Client newsletter

The onset of winter has come early across most of the UK and Europe and as usual in the UK this has ground roads and rail networks almost to a halt.  This might make it tempting to think of jobs abroad, which you can read about below.  

It’s been another challenging year in the jobs market and in Europe we have seen signs of recovery in places like Germany and Switzerland and to a smaller extent, even in the UK. On a macro level, although vacancies have risen, time to hire is still long (for contract and permanent) with hiring managers afraid of, or restricted from, making decisions.   

As this is our last newsletter for 2010, we wish you all a pleasant end to the year, happy holidays and that 2011 brings a successful year ahead for you.

 

What makes a great manager?

We all know how essential a good management team is to the success of a company.  Great managers are inspiring and achieve hard working, productive and effective workforces.  They attract exceptional staff who are engaged and committed, often willing to ‘go the extra mile’.  But not everyone has the ability to manage a team effectively.  

 

So how do you find a great manager? 

 

The key to successful management is the ability to nurture relationships.  How a manager interacts with their team is what determines whether they will be a brilliant manager, or just an adequate one.  Relationships are based on trust, commitment and engagement and the manager’s role is to build relationships within their team, for the benefit of their employer.  It is their job to ensure that work is completed effectively, on time and ideally, with enthusiasm and energy.

 

Teamwork and leadership: good managers...

  • coach their staff and counsel those who need it
  • have staff who are committed to them
  • communicate openly with their team
  • know how to resolve conflicts as they arise and handle negative behaviour effectively
  • delegate when appropriate
  • actively develop, empower and motivate their staff and manage under-performers
  • take the lead
  • raise staff morale and are concerned for staff wellbeing
  • set clear and unambiguous objectives 
  • provide regular and constructive feedback 
  • value everyone’s contribution.

Fulfilling a role: good managers ...

  • manage change effectively
  • seek continuous improvement
  • control and co-ordinate staff effectively
  • engage in and enjoy crisis management
  • influence the culture of teams
  • focus on customers/clients and know how to improve business performance
  • conduct meetings efficiently
  • are good at planning and organising themselves
  • are good at both strategic and project management
  • are good at risk management and managing staff stress.

Self improvement and development: good managers...

  • achieve good results
  • are assertive and communicate well
  • are clear thinkers and effective speakers who are good at influencing others
  • are decisive, good at negotiation and problem solving
  • write good reports
  • excel at time management
  • spend time in self‐development.

The Vine Resources uniquely tailored job requirement form and state-of-the-art screening processes, including Executive Search services, will ensure that if you are recruiting for an important senior management role within your organisation, you only see the best and most suitable candidates.  

If you would like to find out more about our recruitment services, please click here http://www.vineresources.co.uk/our-recruitment-process.  To find out more about our Executive Search service, please contact David Lawrence on 020 7464 4040.     

 

Candidates moving abroad to improve their career prospects

According to a recent opinion poll, more than half (55%) of the UK's working population are currently considering moving abroad, with one in five (21%) thinking it will speed up their career progression and over a third (38%) believing it will make them a more desirable candidate in the future.

So if you can’t find a candidate locally, how do you go about attracting candidates from overseas?  

David Lawrence explains:  “We operate the same recruitment process whether a client is based in the UK or abroad,” he comments.  “From the client’s perspective, being able to recruit internationally, enables them to pick the very best candidates available - wherever they are.  Our candidates are based all over the world and so when we do a search on behalf of a client, we don’t just look at their local market for candidates, we search our entire database.” 

The opinion poll also showed that whilst one in six (18%) respondents said they would like to take up an opportunity abroad within the next five years, 9% of those polled said they would move abroad within 10 years.  The most ambitious group was men aged between 16 and 24, with 80% willing to consider opportunities worldwide.  Respondents based in London also demonstrated a greater willingness to relocate with two thirds saying that they would consider it and 83% viewing it as a good career move.  Although a third of respondents would never consider moving abroad for work, one in ten has already done so and 8.5% would do so if their current employer asked them to do so.  

“London is often a good place to begin looking and these figures confirm that,” continues David.  “Furthermore, at the moment, whilst the IT recruitment market is picking up in the UK, it is picking up more quickly in Europe and further afield and so there are more candidates who are willing to work abroad.  It means that clients have more choice and a greater chance of finding the ideal candidate.”

Vine Resources works closely with clients to ensure that all aspects of an overseas contract are taken into consideration.  “Visas and work permits can be difficult to obtain unless you know the right people and relocation can be a minefield,” continues David.  “Our recruitment consultants work closely with clients and our local market contacts to ensure that the recruitment and relocation process is as stress-free and smooth as possible.”

Visit http://www.vineresources.co.uk/sites/default/files/Swisscom_case_study%20copy.pdf to find out more how Vine Resources helped one overseas client secure the perfect candidate. 

 

Latest on The Apprentice

As the series continues, the contestants are for the most part, providing a weekly demonstration of how not to conduct business.  But what stood out in episode seven was the appalling leadership demonstrated by winning team leader, Stuart Baggs, who only proved that he won’t last much longer.

Past episodes of The Apprentice have seen disastrous sales tactics and incorrect pricing in a new product task; questionable judgement and retail skills in a pop-up fashion shop task; and political incorrectness and flawed branding in an advertising task.  Episode seven saw the two teams battle it out to sell virtual reality DVD experiences in Westfield Shopping Centre and ended with recruitment consultant, Sandeesh Samra being fired.        

The episode provided yet more examples of how not to look after customers with Stuart raising the price on DVDs after customers had already seen the original price.  “Sandeesh deserved to go, but I would have got rid of Stuart as well,” comments David Lawrence.  “His attempts to increase the price once it had been widely promoted was unforgiveable.”

The rest of the team agreed with David:

 

Ian: “Stuart should have been in the boardroom for the way he managed his team.”

Marie: “I’m very disappointment that Stuart’s team won as I would have loved to have seen him get fired.  He was an awful Project Manager.”

Norma: “I found it quite interesting that the winning team changed their mind late during the day.  Luckily it worked.”

Eric: “Of the last three, Sandish had no chance, but Stuart is the real loser of this episode.”

 

Missed it? Our UK readers can watch The Apprentice using BBC’s iplayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/tv

 

And finally...could Kilimanjaro challenge be for you?

Vine Resources Managing Director, David Lawrence, is in the process of planning his next charity challenge - a seven-day trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania on 12th October 2011.  He will be raising money for the Royal British Legion.  

 

The organisers have a number of places left on the trek so if you would like to join David on this incredible journey, please click here.

 

At 5,895m, Mt. Kilimanjaro is one of the largest volcanoes ever to break through the Earth’s crust.    The trek includes the toughest day that most trekkers have ever experienced, involving 1,295m of ascent, 2,145m of descent, and 12-15hrs walking to reach the summit. 

 

If you are considering joining David and would like to talk to him about the trek, please contact him by emailing david@vineresources.co.uk

 

For more information about the Trek or to make a donation, please visit: http://www.justgiving.com/kmanjaro