​There is a good chance that as a hiring manager you will have to face the question at some point as to whether or not to use a recruitment agency (such as EPQ Recruitment) or posting on a job board to receive direct applications. This article will cut through all the noise and clearly identify the pros of both using a recruitment agency vs handling direct applications yourselves so you can decide the best course of action for your business.

The Pros of using a Recruitment agency

1.Recruitment agencies save time and resources.

Recruitment can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. Recruitment agencies save time by taking on the time-consuming tasks of advertising, resume screening, candidate sourcing/headhunting, chasing references, and preliminary interview screening - and that is not considering all the communication and admin that goes into managing candidates through the process. Organisations that want to focus on their core operations may choose to outsource their hiring efforts to a recruitment agency where they can benefit from the improved competency of a specialist agency. This can allow a busy HR (Human Resources) manager to save time and resources that could be spent on more profitable areas of the business. When considering the entire recruitment process and the time and money spent, and the loss of productivity within the business, even though there is a direct fee payable, many businesses find this is outweighed by the indirect savings thus making the opportunity cost overall cheaper.

2.Hard to fill roles.

Roles that hard to fill such as those within niche industries, technical fields or executive level positions can benefit from a recruitment agency with expertise and networks within the given industry, allowing them to identify, target and headhunt top talent candidates that may not be readily accessible simply through broader based direct application methods such as job boards. Furthermore, recruitment agencies are experts in conducting DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and SC checks on candidates for roles which require specialist checks on candidates often saving weeks of chasing and delays.

3.High volume hiring

Organisations that need to hire a lot of candidates within a short time frame, such as during peak seasons or for project-based work, can benefit from the efficiency and scalability that a recruitment agency can provide. They can handle the high volume of applications, screen candidates, and manage the recruitment process at a much more cost-efficient level than if many organisations tried to do so internally, furthermore recruitment agencies may offer partial refunds if recruits do not work past a certain time/probation period.
Many recruitment agencies hold pools of candidates with whom the agency has built up a relationship, complete with appropriate checks and references, this allows the agency almost immediate access to pool of appropriate talent allowing them to fill large positions quickly. This is particularly useful if, as an employer, you have an immediate need as ‘temp to perm’ and temporary workers will often initially be engaged and paid by the agency until you are satisfied with them and their workload. Thus, again reducing your HR workload.

4.Immediate access to expansive recruitment networks

Organisations with limited recruitment networks such as startups or organisation expanding into a new region can use a recruitment agency to leverage their extensive networks, databases, and industry contacts to identify and connect with potential candidates.

5.Confidentiality
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Companies that require confidentiality through their hiring process such as when replacing sensitive roles e.g., key executives can use recruitment agencies to add a layer of secrecy. Recruitment agencies can handle the process discreetly to protect the client organisations hiring information leaking to competitors.  

The Pros of Direct Application

1.Its Free

Direct application does not involve payment to commission to be paid to third party and as such can be attractive option for organisations with little to no budget to put toward the recruitment process, although the time taken to recruit yourself has a resource and time cost that is often overlooked and not fully considered.

2.Full Control

The positive side of having to control and monitor the entire process is that… you can control and monitor the entire process. This allows hiring managers to follow up on application based on their own preferences and timeline, ultimately placing full control of the recruitment process in the hands of the organisation, instead of having to rely upon the expertise of recruitment agencies. However, this can lead to unconscious biases and emotional candidate selection as the impartiality of an agency is removed.

3.Direct engagement with employers

Direct application gives the candidate and the organisation the ability to engage with each other and build report immediately, allowing the hiring manager assess aspects such as personality at an early stage. This allows the candidate to build a relationship with the employer from an earlier stage, allowing them to showcase their skills and negotiate job offers directly.
 
Hopefully, this has helped you as a hiring manager understand the pros of both using a recruitment agency vs direct application. Both have their place depending on the needs and capabilities of the organisation (such as if the organisation already has a dedicated recruitment department) and context of the industry in which it is recruiting in (for example if it is highly specialised scientist role). If you still have questions about whether a recruitment agency is right for you, why not contact us for free at EPQ Recruitment at recruitment@epqrecruitment.co.uk or call us on 03334441120.
 

"Hiring the right person for the right job" is a common saying that is much easier said than done. Like many other critical processes for organisations, recruitment done poorly can lead to costly consequences. In this blog post, we will discuss five common recruitment pitfalls that every hiring manager should be aware of and provide tips on how to avoid them.

1.Rushing to Fill positions.

Underpinning nearly all other pitfalls on this list - and yet one of the most common mistakes hiring managers make - is to make hiring decisions based on expedience as apposed to thorough evaluation.

It can be very tempting to take the first candidate who throws their hat in the door and says they can start Monday - but undervalue a thorough recruitment process at your own peril. Hiring an individual who may not have the necessary skills or cultural fit with organisation will incur costs on the organisation in terms of diminished quality of the work and time spent upskilling.

Invest the time/capital into either creating a comprehensive recruitment process or use experts such as EPQ Recruitment and ensure you find the best possible candidate for the position.

2.Inaccurate or Imprecise Job Descriptions

Job descriptions are a vitally important points of reference for both managers and candidates; inaccurate or Imprecise job descriptions can easily cascade into plethora of problems for both the individual and the organisation down the line.

These issues may take the form of:

- Hiring someone without the necessary skills that are required for the job as they were ill-defined.

- Poor employee motivation as the employee is unaware as to the full meaning of their role within the context of the organisation and may feel hesitant in performing roles that they were unaware fell under there remit.

- Training and upskilling employees becomes more difficult and costly without defined job descriptions as clear paths of progression become blurred.
 
3.Overwhelming candidate inefficiencies

The first step many organisations may take when recruiting for a position may be to plaster the role on as many job boards as possible. Drawing in as many candidates’ applications as possible may seem nothing if not positive, however, an overwhelming number of applicants can make it difficult to effectively screen and evaluate each and every individual with the attention that they deserve. As result of the heavy-handed methods used in order to create a short list from so many candidates, an organisation may actually end up with sub optimal set of candidates.

Methods such as attending networking events, using niche Job Boards, and directly reaching out to a smaller number of candidates that is more manageable for the company’s internal screening capabilities result in better overall candidate quality. Alternatively outsourcing to a third party such as EPQ Recruitment is a less resource intensive method to effectively ensure that only the highest calibre recruits reach the interview stage.

4.Overlooking Cultural Fit

It can be an easy fix for hiring managers to base their decision purely on the candidates’ qualifications and experience without taking the time to consider whether the individual will fit with the company’s internal culture – or even what their company culture is.

An organisation can hire the most qualified, most experienced candidate, but if they do not work in harmony with the companies’ values, mission, and overall work environment, they will clash with colleagues and management. This will nearly always result in negative impacts on the individual’s motivation and performance as they become disillusioned with the organisation and can eventually lead to leaving entirely, thus wasting all the resources that had thus far been put into the individual. Skills and technical knowhow are far easier, faster, and cheaper to teach than trying to make an individual adhere to workplace environment in which cannot suit their individual needs.

To avoid this pitfall, we assess both the technical skills and cultural fit of candidates during the recruitment process. By Incorporating behavioural questions and cultural fit assessments we ensure that candidates align with your organisation's values and work well with the existing team.

5.Expecting New Employees to ‘Hit the ground running’.

New employees – no matter how qualified – will need time to settle into the role and find their feet. It will typically take about 3 months for new starter to fully find their feet and begin to produce quality work in timely manner that meets the expectation of their new employer.

It can be frustrating for employers, having put all this effort into hiring the ‘right’ candidate, only to then have to train them for the role they supposedly qualified for. However, it is incredibly important that when onboarding a new starter, the organisation makes them feel welcome and gives them the support and the network to seek advice and ask questions. Expecting a new starter to immediately start operating as if they were seasoned veteran of the company can lead to them feeling overwhelmed and stressed, which may easily spiral into disengagement and ultimately leaving the organisation.

Recruitment can be a tricky process to nail perfectly, but it is vitally important to perform correctly for firms to successfully grow and improve its human capital. If you would like a professional organisation to handle all the risks that recruitment has to offer, then why not contact us recruitment@epqrecruitment.co.uk or call us on 0333 444 1120.
 

It’s no secret that you take a risk each time you set out to fill an opening with the perfect candidate. It takes time, money and a lot of effort to interview, that’s why we want to make sure you’re screening the potential red flags in future employees.

Some are obvious, and some you may need to dig a little deeper into the psychology behind. Nonetheless, here’s our specialised list of interview red flags:

1. Lack of eye contact
When candidates fail to maintain eye contact and consistently look down, it can indicate confidence issues. This could mean they won’t be able to drive processes or they have something underlying to hide.

2. Suspicious work history
It’s important that when you’re interviewing you ask the candidate to review work history, and explain any gaps or un-commonalities listed on their CV.

3. Inconsistent career path
If candidates’ CV’s show multiple career path changes, it could mean they get bored quickly and will grow tired of the routine aspects of the job. Again, it’s good to ask the candidate to address this.

4. Leaving jobs due to disagreements
Candidates who have a history of leaving companies because they don’t agree with managers tend to carry this behaviour into future roles. Additionally, any obvious bad-mouthing of another company is an ultimate red flag. “We don’t expect candidates to like all of their previous companies or managers, but they should keep the complaints to a minimum and keep it professional while interviewing.” Dani Bird, Recruitment Outplacement Specialist.

5. Arriving late
A candidate arriving late to an interview can be a strong indication of their time management skills, rather, lack of.

6. Missing home addresses
Candidates who fail to include an address on their CV may currently live out of the area. They’ll omit their address so that hiring managers don’t immediately rule them out. If hired, their start date could be delayed, as they probably won’t begin planning their move to the location until the position is confirmed.

7. Missing interviews
Candidates who continuously reschedule or miss interviews may be unreliable and disorganised. It also shows a lack of interest in the job itself.

8. Not asking questions
If you’re the one dishing out all the questions, it could be a sign of lack of ambition in the candidate. This again can generate signs of disinterest in the role, or a large confidence issue.

9. Inappropriate language
If your candidate uses foul language in an interview, it’s an extreme red flag. Not only does this show their lack of respect for the company, but if they can swear in this scenario, imagine where else they’d do so?

10. Arrives unprepared
If you’ve stated the resources needed for interview (copy of CV, ID etc.) and the candidate fails to bring them, this is a big sign of lack of organisation.

​Would you like your recruitment process taken completely off your hands? Get in touch with us here at EPQ Recruitment

With all the bank holidays of the year over, we’re re-lighting the ongoing debate of the 4-day working week, and whether it would work in the United Kingdom.

At face value, an extra day off sounds brilliant. A day to do the food shop, go for lunch, or catch-up on a Netflix show without eating into the standard weekend. However, there is a whole host of factors to consider when planning the logistics of this outcome.

What is a 4-day working week?

You may already know someone that works compressed hours and as such works full-time over 35 hours over 4 days. This is not uncommon for some.

But the four day work week that is being proposed isn’t this at all. It isn’t a compressed work schedule, but rather reduced hours. So, the employee would work around 28 hours over four days and have a three-day weekend.

The Benefits

A 4 day work week is a relatively new concept, brought about largely due to recent advancements in technology. However, some companies are already trialling the idea with promising results for both employees and employers. We’ve gathered a sum of benefits to the system:

Increased Productivity

Overworked employees are actually less productive than employees working an average or normal working week. Read that again.

To put into context, with less days in the working week, workers will maximise their time more efficiently to make sure everything is completed. No more lulling around knowing you have a lesser timeframe in which to get things done.

Work/Life Balance

Perhaps the most obvious benefit to the 4 day working week, it shall allow for more time outside of work to manage personal errands and spend time on families and hobbies. Therefore maximising an individuals quality of life.

Better Employee Engagement

A 4 day week can lead to happier and more committed employees. Employees are less likely to be stressed or take sick leave as they have plenty of time to rest and recover. As a result, they return to work feeling ready to take on new challenges.

From 2015 to 2017, Sweden conducted a trial study into a shorter work week. Nurses at a care home worked only 6 hours for five days a week. Results were largely positive with nurses logging less sick hours, reporting better health and mental wellbeing and greater engagement as they arranged 85% more activities for patients in their care

A Smaller Carbon Footprint

Countries with shorter working hours typically have a smaller carbon footprint so reducing our work week from 5 to 4 days could have an environmental benefit too.

Shortening our working week means that employees don’t need to commute as much and office buildings are only in use four days a week. Thats if employers haven’t already implanted the work from home scheme.

The Disadvantages

While there are certainly a whole host of benefits to a 4 day work week, there are also a few disadvantages. Here’s our summary:

Customer Satisfaction

A study in Utah argues that a 4-day working week decreases customer satisfaction massively. In their study of the week, they said Customers complained that they were unable to access government services with offices closed on a Friday.

Using technology, like chatbots and AI-powered websites, could solve issues related to customer satisfaction as it would allow customers another avenue of support rather than relying on officebased staff members. However, if you don’t have access or capacities for this, not being around on a Friday could hinder you. Wrong Approach

Many confused the concept of a 4 day work week with compressed hours. And as we stated at the start, this isn’t what the structure is.

Employees who are expected to still work 35 hours, but across 4 days will actually show decreased levels of productivity and it can also impact employees’ engagement, work-life balance and overall happiness. To achieve the desired effects a 4 day work week should consist of standard 7 hour work days.

​Need some help navigating what’s best for your business? Get in touch with us here at EPQ

It is crucial to be a part of a healthy work environment that allows for professional development, prospering and making lasting professional connections. And it’s sometimes tricky to spot when a workplace isn’t delivering.

If you’re an employee, there are many ways you can spot toxicity and report it to your employer. In this blog, we help you explore the signs of a potentially toxic work environment, here is 5 signs to spot you’re in one:

1. Poor communication
The most obvious sign of a toxic workplace is poor communication. If you find that your team members aren't communicating with each other, if they're not giving feedback or asking questions, or if they're just not communicating well in general—that's a sign of a toxic culture.

2. High turnover
Turnover is expensive and time consuming, so if your company has high turnover rates it's probably indicative of a toxic culture. If you see that people are leaving the company because they don't feel challenged (or are being given the wrong kind of challenges), that's a big red flag.

3. Exclusionary behaviour
When people feel excluded from company culture or from social activities at work, it can be incredibly harmful to morale and productivity. If you see employees feeling left out or excluded from important decisions or opportunities because of their gender/race/age/etc., take action immediately!

4. A lack of employee growth and development opportunities
When employees aren't offered opportunities for professional growth and advancement, both inside and outside the organisation, it's unlikely that they'll stay engaged for long periods of time without feeling bored or unfulfilled by their jobs. This can lead to high turnover rates as well as low morale among existing.

5. Unmotivated coworkers
If your coworkers appear unmotivated and lack excitement about their role, this may be a sign that your workplace has made them feel unappreciated. A lack of motivation in your colleagues may indicate a much bigger organisational issue and can directly impact your drive to do well. If your coworkers don't find purpose in their tasks, it can be much harder for you to find purpose as well. If you're taking on extra work as a result of your colleagues' attitudes, you may develop resentment towards those who've become disengaged.

 The Importance of Recruitment

When putting a magnifying glass on the success of a business, we tend to look at the financial growth and certain figures. So much so, we ignore the importance of recruitment in business strategy. The success of a business ultimately relies on the employees, and their quality. Companies that want to grow rapidly but steadily understand that they can only do so if they have the right mix of
talent, which is why recruitment is vital. We’ve summed just how crucial recruitment is in order to grow and sustain a successful business:

1. Determines requirements

The recruitment process navigates a company in evaluating its present and future staffing requirements. It conducts an analysis of the company and its process.

2. Prevents Disruption of Business Activities

The process of recruitment ensures that the daily activities of your organisation are carried out seamlessly. It provides businesses with all vital resources regularly for various job positions. The recruitment process selects individuals from a variety of backgrounds to meet the organisation’s needs.

3. Increases Success Rate of Hiring

This approach is effective in stimulating the success percentage of the company’s selecting process. It analyses all the job applications to minimise the frequency of unqualified and exaggerating candidates. Only qualified employee’s applications are advanced to the next stage

4. Expands Talent Pool

The goal of recruitment is to create a wide pool of qualified candidates from which one has to choose the most qualified individual for the job. This approach draws big groups of individuals and encourages them to apply for open opportunities in a company.
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5. Cost-Effective

It focuses on minimising total costs and time spent on finding suitable employees. Recruitment is a well-organised and methodical approach in which a large number of people are given a detailed description of a job opening. A good job description attracts a large number of people at a lower cost.

6. Improves the Credibility of the Organisation

A business organisation’s reputation is bolstered by a strong recruitment process. It assesses the validity of job openings and reflects the professionalism and authenticity of the company. The adoption of a good application method by a company organisation will aid in increasing the trust of job applicants. This, in turn, attracts the attention of highly qualified applicants for your company.

Having a sufficient recruitment process is essential to a functioning, growing business. Without a stable routine, you are going to consistently run into issues where you are unable to attract the highest qualified candidates. Consequently, you will lose them to the competition and it will either take too long to fill open positions, or, you will spend too much money in training to get new employees up to speed with the expectations of the job.

Here are various signs which will indicate an inefficient recruiting process. By being aware of these, you can take greater control of the process.

1. Overstretched offering time

In short, your process is insufficient due to the amount of time you take to respond to a candidate.

Candidates, especially when they are being recruited by other employers, don’t want to wait prolonger periods of time waiting for your response.

Our best practise is to always disclose a time period in which you will come to a decision in and make sure the candidate is happy to wait. To note, the most important part is to keep candidates in the know!

2. High Cost of Recruiting

As you may know, there is a lot of money being spent on recruiting. Sometimes, more than is necessary. If you find yourself blowing the budget frequently, there could be huge flaws in your employing process.

This includes the amount of interviews taken, the time used by HR team and hiring managers, the money you spend flying candidates in and out for interviews and meetings, fees paid to professional teams, and more. The typical establishment spends about 8 to 12% of a candidate’s salary in recruiting costs, though it could be optimised to between 4 to 6%.

In essence, it’s a lot of money to waste on bringing people in for them not to convert. We recommend referring to a professional who can help streamline your recruitment costs. Professional recruiters are able to pinpoint your surplus of spending and conduct more cost- effective approaches. Get in touch with us at EPQ to help you cut the cost of employing!

3. Low Employee Referrals

The insufficiency of your recruitment process may depend on your current employees not providing referrals.

If you are not getting as many as you once did, there might be a problem within your establishment that you’re unaware of. Most employees, especially when provided with a referral bonus, are happy to refer their friends and associates to the company where they are happy. If they are not happy, they will be less inclined to provide a referral.

This essentially means that you have to take a step back and consider if employees are satisfied with the company. We recommend conducting an employee survey could tell you what area is unsatisfactory so you can work to rectify the problem!
 
4. Candidates Are Unwilling To Attend Multiple Interview Rounds

If you bring candidates in for an additional (2 or more) round of interviews and they decline, you have a problem.

They have either found another position or they are simply tired of passing through the hoops you have created to come and work for you. They would rather keep looking than endure another round of interviews.

In this case, you need to refine your interview questions. Look at asking more in-depth questions during the first round or providing a better explanation to candidates as to why you need the additional rounds. If they know the further round is with higher level employees or that they will receive a job offer within days of the next round, it might lead to them accepting your challenges. They shall only continue if they feel it’s worth it.

5. Poor Feedback

Candidates will grow frustrated when they don’t hear back from the hiring manager or HR as to when a decision will be made.

As-well, new-starter employees grow frustrated when they don’t get feedback from management about their performance.

As stated, you need to be completely transparent of your timeline, as-well as make time for employees to receive comment.

6.High Turnover Rate

If you suffer with a high employee turnover rate, especially in the first 2-6 months, it often indicates that there were mistakes made in the hiring process.

The turnover could be for two reasons: the candidate leaving or the candidate being replaced/let go. Either way, you need to identify the reasons behind it.

If you have trouble identify the flaws in your onboarding process, get in touch with us here at EPQ for an honest overlook of your recruitment process.

In the end, you have to look at what candidates are receiving throughout the recruitment process.

If they aren’t being constantly informed throughout the timeline, there’s an issue. If they aren’t receiving feedback on performance, there’s an issue. And the rest? It comes down to you taking the time to refine and assess your in-house process.
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Needing advice, or a professional outlook on your recruitment process as a business? We are EPQ Recruitment, a small, friendly team ready to guide you into a new, high converting, candidate search.

Onboarding can mean many things to different teams in various establishments. A typical onboarding process begins when a candidate accepts their offer, and ensures of a smooth transition for the employee entering the company.

Your employee onboarding should focus on welcoming your new starter warmly and making certain of their comfort. Here’s our guide to do doing just that:

Celebrate your new starter

Celebrating your new employee can be done firstly by making an announcement.

This could be done via email, in a meeting, or both. It is important to have your existing employees recognise the new hire - it not only shows your new employee your excitement of having them onboard, but it also alerts others that a new member has been onboarded and could potentially encourage implement their own personal welcome.

A celebration could extend to the likes of a welcome company lunch, or decorating the new starters desk with merchandise. Have fun with the celebration, but make sure your starter is comfortable.

Conduct an orientation

An orientation can include the likes of additional paperwork for the employee to complete, too giving a tour and rundown of the company. We highly recommend, if not done already, to show your new hire around the facilities, and introduce them to all colleagues and explain how they’ll potentially be working together.

Should you have multiple new hires starting in the same week, consider turning the orientation process into a group exercise. By doing so, new employees shall be given the opportunity to get to get acquainted early in the process. At the end of the orientation process, your new employees will have a few familiar faces they will recognise around the office helping them get accustomed quicker to their new job.

Delegate a mentor

It’s wise to pair your new employee with a mentor within their department - ideally a team member of a similar level and position to them (so that your new employee will feel more comfortable confiding in their mentor!). As a mentor, their role is to overlook the progress of the new hire, to give guidance and share tips.

Set up a refined feedback system

It’s imperative that you prolonging feedback from the employee. The most effective way to identify areas which need improvement in the onboarding process is to ask for a program assessment as soon as the new employee has completed their necessary training...

Make sure to ask the new hire if they identify any gaps in the onboarding process such as in the specific first-day activities to more general experiences during their first days on the job.

Your onboarding process plays a key role in your overall employee turnover factor, so it’s incredibly important to monitor its strong points and its flaw by collecting feedback.

If you’re  looking for advice on how to perfect your onboarding process, or would like a professional eye cat over your entire recruitment timeline, get in touch with us here at EPQ Recruitment.