Effective Job Applications Made Easy

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Approaching recruitment agencies such as FHH Consultants results in a team effort – between you and them. Whilst FHH’s consulting team will do everything in their power to land you that dream job, they depend on a certain amount of creative input from the applicant.

Tips to Stand Out in Job Applications
Make yourself “vulnerable’ – admit your need for advice. Don’t be nervous or hesitant to ask for guidance in areas you’re unsure of. Job applications can be one of the most important decisions you’ll make in Life. Also, don’t be stuck in a narrow view of what you can do, what you’d like to work at. Your skills and experience might place you in fields other than your current expectations – be open to this. Tell prospective employers why they need you – not just for your qualifications but how you can creatively add value in tertiary ways.

It is important to train yourself to listen effectively, very often employers are waiting for you to confirm that you understand their needs, or are casting around for a solution they need. You must be able to identify these and offer meaningful, viable options.

Don’t be afraid to network in your interview – you need to know who the decision-makers are so that you can reinforce an employers’ interest in you. Your interview starts with the receptionists – treat them as if they are receiving your application, along with everyone else you meet in the organisation. Don’t make reactive, immediate decisions to apply for jobs – negotiate time to mull them over. Aspects can arise later on which make the prospect irrelevant or inappropriate, wasting many people’s time in the process and creating reluctance in people to assist you or be approachable to you. Here research of your employer prospect is critical.

Be aware of your body language – relaxed open posture is much more effective than stiff closed body positioning. Also remember that the job you are applying for is always a stepping stone to your ultimate career ambition so don’t try hard for something that fits – exactly – your dream job aspiration.

Lastly, act as if you are already employed by your employer prospect – demonstrate brand loyalty, company culture buy-in and empathy for policies and procedures. These, together with FHH Consultants’ placement skills, set you well on the way to a meteoric career path.

What you should look for in a talent management agency

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You may be one of the few who has spent years at a tertiary institution or has gained valuable experience in your field of expertise. You may also be keenly aware that finding that perfect job is not easy. Luckily there are many established talent management companies to assist you in your quest. Before you make use of the services of such a company you must ensure that they will be able to assist you in a professional manner. For example certain companies only specialise in administration staff, and others in technical or scientific disciplines.

The following are a few pointers you should look out for:

  • Is the company well established, in other words has the company been around for many years?
  • What is the level of customer satisfaction? This could easily be gained by reviewing consumer opinion sites.
  • Do they have qualified and experienced staff in your area of expertise?
  • Do they specialise in recruiting for small, medium or large corporations?
  • Do they fill staffing requirement locally and/or internationally?
  • Is their recruitment industry specific? That is, do they specialize in biotech, information services industry etc.
  • Does the agency have affiliations with well know companies?

Making that career choice may be one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Gaining experience at the right company will open doors for you in the future. Therefore it is important to choose the correct talent management agency. View your choice of talent management agencies as your first step in a rewarding working environment.

FHH Consultants – Our Services Explained

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FFH Consultants came into existence after identifying a gap in the South African market for a proactive and innovative recruitment agency that values both its candidates and employer-clients in equal measure. This company has grown to become one of the foremost requirement agencies in South Africa, and continues to push the boundaries of innovation in the recruitment industry.

Their specialty extends to:

  • Accounting professionals;
  • Events management experts;
  • Human resource personnel;
  • Accounting and blue collar positions;
  • Insurance and customer service professionals, to name a few.

FFH Consultants incorporates the professional service of electronic media and respected publications in an effort to attract the best quality talent for their clients’ positions. You can rest assured that you will tap the best and brightest talent in South Africa when dealing with FFH Consultants.

Payroll Solutions From FFH Consultants
This leading recruitment agency also offers a personal and cost-efficient payroll solution to business and individuals, providing a complete peace of mind that your employees are always paid accurately and on time, every time.

Human Resource Services From FFH Consultants
FFH Consultants’ goal is to provide their clients with a complete and comprehensive human resources solution. This solution will help to free up the valuable time of your employees to aid you in your quest of growing your business.

Recruitment Solutions From FFH Consultants
Since their inception FFH Consultants has become a leading recruitment agency in South Africa. Their equal dedication to jobseekers and employer-clients sets them apart in a crowded marketplace. Partner with FFH Consultants for comprehensive recruitment, human resource and payroll solutions in South Africa.

What Not To Do In An Interview

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You’ve built yourself a great CV and made sure to submit a winning cover letter, and all your hard work got you the interview. Now you have to make sure that you live up to your first impression. Before you can get any job, the interview is your most important hurdle. Even the most experienced professionals can make stupid mistakes at this most vital point in the job hunt.

If you’re on the job hunt, make sure you don’t do any of these interview no-nos:

  1. Show up late

If you’re late for something as important as an interview, the employer might see this as normal behaviour. If you can’t avoid it, make sure you have a good excuse or call ahead.

  1. Dress inappropriately

Your appearance says something about you, don’t be sloppy or too casual. This goes for language as well, make sure you don’t swear.

  1. Discuss money or leave days

Being too eager about money or days off could give the impression that you don’t care about the job. Unless it’s brought up by the interviewer, stay away from this topic.

  1. Know nothing about the company

Don’t go into an interview blind. If you know nothing about the company you say you want to work at, they won’t hire you. You don’t want to freeze if questions are asked or look like you don’t care. Make sure you do your research.

  1. Slouch

Body language is an important aspect of any interview. Nowadays companies employ body language experts to interview people so they can gauge the true intentions of the interviewee. Don’t fidget, slouch, or avoid eye contact.

Nail That Interview This Year!

Staffing solutions

It’s already March and you’re still sitting at home unemployed. What are you doing wrong? Why can’t you get a job?

It’s you; it’s your approach to interviews.

As we all know, first impressions are everything. It might seem like a 50/50 situation, but in fact, first impressions make up about 75-80% of your interview success.
Yes, you have to be presentable and articulate, but what’s more is your responses to questions and how you carry yourself while answering them.

You’re probably just missing out on one single element of the interview process, so we’d like to give you a list of interview essentials.

Here’s how to succeed…
• Always research the company you are interviewing for
Google is your best friend. Search and research till you can’t anymore. One of the best ways to ace your job interview is to study the current events of the company. Knowing what the current happenings of the company are is key to being able to ask pertinent questions. Doing so will also show the interviewer that you have done your homework, and also have a genuine interest in the company – which is essential.

• Know your resume off by heart
Implementing this strategy will definitely help you ace your job interview. It is your responsibility to convince the interviewer that you can come in and do the job. Speaking intelligently about each of your previous positions is one of the best ways to ace your job interview every single time.

• Skills and examples
Tell a story of how you were hard working and instead of just saying it. Don’t leave it up to the imagination of the interviewer to figure out how. Rather, explain in detail and give examples to illustrate.

• Make eye contact
It sounds silly, but eye contact establishes trust and a good relationship. It is also one of the strongest forms of nonverbal communication and a must if you want to ace your job interview. Direct eye contact communicates two key qualities employers look for in candidates – confidence and high self-esteem.

• Be yourself!
Let your true self shine through and you’ll send off the positive energy you’ll need to ace your job interview. If you aren’t being true to yourself, the interviewer will sense your lack of authenticity right away.

The Travel Industry – Travel Agents

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Thanks to magazine and lifestyle television shows, like Top Billing and PasellA, more and more people are looking for work in the travel industry.
Working in an industry that requires a love of travel is great but it is not a main task – it is not simply about relaxation and adventure. Travel agents, destination bloggers and lifestyle presenters have a job to do. This is business as usual, and it takes positive work ethic and drive to become successful in the industry.

There are a multitude of travelling centred jobs available, ranging from travel agent to guest house owner, to game park driver. The possibilities are endless.

Being a Travel Agent
Travel agents are responsible for helping members of the public select and organise their ideal holiday on a limited budget. It’s twice as hard when they have to do it on their own. Employees may receive free or subsidised foreign travel as a perk of the job.

A travel agent’s role is to help people plan, choose and arrange their holiday. They will usually work to a budget, set out by whoever is planning the holiday. They also offer advice and opinions on where to go and local tourist attractions, events and customs.

Typical duties include:
• Promoting and marketing the business
• Dealing with customer queries and complaints
• Providing advice about visas or passports
• Recruiting, training and supervising staff
• Managing budgets
• Maintaining statistical and financial records
• Planning
• Selling holidays and insurance
• Meeting profit or sales targets
• Preparing promotional materials and displays

Typical employers of travel agents
• Tour operators
• Package holiday operators
• Cruise lines
• Independent travel agents

Is this the industry for you?
Speak to FHH Consultants today, let us assist you in finding the ideal job.

Make 2015 Your Year!

Job Placement Agency

Sick of job searching and getting no response?

Who wouldn’t be!

Make this year your best one yet, by taking on a whole new attitude about your job search and the profession you’d like to join.

1. Everybody has a ‘Dream Job’

It’s true- ask anyone. People have interests and skills that add up to who they are, which in the end tells them what they should be doing. Almost like a calling. If you are a great cook and understand food and tastes, then being a chef is your calling. In most cases your calling is your dream job- something that will make you happy, regardless of the salary, and that usually does require a minor challenge or steps to climb. However, all good things are worth the wait- so don’t give up.

2. What exactly are you doing?

Are you really that committed to getting yourself a job, or are you just saying telling yourself that you are? Get up, prepare yourself and go on interviews- let people see you and experience your hunger for success- it can only be infectious.

3. Brush up your appearance and personality…

It might seem harsh, but not a lot of people need a personality jumpstart, however there are a few cases in which you might need to smile a bit more, or laugh at a joke even if it isn’t that funny- you want to seem warm and enthusiastic. Regarding appearance, take yourself seriously, take pride in your hair, clothing and grooming- be serious about it, and let it show people that you are here to get the job.

Good luck out there!

Your Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder in 5 Steps

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The term ‘climbing the corporate ladder’ is as old as the hills. Indeed, starting small and working your way up in any profession is both admirable and highly recommended- but not everyone makes a success of it.

First of all, you need to be 110% committed to whatever job it is that you want, for many people that’s called a ‘dream job’, in order to be willing to start at the bottom. This is especially the case with individuals that might not have the qualifications or experience to walk right into that position. It takes a lot of hard work, and we’re here to help.

There are some very useful tips for anyone that’s planning on taking on this ‘corporate’ adventure.

1. Raise your hand.
Always show enthusiasm and try to get involved in as many opportunities as you can. You need to show that you are committed and interested in what you do. Keep your eyes open for opportunities where you can shine and prove that you deserve to be recognised for future projects. Simply put, participate!

2. Lead and They Will Follow.
It’s important to prove that you are a leader and capable of working well in a team. This does have its cons though, as being a leader means that you are responsible if a project fails, but if you work hard and put enough effort in there’s no reason for failure. What management will notice is that you work well with your co-workers, you take initiative and that you are capable of leading a team in a professional environment- scoring you great points.

3. Innovate and Rise Above.
Probably one of the most sure fire ways of getting noticed by management or executive figures is the ability to come up with innovative ideas and solving problems. In many cases this also opens doors for mentorships from those in higher positions.

4. Network, Network, Network!
You’ll hear this in just about any industry. Networking is close to the most important thing you can do as a newbie in a company. It’s all about who you know. So get out there and meet them.

5. Work Hard.
Hard work pays off. Don’t let anyone tell you different. Yes; set your goals, network, and get involved, but by all means work hard. That’s how you get results and results are what get you places.

There you have it. Climbing the corporate ladder is a reality for just about anyone. If you’re just starting an entry level job make sure that you practice these above mentioned steps. You’ll see results and your bosses will see them too. Climb away.

How To Get A Job

human resources consultant

In all honesty, looking for a job really can be a mission. What’s more is today’s job market isn’t exactly the warmest. Unemployment is sadly a huge problem in our country (and throughout the globe). It is important that you put the right amount of time into finding a job, not to mention the ‘perfect job’.

Here are some valuable steps you can take towards finding a job that suits you.

Connections, Connections, Connections
Unfortunately this is reality. Today, it’s less about what you do and more about who you know. Let’s face it- you could have a shopping list of qualifications, but if you don’t know the right people, that won’t get you anywhere. It’s important to tap your network- everybody knows somebody… Take some time and think about the people you know, odds are you’ll have a list of about three people that could potentially refer you to other people, looking to fill vacancies. Remove yourself from the process of scoping newspapers everyday and start working through people. The best bet is to contact a well-connected recruitment agency such as FHH Consultants, this is a quick gateway to connections in your field of interest.

Back to School
No, not high or primary level school, think varsity, college or any tertiary institution you may have gone to. Chances are you may have former class mates that could be looking to hire people they trust or even know other professionals looking to fill vacancies. A lot of universities have alumni clubs that have job searching newsletters- which is also a helpful source.

Connect via the Net
LinkedIn is similar to the age old act of looking for jobs in the newspaper, however, being online and serving as a database for other professionals in your field, it elevates itself above the ‘Jobs’ section in your local paper. People search jobs, and professionals search for potential employees- which is why having a LinkedIn profile is very important, and efficient. With LinkedIn you connect with the right people.

How to Come Across as Confident in Your Employment Agency Interview

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Every jobseeker wants to come across as competent and confident to the person who will be deciding whether their application will be forwarded to the top employer in their industry. When you land an interview with the employment agency, it is your gateway to the job and career advancement that you have been working so hard for.

You will need to pull out all the stops and make a lasting positive impression on the recruiter. In order to do this you will have to present the full package – a greatly compiled CV, professional appearance and you will need to present an air of competence and confidence. How do you come across as confident in your interview?

Make a Connection with Your Employment Agency Recruiter

Here are a few ways that you can come across as confident and competent to your employment agency recruiter:

• Make eye contact – this might seem like an easy enough thing to remember, but many people maintain eye contact throughout the interview. By making and maintaining eye contact, you will already come across as far more confident.

• Do your research – by knowing more about the company you’re interviewing for, such as their products, services and culture, you will be able to answer questions more directly and with confidence.

These are only a few tips on how you can come across more confident during that all-important interview.