The Iceland volcano: disruption continues!

Millions of passengers have been affected since Eyjafjallajokull began to erupt on Wednesday, with some reports suggesting the disruption could continue throughout this week.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2010/apr/19/iceland-volcano-ash-planes-europe

This unforeseen and catastrophic event is causing chaos and misery for thousands of people all over the world, especially in Europe. From a recruitment perspective it is yet another spanner thrust firmly into the wheels of the complex mechanism that constitutes the hiring process. Candidates cannot get to interviews, recruiting managers are stuck in remote locations on their business travels; frankly, we could have done without it.

Let us however consider the cloud of volcanic dust and look for a silver lining, because it is in our nature so to do!

Whereas in the dim and distant past (that The Editor so likes to dwell in) recruitment - even at relatively senior levels - was a question of arranging one face-to-face interview with all relevant parties present, and Robert was the uncle, a decision was made, and hopefully a hire completed.

Over the last two decades however, almost all recruitment even (laughably) at the lowest levels, entails one, two, even three screening interviews - many conducted over the telephone, before the decision-makers have to rouse themselves from their slumbers for the laying-on of hands and to make a decision. It's not optimal, but it is the way of the world. He who pays the piper calls the tune!

Our suggestion therefore, is for recruiting managers to utilise this undesirable 'down-time' caused by Eyjafjallajokull, and conduct as much and as many of the preliminary 'screening' interviews as they can, while they're stuck in their hotels in Budapest, Vladivostok, or wherever. Then, when we're all whizzing about the skies again, all that remains to be done, is to carry out the final decision-making interview.

In anticipation of everyone picking up this suggestion, candidates should have a look at Seltek's advice to candidates before undergoing a telephone interview: http://www.seltekconsultants.co.uk/preparingtelephoneinterview.htm

Happy dialling, and calm down Eyjafjallajokull, please!

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Can You Hear The Drums Fernando?

Eat your heart out Abba! If there was a Eurovision contest for brightest new recruiters in the firmament, Seltek's latest hire Talissa Fernando would go platinum every time!

Talissa is a Graduate Biologist with a background in recruitment and training, but also possesses an astonishing record of accomplishment in the performing arts: she has appeared in many West End Theatres such as Theatre Royal – Drury Lane and also The Royal Albert Hall. She also undertook many lead singing and acting roles such as Hermione in Harry Potter, Esmeralda from the Hunchback of Notre Dame and Princess Jasmine in Aladdin.

Talissa will be working in Seltek's flourishing Life Science Sales & Marketing team headed by Director Scott Peacock, so if you'd like Talissa to rub her magic lamp, and whisk you off to the land of opportunity, please call her on 01279 675516 or email talissa@seltekconsultants.co.uk

We welcome Talissa to Seltek, and wish her a long and happy career with us!

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Clinical Research Recruiter Wanted!

A truly golden opportunity exists within Seltek Consultants for someone to take charge of our Clinical Research Department. A ready-made business with dozens of key customers, hundreds of previous clients, and thousands of candidates - many of them previously interviewed and assessed in-depth - all carefully stored on our Bond Adapt database system, lies waiting for an enthusiastic person to take up the reins, and charge! Over the last decade, this section of the business has yielded between £300 - 500,000 p.a. in revenues, and between £100 - 140,000 p.a. in salary for the recruiter responsible for the section.

We are looking for either an experienced recruiter with a background in the scientific or medical fields, or someone with a background in clinical research in some respect or other, with a strong commercial (sales) personality, and a can-do outlook.

You will be given all the support you need from an IT/administrative perspective, but you will be also given almost complete autonomy to develop this section of the business as you wish, and this could easily lead to some form of business ownership in future. You will work primarily from our charming 16th century offices in Bishop's Stortford, but after a settling-in period, you could work part of your time from home.

If you would like to discuss this in complete confidence, please contact our Director Scott Peacock on 01279 657716 or email scott@seltekconsultants.co.uk

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May Day Customs

As a world-wide day of celebration, the first of May probably ranks second only to New Year's day.  Whereas everyone celebrates the New Year, albeit in different ways, May Day has many different customs depending on where in the world you live:

• May Day - The first day of summer
• Beltane - Cross quarter day. Half way between the Vernal Equinox and Mid-Summer solstice
• Maypole dances in England
• Walpurgis Night (Germany and Scandinavia). - Bonfires and devil worship
  Hitler chose this night to commit suicide in 1945
• Labor Day - China and Russia hold formal parades 
  (N.B. Labor day in USA is on first Monday in September)

While May Day is now considered to be 1st May (or May 1st), Beltane or Walpurgis starts on the last evening of April and ends on 1st May.  There is evidence that at in ancient times  pagan celebrations occurred on the nearest full moon rather than the 1st of May.  One thought that flashes through my mind is all the different drinks that people world-wide will use to toast May Day, for example beer in Bavaria (Germany), Sima in Savonlinna (Finland), cider in Cornwall and mead in Merthyr (Wales).

http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/saints/may_day_customs.htm

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Hot Jobs

“It's spring fever.... You don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes 
your heart ache, you want it so!”
(Mark Twain)

http://www.egreenway.com/months/monmay.htm#Quotes

As the politicians say: It's time for change!

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• Summary: A leading supplier of laboratory products is very keen to recruit an Account Manager to manage and grow accounts in the Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle region of the UK. There are a number of established accounts with excellent relationships developed, yet still plenty of opportunity to grow sales within the territory further.
• Why you should apply for this job: The company is very well known and is a leading name within the life science market. Training and development will be available to ensure your success along with support from a very active marketing team. This is an ideal opportunity for a science graduate to move from a commercial role outside of science into their first scientific sales position.
  
  

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• Summary: A leading manufacturer of instrumentation used widely in the flow cytometry and clinical chemistry field is looking for a Clinical Service Engineer to cover the North East territory. Based from a home office in the area, you will be responsible for both the installation of equipment, and preventative maintenance of a range of instrumentation used mainly in hospital laboratories. You will also provide general support to the customers and be the main face of the company to their customers.
  
• Why you should apply for this job?  In return for your diligent contribution, this company offers an excellent benefits package which includes a company car, private healthcare and dental cover, pension scheme and 25 days holiday!

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• Summary: A leading life science company is expanding its technical support team and is now keen to recruit a Technical Support Representative who will work as part of a team supporting customers and field sales people in the UK. The role will be office based predominantly, and will involve providing technical advice and support to users within the UK. You will field calls and e-mails and be expected to resolve technical queries.
• Why you should apply for this job: you will be supported by a highly knowledgeable team to ensure you can provide solutions to end users and the sales team. Those looking for their first step into the commercial world may just have found their perfect opportunity!
  

Clinical Jobs

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• Summary: A leading clinical research organisation (CRO) is expanding its commercial team in Europe and is now keen to recruit a European Business Development Director who will be responsible for growing phase II - IV studies within mainland Europe. The company has a strong reputation and is keen to strengthen its position in the market by increasing market share. This role will involve managing existing relationships; however it will predominantly involve identifying new business and winning it!
• Why you should apply for this job: As this is role has been created through expansion there is the potential for the role to be at Executive Director level. It is essential that you have a track record of success of winning phase II - IV projects in Europe.
  

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• Why you should apply for this job: This is an ideal opportunity for someone stepping up to director level or those looking for a change of environment.
  

Hot Candidates

The FA Cup (football) will be played on Saturday 15th May between Chelsea and Portsmouth. Whilst no doubt the hundreds of thousands of Chelsea supporters will support Carlo Ancelotti's men in blue, the other eight billion people who live on Earth (minus that last number) - or at least those of them that are remotely interested in football - will be supporting Avram Grant's Pompey.

There hasn't been an underdog story like this since Cinderella! After a season of trials and tribulations including financial meltdown, and ultimately relegation from the English premiership, it is absolutely astonishing that Portsmouth have found their way to Wembley again! Remember of course, that it is only two years since they won the competition under the astute management of Harry Redknapp (now of Tottenham Hotspur, whom - ironically - Portsmouth beat in the semifinal).

The Editor wishes both teams the best of luck, and we all hope for a thrilling game of football, with the winners deserving to do so.

In your organisation though, whether you are looking for a Didier Drogba or a Nwankwo Kanu to power your team to glory, contact Seltek Consultants on 01279 657716 or email Guy Buncombe, Director on guy@seltekconsultants.co.uk for the winners, the accomplishers and the high achievers your business needs to lift the cup!

Scientific Sales & Marketing Division

* Global Marketing Director M4 Corridor £68/80K Ref: 80891
* Marketing Manager Anywhere £35K Ref:105559
* Product Specialist Anywhere! £35K Ref: 105240
* Technical Representative Home Counties £32/36K Ref: 105041
* Applications/Support South East £30/35K Ref: 102387
* Technical Support Anywhere! £30K Ref: 105731
* Account Manager (Molecular) London £28K Ref: 86607
* Marketing & Sales Specialist East Anglia £27K Ref: 89734
* Trainee (PhD Autoimmune Disease) Anywhere! £26K Ref: 105662
* Assistant Product Manager London £25/30K Ref: 104540
* Marketing Assistant Anywhere! £25K Ref: 105511

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Clinical Research Division


*Director of Business Development South East! £80K Ref: 100701
*Senior CRA UK £38K Ref: 105768
*Project Management £30K Anywhere! Ref: 105600
*Clinical - Regulatory Affairs London £25/30K Ref: 105576