Hays UK jobs and employment blog

    Below is a transcript of the podcast: Digital technology is undeniably having a huge impact on both society and the workplace, generating unprecedented and constant change. It also brings potentially endless opportunities for organisations to innovate and outperform their competitors – but only if they are able to effectively overcome the barriers they face...

It can be common to have gaps within your CV. Examples can range from looking after a family member or applying for a new job. You may have been travelling abroad, spent your time caring for your children, or decided to go back to education.  Gaps are becoming more and more common within people’s careers, as many people find themselves working until they reach their 70s and 80s....

For a wide variety of reasons, workers are increasingly taking time out from their career. ‘Returnship’ programmes can help organisations effectively and efficiently bring them back. In the latest Hays Journal, we explore what you need to consider before putting such programmes in place. There’s no let-up in the war for talent and skills. Availability of key skills, in particular, is a...

With the evolution of new technologies continuing to rapidly transform our day to day lives, organisations are under pressure to provide a working environment that is conducive to digital transformation. Happily, according to our latest research in the Hays What Workers Want 2019 report, 72% of HR employers are currently investing in automation and professionals within the HR industry are very...

Automation technology holds the key to potentially revolutionising the accountancy and finance profession. It acts as an alternative to manual processing, unlocking opportunities for professionals to reduce the workload of administrative tasks and instead add greater human value, analysis, insight and creativity to their role. It’s therefore unsurprising that our What Workers Want...

The pace of digital transformation and its impact on every aspect of both our professional and personal lives shows no sign of abating. Organisations will need to ensure that their culture, communications and training is adequately prepared for this change or risk losing the talent they need to successfully adopt new technology. According to our latest research in the Hays What...

    Digital technology and automation is transforming the world around us, including the workplace. The automation of certain functions should allow procurement professionals to enact more strategic innovation within their organisation, as doing so should allow them to spend less time extracting data and more time interpreting it to better support their case for change. It is...

Operating on the front line of the automation revolution, tech professionals are finding themselves in the enviable position of building and integrating the technology that is transforming workplaces across the world. This is reflected in the optimism demonstrated by the technology respondents surveyed for the Hays What Workers Want 2019 report , with an overwhelming 90% of tech...

When it comes to work, the summer months offer the thrill of setting your favourite out-of-office reply: ‘I am currently on annual leave and will respond to your email upon my return.’ Of course, after your holiday you should return refreshed and ready to tackle whatever your inbox throws at you. But what if the thought of returning to work fills you with dread, and the typical...

Experienced teacher Katie Scott, shares her advice for those about to embark on a new role in teaching. Whether you’re an NQT or an experienced teacher taking the next step in your career, you may find the following useful. The advice below draws from my own personal experiences of teaching. 1. If you can, spend a day or two in your new school before you start - this will allow...

Tweet   Summer is officially here. However, aside from some unexpected rain, there is one thing that is sure to put a dampener on any employer’s enjoyment of the hot weather: being short-staffed due to holidays when deadlines are looming or customer demand is peaking. Of course, you and your colleagues have earned your...

Pride is an opportunity to celebrate diversity and a reminder that we should be free to be ourselves. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that served as a catalyst for the Gay Rights Movement so if we ever needed an excuse to celebrate, there it is! I travel a lot in my job and this year there definitely seems to more companies flying the flag for the LGBTQ+...

Skype interviews have become a common feature of the recruitment process, so don’t be surprised if your prospective employer suggests a virtual meet-up ahead of a  face-to-face interview . Instead, use these steps to prepare your brilliant (virtual) first impression. 1. Set the scene First and foremost, think about where you are going to have your Skype interview – your home...

Job interviews can be a daunting prospect. However, the best way to banish the butterflies is through preparation. To help you with this, I’ve outlined the 3 most common types of interview questions, and how you should be answering them. The 3 types of job interview question We have broken down the 3 most common types of interview questions. Crucially, we have also explained...

You’ve been visualising this day repeatedly in your head - that final day of term before the summer holidays. Last bell, books down and walking out of the school gates… Before you can truly luxuriate in that holiday feeling make sure that you have taken some time to reflect on everything you have achieved this year and determine what you would like to accomplish going forward. Get the...

“It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so that they can tell us what to do.”  Steve Jobs, Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Apple Inc “I surround myself with people who have knowledge and talents in areas where I might not be so well versed.”  Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group “I will only hire someone...

The role of executive assistant (EA) is changing, evolving to make better use of technology and offer more strategic input into business operations. To keep up with the rapid pace of change, both aspiring and experienced PAs and EAs need to take steps to operate more as business managers than traditional assistants. To find out how best to do this, we spoke to Lisa Neath, an...

It is undeniable that many organisations today are navigating an often-uncertain market, from political uncertainty and economic pressures through to the digital transformation of the workplace. Procurement teams must therefore be more adaptable than ever before to be able to continue delivering optimal solutions for their organisation. The result of the changes taking place all around...

According to the renowned American psychologist, Dr. Martin Seligman, there is a simple formula which can be used to boost happiness and wellbeing: the ‘PERMA’ model. This formula is made up of five elements, which includes positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and achievement. To help explain more about how we can apply this in the workplace, we spoke with Gordon...

Are you a data scientist and budding writer who wants to set up your own magazine? Perhaps you’re a busy managerial accountant who dreams of one day running photography workshops at the weekends? Or maybe you’re a teacher who wants to generate additional income by selling your metalwork sculptures? These are all real stories of real people that have successfully set up their own ‘side...