Moving things on a little with Character Creative… (Taken with instagram)
After a frustrating couple of months I’ve found myself asking this question on a more regular basis. Of course I already know the short answer….no, it doesn’t. What we do is definitely not rocket science and everyone knows what *astronomical fees we charge! (*no pun intended) But if you’ll permit me to continue, I’m going to try and explain why we’re here and why, when you find a good one, they can make your life easier and maybe even save you a few quid.
These days when I have a conversation with a client or candidate about how things are going they generally have one of two perceptions - either business must be booming because of all the extra candidates on the market, or it must be horrendous because there’s no jobs to go at. Both hypothesis are wrong.
Yes there’s a load of extra job seekers out there but what that means, for my business at least, is a load of extra “noise” around each vacancy. People have always chanced their arm once in a while by applying for jobs beyond their experience - fair enough - but at the moment it’s commonplace and because there are so few jobs out there and so many job boards, the ones that are advertised are duplicated many, many times so you end up with stacks of applications from candidates with no chance of ever landing the role.
Experienced recruiters will say, “good candidates are hard to find” - they’re even harder to find through the crowds and because most good candidates still have jobs, they’re reluctant to look at other opportunities whilst there’s so much nervousness in the market.
What about vacancies then? Well let me let you into a little secret; I’ve never struggled to get vacancies. And here’s another one; I don’t fill them all either. That’s the case today and it was the case 5 years ago when I first set up Character. Nothing’s changed. The struggle is always finding the candidates.
So if we’re not guaranteeing to fill vacancies and admitting we’re not Albert Einstein, why use us then?
Well the big one is time - obviously. Because of the extra noise, it takes longer to work each vacancy and you should be busy doing something cool like art directing a shot, dreaming up awesome concepts, kerning type, writing sweet copy or code - you know, stuff we we can’t do… your job.
Great recruiters can write compelling and attractive job ads (this is a brilliant sign post by the way - there are some shockers out there), they know where to advertise to get the best response and if they’ve got their finger on the pulse, they probably already have one or two names in mind before they’ve even finished taking the brief.
Nervous candidates feel easier applying for roles through us too because of the confidentiality we provide - they know they’re in safe hands and word won’t get back to their current employers.
And because it’s what we do everyday we’re good at filtering big shortlists. Great recruiters know their candidates - what makes them tick and the potential impact they can have - we don’t just dismiss on key words or qualifications just to break the shortlist down quickly.
Every candidate put forward and probably twice the number again will have at least been interviewed over the phone, if not face to face - that takes time, time you don’t have.
We’ll really sell your company as well. I can’t say this on behalf of every recruiter but I really like all my clients - I wouldn’t work with them otherwise and if I can’t see the potential in the role or how it’ll help a candidate make progress in their career, I won’t work it. I honestly mean that.
Finally, once we’re down the line and you want to make an offer, we’ll do our best to make sure that offer sticks and prepare candidates for potential counter offers - something that’s happening more and more at the moment. We’ve seen it happen, we know the signs and we’ll be talking about it from the very first conversation.
So does the world really need recruitment consultants? Well maybe need is too stronger word - I certainly think you’ll notice the difference when you do find a good one though.
![Handy. :) (Taken with instagram)
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Handy. :) (Taken with instagram)
@Dual_Control makes the paper! Awesome! (Taken with instagram)
Overall competition rules:
Teams are required to register a maximum squad of 8.
During group stages, 3pts will be awarded for a win, 1pt for a draw and 0pts for a lose - this is the same across both formats of the event.
The top 2 teams from each group will go through to the knockout stages.
In the event 2 or more teams are level on points, progress will be decided by goal difference then goals scored (combined across both formats).
During the knockout stages, if the aggregate score is level, the tie will be decided by a penalty shootout in which ever format the 2nd fixture is played.
Analogue rules:
Rules for the “analogue” element of the tournament can be found here:
http://www.goalsfootball.co.uk/PageProducer.aspx?Page=33
It’s each team captain’s responsibility to read these and make sure his team abide by them - for goodness sake, make sure everyone’s got shin pads and no studs!
Digital rules:
All games will be played 2 on 2.
Players are allowed to play once in the group stages and once in the knockout stages. Any player found to be breaking this rule will have that fixture voided and 3-0 victory will be awarded to the apposing team.
Games will be played in “exhibition mode” and players will be able to play as any international side they choose (opposing players may play as the same teams if they choose to (e.g. Spain vs Spain)).
Players will have 2 minutes before KO to make any lineup and/or formation changes.
Games will each last 10 mins with a 1 min pause at half time for any changes to be made.
Players may make up to 3 substitutions during games with players given 30 secs for each substitution.
Any changes to formation must be made during substitutions and no further time will be allocated.
A Unique digital AND analogue football tournament launches in Leeds as part of the city’s digital festival.
Throughout November Leeds’ digital sector will be coming together to celebrate all that;s great and good in the digital markets and part of the celebrations will include a one of a kind 5-a-side football tournament.
On Saturday the 26th of November at Goals Soccer Centre, just off Kirkstall Rd, 16 teams will first battle it out in group stages, playing each other on the pitch (analogue) and then again on the screen (digital) using the recently released PES2012 by Konami games on the Playstation3.
Across both platforms, 3pts will be awarded for a win and 1pt for a draw which will then see the top 2 sides from each group progress to the knock out stages. Those Knock-out stages will be decided over by an aggregate score after the sides have played each other in both formats.
All the action will take place in a single day with the winning team crowned the Dual Control 2011 Champions! They’ll also be golden boot prizes for the competition’s leading scorer on the pitch and the highest scoring team on the screen.
Goals Soccer Centre have over 15 3G pitches for hire and run 5-a-side tournaments most weeks; they’ve also run Playstation3 based competitions in the past but Dual Control will be the first time ever the formats have been combined.
Event organisers Darren and Duncan - both part of Leeds’ digital scene - think Dual Control is the perfect marriage of their passions and hope the event will provide a stern test the sides both physically and mentally.
Great British bake off on the tele, PS3 controller within reach… (Taken with instagram)
Bingley Festival
Harewood House