Entry-level positions in creative agencies are highly sought-after, and with a fresh batch of graduates entering the job market this summer, the race is already on to secure that all-important first role. In addition to this intense competition, employers are managing the amount and quality of applications they receive by demanding candidates possess one or two years of work experience. With such factors at play, what can entry-level candidates do to secure their spot on the first rung of the agency ladder? First of all, know what you want Many entry-level candidates make the mistake of assuming they need to apply for everything and accept the first offer they get. In fact, this scattergun approach only works to dilute your efforts and you’ll probably end up in a job you don’t want. Instead take the time to think about the factors that are important to you, such as the location, the type of work you want to do, workplace culture etc. This might narrow down your search to a handful of businesses, but that’s a good thing. Research these businesses extensively to find out what they do, who works there, key competitors and, most importantly, whether they’re currently hiring. Also remember that a lot of agencies use specialist recruiters (like Henry Nicholas, #justsaying) and a quick Google search can help you to identify the recruiter they’re working with. Get in touch with the recruiter, explain you’re looking for your first position with that company and ask if they’ll help you. If all of this sounds like a bit of a long-shot, think again; you’d be surprised how many people get placed, regardless of their experience level, by demonstrating such initiative. Internships and work experience placements Recent years have seen more paid internships and work experience placements than ever before. Although some only offer short placements, they are still helpful when it comes to proving to a potential employer that you have the necessary experience needed. If you do land a placement, make sure you live and breath every aspect of the business. Imagine it’s your permanent job and you want the boss to give you a promotion. Although it doesn’t happen every time, you may end up impressing them so much that you get offered something permanent. At the very least you’ll stand out for all of the right reasons, and you never know what opportunities might arise in the future. The side door If you’ve got your heart set on a particular organisation, it can be worth considering a position that isn’t in the precise area you’re looking for. While your dream is to be an account executive, the only role they might have on offer is in the post room. An opportunity like this can help you accrue valuable office experience along with the chance to learn more about the business and what everyone does there. As long as you make your intentions clear from the start about your desired career path and your reasons for taking the job, an employer is more than likely to find your passion and commitment to being a part of their business impressive. Check your attitude Graduate or not, the chances are that you’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point, and you should be proud of everything you’ve achieved. That being said, try not to let it go to your head. While you’ve just reached your educational peak, you’re only just getting started in the world of work, and although some entry-level tasks may seem easy (and, dare we say, menial), you should remain enthusiastic about the opportunity to embark on your career path. Always remember that if you’re great at the job, you’ll be earmarked for progression from day one. So, when the job spec says you’ll be making teas and coffees for guests, do it with gusto! Get inventive Sometimes you’ve got to think outside of the box to get your first agency job. Instead of sending your speculative applications to HR or a general recruitment email address, head to the agency’s LinkedIn page to see who works there. If you want to become a designer, contact the Head of Design. Looking at a social media position? Find out who oversees this area and drop them a message. And don’t be afraid to get a bit crafty too. Instead of asking if they have any roles, why not see if they’ll meet with you to tell you more about the company or offer advice and feedback on your portfolio. If you get a meeting, use the opportunity to tell them how much you admire the company and the work they do and ask if you can leave your CV for future consideration. Agencies receive A LOT of CVs every day, so an approach like this means you’ll stand out from the crowd. Follow @henrynicholas
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Agency career timeline part 1: Getting your foot in the door
9 months ago by Daniel Carne -
Positive news round up 3
9 months ago by Tony AllenWelcome to our third Positive news round-up where we share only good news. In this post we will mention some of the brands and agencies in the tech, marketing and creative industries that are going above and beyond to help others during the crisis. We’ve also included some useful links and videos, and a couple of other stories that made us smile. Feel free to click back to read Positive news round-up 1 and 2 if you missed those. First off… A special shout out to Fay Gadsby Fay is a Bristol-based marketing and technical project manager who, with her steely determination and hard work, refused to let the pandemic stand in the way of her job search. Fay decided to share her daily experiences on LinkedIn and it wasn’t long before her posts went viral. We are delighted to share that Fay has been successful in landing not one, but two new jobs. Fay isn’t just a lovely human being with some great experience, she’s a shining example of what you can achieve if you put your mind to it. It’s also a great example of the power of social media and people coming together to help others in the community. Well done Fay and everybody that got involved to help along the way! You can check out Fay’s profile and recent activity to see how her story unfolded. We hope that mentioning Fay helps some of the other jobseekers out there stay positive too. Budweiser’s Wassup ad returns with a quarantine edition Budweiser has re-recorded the audio for its iconic 1999 advert to make it more relevant to people in lockdown and to encourage them to connect with friends and family. It’s simple yet so effective and reminds us why this was such a successful campaign in the first place. You can read more about this in Marketing Week. Brands and agencies going above and beyond to help people Four tech companies join forces to build innovative communications app for NHS workers Four tech companies suspended all commercial activity and worked around the clock to develop an app which improves vital communication between crisis healthcare workers. These companies are 4 Roads, Kulestar, Concept Softworks and CK Alpha. The problem: “NHS staff, especially non-ICU staff, have been struggling to share information effectively during the COVID-19 crisis, leading to the loss of potentially life-saving personal protective equipment (PPE) and a shortage of critical care beds” The solution: “The app allows hospital staff to get teams to the right parts of hospitals, ensure the quick delivery of ventilators, masks and medication, and enables the creation and distribution of video and audio clips so doctors and nurses can share advice and request information” The app is being rolled out at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, with a view to rolling out to all NHS hospitals nationwide. It may also be used in hospitals abroad. To read the full article head over to Prolific London. Hot Pickle delivers over 3,000 Unilever care packages to NHS Nightingale Working with their network of suppliers, Hot Pickle’s newly assembled UnPickle team established a COVID compliant pick and packing line within 24 hours of taking Unilever's call requesting their help to deliver care packages to the NHS. On receipt of bulk deliveries from Unilever, they processed in excess of 30,000 individual units to create over 3,000 care packages which were in turn distributed directly to NHS Nightingale in individually branded bags along with a heartfelt thank you note. Read the full story here. Well done Hot Pickle and well done Unilever. M&S charity T-shirts sell out but more will be on sale soon Marks & Spencer is raising money for NHS Charities TOGETHER via T-shirt sales. They’re currently sold out but you can check back here to buy one. Camden Town Brewery’s Heroes Lager proceeds donated to healthcare charities Camden Town Brewery has rebranded its Hells Lager to create ‘Heroes Lager’ with all proceeds donated to support healthcare charities. NHS workers can also create an account with their NHS email address to receive 6 free cans of Heroes Lager. It’s currently sold out, but more will be available from 2nd May. You can order yours here. Funny but useful videos to help you win at WFH Creative agency Forever Beta has launched a campaign for Kaspersky, featuring working from home faux pas and F-ups to highlight the importance of continued cyber security whilst working in lockdown. It’s a witty way to engage an audience about a potentially dry subject. Nice work! Head over to Forever Beta’s website to read more about this video and to check out more of their work. The Marketing Practice’s creative team also launched a fun yet useful video to help businesses produce better B2B marketing videos made at home great B2B Marketing videos from home. We had a good laugh whilst also taking away some really useful tips. It’s a great piece of content. Thanks guys! The future of virtual experiences in a post-pandemic world Music label Defected Records was one of the first in the music industry to host a virtual festival live from Ministry of Sound, highlighting that people still want to party and enjoy music with friends and strangers, even at a distance. Defected is about to host its fifth event and many others are following suit. Check out Campaign’s article for some interesting quotes and broader insights on the subject of virtual experiences post-pandemic. In other news Manchester United showed its appreciation for the NHS with its signage at Old Trafford. And Captain Tom’s Just Giving NHS fundraiser has exceeded £31million. Serious Kudos and happy 100th birthday to Captain Tom! Henry Nicholas FREE webinars are now in full swing Following a great response to our first webinar on How to construct a CV we look forward to the second round of webinars hosted by Andrew Midgley and Daniel Carne. You can access the presentation slides from our CV webinar here. Andy and Dan will be discussing how recruiters use LinkedIn to find the right talent and they’ll be sharing their top tips, as well as LinkedIn’s own suggestions, on how to optimise your profile and appear at the top of our candidate searches. Be sure to join them on Friday 1st May at 12:00 or on Wednesday 6th May at 10:00. Email d.carne@henrynicholas.co.uk for a Zoom meeting invite. Our YouTube channel is also work in progress and webinar recordings will be uploaded here once we’ve had chance to edit them – watch this space and feel free to subscribe to our channel now. Let’s stay positive, and let’s keep doing what we can to help the people around us. Follow @henrynicholas
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5 reasons all professionals should pursue Further Education
9 months ago by John AustinLearning shouldn’t stop just because you’ve landed a job you love. The world of work has never been more changeable. Digitisation coupled with a culture of continual innovation means that no one can afford to stand still. We live in a time when lifelong learning is not only valuable but essential to remaining relevant. So, should all professionals and leaders be heading back to school? From professional qualifications to traditional degree programmes, there are a huge range of options for those who want to expand their knowledge. In fact, our own founder and MD, John Austin, has recently graduated with an MBA (Masters of Business Administration). We’re incredibly proud of John, who has been working hard for 3 years to gain this prestigious qualification while still achieving amazing things at HN. What better excuse to look at the benefits of higher education for everyone? It will boost your marketability and earning potential If you’re considering cold-hard career potential, continued or higher learning looks great on your CV. Whether you’re negotiating a pay rise or looking to stand out from the crowd when you go for a dream role, further qualifications can be a key differentiator. That doesn’t mean that you should pursue a qualification for its own sake, it has to tie into your career goals. John recommends that anyone considering further learning should think about it carefully, saying, “Research what you are studying and ensure it will help you achieve your objectives. It is hard work, time consuming and sacrifices need to be made. However, if at the end of it you can see it has made a difference then it is worthwhile.” It will give you a new perspective It’s easy, when you are doing the same thing day in day out, to start looking at things from a narrow point of view. To get caught up in your own perspective or that of your organisation. Further learning can drive self-reflection. Encouraging you to examine key parts of your role in a new light. This, in turn, diversifies the viewpoints within your business, making it stronger and more creative. John shared his thoughts on learning after being in the recruitment business for more than 2 decades: “I have worked in recruitment for 20 plus years and received no formal management or strategic training. Being armed with the frameworks, theories, and concepts to be able to successfully implement relevant and necessary changes has been a key learning. The feeling of progressing and developing myself has been fantastic. The ability to understand your business landscape and the macro and micro influences has been interesting. Learning leadership theory coupled with self-reflection has been hard but worthwhile.” It creates opportunities A professional learning environment is a great way to not only expand what you know but who you know. It can drive connections with other professionals both within your industry and across other sectors. This can lead to collaborations and opportunities. Never underestimate the benefits of developing your network. It helps you to stay relevant Across every industry, digitisation and tech advances are transforming the way work gets done. Expanding the boundaries of what’s possible. Professional qualifications and further education can help you to stay curious and to understand the changes that are shaping the market you operate in. If you stop moving forward, stop pushing to learn what's next, it’s easy to be left behind. It drives innovation Expanding your knowledge doesn’t just make you better at what you do. It could help you to successfully mould the future of your business. Learning opens our mind to possibility, and that sense of possibility doesn’t stop once you’ve successfully achieved your certification or passed your final exam. By pursuing learning and encouraging your team to do the same, you can cultivate an innovative mindset across your organisation. Pursuing further education is an amazing way to boost your career and drive personal and professional development. However, it’s not an easy option. It requires a strong sense of motivation and an ability to juggle conflicting priorities. John describes the struggle to balance his studies with business and family, below: “Studying for me involved lots of weekend working, very early mornings in the office and the odd day off. I was fortunate that I have such a great team so I could focus on my studies when required. It requires sacrifice for sure. To be able to balance running a business, studying and having a family required me to reduce my time with friends, and at times with family. You literally carve time out of your existing life.” All those early mornings were worth it! Congratulations John on your hard-earned achievement! Follow @henrynicholas
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How to get the most value from your chosen recruitment partner
9 months ago by Mark TristHiring a candidate that doesn’t stay far beyond their probation can be an expensive and frustrating process; with time wasted whilst interviewing, on-boarding and training, before you even consider their salary and recruitment costs. Selecting the best recruitment consultancy for you, and building a proper relationship with your chosen agency will go a long way towards avoiding recruiting the wrong employee. Let’s talk about how you can keep your chosen recruitment agency motivated, well-informed and connected throughout your working relationship and how this will improve the quality of candidates you receive. Becoming an extension of your employer brand Your company has its own unique employer brand, derived from your way of working, the people you hire and the environment you provide for your employees. As a business you put an enormous amount of trust in a recruitment agency because they become your voice in the marketplace. You should expect them to talk with passion and knowledge to your future workforce, as if they are a part of your team. It is essential that you see your relationship with a recruitment agency as a partnership rather than a transactional relationship. The more information a recruiter can obtain from you, the better - especially about your business and what makes you different. A visit to your office is also a must do exercise. While at your offices, you can talk through your latest work, introduce them to members of the team, allow them to pet any office dogs and chat through all the fun stuff you get up to. This information will help them select the right candidates from a culture fit perspective and will enable them to deliver an enthusiastic and accurate description of your employer brand in the marketplace. Providing Feedback Consistent and regular feedback throughout the interview process will validate a recruiter’s opinion on the correct cultural fit, as well as the skillset required for each role. It’s imperative you provide your recruitment agency with feedback after both the CV submission stage and any face to face interviews. The reasoning behind your decision on who to interview and who to reject, who impressed and who did not, is so valuable. Recruitment should never be a guessing game; good recruitment consultants should filter and use this feedback to help them submit only a select number of candidates which they believe to be appropriate. Staying connected with your recruitment agency should go far beyond just regular candidate feedback. They will want to hear all the good new things you are up to; awards you may have won, ideas to engage your workforce, new client wins and any new important hires. Costs Costs are often a taboo subject but are very important to address. We understand that it’s valuable to control costs when running a business, but it’s equally important to have a motivated recruiter out fighting against the competition and using all of the available resources in their armoury to find the best people for your business. When negotiating, listen carefully to your recruitment partner as they talk through rates with you to establish the level of service you will receive for the fees that are being suggested. Of course you want to get the best deal but the best deal should represent the most value to your business. It's not just about bashing down the fee. If you settle on a rate that is fair for both parties, then you'll enable the recruiter to deliver the best service. From my personal experience the time and effort you spend growing a relationship with your recruiter will directly correlate to the quality of the candidates you receive and the longevity of the people you hire. Do everything you can to engage your agency on a regular basis, appreciate and understand the value a great recruitment partner can add to your team. Follow @henrynicholas
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Out of the mist of sadness, boredom, and general disbelief there is a knight in shining armour.
9 months ago by John AustinDuring this difficult time of sorrow, hardship, bravery and sacrifice across the world, there seems very little to celebrate. But wait what is that I hear…. a thundering of hooves? Out of the mist of sadness, boredom, and general disbelief there is a knight in shining armour. Today is St. George’s day! Often the poor, forgotten cousin of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s make an effort this year to celebrate all things English. When we applaud our wonderful NHS this evening at 8pm, let us do so with the waving of the St. Georges flag, painted faces and to the chorus of Jerusalem. Let us get out those red or white tops (or both) and give a real English cheer, hurrah! I’ve put together some ideas of how to celebrate St. George’s Day, but before we get to that I’ve included a brief history. You’d be hard pressed to find anything that’s more English than St. George. After all, he was a Roman solider of Greek and Palestinian origin. A Brief History: St. George’s Day Celebrated on the 23rd April every year, this is the date traditionally accepted of his death in AD 303. Legend has it that St. George slew an evil dragon that was plaguing a local town and saved a princess. By chance, St. George travelled to the city of Silene in Libya. According to legend the only well in Silene was guarded by a ferocious dragon who required a daily human sacrifice so that the townspeople could gain access to water. On the day St. George happened by it was the turn of the princess to be sacrificed. St. George popped off and slayed the dragon, saved the princess, and gave the people access to the well. To show their gratitude they all converted to Christianity. Historical evidence points to the real St. George living in Palestine during the 3rd Century. He is said to have followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the ranks of the Roman Army, eventually being executed for his Christian beliefs. Did you know? St. George is also the patron saint of Ethiopia, Georgia, and Portugal, as well as the cities of Beirut and Moscow. William Shakespeare was born on St. George’s day and died on St. George’s Day. Why isn’t St. George’s Day a bank holiday? In 1415 St. George’s Day was made a national feast day and holiday in England, a status that remained until the 18th Century. However, the Act of Union between England and Scotland in 1707 led to its demise. Unlike it’s much celebrated cousin St. Patrick’s Day in Northern Ireland, schools and businesses must open as usual on 23rd April. BUT NOT THIS YEAR SO LET’S CELEBRATE THE DAY. What can you do to celebrate? For starters wear anything red or white or both – easy. How about starting the day with an English Breakfast? Grab what you can and put together a good old English fry up, don’t forget the tea and toast. Probably not practical or possible for all, but what about a good old fashioned roast. And there are plenty of alternatives out there for Vegans and Vegetarians. If you don’t fancy that, how about Bangers and Mash, Toad in the Hole, Shepherds Pie etc. Apologies if this is too meat based!! Face painting is a great idea for the kids. You can access a live St. George’s tutorial here where you can learn to paint a dragon amongst other things. More activities you can do with the kids at home. For those good with your hands and creative types why not try making a wooden sword for the youngsters. I used to make these all the time when I was young. Why not cover it in tin foil to get that authentic steel finish. Why not put together an English playlist. There are so many artists to choose from you can tailor it to your own tastes. An afternoon tea is always a favourite, it can be as elaborate or simple as you want. I will for sure be baking a Victoria Sponge. For those with a little more know how in the kitchen (and if you can get the ingredients!), why not have a go at one of these classic English puddings. Apple Crumble Treacle Tart Bakewell Tart Bread and Butter Pudding For those into sport, why not grab yourself a drink and settle down to some classic English Sport. I have outlined some ideas here for you, but I am sure you know. Italia 90 Russia 2018 2019 Cricket World Cup Anything Ben Stokes Rugby World Cup 2003 World Cup 1966 Olympics 2012 (I know this was British!!!) How about getting involved with the Youtube Live Pub Quiz. It is held every Thursday after the clap for the NHS. We have a zoom call with our neighbours whilst the quiz is on and we have a running competition. Grab some friends and family and try it. What about a good old fashioned game of cards? The list is endless of what you can do to celebrate. The important message I suppose I am trying to get across is let’s try and forget about things for a moment if we can and celebrate something we rarely celebrate. You never know, it might catch on! Happy St George’s Day! Jerusalem – why not sing along!? And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon England's mountains green? And was the holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen? And did the countenance divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here Among these dark Satanic Mills? Bring me my bow of burning gold: Bring me my arrows of desire: Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire. I shall not cease from mental fight Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand Till we have built Jerusalem In England's green & pleasant land. (William Blake) Follow @henrynicholas
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What personality type are you? Get ahead of the interviewer or interviewee… Take the Myers Briggs temperament test.
9 months ago by John AustinWhen you are next sat in an interview, or interviewing for a new member of staff, you’ll be in a much stronger position if you have an understanding of the Myers-Briggs temperament of the person sat across from you. If you’ve come across Myers-Briggs before, you may recall there are four personality types - ENFP, ISTJ, ISTP, and ESFJ. These can then be further broken down into 8 roles and 16 role variations. It sounds complicated but, whilst many of us have more time on our hands than usual, knowing your own personality type and understanding how to use Myers Briggs in future recruitment could be time well spent. This blog is designed to help you gain a grasp of the four basic temperaments which in turn will help you improve how to communicate with people depending on their personality type, as well as develop a deeper understanding of your own temperament. Take the TEST now… it takes 10 minutes. The official Myers Briggs test is long and arduous and should only be administered by a professional but you can gain a basic unofficial understanding of your personality type by taking a simplified Myers-Briggs test. This unofficial test will probably cause trained Myers-Briggs practitioners to roll their eyes with disdain, but it will give you a basic understanding of your personality type and work / communication style. You will be scored on 4 different metrics and given a classification: (E) Extrovert versus (I) Introvert, (S) Sensing versus (N) Intuition, (T) Thinking versus (F) Feeling, and (J) Judging versus (P) Perception. You can get a quick read of these personality types here. I’m an ISTJ, which Myers Briggs describes as “Takes pleasure in making everything orderly and organized - their work, their home, their life. Value traditions and loyalty.” Basically, I am a control freak! I have included a table at the end of this blog outlining each of the 16 personality types. The Four Temperaments Psychologist David Keirsey created the Keirsey Temperament Sorter in 1998, the results being the following 4 temperaments: SJ (Sensing-Judging) – These are classified as Guardians, the left-brained. Accountants, CFOs, military, and police often fall into this classification. They love detail and are all about safety and security. If you are dealing with an SJ in business they are very conservative and accept new ideas slowly, they tend to be risk adverse. When you are interviewing for a role, they do not want a cascade of revolutionary thoughts, they simply want to know you’ll maintain the status quo because you love it. SP (Sensing-Perceiving): This is your Artisan. Firmly the right-brained. They are often artists, musicians, writers, and other types of creatives. They hate detail and can be viewed as flighty. These are the types of people who will start a project and then abandon it in favour of a more exciting new project. If you mention in-depth processes they will switch off. The SJ and SP together make up 73.5% of the population. You have a 3 in 4 chance of meeting an SJ or SP so well worth getting to know these temperament groups. NT (Intuitive-Thinking): The Thinker. Again, a lover of detail coupled with being analytical. They pursue knowledge for knowledge’s sake. They will want to know as much detail as possible about a project simply for the sake of gaining knowledge as well as to aid in decision making. If you are being interviewed / interviewing for a role within data / insight or planning, you will for sure meet NTs. NF (Intuitive-Feeling): The Idealist. These are people within the helping professions – our wonderful nurses, social workers, etc. They want to make life better and change the world. They lean towards the Artisans, whilst the Thinkers are hanging with the Guardians. The Idealists and the Thinkers make up 26.5% of the population and although only account for 1 in 4 people you meet, they are arguably easier to spot. Now you are speaking my language When talking to any of these temperament groups, you must firstly understand your own temperament so you can tailor your discussion to the things that matter most to them. If you are in a job interview you need to speak to Guardians about how you will help the company remain stable. Guardians do not want revolutionary new ideas. The Thinker will also want to know this, but they are less interested in stability and more interested in how you are going to measure performance. You need to be on your A game (obviously) with these guys, they are obsessively detail driven. The Idealist will want to know more about how you can affect change and make things better, and the Artisan will want to know your creative ideas and thoughts for the future. Both groups will talk and talk about everything and anything during the interview. They will click with you, you will fall in love with the opportunity, believe you’ve got the job and can start right away… then you won’t hear anything for weeks. You must not take it personally. When they left the meeting, someone jingled some keys in front of them and they forgot what day it was! When speaking to people you do not have to pretend to be something you are not. You just need to understand that people relate to people who speak their language and the things they care about. Please do treat this as an introduction into this complicated but fascinating subject. I would recommend reading extensively before you start practising this subject. If you do need to practice do so on friends and family who cannot sack you! Below you’ll find a Temperament needs table and also a Temperament and Study Strategies document to help if you are studying. Get some interesting insights into your temperament type here. Temperament Needs - Summary Table Rationals (NT) Idealists (NF) Guardians (SJ) Artisans (SP) Need… Competence Authenticity Belonging Freedom Talk About… Power Recognition Service Impact Interactive Style… Competitive Nurturing Nurturing Competitive Communication Style… Conditionals Metaphors Comparatives Anecdotes At work, Promote: Efficiency Growth Structure Opportunity Career Focus Ideas Systems & Strategies Ideas Contexts & People People -Caretaking services Data monitoring Objects- manufacturing People – Entertainment Data manipulation Objects-promotion Work Strengths Designing Planning Promoting Training Administering Serving Producing Performing Work Weaknesses Over Complex Impervious Logic Lack emotion Many Tangents Light on Details Lack logic Wary of Change Rule Bound Lack vision Unstructured Unclear mission Lack plans Evaluation criteria Results Quality interaction Time on task Active Involvement Best Environment Innovative Intellectual Expressive Personal Organised Secure Stimulating Variety Learning Environment Lectures Clever questions Group participation Discussion Lectures Work books / structured learning Activity Hands on learning When Stressed Obsesses Disassociates Complains Retaliates Cures? Reconfirm competence A new project Nurture them Start a new quest Appreciate them inclusion in news and activities Shared experiences Change/novelty Key Relational Role Fraternal Mentor Parental Guide Parental Guardian Fraternal Player As Dates/Mates Reciprocity Romance Stability Challenge As Parents Teacher Confidante Caretaker Playmate At Play Improve skills, Work as Play Fantasy, Relationships Observances, Rituals & Rewards Excitement, Life as play Motto Be excellent in all things To thine own self be true Early to bed, early to rise Eat drink and be merry David Keirsey identified 4 temperaments (which can be further broken down into 8 roles and 16 role variants) Artisans (SP’s) are observant and pragmatic. Seeking stimulation and virtuosity, they are concerned with making an impact. Their greatest strength is tactics. They excel at troubleshooting, agility, and the manipulation of tools, instruments, and equipment. The two roles are: Operators are the directive Artisans. Their most developed intelligence operation is expediting. The attentive Crafters and the expressive Promoters are the two role variants. Entertainers are the informative Artisans. Their most developed intelligence operation is improvising. The attentive Composers and the expressive Performers are the two role variants. Guardians (SJ’s) are observant and cooperative. Seeking security and belonging, they are concerned with responsibility and duty. Their greatest strength is logistics. They excel at organizing, facilitating, checking, and supporting. The two roles are as follows: Administrators are the directive Guardians. Their most developed intelligence operation is regulating. The attentive Inspectors and the expressive Supervisors are the two role variants. Conservators are the informative Guardians. Their most developed intelligence operation is supporting. The attentive Protectors and the expressive Providers are the two role variants. Idealists (NF’s) are introspective and cooperative. Seeking meaning and significance, they are concerned with personal growth and finding their own unique identity. Their greatest strength is diplomacy. They excel at clarifying, individualizing, unifying, and inspiring. The two roles are as follows: Mentors are the directive Idealists. Their most developed intelligence operation is developing. The attentive Counselors and the expressive Teachers are the two role variants. Advocates are the informative Idealists. Their most developed intelligence operation is mediating. The attentive Healers and the expressive Champions are the two role variants. Rationalists (NT’s) are introspective and pragmatic. Seeking mastery and self-control, they are concerned with their own knowledge and competence. Their greatest strength is strategy. They excel in any kind of logical investigation such as engineering, conceptualizing, theorizing, and coordinating. The two roles are as follows: Coordinators are the directive Rationals. Their most developed intelligence operation is arranging. The attentive Masterminds and the expressive Fieldmarshals are the two role variants. Engineers are the informative Rationals. Their most developed intelligence operation is constructing. The attentive Architects and the expressive Inventors are the two role variants. Temperament and Study Strategies If you have strong Guardian (SJ) tendencies... 1. Watch your tendency to get mired in the details. Remember that some things matter more than others. Particularly, when taking notes, don't copy everything down, but learn how to differentiate between what matters and what only seems to matter. 2. Learn how to pace yourself so that you don't run out of time when the clock is ticking (such as during exams). Don't think you have to read every exam question three or four times... some Guardians have doubled or tripled their exam scores simply by trusting their first impressions more. 3. Don't just memorize information in a verbatim way. Many college courses emphasize theory, not mere facts. Practice rephrasing key concepts in your own words (not just memorizing formal definitions). Try generating original examples (not just memorizing examples offered in lecture). If you have strong Artisan (SP) tendencies... 1. Find ways to keep yourself engaged in boring classes, since courses with a heavy emphasis on theory and a "talking heads" approach may easily put you to sleep. Ask for opportunities to earn a grade through real-world application of theories and concepts, like internships or field observation. 2. Hold yourself accountable since it's easy for you to procrastinate around activities that aren't much fun. Use the "Premack principle" - reward yourself for doing something you dislike by following it with something you do enjoy. 3. Take the time you need to double-check your answers during exams... don't be in too much of a hurry to rush out of the exam room. Beware your tendency to be overly impulsive. Make sure you haven't missed important information on the exam. If you have strong Rationalist (NT) tendencies... 1. Don't be confrontational in classroom interactions (especially not with your instructor, who may expect deference or at least common courtesy). Learn how to disagree without alienating others. 2. Don't neglect the facts... in some courses more than others, it's important to get the foundational facts right, even to be nitpickingly precise. 3. Be sure to affirm, not just question... a balanced analysis spends as much time on what's right with something as on what's wrong with it. Learn when (and how) to personalize, to develop and express a subjective opinion. If you have strong Idealist (NF) tendencies... 1. Don't confuse enthusiasm with understanding. Being excited about an idea is one thing; being able to articulate your comprehension of the underlying ideas is something else. 2. Watch your tendency to nonlinearity, to chasing the rabbit where it runs, particularly in writing essays. Don't ramble unnecessarily, which drives more linear types up the wall. Work hard at maintaining a logical, linear focus with a clear beginning, middle, and end. 3. Learn how to logically defend a point of view. It's not enough to be passionate about something; you have to be able to make a rational case for it, which means looking objectively at both pros and cons, both strengths and weaknesses, both assets and liabilities. Follow @henrynicholas
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Employee engagement in the new world
9 months ago by Andrew Midgley“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Steve Jobs This is a concept that is not lost on businesses today. Employee engagement is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide, with US businesses alone spending over $1.1bn a year on ‘engaging’ their workforce to give them an edge over their rivals. Forbes define employee engagement as, “the emotional commitment the employee has to the organisation and its goals. This emotional commitment means engaged employees actually care about their work and their company. They don't work just for a pay-check, or just for the next promotion, but work on behalf of the organisation's goals.” According to Towers Perrin research, businesses with engaged workers have 6% higher net profit margins, and Kenexa research asserts that engaged companies have five times higher shareholder returns over five years. So, with businesses placing so much emphasis on employee engagement, what happens when those employees are ‘locked-down’? Our enforced isolation has meant a seismic shift in how companies can interact with their employees. A situation that no one was prepared for, which continues to change the business landscape from one day to the next. How do you engage a remote workforce? A workforce that is blinking uncertainly into the light of a different world. A workforce that has bigger, more immediate worries than meeting their next work deadline… We spoke to a number of local industry experts to ask what employee engagement looks like today. Andy Bamford: Co-Founder and Director of Brand Point Zero Bristol based marketing & comms agency that works with organisations to help define, articulate and embed cultural principles, and fully align all brand communications. The first and most important thing here is that employee engagement comes way behind employee safety and well-being. Any organisation, large or small that focuses on engagement, before ensuring that all their staff are safe and well at this current time are simply doing the wrong thing. Employee engagement will come as a direct result of the way organisations behave and communicate with their people. The first rule of any communication is to put yourself in the audience’s shoes. And to put it bluntly, they will be scared. We have never experienced anything like this before and people will be worrying about their long-term security and their own mortality. To your audience these are all more important things than company profit, performance or productivity – and most definitely than silly hat Zoom calls. So it’s time to rethink the rules on employee engagement. We need to show humanity and compassion. We need to be honest. And whilst many employers (both large and small) are also going through their own existential crisis, they need to be calm, clear and authoritative in all their communication. How organisations behave now, will not only influence how they navigate this current crisis, but also how they emerge and thrive in the future. There are numerous examples of organisations doing it badly, you only need to think of Brittania Hotels. Those that are doing it well, are not seeking column inches, or hollow praise in social media – they’re building deep, long-lasting relationships with their staff on the foundations of care, trust and honesty. And that is the epitome of what we used to call employee engagement. Mark Beavan: Head of Agency at That Little Agency Bristol based employer branding, marketing and digital development agency What will be interesting will be the impact of this government-imposed remote working. How quickly businesses have adapted to support working from home. I know of an employer who within three weeks had over 4,000 colleagues up and working from home. Has this helped to accelerate the need to support and welcome remote working? Will managers who have often been reluctant to embrace a more flexible approach to work, end up being convinced that it is a viable way to work? Will potential candidates who previously overlooked certain employers be more willing to join knowing that now that they are supportive of a more flexible approach to working? I certainly hope so. One thing I know for sure is that how a business treats their colleagues during this challenging time will define their brand for decades. They need to value their people. Keep them safe. Help them to help the business. Now, more than ever, their employer brand is their brand. Tim Jeary: Director for Employee Engagement at Bowline Communications Wiltshire based communications and engagement agency who specialise in motivating teams and inspiring customers One of the biggest challenges faced by organisations right now is keeping employees engaged during these challenging times. What if you could improve employee engagement by better understanding the brain? One of the growing factors in employee engagement is neuroscience (the study of the nervous system). The SCARF model is a great place to start. The foundation for the SCARF model lies in our brain’s need to either minimise threat or maximise reward. The brain switches between these two modes in response to our environment, including our reactions to others. When you create a supportive and collaborative environment, the brain can process information more easily – leading to more effective change and the ability to make effective decisions. But if the brain perceives things as threats, then comfort, motivation and satisfaction significantly decrease. SCARF stands for Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness and Fairness – five social triggers that can instigate both the ‘threat’ and ‘reward’ responses at work. Whether a large or small business, every employee will be feeling the impact of the pandemic in each of these five areas. As leaders, we need to focus on ensuring our employees experience a reward response within each to establish higher levels of employee engagement. Status – This involves our perception of a potential or real reduction in status (being less than or better than others or the sense of feeing valued by others). As a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic, our status could be under threat – job security, level of visibility, level of exposure and influence in decision making. Certainty – This involves our ability to predict outcomes. Our brain is constantly trying to predict the near future. Even a small amount of uncertainty can generate a threat response. This domain is significantly impacted at the moment with uncertainty about our health, finances, job and what is happening in the world. Autonomy – This is about the level of control and perception that we have choices and options. We’re being told by the Government what to do, where to work, how to exercise, where we can and can’t go. We have limited options. There is also lots of conflicting advice, which can make us feel out of control. Relatedness – This is about our sense of belonging, collaboration and sharing of information. Many of us are self-isolating and working from home which is having an impact on our ability to interact with family, friends and colleagues. Fairness – The focus here is transparency, trust and clear expectations. Am I being treated fairly and equitably? Inconsistent exchanges can generate a strong threat response. Being open with clear communication that encourages high levels of participation will create a reward response. The level of threat or reward felt by an individual will be very different. As an organisation and as leaders we can impact positively in creating reward responses in the 5 triggers. What are your top tips for maintaining strong employee engagement during this period? To help support the development of a reward response to the SCARF triggers, a focus on the 4 pillars of employee engagement is very useful. 1. Strategic narrative Senior leaders must remain visible in their communication with employees. Organisational objectives still need to be met, although they may need to adapt and evolve. Remember, where there is a void in communication, employees will fill this space for themselves – this is how rumours start. Top tips: In this uncertain time, employees will be seeking certainty. Where you are headed as a business needs to be restated Think about all employee communications detailing changes in working practice and how internal processes have been adapted Make recognition a weekly event using internal social media channels such as Yammer Encourage leaders to write blogs on how the Coronavirus is impacting on them Ensure senior leaders are highly visible via video and webcasts to all employees 2. Engaging managers This is a challenging time for managers as many will be achieving results through remote working teams, so higher levels of trust and autonomy is needed. Top tips: Spend time with both individuals and the team to listen to concerns and seek to find answers For many of us there is still work that needs to be delivered, so managers must provide clear objectives and expectations Coach your team to find solutions and adapt your management style, as each member of your team will require different levels of support Feedback and recognition are always important, so make time for weekly video calls with your teams to recognise each other 3. Employee voice Keep a two-way open dialogue for all employees. Finding a solution to a challenge is often better achieved through the ideas and experiences of those around you. Top tips: Holding Q&A forums where employees can raise concerns and have them answered Create peer-to-peer employee forums where issues and working conditions can be discussed. Yammer is a great tool to facilitate this Gather evidence of success with any new working practices and promote proudly and loudly through internal communication channels 4. Values and behaviours Despite the changes in working practices your, organisation’s values and behaviours should remain at the core. The integrity of your organisation and its brand both internally and externally is essential. Top tips: Share employee stories and examples of your values in practice and celebrate these through internal channels As leaders, ensure that there is no say-do gap. If you are expecting employees to do something, you should be willing to do this yourself. Look at the Chief Medical Officer of Scotland Be the role model of the behaviours you want to see My view... Personally, I think that now is a time for championing understanding above all else. We’re all experiencing new pressures that impact upon our day-to-day and are slowly redefining a new norm. Employers need to be understanding to the fact that they’re no longer the top priority. Let’s be honest, pre Covid-19 business was the number one priority for many people but there’s nothing like a global pandemic to refocus the mind. I think I can confidently speak for everyone when I say that priority number one is very definitely the health and happiness of our loved ones and ourselves. A pause for thought and to be reminded of our own mortality is perhaps no bad thing. Likewise, we as employees need to be understanding of our employers. Business still needs to be done and many big decisions need to be made to ensure the survival of businesses worldwide. Furloughing, for instance, can be worrying for employees and difficult for employers but if it means the business survives and jobs are preserved, that for me reflects a responsible business decision made for the good of everyone. I think in this time of remote working where the business as an entity feels more remote, it’s these pivotal business decisions on which employee engagement hinges. In life you find out most about someone when the shit hits the fan. Did that friend stay by your side? It’s the same with your company. How businesses act now in this time of crisis will make or break your relationship, even if the cracks don’t appear straight away. Whatever the future holds, there is one constant truth in business: your business is only as good as the people that you employ. And in this new world, it’s clearer than ever that that’s what we all are: people. Parents, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, friends, colleagues, pub quiz team mates. We must continue to work together, communicate with one another and above all else be understanding of one another to ensure that each one of us is ‘engaged’ not just in work but in life, so that we come out of this stronger, both personally and professionally. 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Positive news round up 2
9 months ago by Tony AllenFollowing our previous positive news round up we thought we’d share some more of the good stuff that our cursors have landed on over the last week or so. It feels as though things are a lot more settled and normal over here now and we hope you feel the same. A bit of sunshine is certainly helping too. Our exercise Whatsapp Group is helping people maintain momentum Whether you’ve just managed your first lap of the local park without getting a stitch, or you’re putting in marathon training miles every week (whilst remaining compliant to the government recommendations of course) you are very welcome to join our Running & indoor exercise WhatsApp group as it’s open to all and the more the merrier. To join just email Mark with your mobile number and he will add you. By joining the group you can share your activity, spur each other on, and chat about anything you think is relevant or useful. I’m certainly finding myself out and about a lot more because of this group and it would be great to have more of you on board as well. Brands and agencies helping support key workers and others that are worst affected John Lewis creates a wellbeing area for staff at NHS Nightingale London and joins forces with the British Medical Association to deliver care packages to NHS key workers. Well done John Lewis. You can read more about the story via the BMA here. South West, London and Leeds-based Marketing agency Edit has opened a 'CrEdit’ fund to support businesses, specifically those in the Charity, Financial Services or Grocery Retail sector and those who are worst hit during this time. With £1 Million of heavily discounted media space from TV Airtime to print & media inserts, they are here to help. Your business can apply here. Skyscanner’s recent video helps bring hope and builds trust in the brand In Marketing Week, Molly Fleming wrote about Skyscanner’s recent video. We think it’s a strong and positive response from the brand. You can watch the video below and read the full article here. Voxi ad shot in isolation Voxi, the Vodafone network aimed at people aged 25 and under, has created its first ad produced and shot completely remotely as the UK coronavirus lockdown continues. We think they pulled it off brilliantly. Well done Voxi, Ogilvy UK and The Mill. Here is the ad and you can head over to Campaign Live to read the full article. How working arrangements will change for the better as a result of the pandemic Sarah Douglas of AMV shares some positive insights into the way that agencies will define their working arrangements after lockdown. Great stuff, Sarah. Free quarantine art by Gareth Fuller FULLER is best known for his series ‘Purposeful Wanderings’. Popular pieces in the series include London Town (2005-2015); Bristol (2014); and Beijing (2018). During 14 days quarantine in Beijing, FULLER was left feeling worried and helpless. He decided to keep drawing and created a Quarantine + Pandemic Survival Map to tackle the hard truths with consideration and humour. You can download a free piece of his artwork here. Zoom meeting backgrounds to help you win that next virtual pitch Scott Overend (AKA Xavier Remmington), a student copywriter from Dublin told Campaign magazine about his pitch winning Zoom background concept. Some of these are pretty cool! Designing your home office with better mental health in mind If you’re still struggling to feel settled at home, check out this short blog post from Design Week aimed at creative professionals working from home. Henry Nicholas webinar dates confirmed Over the coming weeks the team here at Henry Nicholas will be hosting a series of webinars via Zoom. These will be open to everyone. First up is 'Constructing a CV' hosted by Mark Trist and Tony Allen. There will be two webinars for this topic taking place on April 24th and 29th at 12:00. The webinar will cover the following points: Who does your CV need to appeal to? What Content to include and in which order? Formatting and pictures Key words and making sure you are visible to recruiters The million dollar question revealed – How long should a CV be? Q&A How to register for a webinar In order to register please email Mark and he will send you the meeting login details in advance of the workshop. If you would like to remain anonymous but still listen to the content in the workshop, you can switch off your visuals and audio. We look forward to hosting these webinars and hope you find them useful. Please feel free to spread the word and comment and like our webinar posts when they appear in your LinkedIn feed. We'd like to spread the word and be useful to as many people as we can :) If there is anything else that you think would add some value to you, your business, or the people around you, then please get in touch and share your ideas. And if you didn’t already see it. Here is our Happy Easter egg hunt video from the weekend! Enjoy. Follow @henrynicholas
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A virtual life after lockdown
10 months ago by Mark TristWith everyone currently living each day as it comes, it’s hard to imagine how our lives and work will look after lockdown and what changes we will make once we return to our “normal” life. As human beings we always seem to find a way to adapt, but let’s also use this as an opportunity to learn so that when things do become normalised, we can improve on what we had before. I have seen lots of changes already, not just in our own business at Henry Nicholas but across the lives of my colleagues, friends and other businesses too. The world has had to adjust to the ongoing situation. Here are some of my observations so far: People It’s been great to view the new hobbies everyone has started, so many have taken this time to invest in themselves and think about making significant lifestyle changes. Our team have been busy, with Jess and Phoebe taking the time to paint; Nick, John, Dan and Andrew joining our “open to all” running WhatsApp group; Tony has been putting his free time into home improvements, while I have started to learn Spanish on Duolingo. I am sure the restrictions on movement will mean even more people will look to travel and make the most of exploring our countryside once restrictions have been lifted. The world We have become “virtual” almost overnight. Who would have thought we would place bets on a computerised horse to win the Grand National, or chat to your Gran on Zoom? Social Media has been brilliant; as a country we have been online exercising with Joe Wicks, learning to cook with Jamie Oliver, seen Ricky Gervais entertain us all live each night, had our children taught maths by Carol Vorderman and read bedtime stories by Dolly Parton. Not forgetting the daily, almost hourly memes that have made us laugh and raise our spirits. There has also been a meteoric rise in virtual pubs, club nights and gigs. I do wonder whether this is here to stay. How about a virtual Glastonbury 2021 with a VR headset for anybody not lucky enough to get tickets!? Businesses In the past businesses have been reluctant and scared of change, especially when it came to topics around flexible working, working from home and remote working. This is where we might see the biggest changes of all, incorporating these changes into our ways of working will surely allow for companies to select and hire candidates from a wider pool of talent. I’ve already heard of companies providing allowances for home desks and loans on laptops. Rent is often the 2nd largest outgoing for any company (behind their employee costs), so will we see companies move to smaller offices with a large proportion of their staff working from home each week? With an increase in home working, another positive is the increase in opportunities for people with disabilities who are unable to get to an office each day and parents returning to work after maternity or paternity leave. The recruitment industry Our industry will no doubt adopt a more virtual approach. More interviews will be held over video, which will make the recruitment process more efficient, thus saving companies valuable time and money. Candidates will have to practice and adapt to video interviews, making sure they come across as enthusiastic and professional just as they would do face to face, while still looking to build rapport. More video briefings would also bring about a reduction in travel costs for recruitment businesses who have clients around the UK, while having a positive impact on the environment. Henry Nicholas Since the recommended government restrictions, Henry Nicholas has already made huge strides in adapting as a business. In moving to 100% home working, we have proven that we are able to deliver the same level of service we would normally to both candidates and clients alike. Our ethos at Henry Nicholas has always been to become experts in our field (Marketing, PR, Data, Tech and Digital). We quickly realised that we can help by sharing our knowledge within our network, so we’ve all gone behind the camera to film about topics that are important to us and have written more about current trends with the aim of helping people. We have pushed ourselves out of our comfort zone but believe this is the only way we will adapt and become a better business. Regular webinars will come shortly and any recommendations on content is always welcome. In conclusion, the virtual world is fantastic. It’s full of possibilities and will be here to stay. The technology we depend on will become more advanced and will help us in endless ways. Let’s use it to interact even more to improve our relationships with one another, never forgetting that the best relationships have always been built face to face. Follow @henrynicholas
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Dealing with worry and uncertainty
10 months ago by Daniel CarneLots of us are worried about coronavirus; primarily how it will affect our health and that of our family and friends, but also how It's changing the way we work day to day and the stability of our employment and future plans. It is a profoundly difficult time all round, but there are lots of positive things we can do to ensure we’re taking care of ourselves and those around us who are adapting to this new way of living. Stay connected In these times of social distancing and isolation it’s more important than ever to stay connected with people. Think about how you can stay in touch with family, friends and colleagues and get creative about how you do this. At Henry Nicholas we’ve tried to embrace this with daily catch up meetings with the team via Zoom sharing running tips, routes and fitness successes, poker nights with video link to friends, quizzes (home-made), Spotify shared playlists, shared school resources and tips for home-based teaching and parenting support. Look after your body Working from home and social distancing measures are inevitably leading to a decrease in our physical exercise which can then have a negative knock on effect to our mental health. Adding regular physical activity into your day can reduce stress and anxiety, so try sitting less and moving more. The charity Mind has more info on this here Sleep is also important – try to maintain a regular sleep pattern and avoid screens and caffeine before bed. Maintain a balanced diet and drink enough water. Support others Helping someone else can also benefit you. There are daily examples of how as a community we are rallying together and creating good. Perhaps the biggest example of this would be the NHS GoodSAM scheme where people can sign up to provide support to the 1.5M people in England who are most at risk to Covid-19. This has had huge traction, and at the time of writing 750,000 people have signed up! There are plenty more examples of support at a local level where communities are protecting the vulnerable by picking up prescriptions and medicines, delivering food parcels and shopping, checking in on the isolated, offering goods and services for free. Keep it factual Sadly, in times like these false information and scaremongering appear on the scene. We need to stick to the facts and get our information from credible sources like www.gov.uk , www.nhs.org.uk , www.who.int Blank out the noise from social media etc. It's important that we also give ourselves time out from consuming news, as the headlines and data bombardment can take over. It's also important to give ourselves time. As Stephen Fry eloquently puts it “we need to give ourselves more time to do everything” New interests As we might have more time on our hands now is a great time to try something new. There are an increasing number of organisations who are making online learning resources available for free. We've heard of many people picking up musical instruments, learning languages, cooking more, reading more, listening to podcasts, reading blogs, online Yoga / fitness classes, art sharing, the list goes on… We need to remember that the feelings we have now are temporary and the anxiety will pass. Everyone is in this together and by focusing on the positive thoughts and actions we can supress the worry. We’re seeing the good in society where testing times bring about the best in all of us. Follow @henrynicholas
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