Author Archives: Intersect

The job interview might be the only thing left between you and the position of your dreams. Even if you are lucky enough to be the most qualified candidate with references galore, a poor interview performance will seriously hamper your chances of being offered the role.

Yet, you can avoid nearly all interview mishaps if you prepare the right way before hand. This means always knowing which talking points to bring up and why these points are important in determining if the position is a good fit for you.

Here is a checklist of 10 important factors to consider before your interview.

1. The work
The most fundamental goal of the interview is to determine whether you have the skills to do the job. Still, your interviewer may not even know how to figure out if you have what it takes. You must be ready to do it for them. Be prepared with a list of your top selling points so the interviewer is completely aware of your advantages over others.

2. The company

38 percent of managers said the number one interview mistake they encountered was little or no knowledge about the hiring organization. Don’t let that happen to you. Do your homework ahead of time so you are ready to say why you want to work at that job and for that company.

3. The culture

The work environment can determine whether you love your job or hate it. Address the work culture with your interviewer to make sure your values align. There’s nothing worse than landing a job only to realize the organization is not a place where you would feel comfortable working.

4. Industry knowledge 

Want to “wow” the interviewer? Show off your knowledge of the industry. Talk about recent newsworthy events or the company’s newest products. Thoroughly understanding your industry proves your passion for the field. In addition, having this knowledge suggests you have a deeper level of expertise than the average candidate.

5. Past experiences

Your past experiences demonstrate how you would perform if you landed the job. So, you want to be prepared to describe past experiences where you had a big impact. If you have numbers to back up your claims, that’s even more persuasive.

6. Portfolio
A portfolio
is a visual representation of your past work. It not only shows off your accomplishments, it also gives you added value. While a portfolio may not be essential for many positions, having physical representations off your work that you can share upon request will make you look good because you went that extra mile.

7. Your plan for the position

Your interview needs to show the company what you can do for them. Lay out what you’d do, should you get the job. This plan doesn’t need to be detailed–it just needs to illustrate how you would positively contribute to the position. For instance, presenting how you would reduce customer turnover is an easy, yet beneficial way to show an employer why you would do well.

8. Your referral

There’s nothing wrong with name-dropping if the person helped you land the interview. If you were referred to the position, be sure to remind the interviewer. This connection may put some legitimacy behind your candidacy, as well as spark a positive conversation between you and the interviewer.

9. Thought-out questions

Always make sure you have questions at the end of the interview. From queries about the interviewer’s role to thoughts on the history of the position, questions show your desire for the job. They can also give you more insight into the role, which may not have been addressed during the more formal portion of the interview.

10. Next steps

Understanding the next steps in the interview process is essential. Always ensure you’re aware of what these are. It may be a second interview. It may be giving the company a list of references. It may mean you won’t know the outcome for a few weeks. By asking about these next steps, you’ll know what to expect and gain some peace of mind. You’ll also show your enthusiasm for this position.
As you can see, job interviews can be a much smoother process if you use this checklist. Do your research, emphasize why you are the best candidate for the job, and always leave on a good note. You’ll find the outcome of the interview will be much more positive if you do.

If you would like to consider a career move now or in the near future.
please do get in touch with Intersect Global on 020 76820668 for a confidential discussion.

Late last summer TFL had proposed after a terrifying trend of lorry-related deaths’ Crossrail for bikes.
Today those plans have been approved.
London is getting four new cycle highways (east-west, north-south, CS1 and the inner section of CS5) as well as upgrades to the existing routes. The new routes will span nine boroughs and are expected to be finished by the end of 2016.

They’ll cost around £160 million to install, but are expected to treble the number of cycle journeys that take place in the city over the next ten years.

Boris Johnson said: ‘We know that Londoners want these routes and that they want them to be delivered to the high standard I promised, as quickly as possible. I will keep that promise and spades will begin hitting the ground next month.’

At Intersect Global 2015 has started just as we left off before Christmas shut down, we are pleased to report increased numbers of permanent vacancies and job offers being made within the construction and civil engineering sectors.

It seems that this trend is set to continue with the Construction News reporting today that the UK construction industry will need an additional 223,450 jobs over the next five years to handle expected output growth to 2019, according to new research.

It will need to recruit an average of 44,690 people each year between now and 2019 to meet demand and deliver average annual output growth of 2.9 per cent, according to the latest Construction Skills Network report from Experian and the CITB.
The marks an increase from the annual requirement of 36,400 projected in 2014 and 20,050 in 2013.

The research also forecasts output and employment growth in all areas of the UK for the first time since 2008.

Annual average output growth between 2015 and 2019 is expected to be greatest in Wales (5.9 per cent), followed by Greater London (4.2 per cent) and the South-west (3.8 per cent).

If you would like to consider your career options or would like to hear about the latest vacancies with leading contractors please give one of our consultants a call on 020 76820668.

Office workers returning after the festive season are experiencing higher stress levels, with half of the UK’s workforce (48%) revealing they are closer to burning out than they were just five years ago.

The research, conducted by Regus, surveyed over 3,000 of the UK’s business people about their work environment, and found that the top triggers of workplace stress are lack of exercise, feeling understaffed and job insecurity.

Finding ways to alleviate stress, many workers believe one way is a break from the main office, with 68% finding a change of scenery such as working from another location to be a good stress reliever.

In fact, having the freedom to occasionally work away from the main office is seen as a key factor in achieving a good work-life balance with two thirds (66%) of respondents believing workers with this flexibility are happier.

The experiences of those with the flexibility to work away from the office supports this, with three in five (62%) saying they are more content.

In addition, 53% of those surveyed believe that freelance workers, with their freedom to change location and set their own hours, are less stressed than regular staff.

Richard Morris, UK CEO at Regus comments: “Stress levels are mounting in the workplace as a result of various factors; workers feel deskbound and under-resourced.
“Dedicated workspaces offer the flexibility to work in a variety of locations. This is the future of work, and brings a number of benefits including improved productivity and employee well-being.”

If you are feeling over worked and under valued and would like to assess your career options please get in touch with one of our experienced consultants on 020 76820668.

Intersect Global have a range of exciting opportunities with leading construction and civil engineering contractors.
Not all of our live vacancies are listed on our website.

Haggling for more money or a better benefits package during the negotiation process of a job interview gets you nowhere, according to research from Huthwaite International.
The survey of 1,300 people in 52 countries also discovered successful negotiators make less than half as many counter-proposals as the average bargainer.
Instead research into the company and role proved key, with successful negotiators spending 120% more time seeking relevant information to understand their other parties’ strengths and weaknesses, the pressures placed on them, and what a successful outcome would be for their business.
Haggling is avoided, as it rarely results in a compromise between both parties, and can eventuate to an unsuccessful outcome.

Janet Curran, Head of Thought Leadership at Huthwaite International, believes that the amount of money you can ask for in a job interview can only be defined by how well you have sold yourself in terms of your fit for the role. “How much research you have done in determining what the going market rates for the job are and how this particular employer rates in terms of the salaries they are prepared to pay are all important factors,” she states.
Curran also adds that asking for a “better package from your employer does not necessarily mean asking for more money. There may be other ways in which you can get investment from your employer, which can add value for both you and them.
“Benefits like flexible working and working from home can add value for both sides. Asking for training to develop new skills that will benefit you both in the long-term may also be an alternative,” she concludes.

Almost one quarter (23%) of the UK workforce did not use all of their paid holiday allowance in 2013, according to new research.

The findings from Canada Life Group Insurance found that although this figure is down slightly from 2012 (25%), questions remain over attitudes towards work/life balance in the UK workforce.

Their previous research highlighted the continued problem of presenteeism in the UK workforce, as 93% of employees go into work when ill. The findings also show this aversion to taking time off extends to paid annual leave, with only 77% of workers taking their full holiday entitlement last year.

Paul Avis, Marketing Director of Canada Life Group, comments: “These findings are the latest in a long line that suggest the UK workforce is under increased pressure from their employers to always be present at work.

“Whether for sickness or holiday, employees are still feeling that they are unable to take the leave that they are entitled to. Despite a marginal improvement on last year, it is clear that employers need to do more to counter beliefs among employees that they can’t take time off.”

Of those who didn’t take their full allowance, almost two fifths (37%) compensated for this by carrying some of their holiday allowance forwards into 2014. This is down significantly from 2013 when almost half (49%) carried their remaining days over, suggesting many employees are simply throwing away their annual holiday entitlement.

Avis continues: “Failure to encourage a healthier work/life balance among employees will have a detrimental effect, not only for the individual who will feel increasingly worn-out and stressed, but also for the wider market. Taking sufficient time off to rest and rejuvenate is critical to driving productivity across the labour market.”

London has been voted as the most desirable city to work in the world, according to a survey by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and totaljobs.com.
The survey analysed the respondents of more than 200,000 people from 189 countries and almost one in six of those involved (16%) expressed a longing to work in London, ahead of New York and Paris.

The UK was only beaten by the United States with 42% of respondents noting it as their country of choice to work in compared 37% choosing the UK.
Canada was also a popular destination for international jobseekers with 35% of those surveyed stating they would consider moving there for work.
The study also discovered that Britons were less likely to want to move abroad for work. On a global basis, less than half of Britons would make a move abroad whereas almost two thirds of workers in other countries are willing to relocate for a job.

Mike Booker of totaljobs.com believes that the results of the survey “cements London’s reputation as a truly global city”.
“Not only does it offer a wealth of job opportunities in a range of industries, but it boasts some of the world’s top cultural attractions, so it’s no surprise that people across the globe want to come and work here,” he explained.

“In light of this report, employers must take a more global approach to recruitment. As the workforce is so mobile, companies will have to compete globally to attract the best talent, making sure that they target the right groups and differentiate their recruitment strategy,” he added.
64% of participants revealed that broadening experience was the first reason they considered a role abroad and BCG Senior Partner, Rainer Strack, believes that “the geographic barriers to employment are coming down, including in the minds of some of the most talented and highly educated workers”.
“This is opening up significant opportunities for individuals and for the many countries and multinational companies that are facing talent shortages of one sort or another,” he concluded

The Global Infrastructure Investment Index, published by Arcadis today, ranks 41 countries by their attractiveness to investors in infrastructure.
Since the first index in 2012, the UK has risen three places (see table, attached) up to 10th and is the third-highest ranked European country in the Index, after Sweden (5th) and Norway (6th).
In order to gauge each nation’s appeal, the study looked at criteria including the ease of doing business in each market, government policy, tax rates, the quality of the existing infrastructure, GDP per capita and the availability of debt finance.
The UK managed to break into the top 10 following improvements across all of these business indicators, while Arcadis also found that an improved financial and taxation environment has increased its appeal to investors.
Optimism has returned to infrastructure investment in the UK, with the government planning to increase capital spending by £3bn per annum from 2015, which will lead to an additional £18bn of investment by the end of the next parliament.
Arcadis UK head of infrastructure Steve Bromhead told Construction News: “The government needs to provide long-term clarity over infrastructure policy and look at the over-prescriptive nature of regulation in several key sectors.
“We will see investment from all over – particularly China, the Middle East, and the US – but the government needs a clear policy on infrastructure.
“It does not matter whether it is the current policy or Sir John Armitt’s alternative proposal, for example; the most important issue here is consistency and clarity to provide security for infrastructure investment
“Otherwise we risk experiencing a stasis in infrastructure investment and .economic growth due to lack of investor confidence.”

Over half (54%) of Brits have admitted answering work calls while in bed according to a new survey.

The survey from professional call answering service, alldayPA found that UK staff even struggle to switch off on Holiday with 41% of those surveyed answering business calls while on a break and 40% breaking up a trip to the pub to take a work call.

Almost a quarter revealed they were capable of handling more than one piece of business at a time as 24% claimed to have taken a call while on the toilet while three percent had taken a call while on a rollercoaster.

Men were the most likely to pick up a call while in bed with 40% saying they have done so compared to 27% of women.

Reflecting on the survey results, Gareth Jeffery, operations manager at alldayPA says, “We know that technology means we can be connected to work 24/7 but none of us expect employees to start taking calls on roller coasters!

“It’s clear to see from this survey that employees are embracing technology to get on top of their jobs but, looking at the results, there has to be a concern over the quality of work being completed over the phone when so many people are taking calls in the middle of social activities.”