Reasons to be Cheerful: Part II!

According to the Recruitment & Employers Confederation (REC), employment prospects look set to improve in 2008, and the public perception of the work that agencies do seems glowing enough to win us an Oscar!

The latest data shows that  2007 was another excellent year for the (recruitment) sector. Although agencies reported a drop in demand for permanent staff in the last quarter of 2007, employer optimism about future growth prospects actually increased suggesting that the dip is partly seasonal and partly a short-term reaction to general uncertainty about the economy. 

• Overall, employers and agencies in 2007 were more optimistic about the demand for temporary agency workers in the next 12 months than they were in 2006.  The only exceptions are the retail and education sectors.

• The satisfaction levels of agency workers and employer satisfaction with agencies both increased in 2007 from the previous period.

• Looking at results from the last quarter of the year, the number of agency workers on assignment was comparable to the previous quarter and to the last quarter of 2006.

• Employers worked with an average of 2.5 agencies in Quarter 4 2007 and the proportion of employers who said they would always use an agency to fill a temporary position increased.  The overall satisfaction levels of employers with the service provided by agencies also increased.

• In the last quarter, employers predicted an increase in the use of agency workers over the next six month.  A total of 35 per cent of employers predict that demand would increase ‘slightly’ or ‘greatly’ – the highest level of optimism recorded by the survey.

• Agencies report that demand for permanent staff fell in the last quarter.  However employers believe that the long-term prospects for permanent jobs are good with most predicting growth in the next 12 months.

http://www.rec.uk.com/about-recruitment/research/bookshop/trackingreports

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To resign, or not to resign? (That is the question) !

Changing jobs is one of the most significant decisions that people make. By and large, the human being (in common with all creatures), likes an easy life, free of stress and unpredictability. So why change jobs? If you get everything you want out of a job - sufficient reward, challenge and security - it would seem senseless to cast yourself into uncertainty. Yet people do this all the time!

Standing as we are, here at Seltek, at the crossroads in so many peoples' lives, we have gathered a great deal of information about these issues. We've looked carefully into the reasons people decide to make this great leap into the unknown, and can reveal the TOP TEN reasons why people decide to change jobs.

1 Want a career change 30%
2 Lack of progression 23%
3 Geographic reasons 11.5%
4 Redundant 10%
5 Unhappy with company (style/structure) 10%
6 Money (usually not enough of) 7%
7 Insufficient challenge 4%
8 Family reasons eg maternity 4%
9 Lack of training 1.5%
10 Not enough Easter eggs given by bosses 0%

Clearly, by far and away the commonest reason that people decide to change jobs is that they want to do something different. The job they took - either because they wanted it, or because they had to - fails to satisfy them (they thought they'd like sales but it turned out they didn't, for example) or because they had expected the job to evolve into something else (lack of progression).

There's not much that can be done if people simply change their mind, but if there's a lesson to be learned from this simple survey, it is probably to make quite sure, when you are applying for jobs, to ask at the interview stage and/or the offer stage:

• What does this job involve?
• What will I be expected to achieve?
• What help will be given to me in order to achieve the required results?
• What options will be open to me when I have achieved these results?
• When will that happen?

Of course, you may be told one thing, and another thing happens! Things do after all change. But asking these questions and - ideally - having the answers committed to writing in the offer letter, might improve matters.

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Hot Jobs

£45,000

Berkshire

Varied analytical chemistry role

Home Counties

Clinical Jobs

£50,000

£35,000

Hot Candidates

Scientific Sales & Marketing Division

European Sales Manager
Here we have the very finest of Easter treats, a PhD Biochemist with superb international sales experience within the life science instrument market place: a top bunny if ever I saw one!  He has currently develops sales of circa £5M per year across Europe and has an enviable list of contacts within pharma and biotech throughout Europe.  He speaks fluent German and English allowing him to order the finest swiss chocolate eggs.  He has managed teams of upto four people previously, yet has always maintained direct customer contact; a real all rounder who could be relied upon to develop your business across Europe.  Hobbies probably include keeping rabbits and decorating eggs!
Reference 50388PSP
£65,000
South East

Business Development Specialist
Here is a delicious Easter treat that could only be found from the best of egg hunts!! A Business Development Specialist with oodles of commercial experience from some of the biggest global biotech companies the world has ever seen. Educated and starting their career in the US ensured a rich chocolaty start to his career. More recent success has been gained this side of the pond, developing and maintaining key clients selling molecular biology products across the south of the UK. With achievements including securing a £500,000 single contract, and consistently reaching his ambitious sales targets, this candidate is sure to add some substance to your sales figures. Call us today to prevent this Easter delicacy being eaten up by someone else!!  
Reference 56134NRM
£37,000
South East

Product Manager
Are you looking for a delightful French charmer for your company this Easter? Here we have a great woman who has considerable experience as an applications specialist in the field of gene expression and informatics. She also has experience as a product specialist working for one of the leading life science companies in the world. Having used her excellent technical knowledge to support many customers she is looking for her first step into marketing in the UK. Why not pick this egg in your Easter egg hunt and let her charm your company!
Reference 94595CRD
£35,000
Thames Valley

Applications Specialist
Here we have a great big Easter treat for all you employers out there looking for an excellent (microarray) egg! This little Easter bunny has had experience using a wide range of platforms from many manufacturers - there is virtually nothing he does not know about microarrays! You name it, he knows it! Now he has filled his brain with all there is to know about microarrays, he is looking to move out into the commercial world and feels applications would be just the ticket. Don't get egg on your face, snap up this Easter bunny before someone else does!
Reference 94156JRP
£34,000
London

Technical Sales Specialist
Easter is here and one lucky company could get themselves the tastiest egg on the market! This candidate is a PhD Geneticist with bags of experience in qPCR, DNA and RNA extraction techniques, DNA sequencing and many many more procedures used throughout the molecular biology arena. But wait....there's more.....She also has some sales experience to really seal the deal! The candidate is interested in technically based roles where she can use her excellent scientific skills to aid the sales process. Just the Easter Bunny! Candidates like this only come around once a year! So don't miss this opportunity to recruit this gem and call us today!
Reference 94350SRD
£32,000
London

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Clinical Research Division

Clinical Study Manager
Running a study smoothly is like the Easter game of finding chocolate eggs hidden in the garden: it has its ups and downs, good times and bad times, and it’s easier sometimes than others. That is why you need a big pink fluffy rabbit to show the way. In this context, let me introduce you to the best thing you can have around Easter, hot as a hot cross bun, this Easter rabbit has a lot of clinical operations experience: managing 20 CRAs, working on European studies, resources allocation, tracking budgets, managing CROs, and many other skills a good Easter fluffy rabbit should have!  With an Easter Pixie like this on your side your basket will be full of chocolate eggs before you can say “Abracadabra”.
Reference 94574RK
€60,000
Madrid, Spain

Proposal Support Specialist
Imagine a furry little kitten, playing with its best friend, the fluffy little Easter chick! Imagine a world of gingerbread houses, friendship and perfection. Now you are close to imagining this sensational young woman with outstanding experience working on proposals for contracts up to many millions of pounds in value. Attention to detail, good communication, time management and organisational skills are all second nature to this paragon of virtue, as she insists on working to the highest possible standards. So, if you want your Easter to rise to sublime heights of perfection, call us to meet this sparkling gem!
Reference 94484DPME
£35,000
Anywhere!

SCRA
Well....Here is a special Easter edition update of my hottest candidate!!! This superstar is probably the best Senior/Lead CRA that has ever walked the planet!! She's more delicious than all the chocolate eggs in the world!! She has a breadth of experience in a number of therapeutic areas across phases II-III and can effectively lead a team across numerous countries. She has been involved in study start up, initiation, monitoring and close out and even has previous experience as a research nurse. She has a genuine love for the advancement of clinical research and she will effectively handle all aspects of study monitoring in the Scotland region for you!! Make no mistake though, she's a headhunted candidate... She isn't actively looking for a job, so if you want her, you'll have to convince her that you have the right role for her to want to make a move! So if this hot little Easter Bunny is the sort of candidate you would like on board then call me to find out more!! It's worth it!!
Reference: 94360PK
£34,000
Scotland

CRA/SCRA
Ever wondered where the best place to hide your Easter Eggs would be? Perhaps you are not too sure how feasible a particular site is or you are worried that somebody will come along and eat them all? This is where Mademoiselle Bunny (MB) steps in!!! With this MB hot on the case you will never have a sleepless night again! She has extensive experience carrying out full site management. Not only will she select the best site for your eggs but she will also be responsible for initiation, feasibility and close out! To top it all off, MB has extensive monitoring experience and it is not uncommon for her to do monitoring visits each and every day! This hot little French Easter bunny is going to be snatched up quickly so what are you waiting for? HOP TO IT!!!
Reference 94571IB
£30,000
London