Feeling overwhelmed this World Mental Health Day? We’ve got your back…

Ever felt overwhelmed with the concept of finding a new job, or replacing a highly valued colleague?

You are not alone…

We regularly meet with professionals who are facing a range of obstacles to maneuver and these, combined with other responsibilities and commitments - both within the working environment and out of it – can lead even the most skilled and experienced people to feel isolated and disillusioned.

Whether you’re a client or candidate, collaborating with another professional or organisation can help alleviate some of the pressure that leads to this overwhelm.

Recruiters, HR and Talent professionals can all support your journey – sharing insight to prepare for an interview, reviewing policies and business strategies or even handling the admin of scheduling and hosting an interview.

If you’re thinking about looking for a new opportunity, job searching or hoping to hire a new professional for your organisation - our expert consultants share their top tips below:

Oliver Benjamin – Expert Interim Consultant

You can never be too prepared. Your experience is what it is, you can’t rehearse that, but you can prepare how you articulate it and tie it back to what the company’s looking for.

It’s actually the more generic questions that catch people off-guard:

- “Why this company?”

- “Why this role?”

- “Where do you see yourself long term?”

You may feel you already know the answers, but if you don’t think through your answers in advance, your responses can sound vague or half-hearted.

Take the time to understand the business, what they do, who you’re meeting with, and reflect aspects of these in your answers - it makes all the difference.

Bonus tip: Try not to get too complacent if you have a successful interview - whether you’re hiring or applying!
The market is tough and there is a lot of competition, so approach each opportunity with the same level of energy and enthusiasm.

Olivia Panielik – Expert Commerce & Technology Consultant

The market is tough right now, and it's completely normal to feel disheartened by rejections or silence from applications, but you're not alone…

Here are my top tips for professionals on a job search: 

- Be selective. Apply for roles where you meet at least 60% of the criteria. Applying for too many mismatched roles can hurt your chances in the long run. 

- Update your LinkedIn. Add detail to your roles, even a few bullet points can make a difference. You never know who’s looking  and it could lead to you being headhunted.

- Reach out to recruiters! Finding a job is a job in itself, this is why we are here. We can make the process tailored and smooth for you.

Great! You’ve landed an interview – congratulations. Now what? Here’s some tips to help you prepare: 

- You cannot predict every question and that’s completely okay. If you need a moment to think or want clarification, don’t hesitate to ask. It shows thoughtfulness and confidence.

- Remember, they’re interviewing YOU, not just your CV. Don’t be afraid to show some personality, that’s often what sets candidates apart.

- When speaking about your experience, think about times where you have gone above and beyond, and go into detail about how you identified the issue, what you did to fix this and how the change affected the company, whether it is saved time, increased profits, improved processes etc. 

Bonus tip: A simple thank you after the interview can go a long way – whether it’s a simple cover letter sign off, or a direct thank you after an interview, don’t underestimate it’s value!

Simran Gill – Expert Financial Services Consultant

“Take the time to find the right recruiter for you!

A lot of roles aren't always posted, so finding the right recruiter that understands you and what you are looking for is important.

Not only can they open doors and introduce you to opportunities or professionals would never know about otherwise, but the right agency will only offer the right fit for you and vouch for you or your business when you need it!

Bonus tip: Make sure you meet them in person, because this is a big part of your life or business, and you want to make sure you really know the person who is guiding and helping you.”

Hopefully one or all of these top tips can help support you, or someone you know, on their hiring journey or job search.
Whether it’s time pressures, budgeting issues, a miss-match of expectations, or a very niche skillset – you are not alone.

Today is World Mental Health Day, focusing on the impact of repeated exposure to news coverage of crises and conflicts. There is some great advice and resources on this on this on the World Mental Health Day website here.

If you know someone who could benefit from these top tips of advice, be sure to check in on them and share it with them today.