WHAT WILL THE NEW GOVERNMENT MEAN FOR EXECUTIVE JOB SEEKERS?

Despite a week of uncertainty, a new government has been decided, with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats forming an unlikely partnership. The good news for executive job seekers is that this is likely to provide stability to the burgeoning employment market and reinforce the confidence being shown by hiring managers in recent months.

But will a settled parliament really provide more opportunities for high–profile candidates? Derek Pilcher, managing director of TheLadders.co.uk speaks to Philip Shaw, chief economist at international banking specialist, Investec.

‘Looking ahead over the next year, it is likely that the country will experience a recovery in the economy, which will have a positive effect on the state of jobs’ says Shaw whose firm is listed on the Stock Exchange. While it may have appeared like doom and gloom during the downturn, the last 12 months hasn't seen unemployment reach three million people like previously predicted.

Will cuts impact those jobs in the public sector? ‘We are not expecting anything particularly cataclysmic. We think that cost cutting in the public sector will be centred on trying to control wages and mass layoffs are unlikely.’

Shaw believes the private sector will see growth, with jobs being created slowly but surely over the next 18 months as the UK emerges from the recession. Ironically, one hurdle jobseekers may have to leap is how well organisations have dealt with the downturn. He says that many companies have deployed innovative measures to hold on to their staff members rather than make them redundant, which could slow the growth of jobs in the short term. But Shaw suggests this will not stop unemployment levels falling as the year progresses.

High–profile executives may also have cause for celebration as the economist predicted "over the medium term that the recovery [will create] new jobs" in this end of the market as well. Expanding on this, he explained that the UK's tax structure will have an effect, but he said forecasts that major players will move abroad to overcome charges is unlikely, which will ensure Britain's top talent stays here and finds work.

So, all in all, it appears that 2010 and 2011 will prove to be fruitful for those who are seeking a job. Mr Shaw's comments support the opinions of other leading industry experts who are becoming more optimistic of the fruits an upturn will bear, following the harsh winter of the recession. Now it remains for executive job seekers to make sure they are prepared to reap the rewards of the recovery too.

SCORE A GOAL WITH THE BOSS

With the Football World Cup kick-off only a few weeks away, many employees will be keen to show the support for their country by cheering on their team during the games, wearing their national colours and even heading to the tournament in South Africa, and UK bosses have revealed showing your team pride in the office can help your career prospects – but be warned you don’t cross the line or you could be red-carded.

A survey of 900 UK bosses by management careers site site TheLadders.co.uk found that 54% believe supporting a common team with your peers and boss can help with career prospects, whilst nearly half (47%) think sharing a favourite team can open doors within a company.

Eighty-four percent of respondents in the survey agreed that football matches are a great conversation starter and way of getting noticed in the workplace, and by supporting the same team, 20% have themselves scored seats with the boss to match games.

However, of those surveyed, some also believe that supporting a team can hinder your career. Fifty-eight percent agree that as a rival supporter you can become the butt of office jokes. Forty seven per cent reveal that you also become a rival to the boss if he or she support a different team with 42% saying this can lead to the “Ronaldo complex” - being excluded by peers and seniors.

Beware you don’t become a hooligan fan though as this won’t go down well with the office coaches and management team. Fifty five per cent of senior management senior management quizzed said wearing football “kit” (and cluttering your desk with football souvenirs) can get you relegated.

Derek Pilcher, Managing Director of TheLadders.co.uk says, “The Football World Cup presents a good opportunity to create light-hearted banter with your colleagues and peers. It is a good way for you to build interpersonal relationships especially if you support the same team as the boss. But be careful you don’t overplay your game, letting your team’s performance affect your behaviour in the office could put you at risk of office relegation.”

HOW A ‘HUNG PARLIAMENT’ CAN REFLECT THE JOB SEARCH PROCESS

If like our political system, your hunt for a good job has resulted in a “hung parliament”, and you don’t seem to be winning enough votes to scoop the prime position, you may need some help with swinging the interview in your favour.

So how do you make sure you differentiate yourself from other candidates for the job? Derek Pilcher from executive careers site TheLadders.co.uk says that there are a number of tried and tested tricks to ensure that you are the stand out from the competition.

‘In order to avoid the position that our political parties found themselves in last week, candidates need to ensure they succeed by a landslide. It’s essential to demonstrate your excellence over the opposition in a variety of ways,’ says Pilcher.

He explains:
1. Your ‘manifesto’ is vital - Your CV is the most important document that you own and could be the difference in making the recruiter's vote 'swing your way'. Ask yourself; is your CV really as effective as it could be in showcasing your skills for the job? Recruiters and hiring companies are only going to contact you if your CV is the one that connects with them.

There are a number of ways to improve your CV. For example we know that our recruiters tend to search by keywords more than anything else. But be warned, don’t overload on buzzwords. It’s a fine balance. Look at the Top 50 Keywords Recruiters Search For to give you an idea of what recruiters on TheLadders.co.uk are currently searching by and review your own CV accordingly.

You may feel that to really present your skills and competencies and could do with a professional eye looking over your document. A CV Service is useful for those looking for significant support or to have a CV written totally from scratch.

2. The ‘debate’ - Make sure that you are fully prepared for anything that a potential employer could throw at you at the interview stage. You will need to be somewhat of a politician in the sense that at times you might need to use a bit of spin to explain why your weaknesses can be seen as opportunities and therefore potentially be portrayed as strengths.

3. Prepare a strong argument - Even if there is another strong candidate in the first interview, you could well get a second chance at the second interview to prove you are the person for the job. Now is the time to really prepare yourself. Make sure you accentuate your experience and focus on how previous jobs and your attitude and personal qualities make you the best person for the job.

VINCE CABLE FOR CEO

With Britain heading to the polling booths this week politicians are being closely analysed about their capabilities for the job. But how do they rate as business people? A recent survey has revealed Vince Cable is the politician senior executives would most like to working in their business.

The poll of 500 of senior management employees by careers site TheLadders.co.uk, put Vince Cable (45%) in the top spot based on his performance on the job. Cable was voted ahead of David Cameron (35%), Nick Clegg (32%), William Hague (31%) and Ken Clarke (29%) with Gordon Brown only coming in sixth place on the list.

The top reasons for choosing those above were because they were ‘strategic, a good thinker’ (28%), exhibited ‘personality, dynamism and motivation’ (19.5%), and had demonstrated a ‘good performance in their current position’ (15.6%) – all attributes that are clearly valued by Britain’s leading executives. 70% of those polled thought that business people would make good politicians however 76% do not rate politicians as business people, perhaps demonstrating Vince Cable’s popularity – with a solid business background, he was once a senior economist at Shell.

The survey also found that 64% of senior executives are optimistic that a change of government will bring improvements to the job market. The party that best represented the needs of the job seeker was the Conservatives (37%), followed by Labour (30%) and the Liberal Democrats (19%).

The specific policies related to improving the job market that managers would like to see in the winning party’s manifesto are:
1. Funding to business to recruit job seekers over the age of 50 (47%)
2. Temporary tax relief for employers hiring to fill new roles (41%)
3. Action on retraining job hunters in transferable skills (39%)
4. Investments in schemes to help businesses employ the long-term unemployed (36%)
5. Focusing on jobs for British nationals (30%)

Derek Pilcher, Managing Director of TheLadders.co.uk says: “There’s a great deal of expectation riding on the election and particularly for the job market which has taken a huge hit during the recession. With unemployment currently standing at 8% and the lowest it’s been since 1996* it’s really important for our politicians to also demonstrate their business skills in helping provide a more secure job market and – hopefully – a return to prosperity.”

Choosing the right attire for a job interview is essential to securing a position according to Britain’s bosses, after a survey found that 37% have decided against hiring someone because of the way they dress.

The study by executive careers site TheLadders.co.uk found that the most important item of clothing male and female executives should invest in is a good interview suit. Sixty seven per cent of bosses surveyed said that an outfit should cost in excess of £300, with 94% saying an obviously cheap suit would have the candidate walking out of the door as quickly as they walked in.

In the survey senior male and female executives were asked about all aspects of the interview dress code from colours and styles to quality and investment to find the outfits that impress and depress them at interview. The results found that traditional formal interview attire says “hire” irrespective of market sector or industry.

So what attire will get you hire and fired at job interview? Here is a summary of the UK bosses opinions...

Points were scored with tailored navy suits, long sleeved shirts and black leather shoes for men, with trainers and novelty cufflinks a definite no go area. For women mid length skirts, high heels and pearls made the right impression, but it's out with bare legs, flowery patterns and sandals!

Derek Pilcher, Managing Director of TheLadders.co.uk says: “So much time is spent looking at what to communicate verbally in an interview and yet candidates often rummage at the back of the wardrobe for the old interview suit long past its sell by date. What you communicate non-verbally, your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed form an immediate impression with your interviewer. These first impressions are nearly always impossible to reverse or undo. Your suit sets the tone for the interview so make it the right one. ‘