Ask the Recruiter – Tips for a Good First Day

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Dear Media Contacts

My son is starting his first job since graduating from university and I’ve never seen him so nervous. I really want to help him to relax and be well prepared for his big day. I also don’t think I can deal with a stressed-out son around the house any longer! I’m desperate for your advice.

Many thanks,

Sue

 

Dear Sue

We’re more than happy to help. This is a typical question we are asked by worried friends and family members. Starting your first proper job can be daunting, and it’s perfectly normal for your son to feel a bit anxious. Here are some tips so he can concentrate on being happy and excited instead.

  1. Preparation – No-one wants to be late on their first day; remind him to make sure his clothes are washed, ironed and ready to wear so he doesn’t have to decide what to put on in the morning. Encourage him to check travel arrangements and make notes of any delays and alternative routes.
  2. Relaxation – He might well have a restless night with the nerves but having a relaxing bath to unwind as well as an early night will really make a difference in the morning, so he’s switched on and can survive the day without guzzling gallons of coffee!
  3. Fuel – They might be too nervous to be hungry, but a decent breakfast will prevent hunger induced nausea and tummy rumbling.
  4. Lunch – Hopefully his new colleagues will take him to lunch on his first day, but it’s not a bad idea to have a sandwich with him just in case.
  5. Boost – A simple ‘good luck’ or ‘how’s it going?’ message can really go a long way.
  6. New Job Survival Kit – Whether you make this yourself or buy one online. A new job survival kit will at least raise a smile and makes a novel alternative to a good luck card.

How Media Recruiters Can Help Graduates Break Into The Media Industry

Posted by On Filed under Advertising & PR, Communication PR, Design & Creative, Editorial, Employee hunting, Engineering, Events, Fashion, General, Graduate, Healthcare PR, HR & Personnel, Interview tips, Job description, Job hunting, Media, Media, Pharmaceuticals, Public Sector & Government, Recruitment Consultancy, Recruitment Consultancy, Sales
How Media Recruiters Can Help Graduates Break Into The Media Industry

It is that time of year again when the final academic term ends and floods of fresh talent hit the job market! As the media industry continues to evolve and expand in scope, it is becoming one of the hardest industries to break into. However, to have a good recruitment consultant on your side can really help you to find and apply for jobs in a more targeted and effective way. Whether you’re looking for a job as a medical writer or a conference producer, an account executive or want to try sales for example, as specialists they already know the key players, where the jobs are and how to get them, so they are the best people to get in touch with.

Skills and Experience

Graduates tend to have a unique skill set, they are naturally tech-savvy innovators and social media gurus; key skills that employers are seeking in this new digital age. However, a degree alone is not going to set you apart from other graduates, understanding the importance of gaining experience is vital and that is what will keep your CV from being brushed under the pile. Here at Media Contacts we hold CV workshops to show you what to include and how to present it, enabling you to put your best CV forward to employers.

Salary and Incentives

According to The Sutton Trust, who work to raise aspirations of young people from low income backgrounds, graduates leave UK universities with an average of £44,000 of debt! Comparing this figure to the average graduate annual salary of £18,000 – £22,000, it starts to become apparent how your first pay packet can be a harsh wake up call. However, most companies have great benefits packages, offering incentives including health insurance, pension schemes, free gym memberships and a generous amount of paid holiday. Media recruiters will fight your corner to negotiate you the best salary and incentives package, leaving you free to concentrate on other things.

Top Tips for Graduates

  • Social Media

Potential employers will look through your social media. FACT. So make sure it’s clean! Showcase your skills and experience in a professional manner that reflects what is on your CV. After all, if you’re are applying for jobs in PR but your LinkedIn page says you want to be a superhero, it doesn’t look good.

  • Experience

Determination is essential to break into a competitive industry, experience is critical when job hunting, therefore DO ANYTHING YOU CAN to get a head start while at university, even if it means taking on unpaid but relevant roles.

  • Know your stuff

As well as having experience within the industry, conduct some thorough research and find out relevant information from as many sources, including, but not limited to subscribing to industry magazines, attending graduate career fairs and asking people you know already if they have any contacts. This will help you to keep up to date with what is going on, who is who and which companies are doing what.

Media Contacts is one of the top media recruitment consultancies in London, you can contact us if you have any questions and our experienced consultants will be happy to help.

What Does It Take to Secure one of the Best Publishing Jobs in London?

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Publishing jobs in London

 

Publishing has always been a hot sector, but with publishing jobs in London now more sought after than ever, how do you stand out from the competition?

 

Whilst there are always great publishing jobs in London, it can be extremely hard to land one when you are fresh out of university and looking for your first proper job. So how do you get ahead of the competition and show that you’re the one for the role? These are some of the attributes that will make a difference.

 

The Ability to Self-Publicise

Do your own PR: think of yourself as the brand and demonstrate your promotional skills throughout your CV and application. So don’t be bashful – present every skill, every bit of relevant experience and personal trait that you have in the best possible light. Remember that there may be hundreds of other applicants lining up for the few publishing jobs in London, so it’s not time to hold back. You might also consider some voluntary work, perhaps for a charity but if within a publishing team even better, through which you can get the essence of real life work experience which will be good addition to your portfolio.

 

Consider Other Locations

Yes, the publishing jobs in London tend to be the ones that everyone goes for, but there are plenty of other cities in the UK in which you can forge a rewarding publishing career. Look at Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds or Cambridge, for example, and build your contacts. There might be fewer jobs in the mix, but there are also likely to be fewer applicants per posting too, swinging the odds in your favour.

 

Broaden Your Skillset

The publishing jobs in London these days require more than the ability to engage with journalists, write press releases and hold launch events. Social media has made the industry far quicker and more exciting, so if you can demonstrate a real passion and aptitude for effective social media promotion and engagement, you will be at an advantage in the jobs market.

 

Consider Aligned Careers

The actual publishing roles are the obvious ones, but publishing houses all have a range of exciting professions that require similar skillsets. For example, you could work in sales, marketing, communications, rights, production and other areas. This will help to build your knowledge of how the industry works and make you more employable, and it will give you the chance to side-step into other roles of interest as you progress within your employer’s organisation. Often the trick is just to get into a company and then work hard to prove yourself and develop your career in the direction you want..

Employers Speeding up Hiring with the Aid of Media Recruitment

Posted by On Filed under Advertising & PR, Communication PR, Digital, General, Graduate, Media, Recruitment Consultancy

media-recruitment

 

Unemployment is at an 11-year low and so employers are being literally forced to speed up hiring or lose top talent. Media Recruitment makes it possible.

 

The news is good. In fact, it is very good! The latest report coming out of the ONS is that unemployment is at its lowest level in the past 11 years and this means that more people are on the job in the UK. However, there is a flip side to this and that would mean that employers now have to speed up the hiring process or they stand in danger of losing top talent to the competition. With the help of Media Recruitment online, the entire process can be cut to a fraction of the time traditional recruiters take and employers get the talent they are looking for.

Recent Survey Reflects State of UK Job Market

According to a survey cited in Business Matters magazine for SMEs in the UK, almost half the 100 employers surveyed said they have had to significantly speed up the entire hiring process or lose top talent to competitors. As well, 59% of those polled said the entire process is now taking just short of two weeks and in addition to that, 92% said they were issuing offers within a 7-day period following the initial interview. To date, this rapidity in the hiring process is almost unheard of. The speed at which candidates can be found is entirely due to the capabilities of online recruiters such as Media Recruitment.

Media Recruitment Solves the One Real Issue

The biggest problem many employers are having is in finding ways to attract the top talent they seek. Many are putting out online adverts of their own or are using means to attract talent that are, for lack of a better word, archaic. It is no longer sufficient to contact a brick and mortar recruitment agency because that process is much too lengthy and by the time candidates are collected, an online recruiter (again like Media Recruitment) has snatched them up for employers they work with.

Marketing Is Key

One thing that Media Recruitment has that many recruiters lack is the knack of marketing for talent. It is, after all, the same as attracting customers to a business. It’s all about marketing and if an employer wants to attract the cream of the crop, it is essential to pull out all stops and employ a recruitment marketing strategy. This is why we excel at Media Recruitment and how we will continue to place the very best candidates in touch with the very best employers. It’s what we do, have always done and will continue to do. This new rapid-fire market enables us to shine and it is this light that brought you here today.

Surviving Your First Week in Top Publishing Jobs in London.

Posted by On Filed under General, Media

jobsIf you’ve been lucky enough to bag yourself one of the best publishing jobs in London, then you’ll want to impress in your first week in role.

 

It’s fair to say that publishing jobs in London are hotly contested for, and candidates successful in obtaining a role will have to work hard to impress and really stand out from the crowd in order to get their foot in the door.

 

If you have worked hard enough to secure yourself a role, you’ll want to make sure you shine in your first week. Here are some tips to get you started.

 

Dress Right

Most publishing jobs in London require you to look professional and smart. If you aren’t sure, then err on the side of caution and over-dress on the professional front. You can always tone it down to a more casual look if you find that your new colleagues are a little more informal in their dress code. Remember, however, that you want to look keen and respectful, and the right clothing can help to achieve both aims.

 

Listen

When you are new in role, the temptation might be to try to show how much you know. However, those successful in the best publishing jobs in London tend to be excellent listeners before they are speakers. When your new boss, team-mates and other stakeholders talk to you, make sure you listen. You will pick up some gems of knowledge that really help you to be effective from the start.

 

Deliver Quickly

One good way to get noticed is to make sure you deliver straight away on your tasks and objectives. If you have a project, get stuck straight into it. If you don’t, then ask for one. Show that you are hungry to succeed by working hard. People respect hard work and effort, and you will find that this takes you far. Show that you are an achiever and more senior people will be interested.

 

Network

Use your new job to get you out and about and meeting people within the business. Learn names and roles quickly to find out who you can help in their role – and who can help you. This will allow you to make a good impression by saying hello and being courteous as you settle into your new job.

 

So, in essence, look the part, listen carefully, get to know names quickly and get out there and start impressing everyone with your work. Contact us if you need more information.