The number of jobs being advertised in the UK has fallen by more than a fifth in the last six weeks as the coronavirus takes its toll. Perhaps not surprisingly, the hospitality industry has been the biggest casualty to date, with nearly 40% of its advertised vacancies removed due to the forced closures across the board. 

According to a study by one of the UK’s leading job sites, the hospitality industry has certainly not been the only one to suffer. Advertised roles in the charity sector have fallen by 19%, sales jobs vacancies have dropped by 15%, and there are 14% fewer customer service roles available than there were six weeks ago. 

Other areas that have seen a fall in vacancy numbers include:

• Travel – 14%
• Graduate roles – 13%
• Manufacturing – 12%
• Retail – 11%
• Creative & design – 11%
• Administration – 10%
• Maintenance – 10%
• Engineering – 9%   

Areas where hiring is increasing

Although the number of total vacancies has fallen dramatically over the last six weeks, there are areas where hiring is increasing.

• Online delivery and logistics – With people no longer allowed to eat out, there has been a dramatic increase in takeaway orders, with firms such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats now hiring to meet demand. There has also been an increase in online shopping, leading to strong hiring in driving, warehouse and logistics roles.
   
• Supermarkets and pharmacies – Another sector that has seen an increase in demand, both in-store and online, are supermarkets and pharmacies. There are lots of current vacancies advertised by Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Boots, Asda and the Co-op.
    
• Online retail – Amazon is on a huge recruitment drive as it tries to keep up with the surge in demand it’s currently experiencing. This is likely to be true of a number of other online retailers, although that will vary by industry.
   
• The NHS – Given the unprecedented scale of the current crisis, the NHS are trying to fill a large number of 111 call handler roles. We also expect to see an acceleration in hiring across other areas as the healthcare sector does what it can to respond. 

What should job seekers do?

Given the dramatic reduction in vacancies, you might be tempted to put your job search on hold during the coronavirus crisis, but we think that’s a mistake. Most recruiters are saying that it’s business as usual despite the outbreak, and as other people may choose to postpone their job search, it’ll reduce the competition for you. 

The one change you are likely to find is that many more interviews will be conducted over the telephone or by video call rather than in person, so it is worth making sure you’re prepared.   

To prepare for a video call job interview, you should:

• test your software and hardware first to avoid difficulties;
• position yourself in a well-lit space with a bland background;
• look at the camera, not the screen;
• dress to impress;
• don’t be afraid to use your notes; and
• make sure all other tabs or programmes on your computer are closed

It’s business as usual at Linguistica Recruitment

Are you looking for bilingual roles across the south of England?If so, then give us a call on 02392 987 765 or submit your CV today. 

These days, flexible working arrangements mean that many more people work from home. In fact, according to the ONS Labour Force Survey, which is the largest study of employment circumstances in the UK, more than 1.54 million people work from home for their main job. That’s up from 884,000 ten years ago. However, in recent weeks, the number of homeworkers has soared, as the coronavirus has forced millions of office workers into the safety of their homes. 

With that in mind, we thought we’d provide some top tips for those who are new to working from home to help you avoid burnout.

1. Make a routine and stick to it

Newbie homeworkers might imagine days spent on the sofa in their pyjamas, but for most, the reality of working from home is very different. Even though you’ll have a lot of newfound freedom, most experienced homeworkers shun that freedom in favour of a strict routine, which starts with getting dressed in the morning.

Most successful homeworkers also keep very strict hours. This prevents work from creeping into other areas of their lives and gives them time to exercise, socialise and relax, all of which are extremely important when you spend a large part of the day at home. 

2. Take plenty of short breaks throughout the day

Studies have shown that the formula for peak productivity is to work for 52 minutes followed by a 17-minute break. You don’t have to follow that rule precisely, but when working from home, taking regular breaks is crucial to your productivity. 

In the workplace, you have impromptu breaks all the time, whether it’s a chat around the water cooler, strolls to other departments or trips to see clients. Those organic opportunities to take five minutes tend to occur less frequently when working from home, which is why you should make sure you get away from the computer to recharge. Breaking the day up into smaller, more manageable chunks will help to keep you fresh and improve your productivity. 

3. Create boundaries

Once you have created your routine, make sure your boss, clients, customers and colleagues know when you are available. Just because you’re working from home, it doesn’t mean that you have to answer calls and emails at all hours, unless it’s a condition of your employment. Labour laws in France and Sweden prevent employees from answering emails outside of working hours. These rules have improved the work-life balance of employees and made them more productive.

4. Get out more

According to the 2018 State of Remote Work Report, loneliness is the biggest struggle for people who work remotely. Human contact can provide a morale boost during difficult periods and deliver significant mental health benefits. When you’ve been working from home all day, it’s important to make extra effort to spend time with others. In the coronavirus crisis, going out for a walk or heading out for the evening may not be possible, but even having a conversation on the phone can reduce the risk of burnout from a lack of human interaction.  

Searching for something new?

The coronavirus lockdown could give you the time you need to search for a new bilingual position. Take a look at our current bilingual vacancies and submit your CV today.

Preparing for the workplace starts long before you begin your search for your first full-time job. There are lots of different things that students can do now to give themselves a head start over other school, college and university leavers and put themselves at the front of the queue in the increasingly competitive jobs market.

So, just what steps can you take to give your career the best possible start? Here’s our guide.

1. Study another language

As a specialist bilingual recruiter, you might think we’re biased, but never has the ability to speak a second language been more valuable than it is today. With Brexit now firmly underway and the UK free to form trade deals with more countries outside the EU, being able to speak a second or even third language will certainly help you stand out.

China is the world’s second-largest economy, making Mandarin a language that’s in high demand among businesses in much of the western world. With the economies of South and Central American countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica and Panama expected to skyrocket in the next few years, Spanish would be an extremely useful language to learn, too.

2. Find your voice

Over the last decade or so, communication has changed immeasurably. For Generation Z, communication that’s dominated by social media and smartphones is all they’ve ever known, to such an extent that traditional skills such as public speaking are increasingly difficult to find.

Although public speaking is something not everyone is comfortable with initially, it will feel more natural over time. Putting yourself forward to speak in front of groups whenever you have the opportunity is a great way to develop this skill and help you impress potential employers. It will also improve your ability to think clearly under pressure and communicate your ideas and opinions in a well-reasoned and clear way. Those are also skills that are useful during those nerve-wracking job interviews.

3. Gain experience of the world of work

The more experience you have of the workplace and the skills required to perform a role, the better. Vocational courses are excellent at preparing students for the challenges they’ll encounter when they enter the workplace, while more academic qualifications tend to focus very little on what working life will be like.

Work placements are a great way to gain first-hand experience of what a particular role will involve. They can also help you identify a career or path that you hadn’t previously considered. Schools, colleges and universities should all be able to help you arrange a work placement, but you can also speak to family members, friends and even reach out to businesses online that you’re interested in working for. As well as gaining experience in the workplace, the contacts you make during this time could prove to be invaluable later on.

4. Volunteer

As a recent school, college or university leaver, your CV is likely to be full of qualifications but lacking in experience. Volunteering is a great way to gain some real-world experience while also doing some good. Even if you’re unable to volunteer in the specific field you want to work in, having experience as a volunteer will show that you know how to manage your time, work alongside others, complete tasks and commit to something, even when there’s no monetary reward.

Here’s a handy resource you can use to find out more about internships, work experience, volunteering roles, work shadowing placements and more.

Searching for your first bilingual role?

Get in touch with the team at Linguistica Recruitment today. We can help you find well-paid and rewarding bilingual jobs across the south coast of England. Take a look at our current vacancies, submit your CV, call our team on 02392 987 765 or email info@linguistica-recruitment.com.

More than three years after the referendum to decide whether the UK would remain in or leave the EU, we finally have a date when Brexit will go ahead.

On Friday 31^st January 2020, the UK will leave the EU. The UK will then enter into a transition period, which will last until the end of the year. During that transition period, almost everything will stay the same, as UK and EU negotiators work furiously to put the future agreement in place.

As a specialist recruitment agency that has placed many bilingual EU workers in jobs across the UK, we’re in a good position to dispel some of the myths around EU workers’ rights after Brexit and advise on the conversations you should have with your employer sooner rather than later.

Dispelling a few Brexit myths

In the three-and-a-half years between the EU referendum and the final leaving date, uncertainty has reigned supreme. That has led to much conjecture and many myths about exactly what the impact will be.

• All EU workers will have to leave the UK after Brexit

False. The right of EU workers to remain in the UK depends on how long they’ve lived in the UK on the final leave date. Those who have lived in the UK for more than five years will be eligible for ‘settled status’, which gives them indefinite leave to remain. Those who have lived and worked in the UK for a shorter period will usually be eligible for ‘pre-settled status’. They can then apply for settled status once they have lived in the UK for five years.

• I’ve lived in the UK for a long time, so I don’t need to do anything

False. If you have lived in the UK for more than five years, then under the EU settlement scheme, you must apply for settled status. Read more about how to apply for settled status.

• I only arrived in the UK a few months ago, so I’ll have to leave after Brexit

False. Even if you have lived in the UK for less than five years, under the terms of the EU settlement scheme, you still have the right to remain.

• I’m an EU national but with English citizenship, so I don’t need to do anything

True. If you’re an EU national with English, Irish or dual citizenship, you can stay in the UK indefinitely without having to apply to the EU settlement scheme.

What conversations should you have with your employer?

It’s only natural that EU workers will feel uncertain after Brexit and may want some reassurance from their employers. However, this has been just as unsettling a time for many employers that rely on EU workers as it has for the workers themselves, so it’s important that both parties meet to discuss their intentions.

Before you arrange a meeting, make sure you’re clear about exactly how Brexit will impact your right to work and understand what you need to do to remain in the UK. You should discuss your current situation with your employer and explain your plans for the future. As a valuable member of the team with a second language proficiency, you can be confident that most employers will be more than happy to retain your skills.

Rewarding UK jobs for EU workers

At Linguistica Recruitment, we specialise in finding well-paid, rewarding bilingual roles for EU workers across the south coast of England. Submit your CV today or call 02392 987 765 to discuss your requirements.

The start of the new year is the time for renewed motivation in every aspect of our lives. Whether it’s to go running three times a week, reduce your cake intake by 50 percent or stop drinking for a year a month a few days, January is the month when we are refreshed, full of good intentions and ready for a new challenge.

That also makes it a very busy time for job seekers. Those that currently feel unvalued, underpaid or unfulfilled, dust off their CVs and send them in their millions to prospective employers around the country.

According to the jobs search site Glassdoor, in January last year there were 17 percent more job applications started in the UK than during a typical month, with candidates on totaljobs.com sending 1.3 million applications in a single week (6-10 January). With so much activity during this time, here are a few simple tips to help you keep your eyes on the prize and secure a new job in January 2020!

1. Be patient

January is a month for candidates to be patient but proactive in their search for a new job. Recruiters and hiring managers may be slower to respond due to the sheer amount of applications and CVs they receive and the backlog of emails they have to get through after the Christmas break.

However, while you wait for a response to your application, you should stay on the lookout for jobs that are posted later on in the month when the surge of applications has died down.

2. Be personal

With so many jobs being posted in January, the temptation might be to spread the net wide and apply for as many jobs as you can. While that’s not necessarily a bad strategy, we would always urge you to focus on quality over quantity.

In January, the sheer number of applications received for each position means that recruiters and hiring managers will quickly discard those that don’t stand out. That’s why you should always take the time to customise your CV and application to reflect the needs of the hiring company.

3. Be prepared

If you’re one of the few candidates among the hundreds of applicants to be invited for an interview, then that should be a real source of pride. You clearly have the skills and experience that employers are looking for, and even if you’re not successful this time, there should be plenty of other opportunities for you to impress.

With so much competition for the role, you should prepare for the interview thoroughly. Find out as much as you can about the company by reading its website, looking up key individuals on LinkedIn and speaking to social media connections and people you know personally who already work for them. Armed with this information, you should prepare a list of questions to ask during the interview to show just how ready for the role you are.

Are you looking for a new job this January?

At Linguistica Recruitment, we help candidates find well-paid and rewarding bilingual jobs across the south of England. Do you speak English and a second language fluently? Then browse our current vacancies, submit your CV or get in touch with our team by calling 02393 987 765 today.

Typically, advice given at this time of the year tends to focus on the New Year’s resolutions you can make to send your career in the right direction in 2020. However, there’s no point thinking about the new professional behaviours you want to embrace if you’re still stuck making the same old career mistakes.

Rather than focusing on new behaviours, we think you’re best served by understanding the career mistakes that you should leave behind in 2019. Whether you want to grow in your current position or find an exciting new role, these are the mistakes to leave firmly in 2019!

1. Not asking for more money

Salary negotiation is one of the most uncomfortable parts of being promoted, taking on more responsibility or getting a new job. However, it’s much more uncomfortable to be left on a salary that you don’t think is fair. According to a recent survey, only 38 percent of men and 27 percent of women negotiate their salary, but 83 percent of those who ask for more money receive higher pay.

The underlying lesson here is that it’s soon to be 2020, and it’s fine to talk about money. The process might feel awkward, but as long as you take the time to prepare and build your case, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. The worst-case scenario is that your boss will say no, in which case, you can either look elsewhere or stay put, safe in the knowledge that you tried.

2. Getting too comfortable

It’s very easy to get too comfortable in a job and spend your time focusing on evenings out and weekends away. However, before you know it, five years will have passed and you won’t be where you want to be. Instead, it’s important to regularly check in with yourself by asking a few important questions:

• Where do I want to be in five years?
• How is this job helping me get there?
• Does this job challenge me?
• Am I learning new skills?
• Am I feeling engaged?

If your current job isn’t helping you move forward, then it’s time to start thinking about your next step.

3. Not reaching out to mentors

Mentors can be incredibly valuable for individuals who want to move forward in their career, but the thought of reaching out to someone is nerve-wracking. We’re all scared of rejection, and the thought of being ignored by someone you respect will make you feel like you’re back at the high school disco. However, there are several simple steps you can take to set yourself up for success:

• Have between three and five prospective mentors in mind to increase your chances of connecting with someone who’s interested.
• Be specific about the mentoring you need. What would you like help with? How often do you envisage meeting up?
• Don’t take rejection personally. In many cases, people are simply too busy to make a long-term commitment.

4. Saying no to new projects

Rather than putting yourself forward for new projects that aren’t necessarily the perfect fit for your existing skills, it’s much easier to stay within your comfort zone. However, taking the easy option is not the way to progress. Be willing to put yourself out there and learn new skills. In the long run, you never know where that positive new approach could take you.

Are you fed up of making the same old career mistakes?

Then contact Linguistica Recruitment today. We offer a range of bilingual positions across the south coast of England for talented linguistics who are looking for a new challenge. Read more about how we can help and submit your CV today.

Despite the increasing awareness of the issue of mental health at work over the last few years, recent research shows that many UK workers are still suffering. According to statistics from the Health and Safety Executive, more than half (57 percent) of all the working days lost in the UK every year are the result of stress, anxiety and depression. However, despite how commonplace mental health challenges are, the vast majority of workers are suffering in silence.

In this article, we’ll look at the latest statistics that reveal the extent of the problem and share a few simple self-care tips that can help to improve mental health at work.

Workers are reluctant to discuss mental health challenges

Recent research by Babylon Health explored the stigma surrounding mental health at work. It found that 79 percent of the 2,000 UK respondents would not feel comfortable talking to their employers about their mental health. Perhaps that reluctance is not surprising given that 72 percent said that mental health was not discussed enough in their workplace.

More troubling still was the 57 percent of respondents who said they felt that mental health was stigmatised in their workplace. Given that perceived stigma, it’s perhaps not surprising that only 25 percent of the respondents said they’d feel comfortable discussing their mental health with a colleague.

When asked what factors detrimentally impacted their mental health, ‘workplace pressures’ (45 percent) was second only to ‘personal relationships’ (49 percent), while a ‘poor work-life balance’ also featured high on the list.

Self-care tips to improve mental health at work

Given the lack of support on offer in many workplaces, everyone should arm themselves with a few simple strategies to help to protect their mental health at work.

Follow these self-care tips to help improve your mental health at work:

1. Take regular breaks

At some workplaces, there may be a culture where workers are encouraged or even expected to work through their breaks. However, your mental health should be your priority. Taking small, regular breaks throughout the day and eating lunch away from your desk can benefit your mental health and improve your productivity. If your employer doesn’t get it, perhaps it’s time to find one that does.

2. Make time for exercise

Regular exercise has been proven to decrease feelings of anxiety, stress and depression, increase the production of endorphins and improve your mood. During a busy working week, it can be difficult to fit in exercise sessions, but taking advantage of cycle-to-work schemes, subsidised gym memberships and workplace yoga sessions can help.

3. Talk to someone

If you’re facing unrealistic goals and deadlines, a workload that’s spiralling out of control or a pressurised working environment that’s affecting your mental health, you must talk to someone. Opening up to a supervisor, HR manager or trusted colleague is a very important first step.

4. Make yourself comfortable

Making yourself comfortable is a small and simple step you can take to improve your sense of wellbeing at work. Preparing healthy food, taking a hot water bottle if you’re cold, making yourself a flask of tea or hot chocolate and getting plenty of sleep can all have a positive impact on how you feel.

Is it time to prioritise your mental health?

Are you ready for a change? At Linguistica Recruitment, we have a range of bilingual job opportunities across the south of England. Take a look at our vacancies, send us your CV or call 02392 987 765 to discuss your requirements with our team.

Learning a language can open a lot of doors, and that’s more the case now than it’s ever been before. Language skills have always come in handy when travelling, but now, mastering a language could also be highly beneficial to your career.

In our last post, we reported how bilingual Brits are being paid more and have more career opportunities than their monolingual counterparts. The opportunities available to bilingual workers are only likely to increase in the future, given that language skills are more sought after than they have ever been before.

The British Council has already stressed the need for young Brits to learn a foreign language if the UK is ever to become a ‘truly global nation’. And with the latest CBI Education and Skills Report stating that the need for languages will only increase after the UK’s exit from the EU, it’s high time we hit the books and star learning. But which languages should we focus our efforts on? The following are the best languages to study to increase your future job opportunities:

1. French

French is currently the most sought-after language in the UK, with 54 percent of employers saying that the skill would be useful to their business. This represents a steady rise from 2017, when 51 percent of employers admitted that having a French speaker would be an advantage. Of the UK job vacancies in the UK that ask for a second language, the most commonly requested is French.

2. German

Germany has a powerful economy and strong trade links with many countries, making it one of the biggest players in Europe. Over half (51 percent) of the employers who responded to the CBI survey said that German would be useful to their business, up from 47 percent in 2017. Although German has a reputation as being a difficult language to master, it’s actually much closer to English than languages that are supposedly easier to learn, such as Spanish and French.

3. Spanish

In 2016, Spanish was the only foreign language that was growing in popularity in English schools, and now it’s also becoming more popular with employers. In terms of the best languages to study to boost your future job prospects, Spanish has shot up the list. 50 percent of UK employers said it was a useful language for their business, up from 30 percent and 45 percent in 2016 and 2017 respectively. This is due to the fact that a mastery of Spanish allows businesses to connect with countries beyond Europe in the growing Latin American market.

4. Mandarin

It’s perhaps not surprising that demand from UK employers for Mandarin speakers has increased, given that it’s the language spoken by the world’s second-largest economy and has more than one billion speakers worldwide. China also has a growing middle class with a taste for British products, which is further increasing demand for Mandarin speakers. 37 percent of employers said that Mandarin was a useful language to their business, up from 28 percent and 36 percent in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

5. Arabic

With more than 400 million speakers worldwide in countries including Egypt, Sudan, Chad, United Arab Emirates and more, Arabic is becoming an increasingly desirable language for UK employers. The British Council has argued that Arabic should be taught in UK schools. However, unlike the other languages on this shortlist, the demand for Arabic among UK employers has fallen over the past few years, down from 26 percent in 2017 to its current level of 16 percent.

What second language do you speak?

If you have a second language and are looking for your first or next bilingual role in the UK, we want to hear from you. We have a range of well-paid and rewarding roles in the south of England for bilingual speakers. Take a look at our current vacancies and send us your CV today, or give us a call on 02392 987 765 to discuss your requirements.

If you’re a frequent visitor to the Linguistica Recruitment blog – and frankly, you’d be daft not to be – then over the years you’ll have seen several articles bestowing the virtues of bilingualism. Put simply, being bilingual makes you a wonderful person – more adaptable, enhanced cognitive abilities, more culturally fluent and, generally, an all-round good egg.

Given just how fantastic all you lucky bilinguals are, it probably won’t surprise you to know that recent research points to the fact that being bilingual can be a big benefit to your career. So much so in fact, that even the famously monolingual Brits are learning a second language just to get ahead.

Brits are using language to benefit their careers

According to a study from a specialist language recruitment site, more Brits are using second languages in their work than ever before. More than half of the respondents said they actively use their second language in their careers, with 68 percent admitting that it directly benefits their career, either through more opportunities or improved pay.

With record levels of unemployment and the jobs market in the UK more competitive than ever before, language skills are becoming an increasingly important differentiator for employees. With more businesses opening up to overseas markets, candidates with language skills give themselves a good chance of landing their desired jobs, even when languages are not listed in the essential skills required for the role.

Older generations risk being left behind

With UK businesses increasingly looking to enter new markets, unfortunately, it’s the older generations who risk being left behind. 66 percent of the 18-34-year-olds who responded to the study said they knew more than one language, compared to just a quarter of 55-64-year-olds.

Of those who speak a second language, 74 percent of 18-34-year olds said they actively use their languages in their careers, compared to just 24 percent of 55-64-year olds. 89 percent of the younger age group said they felt their second language benefited their careers, which is more than double those in the older age group.

Learning a foreign language is more important than ever

With UK businesses increasingly serving an international customer base, learning a new language has the potential to be more beneficial to an individual than it’s ever been before. That’s mirrored by the responses to the survey, with 69 percent saying it’s more important to have more than one language now than it was 10 years ago, and 70 percent admitting that they’d encourage their children to learn another language.

Given the current language skills gap in the UK, it’s perhaps not surprising that the government is doing everything it can to encourage language learning. In 2018, it set a target that 90 percent of British pupils would have a language GCSE by 2025. It has also allocated funding to set up a new national languages centre, which will help British businesses access the skilled workers they need.

It’s never too late to learn a language

So, how do monolingual British workers keep up? With so many resources available these days to learn new languages, many of which can be accessed for free, there’s nothing to prevent you from joining the growing number of UK language learners. 62 percent of survey respondents said they would consider learning a new language if they knew it would increase their earning potential. Now we have proof that it can!

Take the next step in your bilingual career

At Linguistica Recruitment, we have a wide range of jobs available for bilingual and multilingual job seekers across the UK. Take a look at our current vacancies, send us your CV or call 02392 987 765 to discuss your requirements today.