Is there a doctor in the house? There is now!

Seltek welcomes its latest recruit to our ever-expanding team! Dr Caroline Searby has migrated to the east from Cardiff, where she completed her PhD in Cell & Molecular Biology working on a topical formulation for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma in the Department of Dermatology.

Whilst her scientific credentials are impeccable, the work she has done over the years in various commercial applications, including several years of Floor Management experience within the admirable John Lewis organisation, has given Caroline an irresistible urge to propel herself into the dizzy world of commercial recruitment.

At Seltek of course, we combine a thorough understanding of the commercial world from our nearly three decades of recruitment of sales, marketing and management personnel, with in-depth understanding of scientific matters, garnered from our team of highly educated consultants, all of whom can offer scientific knowledge in a wide variety of disciplines, to second, tertiary level and more

As well as combining a sound academic background with acutely perceptive commercial skills, Caroline is a lifelong fan of watersports, and was for example the Vice Commodore of Portsmouth Sailing Club in her day. We hope that punting on the Cam will satisfy her lust for aquatic pursuits, but in any case, we know that she is very welcome to our group, and everyone at Seltek wishes her a very warm welcome.

Initially, Caroline will be responsible for exploring new markets in the life science industries, so - employers - if you would like a confidential discussion with her about how Seltek can help you master the turbulent ocean waves of industry by recruiting the best navigators in the land, call her on 01279 657716 or email caroline@seltekconsultants.co.uk

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Unemployment Figures Show More Than One in Five Young People Out of Work!

Youth unemployment has remained at near record levels with more than one in five young people out of work, data released on Wednesday showed.

The latest unemployment figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the under-25s and women workers are bearing much of the pain in Britain's jobs market, while average earnings continued to lag behind inflation. But economists were encouraged by an unexpected fall in the total number of people out of work, which cut the UK's jobless rate from 8% to 7.8%.

The number of people aged between 16 and 24 who were out of work hit 963,000 in the three months to February – 12,000 more than in the previous quarter. This pushed Britain's youth unemployment rate up by 0.1 percentage points to 20.4%.

The number of unemployed 16- to 17-year-olds hit records levels in the quarter, increasing by 14,000 to 218,000. The number of unemployed 18- to 24-year-olds fell by 2,000 on the quarter to reach 745,000.

The ONS reported the number of women claiming jobseeker's allowance has reached a near 15-year high of 462,300.

The youth unemployment data was slightly better than a month ago. The total number of young people out of work, which is measured on a rolling three-month basis, had hit 974,000 in the three months to January, the highest level since records began in 1992.

Challenges ahead

The UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) measure of unemployment showed that 2.48 million people were out of work in the three months to February, lowering the unemployment rate from 8% to 7.8%. But the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in March rose by 700.

Chris Grayling, the employment minister, said the data was "another step in the right direction". Grayling pointed out that youth unemployment had fallen if young people in education were excluded from the figures.

"However, there are challenges ahead and our priority is to continue to support the economy, by reducing the deficit and putting in place measures to encourage growth in the private sector," Grayling said.

But Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, claimed the government failed to comprehend the pain it was creating by cutting jobs across the private sector.

"The government is ignoring the costs of the social breakdown that is a consequence of mass youth unemployment," Kenny said.

Campaigners have warned that Britain risks creating a "lost generation" of young people who are unable to find work. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber criticised the government today for scrapping the Future Jobs Fund, which provided grants to firms who created new jobs.

Gender divide

The data also showed that while the number of unemployed men fell by 31,000 during the three months to February to 1.45 million, the number of unemployed women increased by 14,000 to 1.03 million.

The claimant count data also showed a gender divide. The total number of male claimants fell by 4,400 in March to reach 988,200 in March 2011 but the number of female claimants increased by 5,100 to reach 462,300, which is the highest figure since October 1996.

The number of male claimants has now fallen for 14 consecutive months but the number of female claimants has increased for nine months in a row. This may reflect changes in the balance of the UK workforce, as public sector bodies cut staff and private firms hire new employees.

The ONS also confirmed that wage growth was continuing to lag behind inflation, another sign that the Bank of England may not rush to raise interest rates.

Total pay, including bonuses, grew by an average of 2.0% for the three months to February 2011, down from 2.3% for the three months to January. The consumer prices index hit 4.4% in February, while the retail prices index rose to 5.5%.

Huddlebuy, a group buying website for small businesses, reported on Wednesday that two-thirds of small firms had delayed taking on new staff because of the uncertain economic conditions.

More encouragingly, the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship reported that 1,350 new firms had been created through a government-funded scheme called Make It Happen, designed to encourage graduates to set up their own companies.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/apr/13/unemployment-fifth-young-people-jobless

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Kurt Einstein’s 20 Most Revealing Interview Questions and Answers #4!

There are always more candidates than there are jobs, so it’s a lot easier to eliminate unsuitable candidates than to attempt to find the one perfect applicant. An interview is a kind of ritual duel, where the interviewer is continually thrusting and probing for information, hoping to draw blood, while the candidate is parrying, trying to stay alive. Every question is a potential trap, where saying either too much or too little can be fatal. Kurt Einstein’s comments apply to the interviewer. Harvey Mackay’s are advice for the interviewee.

What would you do if you detected a peer falsifying expense records?

Kurt Einstein: Indicates passive or active approach. Common answers: a) It’s not my business, b) Report it, c) Give warning. Gives indication as to morality, honesty, and ethics.

Harvey Mackay: In my opinion, the first answer is so bad I’d be tempted to stop the interview right there and send the candidate home. If you can’t even be trusted to protect the company’s interests against dishonesty, why should they hire you? This isn’t swiping cookies out of your third grade classmate’s lunch pail. This is the real world. So get real. The third answer is acceptable, barely. It finesses the conflict between being a squealer and letting someone rip off your employer. Understandable, but still weak. Two is best.

There’s a fourth approach, another finesse, which has the virtue of being a bit more proactive than the
third answer: Confront culprits point-blank and try to persuade them to change the erroneous report
without issuing a specific threat as to what your conduct will be if they don’t.

http://www.harveymackay.com/pdfs/einstein20.pdf

http://www.harveymackay.com

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Give Young People a Chance!

Seltek has noticed a trend over the last few years that businesses of all types - when they need to recruit - hold out hoping to find people who can do the job in question, indeed are probably doing the job right now! This is of course, where headhunting comes in, and why we at Seltek have a business. It's what we do!
But if those people cannot be found, because they don't exist, or else they cannot be persuaded to change jobs, what should employers do then?

Well, over the last few years, the answer has been: nothing! This is an understandable reaction in the circumstances; the circumstances being several years of the worst global recession for two decades. However, at Seltek we earnestly urge employers to be bold, and open their doors to people who have the capabilities to learn quickly, and the ambition and positive mental attitude to work hard and do well. They do exist! As the article above suggests, there are 974,000 of them, ready and willing to be considered for jobs.

We do not in any way suggest that employers consider young people exclusively for trainee roles, as that would contravene the age discrimination laws.

All we are saying employers, is that if you can't find someone to 'hit the ground running', perhaps you should consider training someone - young, old or in the middle - into the job, which at least will have the benefits of ensuring that they learn to do things your way, and usually engenders profound feelings of loyalty in your new recruit!

Give it a whirl!

Here's an example of the PMA exhibited by such 'superstars of the future':

The local sheriff was looking for a deputy, so Gomer went in to try out for the job.
"Okay," the sheriff drawled, "Gomer, what is 1 and 1?"
"11" he replied.
The sheriff thought to himself, "That's not what I meant, but he's right."

"What two days of the week start with the letter 'T'?"
"Today and tomorrow."
The sheriff was again surprised that Gomer supplied a correct answer that he had never thought of himself.

"Now Gomer, listen carefully: Who killed Abraham Lincoln?"
Gomer looked a little surprised himself, then thought really hard for a minute and finally admitted, "I don't know."
"Well, why don't you go home and work on that one for a while?"

So, Gomer wandered over to the barbershop where his pals were waiting to hear the results of the interview. Gomer was exultant. "It went great! First day on the job and I'm already working on a murder case!"

http://www.workjoke.com/applicants-jokes.html

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Hot Jobs

Seltek would like to offer its respect and very best wishes to The Royal Couple, as Prince William marries Miss Catherine Middleton on Friday April 29th.

http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/

To his untutored eyes, Ms Middleton looks like a very fine person, but upon her arrival on the public scene The Editor was reminded of Keith Richards' reaction to Princess Diana's sad and unfortunate death:

On this very royal week, it's only fitting I end this item by reminding you just how affected Mr Richards was by Princess Diana's passing all those years ago. When asked for a comment, he slurred, touchingly: "Sorry, I never knew the chick."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/diary/diary-not-quite-like-a-rolling-stone-2138110.html

So whether you are a Prince looking for a kingdom to rule, or a lady looking to elevate to Princessly heights, in employment terms, look no further than Seltek's Hot Jobs, where there is a right royal feast of opportunity!

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• Summary: The role will be a traditional product manager's role and will involve taking overall responsibility for the genomics portfolio of products, launching new products to the market, training the sales force and implementing tactical marketing plans that will drive sales growth through the field based sales team. You will attend exhibitions and also assess competitors' activity to ensure your product range remains competitive within a rapidly changing market.
  
  
  
  
• Why you should apply for this job: This is a great opportunity to join a recognised brand leader within the genomic research arena as a Product Manager for their extensive range of research products within the UK and Ireland.
  

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£40,000 per annum, car, uncapped bonus, pension, healthcare

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• Summary: A well known and market-leading company that offers a range of preclinical and early stage drug development research products is expanding its sales team and is keen to recruit an Account Manager to develop accounts within the Cambridge, London, Oxford, Midlands and M62 region of the UK.The role will have a number of high value biotechnology, not-for-profit research centres and academic accounts within it that will require managing and developing further.
  

• Why you should apply for this job?  The company has a wide and loyal user base with sales in excess of £5M. A relationship-based sales approach, excellent communication skills and excellent commercial aptitude are essential. You will be part of a global team and have technical experts to call upon to help in specific sales processes.
  
  

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£32,000 basic salary

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£36,000 p.a., car, overtime, pension, healthcare

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• Summary: A highly regarded manufacturer of chemistry instruments is keen to recruit a Field Service Engineer to support a number of key customers in the South and Midlands areas of the UK. The role will involve installation of analytical instruments, routine maintenance and emergency maintenance visits. You will also be involved in the validation of systems and a level of customer training to ensure safe and correct use of the systems. Some of these systems are large and complex and can take up to five days to install.
  
  
  
• Why you should apply for this job:This is an brilliant opportunity to join a growing company which will provide a comprehensive benefits package to include overtime and generous daily allowance.
  

Clinical Jobs

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• Summary: This top 10 global CRO is looking to recruit a Senior Director of Clinical Research to be based in either UK, Germany or Switzerland. It's an excellent opportunity to join a rapidly expanding company that regards the personal development of its employees as a priority. You will sit in the clinical research group and act as the interface between the sponsor, the clinical team and the business development team. You will be responsible for developing existing pharmaceutical relationships and liaise heavily with the BD team and assist in proposals and bid defences.
  
  
• Why you should apply for this job: A very generous package is on offer, with the flexibility of working from home if you wish.

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• Summary: This company looking for an experienced optometry specialist to work with ophthalmic surgeons throughout Europe and provide technical and application support on an innovative lens which is the only one of its kind on the market.This position has arisen due to expansion throughout Europe, and you will be involved in working alongside the European team to ensure the surgeons are fully aware of the product's applications.
  

• Why you should apply for this job: This is a rare opportunity to join an innovative ophthalmic medical device company which is developing ground-breaking vision correction technologies for post-cataract surgery patients.
  

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• Summary: This company is an expanding international organisation with an established and growing portfolio of laboratory services directed into the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.It's a great opportunity to take control of the Scandinavian and Benelux territory generating and developing outsourced business in the pharmaceutical and biopharma sectors. The role is home based and can be based from the UK or on territory. Regular travel would be expected across the region and well as regular contact with the UK headquarters.

• Why you should apply for this job: This is a company that is investing heavily in Europe and offers comprehensive training and support.
  
  
  

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• Summary: When you work for this global CRO, you will manage the proposal development process by maintaining deliverables to clients, putting together time and budget estimates and provide analyses for complex, global studies through discussions with senior management, operational teams and sales teams across Europe and globally. As a Senior BDA you will also train and develop business development associates in procedures, and interdepartmental responsibilities, implement pricing software and coordinate international proposal development and liaison with International Proposal Development.
  
  

• Why you should apply for this job: This is an excellent opportunity to join an expanding company that places the personal development of their employees as a priority. It's a great job for someone with a working knowledge of the clinical development process and experience in clinical trial time and cost proposal development to move into a more senior position. You will in return, profit from a competitive salary package and excellent benefits as well as an annual bonus.
  
  

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• Summary: This global, medium sized, full service CRO is looking to hire a Proposals Associate to join their offices in the UK. You will facilitate the proposal development process and be accountable for client specific proposal and contract documents for European and/or global business. You will be responsible for the preparation of global proposals, contributing to the development and improvement of templates, tools and procedures within the group.
  
  
  
• Why you should apply for this job:This is a wonderful opportunity for someone looking to move into an exciting position in a company which places its employees' personal development as one of its top priorities.
  
  

Hot Candidates

May Day! May Day! May Day!

Yes, another bank holiday is coming up! May Day of course has all sorts of significance. A plethora of bizarre activities and customs recall its pagan origins, as a festival. Latterly it has been widely regarded as a celebration of workers' rights.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/mayday.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day

And of course it is also the international distress signal:

Mayday is an emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications. It derives from the French venez m'aider, meaning 'come help me'.

It is used to signal a life-threatening emergency primarily by mariners and aviators but in some countries local organisations such as police forces, firefighters, and transportation organizations may also use the term. The call is always given three times in a row ("Mayday Mayday Mayday") to prevent mistaking it for some similar-sounding phrase under noisy conditions, and to distinguish an actual Mayday call from a message about a Mayday call.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayday_(distress_signal)

The Editor would like to send out a distress signal regarding the deteriorating work ethic in this country, as we prepare to toil for a mere three days in an eleven day period between Friday April 23rd and Tuesday 3rd May. But if you employers are after some real hard grafters, here are some of this country's finest individuals to help you spring blithely into a hot summery future!

Scientific Sales & Marketing Division

* Director of Life Sciences * M4 Corridor* £91/100K * Ref: 36469

* Business Development Manager * M4 Corridor *£70/90K * Ref: 111070

* Head of Sales & Marketing (Chemistry) * Anywhere! * £70/80K * Ref: 111120

* Sales Representative (Medical Devices) * France * €70K * Ref: 111130

* Regional Manager (Molecular Biology)* Anywhere! * £55K * Ref: 111256

* Commercial Director (Healthcare) * Midlands * £50/65K * Ref: 101968

* Senior Manager - Market Intelligence * Midlands * £50/60K * Ref: 35330

* Business Manager - Lab Consumables * Eastern England * £40/48K * Ref: 40759

* Senior Service Engineer (Biotechnology) * Anywhere! * £40/45K * Ref: 55041

* Trainee (PhD Biomedical Sciences) * London* £35K * Ref: 110994

* Business Development Associate * Scotland * £27K * Ref: 111283

* Service Engineer (Chromatography) * Anywhere! * £25K * Ref: 110803

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Clinical Research Division

* Project Director (Oncology) * South West * £86K * Ref: 88472

* Director of Project Management (Endocrinology) * Scotland *£80K * Ref: 111051

* Portfolio Manager * Anywhere! * £80K * Ref: 69178

* Project Director (Neuroscience) * Anywhere! * £75K* Ref: 101749

* Strategy Consultant (Pharma) * Anywhere! * £30K * Ref: 111078

* Commercial Analyst * Anywhere! *£30K* Ref: 111036

* NHS Software Trainer * Anywhere! * £28K * Ref: 67518

* QC Microbiologist (Pharma) * Anywhere * £18K * Ref: 110664