The Burford Recruitment Blog - The Burford Recruitment Company

Helping Candidates Adapt to a Changing Job Market

Chris Hannah Candidate posts, Candidates 28th April 20209th September 2020

Jodie, Carla and I wanted to share some thoughts on how recent events may impact on your search for a new role, what you need to do to give yourself the best chance of finding the role you are looking for, and how The Burford Recruitment Company can help you to adapt to the changing job market.

A CHANGING JOB MARKET

COVID-19 has already had a major impact on individuals and businesses, and it is likely that it will continue to cause major disruption for months to come. It remains unclear what damage will be done, however we have been warned that it is just not possible to “save every job and every business”, and that we should prepare for the fact that large numbers of people are likely to find themselves out of work, as businesses close or cut costs to stay afloat.

We must all accept that the job market is fundamentally changing. The number of people looking for work is going to increase significantly, while at the same time the number of available roles is likely to reduce, increasing competition and turning what has been a ‘candidate market’ on its head. You must therefore adapt or be left behind!

Increased competition, and increased applications for each available role means your CV needs to be of good quality, and your recruitment partners need to know your preferences in what is likely to be a changing market.

HELPING YOU ADAPT

We have been working hard to make changes that will help you adapt, and ensure that they are in the best possible position to succeed in their search for a new role:

YOUR DATA – Our ‘Online Registration’ and ‘Yourdata’ process has been improved to make it as simple as possible for you to first register, and then keep us updated on your changing situation, ensuring you only receive information regarding roles that match your specific requirements.

ONLINE CV SERVICE – Your CV needs to be fit for purpose to get you the interviews you deserve and keep your career on track. We have just launched our ‘Online CV service’ which through to August 31^st will remain at an introductory rate of just £25, with a completed CV beling delivered via email within 3 working days. This package complements the ‘Professional CV Service’ which we have also temporarily reduced to £50.00.

SOCIAL MEDIA – Our community on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter continues to grow. Follow us any forum and receive updates with new opportunities, as well as tips and advice on successfully navigating the job market.

Should you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to email us at info@burfordrecruitment.co.uk.

Supporting clients through the COVID-19 crisis

Chris Hannah Clients 23rd March 202023rd March 2020

How can we help?

Lets face it, whatever anyone says, this is not business as usual!

The schools are closed, many employees are not able to go to work and businesses large and small are worried about the future.

The Burford Recruitment Company is committed to helping businesses who are desperate to fill the gaps in their organisation but are worried about cash flow.

We are therefore providing SMEs in West Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas with the following offers, until the schools reopen and we can all return to ‘business as usual’:

10% fees for ALL clients for both Fixed Term Contracts as well as Permanent Placements (on an exclusive / sole agency basis)
Affordable monthly payments over the length of the contract (up to a maximum of 12 months)

West Oxfordshire has a strong business community and it is in all of our interests that as many local businesses make it through the current situation as possible in order to keep our local economy strong.

If you need support with your recruitment please do not hesitate to contact us on 01993 225055 or email info@burfordrecruitment.co.uk

For a little light relief in these difficult times, check out how easy we make making a video look on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BurfordRecruitment/

West Oxfordshire Business Awards 2020 – Finalists

Chris Hannah Candidate posts, Clients, The Burford Recruitment Team 10th February 202010th February 2020Awards, West Oxfordshire, WOBA

As many of you know in December last year, The Burford Recruitment Company were delighted to be shortlisted in both the New Business Award and Micro Business Award categories in the West Oxfordshire Business Awards (for the second year running).

January was incredibly busy for us here at The Burford Recruitment Company, with the interviews with representatives of the sponsors and organisers (including Blenheim Palace, Timms Wealth Management, NGI Finance and Witney Business & Innovation Centre) all coming within days of moving into our lovely new home at Woodgrove Farm in Fulbrook, Burford, and Carla joining our team.

The tight schedule and extra work has however proved to have been well worthwhile.

At the Celebration of Business held at Cokethorpe School on Thursday night we were included in the final 3 businesses in both categories.

The awards ceremony itself will be held at Heythrop Park on March 27^th and we are greatly looking forward to enjoying it regardless of the outcome!

Hopefully we may see some of you there!

How Does Your Business Manage Its Brand When Outsourcing Services (Like Recruitment)?

Chris Hannah Clients 31st January 2020

Brand is Critical

I am always being told that maintaining a positive brand is crucial!

As a business owner, I am very aware that our reputation helps to attract candidates and clients to work with us, and I am certainly not alone in understanding this principle. Most companies in fact will go out of their way to demonstrate to potential employees how much they care, and how wonderful it is to work for them. But how do these companies ensure that their brand is being represented in the way that they would like it to be when they outsource first contact with potential future employees to a recruitment agency?

The answer is by doing their homework.

It goes without saying that if you were looking to outsource a critical marketing campaign, you wouldn’t put your company’s reputation in the hands of the first marketing agency that happened to call, or to someone with only 6 months experience cold calling you from a company 50 miles away. And I very much doubt you would choose the agency who’s only selling point is to undercut all the other marketing agencies with a low budget “fixed fee” campaign. Instead you would do your research and pick the agency that has the experience and skills that you are looking for…. right?

It seems however, when it comes to outsourcing recruitment it is not so unusual to find that basic research is not carried out despite the fact that it can be done pretty quickly by looking online, or even more effectively by actually visiting the company that is about to handle first contact (at the very least) with potential future employees.

Be in no doubt that choosing the wrong recruitment partner can damage your reputation and your company’s brand so if you are outsourcing please consider the following:

If you can, visit them…

Do they have an office?
Is it clean, modern, professional?
Where will candidates be interviewed?
How are people greeted when they arrive?
How would you feel being interviewed there?
Does it reflect your company brand?

Visit the company website…

Has it been updated this decade?
What is the quality of the job adverts they produce?
Do they do what they said they do?
Are there any references or testimonials?

Ask about the candidate experience…

Do all applicants receive a good service?
Even the unsuccessful ones?
How is their data managed?
Do they have a functioning GDPR process?

Remember, that to a candidate, your recruitment partner is an extension of your company. Don’t allow your brand or your reputation to be tarnished.

WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME!

At The Burford Recruitment Company, we treat all candidates with respect. Successful or not, all applicants will receive a friendly and supportive response within a few days of applying for a role.

Our candidates meet with a Recruitment Partner in a comfortable and professional setting, and once registered all candidates can update their preferences any time day or night through the innovative Yourdata form on our website, ensuring they only receive details of roles that match their requirements.

Each member of our team has over 15 years’ experience in the industry and with it the knowledge and expertise to manage your recruitment campaign.

If you would like to pop in for a chat about how we can help your business please do not hesitate to contact us on 01993 225055 or email info@burfordrecruitment.co.uk

We might not be the right recruitment agency for everyone, but if you are looking for a friendly team with a shed load of experience, based in a lovely stable conversion then we could well be the right agency for you!

West Oxfordshire Business Awards 2020 – Shortlisted

Chris Hannah Candidates, Clients, The Burford Recruitment Team 19th December 20198th February 2020Awards, West Oxfordshire, WOBA

WOBA Awards – Shortlisted two years running!

We are absolutely delighted to let people know that for the second year running The Burford Recruitment Company has been shortlisted in both the New Business and Micro Business of the year categories at the West Oxfordshire Business Awards (WOBAs).

The Burford Recruitment Company has come a long way since starting the business at the beginning of 2017 and we are looking forward to the judges visiting us in January where we have a great story to tell. By January, we will be in our new offices in Fulbrook, Burford. We will have a experienced new member of The Burford Recruitment Company Team, and a great plan for future growth.

The West Oxfordshire Business Awards are a showcase for the great businesses based in West Oxfordshire and we are proud to call many of the former winners and finalists our clients. For more information on the WOBAs check out their website WOBA2020.

#WOBA2020

Our new home in Fulbrook, Burford!

Chris Hannah Candidates, Clients, The Burford Recruitment Team 6th December 201913th February 2020

New Year… new home!

We are now very happily settled into our new home at Woodgrove Farm in Fulbook, Burford.

Woodgrove Farm is a converted stable located in the beautiful Cotswolds, and it represents our brand perfectly. More importantly, it will provide a great first impression to candidates that come to register with us, something all clients should consider when choosing a recruitment partner.

At The Burford Recruitment Company, our aim is to provide a comfortable, friendly and professional environment where candidates receive a truly consultative service, and one that differentiates us from the quick turnaround, revolving door that many see as the mark of the ‘high street’ recruitment agency.

Burford is often called “The Gateway to the Cotswolds” and as such, our new location positions us in the ideal spot for clients and candidates in the area.

This move marks an important milestone in the growth of The Burford Recruitment Company and has already allowed us to add a new Recruitment Specialist to the team.

If you would like to discuss how we can help your business find the best talent the area has to offer, please give us a call or drop us an email and arrange a chat.

The coffee machine is on…. we look forward to welcoming you soon!

Welcome to the team!

Chris Hannah Candidates, Clients, The Burford Recruitment Team 6th December 2019

Introducing Carla Humi

We are very excited to welcome Carla Humi into our team. Carla will join The Burford Recruitment Team in January, bringing with her over 15 years experience in the recruitment industry.

Carla’s experience has predominantly been in the Accountancy & Finance sector in London and Asia before relocating to the Cotswolds in 2014. Since relocating, Carla has focused on client and candidate engagement. Carla’s friendly professional style and her focus on delivering exceptional service makes her the perfect fit for The Burford Recruitment Company.

Carla says….. “I am delighted to join the team at The Burford Recruitment Company. The culture and values fit me perfectly, and I am looking forward to working with the team to help the business grow”.

You can contact Carla on carla@burfordrecruitment.co.uk

A new professional CV Writing Service based in Burford

Chris Hannah Candidates 25th June 201931st January 2020CV Writing

This week, The Burford Recruitment Company have launched a new CV Writing Service designed to provide job seekers in and around West Oxfordshire with a professionally written and formatted CV at a reasonable cost.

The new service is aimed at assisting both experienced Office & Professional candidates as well as Graduates who are looking to take their first step on the career ladder.

The service involves a face to face consultation, after which customers will receive a set of documents (usually within 2 working days) that not only accurately portray our customers skills and abilities to potential employers, but also provides expert recruitment advice, giving them the best chance to secure interviews for positions that they are qualified to perform.

What is included in the service?

Included in the Professional CV Service is an initial 1 hour face to face consultation with an experienced Recruitment Partner, either at The Burford Recruitment Company offices in Burford, or at a candidate’s home address. Following consultation candidates will be provided with:

A tailored professional CV (PDF and MSWord formats)
CV formatting guidance
Simple suggestions on tailoring your CV to each opportunity
Advice on creating successful online profiles
Suggestions for creating successful cover letters
Guidance on preparing for telephone and face to face interviews

The cost of the service is £75, although graduates (recently qualified) can receive the same service at a discounted price of £50. Additional services such as the creation of LinkedIn accounts or cover letters for a specific opportunities will be available but charged separately.

Why choose this service?

The Burford Recruitment Company’s Chris Hannah says…

“Having read, reviewed and re-written thousands of CVs throughout my career, it couldn’t be clearer that being qualified to do the job is not always enough to get you noticed.

A poorly written or formatted CV is unlikely to be read from beginning to end, never mind get you shortlisted for interview, and while a good quality CV wont get you a job offer by itself, it can set you apart from the competition, and provide you with the opportunity to impress a potential new employer at interview.”

For more information on the CV service visit https://www.burfordrecruitment.co.uk/cv-writing-service/ or to book a consultation email cvservice@burfordrecruitment.co.uk or call 01993225055 for a chat about how we can help.

Our Values

Chris Hannah Candidates, Clients, The Burford Recruitment Team 23rd April 20194th June 2019

Our business, as well as our reputation is built on our values of Trust, Honesty, Transparency and Quality.

Trust

With over 30 years of experience in the recruitment industry you can be confident in the knowledge that you are in safe hands. We know that first impressions count, and reputations last, so whether it is over the phone, at our first class facilities, or in the adverts and CVs we create, we will make sure that you are represented to the best of our ability at all times.

Honesty

We believe that a consultative approach is essential to building and maintaining partnerships, and to gain a thorough understanding of our client’s and our candidate’s needs. If we believe something needs to be addressed we will address it, and give our considered professional advice on how to move forward and achieve a successful outcome.

Transparency

Wherever possible we visit our clients to gain an understanding of the opportunity so we can ensure our candidates are fully briefed. We gain “explicit consent” from candidates prior to sharing their information and make sure that clients and candidates alike are kept up to date with developments throughout the recruitment process.

Quality

We only select candidates that we believe match our client’s brief, both in terms of skill set and culture. We ensure that our candidate’s CVs are presented in a clear way highlighting their suitability for the role. Around 4 out of 5 of our applications are selected for interview resulting in over 1 in 5 receiving and accepting an offer.

The West Oxfordshire Business Awards 2019 – #2019WOBAs

Chris Hannah Candidate posts, Candidates, Clients, The Burford Recruitment Team 20th April 201923rd April 2019

So the West Oxfordshire Business Awards (WOBAs) are over for another year.

For those of you new to the West Oxfordshire Business Awards (WOBAs), they recognise the very best businesses in West Oxfordshire, comparing businesses across a number of different categories depending on industry and size. At the 2019 awards, The Burford Recruitment Company were delighted to make the shortlist in two of those categories.

The New Business Award (focussing on businesses launched in the previous 3 years), and the Micro Business Award focussing on the smaller businesses.

While we unfortunately did not make the final three in either category, getting shortlisted was a great success in only our second full year of trading.

Creating our submission, and the subsequent interview process enabled us to reflect on the performance of our business, and generate new ideas for moving forward. Most pleasing was that external judges confirmed that we do a great job for our clients and candidates and that our brand reflects both us individually as well as our business.

We really enjoyed the experience, and would recommend any business in West Oxfordshire take a look and get involved next year! We will certainly be applying again in 2020 and hopefully getting even further in the process.

Congratulations to all of the shortlisted businesses, finalists and of course the winners who you can view on the WOBA website.

Visit the WOBA website