Series 3 of The Ambitions Podcast begins with some festive themes and topics, with later episodes focusing on career, CV and upskilling advice from our specialists.
Please click the titles to enjoy full episodes.
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S03E01 - ARE CHRISTMAS PARTIES ALL THEY'RE CRACKER-ED UP TO BE?
In this first episode of Season 3, Lizzie is joined by Gerrard as the duo discuss the positives of Christmas parties as well as some of the negatives.
Almost everyone has a story about a disastrous Christmas party, and plenty of people have some regrets from the morning after. Should Christmas parties be alcohol-free? Could more responsibility be taken by employers to make sure everything runs smoothly?
It's not all bad for Christmas party-goers, however, as they are great social events to increase team cohesion and also celebrate the successes of the year. They're one of those unique events that get everyone together who might not see each other often.
Featuring - Lizzie Tasker and Gerrard Grundy
Released 3rd, December 2019
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S03E02 - LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020
This week, Gerrard and Helen discuss how the recruitment industry is shaping up ahead of 2020, and what new trends they're expecting to see in the New Year.
There are plenty of talking points for recruitment experts to debate, but the one on everybody's lips is Brexit. As the UK edges closer to making a decision on what Brexit will look like, how will it really affect the recruitment industry and employers? Businesses relying on seasonal workers are particularly vulnerable to changes in immigration law.
Also in this week's episode, how the Good Work Plan sets out the future plan for the UK labour market and big changes to how employees get their written employment contracts. 2020 is certainly shaping up to be an interesting year for recruiters.
Featuring - Gerrard Grundy and Helen Mason
Released 12th, December 2019
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S03E03 - NEW YEAR MOTIVATION
Lizzie is joined by Becky to discuss the trend of staff moving jobs in the New Year. 'Massive Monday' is the first full working Monday of the New Year and sees a huge number of employees looking for new roles. Last year, over one million CV's were uploaded to Reed in a single day!
The New Year might not be good news for employers, but it certainly provides a busy schedule for recruiters. Lizzie and Becky discuss what recruiters are looking for in New Year candidates, as well as what employers should be doing to better hold onto their staff in the most vulnerable time of year for job retention. How can staff get motivated after the festive break?
Featuring - Becky Gench and Lizzie Tasker
Released 19th December 2019
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S03E04 - LET'S TALK ABOUT CVS
In this episode, Lizzie and Paula talk about the good, the bad and the ugly with regards to CVs. What makes a good CV, and what are the common mistakes that are stopping people from getting their dream job? It has been revealed that recruiters spend roughly seven seconds looking at a CV, so it's important to make those seconds count.
Also in this week's episode, the experts answer questions about how long a CV should be, should a personal profile be included, and what are the top things to include in your new CV?
Featuring - Lizzie Tasker and Paula Thirkell
Released 2nd, January 2020
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S03E05 - JUST HOW IMPORTANT ARE JOB DESCRIPTIONS?
Helen and Paula discuss what makes a good job description and the importance of getting it right the first time. What are the key elements of the job? What will the candidate spend most of their time doing? It's crucial for job descriptions to accurately reflect the role on offer.
For recruiters, it's important to understand what the most important skills and traits that clients want in a candidate. Where do they fit into the company structure and how could their role progress? It is vital that candidates know what's on offer to them the first time they read a job description - there can be no second-guessing when it comes to first impressions.
Featuring - Helen Mason and Paula Thirkell
Released 9th, January 2020
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S03E06 - HOW TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL TEAM
In this week's episode, Mandy and Becky discuss building successful teams. Every person in a team is important, regardless of seniority in the business. If one person in a team isn't functioning properly, that can cause trouble down the line.
The pair discuss the various ways that employers can recruit new staff into existing teams. We spend a lot of our time at work, so making sure that any new addition fits in well is critical, as it can heavily influence how well a team performs.
Recognition also goes a long way with helping teams perform better. Being rewarded for good work acts as a great incentive for teams working together well and surely helps maintain and increase productivity in the future.
Featuring - Becky Gench and Mandy Watson
Released 16th, January 2020
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S03E07 - THE BENEFITS OF TEMPORARY WORK
This week, Mandy and Becky discuss the benefits of temporary work. There are a whole plethora of reasons why people use temporary work, although employers and workers on temporary contracts get a lot of bad press.
Sometimes temporary work is seasonal, such as at Christmastime in busy shopping periods or summer work at music festivals. Sometimes workers don't want to be tied into a permanent contract, so temporary work can suit them well. Those who have previously retired also fit well with temporary contracts, being able to more easily choose when they work and for how long.
Featuring - Mandy Watson and Becky Gench
Released 23rd, January 2020
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S03E08 - CAREER ADVICE
This week, Mandy and Becky discuss the benefits of temporary work. There are a whole plethora of reasons why people use temporary work, although employers and workers on temporary contracts get a lot of bad press.
Sometimes temporary work is seasonal, such as at Christmastime in busy shopping periods or summer work at music festivals. Sometimes workers don't want to be tied into a permanent contract, so temporary work can suit them well. Those who have previously retired also fit well with temporary contracts, being able to more easily choose when they work and for how long.
Featuring - Paula Thirkell and Gerrard Grundy
Released 30th, January 2020
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S03E09 - TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
Becky and Lizzie discuss the importance of transferable skills. The difference between soft skills and hard skills and why both are vitally important to career progression. Can your skillset prove more important than experience when looking for a new role?
The majority of skills can be transferred from role to role, and even from one industry to another. Customer service skills gained in a customer-facing retail role translate very well to an office environment, for example. There is usually almost always a way to transfer a skill.
Interviewers love asking questions like "tell me about a time when...", which is usually asking for how you utilised your skills to solve a problem. As a candidate, if you can answer that question creatively by using a transferable skill, that can only work in your favour.
Employers also like to look for flexibility in candidates. They often want to build loyalty in their new employees by upskilling them, usually to improve their own retention rates.
Featuring - Becky Gench and Lizzie Tasker
Released 6th, February 2020
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S03E10 - FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER
In the final episode of the third season, Lizzie and Mandy discuss the importance of a first impression.
Candidates should always remember that interviews are a two-way street. The candidate should use it as an opportunity to ascertain whether this is the right job for them. Can you see yourself working with these people who are asking the questions?
It's a nerve-wracking experience walking into any job interview. The best interviewers can get the most out of candidates by putting them at ease. It's as easy as smiling, and relating to the candidate.
What should you wear to an interview is a common question. The best thing to do if you're unsure is to dress well - interviews should be a jeans-free zone! It's also important to prepare well. Who is your interviewer, what do you know about the company, and do you have your elevator pitch ready? Be ready to describe yourself in 30 seconds hitting all the major points. Perhaps it's a good idea to take in a "cheat sheet" with you.
Featuring - Mandy Watson and Lizzie Tasker
Released 13th, February 2020
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the ambitions podcast BLOOPERS
While The Ambitions Podcast is a fantastic platform for our recruitment specialists to share their insights on a variety of topics impacting the workforce and companies ... we can't be serious all the time though.
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