The Sales Director News

Govt to increase job incentives

30 July 2010 12:41:02

The government is bidding to increase the incentives to move into sales jobs and other roles by shaking up the benefits system, it has emerged.

Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith announced that income support and housing benefit could be combined with the tax credit system as the coalition aims to make recruitment opportunities even more attractive.

Unveiling proposals which include supplementing monthly household earnings through credit payments reflecting current circumstances, including children, housing and disability, Mr Duncan Smith said the government wants to make it clear that being in a job is more fruitful than choosing to be unemployed.

"We want to simplify the system to make it clear that work will always pay. Our reforms should also ensure the system is easier for individuals to understand and will reduce the high costs of fraud and error," he said.

It comes after the new administration revealed that the current default retirement age of 65 will be abandoned by October 2011, as the government aims to help and encourage people in sales jobs and other roles to work for longer "against the backdrop of demographic change".

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to hire in your sales team Aaron Wallis offer the UKs most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Default retirement age is scrapped by govt

29 July 2010 14:05:17

People in sales jobs will be able to work past the age of 65 without being forced to retire, following proposals published for consultation by the government.

The new administration revealed that the current default retirement age of 65 will be abandoned by October 2011, as the government aims to help and encourage people in sales jobs and other roles to work for longer "against the backdrop of demographic change".

Employment relations minister Edward Davey said that with more and more people wanting to extend their working lives, the move will give them "greater choice".

"Older workers bring with them a wealth of talent and experience as employees and entrepreneurs. They have a vital contribution to make to our economic recovery and long-term prosperity," he explained.

The new consultation also proposes to help employers by removing the "administrative burden" of statutory retirement procedures.

Recently, Rachel Krys, campaign director for the Employers Forum on Age, said that the best workforces are often made up of people representing a very broad age spectrum, with older people often providing vital experience.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to hire in your sales team Aaron Wallis offer the UKs most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Job opportunities in London 'will pick up'

28 July 2010 14:25:03

There will be an increase in the number of recruitment opportunities in London in the coming weeks as companies begin to take on more staff, a new report has suggested.

Research carried out by Morgan McKinley suggests that half of hiring managers in the capital's financial services sector will be upping their recruitment drives in the second half of 2010 as the fallout of the economic downturn begins to dissipate.

Andrew Evans, managing director of the organisation, commented: "As anticipated at the start of the year, hiring in 2010 was expected to rise significantly compared to 2009 levels and this has proven to be the case."

The research also showed that 55 per cent of hiring managers feel that finding candidates with the right skills and experience is more difficult than a year ago.

It follows comments by Kevin Green, chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, who pointed out that the economic outlook is now far more positive than at the start of the year, with companies likely to recruit in the near future.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to hire in your sales team Aaron Wallis offer the UK's most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Directors of small firms 'more optimistic about growth'

27 July 2010 14:51:14

Directors of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are more optimistic about future growth than those at large organisations, according to a new report.

The newly-released NYSE Euronext CEO Report, entitled 'Back to Business', shows that eight in ten directors of SMBs expect either a significant or modest improvement in the growth of their businesses over the next 12 months as the worldwide economy improves.

Conversely, only 38 per cent of directors in large firms believe that business will improve over the next year.

Duncan Niederauer, chief executive of NYSE Euronext 2011, said the report is a positive indicator that companies will be taking on more staff in the near future.

"While the participating CEOs express the fact that there remains a great deal of work yet to be done, their renewed optimism and confidence in the growth of their businesses is an indication that the economy is headed in the right direction," he said.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Economic growth 'will lead to job creation'

26 July 2010 14:46:44

The growth in the UK's economy in the second quarter of the year is likely to lead to many more new staff being hired, one expert has predicted, which includes sales recruitment.

Kevin Green, chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, said that the economic outlook is far more positive than at the start of the year, with companies likely to recruit in the near future.

His comments follow the publication of figures by the Office for National Statistics which showed 1.1 per cent growth in the country's economy between April and June 2010 - almost double the 0.6 per cent growth rate expected by economists.

Mr Green explained: "The fact that we have the fastest quarterly expansion since 2006 will improve business confidence and should encourage firms to start hiring new staff. Recruitment industry data confirms that demand for staff in the private sector has already been growing over recent months."

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to hire in your sales team Aaron Wallis offer the UK's most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Sales directors need to lead by example and switch off

23 July 2010 15:55:00

It is important for people in senior management positions to lead by example and switch off whilst out of the office, according to an expert.

Ben Willmott, senior public policy advisor for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), said that if people in sales jobs are working into the night then their managers need to advise them to change their behaviour.

"As a manager, you should be leading by example and getting out the office when you can, taking a break of some shape or form and encouraging your staff to take a break as well," he suggested.

The expert added that workers need to get the correct work-life balance and working long hours can eventually have negative effects and reduce their productivity.

In other news, the Institute of Leadership and Management recently suggested that more than one third of managers work while on annual leave.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to recruit sales staff, Aaron Wallis offers the UK's most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and backed by a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For sales director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Expert: Gender pay gap still needs to be solved

22 July 2010 15:55:00

Women searching for sales jobs should be able to earn the same amount of money as their male counterparts, according to one organisation which said that the gender pay gap still exists, and needs to be addressed.

A Trades Union Congress (TUC) spokesperson said that although there has been major progress over the last two decades, more needs to be done to address the gender pay gap.

"Around three in ten women earn more than their partners ... girls have been outperforming boys in education for over a decade, but this advantage has failed to fully translate into the workplace," she stated.

The expert added that many women have become the main breadwinner of a house because of the recession and she believes this could see a new section of British males turn into stay-at-home fathers.

According to the Women and Work Survey 2010, commissioned by Grazia Magazine, nearly 50 per cent of the 2,000 women questioned earn either more or as much as their partners.

Aaron Wallis is a specialist sales recruitment agency that offers the UKs most inclusive service offering that includes psychometric profiling and online skills testing. Your investment in new staff is backed by a unique 12 months rebate scheme.

Body language could make the difference for sales jobseekers

21 July 2010 15:55:00

Keeping nerves and body language under control is so important in sales jobs interviews, according to an expert, who said that getting these things right is key to capturing the right job.

Body language expert Drew McAdam told STV.tv about the importance of making a good first impression, producing a good handshake and mirroring the movements of the interviewer.

"People do not realise that the physiology between nerves and excitement are exactly the same; the sweating palms, the heart racing and the butterflies in your stomach. The only difference is in your mind, it's how you perceive what you are experiencing," he stated.

As well as having a good, firm handshake, interviewees also need to ensure that they use open and relaxed body language rather than staring at the table or sitting with their arms folded.

The Financial Post recently reported on the body language faux pas that female politicians make, which included excessive smiling and too much head tilting.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to recruit sales staff, Aaron Wallis offers the UK's most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and backed by a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Gov't needs to support positive employment figures

20 July 2010 15:59:00

The recent positive figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are great news for people looking for sales jobs and the sales recruitment industry in general, however the government needs to support job creation to make the most of them, according to an expert.

David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce stated that now is the right time for the new coalition government to do "everything in its power" to encourage job creation in the private sector.

"These figures are much better than expected. Employment is up, unemployment is down, and there has been a fall in the level of inactivity ... trends over the past year have been negative and the impact of the tough measures in the Budget will only be seen next year," he stated.

Small and medium-sized businesses would benefit the most from government support, according to the expert.

The ONS figures revealed that the employment rate for the three months to May 2010 was 72.3 per cent, up 0.3 on the quarter.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to recruit sales staff, Aaron Wallis offers the UK's most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and backed by a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

More sales directors 'taking an active interest in their teams'

19 July 2010 18:12:06

Sales directors should take an active interest in their staff and office morale if they are to get as much as possible from their teams, an expert has claimed.

Shaf Rasul, dragon for Dragon's Den online and a judge for the 2010 Orange Leader of the Year Award, has suggested that taking this approach can get staff more involved in the business and lead to them making suggestions to improve the company.

He said that employees' views on what makes a good manager have also changed as a result of the recession.

"The most important skill and trait of a leader is now being seen as being good with budgets," he explained.

Mr Rasul added that leading by example is one of the key traits for bosses, along with being firm but fair and ensuring that an employee is not asked to do anything that the manager would not do.

His comments follow research for the 2010 Orange Leader of the Year Award that found 56 per cent of bosses have actively changed their leadership stance to appear to be part of their team, with one in three taking a more active interest in their workforce's welfare.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to hire in your sales team Aaron Wallis offer the UKs most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk

Posted by Nikki Barrister and John Oak

REC: Recruitment 'has a key role in creating a diverse financial services sector'

16 July 2010 18:12:05

A leading organisation has praised government efforts to address the gender imbalance in the financial services and accountancy sector and the role of recruitment in this.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has identified issue such as gender pay gaps, flexible working and parental leave as issues it should tackle.

Bill Haynes, chair of REC's accounting and financial services division, said it is "encouraging" that there is such a commitment to making recruitment in this industry fairer.

He emphasised the importance of recruitment in helping to bring innovative solutions to the problems facing the industry.

Mr Haynes added: "It needs to be accepted by both clients and candidates that most of the existing recruitment practices in our sector can lead to the same people, on the same boards who are then prone to 'group think'."

Recent research published by Buck Consultants, a Xerox Company, has highlighted the fact that many employers are promoting a work-life balance as a good way to cut stress in the workplace, which could make a firm more attractive to applicants.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to hire in your sales team Aaron Wallis offer the UKs most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk

Posted by Wayne Bly and Nikki Barrister

Construction and science sector jobs 'increase'

15 July 2010 18:12:05

The official unemployment figures released yesterday are positive for the construction and science sectors, an expert has claimed.

Applicants looking for construction sales jobs may be in luck, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, which said that these industries are experiencing an upturn.

Kevin Green, chief executive of the organisation, said that the Office for National Statistics' figures which showed that the number of people out of work has fallen by 34,000 during the last quarter are "encouraging".

The statistics suggest that the country could be returning to stability, with this being most noticeable in the jobs market.

He added: "One major concern of ours is the thousands of graduates and school-leavers who will be joining the ranks of job-seekers over the next month."

This could increase demand for graduate sales recruitment agencies, as those who have finished university look for work.

Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, recently claimed that many of those leaving higher education turn to the internet to find jobs.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to hire in your sales team Aaron Wallis offer the UKs most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk

Posted by Wayne Bly and Nikki Barrister

Jobs growth 'continues despite govt austerity measures'

14 July 2010 18:12:04

Companies have maintained their current level of recruitment despite the government's recently-announced austerity measures, new figures have shown.

A report published by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation has shown that the number of organisations predicting that demand for permanent employees will increase in the next quarter has remained static at 14 per cent.

Companies remain as likely to invest in sales recruitment as before the Emergency Budget, as the REC has concluded that the number of both temporary and permanent positions wil show net gains over the next 12 months.

Roger Tweedy, the organisation's director of research, claimed that there will be a strong rise in temporary and interim staffing in both the private and public sectors.

He said: "The longer term trends are encouraging but we may now have to wait until the autumn for further positive momentum to return to the labour market."

One key sector which could see a rise in the number of available sales jobs is the financial services industry, as figures published by the Confederation of British Industry and PricewaterhouseCoopers have shown that the industry is growing at its fastest rate since September 2007.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to hire in your sales team Aaron Wallis offer the UKs most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk

Posted by Wayne Bly and Nikki Barrister

Work-life balance programmes 'good way to cut down employee stress'

13 July 2010 18:12:03

Employers are increasingly offering work-life balance support programmes in order to cut down the stress of their workforce and attract new applicants, a report has suggested.

Figures published by Buck Consultants, a Xerox Company, has found that 46 per cent of employers have looked to implement this type of system, while 45 per cent have offered leadership training on worker stress.

The report concluded that stress in the workplace can contribute to absenteeism and can impact on workplace safety, making it important that these factors are taken into account.

Barry Hall, Buck Consultants' principal, emphasised the fact that companies are responding in many ways to the problems presented by this type of pressure.

He said: "Employers increasingly realise they must address the rising tide of employee stress, and not just to improve employees well-being. Those who ignore stress will take a hit to their bottom line, in higher costs and lower productivity."

One way of relieving employee stress recently highlighted by Andrew Hodgkins, acting managing director of Keith Prowse, is to offer entertainment rewards as part of a benefits package, as this can motivate, boost morale and nurture respect.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to hire in your sales team Aaron Wallis offer the UKs most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk

Posted by Wayne Bly and Nikki Barrister

CBI: Improved infrastructure could boost sales jobs

09 July 2010 18:12:02

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has backed Boris Johnson's plans to boost business in the capital by improving transport links.

Reacting to a speech, which the mayor of London gave to business leaders at an event hosted by Baker & McKenzie, the CBI said that projects, such as Crossrail and the modernisation of the Tube, could help firms to flourish.

"With confidence among London's businesses continuing to improve, Boris is right to bang the drum for continued investment in the capitals infrastructure. Businesses tell the CBI that the mayor is having a positive impact on Londons reputation," said Nigel Bourne, CBI director of the London region.

He added that Mr Johnson must do everything he can to ensure the capital remains attractive to business, allowing London to maintain competitive on the world stage, as this will be important to the UK economy as a whole.

During his speech, Mr Johnson said that London was the "engine room" of the UK and that cutting transport investment would put the UK at a competitive disadvantage.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to recruit sales staff, Aaron Wallis offers the UK's most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and backed by a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Job searching at uni is easier for graduates

09 July 2010 15:59:00

University leavers looking for graduate sales jobs could be at a disadvantage when compared to their counterparts who start their search before they have left campus, according to an expert.

Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, said that looking for employment while still in education is much easier than waiting until after graduation when many roles will have already gone.

"By and large, most graduates decide to look for work when they leave university, by which point they are possibly back at home with their parents, miles away from their uni," he said.

The expert added that at present a lot of university students rely on the internet to provide them with a good place to find new roles, but he thinks institutions should do more to help them with their search.

A recent report from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation found that the recession has had a disproportionate effect on young people getting a job.

Aaron Wallis is a specialist marketing and sales recruitment agency that offers graduate sales jobs across a wide range of industry sectors. For employers, Aaron Wallis offers a unique graduate recruitment service that is backed by a 12 month rebate period.

Posted by John Oak

Companies are looking for adaptable workers

08 July 2010 18:12:01

People looking for sales jobs need to be prepared to work on a variety of different projects, according to an expert, who said an increasing number of firms are looking for widely-skilled employees.

Mike Petrook, spokesperson for the Chartered Management Institute, said that many companies are now using sales recruitment to get workers on board and then use their skills across the company.

He stated that companies are focussing on the immediate needs of a project to ensure it works successfully and efficiently.

After this he believes that firms want to make sure that a worker's transferable skills are passed on to other parts of the business.

The expert added that by using this technique companies are making their businesses more efficient and also developing their employees' skills and experience.

Charlie Ball, deputy research director at Higher Education Careers Services Unit, recently said that sales jobseekers and companies using sales recruitment need to be flexible and forward thinking when approaching employment.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to recruit sales staff, Aaron Wallis offers the UK's most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and backed by a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Equality Act 'makes things clearer for employers'

08 July 2010 18:12:01

The new Equality Act is removing some of the confusion surrounding the issue for companies using sales recruitment agencies, according to an expert, who said that the overall policy could have been better.

Katja Hall, CBI director of HR policy, said that the new bill means there is now one clear piece of legislation for employers to understand, but she thinks the government has made things harder for some companies.

"The Equality Act should in many respects make things clearer and simpler for employers. Bringing nine separate pieces of legislation together in one place should give employers more confidence in addressing diversity in the workplace," she said.

Ms Hall added that by forcing companies to publish average salary figures for men and women could mislead people into thinking that women are paid less than men in the same role, when this is not actually the case.

The government recently stated that the Equality Act is intended to provide a "new cross-cutting legislative framework" to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for workers.

Aaron Wallis is a specialist sales recruitment agency that offers the UKs most inclusive service offering that includes psychometric profiling and online skills testing. Your investment in new staff is backed by a unique 12 months rebate scheme.

Posted by Nikki Barrister

Marc Bolland manages M&S surge

07 July 2010 18:11:58

The new chief executive (CEO) of Marks & Spencer has managed to live up to his reputation for success, which he earned at Morrisons, by delivering impressive sales figures for his new employer.

Marc Bolland took over from former CEO Sir Stuart Rose on May 1st and, since his tenure began, the household retailer has managed to record a third consecutive month of increasing sales.

"Marks & Spencer has delivered another good sales performance in the first quarter, continuing the progress made by the team over the previous year," said Bolland.

Overall UK sales were up 4.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to July 3rd and, excluding newly-opened stores, its like-for-like sales in the UK were up 3.6 per cent, according to the Guardian.

Another senior manager trying to do well in a new environment is John Murray, to whom Spar has given the task of improving sales after it appointed him as development controller for the area.

Aaron Wallis has a dedicated retail sales team filling sales vacancies across a wide spectrum of the retail industry. Offering a 12 month rebate scheme, Aaron Wallis provides a retail recruitment service that is second to none. Aaron Wallis is a UK based sales recruitment agency.

Posted by Wayne Bly

Flexibility is crucial in sales jobs search

07 July 2010 15:55:00

People on the lookout for their ideal sales job may need to be flexible in order to get it, according to an expert, who said that having a 2:1 degree is not the be all and end all.

Charlie Ball, deputy research director at Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU), said that sales jobseekers and companies using sales recruitment need to be flexible and forward thinking when approaching employment.

"Graduates should look to be flexible, particularly in an economy such as the one we are seeing at the moment. So that can mean looking at a range of different options," he said.

The HECSU man added that companies are often trying to recruit people who have skills to suit a very specific role and will not always be bowled over by an impressive degree mark.

Flexibility and perseverance will be needed in the graduate sales jobs market, according to the Association of Graduate Recruiters, which revealed that the average now stands at 69 for every vacancy, compared to 49 last year.

Aaron Wallis is a specialist sales recruitment agency that offers the UK's most inclusive service offering that includes psychometric profiling and online skills testing. Your investment in new staff is backed by a unique 12-months rebate scheme.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Building a skills base is crucial for sales workers

06 July 2010 15:55:00

In the current competitive graduate sales jobs market some university leavers will not get their dream role, but they should use this as an opportunity to develop their skills base, according to one expert.

Carl Gilleard, from the Association of Graduate Recruiters, told the Guardian that graduates need to establish short-term and long-term career goals, which could mean they take a role that is not ideal to start with.

"If it's about flipping burgers or stacking shelves rather than being sat at home feeling sorry for yourself and vegetating. There are lots of other skills required and valued, like people skills: you could be on a counter in a store. It's all about building up your skills base," he said.

The expert added that graduates with 2:2s could be filtered out of the recruitment process in the future due to the high levels of applicants for roles.

Martin Pennington, director of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, said that extracurricular activities are important for graduates who want to stand out and capture their dream sales job.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to recruit sales staff, Aaron Wallis offers the UK's most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and backed by a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Kriss Akabusi gives top sales tips

05 July 2010 15:55:00

People looking for sales jobs need to keep seven top tips in mind, according to one expert, who said that taking inspiration from top athletes can help workers to succeed.

Kriss Akabusi, MBE MA, and three-time Olympic medallist, told Aaron Wallis his top tips for sales success, such as focusing on positive past experiences and engaging fully with tasks which need to be completed.

"Extract only the positives out of your experiences, the learning curves from momentary mishaps, or diversion and use them alongside your past successes as motivational tools in the design stage of future victories," he said.

The Olympian turned motivational speaker added that teamwork is a key ingredient of business success and he believes people without vision will not succeed in sales positions.

More advice for sales jobseekers was given by Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith, who recently revealed that a staggering 26 per cent of workers only "skim read" their contracts before signing them.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to recruit sales staff, Aaron Wallis offers the UK's most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and backed by a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Honed applications 'help with jobs search'

02 July 2010 18:11:55

Honing a sales jobs search is vital if university leavers are to capture their ideal role, according to an expert.

Chris Morrall, director of Talent Transitions, said that at the moment too many job seekers are simply applying for any role they can and not taking the time to focus their application.

"Research the company, listen to the questions and answer the questions effectively. Also, go through the job description or person specification and then go through a mock interview with somebody," he said.

The expert also advised people to look at the job application process as an exam and said that candidates should even record themselves answering likely questions to pick out areas they can improve.

Partaking in charity or volunteering work was also recommended by the expert, who said this demonstrates that graduates are being productive.

Recent research from the Graduate Management Admission Council has shown that more university leavers are feeling positive about their prospects in the jobs market.

Aaron Wallis are a specialist sales recruitment agency that offers hundreds of sales jobs together with some of the most comprehensive sales tips and career advice available to UK sales professionals.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Brits are not checking employment contracts

01 July 2010 18:11:54

Around five million workers around the UK fail to check the terms and conditions of their employment contracts before signing them, according to new research from Which?

The survey of more than 4,000 workers found that 26 per cent of workers only "skim read" their contracts before committing to its terms, a decision which puts them at risk of unfair treatment.

Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith said that the research highlights the importance of checking what is written down on paper with what was offered verbally in an interview.

"Our research shows that many people fail to take the time to read their employment contracts properly, which means they have no idea what they've signed up to and could be in for a shock in the future," he said.

The consumer watchdog also found that around two million Brits do not have an actual employment contract, which could shock people looking for sales jobs.

Companies do not have to supply a written employment contract, but have a legal obligation to give workers a written statement of their main employment terms within two months of them starting work.

For all of the latest sales industry news visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk. If you are looking to recruit sales staff, Aaron Wallis offers the UK's most inclusive sales recruitment service which includes skills testing, psychometrics and backed by a 12 month rebate scheme as standard. For Sales Director jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Immigration restrictions need business consultation

01 July 2010 15:55:00

The new coalition government's decision to put a cap on immigration should involve the business community and companies using sales recruitment, in order to fill important vacancies which might be affected, according to an expert.

Mark Swift, media relations manager for EEF - the manufacturers' organisation, said that the government needs to consider the skill set which could be lost if a stringent and draconian cap is placed on immigration.

"Our response would be that it does have to be done in consultation with business so that it does allow for the right amount of flexibility," he stated.

The expert added that by following the EEF's advice, businesses which require certain kinds of high level critical skills will be able to get them if they are required.

John Cridland, the CBI's deputy director-general, recently said that any changes to immigration policies need to ensure that companies using sales recruitment are able to get the expertise they need from abroad if required.

Aaron Wallis is a specialist sales recruitment agency that offers the UK's most inclusive service offering that includes psychometric profiling and online skills testing. Your investment in new staff is backed by a unique 12 months rebate scheme.

Posted by Nikki Barrister