Company Details

Company industry: Renewable Energy

Company headcount:25-30

First placement made: 2018

Division: Business Support (Receptionists)

Number of placements: 13

The Challenge

In 2018, our client began looking for a recruitment partner to support them with administrative hires. At the time, they were seeking a receptionist to ease the pressure on existing staff and wanted a candidate who could grow with the company. Having not worked with other agencies previously, they turned to Tiger Recruitment to provide the right solution.

The Solution

We quickly introduced a strong candidate who matched not only the immediate need for reception support but also had the potential to progress into more senior responsibilities. This hire proved highly successful, remaining with the business and advancing within the organisation, where they continue to be a valued member of the team today.

Since then, we have continued to partner with the client exclusively for administrative recruitment. Each receptionist placed has gone on to take on more senior responsibilities, creating a clear progression pathway within their team. Our approach of understanding the role requirements and providing high-calibre candidates has ensured a seamless recruitment process every time.

The Impact

The client notes that our service has consistently made them “look good” to their team and leadership, thanks to the calibre of candidates delivered. They value the efficiency of our consultants, the speed of response, and the assurance that submitted CVs always align closely with the job description.

By continuing to use our temp-to-perm offering, the client has been able to secure exceptional talent who not only meet their immediate requirements but also contribute to their longer-term growth.

Client Feedback

• “The calibre of people who come through is fantastic, I know I won’t be sent someone who isn’t right for the role.”
• “Tiger are really efficient, responsive, and always deliver quickly, even in emergencies.”

Looking Ahead

Our relationship with this client continues to strengthen, with introductions being made to other organisations through their professional networks. The trust built over years of successful placements has established Tiger Recruitment as their go-to partner for administrative roles.

Disclaimer: This case study is based on the experience of a real client. For confidentiality reasons, their identity has been withheld. If you would like to speak directly with one of our clients about their experience working with us, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange an introduction.

The post Case Study: How One Reception Hire Sparked a Long-Term Partnership appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Inclusive hiring has always been at the forefront of my mind throughout my career. Prior to becoming a recruiter, my interest stemmed from my own lived experience, from reflecting on inequalities during maternity leave and supporting my neurodivergent daughter to witnessing the wider impact of movements like Black Lives Matter. When I stepped up into a leadership role, my experiences evolved into responsibility, I now had an obligation to use my position to drive meaningful change.

I’ve worked with professionals across a number of industries but one area I’ve seen a consistent need for change is neurodiversity in hiring. For most employers, the confidence to act on their desire to change is often lacking. HR leaders have such a crucial role in closing this gap.

So what can HR leaders do to build confidence around Neurodiversity in Hiring?

Be vulnerable

A couple of years ago, I shared a LinkedIn post about neurodiversity in hiring, and by doing so I was unexpectedly inundated with messages from individuals who I had encouraged to share their own experiences. A senior candidate who had applied for a role I was advertising reached out to say the post had given them the courage to disclose their neurodivergence to the employer, which was something they hadn’t spoken about since she was in school. With reasonable adjustments made to the recruitment process they were able to display their suitability for the role and as a result, were offered the job. I saw the impact of simply being transparent and learnt how valuable it is to share your own experience, because it might encourage someone else to do the same.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Most employers are eager to support neurodiverse candidates, but often aren’t sure how. Some say the terminology is daunting, or are afraid they might say or do something to offend. Others just aren’t sure what accommodations might look like in practice and worry it might just cause confusion. Encouragingly, this is beginning to change. More businesses are educating employees on bias in job adverts and including positive action statements explicitly welcoming neurodiverse applicants. But it’s not just about what you say that will have the most impact, but how you act. HR leaders should feel empowered to ask questions, seek guidance and work together to create a process that works for everyone.

Challenge the status quo

A huge part of a recruiter’s role is constructively challenging hiring processes that inadvertently exclude talent. I recently supported a neurodivergent candidate who asked for the interview questions in advance. At first, the employer felt this might give her an unfair advantage, but I suggested the questions should be shared with all applicants. Although their resistance resulted in the candidate withdrawing from the process, the next time I partnered with them, they implemented this change from the outset. I worked with them to prepare the questions further in advance, to allow them to be distributed. As a result, the interviews were more structured and insightful, and the panel was better prepared.

Similarly, I worked with a leading non-profit to rework their recruitment process for a director of people role. Instead of submitting their CV, applicants were given the opportunity to answer three questions, in a written or spoken format. Candidates also experienced inclusive language, an adapted format and received job packs. They were given clear fixed timelines for each stage of the recruitment process and were provided with financial support for travel and additional childcare costs required to attend the interview. Most importantly, the interview process featured structured questions with clear criteria, levelling the playing field for each of the applicants. As a result, the successful candidate was neurodivergent and they have since played a pivotal role in applying the same changes across the organisation.

Consider the working environment

Candidates who successfully navigate an inclusive recruitment process, don’t necessarily thrive in the workplace. More often than not, employers place so much importance on the accommodations made during the interview that there’s not much support once they start their job. As a result, a new hire feels let down and may struggle to perform to the best of their ability. On a basic level, employers should consider the working environment, offer flexible working arrangements, provide clear onboarding documentation and regularly check in on what’s working and what isn’t.

Start Small

Businesses often fear making adjustments for candidates because they think it’s expensive and time-consuming. However, it’s possible to make simple changes to the recruitment process that cost nothing. Employers can create a psychologically safe environment by merely asking the question, “Are there any reasonable adjustments required?” This will make them more comfortable disclosing their neurodivergence, even if it’s at a later stage in the recruitment process. Other examples include providing interview questions in advance, offering extra time for tasks or providing clear, structured communication.

I’ve seen firsthand how transformative inclusive hiring can be, for both the candidate and employer. A candidate I worked with has since launched a neurodiversity committee at their organisation, another helped reshape an entire onboarding process. As HR leaders, we don’t need to have all the answers but we must be willing to listen and learn. As a result, we create workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, which is beneficial for all.

The post How HR Leaders Can Build Confidence Around Neurodiversity in Hiring appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

In today’s fast-moving job market, more professionals, at all levels of seniority, are turning to temporary work.

As Ruth Edwards, Head of Tiger Recruitment’s US operations, reports, “Fractional work is unlocking meaningful opportunities across all professional levels, including the C-suite.”

There are many reasons why a professional may choose to do temp work. Some may have been made redundant, others may fit temp work around another commitment, such as a creative pursuit or parenthood, or to gain the relevant experience. Temporary work can range in length – some temp placements can be for a day; others can be for several months.

Could temping be for you? With plenty of benefits, it could just be the perfect career path.

It presents a challenge

Temporary assignments can be extremely challenging as you will need to pick up processes, procedures and policies very quickly. You will likely be required to cover a workload for a member of staff who is out of the office, so there’s a chance there won’t even be a handover. For this reason, you’ll need to be able to pick up tasks with little to no direction, using your common sense and initiative to figure tasks out.

Experience

Working as a temp will allow you to develop your skillset and gain fantastic experience, which you can then add to your resume. A broad resume that displays several skills is very appealing to employers and may well get you the job over another applicant.

Remember to update your resume regularly while temping, noting key achievements within a role. Think about what will appeal to those reviewing your resume, and try to sell yourself.

Temporary work works extremely well for those straight out of education, as it allows you to ‘try before you buy’, while building up essential experience that will bode well when you eventually decide to pursue permanent work.

Flexible working

The flexibility of temp work is what makes it appealing to so many people.  If you communicate your availability to your consultant, the temporary working world is your oyster.

As temporary working assignments can vary in length, you can choose exactly how long you’d like to work for, making your work life work for you.

Confidence boost

Starting a new job can be daunting, whether it is temporary or permanent. Taking those first steps into work is nerve-wracking. However, taking on temporary work placements means you’ll be required to do this regularly, which will increase your confidence immensely. You will build your people’s skills each time you step foot in a new office and find new ways to strike up a conversation or get to know your colleagues. Building your confidence will also help you when it comes to interviewing elsewhere for new roles.

Networking opportunities

Often, when job seekers first move to an area, they can walk straight into a great temporary job and gain experience and income quickly. Moving to a new area can be difficult, and the idea of leaving friends and family behind is a scary thought. By working as a temp, you will be meeting new people regularly. You will be constantly building new relationships and making great friends!

Paid holiday

Did you know that temporary workers also have the right to claim holiday pay? When temping through Tiger, you remain on our payroll, so your holiday pay accrues across all placements. You can usually get this paid out should you not want to use it. If you have any questions about holiday pay as a temp, feel free to get in touch with the temp team.

Opportunity

Temporary work could be that all-important foot in the door with employers. They could ask you to come back each time to cover an absence. Not only this, but temporary work could lead to a permanent position within the company. Your employer may see great potential in you and will not want to let you go. We see a high instance of candidates starting in a temporary role and going permanent. Think of every temp job as an interview and initial introduction to a company.
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If you’re looking for temp work, submit your resume today.

The post The Benefits of Temp Work appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Learning at Work Week is a timely reminder of the value of continuous development. But meaningful learning doesn’t always come from formal training programs or online courses. Often, it’s practical experience and conversations that lead to the most impactful professional growth.

Whether you’re early in your career or looking to move up the career ladder, here are five practical ways to enhance your development at work.

1. Shadow a Colleague in a Different Team

Gaining insight into how other teams operate can expand your understanding of the business, improve cross-functional collaboration, and potentially uncover new career interests.

Even a brief shadowing session can offer valuable perspective and sharpen your understanding of how the wider business operates. Gaining insight into another team’s priorities and challenges can directly enhance the quality and impact of your work. For example, if you work in marketing, spending time with the customer service team can reveal any recurring consumer queries. You can then tailor your messaging, content, or campaigns more effectively.

Tip: Try shadowing a role that challenges your understanding. It may highlight skills you’d like to develop or spark interest in a new direction.

2. Keep a Weekly Reflection or ‘Learning Log’

Allocating time at the end of each week to reflect on a challenge, mistake, or accomplishment can reveal patterns in how you work and think. This habit encourages accountability, builds self-awareness, and helps turn daily experiences into learning opportunities. You can use this as a checklist to avoid making the same mistake again.

Tip: At the end of each week, reflect on what went well, what could have gone better, and what you would do differently next time.

3. Identify a Process You Can Improve

An effective way to grow professionally is by re-evaluating your regular routines. Taking a step back to question existing processes, no matter how small, can reveal opportunities for greater efficiency or collaboration.

Is there a recurring team task that could be streamlined? Perhaps meeting schedules could be better coordinated, reports shared more effectively, or handovers could be clearer. Proactively identifying and refining these processes not only supports your team’s success but also demonstrates strategic thinking and initiative.

These small improvements can lead to meaningful impact, and the ability to spot them is often a strong indicator of leadership potential.

Tip: Try finding a process that helps streamline activities for your manager or team. This way, your work will be visible, so you can track its impact.

4. Help Others Learn

Helping others learn is a great way to test your understanding of a topic or skill. If a colleague approaches you or your team with a question, consider how you could use your existing skillset or conduct your own research to help fill knowledge gaps within your organization. You can share your insights by offering short, upskilling sessions for the wider company. Perhaps you have a particular skill in building your personal brand on LinkedIn which you think could benefit others across the business. Alternatively, you can offer to help train new starters as part of their onboarding process, or provide mentoring for junior staff.

Tip: This is an effective way to demonstrate your leadership skills if you’re looking to progress into a managerial role in the future.

5. Speak to a Professional You Admire

If you want to expand your knowledge proactively, try reaching out to someone whose work you genuinely admire. That could be a colleague in a different department or a professional on LinkedIn.

You might ask how they approached a recent challenge, what tools they use to stay productive, or what advice they’d offer someone looking to develop similar skills. Most professionals are more than happy to share their insights, and this kind of informal learning can build your confidence, strengthen relationships with colleagues and create new industry connections.

Tip: Try to speak to someone outside of your usual circle; this way, you’re pushing yourself to speak to people you wouldn’t usually.

Final Thoughts

Professional development isn’t confined to online courses or structured learning programs. Some of the most impactful growth happens when we proactively seek out small opportunities to learn, reflect, and engage with the broader picture of our work.

This Learning at Work Week, we encourage you to think differently about how you grow and take ownership of your development in a way that’s practical and sustainable for you. Powerful moments of growth can be sparked by curiosity, courage, and the decision to learn differently.

If you’re eager to upskill in a new role and take your next career step, submit your resume or browse jobs with Tiger today.

The post Five Meaningful Ways to Learn at Work – Without Signing up for a Course appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Whether you want to expand your responsibilities within your office assistant job, or you’re looking to progress into an executive assistant job in NYC, a promotion isn’t something that is just given out. It’s a case of preparation, planning and timing.

As New York is a city full of opportunities for great assistants, we’ve put together an infographic that explains how you can show your boss that you’re ready and able to take the next step!

Tiger Recruitment can help you land your dream personal assistant job in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or the greater NYC area. Have a look at our live job listings to start your search today!

The post Here’s how to secure your personal assistant promotion appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

If you’re in a personal assistant job, you may have considered moving into a more flexible role. Flexible working has been increasing in popularity for a number of years, even before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the idea of hybrid working to mainstream attention.

It’s not hard to see why the popularity of working from home is on such a sharp rise. Offering additional flexibility, removing the need to commute and higher levels of productivity, it is often a preferred option for many full-time workers. However, just like any endeavor, working virtually presents its own challenges, not least isolation and overworking. Below, we look at the pros and cons of remote working.

Advantages of remote working

An environment to suit you

One of the most commonly noted benefits of remote working is flexibility. It allows you to adapt your working hours based on your schedule and accommodate tasks that require being at home. It also allows you to adapt your working environment to your needs, changing the lighting, temperature, setting and background noise as needed.

More time, more money

Working from home also reduces the need for a commute, saving time and money and increasing morale – after all, who wants to spend hours traveling to and from work? These time savings can also result in a better work/life balance, as you have more time for maintaining your physical and mental health.

Master your to-do list

From a productivity perspective, virtual workers are reported to get more work done, as meetings become more effective and there are less distractions in the form of co-workers. You may also find you take fewer sick days as a remote worker, as you’re less likely to take a day off for a mild illness. Taking less time off makes it easier to stay on top of your workload and deliver outcomes effectively and efficiently.

Build your self-reliance

There are also opportunities for personal and professional development that come from independent working. Being separate from most people within your company and the influence of your colleagues will force you to become more resourceful and solve problems by yourself. For example, you might be able to do a quick Google search to solve a minor IT problem, rather than approaching the IT department as a first port of call. You might even be able to pick up a few additional skills along the way by watching online tutorials, which can help to boost your professional confidence.

Challenges of remote working

Lack of socializing

Working remotely also has its challenges. For starters, working from home is often isolating and can see you not talking to anyone for hours on end. In line with this, maintaining an employee community and connection to your colleagues can prove difficult. With no way to chat over a cup of tea or check in to see how your colleagues are faring, there are fewer opportunities to connect, engage and build a sense of camaraderie. It also reduces your exposure to the overall company mission and values, as you are removed from the office environment.

No more 9 to 5

Virtual working can make switching off difficult, as the boundaries of working hours may become blurred – is it appropriate to be answering emails at 7pm? According to research from Zapier, remote workers are more likely to overwork, as the lack of the office routine makes it harder to disregard tasks outside of business hours.

This is supported by findings from a report from the UN’s International Labor Organisation (ILO), which found that 42% of regular home workers dealt with insomnia, while 41% suffered from stress. This was attributed to the blurring of boundaries between professional and personal lives and the ease of which workers can complete supplemental tasks outside of traditional working hours.

Losing motivation

For some, working from home also introduces the risk of slacking off or getting distracted. Without your team or managers around you to spur you on, it can become harder to stay engaged, or perhaps that quick home task takes longer than expected, or you’re distracted by a visitor. It also restricts performance monitoring and, in some instances, can increase the danger of being overlooked for promotions and career progression.

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The pros and cons of working from home are highly influenced by personality types; some thrive in a quiet, self-motivated setting, while others work best in the buzz of a busy office. Finding the right balance is important for you to excel in your job and career.

If you’re looking for a remote working role or to transition to a virtual job, Tiger can help, register with us today!

The post The benefits and challenges of working from home appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Having an EA job is no walk in the park! As a first step, you must be extremely efficient and be thinking ten steps ahead of your boss. Acting as a second brain for your principals, much of the time you’ll adapt your working style to match theirs. Some may wish you to organize aspects of their personal life, asking you to complete such tasks as paying bills and organizing family vacations, while others may only require professional support.

Be communicative

Communication is absolutely crucial as an EA, but your boss may only like a certain form of communication – email, text, phone call or face-to-face. No matter their preference, ensure that you’re relaying all information back to them. Some bosses like their EAs to attend all meetings with them. If this is the case, it’s crucial to make thorough notes to discuss post-meeting. You’ll then be able to pull them apart and prioritize action points. If it’s a virtual meeting, the advantage is that you’ll be able to record it to refer back to afterwards.

If you do not go to meetings with your boss, suggest sitting down together afterwards to discuss everything that had been touched on. This way, you’ll be constantly in the loop with a good understanding of the situation.

Be resilient

A resilient EA will quickly become an invaluable support to your team. Most of us, at one time or another in our careers, will occasionally be presented with the challenge of dealing with tricky situations and people. These might be clients, managers, time-sensitive projects or make-or-break presentations. EAs, however, see all these regularly – up front and center!

Not taking things personally is a given trait of a great EA, quite simply because they’re so frequently in high-pressure situations and more often than not (rightly or wrongly), on the receiving end of a frustrated individual or team.

Be efficient

It goes without saying that a great EA must be organized! Implement organizational structures into your work and stick to them. By keeping your work life neat and tidy, it will keep your mind clear and ready for all situations. You do not want to get to the point in your day where you urgently need to find documentation and you are struggling to find it in your messy inbox!

Try to organize all of your emails into set folders. Break them down by sender or task and store all correspondence in each folder. Alternatively, there are apps to help automate inbox and diary management, ensuring that all emails are on hand when you need them.

It’s also essential to keep a to-do list. Every time you have a new task come up, think about its priority within your workload, then place it accordingly in your list. This reduces your chances of forgetting something and will help with your time management.

Take on your most difficult and time-consuming tasks at the beginning of the day to minimize stress levels and maximize your standard of work.

Remember, your boss’s efficiency should also be considered. Before asking your boss questions, think about whether you could find the answers another way. By raising unnecessary queries that you could figure out for yourself, you are essentially wasting both yours and your boss’s time. Take a second to think before you speak!

Be proactive

If nothing else, an EA must be proactive. It’s vital that you can stay ahead of your boss, regardless of the situation. On a Monday, review the meetings your boss has this week, ensuring that all requirements, such as notes and rooms, are considered ahead of time. Your first thought should always be ‘what is my boss going to need?’.

There may be a time when they are out of the office or away on vacation, leaving you to manage their affairs. As the first point of contact for clients and contacts, you’ll need to maintain high levels of professionalism to ensure that you are acting exactly as they would do in each situation.

Keep a positive attitude

When recruiting for an executive assistant, we always look for calm and collected individuals who work well under pressure. Not only can the EA role be incredibly stressful at times, but a busy team will look to their EA as a constant. So, a successful EA must be able to approach every situation with a smile, working logically through each problem to find a solution. By keeping calm and staying upbeat, you will be able to complete tasks to a higher standard.

An EA is often required to represent their boss and company either on the telephone, via email or face to face. Therefore, you need to be comfortable engaging in small talk and networking. Whatever the situation, always be polite and courteous! Your boss will expect you to stay positive and have that can-do attitude at all times, as this will also play a huge part in staff morale.

Be self-motivated

When working as an executive assistant, you cannot expect praise every time you complete a task on your to-do list. Self-motivation is key to being able to get on with your workload, so set yourself goals within your working day. Aim to complete a certain number of tasks on your to-do list before you get your next cup of coffee. Working hard may look like it is going unrecognized when your boss is extremely busy, but it is always noticed.

Be discrete

Discretion is one of the all-time top behaviours our clients look for in potential candidates, particularly private PAs. You’ll be exposed to a myriad of personal and professional confidences as an EA, and this unique characteristic will see the best candidates go far in their careers. A gossip might find their credibility is tarnished early on, while those who understand confidentiality will shortly prove themselves to be indispensable.

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The rewards are significant for those EAs who earn their stripes. You’ll strengthen relationships with business leaders, teams and peers whilst simultaneously earning great credibility in professional circles. Our most valued EA candidates, in addition to the financial rewards, will experience great adventures, meet incredible people and even travel the world. While it might take time and experience to reach those milestones, a successful EA will get there.

Looking for an EA job? Tiger Recruitment can help. Submit your details or see our available jobs now.

Looking to hire an EA? Read our guide to hiring an EA, and get in touch with your requirements.

The post The seven traits of a successful executive assistant appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Keep an eye out for these tell-tale signs of a people-first business

Receiving that ‘Congratulations…’ email after weeks of applications, interviews and stress can be a huge rush. You spring out of bed buzzing with energy, get to the office an hour early and work harder than ever, thrilled to have seized this dream role!

But how many of us know where this story is heading? The 9-5 becomes a 7-11, the ‘cool’ boss is at boiling point, and no one else in the office is smiling…

Just like a whirlwind romance, a new job can quickly sour after the honeymoon period. The pandemic prompted a lot of people to rethink their careers and take bold steps to change them. For some, the choice to leave one company for another has proven to be the right one. Others, however, are finding the grass isn’t always greener. In their haste to leave an unfulfilling job, they’ve overlooked the importance of doing in-depth research on a company that looks like a perfect fit.

So, how can you tell if a job opportunity is right for you? Here are some green flags to look for in a prospective employer.

Positive workplace culture

Take a look at any successful company’s website and social media. Chances are you’ll see photos of the team enjoying away days and after-work drinks like a group of old friends. This is a great indicator of a company striving to regularly bring a team together – the importance of which can be forgotten in the current excitement around hybrid and remote working. You may even wish to reach out to your potential colleagues for their own experiences in the office.

Transparent diversity & inclusion initiatives

Many companies have clearly defined policies around Diversity & Inclusion, often available to view on their website. While this is a good start, it’s worth looking at the reality in their team via social media, and by asking questions in the interview process. Reviews from employees on sites like Glassdoor can also be revealing. If there’s a lack of diversity, an honest answer from the interviewers is still a sign of their awareness of the issue.

Good communication and flexibility during the hiring process

Applying and interviewing for jobs is stressful at the best of times, but not hearing a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for weeks at a time can be unbearable. Regular updates from the recruitment team show there is as much respect for the candidate’s time as there is for the company’s. During this back-and-forth it’s also good practice to pay attention to how accommodating they are with interview dates and times. If a company is understanding of prior commitments in your calendar, such as the school run, it’s a good hint at how flexibly it will treat you as an employee.

Clear career progression opportunities

The classic “Where do you see yourself in five years?” could just as easily be countered with “Where do you see me?” While we certainly don’t advise being quite so forward, the point stands that a company needs to be able to show there are real opportunities for you to learn new skills and climb the career ladder beyond the role in question. Examples from its current workforce are the best proof.

Respect for work-life balance

The importance of a healthy work-life balance has been in the spotlight for a while now, encouraging employers to place much more emphasis on it in their job adverts. But this is an easy area for them to fall short in due to our 24hour connectivity and ability to work remotely. In the interviews, be sure to delve into any benefits offered like holiday, flexible hours/days, personal days, life-coaching, and mental health initiatives.

What connects all these positive indicators is the proof that a company acts on its word. If you can see the employer puts its money where its mouth is, or at the very least is transparent in its shortcomings and efforts to amend them, you can rest easy that this is a company with a human approach to business.

If you’re ready to take the next steps in your career evolution, and would like advice and help finding a role and company that will match your principles, submit your resume today.

The post Five signs a company is a great place to work appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

How to Write a Letter of Resignation

If you’re wondering how to resign from a job, the best first step is to have a verbal conversation with your manager notifying them of your intention to resign, and that you will be sending in your letter. This can be an opportunity to provide any detail that doesn’t belong in your letter if you should so choose.

In addition, if you need to negotiate or discuss anything such as the length of your notice period, this conversation will give you the opportunity to come to an agreement before putting the details in writing.

It can be hard to know how to best go about writing a resignation letter, but doing so correctly is a crucial step to resigning gracefully. From structure and tone to how much detail you should include, here is an outline of how to write a resignation letter.

Resignation and Final Day

The two most important things to include when you write a letter of resignation are your statement of resignation and the date of your final day. Your statement of resignation can simply say that you are formally notifying your line manager of your resignation from your role at the company.

Secondly, it’s important to avoid any confusion around when your last day is. Check your employment contract for your notice period, count forwards to identify the correct date for your last day, and clearly state this date.

It’s possible that your notice period may end up being shorter or longer than that listed in your contract. This could be for many reasons, such as the starting date in your next role, or agreeing
to a request from your employer to stay longer and assist with the transition. If your notice period is adjusted from your contractual length, ensure to put it in writing, either in your letter or in a follow-up email. This will avoid any possibility of confusion about when you will be finishing up.

A Thank You

It is courteous to include a comment of thanks to your employer. Thank them for the opportunities and support provided during your time at the organization. If there is something in particular you would like to thank your manager for, then briefly do so. You are not required to include a statement of thanks, but it is a recommended thing to include as part of a graceful resignation.

Handover

We suggest that you add a sentence offering to assist in the handover of your tasks to your replacement. You don’t need to go into detail here, as this is something that you will most likely discuss with your manager in person. This is an optional part of a resignation letter, but it is a great way to show your manager that you intend to leave on good terms. Remember, you may need your manager for a reference in the future.

Conclusion

Finish by signing off your letter with your full name. As this is a formal letter, it can be a good idea to include your contact details in the footer (or header) of your letter.

The above are the most common points to include in a letter of resignation. Depending on the nature of your work, you may be required to include additional information. Have a thorough read of your employment contract before writing your letter and ensure that you have identified any additional points that need adding.

Things To Avoid In Your Resignation Letter

There are some things that shouldn’t be said in a resignation letter. These topics may either be better suited to a face-to-face discussion, your exit interview, or even just for conversations at home. When considering how to write a resignation letter, keep these in mind.

Why You Are Leaving

You are not required by law to give a reason for your resignation, and it is usually a good idea to avoid this topic altogether in your letter. If you have found a new role, this is something that you can choose to verbally disclose in conversation with your manager.

Your New Employer

If you have found a new role, do not disclose the details of this in your resignation letter. You can choose to let your manager know about your new role in person, but this isn’t something that you should be including in your letter.

Complaints

It’s important to leave a job on good terms where possible, and your resignation letter is not the place to be airing grievances. If you have constructive feedback to provide your employer with, this is something that can be discussed in your exit interview. If you have frustrations that you feel need venting, avoid doing so in the workplace. Letting out your emotions is what friends and family are for!

Example Resignation Letter

As a starting point, we’ve outlined an example resignation letter below. Most resignation letters these days are handed in digitally. If you are handing your resignation letter in physically, it is a good idea to sign the bottom of the letter.

Date

Dear [manager’s name],

I am writing this letter to formally notify you of my resignation as [role title] at [company name], effective [date of sending]. In accordance with my employment contract, my last day of work will be [date of last day].

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the support and opportunities provided to me in my time at [company name].

Please let me know how I can help ensure a smooth transition over the next [notice period length].

Kind Regards,
Your full name
Your contact details

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Are you looking for a job? Register with Tiger today to get started on finding the job of your dreams.

The post How To Write A Resignation Letter appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

When it comes to hiring for a private household, a private chef can be an invaluable addition. However, hiring a private chef in the US or internationally can be a complex process with a number of elements to consider. From figuring out the correct salary and hours, to catering to your family’s dietary requirements, finding the right fit is essential.

We work with a wide range of private chefs who are available for one-off events, weekends or seasons in a permanent, full-time capacity. With varying responsibilities and experience, it’s vital to understand what you’re looking for, what to expect of your chef and the level of culinary prowess your family expects on a day-to-day basis.

What is a Personal Chef?

A personal chef is a qualified chef that you can hire on a temporary or permanent basis to cook bespoke meals for you and your family, or for an event, holiday or other special occasion. The main benefits of hiring a private chef are:

1. You remove the need to cook, saving valuable time that can be allocated elsewhere
2. A personal chef uses their expertise to source, prepare and serve restaurant-quality meals in the comfort of your own home or chosen location
3. Personal chefs can come up with balanced, nutritional meal plans in accordance with your preferences or dietary requirements, ensuring that you’re looking after your health, and eating tasty meals

Private Domestic Chef

Private domestic chefs work for one client or several, on a part-time or full-time basis. If they’re working for one client full-time, they will often also live on the Principal’s estate. Hiring a private domestic chef allows for a truly customized meal plan, and completely removes the stress and time taken from preparing multiple meals a day.

Restaurant Chef

A restaurant chef works in a professional kitchen and is trained to prepare meals to a high standard. Private chefs usually have several years of experience working in demanding restaurant environments, often in fine dining. This means that private chefs are extremely capable of working to tight deadlines and above-and-beyond requests.

Why hire a private chef?

A private chef is becoming an increasingly popular option for busy UHNWI and families. Hiring a private chef for the night for a dinner party can take the stress out of catering, while hiring a private chef for a weekend – perhaps during the ski season – means your family can focus on more important activities!

A private chef can also assist when catering to complex dietary requirements or eating behaviors. If your Principal or a family member has allergies, eats a restricted diet or simply prefers one cuisine over another, having a private chef can make a huge difference – they can design menus, source ingredients and prepare meals with your Principal’s needs in mind.

How to Hire a Personal Chef for a Week?

Hiring a personal chef for a week can be the perfect way to elevate a busy or special time for you and your family. Simply call or our team on +(917) 970 0670 to brief us on your requirements. The longer the lead time the better, as it will mean we can perfectly cater to your needs, however it’s not uncommon for us to be able to source someone at a moment’s notice! Regardless of whether you need someone in the US or internationally, we can help.

Once a professional has been selected, we will handle all the paperwork on both sides. The candidate will submit a timesheet at the end of the week which is sent to your email for approval. Once approved, we will pay the candidate directly and send you an invoice.

Tiger’s chefs are highly experienced, capable and are available to be hired on a temporary basis. To turn a holiday or special occasion into an unforgettable experience, consider hiring a personal chef for a week.

Read more about temporary private hiring

Hire a Personal Chef for a Week

Whether you’re pressed for time, have a taste for exquisite food, or just want to kick back and relax whilst an experienced professional cooks a meal for you and your family, either in the comfort of your own home, on holiday, or for a special event – there are many good reasons to hire a personal chef for a week.

We have a wide range of chefs available immediately for temporary placements and permanent positions and can provide advice on how to hire a private chef.

 Email Tiger Private

Looking for a temporary chef job?

If you’re an experienced private chef and looking for your next temporary opportunity, Tiger Private can help you. Find your next chef role here or submit your details. 

The post Hiring a private chef: what you need to know appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Career development is the ongoing process of learning new skills and improving your current ones in order to reach the next step in your career and achieve your long-term goals.

Career development books are packed with valuable information and advice and can help you advance in your role, sharpen your skills, and stand out from the competition.

If you want to level up your career, check out our recommendations below.

Five top books for your career development

• How to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale Carnegie

One of the best-selling and (appropriately) influential books of all time, business writer Carnegie’s book remains hugely relevant to personal and professional growth, despite first being published in 1936.

The book contains many timeless insights into human relations that can be applied in all manner of situations, from team meetings, to sales pitches, client management, and in your private life.

With such a wide view, it’s no wonder it’s become a favorite for people in all walks of life, including incredibly successful business people like Warren Buffett.

• Dare to lead – Brené Brown 

This book speaks primarily to leaders and aspiring leaders, however, there are some useful nuggets of career advice in here for everyone.

American research professor, lecturer and author Brené Brown teaches us the importance of leading mindfully while harnessing the power of accountability and vulnerability.

She claims that successful leaders are courageous, are not afraid of difficult conversations and use empathy to establish connections with those they lead.

The book shares practical strategies to help you become a successful, high-impact leader.

• Designing your work life – Bill Burnett and Dave Evans 

In this inspiring and eye-opening book, authors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans reveal that it’s possible to transform your working life and improve your current situation without changing jobs.

They demonstrate how adopting ‘design thinking’ can enhance the level of satisfaction you derive from your current job and transform how you experience work overall.

This transformation is achieved via the adoption of a designer mindset that includes: curiosity, reframing, radical collaboration, awareness, bias to action, and storytelling.

• What got you here won’t get you there – Marshall Goldsmith 

This thought-provoking book is an excellent choice for those seeking to achieve the next milestone in their career.

The author explains that the habits and behaviors that got you to where you are today may in fact become an obstacle in the next stage of your career.

Adopting the practical methods in this book will help you to achieve greater progress in your professional life by encouraging you to work on your shortcomings.

• Invaluable – Maya Grossman 

In this practical career guide, Maya Grossman teaches you the ten skills you need to skyrocket your career.

She offers advice on becoming an inestimable employee,  developing your career and feeling fulfilled in your job.

Use the career development toolkit to apply the teachings in this book and experience an immediate transformation.

Final thoughts on the best career development books

Working on your career development is a lifelong process which will require discipline and determination, but which will also prove extremely rewarding. Looking for more inspo from the experts? Why not check out this list of seven recommended books to help inspire you personally and professionally.

If you’d like access to some additional resources that will help you reach your full potential, why not explore the New Skills Academy online courses? Our partner, New Skills Academy, offers courses and training opportunities to help you enhance your skills and career prospects.

Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Submit your details today, and one of our consultants will assist you in your job search.

The post Five best books for your career development appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Moving to a new city for work can be daunting! This is especially true of the city that never sleeps, with its five boroughs, eight million people, and fast-paced lifestyle. We’re new to the Big Apple as well, so we’re feeling a lot of the same feelings! Whether you’re looking for an entry-level assistant job or a senior executive assistant job in NYC, here are four ways to help you find a job in the city.

WAYS TO HELP YOU FIND A ROLE IN NYC

Register with the right job agency

Regardless of the type of role you’re looking for, there will be a job agency in NYC that specializes in that space. When looking for a PA or secretary job, for example, a business support agency will have the right experience to help jobseekers like you. First, decide whether you’re looking for temporary roles or permanent opportunities, and then search a recruitment company’s job pages to see if the roles they’re advertising are suitable. You might also want to look at how they support their jobseekers with online resources, such as blog posts and résumé tips, as this will give you an indication of how far they are willing to go to help you throughout the process.

Spruce up your résumé and cover letter

If you’ve just moved to the city, give your résumé and cover letter a once-over to make sure it’s in line with what’s expected by local employers. Key points to include, when looking for a role in NYC, are your relevant skills, education and experience. Remove personal details such as your full address, and don’t include a headshot. Keep the whole document to one or two pages maximum, as the hiring manager will probably look at hundreds of applications – anything longer will discourage them from reading it. In your cover letter, adapt the skills mentioned on the job description and explain how your achievements relate to the specific role you’re applying for. Mentioning the company values is also a good idea, as it shows that you’ve researched the employer.

Network

If you don’t know anyone in NYC, look for groups online like assistant support pages on Facebook, or connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. If you’re looking to meet other personal assistants in person, check out Eventbrite, where companies will put on conferences for support staff around New York. Apps like Meetup can also offer an informal group setting to meet and mingle with fellow assistants.

Refresh your skills

When moving to a new city, it may be worth completing a short course or two to work on any weaknesses, ensuring you’re put forward for the right roles in a competitive market. Skills needed for a personal assistant job in New York City, for example, may include minute taking, time management and an understanding of Microsoft programs. Websites like Coachhorse.com also offer courses on the basics of office software, while Trainup.com host online seminars across a range of business courses.

Tiger Recruitment can help you find your next PA role! Submit your details online or browse our live job listings to start your journey today.

The post Four ways to find a personal assistant job in New York City appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

The coronavirus pandemic is creating a challenging time for businesses who may have reduced or ceased activities. If you are on furlough (leave), or are in the market for a new job, then it makes sense to upskill and complete free online courses!

Free online classes to complete during the pandemic

What Great Leaders Do

https://alison.com/course/what-great-leaders-do

This leadership course is one of the best free online courses with certificates. It features insights from Bob Sutton, a researcher in evidence-based management and a professor of management science. The course highlights the traits of great leaders and the habits of leaders who fail, allowing you to consider your leadership skills from both angles.

The course also shares the best way to deal with team disagreements and how to ensure your team’s health. It reveals how excellent leaders work hard to stay in-tune with their workforce and covers the consequences of not paying attention to those they manage.

The course can be completed in under two hours and includes an assessment and certification. It is ideal for both new leaders and those who wish to become a leader in the near future.

Psychology and Mental Health: Beyond Nature and Nurture

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/mental-health-and-well-being

Mental health and wellbeing are crucial for anyone, but due to the pandemic, they have never been in greater focus. This course from Future Learn will teach you how to improve your wellbeing and mental health by gaining a deeper understanding of your emotions and behaviors.

You will learn about new perspectives on the nature versus nurture argument and new research that will help you improve your mental health. The course delves into thinking patterns, the current challenges and debates and new ways of thinking.

This free online course is the work of Peter Kinderman, a professor of clinical psychology. You can start this course for free and upgrade for extra benefits and unlimited access. The course typically takes six weeks to complete with a three hour per week commitment. Of course, if you are on furlough or find yourself with more down time, you can complete the course quicker.

Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success

https://www.edx.org/course/creative-thinking-techniques-and-tools-for-success

You will become proficient and confident in using many techniques, including how to use the six thinking hats tool, idea generation using morphological analysis and intentive problem solving using TRIZ. From brainstorming to applying the SCAMPER method, this course will arm you with a skill set that employers only dream of finding.

The course is free and you can, if you wish, purchase a certificate for $49 on completion. You will complete this self-paced course in seven weeks if you have up to four hours per week of free time.

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Time Management for Personal & Professional Productivity

https://www.coursera.org/learn/work-smarter-not-harder

Time management and productivity encompass a variety of skills such as organization, professional and personal awareness, goal setting, scheduling, prioritization and delegation. You will learn about all of these skills and how to apply them in your career.

During this class, you will develop your ability to manage resources efficiently and effectively and how to keep your sense of perspective to avoid and manage a crisis. Furthermore, you will learn how to plan and achieve your professional and personal goals, as well as how to recognize and overcome potential barriers to successful time management.

You can enroll in this free online course immediately and it takes approximately five hours to complete.

Improving Communication Skills

https://www.coursera.org/learn/wharton-communication-skills

Free Ivy League courses are in high demand but can be challenging to find. However, this one is a fantastic gem that will help you communicate effectively and achieve your goals at work. The course is from best-selling author and Wharton professor Maurice Schweitzer and it will improve your communication skill set.

During this class, you will learn about negotiating styles, apologizing, creating a persuasive message, asking engaging questions and conducting active listening. Teachings include how to recognize if someone is lying to you and how to react, and you will learn how to develop trust, along with the ins and outs of creating convincing messages for video conferencing, phone calls and email.

The free Improving Communication Skills course takes about ten hours to complete. You will enjoy a mix of videos, readings and quizzes to confirm what you have learned.

New Skills Academy

While they aren’t free, Tiger has a partnership with leading online school, New Skills Academy, who are offering up to 87% off their courses. With secretarial, admin and business support-specific courses, they can help with anything from telephone customer services to problem solving and public speaking. Their extensive range of lessons all come with a certification, allowing you to put it on your resume once completed.

These are just a few excellent free courses to take in your free time that will help on a personal and professional level. For more resources, visit our insights page.

The post The five best free online classes to try in your downtime appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

While recruitment activity has slowed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still job seekers who are being offered fantastic new positions. If you’re one of them, congratulations! This may well mean that you find yourself in a video call with HR for an exit interview soon.

Volunteering general feedback about your employer can sometimes be an uncomfortable experience, so we’ve provided eight exit interview tips to help you prepare.

What to do in your exit interview

Do: Prepare like you would for any interview

Treat this interview as you would any other and prepare accordingly beforehand. Google some sample exit interview questions that are typically asked and practice answering them. Regardless of why you’ve chosen to leave, it’s important to provide thoughtful answers that will help the company improve in the future.

Do: Act professionally

You should remain professional right through to the very end. It will keep the door open for potential opportunities in the future and won’t diminish your chances of receiving a positive employer reference.

Do: Discuss the positives

Try to highlight the positive aspects of the role you’re leaving, even if it’s been the worst job you’ve ever had. It can be anything from the benefits package to the office facilities. This will help to balance out any negative points that may become apparent during the course of the conversation. It also displays a high level of professionalism and awareness on your part.

Do: Exit on good terms

When all is said and done, the aim is to leave the interview room on good terms. Make it clear that you are thankful for every opportunity the company has provided. Even if there is some resentment on your part, it’s better to leave on a positive note and have a clean slate for your new job.

What not to do in your exit interview

Don’t: Vent with no constructive feedback

Your exit interview is not the time to discuss petty grievances with your colleagues. Avoid discussing colleagues unless you’re specifically asked to do so. If it does come up, stay clear of slander and only provide reasonable examples that support a valid argument.

You can discuss your ‘suggested areas of improvement’ for the company, but it’s important to remain tactful in your approach.

Don’t: Brag about your new role

Your interviewer will probably ask about your reasons for leaving. While you may be jubilant about leaving, it’s important to avoid boasting as it’ll come across as discourteous. Just keep it short and to the point. For example, if you’re excited that this move is a step up in your career (with a considerable salary increase), you could mention that the new position gives you more responsibility than your existing one.

Don’t: Raise issues that the company cannot address

Any good employer will be looking to improve the workplace using your feedback. As such, you’ll want to refrain from expressing sweeping statements with no rational explanation. They’re not actionable and don’t give off the best impression of you. While preparing for your interview, try to come up with suggestions for how certain situations could be improved in the future.

Don’t: Be unresponsive

You’re probably familiar with the term, “if you have nothing good to say, don’t say it at all”? While this may be great advice in general, don’t apply it to your exit interview. Being unreasonably tight-lipped could be viewed as patronizing and won’t help the process. The interviewer will respect your honesty as long as you keep it relevant to the exit survey questions being asked.

If you’re looking for a job, we continue to update our live job listings daily. Make sure to also check out our insights page for helpful resources to help navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Author bio: This article was written by Check-a-Salary^[1] . Check-a-Salary provides insight on earnings collated across multiple sources for every position in the UK.

^[1] www.checkasalary.co.uk

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With 2020 quite literally around the corner, you may have already started your resolutions list for next year, but did you know only 43%[1] of people will actually keep their resolutions past February? To help you avoid this fate, we’ve put together five career New Year resolution ideas with our tips on how to maintain them!

Learn a new skill

If you’re looking to sharpen your language skills, master a particular software system, or become an expert at a specific aspect of your role, make learning a new skill is your resolution! First step: Get specific. Think about exactly what you want to learn, how you want to learn it and in what timeframe before you write that target down. It may help to stick up a visual reminder around your desk so you can refer to it when you need a reminder or motivation. It’s also important to construct manageable goals within a measurable time, as there’s no use deciding to become fluent in German without giving yourself a time frame. A word to the wise – try to focus on only one goal, as having multiple focuses may throw off your progress!

Network

This is a great resolution if you’re looking for a new job in New York, or hoping to expand your professional circle. One quick Google search will reveal that there are hundreds of networking opportunities every month around the city, so there’s no excuse not to attend regularly. A few places to start include the app Meetup, Eventbrite, or even on social channels like Facebook groups. If you’re looking for PA jobs in New York City, have a goal after every session, like collecting five business cards, or gaining a new connection on LinkedIn. A great way to inspire motivation is to find a buddy to go with you, whether they be a colleague or in your friendship group, as you’re more likely to keep each other accountable. Just ensure that you encourage each other to work the room separately once you’re there!

Find a work mentor

With this New Year resolution, aim to find a role model within your business or elsewhere, that you look up to. Figure out what you need help with, then identify someone who has that skill. For example, if you’d like to progress to a leadership position within the next year, find someone who you get along with and look up to as a good leader. Start by asking your potential mentor for a coffee, and follow up this initial meeting with an email with a few clear goals that you’d like to achieve together. Remember, don’t become disheartened if, over the course of the mentorship, you receive constructive criticism, as it’s all part of the process. Commit to the mentorship with regular, scheduled one-on-one meetings for best results.

Promotion

This resolution sounds great in theory, but it can actually be a lot of work to prepare to ask for a promotion and successfully receive one! A good place to start is by using an appraisal or 1:1 meeting to let your manager know you’re aiming for the next step on the career ladder. This can also offer a great opportunity to discuss your paths to progress, which may include taking on a new project, mentoring someone in the team, or undertaking any necessary training. When it comes time to ask for the promotion, you’ll need to be able to prove how you’ve helped your manager and the company significantly with specific achievements and figures. Remember, a positive attitude at work and determination to do your job well won’t go unnoticed either!

If your New Year’s resolution is to find a new job but you don’t know where to start, we can help! Submit your details online today, or look at our live job listings

[1] https://www.sundried.com/blogs/training/research-shows-43-of-people-expect-to-give-up-their-new-year-s-resolutions-by-february

The post How to keep your career resolutions past the New Year appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

20 years ago, most workers would leave school or university, find themselves a job and work their way up the ladder, staying within the same company for five, 10 or even 20 years. As such, the idea of ‘longevity’ on a resume stuck, as employers looked for employees who could demonstrate their loyalty.

The idea of longevity is now a thing of the past, thanks to a millennial sensibility that’s seen the average jobseeker spend less than two years in each position. This is especially true of PA recruitment in NYC.

So, what does this mean for employers examining resumes now?

The stats

Tiger’s UK Salary and Benefits Review 2021 revealed that 40% of staff were planning on leaving within the next 12 months. Similarly, a survey by Gallup found that half of millennials show less willingness to stay in their current job [1]. The same survey revealed 60% of millennials say they are open to a different job opportunity.

This shift, led by the younger workforce and encouraged by the global recession in 2008, has seen the norm shift from a ‘job to life’ to workers who aren’t afraid to move on, search for new opportunities, a pay rise, better benefits, a sense of purpose or simply reaching the ceiling in their organization. Even despite the financial uncertainty of the pandemic, many are willing to move on due to the way their organization handled the crisis.

What does this mean for hiring managers?

With all of this in mind, the approach to jumpy resumes must now shift. The definition for ‘hoppy’ has now changed – a candidate changing jobs every two years is the new standard, provided that they can validate their reasons for leaving. Therefore, the baseline for loyalty must change – instead of judging on longevity, hiring managers need to examine the scope of work completed by the candidate in their role and the impact they were able to have on the business. Instead of wondering ‘when will this candidate leave?’ or ‘is this candidate career hopping?’, it is up to the hiring manager to harness their ambition and highlight what the business can do to encourage their growth and career progression. At the end of the day, which would you rather – a high-performing candidate that excels over 18 months before moving on, or a candidate that does what they’re meant to and nothing more for five years?

The benefits of job hopping

There are many reasons that a candidate may change jobs more regularly than before, some of which will be outside their control. Post-2008, most support staff roles in the banking and financial services industries, for example, are based on two-year or 20-month contracts.

A candidate with job jumping experience has usually experienced different working styles, personalities and processes, meaning they’ll be able to adapt to new procedures easily. Their depth of knowledge and skillset also tends to be wider, as they have encountered a variety of programs and techniques.

Often, candidates who do move jobs within two years are doing so for progression, or for an opportunity for professional development. This demonstrates a drive for self-improvement and a desire to keep learning, which only bodes well for a business – an employee willing to upskill and develop their knowledge will bring this back into the business.

What to look for instead

When hiring a personal assistant or looking at HR recruitment, it’s important to focus on the experiences they’ve had, rather than how long they’ve had them. An EA that’s worked in a fast-paced private equity firm may have experienced a much steeper learning curve and been exposed to much more than, say, a PA who has stayed in the same role for 18 months.

As above, when hiring private household staff, it’s important to look at the skillset that you know your role needs, rather than the length of time a person has been in each role. It’s also worth looking at references, as this will give you a better indication of their performance in their past roles.

When looking at technology recruitment, it may actually be an advantage to employ someone who has experience working in many different environments, as this should mean they have been exposed to multiple interfaces, systems and programs.

It’s also worth discussing with your recruiter, or the candidate themselves, the reasons for a candidate’s job hopping. Understanding their reason for leaving can go a long way in understanding their career goals and the value they could bring to your business.

—

Looking to hire? Tiger works with candidates from a range of industries and backgrounds. Get in touch to see how we can help, or read our interview guide for the best candidate selection.

[1] https://www.gallup.com/workplace/231587/millennials-job-hopping-generation.aspx

The post What should a good resume look like? Re-defining job hopping appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Asking your boss for more money can be a nervous conversation for many people. However, with proper preparation and research you can both improve your chances and plan out your next step, whatever the outcome. Here are five things to know before you begin the conversation.

1. Know the business

Make sure you know what the company’s policy is on pay rises. Some will only consider them at annual reviews whilst others will have pay grades that are reliant on an employee’s position within the company. If there is an employee handbook it may contain details on this. Otherwise consider the best person to ask, be it your manager or a more experienced colleague. Either way, if it goes against company policy your chances will be slim. By finding out ahead of time, you can save yourself what could be an awkward conversation.

2. Know the market

Ensure you understand who else is out there who could take your role. For example, if you’re a PA and someone with a similar level of experience could be available at your current wages, it’s not necessarily in your employer’s interest to meet your wishes. By knowing the market you can be realistic about the likely outcome of your request but also benchmark what you believe you should be earning. Equally, if they turn you down without reasonable consideration you will know what else is out there and can consider moving on to find your desired salary.

3. Know your value

While you may be valued at a certain price on paper, think about what else you offer the business. If you have built up intricate knowledge that will be hard to replace, demonstrate it. Be ready to talk about your achievements in your role and how you’ve benefited the company. If your job description has changed or been added to, ensure this is acknowledged. Be fully prepared to explain what you personally offer the business and why it’s in their best interest to keep you.

4. Know the details

Once you’ve checked you’re working within company policy, are being realistic with your request and have noted why you believe you deserve a raise, it’s time to get your details in order. Be clear, concise and plan what you’ll say, working out a conversation framework ahead of the meeting. Try and pre-empt any questions or challenges your employer may put forward and have a response. And, though it may seem obvious, know how much you’re asking for, ensuring you can explain how you arrived at that figure.

5. Know your next move

There are several likely outcomes from a pay rise request. Be ready to respond to all of them. In the best case scenario, your employer says ‘yes’. This is where you’ll need to know exactly how much you’re asking for and why. Your employer may counter so be prepared for this as well. If you are willing to accept less than your initial request, know by how much. If not, explain why.

You may hear a response that starts “No, but…”. Listen carefully to their reasoning here. It may be the case that they want to but are unable due to cut backs or cash flow issues. If this is the case you may be able to agree a time to next discuss the issue or find out what you need to do to reach an agreement now. Worst case scenario is a flat no. Be polite and gracious, and enquire into what steps you could take for a pay rise to become a consideration. You can then decide if these are worth your while. If not, it may be time to move on.

Are you looking for an employer who knows your value? Send us your CV or get in touch to discuss your next move.

The post How to ask for a pay rise… and get one appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

With the current situation forcing us to work differently, you may now find yourself carrying out your daily tasks in new ways, like participating in video meetings. Instead of all gathering together in the office for daily or weekly check-ins, most of us are now using this medium to stay connected while working remotely.

If you’re new to the art of the video call and not sure of video meeting etiquette, we’re here to help. With our top 10 tips for video conference meetings, you can make sure you get it right next time you log on to Zoom.

1. Get ready on time

While we know it’s standard with any meeting to be on time and ready to go when the session is scheduled to start, it’s even more important for a video conference. This is because you will need time to set up the technology and connect your video and audio. If you jump in late, you can’t just slip in the back of the room – everyone will be able to see you, which is very distracting for the person speaking.

2. No backgrounds

Find a tidy and professional space at home where you can sit in front of a plain wall or background. Wallpaper or artwork with busy and distracting patterns is a no-go, as well as using a video background. Remember, this is a professional Zoom video meeting, so there’s no need to impress everyone with your decor or tech skills.

3. Frame yourself properly

There may be times when you find yourself staring at the forehead or nostrils of a co-worker during a video meeting – you don’t want to be that person! Before joining the call, take a few seconds to ensure your face is in the frame at a straight angle. If you’re using Zoom, there is an opportunity to check this while waiting to enter a conference call.

4. Find a quiet place

As is the case with the current situation, many of us find ourselves working from home with our partners, housemates, children and pets. While we know this doesn’t make for the quietest of offices, you will need to choose a place with no distractions to attend the video meeting. Go into a separate room if possible and make sure there are no other noises, like the TV or voices. If there’s someone else working from home with you, try to plan your meeting times to be at staggered time slots to avoid two video calls in the same space.

5. Make sure you’re well lit

Poor lighting will make the video quality poor and grainy – this is video meeting 101. Try to make sure the space you’re using has enough light so you are seen clearly. If you have a window, position your laptop or webcam in front of it so you’re naturally lit. If not, try to ensure the room’s walls are bright and use multiple light sources where you can.

6. Wear work clothes

It’s definitely tempting to hang out in your comfy clothes now you find yourself at home all day. However, if you have a Zoom video meeting scheduled, you should wear work-appropriate clothing. It will not only look more professional, but it will help you get into the right mindset for the meeting.

7. Mute yourself when not speaking

Even if you’ve found a quiet space for the video meeting, you’d be surprised by what the microphone can still pick up! Turning yourself on mute when you’re not talking will remove any distractions or annoying noises for other participants. This is especially important for conference calls with many participants, as the sounds from everyone’s homes can create quite the cacophony.

8. Look into the camera when you speak

Very important on our list of video meeting etiquette! Looking into the camera when you’re speaking is the equivalent of looking into someone’s eyes in person, so it’s an essential practice. If you’re looking elsewhere as you talk, it can look unprofessional and be distracting, even if you don’t mean to be. Remember, your face is clearly visible for everyone to see, so the group will notice things they can’t pick up in person.

9. Don’t stare at yourself when someone else is speaking

It can be tempting to look at your camera feed during the meeting, especially to check how you’re presenting to everyone else in the meeting. However, if you’re staring at yourself when someone else is speaking, it can seem like you’re not paying attention. If you find it’s impossible to stop staring at yourself, put a post-it note on the screen where your face is shown to eliminate the distraction.

10. Pay attention

You may think you’re great at multitasking and are able to check emails or work during a video meeting, but the other participants will know. Give all your attention to the meeting, as you may miss out on any important information shared as well as come across as rude or inconsiderate.

If you’re looking to recruit new members for your team or now find yourself looking for a new job, contact Tiger Recruitment today. We are a leading recruitment agency for matching individuals and businesses in temp jobs and permanent roles.

The post 10 top tips for video meeting etiquette appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

The start of a new year is always a time of new beginnings and change, and it’s the perfect time to set new career goals.

January is the busiest job searching month of the year, so it presents a great opportunity to boost your career through targeted reflection and carefully consider the strategies you’ll need to implement to steer your career in the right direction.

Why is it important to set career goals?

Goal setting is one of the best things you can do to make positive changes in your career. Setting specific, measurable goals helps you to clarify your ideas, focus your efforts and can provide a path to improve your career. Setting goals is critical for achieving career advancement because they provide a framework for achieving specific milestones. Choosing a career without making a plan is like sailing a ship without having planned a course: you’re likely to end up somewhere that you wouldn’t want to go! One of the most crucial steps in planning a high-impact career is implementing effective career development strategies to help you to achieve your work goals.

The process of setting goals

Goal setting is the process of taking active steps to achieve your desired career outcomes. It’s important to set short term, medium term and long term goals.

First, you look at the big picture, then work your way down to the smaller steps you can take now to begin moving in the right direction. For example:

• One year goal: ‘Secure my ideal role working for x type of company in x location’
• Six month goal: ‘Go back to college to gain a qualification in x’
• One month goal: ‘Talk to my current manager to determine any promotion opportunities that may arise this year’
• One week goal: ‘Arrange a meeting with a recruitment agency to discuss my career options’

To help you achieve your desired outcomes successfully, be sure to create SMART GOALS.

SMART is the acronym to help you establish solid goals. It stands for:

Specific: The goals you set must be clear and well defined, the more specific you are about what you are trying to achieve, the easier it will be to achieve your goal.

Measurable: It’s important to include a quantifiable way of tracking your progress so you are aware when you have hit each milestone, and can celebrate.

Achievable: The success of your goal needs to be within your control, you need to set goals that challenge and stretch you but that are also achievable.

Realistic: Be sure to set goals that are within your reach this year, for example, is it realistic to expect to have achieved a salary bump of 20k in one year?

Time-bound: You need to set a time frame for each of your goals, with deadlines attached to each one.

Here are our top tips to help you fulfill your career aspirations in 2022:

Dare to dream big

If you want to achieve big things, you have to start with big dreams. Whether you’d like to change industries, try for a promotion or move horizontally within your current organization, don’t be afraid to dream big! Big goals will help you to achieve success and it’s okay if it seems far away or overly ambitious, don’t let that overwhelm you. To be happy, us humans need to constantly challenge ourselves.

Enlist support

Career planning and job hunting can be an overwhelming and exhausting process, this is why it’s important to surround yourself with people who support you and believe in you. Have a goal partner. Find someone to help you stick to your plan: a friend, co-worker or a career coach. Discuss your goals and check in with them when you complete steps. If possible, do the same for your partner!

List your skills and set an action plan to develop them

Take some time to assess where you are in your career and consider the key skills you’ve picked up along the way. If you’re interested in knowing the key skills you need to get hired in 2022 click here. Think about where your strengths and weaknesses lie and what skills you need to build on to optimize your chances of professional success this year.

Pause, and reflect on 2021

Take an in-depth look at your achievements over the past 12 months and consider the degree to which you fulfilled your 2021 professional goals. Consider any qualifications or training courses you completed, any new skills you gained, any promotions or new responsibilities you were awarded, career milestones you hit and feedback you received. This will help you to determine what you can realistically achieve this year.

Write down your goals, and the steps you will take to achieve them

Some examples of work goals include:

• Achieve a promotion to x position
• Learn how to say, ‘no’
• Pick up and learn a new skill
• Find a mentor
• Go after the career of my dreams
• Become a better communicator
• Plan what steps I need to take to change careers

Place your list somewhere highly visible and revisit it every day. Set yourself deadlines for each goal and remember to celebrate each achievement to help you stay motivated.

Those who believe in themselves, armed with the right tools, can achieve just about anything.

And don’t forget—the Tiger team believes in you, and we’re here to help! If you’re interested in discovering how we can help you achieve your dream career goals this year, please get in touch.

So, as 2022 begins, we raise our glasses to you and wish you the best of luck on your professional journey!

The post New year, new career! How to set your work goals for 2022 appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Executive assistants may be known for their resourcefulness and can-do attitude, but even the best rely on a little help from smart tech to boost their productivity. These online services are becoming more and more vital with the rise of remote-working PAs and EAs.

In this list, we’ve highlighted the top software and apps designed to complement the most common executive assistant duties, including:

• Diary management
• Project management
• Travel & accommodation
• Expenses
• Comms

All the executive assistant resources listed below have desktop and smartphone versions, can be integrated with other apps and, best of all, have a free tier! So, what are the best EA and virtual assistant tools?

Diary management: Calendly

A big part of the executive assistant role is keeping on top of the manager’s diary. With new client appointments, team meetings and event invitations coming in from multiple platforms every day, a coordinating tool like Calendly is indispensable. It can integrate all online calendars into one place, and allow contacts to view a manager’s availability and book in a meeting – all without the long emails back and forth.

• Top tip: Include a link to Calendly in your email signature to make it even easier for contacts to secure a free slot.

Tidying up the to do list: Trello

Trello is hugely popular across industries and professions, and for good reason. It’s a customizable, easy-to-use, shareable task manager that helps teams work seamlessly together. EAs can organize theirs and their manager’s day-to-day tasks in a simple, visual style that will help to prioritize work, separate different projects, and set deadlines.

• Top tip: Are you currently using spreadsheets to create project plans and to do lists? Trello lets you convert these into its card-based system simply by copying and pasting it in.

Travel itinerary: TravelPerk

Booking and managing travel and accommodation can be a messy business. Shopping around for the best airline and hotel deals often means you end up juggling emails from different travel companies for every leg of a business trip. Enter TravelPerk: a one-stop shop for plane, train and hotel bookings! Executive assistants can view all tickets, amendments, and cancellations on their desktop or mobile, making one of the most stressful aspects of the role manageable.

• Top tip: For B Corp certified companies like Tiger, sustainable travel is a must. Use GreenPerk to not only offset your carbon footprint, but make meaningful contributions to environmental projects around the world.

Balancing the books: Expensify

With Expensify, EAs can create automatic expense reports, input physical receipts via photos, and even sync with apps like TravelPerk to import digital receipts. Cutting out tricky manual inputting makes this a real time-saver.

• Top tip: The optional Expensify Card can be used as a replacement for company credit cards, with customizable spending limits and smart fraud protection.

Flawless writing: Grammarly

Corresponding with clients and other senior partners on behalf of their manager is a significant responsibility for an EA. They will need excellent writing skills and an understanding of tone of voice. Grammarly is the perfect tool to help with this. Not only does it catch any grammatical errors that could reflect badly on the manager, but it will also suggest revisions to the writing to make it clearer, more concise, and appropriate to different audiences.

• Top tip: Use the ‘tone detector’ to choose between formal, neutral, and informal tones of voice – because we all let our emotions slip into our writing sometimes!

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With these tools in their arsenal, an EA will free up hours of time spent on admin, and in turn help their manager be more productive.

If you’re an EA starting to use these tools, don’t forget to add them to your CV! Refer to our executive assistant resume template for extra tips on getting ahead of the pack.

If you are looking to hire an executive assistant, read our guide to hiring a EA and get in touch with your requirements.

The post Five Essential Executive Assistant Tools appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

When it comes to understanding how to be a good EA, it’s one thing learning about the tasks of an executive assistant, but it you want to thrive in the role, you’ll need a firm grasp of the top EA skills that support those tasks.

These range from administrative to time-management and interpersonal skills. Assessing yourself against these most desired abilities will help you build an honest picture of your prospects, and pinpoint where you can improve to boost your chances of securing your dream EA job.

So, what makes a good EA? The best personal assistants possess a balance of hard and soft skills that allow them to handle the admin side of the job and, as the name suggests, the personal side. Let’s look at what these personal assistant skills are.

Organization and timekeeping

The first skill that will see you sink or swim as a EA is your ability to multitask. Staying on top of your workload is a must for any job, but because the daily duties of a EA are so varied and often at the mercy of other people’s schedules, you’ll need to have a knack for organizing, prioritizing, and sticking to deadlines. We recommend getting to know the many useful apps and tools for EAs that will help you manage multiple projects and calendars.

Clear communication

A personal assistant must filter out the barrage of noise coming their manager’s way, and pick out only the most pertinent points to feed through to them. The manager will want quick and concise updates that they can then make a decision on, so learning to ‘cut to the chase’ when speaking or writing should be a priority for an EA.

Attention to detail

Having a good eye and memory for small but important details is a superpower of personal assistants. Working at a fast pace on a mix of tasks means crucial information is always at risk of being lost, be it data for a report, flight times, or a top client’s email address, so as an EA you’ll need to stay vigilant at all times. Honing this skill takes time and focus, but it pays dividends.

Tech-savvy

While an EA won’t need to be a tech guru to do their job effectively, general computer and software fluency is essential. Programs like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint will be a permanent fixture on your desktop for tasks like expenses, comms and presentations, while businesses will also expect you to be able to pick up their internal systems quickly.

Be a people person

The number one soft skill for the role of EA is your sociability. Not everyone has the people skills needed to succeed as a personal assistant, but we’re betting part of the reason you were drawn to the position is because you love helping and working with others! As the first point of contact for your manager, you’ll occasionally deal with frustrated or angry colleagues and clients, not to mention the manager themselves. So, the best EAs have a thick skin, calm temperament, and the ability to connect with all sorts of personalities, ensuring even the trickiest situations can be resolved.

If you’re planning to apply for an EA job, being able to demonstrate these skills will greatly improve your desirability to a hiring manager, so don’t forget to include them on your assistant resume. When you’re ready, head over to our live jobs page to find your perfect role!

If you are looking to hire an executive assistant, read our guide to hiring an EA for a comprehensive rundown of every aspect of the recruitment process.

The post Five executive assistant skills you need to succeed appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

As the leading EA recruitment agency in New York and beyond, we’ve worked with thousands of individuals in EA jobs. From start-ups to global corporations, finance to creative industries, we’ve seen the whole range of job specs, giving us unrivaled insights into salaries across the market. So, whatever the job may look like, we can give you the best advice on what to expect of an executive assistant’s salary.

What is an executive assistant?

Executive assistants can be found in every industry, performing a highly valued role. Whether they’re working with a business manager or an UHNWI in a private capacity, EAs are vital for making their principal’s working lives smooth and efficient.

Of course, the day-to-day life of an EA in the creative sector may look quite different to one in investment banking, but the core duties of a personal assistant remain the same:

• Work and personal diary management
• Being the point of contact on phone and email
• Travel and accommodation booking
• Booking meetings
• Preparing presentations and meeting materials
• Taking minutes of meetings

These time-sensitive and pressure-filled tasks favor assistants with a particular set of personality traits, such as clear communication, initiative, discretion and timekeeping. The best EAs have these traits in abundance and thrive in this fast-paced position. But that doesn’t mean they should be happy to do it for an uncompetitive salary!

How much do executive assistants make?

When it comes to the salary of an executive assistant, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, the salary will depend on the industry, the level of seniority, whether the role is remote or office-based, and whether it’s a corporate role or a private PA job.

Below you will find some guidelines on the most up-to-date executive assistant salaries in New York.

Executive assistant salary based on industry

Financial services and tech companies are known to be paying the highest salaries to EAs in the market. The salaries in these industries can typically range from $60,000-$90,000 per year.

In addition, these industries usually provide great benefits and bonuses for their employees.

The executive assistant salaries in the creative industry can range between $50,000-$80,000 per year, whilst the non-profit/charity, and education sectors pay between $50,000-$70,000 per year.

Private personal assistant salary

If being a private PA is your goal, expect to see quite a different range of salaries for this role. That’s because the pay will be affected by several factors, based on the principal’s requirements.

Some of these factors might be:

• If the role involves a lot of traveling
• If it requires 24/7 availability
• If it’s a traditional family office PA role

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but these requirements affect the salary bracket, meaning salaries for private PA roles can range from $80,000 to $300,000 per year.

A few more considerations…

It’s important to note that the executive assistant salary in New York will also be impacted by a few more factors:

• If the role is remote and you work for a New York-based company but live somewhere else in the US, the salary might be slightly lower than the average
• The salary can vary if the role requires five days in the office, as opposed to hybrid working
• If regular travel is expected in the role, the salary may not be increased, however, travel expenses will be paid for

If you’d like more information on EA salaries in London, you can request a copy of our Salary and Benefits Review.

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If you’re looking to hire a PA, read our ultimate guide to PA recruitment.

The post What does an EA earn? Here’s everything you need to know appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

There is no single starting point on an executive assistant career path, and successful EAs can find their way into the role in very diverse ways. However, for those people with a clear desire to pursue an EA career, there are several organizations that offer learning and development opportunities tailored to the profession.

Employers should take note of these higher education institutes, both as a marker of experience and initiative in an EA candidate, and as potential partners for their internal learning and development programs.

In this blog we’ll look at some of the best executive assistant courses, covering the spectrum from online executive assistant qualifications to full-time diplomas. If you’re an aspiring executive assistant you may well be nervous about being underqualified for the job. We’re here to put your mind at ease, and show you exactly what actions you can take to secure your dream EA job. For employers, this is designed to give you an idea of what to look for on candidate resumes, and what to offer in your employee benefits.

Do you need a degree to be an executive assistant?

Before we delve into some fantastic options for EA education, let’s first address a common question: do you need a degree to be an executive assistant?

The short answer is no – many EA roles will require education up to high school only. The long answer is: it depends on the particular EA job. In more formal and high-pressure workplaces such as corporate finance, private equity, or family offices, an undergraduate degree may be a prerequisite, while the more interesting and higher-paid EA positions will of course be more suitable to a candidate with a degree.

However, there are alternatives to a degree that can be just as powerful when it comes to EA jobs. This is why we advise you to consider the below executive assistant courses: someone with these under their belt is more likely to be successful and see long-term career progression.

American Society of Administrative Professionals

One of the most accessible and effective courses is ASAP’s Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE). This online course can be taken year-round at a date of the student’s choosing, and includes modules covering communication, project management, and computer and technology skills.

Institute of Executive Assistant & Administrators

The IEAA run executive assistant training programs featuring accredited tutors, both online and in-person. Their courses run from junior level to more senior EA training, with the opportunity to gain a certificate or diploma.

International Association of Administrative Professionals

The IAAP offer a Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) credential, as well as the Certified Administrative Professional in progress (CAP ip) for more junior administrative assistants. This qualification is a clear marker that an EA has up-to-date skills and knowledge to take on whatever is thrown at them in the modern EA role.

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Looking to become an EA?

Executive assistant courses should be a consideration at any point in the career of a EA, due to the ever-changing nature of the role. However, at the outset of the EA journey, jobseekers should draw on any qualifications you have when aiming to impress a hiring manager. Read our guides to executive assistant resumes, EA personal statements and EA cover letters for insider tips on how to make your experience shine.

When you’re ready to apply for your next EA job, head to our job search page.

Looking to hire an EA?

If you are looking for the best way to hire an executive assistant, read our ultimate guide to hiring an EA. When you are ready to start the hiring process, get in touch with your requirements.

The post What are the best executive assistant courses? appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Being organized at work will have an immediate positive impact on your productivity. It can help you produce a better quality of work, make fewer mistakes, and work more efficiently. Prioritizing and getting organized also helps to reduce stress and overwhelm.

Albeit not all of us are naturally gifted with supreme organizational skills, it is possible to improve them by following a few simple tips.

Here are our six top tips to help you stay organized at work and get more done.

Create a master ‘to do’ list

The first step in getting organized is to create a master list that documents all the tasks you need to complete. It can be a daily, weekly, or monthly list.

Depending on your role, a weekly list may work best. Weekly lists will supercharge your organization and productivity and give you the flexibility to make amendments as and when is necessary for your role.

Write down everything that needs to be done in a specific week and assign certain tasks to each day.

Prioritize your tasks

Strategic prioritization is essential for getting everything done. You need to arrange tasks according to their deadline, the amount of time required to complete them, and the focus they will require.

It may be more effective to work on tasks that require high levels of focus when you’re at your most productive and leave tasks that require less energy for another time of the day.

Avoid multitasking

Multitasking is one of the biggest obstacles to productivity. It’s essential to focus on one task at a time to produce a high standard of work and get as much done as possible.

Unless something urgent needs your attention, block out time in your calendar to carry out focused work. Set aside time elsewhere in the day to check your emails and make phone calls.

Organize your workspace

As the saying goes – tidy desk, tidy mind. It can be your physical workspace, such as your desk, and your digital one, such as your laptop, inbox, etcetera.

One of the biggest time-wasters in the workplace is trawling through hundreds of emails, folders, or documents when looking for something, simply because files aren’t organized efficiently on your laptop.

Create SOP’s

Standard Operating Procedures consist of the step-by-step processes that you need to follow to complete specific tasks.

This step is crucial to reduce the likelihood of making mistakes, and it helps to be precise and efficient when managing your workload.

Keeping a folder with all the different SOPs required for your role means you’ll have all the information you need to perform your role successfully to hand, readily and easily accessible.

Master time management by implementing one of these popular techniques
Time-management techniques can help you to manipulate time and get more done.

You may want to try:

– The Pomodoro technique: you select a task you need to focus on, set a timer for 25 minutes and work solely on that task. After 25 minutes, you take a short break (typically 5 minutes), then start again for another 25 minutes.

– The ‘Eat that frog’ technique: Championed by motivational speaker and productivity expert Brian Tracy, the goal of this method is to analyze the items on your list and organize them according to their difficulty. The idea is that you tackle the most challenging tasks first.

– The Kanban technique: this is an effective workflow management method for visual learners. On a board, your notebook, or your laptop, create three sections: to-do, in progress, done. Then write your tasks and move them across the sections based on their progress and completion.

If you’re serious about supercharging your organizational skills, you could also benefit from a time management app such as Todoist or Toggl Track.

Increasing your organizational skills will not only help you to stay on top of your workload, it will also maximize your chances of excelling in your role. If you implement these tips gradually into your workday you’ll start to see a noticeable difference in the quality of your work and in the results you produce.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Feel free to read more on our Insights page.

Are you ready to write the next chapter of your career? Get in touch with us at info@tiger-recruitment.co.uk, and one of our consultants will be happy to help.

The post Six tips to improve your organization and productivity at work appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

We are living in a digital world, with laptops, smartphones, tablets and other devices now an integral part of our daily lives and work.

Businesses around the world have become increasingly digitalized, even traditional brick-and-mortar companies are now opting to market their business online. With all the benefits of digital marketing for businesses, this is no surprise.

Just some of these benefits include:

• Cost effectiveness: Digital marketing methods are less expensive than traditional marketing
• Targeting: Reach niche audiences in a measurable way
• Lack of geographical boundaries: Target audiences anywhere in the world
• ROI: Generate a consistent lead pipeline and higher conversion rates
• Measure: Analyze data to determine if campaigns are yielding the desired results

The future of digital marketing is bright

The digital transformation of business has led to a steep rise in demand for marketing professionals who are well versed in the digital marketing arena. Graduates and those looking for a career change are attracted to this exciting and fast-growing career path because it’s a dynamic field that is constantly evolving.

There are currently over 24000 digital marketing jobs for New York listed on LinkedIn. And recent LinkedIn data shows that the digital marketing sector continues to soar in popularity. Thus, if you are looking for jobs in this field, you can rest assured that there will be plenty of opportunities available to you.

Is digital marketing a dream job?

Whilst digital marketing is an exhilarating and rewarding career, it also comes with a set of challenges that you need to be prepared for if you are seriously considering this route. To successfully navigate the fast-changing digital marketing landscape, you’ll need to equip yourself with a myriad of skills and continue to improve your knowledge on an ongoing basis. Top digital marketers are always learning and upskilling to ensure they remain competitive and keep on top of emerging trends.

Pros of a career in digital marketing:

• You can earn a healthy income
• It’s a fast paced and exciting career route that will keep you on your toes
• It offers unlimited opportunities for personal and professional growth
• You’ll have the opportunity to work with an interesting mix of people and businesses
• Feeling bold? You could take the plunge and set up your own digital marketing agency
• You’ll be free to tap into your potential and use it to drive your success
• As long as you have internet access, you can work from anywhere in the world
• The balance of tasks allows you to be creative in your work as well as review tangible analytical trends
• The broad landscape of digital marketing gives you many different avenues and outlets
• You’ll have the chance to build a thriving career that will last the test of time
• You’ll never be bored!

Cons of a career in digital marketing:

• Continual learning and keeping on top of rapidly changing trends is hard work
• You may not always see the results you were hoping for
• If you find yourself in a niche that isn’t the best fit for you, it may be challenging to pivot
• You’ll spend long days sitting in front of a screen, which could cause tension over time
• Digital marketing is a demanding and multifaceted career that requires discipline and focus
• You may struggle to formulate successful campaigns, generate traffic and drive conversions, even if you think you’re doing all the right things
• Running your own digital marketing business may be harder than you think
• You may work with clients who have unrealistic expectations, creating additional pressure

If you do decide to go down this route, thorough preparation will increase your chances of success. Start by brushing up on or developing some of the key skills that are required to be an accomplished digital marketer.

Just a few of the top skills that will help to skyrocket your career in digital marketing are:

Video marketing

Are you aware that YouTube is the 2nd largest online platform after Google? Businesses who are embracing video marketing are benefiting from more traction, increased brand awareness, more traffic and more sales. Whilst you don’t need to know everything about video production to succeed as a digital marketer, the stronger you are in this area the better.

Social media

As of January 2022, there were 4.62 billion social media users around the world. A social media presence is vital for businesses who want to maximize exposure for their brand, attract and retain the attention of their audience, and generate more business. Social media offers an incredible opportunity to better understand and build relationships with customers anywhere in the world. Most importantly, it’s free! Savvy digital marketers use engaging social media content to attract and convert audiences organically and analyze campaign data to determine what’s working and what’s not.

Copywriting

To succeed as a digital marketer, you’ll need to create content that engages your audience and persuades them to take a specific form of action that ultimately leads to a conversion or sale. With as many as 350,000 tweets going out every minute, catchy, compelling content is vital to stand out in a saturated digital market. And while the amount of content being shared online is increasing, the attention spans of people are shortening. So, you’ll need to compress information into digestible bites while still conveying the right message and without losing the ability to capture their attention.

Search engine optimization (SEO)

Search Engine Optimization is crucial in all aspects of digital marketing, so if you can demonstrate a solid knowledge of the dynamics of SEO, you’ll be ahead of the game. The organization for whom you work may assign the technical side to a specialist SEO team, but if you have expertise in this area you can apply it to ensure you are producing optimized content that will drive successful campaigns.

PPC

PPC, or pay-per-click advertising, helps businesses to expand their reach by showing up in top spots online, and they only pay when a visitor clicks on their ad. Digital marketers drive performance by paying attention to the relevance and quality of the ad, determining which keywords to target, and the best format and channel. This requires a creative flair, polished analytical skills and an in depth understanding of the business, their goals and customer intents.

Analytics and data analysis

If you want to be a successful digital marketer, you’ll need to use data to verify, understand and quantify the degree to which the efforts of your campaigns are paying off. You’ll need to be able to interpret the data into real, actionable insights which can then be used to inform important business decisions and shape core campaign strategies. Data analysis highlights what’s working and makes it clear where efforts need to be focused.

Email marketing

To further elevate your digital career, learn how to harness the power of email marketing to build relationships with customers. A seasoned digital marketer can create campaigns that nurture subscribers and existing leads through newsletters. They create powerful experiences for their audience, tapping into their emotions and inspiring them to take action.

You’ll find countless digital marketing courses on sites such as Udemy, Lynda, Coursera, Edx, Alison and Hubspot. We also recommend taking a look at our partner New Skills Academy, who are offering course discounts of up to 65%.

If you’re interested in discovering how our consultants could help you find your first or next dream role in digital marketing, please contact us here.

The post Are you ready to be a digital marketer? appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Tiger’s Managing Director, Rebecca Siciliano, shares her insights on how Tiger’s London office has transitioned to remote working. She talks through:

• How remote working has been set up
• Why communication and support for your employees must be your number one priority
• Practical suggestions on connecting to your team while remote working

The post Remote Working in a Changing Landscape appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

There truly is an app to help with every single aspect of our lives – and when it comes to our work lives, finding one that helps our time management and productivity is crucial! As a PA or EA in NYC, there are a number of apps that can help you work smarter by making organizing, scheduling and sorting easy. Below, we’ve highlighted five of the best to make your life as a personal assistant as easy as possible.

Top apps for NYC PAs

Dav El Boston Coach

davelbostoncoach.com/dav-el-bostoncoach-mobile-app/

Getting your principal to where they need to be, when they need to be there, is an essential part of your PA duties. One of the best apps for executive assistants in the transport category is the Dav El Boston Coach app. You need reliable transportation that is there when you want it, and this app delivers.

The app gives you your driver’s information (including profile picture), car model and ETA, so you know who to expect, and when. Whether you need a local ride in NYC or want a car to collect your principal from the airport, this car service app does it all. The interface is straightforward to use so that you can arrange a car for your boss from the palm of your hand.

Once the car service pickup is organized, you’ll receive a confirmation sent to you or your principal. You can also edit the required pickup or drop off location directly from the app.

What makes this app different from other rideshare apps, such as Uber, are the incredible range of premium vehicles on offer. From luxury sedans to motor coaches, you’ll be able to find the ride to suit your principal.

OpenTable: Restaurants near me

https://apps.apple.com/app/id296581815

When it comes to apps for NYC, one to find the perfect table in the best restaurant for your principal is essential. The OpenTable app is ideal for the busy executive assistant, as you will be able to find available spots for anything from a business lunch to a late bite to eat.

Intuitive search filters help you narrow down your search to neighborhood or cuisine, and you can reserve a table right from the app. You can also see photos of the restaurant and read reviews. If your principal has a favorite spot, you’ll be able to rebook directly through the app, as well as suggest new restaurants that are up and coming. Best of all? The sheer number of restaurants (52,000 around the world and counting) will make sure you’re able to organize the perfect table.

delivery.com: Order Food, Alcohol & Laundry

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/delivery-com-food-alcohol/id435168129

If you’re looking for the best executive assistant app for organizing deliveries of essentials, then this is for you. Whether your principal is looking for a special whiskey as a gift for a client, or has a midnight craving for his favorite dish, delivery.com has it all.

Instead of using different apps for your groceries, laundry, gifts, catering and alcohol, delivery.com has it all under one roof. It will save you time as you can organize everything through an intuitive interface, reorder easily and choose between pick up or delivery. With over 15,000 different outlets, it’s a huge help when you’re run off your feet organizing your principal’s errands.

24me

https://www.twentyfour.me/

Voted as the “best app to get organized” by Forbes, CNN, and USA Today, 24me is an award-winning app that helps you with everything in your day-to-day executive assistant duties. It’s an easy-to-use app that keeps everything across various schedules all in one place.

The app syncs with all your calendars to make sure you and your principal are where you need to be. Smart alerts give you notifications when you need to leave for a meeting based on current traffic conditions, so you can always get your boss there on time. You also get a snapshot of your to-do list and meeting schedule for the next day, so you can prepare before you log off for the night.

24me also allows you to share your schedules and tasks with others, which is very helpful when you’re working with a team of assistants. Alongside notifying you of special occasions, you’re also able to buy and send gifts directly through the app. You can also add tags, color codes and emojis to your tasks to make it easy to read.

Expensify

https://www.expensify.com/

Although an essential part of your PA duties, keeping track of expenses can feel time-consuming and tedious. That’s where Expensify comes in. It allows you to track payments and receipts on the go. Simply snap a photo of your receipt and the app automatically transcribes it.

The app can also categorize and code each receipt so you can easily submit expenses for reimbursement. Track personal receipts, submit expenses and collect reports from colleagues, all from the app. Dubbed a “virtual accountant” by the Wall Street Journal, the Expensify app is used by executives of all levels for reliable expense tracking.

It also works with receipts in any currency and can use GPS tracking for mileage reports. If you use another accounting program, it’s likely the app will be able to work alongside it where necessary.

The post The best apps for executive assistants in NYC appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Are you looking to kick-start a career as a personal assistant? Do you have the perfect skillset for this challenging role, but can’t quite put it into words?

We’ve all been there – it can be tricky to write about yourself in a way that shows off your best qualities. That’s why we’ve put together an ideal PA resume example and tips to help get you on the right track.

Of course, no two resumes will ever be the same. The trick to a great personal assistant resume is to take all your achievements and experience, before tailoring to highlight those most relevant to the job at hand.

What should a personal assistant resume include?

A PA’s resume should include a profile (or bio), personal details, your skills, employment history, achievements, education and interests. Your personal details, employment history, and education will always need to remain untouched, so let’s look at the areas you can use to your advantage.

Profile – the elevator pitch

The profile section of your resume is where you can really sell yourself for the specific job at hand. And just like any great sales pitch, it should be brief, compelling and to-the-point.

It’s an opportunity to shine a light on the most impressive, relevant points from elsewhere in your experience, as well as flaunt your passion for the role.

In our personal assistant resume example, the aspiring jobseeker has noted their skills, desirable traits, and motivation for seeking a PA role.

Skills – the test drive

The hiring manager will want to see that your abilities are up to scratch for the job – to kick the tires as it were. So, you’ll need to demonstrate you have all the bells and whistles they want.

While you mustn’t change the job titles or dates in your employment history, you certainly should cherry-pick the most relevant duties those jobs entailed, and the skills they taught you.

These are known as ‘transferable skills’, and you’ll have many more than you might suspect! Our example jobseeker’s previous role as a waitress taught them to be calm under pressure, as well as the importance of timely service. Another role as an office administrator involved proofreading and travel booking, while another lists expenses management – those all sound like classic PA skills to us!

Achievements – the proof

Alongside your employment history and key responsibilities, you should list your achievements in the roles. Why? These demonstrate exactly what you contributed to your previous employer and how it benefited them. Keeping your achievements concise and to-the-point will allow your future employer to quickly envision how you might also add value to their business.

Interests – the charm

It may seem like a minor section of a resume, but writing about your interests is the most powerful way to get across your personality. The clue is in the job title, Personal Assistant – you’ll need to show why you’ll click with your principal!

You can be especially selective here, depending on the business or individual you’re applying to work with. Think about aspects of your hobbies and passions that further highlight your suitability for the role.

Our example personal assistant resume talks about taking part in football tournaments since childhood. You can frame this as being a natural team-player, with the dedication to stick at it for the long haul. Likewise, a love of traveling may not seem relevant, but didn’t that require a knack for planning, preparation, flight and accommodation booking? All music to the ears of a PA hiring manager!

By applying these tips, you can turn a stale, uninformative resume into one that hits all the important points, and does so in your own unique voice. This will immediately help you stand out from the competition, especially in such a personality-focused role as a PA.

Download PDF here:

Tiger Recruitment – Personal Assistant resume template

Ready to put that freshly polished resume to work? Apply for PA roles on our jobs board now!

The post Writing a personal assistant resume appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

This year has already shown how exciting the future of technology is and the enormous potential it holds for humanity. Technological advancements are coming in thick and fast, transforming the way we live, interact and work. If you work in tech and are hiring digital staff, you’ll already be well aware!

No matter how hard you try to stay on top of this flood of software, gadgets and trends, sometimes the pace of technological innovation outruns us all. So, it’s good practice to regularly set aside time to take in the tech landscape and reorient yourself – particularly if you’re a professional looking for a job in tech. We’ve been doing just that and have singled out five tech advancements that will have a big impact on your working life for years to come.

These are some of the exciting trends in technology we’re following closely:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

AI and ML have already revolutionized the way we use technology, and this trend is set to continue. AI writing tool ChatGPT has been on everybody’s lips this year, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Companies from Google to Snapchat are beginning to incorporate AI tools into their platforms to improve user experience. Many other AI-powered devices and applications will follow suit, becoming ever more sophisticated, personalized and widespread, thereby improving efficiency and decision-making in industries like healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.

Professionals in many industries have already been discovering new ways to streamline their work with AI tools, from helping to write blog posts, to creating marketing plans, and even spotting errors in coding.

2. Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things is the name given to the increasingly large ecosystem of internet-connected devices. These days, this includes everything from doorbells to watches and baby monitors, and the list is growing.

The IoT will continue to connect devices and sensors, creating a vast source of data that can be analyzed and utilized to enhance various sectors, including smart cities, transportation, and agriculture.

3. Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR)

From its humble beginnings as gimmicky sci-fi goggles, VR (and later AR) has grown massively in quality and application. With mega-corporations like Google and Meta investing heavily, these technologies will continue to improve, making it possible to create immersive experiences for users in various fields such as gaming, education and healthcare.

4. 5G Technology

5G networks will provide faster and more reliable connectivity, enabling improved data transfer and supporting the growth of IoT and other emerging technologies. As the networks are rolled out in more locations, including developing markets, the possibility for increased global trade and seamless collaboration between businesses will skyrocket.

5. Quantum Computing

At the cutting edge of tech innovation is the hugely exciting quantum computing. This ground-breaking technology will revolutionize data processing, allowing for faster and more efficient computation, with potential applications in fields such as cryptography, logistics, and drug discovery.

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Overall, the future of technology looks incredibly promising, with many exciting advancements on the horizon that will help to solve some of the world’s most significant challenges. But they will also have untold impacts on our personal and working lives. Keeping one eye on these evolving technologies will ensure you’re in a good position to seize the opportunities they present.

We work with digital and tech professionals who have the skills and knowledge to keep your business at the forefront of its field. Get in touch today to benefit from their expertise.

The post Five tech innovations you should know – and how businesses are using them appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

As an executive assistant, to say you complete a plethora of different tasks would be an understatement. While it may seem overwhelming at times, technology can help to complete some of these tasks quickly and efficiently. From managing diaries to arranging events and transport, embracing new technology can serve to increase productivity and reduce errors. As one of the leading job agencies, we’ve put together three technology trends and tools to help you in your day-to-day working life.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Certain tasks can be repetitive and time-consuming. By using specific AI technologies, however, you can reduce how much time is spent on these, enabling you to focus on more strategic tasks. Using AI can also help to reduce the risk of human error, such as double-booking meetings or buying plane tickets on the wrong day. Technologies like x.ai, for example, can schedule multiple calendars and coordinate optimal times for meetings for you[1]. The software responds to meeting requests via email and suggests times that suit all participants based on time zones, time between meetings and your principal’s desired meeting time.

In a trend report conducted by Advanced[2] in 2019, 34% of administrative professionals stated that they have some exposure to AI technologies on a daily basis (up from 26% in 2018), thus proving it’s becoming more popular.

Specialized cloud software

Specialized cloud software offers a number of benefits and is generally easy to use, with one benefit being increased flexibility. As an EA with a busy schedule, cloud software allows you to access your files from anywhere in the world.

Cloud software is also better for the environment compared to a paper-based system[3]. Where you may have previously churned through hundreds of sheets of paper a week when reporting, managing expenses or arranging travel, using cloud software can minimize this. This could be using something as simple as Google Drive, or a more specialized system like Workday (finance) or Splunk (IT).

Collaboration software

Good communication is essential. You’re required to liaise with a number of different people internally and externally, so using collaborative applications and software could make your job significantly easier. Applications such as Slack[4] allow you to share files and receive responses from colleagues instantly. Individual or group conversations are possible – and everything is searchable in Slack so you can quickly catch up on past conversations.

As you can see from the above list, embracing technology when completing your daily tasks may prove to be extremely beneficial for your overall productivity. It will also free up your time to work on tasks that require a human touch, like managing an office move, or communicating with your Principal’s clients.

Ready To Hire an EA?

Tiger Recruitment is here to assist. We specialize in matching individuals and businesses with the perfect EA to meet your unique needs. Our team is here to guide you through the process, ensuring you find the right fit for your lifestyle and business. Read our ultimate guide to hiring an EA and get in touch to start the hiring process.

[1] https://x.ai/how-it-works/

[2] https://www.oneadvanced.com/trends-report/

[3] https://www.techrepublic.com/article/going-green-10-ways-to-make-your-office-more-eco-friendly-and-efficient/

[4] https://slack.com/intl/en-gb/

Written by Beckie Jordan for Advanced

The post The top technology trends in EAs appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Commonly raised at half-year or annual appraisals, it may come as a surprise to hear that many people don’t actually set achievable career goals (or understand the value in doing so). At Tiger, we’ve found that the process of setting career goals can be clouded by misconceptions and misunderstandings, even among experienced professionals with many years under their belts[1].

To help you set achievable professional goals and establish where you want to be, we’ve decided to bust a few common myths on this subject.

Common questions asked about setting career goals

Not everyone can have career goals, can they?

So, let’s start with the most obvious myth – only people high up the hierarchy should take the time to set career goals. They’re reserved for the top managers, CEOs and anyone else who has a huge title that precedes their name.

Not true! Setting long-term career goals is something everyone should do, regardless of their position, experience, or industry they’re working in. Whether you’re a designer fresh out of college, a pastry shop owner, or a CFO of the biggest bank in the world, you’re entitled to take time to figure out exactly what you want out of your career. So, no matter where you are, grab a pen and start writing!

Professional development goals require a lot of time and energy, don’t they?

While developing your goals is going to require some time and effort, it’s often the very task of creating them in the first place that seems so overwhelming. Many people give up before they even begin, which is a mistake!

To help you get started, it’s important to spend some time simply thinking about where you want to be in one, five, or ten years (depending on the scope of your goals). Having a firm idea in place of where you want to be will make it that much easier to come up with a few achievable goals.

I should follow a certain process, shouldn’t I?

It’s true that there are some established tools, methods and patterns that you can use when you set up your career goals (or any goals for that matter) — one of the most famous being the SMART method^[1]. Using a method like this is definitely very useful, especially if you’re a beginner and this is your first time setting goals.

On the other hand, using these well-worn strategies can also be limiting, especially if your goal is innovative or unique. If you find that your goals simply don’t fit into a pattern and you need to draw outside of the lines a little, that is completely fine.

It’s not enough to simply set them, is it?

The (perceived) mountain of establishing your career aspirations is quite high. Unfortunately, this is only the first step. Following through is much more important since it makes all the difference in the end. So, how can you make sure that your goals don’t just stay written on a piece of paper?

One thing you could do is have a buddy – a partner, a friend, a coach – someone who will follow through with you and who will keep you accountable. Another important thing is to break down your goals into smaller actions to follow through every month, week, or even day. That way you’ll be able to see whether or not you’re making progress and you can easily correct yourself if you’re going down the wrong path.

It’s better to just focus on my current situation, isn’t it?

When setting long-term career goals, most people tend to focus on their present issues. Let’s say you’re looking for a job and your first goal is to get hired at a good company. Logically, you would sharpen up your CV^[2]and focus on improving your LinkedIn page. While these are great initial actions, it’s also important to look at a holistic approach to your goals. In this example, a person looking for a job should also think about how industry events, networking, improving their portfolio and learning additional skills will help them in the long term.
Even if you’re not looking to move on from your current role, don’t underestimate the value of looking at all your options. For example, if you want to expand your client base, posting regular articles on LinkedIn will help you become known as a thought leader for your particular niche.

Try to think outside the box when considering your career aspirations, because sometimes the best opportunities come to us unexpectedly. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that, no matter what our original plans were, a positive mindset and adaptable goals can present new opportunities to improve our situation and grow even further – through a new role, a new relationship or simply a new activity.

[1] https://career-intelligence.com/career-misconceptions/

^[2] www.wikihow.com/Set-SMART-Goals

^[3] www.upskillcoach.com/blog/12-tips-resume-social-media-cv-online-presence

^[4] www.qeedle.com/licensee-vs-franchisee-which-works-best

The post Career goals: Separating fact from fiction appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

The festive period is known to be a joyful time, but also an incredibly demanding one!  With long ‘to-do’ lists, extra obligations and deadlines all around, even the most laid-back person can feel the pressure.  Add looking for a new job into the mix and winter can easily be the most stressful time of the year!  So, here are our self-care tips to help you reduce stress while job hunting over the festive season.

Stay social

It’s easy to become so focused on the ‘employee’ part of your identity that you forget about the other parts of your life. Spend time with friends and family, especially over the festive period, to remind yourself of why you work and what is most important in your life.

Create a shortlist of vacancies

When you feel stressed about getting a new job it can be easy to go for every opportunity you see, make a big list and send your CV to everyone! That means more things to track, more interviews to organize, and more stress each day.

By all means, make a long list of all of the vacancies you see but, rather than applying for everything, have a real think about what you want, where your skills lie, and whether the salary/benefits are right for you.

If you jump head first into a job that’s not right, just because you are feeling overwhelmed about the job-hunting process, you will find yourself back looking for a job faster than ever! Take your time, and narrow down the list of options.

Take a break

Do not burn out. If you spend all day and night thinking about it, searching for roles, and sending applications in, you will run out of steam and the stress will build. Like any project, set times to work on it, and times to relax and recuperate. When you are not working or looking for a job, try and get a change of scene – go outside, or even to a different room or space in your home and do something without a screen for an hour. It will help you immensely.

Break down the tasks

It’s common to assume that if you don’t start searching today that you’ll miss the job opportunity of a lifetime but, if you rush into it, you will be unprepared and anxious. Instead, break down the big task of finding a new job into smaller, more manageable ones, and give yourself time to complete each activity.

For instance, on the first two days you can work on updating your CV. On Days Three and Four, you can perfect your cover letter, and on Days Five and Six you can work on your LinkedIn profile. A week to prepare is not too much to ask of yourself and a plan will help to stop you from panicking.

Stay positive

It can be challenging to think of a positive future when you are stuck in a mire of anxiety and stress, but having a positive attitude will help you stay upbeat and it will be much more attractive to recruiters.  Even if you’ve suffered rejection to date, remember that it is just an inevitable part of the process and it is not something to dwell on. A positive mindset will help you to learn from rejection and move forwards towards the next opportunity.

Reward yourself

Don’t wait until the acceptance letter to celebrate; reward yourself at each step of the job hunt journey to keep your spirits up and to reflect on what you’ve achieved so far.

Don’t miss the stress

If your anxiety is affecting other areas of your life and health, then it is time to speak to someone about it. Don’t accept that it is a natural part of the process if the job hunt is causing you anxiety attacks, disrupting your sleep, or affecting your relationships. Seek help.

Your next employer wants to see you at your best, so take care of yourself first, and the rest will follow – good luck!

If you’re feeling the job hunt pressure, get in touch with Tiger today. We can help you find your dream role.

The post Seven self-care tips to reduce job-search stress over the festive season appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

Festivities are starting to take shape across the US – the Christmas lights have been switched on and Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You is defrosting as we speak.

The festive season also means that the classic Secret Santa gift swap is upon us once again. Gifting presents to co-workers can contribute to positive morale in the office and add an extra bit of excitement alongside any workplace benefits you might already be offering employees at this time of year.

However, though there are many positives to the concept, there can also be some drawbacks. A recent study found that 58% of Americans are planning to forego spending money on gifts for their colleagues this year.[1] With consumer pressures and the rising cost-of-living; it’s easy to understand why some employees are less than enthusiastic about the gift giving traditions at the office.

There is also some debate about how much employees would like to spend. Many employees will no doubt have different expectations of what the cost might be, and may feel anxious if the price point is more than expected. According to research, the average employee spends $25 for co-workers and $30 on a gift for the boss.[2]

So if you are going to kick off the festive season with a gift-giving initiative, it’s important to take the right approach.

Here are some tips to ensure your Secret Santa efforts are as successful as can be:

Don’t make it compulsory

Making activities like these compulsory can add unwanted stress to a co-workers schedule and trigger office politics. While every employee should be invited to participate, making opting out easy and anonymous will mean there’s no pressure if individuals decide it’s not for them. It also means no-one ends up with a dud gift as everyone has voluntarily chosen to take part and isn’t left grasping at straws at the last minute.

Set a budget

Keep things streamlined with a budget ensures there’s not an imbalance in spending and employees don’t feel excluded. It’s worth ensuring the designated amount is achievable for all participants as well – setting the budget too high could make things awkward.

Consider a wish list or questionnaire

In larger organisations, knowing what to buy for a co-worker can be daunting. Offering the option of filling out a short questionnaire or nominating a wish list can take the stress out of gifting and ensure the allocated budget isn’t wasted on a present that the receiver doesn’t like or use. It’s also worth reminding all employees that gifts could be opened publicly and as such, should be appropriately chosen.

Don’t leave it to the last minute

December is notoriously busy in workplaces, so it’s best to get in early. Consider sending out the initial invite in November, leaving plenty of time for withdrawals, the drawing of names and gift sourcing.

It’s also worth scheduling reminders as you inch closer to the exchange date to make sure no-one is left behind. Sending out an email or company-wide message two weeks, a week and then a few days before will hopefully reduce any frantic last-minute purchases.

Get some help

There are plenty of free programs that can make a gift exchange easier. Drawnames.co.uk, Secret Santa Organiser, Elfster and Sneaky Santa are all free online resources that can automatically arrange the distribution of names amongst offices. Just enter the email addresses of the participants and let the automated programs work their magic. Some programs also include the possibility of adding wish lists and gift suggestions, making the entire process even easier.

[1] https://www.worklife.news/culture/gift-giving-work/

[2] https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2019/12/survey-employees-typically-spend-25-on-coworker.html?page=all

The post Five tips for a successful Secret Santa appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.

For both novice and seasoned interviewers, interviewing for a technical position can seem daunting. If your company is looking to hire a specialist in-house, it may mean you’re in the position of hiring for a role you know little about. If you find yourself in this position with a software engineer, the below guide will help you get the best out of the experience.

What is a software engineer?

The first thing you need to do in preparation for conducting the interview is to understand the role of a software engineer. Software engineering is a segment of computer science that focuses on building and developing computer and applications software. So, when a company wants to hire a software engineer, they will typically refer to either applications engineers or systems engineers.

• Applications engineers develop user-focused programs such as databases and web browsers.
• Systems engineers develop programs such as operations systems and computing utilities.

You or your business may consider employing a software engineer due to the increasing use and reliance on sophisticated and customised technologies, such as mobile technology.

Key skills to look for in a software engineer

Software engineers are in high demand for their skills in developing business applications, middleware, operating systems and network control systems. So, what does a software engineer do and what specific skills do you need to look for on their resume?

Depending on the purpose of hiring, you should look for experience and knowledge in:

• Algorithms and data structures
• Debugging software
• Design and architecture
• Fundamentals of computer science
• Information analysis
• Programming and codebases
• Testing software

It would help if you also looked for the following soft skills, many of which you might look for when interviewing for other roles within your business:

• Attention to detail
• Communication skills
• Cooperation/working well in teams
• Love of learning/innovation
• Perseverance
• Project management

Ten software engineering interview questions

To get you started on the right track towards hiring the best software engineer for your needs, you can weave these software engineer interview questions into your preparation:

• Describe a time you explained a technical project to non-technical stakeholders. How did you ensure everyone understood it?
• Which systems do you use for managing projects and tasks?
• Which programming languages are you most familiar with?
• Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a colleague who had a negative impact on the team. How did you raise the issue of their behaviour and what was the result?
• Describe a situation you’ve encountered when several teammates disagreed. How did you resolve the problem, and what might you do differently in the future?
• When a project leader or manager hands you a task, how do you ensure you’ve completely understood all requirements?
• Tell me about a time you were the lead on a product or application development project. How did you make sure the team worked together to ensure the deadline was met?
• Describe an instance where you had a critical application error. How did you and your team work through the emergency, and what you might do differently in the future?
• Which of the following have you used: Agile, XP, Scrum, Lean, or PRINCE2? Which is your favourite project methodology?
• Describe the process you use for writing code and how you make sure it is capable of handling various error situations.

You might also like to delve deeper into your candidate’s experience in updating outdated systems, designing scalable applications, and working under stress.

The post How to identify a fantastic software engineer: an interviewer’s guide appeared first on Tiger Recruitment.