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Due to redundancies in the current tough climate, there are lots of candidates competing for jobs. Employers risk being inundated with CVs (last month we received 100 applications per day on average – double our usual rate). You may enjoy plenty of choice, but the quality may be lacking. All the more reason to use us to shortlist the best prospects for you!

To cheer you up we’re offering the chance to win a bottle of champagne. Just tell us your most amusing interview story via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it by 14th December. The prize will be awarded to the writer of the most entertaining response in the opinion of the judges (that’s us). We will share the best (or worst!) stories in the next newsletter and we’ve included a fantastic one in this issue.

Spencer Jacobs, MD

Interviewing Dos and Don'ts

Spencer Jacobs: The man behind the business

In the headlines

“So, are you married?”
“And are you planning a family?”
“What is your personal situation?”

You must be extra careful you are not being prejudiced when interviewing. By law, you have to ask everyone the same questions but the above 3 questions are ones that you definitely mustn’t ask!

Closed questions invite a one-word answer so won’t tell you a lot. We recommend you ask open questions – they often start with who, what, when, where, why and how, and can gather much more information.

Find out which interview questions are more likely to help you find the right employee

This month we find out more about Spencer Jacobs, MD.

“What’s the best thing about your work?”
Finding someone a job and fulfilling client needs. I get a massive buzz out of getting people into the right work.

“Can you give an example of how you’ve fulfilled client needs?”
A Financial Director was looking for an accountant. He’d already been to three or four accountancy recruitment agencies, with no luck. He asked me if I was an accountant. When I said “No”, he asked, “How are you able to interview accountants then?” I explained how we listen to the needs of both sides and find a candidate that doesn’t just suit the role but suits the company as well. He trusted us to proceed and we found him a choice of two ideal people who were both so perfect he had trouble choosing between them.

“And what’s the worst thing about your work?”
It’s frustrating when I know a candidate is perfect but the client says they don’t want to meet them because they don’t look suitable on paper. We may not get it right every time, but we do all the groundwork so I wish all clients would listen to us! That way they would get best value for their money.

Read Spencer’s advice on how to get the best from your recruitment agency

European Agency Workers’ Directive passed by the European Parliament
 
MEPs have voted in favour of paying temporary agency workers the same as permanent staff.

In the UK, the equal pay regulation can be delayed until after a 12-week qualifying period. The full details of the directive will have to be debated by MPs before it is passed into UK law.

Ask us for more information about this and other industry news.

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