If you haven’t heard of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation then that probably makes you one of the lucky ones, because news of the soon-to-be-introduced EU regulation has been everywhere.

The GDPR legislation comes into force on 25 May this year and will bring with it strict new rules regarding the handling and processing of consumer data. Preparing for the new rules has given plenty of businesses some serious headaches, but as a candidate there’s absolutely nothing for you to worry about. There are however a few things that might change.

Providing a new layer of protection

The protection of personal data has been a hot topic in recent weeks given the Facebook debacle and the grilling Mr Zuckerberg received from Congress. This highlights just how important it is that the existing legislation in the UK, which dates back to the 1990s, is updated.

In response to the new rules, recruitment agencies, consultants and online job boards will have to make changes to their data policies in order to avoid falling foul of the law. Failure to do so could lead to penalties of up to €20 million or 4 percent of annual turnover, whichever is greater. Inevitably, these changes could impact the way candidates are signed up as well as more general recruitment processes.

What do you need to be aware of?

So what’s likely to change from a candidate’s point of view?

• The new rules are EU-wide

Well firstly, the new rules apply to companies that hold information about anyone in the EU. So, even if you are signed up with a bilingual recruiter in the UK but are currently living or working elsewhere in the EU, the regulations will still apply.

• You have the right to be forgotten

One of the biggest changes for job seekers is the fact that you’ll be able to request to see all the information recruiters and job boards hold about you and ask for that information to be deleted. The firm must respond to your request within 30 days.

However, there are also circumstances where personal data is essential for fulfilling a contract or to comply with legal requirements under which companies can continue to hold your personal information without your consent.

• The importance of consent

Another major change focuses on the issue of consent. Once the GDPR is in force, companies must keep records of how and when candidates gave their consent for their personal information to be stored and processed.

Importantly, a tick box will only be an acceptable way of obtaining consent if it is clear and unambiguous. A pre-ticked box will no longer be sufficient. As the candidate, you will also be able to withdraw your consent at any time and companies will need to show that your personal data has been erased.  

• Data breaches

The new rules are equally stringent when it comes to security. If a data breach does occur and your personal data is stolen, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) must be informed within 72 hours. That disclosure must be made along with a proposal for mitigating the impact of the breach.

• Your right to report non-compliance

When applying for a job, if you don’t think the relevant terms of the GDPR have been met then you have the right to report the non-compliance to the ICO. It will then be investigated on a case-by-case basis.

Taking your privacy seriously

At Linguistica Recruitment, you can rest assured that we take the security and privacy of all our candidates very seriously and will be adhering to the terms of the new regulations.

To find out more about how we can help with your bilingual job search, please take a look at our current vacancies, submit your CV or call 02393 987 765 to discuss your requirements.

 

Feeling underconfident at work is nothing new and, in fact, new research has revealed that the majority of people do. The study found that seven in 10 workers believe their career has a negative impact on their self-esteem and only 34 percent of men and 24 percent of women admitted to feeling very confident at work.

We’ve all been in the position where we have no idea what to do, how to do it or who to ask for help. But while you may feel like it’s a shortcoming on your behalf, it’s actually the result of a lack of training and proper support from your employer.

What makes you feel underconfident?

The study found that the five aspects of working life that impact employees the most are:

• Not feeling like you have the necessary skills
• Making a silly mistake
• Being made redundant
• Being turned down for a promotion
• Not making it through a probation period successfully

Although there may be some situations that make you question your workplace performance, there are also a number of different strategies you can use to help you feel more confident at work. These are our top tips…

Top tips to boost your confidence at work

1. Adopt a positive attitude

We hate to oversimplify the issue, but experience of life tells us that positive things happen to positive people. If you think about the negative thinkers at work, how many of those have ever been promoted or receive the accolades or rewards they think they deserve.

“Fake it until you make it” is a saying we often hear, but having a positive attitude is really not the same thing. We’re not asking you to fake anything as that suggests you’re masking a lack of confidence rather than tackling it. Instead, approach every task with the right attitude. Positivity is magnetic and it can have a profound impact on you and others.

2. Know your stuff

The fastest route to self-confidence is to really know your stuff. If you feel like there are gaps in your knowledge, ask if there are any in-house or external training sessions you can go to. If training is not an option then take some time, either at work or at home, to read up on the subject matter.

You should also seize every opportunity you have to boost your expertise and share your insights and know-how whenever you can.

3. Ask for feedback

They say no news is good news, but when it comes to your work, the more feedback you receive the better. Asking for feedback demonstrates that you care deeply about the quality of your work and shows how important it is to improve. It can also work wonders for your self-confidence.

Rather than anxiously wondering whether you’ve done something wrong, you’ll get a clear view of your strengths and weaknesses and know exactly what you have to do to hit the ball out of the park.

4. Spend time with people who boost your confidence

If you have a line manager who can’t help but put you down, just accept that some people are unable to give praise due to their own shortcomings. They are simply bad managers and there are millions of them out there.

Rather than taking that to heart, spend as much time as possible with people who appreciate your skills, encourage you and build you up. If you’re surrounded by people who put you down then it might be time to find new friends.

Want a role that boosts your self-esteem?

At Linguistica Recruitment, we have a number of current vacancies for bilingual candidates across the south coast of England. Submit your CV or call 02392 987 765 to discuss your requirements today.