If you are hit by staff illnesses, holidays, or have an increased workload or a project to manage, a reliable source of quality temporary staff is an invaluable asset.

All our candidates are carefully screened and filtered so that only top-quality candidates are registered. As well as needing individuals with the right skills we understand that you need people who can fit in with your existing team straight away. We take time to understand your company culture and your team fit so we can provide temps that fit in straight away and can be immediately effective.

Our temporary solutions will allow you the following key advantages:

The ability to react to busy or seasonal work periods by increasing staff numbers temporarily New staff members without the hassle of payroll, administration and HR processes Last-minute cover for unprecedented staff absences Flexibility with working hours and rates of pay Access to a large database of skilled, qualified workers with various industry experience The ability to trial a new worker before committing to more permanent level of employment.

Fully referenced workers for the past two years of work history Skills tests workers on advanced levels of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, data entry, touchtyping etc. The ability to employ someone to complete a particular project or short assignment Open communication between you and our candidates to ensure continuous monitoring of performance levels. All our staff have a full contract of employment so you benefit from reduced employer liability. Satisfaction Guaranteed - offering you your money back or a new candidate if you are not satisfied, and you're only paying for the time used.

We can have staff to you within an hour of your request if you book within central London. This is due to our comprehensive database of immediately available jobseekers that we can match to the closest location of your office.

Please call our main phone number on 020 7947 4001 anytime of day, seven days a week to book any number of temporary staff.

It is not always practical or feasible to have a Human Resources department as part of your business, although people are a vital element to the success of your company. Change UK is able to provide outsourced HR services to help you recognise the opportunities available in maximising the potential of your greatest resource: People.

Whether the business need is small or complex, we can offer HR services to suit you. We pride ourselves on providing professional, effective HR services which meet your needs.

HR Support Services

Development of bespoke Employee Handbooks

Employee Contracts

Recruitment and selection services

HR Administration

Employee Relations

Training and development
We can help a business to identify company, team and individual development needs. These may not always be obvious, but are often business critical. Significant positive impact will be seen in your people and on your bottom line. Soft skill training, management development and leadership programmes all feed into a human resource function with increased motivation, competitive advantage and retention.

For the team
Change UK works to ensure that each team is managed and behaves in a way that is respectful of its members, irrespective of opinions, styles and perspectives.

For the individual
Mentoring, one-to-one coaching and individually tailored development programmes enable full personal potential to be realised.

HR Strategic Business Partner
Have you just started a new company? Are you an SME business?
Are you a business leader in a corporate organization? All companies large or small, recognize the importance of the people resources and teams supporting and working in the business. Our HR Business partners work alongside and with companies to build, develop, and implement people strategies.

People Projects
From time to time, companies require additional help with a specific project - Company mergers, Acquisitions, Downsizing. For a fixed or rolling period, additional skills and support are often required which we are able to provide.

Diversity Management
In today's ever changing world, appreciating difference in individuals whether in gender, race, culture, age, disability or any other difference, will be key to business success in the future. We have completed the REC Diversity pledge (below) as a recruitment service provider and can show you how to manage and achieve diversity within your company.

Preparation is key in making a good impression at an interview.
Remember you only get one chance.

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BEFORE THE INTERVIEW:

1. Research the company.
2. Know the exact time and location of the interview. Consider the route, parking, and how long it will take you to get there – do not be late.
3. Know the interviewer’s name and job title.
4. Dress appropriately. A smart suit is preferable; jeans and trainers are a strict no-no. Don’t wear too much jewellery or make up.
5. Ensure neither your breath nor clothes smell of smoke or alcohol.
   
   

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DURING THE INTERVIEW:

1. Shake hands firmly.
2. Look people in the eye when you’re talking to them.
3. Listen carefully and articulate your response in a professional manner.
4. Answer the interviewer’s questions clearly and concisely and stick to the point; do not go off on a tangent.
5. Be positive – do not make derogatory remarks about your past employers or employees.
6. Do not enquire about salary or benefits at the first interview stage.
7. Feel free to take notes into and to make notes during the interview. It will be regarded as good attention to detail and you will come across as well-prepared and considered.

COMPETENCY BASED QUESTIONING:

This is a highly effective and accurate technique used by potential employers to assess your skill set and behavior within the working environment.  Competency based interviewing is designed for you to demonstrate your actual experience in the workplace.  Typical questions may include:

• “Give me an example of where you have used your own initiative?”
• “Give me an example of where you have worked to meet a deadline?”
• “Give me an example of where you have demonstrated team work?”

The interviewer may be looking for you to demonstrate your competence in:

Communication Negotiation Persuasion Teamwork

Decision making Problem solving Planning and organisation Pressurised environments

THERE ARE SOME STANDARD QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO ANSWER:

• “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
• “Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?”
• “What made you choose your career path?”
• “What do you think you can bring to the company?”
• “Why would you like to work at this company?”
• “What do you like to do outside of work?”
• “What management style gets the best out of you?”

Be prepared for any technical questions. Know any figures that you might need.

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AT THE END OF THE INTERVIEW:

You will be asked if you have any questions. It makes sense to have some of these prepared:

• “What training do you give?”
• “What is the next stage of the interview process?”
• “What is the company culture like?”
• “What types of people usually grow quickly within the organisation?”
• “Why has this role become available?”
• “What makes your company stand out from your competition?”

 

Do you want to develop your career, return to work after a break or simply make yourself stand out from the crowd? Email our resident expert to get a professional opinion at gemma.exall@thechangegroup.com.

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Dear Gemma
I am a recent graduate and I am really not sure what I want to do so I don’t know where to start looking for a job. Can you help?

The best thing for you to start doing is phoning recruitment agencies and arranging some registrations. By meeting a selection of experienced consultants, you can start to learn what roles are out there that may be suitable for you and you will get some valuable advice from your agents about what positions you have the skills and personality for.

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Dear Gemma
I am a good sales person and I know that I can do well in interview but my CV does not seem to stand out. What do you suggest?

Try adapting your CV to make it personal and unique to each different job that you apply for. Add a short personal profile outlining why you think you are suitable for the position and why you are interested.

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Dear Gemma
I have been out of work for sometime now and I am getting worried about the gap that I now have on my CV. What can I do?

It is a difficult time for everyone at the moment as there are lots of people looking for work. I appreciate that you may be looking for a permanent role but perhaps you should look at the option of taking on some temporary work to keep the money coming in and to show future employers that you are doing whatever it takes to find work.