Digital)

Top Causes of January Blues

The top stated causes for January blues include:

A lack of money after overspending through the festive period
The weather
The dark nights and lack of daylight
The magic of Christmas being over and going back to work
The pressure of New Year’s resolutions

How to overcome the January Blues

Whether it be professionally or personally, I think the best way to get through January (and let’s face it February too!) is to set realistic targets and small goals to keep you focused, motivated and excited for the year ahead.

Make lists and set goals

Buy new stationary, treat yourself to a new notebook and start making lists. They don’t have to be just for January. Set goals for how you want your year to look. Write it in pencil – be flexible with what you want to achieve. Life can throw curve balls often, rub it out and reassess. You don’t want your goals to feel like a burden, move them around, change them or get rid altogether. Even if your goals are completely wild and something you’re not likely to do, but is a desire, write these things down too. Putting them out there, saying them out loud is more likely to make them come to fruition.

Reflect

Look back at the year that has gone by. Look at what you achieved and be proud of yourself. Also, consider anything that you wish had a different outcome and if there was anything that you could have done differently. This will help with future goals.

Hobbies

This is a big cliché! But is there anything you have always wanted to take up but haven’t gotten around to it? Even just having a think about what you enjoy and how to make sure you make more time to do these things.

Plan trips

Think about the year ahead and places you like to visit. Theatre shows you would like to see, restaurants you’d like to go to.

Check in on other people

If you’re not the kind of person that suffers with the ‘January blues’, reach out to the friends and colleagues who may have gone a bit quiet over this period.

Be challenged at work

After the frenzy of December, January can be a bit of a lull. Ask your employer if you can take on some training or look at new projects you can start. If your employer can’t offer training or new challenges, maybe it’s time to look at other opportunities available on the job market and consider making your next career move. We are always available for a confidential and no pressure chat about career opportunities in the legal and finance sectors. Experienced recruitment specialists, we offer support at each stage of your job search; From updating CVs, sourcing job opportunities, arranging interviews and supporting you with preparation; managing offers and negotiating contracts.

Written by Shelley Gilchrist, Finance Resourcing Consultant.

What candidate’s say…

My thanks to Eventus for reaching out. You introduced me to a fascinating high-calibre opportunity, and managed the process thereafter like old friends. It really was a pleasure to work with both Nikki and Siobhan, and I have good reason to be grateful for their calm, quiet competence, and their understanding of their market, and their clients’ needs.” – Dominic, placed Legal Candidate.

“Both Amy and Lucy were helpful during my job search. They were flexible to help work around my work schedule and always responded quick. They tried to do everything possible to help me through the recruitment process and even after I received my offer letter. I am more than happy with the help and support I received and couldn’t thank them enough.” – Emily, placed legal marketing candidate.

21Dec

How does the SQE compare to LPC?

How does the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) compare to Legal Practice Course (LPC)?

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) is the route many solicitors have taken for decades in order to become a qualified solicitor in England and Wales but things are now changing.

Previously aspiring solicitors would graduate with a law degree or have taken a conversion course such as the Postgraduate Diploma or Graduate Diploma in Law followed by the LPC.

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has now been introduced offering an alternative route which will eventually phase out the LPC.

This means students who have a UK undergraduate degree can undertake the SQE as can those who have work experience equivalent to a degree such as a solicitor apprenticeship.

The LPC

The LPC takes one or two years to complete, depending on whether you complete the full or part time course. The course comprises of the foundation modules including the core practice areas followed by the elected areas of law in which you are interested in specialising in.

The course aims to provide students with skills including advocacy, legal research, interviewing and advising and drafting legal writing.

There are various exams including written, oral, multiple choice and take-home assessments.

In order to qualify the LPC is followed by a two year training contract, where you will gain experience and skills in a legal setting to support your knowledge. The training contract usually includes four different seats, six months for each, but this isn’t always the case.

The SQE

Unlike the LPC the SQE is not a course. The SQE is two sets of exams:

SQE 1:

Legal knowledge regarding various practice areas.
There are two papers each with 180 multiple choice questions.

SQE 2:

Oral and written legal skills.
This includes online and face to face assessments including advocacy, interviewing and legal analysis, legal research, legal drafting and legal writing.

Qualifying Work Experience to become a Solicitor

In order to qualify aspiring solicitors need to complete the QWE, which consists of two years of Qualifying Work Experience. This can be done with one firm as with the Training Contract or with up to four organisations in a maximum of four periods, with the opportunity to work in a variety of legal settings to maximise their exposure to diverse matters.

Although the timing of the QWE isn’t specified it would be advantageous if you are able to gain some legal work experience prior to sitting the SQE 2 as this exam relates to skills rather than knowledge.

How long does it take to become a qualified Solicitor through the SQE and LPC?

The LPC route will take 3-4 years to complete depending on whether you do the full or part time course.

The SQE can be completed from 8 months to 6 years.

The SQE study course can be taken with as little as 8-10 hours learning per week but of course it will take longer to complete this way.

Which qualifying route is best for me?

Choosing the right route is completely down to you but it’s worth taking into consideration the following:

Cost – The SQE is intended to reduce the overall cost of qualifying – however as the SQE doesn’t include a preparation course. You will need to take into account the cost of these to give you the best chances of passing and not having to re-sit the assessments.
Preferred assessment – the LPC focuses on practical application of knowledge with assessments undertaken throughout the course. In comparison, the SQE assessments are much more intense with two assessments lasting just over five hours each.
The types of firms you would like to work for and what their current preferred route is – some firms will prefer the LPC although many will be open to both qualification routes. So, do your research.
Existing experience – if you have some legal experience you can check with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) as to whether this can be considered towards your QWE.

Mental Health and coping during the festive season

Christmas and the festive season can be a time of joy spending times with family and friends. However, on the flipside, it can be a lonely and stressful period, with people struggling to cope with their mental health during the festive period.

There is always so much going on during the festive season and so much for us to juggle – Christmas parties and dinners, Christmas shopping and getting through all the work on our desks before the Christmas break. So, it’s no wonder that our mental health can take a knock during the festive period.

On top of this, if you are an introvert like me the social side of Christmas may also be stressful for you.

So, how do you look after your mental health at Christmas and throughout the festive season?

Tips for looking after your mental health and coping at Christmas

Take time for yourself. It’s okay to say no!

There is a term being used a lot at the moment – “healthily selfish”. It refers to having a healthy respect for your own health, freedom, growth and happiness. A lot of us often always put other people’s needs before their own, particularly throughout the festive season and don’t take time for themselves.

Remember, it is okay to say no. Put some time in your calendar over the festive season to do something you enjoy. Doing things that we love is important for our mental health. When we have busy schedules, it’s very easy to shelve the things we want to do and to put others first. Even if it is just 15 minutes, allocate some time for you to support your mental health.

Give yourself space and take a break

If the festivities are all getting a bit hectic or getting too much, take yourself away from it for a break. Go for a walk in nature, listen to your favourite music, read a book, try mindfulness, or just be in the moment.

Some of the well-known Mindfulness apps such as Headspace and Calm can be trialled for free. Alternatively Mind has some Mindfulness exercises and tips to try, which can be accessed here.

Furthermore, the Christmas break is the perfect time to take some time out of your day-to-day life and reflect on your year and goals. Whether at home or going away, re-energise by giving yourself a change of pace or scene.

Don’t feel the pressure to overspend during the festive season

Buying gifts and the extra spending many of us do over the festive period combined with the rising cost-of-living, it’s no wonder many of us are feeling the pinch and/or have money worries at present. 86% of respondents to a Money and Mental Health survey of nearly 5,500 people with experience of mental health problems said that their financial situation had made their mental health problems worse. (Money and Mental Health Policy Institute) I think all of us feel pressure to buy expensive gifts and to gift to people who we don’t really need to at Christmas. Sponsored adverts are everywhere online at this time of year and they too can influence people’s purchasing decisions to buy things that they don’t really need. Why not consider gifting your time instead? Cook someone lunch or use your skills to complete some jobs or activities for someone. For example, DIY, cleaning, sewing, admin etc…

Don’t feel pressure to say yes to everything

This time of year can be so tiring, with so much happening and to-do lists as long as our arms. Working hard to finalise all our work tasks, planning for Christmas, Christmas shopping and then to top it off comes the invites to Christmas parties and other social engagements that happen during the festive period. Remember, it’s okay to miss a couple of social engagements. As long as you politely decline the invitations in advance, you won’t be judged for not attending the events.

Reach out to other people during the festive season

Christmas is the perfect time to reach out to friends and family who we’ve not spent much time with in the past year. Feelings of loneliness can be more intense at this time of year. So, by reaching out you might make someone feel better and it will make you feel good too.

Don’t compare yourself to others

With social media it is so easy to compare yourself to other people, more so at Christmas. Our social media feeds are often full of images of the “perfect Christmas” and luxurious gifts. However, remember that social media is not a true reflection of people and Christmas – they often don’t show the negative parts.

Keep active and healthy

Easier said than done, I know. I’m a massive foodie and have no willpower when it comes to food. Every year throughout the Christmas break, I overindulge and make myself feel ill. And I suspect I’m not alone. So, this year I have some walks planned and will do the decorating and other jobs I’ve been putting off if the weather is bad. This will mean that I’m not sat on the sofa eating all the leftovers and chocolates gifted at Christmas. Definitely this year my plan is not to overindulge, so that I remain healthy and have the energy to be active and enjoy the Christmas break.

Talk about your feelings

It can be hard to admit that at such an exciting time of year you don’t feel great. But talking about your feelings can improve your mood and help you cope with a tough time.

Talking is a vital part of self-managing your mental wellbeing and staying healthy. Don’t be afraid to admit your feelings to someone you can talk to. They will be glad that you have spoken up and will be able to help you through the festive season.

It’s okay not to feel festive

There can be all sorts of reasons why some of us don’t feel festive. If this is you, don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s okay to feel how you feel and you’re not the only one.

Written by Emma Guy, Marketing Manager at the Eventus Recruitment Group.

Get tailored Career Advice and Recruitment Support

If your job is affecting your mental health we can help. The Eventus Recruitment Group are award-winning recruitment specialists in the Legal, Finance, Accountancy and HR sectors. We have an experienced and knowledgeable team of industry experts, passionate about finding the best candidates to help businesses thrive. Based in Lancashire and Cheshire, we have regional specialists covering the whole of England and Wales.

If you are looking for your next role or are recruiting, please get in touch here for a confidential discussion.

Tailored Advice

We support legal, finance and HR professionals in applying for jobs. Through finding suitable roles that fit your requirements and skills, CV writing and preparing you for interviews. Also, we handle any contract and benefits negotiations on your behalf. Get in touch for a confidential discussion about your career. To view our latest job vacancies, please click here.

How We Work

We believe that happiness at work is a must for everyone. Above all, we will only ever place a candidate in a business if it is the right fit for both them and the business. So, you can be confident that we will find you the best career opportunities and best talent for your business.

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

About the Eventus Recruitment Group

How to make your employees valued

Acknowledge their contributions

Invest in their continued professional development

Regular communication

Provide feedback

Give your employees a voice

Offer rewards

Review your benefits

Support

Get expert Advice

Further reading on staff retention and motivation

How to Network for Business and Career Success

Networking for Career Success

Networking for Building Relationships

Top Tips for Networking

Conversation Starters for Networking

First things first, identify your skills

Apply your skills to the work environment

Identify your Soft skills

Be Aware of your Weaknesses

What about the job for you?

Conclusion – The importance of self-awareness during a job search

Get Support with your job search

Further Reading on Self Awareness

How to increase productivity at work

Decorate and Personalise your Workspace

Establish a comfortable workspace

Establish a routine

Create lists and use weekly planners

Don’t multitask

Limit Distractions

Take regular breaks

Set yourself realistic goals

Further reading

A recruitment service with a difference

Find Out More

What are legal and finance professionals wanting in 2023 from their careers?

What is the best way for your business to recruit in 2023?

Hiring in 2023?

Common Interview Mistakes to Avoid at Interview stage of the job search process

Interview Mistake 1: Never lie and pretend to be something or someone who are not

Interview Mistake 2: Not showing interest or enthusiasm

Interview Mistake 3: Don’t be late

Interview Mistake 4: Never Dress Inappropriately

Interview Mistake 5: Not researching the company and role before the job interview

Interview Mistake 6: Don’t ever be negative

Job Interview Resources

Traditional Recruitment

Positives of Traditional / Contingent Recruitment

Negatives of Traditional / Contingent Recruitment

Headhunting

Positives of Headhunting / retained recruitment

Negatives of a headhunting / retained recruitment

Using a Recruiter

Positives of using a Recruiter

Negatives of Using a Recruiter

Recruiting on your own

Positives of recruiting on your own

Negatives of recruiting on your own

What is the cost difference of using a recruiter for traditional recruitment (contingent) and headhunting (retained recruitment)?

What resources do candidates use when looking for a job?

Which is the best recruitment option for your business?

Get direct recruitment support and advice

What do our clients say about our recruitment service?

Additional Reading on developing your recruitment process and strategy

Top Causes of January Blues

How to overcome the January Blues

Make lists and set goals

Reflect

Hobbies

Plan trips

Check in on other people

Be challenged at work

What candidate’s say…

How does the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) compare to Legal Practice Course (LPC)?

The LPC

The SQE

SQE 1:

SQE 2: