The Dangers of Procrastination!

A foul and irksome beast is on the prowl! One of the traditional features of an economic downturn such as the one we have experienced over the last twelve months, is a growing notion held by employers that there are millions of candidates to choose from. Add to this the undoubted fact that there are fewer jobs available, and the perceived need by companies to 'massage' their ailing profits to appease anxious shareholders, and you have a toxic and unpleasant cocktail.

The result of this is that companies are going through the motions of recruitment, getting to the point where they would normally offer jobs, but owing to the factors mentioned above, are delaying making decisions for weeks, or even months. They believe that the candidates they have spent months looking for, and hours of expensive management time interviewing and assessing, will be content to wait in the wings because they have no other jobs to go to.

Wrong! Good candidates are hard to find, and there is always someone else with more good sense, willing to open their doors to them. Our advice to companies is to delay recruitment until everyone in the organisation, right the way to the top, is in agreement to go ahead and recruit. Then to set financial budgets and timescales, and to proceed with recruitment procedures in the normal and proper fashion - briskly and professionally.

Allowing delays for any reason (and the litany of 'reasons' is a long one!) means that you will lose good candidates, and even if you are fortunate, and your chosen candidate is prepared to wait while you dither and dally, it puts your company in a very poor light.

Top

The Recession is Over!

A record surge in confidence among business professionals indicates Britain's recession is at an end, according to research.
Optimism among professionals in the third quarter hit its highest level since the start of the financial crisis two years ago, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) said.

The confidence measure jumped to 4.8 at the end of June from -28.2 in March - the biggest improvement since the survey began in 2003. The institute predicts that the economy will grow by 0.5% this quarter, breaking five quarters of falling output.
ICAEW chief executive Michael Izza said the findings suggest that "the UK recession is at an end".
He added: "While there is no doubt that the UK economy is on its way to recovery, we shouldn't underestimate the challenges ahead for businesses."
Coupled with euphoria after England recaptured The Ashes last night, the news fuelled gains on the London stockmarket this morning. The FTSE 100 rose 41.81 points to 4891.70 in early trading, a rise of 0.84%, following Friday's near-100 point gain when the index pushed through 4800 for the first time since last October.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/aug/24/uk-recession-over-survey-suggests

Top

Congratulations to the England Cricket Team!

One of the best summers in living memory (OK, we had a bit of rain in July) has been crowned by the outstanding achievement of the England cricket team, who beat the Australians in the 2009 Ashes series.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/23/england-win-ashes-oval-test-australia

That, coupled with the brilliant success of Y.E.Yang who defeated Tiger Woods in the PGA Golf Championship in American - http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/17/yang-tiger-woods-uspga-golf-asian - becoming the first Asian born golfer to win a major championship - gives hope to all of us.

Nothing is impossible!

Top

A Good Read!

If you're looking for something light and airy to read whilst sitting on the beach on this forthcoming holiday weekend, may I recommend Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ella-Minnow-Pea-Mark-Dunn/dp/0413772470/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251112269&sr=1-1

"With Ella Minnow Pea, Dunn has created a truly original work of fiction. The story is a witty comment on the perils of fundamentalism, with hilarious results. His mastery of linguistic experiment is utterly innovative and unreservedly shrewd."

As regular readers know full well, The Editor is not given easily to hyperbole, but this is one of the best books I have read (top ten, certainly).

Top

Hot Jobs

As the last rays of summer sunlight scintillate on the waves, and you sit on the shingle chewing on your cornetto whilst keeping a watchful eye on your self destructive children, your mind turns idly to what you're going to do with the rest of your life. Well, bid a fond fairwell to the funfair, upturn your bucket of sand and begin to create the castle of your dreams by applying for one of our Hot Jobs.

Seltek has enjoyed the best quarter since June 2008; the rollercoaster ride is about to begin again!

Job Ref:

Position:

Category:

Salary:

Package:

Location:

Description:

Job Ref:

Position:

Category:

Salary:

£40,000 basic

Package:

Location:

Description:

• Summary: Looking for a world renowned company with great career prospects and a reputation for investing in its employees and bringing out innovative products? You will be a great communicator, enjoy liaising with other cultures and have relevant skills in Danish or Finnish.
• Why you should apply for this job: One of the largest life science companies in the world; its cutting edge products are used in a huge number of labs and they have a sound business built on providing quality customer service.
  

Job Ref:

Position:

Category:

Salary:

Package:

Location:

Description:

Job Ref:

Position:

Category:

Salary:

£28,000 basic salary

OTE:

£30,000, bonus, pension, healthcare

Location:

Description:

• Summary: Rare opportunity to join a leading manufacturer of diagnostics products as a Sales and Marketing Support Specialist in their offices in Cambridge
  
• Why you should apply for this job?  The role offers the possibility of occasional international travel to scientific congresses and trade shows as a strategic representative of the company.

Job Ref:

Position:

Sales Executive - Chemicals

Category:

Salary:

£30,000 basic salary

Package:

Car, bonus, increasing holidays

Location:

Description:

• Summary: Are you looking for a chemical sales role that gives you the freedom to cover your own territory with a wide portfolio of speciality and fine chemicals?
• Why you should apply for this job: This role has a high degree of autonomy and you will be will supported with initial training and head office support.
  

Clinical Jobs

Job Ref:

Position:

Category:

Basic:

Package:

Location:

Description:

• Summary: This is a senior level, global project/programme management role with a focus on respiratory and internal medicine! Oversee Project Managers covering specific regions, supporting them in the delivery of their part of the project or program as well as managing external third party vendors.
• Why you should apply for this job: It's a market leading, global company providing full scope clinical development services to all of the top blue chip pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies worldwide! it's an excellent opportunity to take your experience in project management to the next level!
  

Job Ref:

Position:

Category:

Salary:

Package:

Location:

Description:

• Summary: This is an international cross functional project management role with a market leading, global company! Deliver international, full scope, phase II-III projects within timelines and budget. Get involved from the initial proposal to secure the project, through the project planning and resourcing stages, implementation and final delivery.
• Why you should apply for this job: Excellent training and development opportunities are on offer to the successful candidate. There's a competitive salary, generous car allowance and excellent benefits, including a 10% bonus!
  

Hot Candidates

Scientific Sales & Marketing Division

European Sales Manager

• BSc Chemistry, PhD Biochemistry
• Currently i/c 13 sales representatives; 6 in the United Kingdom, 6 in Germany and 1 in France.
• Average yearly sales have increased by approx. 20% each year (last three years)
• Outstanding experience in sales management and team building, in the UK and German molecular biology markets
  
• Why should you employ this candidate: Rock solid! If you're looking for someone to drive your sales team onwards and upwards, this is your man!

Reference 63804PSP
£50,000 basic, £62,000 OTE
London based, UK

*******************************************************************************************

Applications Scientist

• MSC Human Molecular Genetics
• Clinical Safety Scientist at a 'Big Six' global pharmaceutical company
• Winner of 1st “prize” for a poster presentation of MSc research project at the Metabolic and Endocrine Technology Network, Imperial College.
• Working in a customer-focused setting has enabled her to adapt exceptionally well to a fast paced environment
• Developed a high level of accountability and ethical integrity
• Why you should employ this candidate: One of the most delightful candidates we're working with at the moment, she's looking for a trainee sales/applications/technical support role in a company that would offer clear progression opportunities. She's worth it!

Reference 90750CRD
£28,000 basic
London