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Top 11 Most Unusual Jobs

Are you looking to change your career? Have a read through these 11 very unusual jobs

  • Written by Safa Nawaz
  • •
  • August 18th, 2021
  • •
  • 10 Minute Read

There are professions you have probably never heard of. You might find them strange and even unnecessary. But there are people who enjoy them and receive a salary for doing them.

To succeed in any of them, you may need to write more in a cover letter than just being communicative and ready to face new challenges. That is not always enough for an armpit sniffer or a water slide tester, for example.

If you are tired of your current job or are looking to change your career or need something more exciting, then you might be inspired by these unconventional professions. We have listed 11 of the most unusual jobs for you to choose from.

Professional sleeper - Salary: £2,000 per 2 weeks

As a professional sleeper your main job role is, you guessed it, sleeping! However, being a professional sleeper is not always as easy as it sounds. Professional sleepers are often examined during scientific research to monitor and record sleep patterns or to evaluate the effects of different sleeping products. This job might sound like a dream, but in reality, can be quite demanding. You may also be required to take sleeping pills as part of medical trials and sleep with numerous wires attached to you whilst being observed.

Professional sleepers may be also testing different beds, mattresses and pillows to review their comfort especially for hotels and companies that need to provide customers with quality sleep. To do this work, you need to know how to lie on the mattress, how to check it and so on.

There is no set salary for this job. You can be offered a certain amount of money depending on the company hiring you and the number of days you will be working. You could get paid £2,000 for a 2-week job.

Golf ball diver - Salary: £40,000-£80,000

Are you someone who likes diving? If the answer is yes, you might be a great candidate for the post of a golf ball diver. People who do this work are responsible for catching golf balls in ponds and lakes that are part of golf courses. Being a golf ball diver is not an easy job and it can be extremely physically demanding as many times, these ponds are full of mud.

There aren’t many requirements to become a golf ball diver however, there are two main things that you will need. The first thing is an entry-level certification from any licensed diving agency and the second thing is liability insurance. Depending on the job you are applying to, experience may also be required. The salary for a golf ball diver can vary between £40,000 – £80,000.

Armpit sniffer - Salary: £13,000-£40,000

Your nose is a major asset in this highly specialised field. Armpit sniffers work for deodorant manufacturers to ensure quality of their products.

As the sniffer, expect to spend your days in a hot room or outdoors at low temperatures and smell 60 armpits per hour! Your role will be to determine if a product works under various conditions such as heat, sweating or cold.  And the requirements?

  • Good sense of smell
  • Willingness to smell someone else’s sweaty armpit

Pet food taster - Salary: £45,000

Being a pet food taster does not seem like the most pleasant job, however, you have to be highly-skilled for this job. As a pet food taster, you are typically in charge of checking the smell, taste and texture of different pet foods. Your role is to evaluate it and suggest how it could be improved. It is important that the taste of food for the pets is balanced and nutritional. Most pet food tasters do not swallow the food but rather spit it out.

The more experience you have in this job field, the higher your salary. To become a pet food taster, there are many requirements such as having a degree in food science, culinary arts field or a nutrition related certificate. Animal knowledge and good taste buds come in handy to help you develop the food that our pets will like. The average salary for a pet food taster is around £45,000 but it can vary.

Waterslide tester - Salary: £25,000

Would you consider yourself an adrenaline junky who loves swimming? If yes, then riding the slides could be your new career. Whenever a new waterslide is built, it has to undergo a testing process to make sure it is 100% safe to use before it is opened to the public.

But safety is not the only feature you would be testing. The other important factors that a water slide tester would have to examine are whether or not the ride provides enough fun with the big splash at the end of the ride, how much water it needs, how fast you get down and the uniqueness of the slide.

Professional waterslide testers are paid to use and examine the water slides and can even work around the world. Although, the water slide testers are hired on a temporary basis, the job can be rewarding for anyone who enjoys splashing around in water.

To become a water slide you need very little to no qualifications. However, these are some basic skills you should learn:

  • Observation skills
  • Be stable and calm
  • Dare to ride all types of rides a few times
  • Be active on social media

This is a rare job and when the opportunity comes up, you can compete with a thousand of applicants. If you manage to land yourself an interview, the interviewer will be observing your personality and experience. The average salary for a water slide tester is around £25,000.

Food stylist - Salary: £14,000-£30,000

Have you ever seen an image of food and thought “how does it look so perfect?” That is the job of a food stylist. As well as making food look aesthetically pleasing and presentable, food stylists have many other duties. Some of these duties can include:

  • Going through a recipe for a video demonstration
  • Maintaining a clean and safe kitchen demonstration are
  • Purchasing food items
  • Planning ahead for shoots for efficient and cost-effective output
  • Conducting live demonstrations
  • Using props to style food and make it look presentable to be photographed.

To become a food stylist, you will need a degree in culinary or baking arts, or a qualification related to nutrition. Some companies also may require you to have experience and may ask to see some of your previous work. The salary for a food stylist can range between £14,000 – £30,000, depending on your experience and location.

Snake milker - Salary: £25,000

Did you get shivers thinking about touching a snake? A snake milker is definitely a job that requires some bravery and also a love for snakes.

As a snake milker, your job is to collect the venom from snakes. Snake venom is a very popular ingredient in many expensive cosmetic products and medical research. Scientists use it for research to treat disorders such as blood clots, high blood pressure and heart attacks. It can also be used to create antivenom, the antidote, which helps cure people who have been bitten by a venomous snake.

A snake milker falls under the same category as a zoologist. Although zoologists usually earn around £40,000, typically a snake milker will earn around £20,000.

Professional mourner - Salary: £45 per hour

Yes, you read that right. A professional mourner is essentially a paid actor whose job is to attend funerals and increase the number of people attending the funeral. They are usually hired by the family members of the deceased and help them cope with the tragedy of losing a loved one.

Before the funeral, you will have to meet with the family to learn about the deceased person so that you can fully take on the role of a family member or friend. During the funeral, professional mourners are expected to express emotions of grief and sorrow usually through crying.

Professional mourners do not tend to have this job as their main career, but will work on the side of their main job. This is because this job is a lot less common now then it was in the past. Today, professional mourners can be found in countries such as China and India but also in the UK.

Professional mourners tend to get paid per funeral they attend or at an hourly rate of £45 an hour, depending on whose funeral it is and the role that they are playing.  

Full-time Netflix viewer - Salary: £50,000

Are you someone who watches a lot of shows on Netflix? If you are, why not get paid to do it? Netflix hire people to watch shows and then provide information by using tags or keywords. Tagging helps others to find the right content.

Reviews from the Netflix viewer helps the company with the personalisation process and to categorise shows. The Netflix algorithm then recommends shows based on what you watch the most. The average salary for a Netflix viewer is around £50,000. 

Professional queuer - Salary: £12,000

Whether it is a new product being released, an upcoming summer sale or waiting for football tickets to be released, people tend to queue for hours. Although many would be surprised by the English crowd’s willingness to form an orderly queue, waiting in line can be annoying and inconvenient especially when it is cold and raining. There is good news though! You can now hire a professional queuer to stand in line for you.

Professional queuers are usually paid at an hourly rate or charge a set price for the whole time they are standing in the queue. You could be charged £20 per hour and roughly £12,000 a year.

Chief listening officer - Salary: £60,000

Would you classify yourself as someone who is a good listener? If yes, this could be the perfect job for you. Chief listening officers mainly use social media platforms, such as Instagram and Twitter, to find out how consumers feel about a certain company or organisation. They then use this information to help implement improvements for the company.

Not only do they listen to the consumers, but also to the employees of the company. Listening to the employee’s suggestions help the officers get a better idea of how the company is doing. Employees can also give an insight on what it is like to work there and the officers provide then their feedback to managers so that improvements can be made.

The average salary for a Chief listening officer is around £60,000, however, it can be slightly more or less based on your experience and the organisation you are working for.

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How To Write Job Ads That Attract The Right Candidates

Is your job advert not attracting the right candidates? Here are a few reasons why your job ad might not be doing as well as it should be and how you can fix that.

  • Written by Safa Nawaz
  • •
  • July 19th, 2021
  • •
  • 7 Minute Read

Thousands of jobs are being posted daily, making the job market extremely competitive. If you are an employer and are wondering why you are not attracting the right candidates, the problem may lie in your job advertisement. There are many ways a job posting can be unsuccessful in attracting the right candidates for the job. It might not include all the relevant information, which may put candidates off from applying, or it may be too lengthy and include too much information and therefore may not appeal to certain candidates. You may also be advertising your ad in the wrong places and as a result stop the job advertisement from reaching the people you want to hire. 

What your job advertisement should include:

When potential candidates are reading a job ad, they are usually looking out for certain information that is useful and relevant to them. Your job post should include:

  • The location of the job
  • The working days/hours
  • The job title must be clear
  • The salary
  • The main duties of the job role
  • The name of the company, business, or industry
  • Clearly outlined required skills/experience
  • Employee benefit schemes
  • Start date
  • Contact details

However, it is important that this information is presented in a simplistic way and that the job ad does not become too lengthy. Most candidates will only read a job description if it is clear, concise, and broken up into smaller sections. On the other hand, exceedingly long paragraphs will put them off from applying. 72% of hiring managers say they provide clear job descriptions while only 36% of candidates say they are provided with clear job descriptions so making sure your job ad is clear and concise is vital.

Following these steps when writing a job advertisement will make it easier for candidates to understand if the job role is suitable for them and will increase the number of quality candidates you are receiving for the job.

How should your job ad be structured:

There are four key parts that you should keep in mind when writing a job ad.

The title of your job ad is extremely important. It is the first thing that a candidate will read. It needs to grab their attention and make it clear what their job title will be.

The second part is your key selling point. Including a small description underneath the job title will provide insight/best thing about the job role as well as the company’s culture to the candidates. However, be careful to not add too much information. It is vital that you include information about the company so that candidates can get a better understanding and feel of the culture of your company. Location, salary and working hours can be added here too.

Job summary is the next part. You should also describe the job opportunity and what skills are required for that role, listing the most important skills first. Including your company’s logo is always a good idea as it makes it easier for candidates to recognise your company quicker.

Final step is the call to action. It is important that you include a call to action (CTA) at the end of your job ad. This could be an ‘apply now’ button, a contact number, or an email address for a candidate to contact you or to send in their CV. If there is no clear CTA, candidates might not apply. If there is any specific information you require from the candidates, you should mention it at the end of the job ad.

Where should you post your job ad:

There are many online platforms where your job ad can be posted. However, where you choose to post your advert will have an impact on the type of candidates that apply for the job and the number of applicants.

• Posting on social media

Social media platforms can be your best friend when it comes to advertising your job role, especially platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Post about the job opportunity on all your social media platforms and get people within your network to share the post so that it can reach as many potential candidates as possible. This is a great way to find candidates who may be perfectly suited to the job role as people tend to interact with others who share similar interests and are in the same or similar job fields on social media.

Social media platforms are great platforms that you can use to your advantage. Paid ads on these platforms can help your ad reach many people with the right skills. You can also target your ads by selecting options such as location, skills, occupation, or industry etc. so that they will reach people that your ad is targeted to.

• Posting on your company's website

Most employers underestimate the effectiveness of posting their job ad on their company’s website, especially smaller businesses. There are many advantages of posting on your company’s website such as job ads being more dynamic as well as it being cost effective. It also draws people to your website which can help to grow your brand and help with the search engine optimization of the website. Many candidates will look at a company’s website for jobs or to find out more about a company before applying to a job so use your company’s Google presence to your advantage!

• Posting on job boards

There are many employment websites that allow you to post job ads and help find the right candidates. However, many of these sites, such as CV library and Indeed, can charge you for each ad that is posted. Although this is a great way of getting your job ads found, it can be costly. If you are a smaller business, this may not be the best option for you. Posting on social media or your company’s website might be a better idea.

• Personal & professional networks

One of the main ways your job ad can reach potential candidates is through word of mouth and employee referrals. An employee that works for you may know someone who is suitable for the job role and could recommend it to them. You can also reach out to people within your social network and people in your personal life such as friends and family.

Overview:

When writing your job ad, keep the candidate in mind and contemplate about what it is they would want to see. Think of your job ad as a marketing tool that is helping you to sell the position to a suitable candidate.

The way in which your job ad is written reflects how you are as a company. If your job ad is lengthy and written very formally it could suggest a more serious work environment whereas a more informal job ad that addresses the candidate could suggest a more fun and enjoyable work environment, meaning potential candidates are more likely to apply. Remember to make your job ad sound as welcoming as possible, you want to attract the candidates, not discourage them from applying.

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First Impressions Count: Do Not Underestimate Your Body Language During An Interview

First Impressions Count: Do Not Underestimate Your Body Language During An Interview

  • Written by Lavinia Appadoo
  • •
  • July 12th, 2021
  • •
  • 10 Minute Read

How you present yourself to someone can tell you more than the words you speak. It is important to analyse your behaviour, actions and mannerisms as they can contribute to how successful or unsuccessful you are in an interview. Your body language is an important indicator of how you react, your interest and your confidence for potential employers. It is okay to feel nervous and anxious as you want to do your best, but you should always be mindful of your body language when going to interviews. Looking at recent statistics by Undercover Recruiter, 33% of employers know within the first 90 seconds whether or not they will hire you. This can be frightening, as we are naturally judgemental so it is important to make a positive first impression – but how do you ensure you can have an instant positive impression on a potential employer?

Take a look below at the impact of first impressions and body language techniques, the dos and don’ts. You can use this information to learn how to behave and make a good lasting impression that guarantees results.

First Impressions:

• Dress to Impress

Present yourself well and dress for success. Appearance affects how you are perceived and although we have all heard of the “don’t judge a book by its cover” axiom, unfortunately, appearance plays a major role when it comes to first impressions. Wearing the right or wrong attire can change the course of the interview. What you wear can say a lot about your attitude, professionalism and your enthusiasm for securing the role. Make sure you feel comfortable in what you are wearing, if something is too restrictive it can show in your body language and you will probably be less self-assured.

Useful tips: Make sure your clothes are ironed and clean. For men, wear a tie and a suit. For women, stay away from short shirts and jeans. Wear either blouses, blazers, skirts, dress or trousers.

• Knowledge

It is obvious to the potential employer whether or not you have done some basic research for your interview or not, which makes one of the first impressions. When going for an interview you want to make sure you are prepared for anything, as some things might surprise you. Doing some research about the company prior to the interview will help you, research the company’s values, competitors and the interviewer as starting points. Knowing the fundamentals is key to showing your interest and your knowledge of their company.

If you’re with a recruitment company, your recruiter can help with making sure you have all the documents needed for the interview and even give you some tips and information that would be useful. The most important time through the interview process is when you talk to the employer and answer their questions. Give either a verbal or physical response, make sure to ask questions too. This will show your eagerness to learn more about the job and also shows the interviewer whether or not your personality fits in with a team and the company culture.

Remember to shake hands with everyone in the interview room, say hello and smile as you are being interviewed from stepping into the building. You do not know who you will meet in the lift, bathroom, whilst waiting for your interview so always be aware of your body language.

• Don't Be Late

Your punctuality is often the first significant impression to the employer, so plan how you will get there, and leave earlier just in case you get stuck in traffic. It is fine to give them a call and let them know if you’re running late but of course, it is better to avoid being late in the first place.

Getting an early night sleep the day before is crucial to help you perform your best. Good breakfast and some quick breathing exercises will help relax your nerves too. Being on time sets the expectation of the employer from the get-go. This shows the employer good time management skills and organisation skills but also that you are a reliant individual. However, don’t arrive too early as it could cause unsettling pressure on both you and the interviewer. The interviewer might feel obliged to meet you quickly, but remember, they are also trying to impress you.

Be watchful of nervous moments – here are some obvious body language signs for lateness:

  • Rushing
  • Shaking
  • Stressed
  • Apologetic
  • Restlessness

When in the waiting room, avoid using your phone, instead, try and familiarise yourself with your surroundings so you are confident in where to go. Always try and be aware of everything that is happening whilst you wait. Don’t focus too much on your thoughts, for instance, how the interview will go. Hopefully, you have prepared for it and are well equipped to smash the interview process. It’s okay to feel nervous, but don’t let it affect you too much as it can ruin your chance of success. Most employees tend to be quieter and enunciate less when they are feeling anxious which ultimately reveals your lack of confidence, crush your credibility and ruins your chance of making a good first impression.

An interesting fact is that 55% of our communication is through non-verbal communication. Through visual cues, such as appearance, body language, facial expressions, the interviewer would have formed a n impression before the interview has even started. Body language is therefore very important as it could be the deciding factor of interview success.

What to Avoid:

• Fiddling

Fiddling is one of the first signs that can be quite damaging, it can undermine your authority and even annoy the interviewer. This can be clicking the pen, touching your hair frequently, twisting your ring or bracelet and so on. This can be a sign of boredom or impatience.

Solution: Sit with your arms in your lap or on the arms of the chair, make yourself feel comfortable. Mirror your movements of the employer as it can help create a common ground between you and them. Most importantly, be respectful and professional, don’t get too close to them and invade their personal space as it may make the interviewer feel more uncomfortable and use hand gestures with caution. 

• Poor Eye Contact

The best approach to show you are paying attention is through making engaging eye contact to show that you are listening and taking in what they are saying. Eye contact should be moderated though, here are a few mistakes to avoid when in an interview:

  • Prolonged staring can also be problematic as it can make the employer feel uncomfortable.
  • Excessive blinking or fleeting eye contact can imply that the employee is feeling under pressure.
  • Lack of eye contact looking away, up at the ceiling, anywhere but the interviewers face suggests the candidate feels insecure.
  • Squinting could be a sign that the candidate is considering the question from the employer which can be a sign of distrust.
  • Looking down can come across as uncertain.

Solution: Try and relax and engage with your employer by having comfortable eye contact which shows you are at ease with the situation. If there is more than one interviewer, try and make contact with both of them.

• Poor Posture

Sitting hunched forward or slouching can seem either being too relaxed or disengaged. Avoid crossing your arms too as it can come across as being defensive and creates an unsettling and negative tone. Clenched fists and being too stiff in posture are also a mistake to avoid as you may be portrayed as aggression, nervousness and being uncomfortable.

Solution: Maintain upright posture from the waiting room to when you leave. Make gestures that show interest, by not crunching on the chair and resting hands on the table. Make sure your body language is open and not implementing disinterest. By altering your body posture, leaning slightly forward when the interviewer is talking, you can come across as more open and attentive which projects positivity and confidence to the interviewer.

• Sad Expressions

No one is approachable or employable if they look miserable. This can come across to the interviewer that you don’t want to be there and are not interested in taking the interview. Being sad can affect how the interviewer feels themselves and makes it harder for you to succeed as the impression is shown through your actions and not words.

Solution: No one is approachable or employable if they look miserable. This can come across to the interviewer that you don’t want to be there and are not interested in taking the interview. Being sad can affect how the interviewer feels themselves and makes it harder for you to succeed as the impression is shown through your actions and not words.

• Unpleasant Handshakes

Be the first one to offer a firm handshake. This shows confidence, but try not to keep it for too long to avoid an awkward situation. The interviewer will remember your body language and how you present yourself but most importantly how you answer the questions.

Solution: Exit with a smile and handshake remember to keep eye contact as you shake their hand. Doing this is not only polite, but you are establishing a connection with them.

Summary:

You don’t need a psychology degree to know how body language works, the important part is understanding how you react in certain situations and what can be improved. After looking at body language mistakes and how to avoid them you should be well equipped for your interview.

From my own experience of interviews, I always try and remain conscious of my body language in an interview, I try and remain relaxed throughout and think of it as an interviewer getting to know me and how I can help their company grow. You can practice your first impressions in an everyday environment such as coffee shops or food shops so remember to make a confident entrance and hone your skills, so start today!

 

If you need more guidance for interviews and more have a look through some of our blogs or visit our website for more information.

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Top 10 Most In-demand Tech Jobs of 2021

Top 10 Most In-demand Tech Jobs of 2021

  • Written by Safa Nawaz
  • •
  • June 14th, 2021
  • •
  • 10 Minute Read

The demand for tech jobs has significantly increased over the past few years as each year, the world of technology improves and changes. This rapid change in technology means that there are always new tech jobs emerging. Here are some of the most in demand tech jobs for 2021:

Cyber Security Analyst

The demand for data, information, systems, network, and cloud security professionals is constantly increasing. Their main job role is to protect a business’s data and information from potential threats and to make sure that any threats that may appear are detected and managed accordingly. They also need to make sure that they are keeping up to date with any industry security regulations and that all the business’s software, hardware and networks remain secure at all times.

The starting salary of a cyber security analyst is between £25,000 and £35,000 however, the more experienced professionals can earn up to £60,000. The salary usually depends on varied factors such as the qualifications that you have, years of experience and skills you possess.

Project Manager

Do you enjoy delegating tasks and making sure that all the deadlines are met on time? As a project manager your main role is bringing leadership and direction to projects. Whether working on a small or a large project, every good project manager is someone who has good risk and cost management skills in order to anticipate and handle everything that might happen over the life cycle of the project. Project managers need to be excellent communicators as they are responsible not only for overseeing the project through to a successful completion but making sure that their team achieve their end goal to the best and highest standards.

Starting salaries for junior project managers can range from £20,000 to £35,000 depending on the sector as some sectors, such as marketing, pay less than others, such as IT.

DevOps Engineer

Due to the development of technology, there have been many new jobs emerging, one of them being a DevOps engineer. What is DevOps? DevOps is a process that was created to simplify and speed up the development of software and aims to create a bridge between software development and IT operations. As a DevOps engineer, you are mainly responsible for supporting the users of the infrastructure you develop by using coding techniques to protect the cloud against hackers and viruses. To be a successful DevOps engineer, you will need to possess certain skills such as coding and scripting, process re-engineering and communication and collaboration.

When starting out as a DevOps engineer, you would either be a graduate DevOps engineer or an associate DevOps s engineer. As you continue to work and increase the years of experience you have, you can progress into a senior or a principal DevOps engineer. The average salary for DevOps engineer in the UK is around £70,000 but can range between £50,000 – £100,000 depending on your skills.

Cloud Architect

The development of software has created many new streams within the IT world, one of them being the job of a cloud architect. A cloud architect oversees the cloud computing architecture that many businesses rely on to operate. The main job role of a cloud architect is to design, plan and build the structures of the cloud environments, such as public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud, and to help other workers when a problem may occur with any of these. There are many skills a cloud architect needs, such as experience and knowledge in programming languages (Python, Ruby, Elixir etc.), deep understanding of cloud technologies, cloud networking and security.

A cloud architect is one of the best paid jobs within IT. Entry level salaries are usually around £40,000 – £55,000 but the more experience, qualifications, and skills you have, the higher your salary. More experienced cloud architects can earn £80,000 with some people earning over £100,000. However, this does depend on many factors such as the country you are working in, your qualifications, the company you work for etc.

Blockchain Engineer

A blockchain is a type of technology that was created for the first time in 2008 but has become more common recently. A blockchain is a different type of database to normal databases in the way that it stores information. Each piece of data is stored in blocks which contains data from the previous block, linking them in chronological order, hence the name ‘blockchain’. Blockchains tend to be more secure as if one block is tampered with, the whole chain becomes corrupted. A blockchain engineer’s main job is to create and carry out solutions for companies using this type of technology and making sure they are secure.

Blockchain is still evolving and developing, so candidates with any sort of software engineering experience should apply to blockchain jobs as most employers will provide the blockchain-specific training needed. The starting salary for a blockchain engineer is around £40,000 but can rise to around £80,000. However, working privately could result in you earning £100,000 or more.

AI Architect

In 2018, a survey found that 54% of businesses said their implementation of AI (artificial intelligence) had led to a growth in productivity within the company and we can only assume that this percentage has now increased. Why is this relevant? Well, an increased number of businesses are starting to use AI related technology, which creates more AI job opportunities.

An artificial intelligence architect is someone who helps businesses build and overcome any problems with their AI powered applications. To be a good AI architect, you should have a creative mind and be able to produce futuristic and innovative ideas. You must also obtain a certain amount of knowledge on the infrastructure that you are working on to create and design architecture that will work well now and in the future.

The salary for an AI architect can drastically vary depending on what company you work for, how much experience you have and the country you are working in. In the UK, the salary can vary between £30,000 to £80,000 however, the average salary is around £45,000.

Mobile App Developer

It is becoming increasingly common for websites to be viewed from a mobile or tablet device rather than a desktop. Whether people are travelling to and from work or just sitting at home, they are most likely scrolling through their phone. Therefore, businesses with websites have been adapting their site so it making it mobile user friendly. However, creating an app to increase and improve the user experience is another popular option. As a result, the demand for mobile app developers is rapidly increasing.

The key role of a mobile app developer is to meet the requirements of the client by discussing what it is that they want and how you can achieve that and to also provide solutions to any problems that they may have. As a mobile app developer, you will have to create applications using programming that can support the functionality of mobile devices as well as making sure that all the coding solutions you use are up to date. This includes having a solid foundation of knowledge in IT programming and other areas such as Adobe, Java, HTML, Cloud storage and Flash.

The average UK salary for a mobile app developer is £50,000 but can range from anywhere between £40,000 to £60,000. Entry level salaries are usually around £24,000.

Data Engineer

Data engineers are mainly responsible for improving data quality and reliability. Their job is to extract raw data and find trends within those data sets. They also create algorithms that allow the data to be more easily readable which helps companies to easily compare data and know what it is they need to work on to achieve their business goals. To become a data engineer, you would need to possess many technical skills such as knowledge in programming languages (e.g. Python), experience in SQL database design as well as having good analytical and communication skills.

The average salary for a data engineer in the UK is around £50,000, however, depending on where your job location is and the years of experience you have, this number can fluctuate.

Web Developer

With more people starting businesses, there is a high demand for web developers as having a digital presence, for a company, is essential for gaining success. A web developer’s job role is to design and create websites that meet the needs and requirements of the client. There are 3 main types of web developers:

  • Front-end developers
  • Back-end developers
  • Full-stack developers

Front-end Developers:

This is the simplest type of development to learn out of all 3 types. To succeed as a front-end developer, you will need to be confident in certain programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which work together to form the front-end of the website. As a front-end developer, you are in charge of making sure the design of the website, which includes things like the fonts used for the content, the layout, the colours and theme of the site, and any outbound links etc, are all correct and in the right place. The starting salary for front-end developers is around £28,000 and with the right amount of experience and skills, it can increase to £57,000 with more experienced developers being able to earn up to £100,000.

Back-end Developer:

The job of a back-end developer is slightly more difficult than a front-end developer. Unlike front-end developers, who are responsible for the look and design of the site, a back-end developer is responsible for the server side of things. Their job is to create and input the coding that is used to make the site run as efficiently as possible. Back-end developers specialise in programming languages such as Python, Java, and PHP. In the UK, the average salary for a back-end developer is roughly £45,000 however, can increase depending on years of experience and the skills you possess.

Full-stack Developers:

Full-stack developers are qualified to oversee the whole web development process as they can understand the front-end as well as the back-end procedures and strategies. Many smaller companies will employ a full-stack developer as they may not have a budget big enough to employ two developers. Full-stack developers would need the same skills as front-end and back-end developers as they are essentially doing the job of both roles. The average salary for a full-stack developer is £50,000, but this number can change depending on years of experience.

System Analyst

A system analyst is in charge of monitoring all the systems that a business is using. This can include software, hardware and any other IT systems. The main role of a system analyst is to improve the efficiency and productivity of a company by analysing any existing systems and adding in new features that meet the requirements needed for the system to run smoothly. To be a successful system analyst, you will need good communication skills and knowledge in programming languages in order to communicate and liaise with other IT staff to produce and implement new systems.

Entry level salaries for system analysts are roughly around £20,000-£25,000 and the more experience you gain the more you can earn. The average salary in the UK is £30,000 but can go up, depending on other factors.

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The Impact of Covid-19 on Employment

Covid-19's impact on business and employment

  • Written by Katie Treharne
  • •
  • March 26th, 2021
  • •
  • 7 Minute Read

When it comes to employment, Covid-19 is wrecking ball that no one saw coming. The UK has had three lockdowns so far, and possibly more to come, each with strict social distancing and work-from-home instructions. With so many businesses forced to shut their doors or function way below capacity, many workers have been made redundant or had their salaries cut and placed on the government’s furlough scheme.  

In lockdowns, only essential workers providing medical care, food, or electricity, have been able to operate as normal, which means that other industries have lost money in sales, while still having to pay rent and other essential business costs. 

Especially hard hit are industries such as aviation and transport, oil and gas, and retail and hospitality. However, most businesses have suffered in one way or another. With so businesses closed and many people out of work, there are less people are spending, and country’s overall economy has been impacted. 

The recruitment industry, too, has suffered due to Covid-19. Less businesses have the means to create and offer new roles, making it harder for recruitment agencies to place candidates in permanent and even temporary roles.  

So, which industries have suffered the most? 

Aviation

Non-essential journeys cross-countries and continents has been halted by pretty much every country on the globe, grounding fleets of aeroplanes. This left air stewardesses, engineers, and big companies such as Rolls Royce and other air travel manufacturers in turmoil. 

In fact, Sky reported that one pilot had had resorted to a job as a pizza delivery driver. Meanwhile, some stewardesses have reportedly considered getting jobs in covid testing and vaccination programmes. 

Hospitality and leisure

Hospitality and leisure have faced the longest periods of closures.  After the first lockdown, the government tried to help hospitality venues to get back on their feet by offering the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, but this didn’t last long before another lockdown was necessary.  

Therefore, these venues have had to continue covering costs such as rent and salaries, while not creating any revenue through sales. Their workforces have been cut as a result and many businesses have gone bust. 

Transport

It goes without saying, but transport such as the rail, bus, and taxi has been in far less demand while people have been avoiding non-essential journeys. This means many engineers, bus drivers, and other rail workers have been left on furlough or made redundant, and there’s a short demand for new workers. 

Recruitment

There are new challenges for recruiters too. The job market is not as fruitful as it used to be and job vacancies have dropped significantly, making it harder for recruitment agencies to place people into work. Statistics show that there has been a 26% decrease in the number of job vacancies in January 2021 compared to November 2020, which isn’t surprising considering the number of businesses that have have to shut.  

Furthermore, new analysis has found that 18 to 24-year-olds has seen the greatest decrease, so young people are the hardest hit. This is why the government launched the Kickstart Scheme to work with local employers to help assist young people back into work. 

Oil and gas

The oil and gas industry is estimated to be one of the hardest hit, too. According to Deloitte, oil prices have dropped since the start of Covid-19 due to failed agreements on production cuts and a reduced demand for chemicals and refined products caused by wider travel restrictions and industrial slow-downs. 

Other businesses

Spending, overall, is at an all-time low. With people only permitted to go outside for essential reasons, people are spending less on things like food, transport, and non-essential items. Therefore, the overall economy has suffered as a result, and less money is going back into businesses. 

How quickly will things get back to normal?

Whichever way you look at it, the impact of Covid-19 and its lockdowns on employment and the economy is going to be profound and long-lasting. It’s real impact on businesses perhaps won’t be known immediately, but it will unravel as the years progress. 

Related Articles: Kickstart Scheme for young people 

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Kickstart Scheme For Young People

What is the Kickstart Scheme and how is it helping young people affected by the pandemic?

  • Written by Katie Treharne
  • •
  • March 26th, 2021
  • •
  • 7 Minute Read

Over the past year, Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on the job industry. With so many businesses unable to operate as normal, it’s no wonder that redundancy is at an all-time high. With businesses and jobseekers struggling under the financial difficulties, the number of people claiming universal credit and job seekers’ allowance is the highest it’s been since the financial crisis of 2008. However, it’s young people that have been hit the hardest by the economic impact of the pandemic. 

With more people out of work, finding and securing a new job has become far more difficult. Nowadays, fresh graduates and school leavers suddenly find themselves competing for entry-level positions with more seasoned professionals and workers with years of experience under their belt. Furthermore, there are far fewer entry-level vacancies, as many employers can no longer afford to invest in the training and development required for brand new candidates. 

With the job market being so competitive, and job postings far and few in between, it’s no surprise that those early in their careers are struggling to gain the vital work experience they need to get their foot in the door. 

With this in mind, the government’s Kickstart Scheme has been launched to help young people aged between 16 and 24, some of the hardest hit by financial difficulties caused by the pandemic. 

By pairing up with local employers, the scheme offers six-month placements to 16 to 24-year-olds who are claiming universal credit and therefore at a greater risk of long-term unemployment due to the pandemic. 

The work placements are fully funded by the government, supporting employers with bursaries to ensure that all successful candidates are provided with top-notch training and development to help them better their tools and abilities. 

Better yet, the scheme has become so popular with employers that there are job vacancies in many different industries and niches to suit different individuals’ career aspirations and varying skillsets, from more technical and hands-on careers to vocational varieties.  

The idea is that after the six-month contract, young people will leave with more knowledge, training, and real-life experience, which will in turn help them find and successfully gain a permanent full-time job. 

Who can participate in the Kickstart scheme?

The Kickstart scheme is available to anyone aged 16 to 24, but they must already be in receipt of Universal Credit. This is because the scheme is designed specifically to help young people at risk on long-term unemployment, to help them get their first foot in the door in a pandemic-worn world. 

How long will the scheme run for?

Each Kickstart placement lasts 6 months, with a minimum contract of 25 hours per week. Employers are encouraged to offer additional hours, if they have their own funding, but the minimum 25 hours at minimum wage is covered by the government. 

The scheme will run until December 2021, so there’s still plenty of time for employers to get involved. 

Why is the Kickstart scheme important?

Young people are the future and investing in young people is the key to getting the economy back on its feet, while also supporting young and unharnessed talent. 

Unsurprisingly, the recent youth unemployment statistics released by the House of Commons in March 2021 found that the number of young people in unemployment had increased by 11% since the start of the pandemic. It also found that more than 227,000 more young people than before the pandemic have become economically inactive – meaning that there is a huge crisis in unemployment in young people. 

The Kickstart scheme helps to create more jobs for young people at risk of long-term unemployment, by fully funding the opportunities with local employers. This means the scheme helps local employers can get back on their feet too, while simultaneously providing support to young people who are out of work. 

How do I find Kickstart jobs?

Candidates can find and discuss Kickstart job opportunities through their work coach. Their work coach will be able to help them find a job they will enjoy and which will help them develop important skills for their desired career path. 

Luckily, employers from all industries and niches are getting involved, so the possibilities are endless. There are employers from all kind of niche areas, so you could find yourself a job in marketing, engineering, or even as an outdoor activity instructor. 

With a focus on training and development, the young person should feel capable and confident to successfully land a rewarding full-time job afterwards. 

I’m an employer. How can I get involved?

Any employer can sign up for the Kickstart scheme, as long as they’re committed to training and supporting a young generation of talent. 

So far, since September 2020, there have been over 120,000 jobs created by the Kickstart scheme and the government wants to get more employers involved. 

The best part for employers is that 100% of the National Minimum Wage is covered for 25 hours, over a period of 6 months. They can also apply for funding for their National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions. 

Employers can apply online or through a Kickstart gateway. 

Related Articles: Covid-19’s impact on business and employment 

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The Impact of Brexit on Employment

The impact of Brexit on employment and businesses in the UK

  • Written by Katie Treharne
  • •
  • March 26th, 2021
  • •
  • 5 Minute Read

Brexit has been one of the most talked-about business topics of the past few years, but the extent of its impact on businesses and employment in the UK is not widely known by most of the population. When Britain left the EU in January 2020, there wasn’t one industry which wouldn’t be affected by the new rules and regulations after the transition period ending in December 2020. 

All businesses will need to navigate the new legal frameworks, and this will look different for different types of businesses from varying industries. New rules on customs, workforces, and investment could potentially have a huge impact on the money businesses make – and therefore, the wider British economy. 

Financial services and businesses that trade internationally are some of the most impacted, because businesses must reassess their supply chain, and there is a potential for less investment. Furthermore, the end of free movement means that shortages in professionals and skilled workers from the EU will impact businesses’ employment strategy as well as potential financial difficulties resulting from unskilled workers. 

Custom charges and tariffs

The news has been full of disgruntled customers hit with unexpected custom duty charges, but it’s the businesses who will find this the greatest challenge.  

While the deal struck between the UK and the EU means there are no customs tariffs on most goods that have been wholly obtained or substantially transformed, customs documentation is now required. Therefore, businesses who import and export goods into or out of the EU will have to cover these extra customs duty charges, or be completely transparent with customers about the extra charges – potentially losing out on important sales. 

If goods don’t originate from the UK or EU, then businesses will face extra tariffs, a huge financial consideration for many businesses. Some businesses may have to rework their entire supply chain, to ensure that they’re not being hit with huge extra costs.

Workforce

Previously, employers could take on a temporary worker from other EU countries as free movement meant they could move to-and-fro with ease. Now, however, Britain has left the EU meaning that there are shortages in professionals for businesses, meaning that some businesses may be hit financially.

Recruitment industry

While there are hopes that there will be more jobs created for UK-based workers, there are lot of practicalities for recruitment agencies to tackle. It will be a big challenge for recruitment agencies to find temporary staff for farms and warehouses, as previously the majority of their temporary workers could pop in and out of the EU.  

Currently, EU nationals make up to 7% of the workforce. However, with a new immigration system and the end of free movement, recruitment agencies will struggle to find as many skilled workers for clients, impacting their own business’ success. 

Less investment

With greater economic uncertainty, it’s likely that British businesses will garner less investment than they would normally. 

Positives for businesses

While Brexit is impacting lots of businesses in different ways, there may be some positives to the situation. Some businesses will be able to capitalise on the volatility of currency, for instance, and the opportunity to make changes to the supply chain may reap benefits in the long-run. 

So far, there has been a 10% increase in international sales by UK companies, so many businesses may reap the benefits of increased sales with international customers. 

Whichever way you look at it, there are some big changes for businesses to tackle post-Brexit. While some businesses may be financially hard-hit, there are also areas they can capitalise on. 

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How Recruitment Agencies Can Help Candidates Find Jobs

How recruitment agencies can help candidates find jobs

  • Written by Katie Treharne
  • •
  • March 29th, 2021
  • •
  • 7 Minute Read

Sifting through countless job postings yourself is a tiresome and time-consuming endeavour. If you want to find a job which fits with your career aspirations and talent, registering with a recruitment agency is one of the best things you can do. 

Recruitment agencies handle the mind-numbing part of the job, quickly matching your talent with a job that suits your requirements. They can sieve out positions and companies that don’t match your values, and take into account individual needs such as remote or flexible working, saving you time wasted and fast-tracking you into a company you’ll want to stay with for the long-haul. 

There are many added benefits of registering with a recruitment agency, from specialised CV advice and interview tips, to exclusive jobs only available with that specific agency. 

They can help you find a flexible job

Recruitment agencies listen to your needs. If you have children or other responsibilities, they can help you find flexible working that fits around your school run schedule or other personal matters. Rather than you having to sift through tons of job listings, the agency will quickly identify suitable jobs with flexible working options, saving you wasted time and unnecessary effort. 

If you’re shielding due to Covid-19, and need jobs where you can work from home, recruitment agencies can find no-nonsense remote jobs for you too. 

They can help advise you on your CV

One of the biggest advantages of using a recruitment agency is that they can help transform a basic CV into a CV that will get employers chasing you. Having an up-to-date, attractive, and concise CV stands you with a far better chance of attracting employers and securing your next job. 

Some recruitment agencies also offer interview tips, teaching you how to answer questions effectively and create a lasting impression upon the employer. 

They specialise in specific industries

Find a recruitment agency in your niche to really narrow down your dream opportunities. For instance, Fellowship Recruitment specialises in vacancies in Oil and Gas, Warehouse and Admin, and Digital and Technology. 

They understand that you don’t just want a job in any area. You want a job that matches with your career aspirations, talent, and training. 

They can find you quality jobs that don’t disappoint

Just how agencies sift through to find the most promising candidates for a role, they know how to quickly identify your strengths and interests to match you with a rewarding position. 

Better yet, they’ll help you realise your full potential too. Many jobseekers are quick to underestimate their skillset and experience, so experienced agencies will know when it’s time to boost you towards more challenging roles. They’ll also listen to your instructions, so if it’s time for you to transfer your energy into other parts of your life, they can help you find part-time or better yet permanent roles. 

They’re free

You don’t want to be hit with unexpected fees, especially when you’re looking for a job. Thankfully, recruitment agencies are completely free to job seekers. That means you can spend your money on more important things, like hobbies and rent.

Some advertise exclusive jobs

Some advertisers will work directly with a recruitment agency – and you won’t find them anywhere else. So, it’s always worth registering with a reputable recruitment agency in your niche so that you don’t miss out on any exclusive opportunities. 

Related Articles: Why you should use a recruitment agency when hiring? 

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How To Stand-out From Other Applicants

How to stand out from other applicants

  • Written by Safa Nawaz
  • •
  • March 29th, 2021
  • •
  • 5 Minute Read

When job searching and applying to many jobs without getting a response back, it can be easy to become demotivated and almost give up. However, you can easily change this by understanding what employers are looking for in CVs and interviews and how to make yourself meet their requirements as well as standing out from everyone else.  

It is important for you to understand and acknowledge what skills and abilities you have and how to incorporate them well into your application so that it has a better chance of being successful.  Here are three ways you can improve your job application process.

Brand yourself

When applying for a job, put yourself in the employer’s position and think about what they would be looking for in a potential candidate and then market yourself to fit that specific job role.  

One of the most important things to consider when applying to a job is making sure you have a well written CV and cover letter if the application requires one, as this is the first point of communication between you and the recruiter. Their first impressions of you will be based on these documents and so you need to ensure that you make a good impression. To make your CV stand out from the others you need to include your USP. A USP is a ‘unique selling point,’ and in order to single out your application and make it more distinctive, you will need to determine what you can offer that many other people may not be able to.  

Most employers will search for you in Google and have a look at your online presence. You can utilise social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, to help construct your personal brand so that the employer gets to know more about you as an individual.  

Interviews

When it comes to interviews, there are many tips that you can use that will make you stand out and give you a better chance of being successful in the application. One of the main things that you can do is research and collect as much information about the company as possible. When answering questions during the interview, incorporate this knowledge to show the interviewer that you are interested in the company and have already dedicated time into finding out about them.  

Make sure you attend the interview with professionalism and confidence. Maintaining a professional and confident persona throughout the interview will leave a lasting impression on the employer and hopefully cause you to stand out amongst other candidates.  

At the end of the interview, always ask relevant questions and challenge the employer. Normally, employers will try to test the interviewee on their knowledge. However, if you have researched about the company, ask a question where the employer may have to think on their feet as this will surprise them and leave a good impression.  

Demonstrate your skills

It is important that you showcase any skills you may have and explain how you would use them in the job role that you are applying for. If you have certain skills that may not necessarily fit in with the job, think of ways that you could add something to the company by incorporating those skills. Not only will this show the interviewer that you are able to come up with new ideas, it also shows how determined you are to help improve and better the company.  

It is also vital that you demonstrate how you are able to learn new skills. You can do this by showing how you have developed your skillset in previous job Roles. For example, you may have completed a training course to improve your ability to execute a job role well. Employers are more likely to hire someone who is ambitious, open-minded and can adapt to changes easily as this means they can grow alongside the company.   

Related Articles: 5 tips for job seekers 

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Why Use A Recruitment Agency?

Why you should use a recruitment agency when hiring

  • Written by Safa Nawaz
  • •
  • March 29th, 2021
  • •
  • 5 Minute Read

Finding a suitable candidate for a specific job role can be a challenging task for a company, especially if there are many applicants. The process requires the use of in-house recourses and does not guarantee that you will find the perfect candidate at the end of it as there is always a possibility of hiring someone who is unfit for the role, resulting in a loss of time and money. 

Therefore, many employers turn to recruitment agencies to help them identify the most talented applicants and narrow them down to a smaller scale. This can benefit a company in many ways.  

Time Saving

One of the main reasons why companies hire through agencies is that they have the ability to find suitable candidates much faster. Recruitment agencies tend to have access to networks with many connections and as a result can find better fitting candidates for the role.  

Recruitment agencies are professionals at filtering through applications and selecting the best applicants. As a company, your in-house team might not have the ability to sort through a high number of applications as quickly as an agency can.  

In business, time is money. Using a recruitment agency can significantly reduce the time needed to source a suitable candidate. This can improve the efficiency of the organisation as they will have a better chance of filling in the vacancy as quick as possible.  

Access the best

Recruitment agencies usually obtain a network of job-seekers and potential candidates and therefore have the ability to source the most talented applicants for a specific job role. Using a recruitment agency will allow you to access a wider range of people making it easier for you to find the best possible applicant. The agency can then interview and carefully select the most ideal candidates meaning you, as an employer, only receive a handful of applicants that are best fit for the job. 

Cost Efficient

The process of hiring someone can be costly and using an agency is seen as a more affordable option. Recruiting without an agency requires the use of in-house recourses, which could be more expensive, especially if you are a small company.  

Using an agency reduces the cost in many ways, for example, you wouldn’t have to spend extra money advertising job roles, training a new employee, paying staff for working overtime or temporarily hiring someone.  

Sector Expertise

Every recruitment agency specialises in certain job sectors and possess a substantial amount of knowledge within that field. This enables them to know exactly what they need to look out for.  

Recruitment agencies will also take care of a large amount of the recruitment process such as filtering the applicants, verifying CVs and qualifications, scheduling interviews, and preparing the candidates with the relevant information needed for that specific job role.

Developing a relationship

By using a recruitment agency frequently, you slowly start to develop a trusting relationship. They will also get a better idea of what your business entails and can therefore make sure that their search matches with your criteria.  

Overtime, you will be able to go to the agency that you work with and will be able to almost immediately receive applicants suited to your job role.  

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