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There is no doubt about it, job hunting is tough, especially when you’re dealing with rejections. It’s natural to feel disheartened when you’ve spent hours perfecting your CV and attending interviews, only to receive the dreaded “Thank you for your interest”. The key to your success lies in how you handle these setbacks and keep up your momentum. Here are our top tips on staying motivated and keeping up the momentum after job rejections, let’s dive in. It’s Not Personal Rejection is very rarely a reflection of your abilities. There could be many reasons why you didn’t get the job, maybe they found someone with just a bit more experience or a better cultural fit, it doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. In the competitive job market, rejection is part of the process. Keep reminding yourself that every rejection is just a step closer to “You’re hired!” Seek Feedback If possible, ask for feedback. Some employers are happy to give you an insight as to why you weren’t selected, which can be a valuable tool for you moving forwards. You might need to simply tweak your CV, brush up on interview techniques, or develop specific skills. Constructive feedback helps you improve and get you ready for your next opportunity. Focus on What You Can Control Rejections can make you feel powerless, but there are always things you can control. Focus on enhancing your job search strategy. Polish your LinkedIn profile, expand your professional network, or sign up for online courses to boost your skills. Taking positive action keeps you proactive and helps progression. Create a Solid Routine Job hunting can take a lot of energy, so it’s important to structure your day to maintain motivation. Set aside specific times to apply for roles, update your CV, and practice interview skills. Treat the job search like a job in itself, this will help you stay organised and prevent burnout. Celebrate Wins Got an interview? Updated your CV? Received positive feedback? Celebrate every achievement, no matter how small. Each one is progress, and keeping a positive mindset will help you stay on track. Stay persistent and believe in your potential. The right opportunity will come along, and when it does, you’ll be ready to grab it! Remember, rejection is part of the journey to finding the perfect role. Keep going! If you need some tailored support in your job seeking journey, our team can help. We have over 35 years’ experience in the recruitment space. Contact us here .

This September, we delved into the factors that keep professionals committed to their current roles. Through our monthly LinkedIn poll, we asked our network: "What motivates you to stay in your current role?" The responses provided a clear view of what truly matters to employees in today's job market. Dominating the poll, 'Company Culture' was identified as the primary motivator, with a significant 50% of the vote. This result emphasises the growing importance of a positive, inclusive, and supportive work environment. It reflects a shift towards valuing how the workplace feels and functions over more traditional factors, suggesting that a strong company culture is not just appealing but essential for retaining talent. 'Job Security' followed as the second most cited factor, garnering 33% of responses. In an ever-changing economic landscape, the desire for stable and secure employment remains a critical concern for many, highlighting its role in influencing employee loyalty and satisfaction. Surprisingly, 'Career Progression' accounted for only 17% of the vote, indicating that while important, opportunities for advancement might be taking a backseat to more immediate workplace satisfactions like culture and security. Remarkably, 'Remuneration / Salary' received no votes in this month’s poll, a striking insight that challenges the conventional wisdom about monetary compensation being a top motivator. This result suggests that today's workforce may prioritise emotional and career stability over financial incentives. These insights are invaluable for employers looking to improve retention strategies. At Shepherd Stubbs Recruitment, we understand the importance of aligning recruitment practices with the evolving priorities of the workforce. By fostering environments that emphasise culture and security, businesses can better meet the needs of their employees, ensuring long-term engagement and loyalty.

Choosing the right recruitment agency can have a huge impact on the success of your job search and help you to find the perfect opportunities but how do you find an agency that’s best suited to your career goals and experience? Here are some things to think about. Define Your Goals Before approaching a recruitment agency, it’s important to have a good understanding of what you’re looking for in your next role. Are you seeking permanent employment? Do you have specific skills, qualifications or industry experience that you want to leverage? Knowing what you want, and need will help you to find an agency that can fully support your job search. What’s Their Track Record? Look for an agency that has experience in your field. Recruitment agencies that specialise in your industry are more likely to have established relationships with employers in your sector and can connect you with relevant job opportunities quickly. Ask the agency about their success rate in placing candidates with a background like yours to ensure they can best meet your needs. Understand the Process A good recruitment agency will have a clear and efficient process for matching candidates with suitable employers. Find out how they source job openings, screen and select the candidates they present to employers. The right agency will take the time to understand your qualifications and preferences, ensuring you’re matched with roles that suit you.  Review Testimonials and Communication Styles An excellent way to see if a recruitment agency is effective is by browsing testimonials from other job seekers they’ve helped. Think about how the agency has communicated with you too as good communication works both ways and is an essential part of successful job searching. Do you feel comfortable with how they handle interactions? Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Our experienced team is here to help. We specialise in connecting job seekers with the right opportunities and work closely with candidates to ensure a smooth and successful job search. For over 35 years, Shepherd Stubbs has been a trusted partner for job seekers across various industries. We have built strong relationships with employers and have the knowledge and resources to help you find your perfect role.

In our continuous effort to delve into the dynamics of professional development, this August, we explored the importance of continuous learning within the workplace through a LinkedIn poll. The question posed to our network was, "How important is it for yourself or your company to support continuous learning?" The results were overwhelmingly positive towards the value of ongoing education and skills development. A substantial 50% of the respondents deemed it 'Crucial for Success,' highlighting that for many professionals and businesses, continuous learning is not just a benefit but a fundamental component of their strategy for growth and competitiveness. Further supporting the strong inclination towards learning, 33% stated it was 'Somewhat Important,' acknowledging that while not the sole factor, continuous learning significantly contributes to personal and organisational achievement. Interestingly, 17% felt that continuous learning was 'Not Very Important,' suggesting some divergence in how essential ongoing education is perceived across different sectors or individual career paths. Notably, no respondents believed that it was 'Not Necessary At All,' underscoring a universal acknowledgment of at least some level of importance to continuous learning in the workplace. These insights not only reflect a prevailing pro-learning stance but also underscore the critical role of learning and development in adapting to changing industry standards and innovations. At Shepherd Stubbs Recruitment, we understand and champion the necessity of fostering an environment where continuous learning is encouraged and facilitated, ensuring both individuals and organisations can thrive in an ever-evolving market landscape.

Choosing the right recruitment agency can completely transform the overall efficiency of your business and finding the right partner will allow you to streamline your hiring process, attract the right employees with the least amount of disruption in your organisation. So, how do you find the perfect recruitment agency? Let’s take a look Know What You Need Before you go about ‘recruiting’ a recruitment agency, it’s important to assess what you need from them, so they are in the best position to help you. Are you hiring for permanent positions? Do you need employees with special skills, experience or qualifications or do you need general staff to get the job done? Understanding exactly what you need and why will put the recruitment agency in the best possible position to fulfil your exact needs. Do they Have Industry Expertise? Does your chosen recruitment agency specialise or have extensive experience in your sector? This can help you as an employer as the agency may already have a network of candidates immediately available to you. Ask the agency about their previous history of placements in your industry to see if they are the best placed to handle your current hiring needs. What is Their Recruitment Process? All good recruitment agencies have efficient processes in place to ensure the employer and potential employee is a good fit and this is all to do with how they structure their recruitment process. How do they source, screen and select the candidates they present to you? A good agency will streamline their process to fit your needs, meet deadlines and provide candidates who match your requirements. Check Testimonials & Assess Communication Skills One of the best ways to determine if a recruitment agency can meet your needs is by checking reviews and testimonials from previous employers who have worked with the agency. Also ask yourself how their communication has been with you so far? Do you feel as if you might be a good fit for each other moving forwards? If you are looking to fill vacancies in your business, our experienced team can help you match the right people to the right jobs and can work hand in hand with your company to ensure you get the best talent every time. For over 35 years, Shepherd Stubbs has been a leading recruitment agency for large, medium and small businesses. Over the years we have built lasting, professional and trusted relationships with both businesses and our candidates, meaning we have the knowledge and resources to provide excellent job opportunities and to fill the job vacancies of our clients.

Unfortunately, the England Men's team did not bring the trophy home this year, losing out in the final to Spain. Despite the setback, the spirit and hope were alive throughout the tournament, as reflected in our July poll on LinkedIn. We asked fans and followers, "How far will the England Men’s team go in the Euros this year?" and the responses were a mix of optimism and realism. The results were evenly split between those who believed England would win and those who predicted they would make it to the final, both receiving 28% of the votes. This shared optimism highlights the strong faith in the team's abilities and potential, even though the media suggested it was a rocky start to the campaign. On the other hand, 22% of the participants felt the team would reach the semi-finals, and another 22% predicted a quarter-final exit. These responses underline the cautious yet hopeful sentiments of fans who perhaps anticipated tough competitions ahead. This poll not only captured the hopes and expectations of England's supporters but also mirrored the rollercoaster of emotions that major tournaments often bring. As we close this chapter of the Euros, we look forward to more spirited performances and the relentless pursuit of success with the World Cup just 2 years away. The journey might have ended short of a victory, but it has undoubtedly set the stage for a promising future for England's football. The next question is, Who will be replacing Gareth Southgate at the helm? A big thank you to everyone who took part in the poll. Slightly different to our usual approach but one which generated a lot of votes.

Whilst general opinions are mixed on whether you should enclose a cover letter with your CV for a job application, cover letters really give you the chance to personalise your application and stand out to a prospective employer. In short, the answer is yes! With this in mind, here are some of the benefits of including a cover letter and some tips on how to write one. Introducing Yourself Your CV contains all the work related information your potential employer needs to know but writing a cover letter is your chance to properly introduce yourself and add a touch of personality. A well written cover letter will allow the employer to familiarise themselves with you and get a real sense of who you are, adding weight to your accompanying CV. Highlighting Your Abilities A cover letter will further highlight your abilities and your suitability for the new role and leave the potential employer with no doubt about your skills and availability. Include the strengths you possess which are most aligned with each role and application to get closer to a chance at an interview. Showing You are Serious About the Position Taking the time to write a cover letter for each job you are applying for will show the recruiter that you are serious about the application and gaining employment within their organisation. Remain professional but don’t be afraid to let them know how passionate you are about the role. Showcasing Your Communication Skills A cover letter will effectively showcase your communication skills and how you present yourself through the written word. Most available roles will require some degree of satisfactory communication skills, so this is an excellent way to prove how well you can communicate from the start. Our Tips - Tailor Your Cover Letter to Each Application It’s really important that you tailor each cover letter to the organisation and the role you are applying for as sending out a generic cover letter to several companies will be noticed and can even go against your application; even if your CV is on point. An employer wants to feel like you are serious about the position and gaining a role within their company. Research As above, don’t start a cover letter blind without researching the organisation you are applying for. There are two benefits to doing this research, you can completely tailor your cover letter, which will make it easier to write and you will also get a sense of the company values and ethos which will ideally align with your own. Proofread This one is vital, always proofread your cover letter before sending it on to a hiring manager or recruiter as there may be mistakes you have not picked up on when writing it. Mistakes don’t come across well in cover letters and you could even be viewed as sloppy or not thorough in your work. If you need to, get a friend or family member to take a look and get a second pair of eyes on it. Provide a Call to Action Your call to action is always the last few sentences at the end of your cover letter and will be the last thing a hiring manager will read before potentially reaching out to you. Express your gratitude for their consideration, remind them of your strongest skills relevant to the job and politely request a follow up in the form of an interview. Looking for the perfect role? Browse our latest vacancies here and if you need any further support with your job search, please reach out to our team.

Our June 2024 LinkedIn poll asked a simple yet telling question: "What is your preferred social media channel?" The responses provide fascinating insights into the preferences of our community. It also helped settle a discussion we had in the office about whether or not posting the poll to LinkedIn would see LinkedIn come out on top. Here’s what we discovered: Facebook leads as the preferred social media channel, with 36% of the votes. This choice suggests that despite newer platforms gaining traction, Facebook remains a significant tool for networking, sharing, and engagement, particularly among professionals who value its broad reach and diverse functionalities. LinkedIn and Instagram both tied with 29% of the votes each, reflecting their importance in the professional and personal realms, respectively. LinkedIn’s strong showing underscores its relevance in professional networking, job searching, and industry-related discussions. Instagram, known for its visual appeal, continues to be a popular choice for creative expression and lifestyle sharing. Twitter, with just 7% of the vote, seems less favoured. This might indicate that the fast-paced nature of Twitter, with its focus on real-time information, may not be the preferred choice for professionals looking for more substantial engagements or deeper connections. These results highlight the varied preferences for social media usage and reinforce the importance of multi-channel strategies in both personal branding and professional networking. At Shepherd Stubbs Recruitment we utilise these insights to better connect with and serve our audience, ensuring we meet them on their preferred platforms.

There is no way around it, today’s job market is highly competitive and you will need to stand out as a candidate if you want to be considered for a position within a reputable company. In this blog, we will be discussing how you can stand out in your next job application, let’s take a look. Edit Your CV First things first, the CV you wrote out hastily in 2010 just isn’t going to cut it in today’s market. Start by removing any ‘fluff’ or any decades old previous jobs unless they are completely relevant to the job you are applying for. Always adjust and edit your CV to fit the company in which you are applying for; Going the extra mile with your CV will make it stand out. Here’s an interesting blog we published earlier this year about striking the balance between AI and authenticity when it comes to CV writing. Always Research Always, always, always research the hiring company thoroughly before you apply for the role or go for interview. This benefits you in two ways: Helping you to avoid the awkward silence at interview stage when they ask company specific questions and also allows you to gain a deeper understanding of how the company operates before you apply/interview for the job. It could turn out you aren’t the right fit for them, but on the flip side, they might not be the right fit for you. Consider Previous Skills Always consider any previous skills you have gained in the past and have a think about how they can be applied to the job you are interested in. This might not always be immediately obvious but what it will do is make you really rethink how you can apply your own unique set of skills to a brand new role and another benefit is that potential employers will be impressed by this. Prepare for Interviews Preparation could mean the difference between disappointment or success and a large portion of which way that goes is up to you. It’s cliché for a reason but always research the hiring company and practise common interview questions until to you feel confident in your delivery, feel free to check out our previous blog on common interview questions here.  Don’t Give Up Whatever happens on your employment journey, it’s so important that you don’t give up. Always prepare well, be confident in your abilities and suitability for the role and take the rough with the smooth, your dream job could be just around the corner. Check out our latest list of vacancies here and if you need some more support with job preparation, please contact our team today.