Candidate Services & Resources
When choosing someone to help you with your next career move, do you want to work with a ‘Jack of all trades’ or a master of their trade?
When you work with any company within The Orbis Group you are working with a specialist in your field.
We know that ‘one size fits all’ has never worked which is why we don’t offer it as a service. We believe that you deserve the best possible support, advice and guidance to help you achieve the job of your dreams, whether that it is a permanent or temporary post. The choice is yours.
Permanent work
We believe that a better, more stimulating working environment contributes to a better, more stimulating life. So our expert consultants and managers take time to get to know you, your dreams and aspirations, and the works to match your skills and personality to the right company, ensuring the best fit for you.
As experts in recruitment, The Orbis Group have offices across the UK and a national and international network of clients, creating thousands of permanent and temporary opportunities every month.
We also provide support and guidance on career progression and the chance to grow professionally; and we’ll support you through every step, with CV tips and interview advice, pre-interview briefings and post-interview feedback.
We are not happy until you are.
Short-term assignment
As an Orbis Associate, you’re in the driving seat, you have the power.
You plan your work schedule around your lifestyle, choose your assignments and sharpen your skills at a variety of companies.
Working for The Orbis Group, you’ll receive:
- Challenging assignments with market leading pay rates
- A range of perks, including a benefits and referral schemes
- Holiday and sick pay and a full Health & Safety policy
- Full Equal Opportunities policy
- Expert guidance from our friendly, knowledgeable consultants
- Christmas presents and Birthday cards
- A quarterly lunch
- Free newsletter
- Text updates and job alerts
- Email updates and job alerts
- Your own personal career advisor and planner
CV Advice
When compiling your CV remember one thing above all others. The person you are submitting your CV to will probably receive another 20-50 that day and therefore yours has to
stand out from the crowd
whilst
giving prospective employers a quick, concise summary
of your qualifications, experience, skills and suitability for a particular role.
A really good CV
gets noticed ahead of the many others that arrive on employers’ desks every day.
What your CV should include
- Your name, address and full contact details
- A one-paragraph profile that sums up your professional and personal attributes, such as:
- Key roles you’ve completed to date
- Your experience in a specific sector or industry,
- Your ‘unique selling points’, eg. problem-solver, team player, etc
- Your professional experience – starting with your most recent position and including start and finish dates, job title, employer, key responsibilities and achievements and accounting for any career gaps
- Your education – from secondary school onwards, with names of schools, colleges or universities, attendance dates and qualifications gained
- Your skills and professional or specialist qualifications – including any relevant training courses you’ve completed
- Details of any software packages you’re familiar with and level of proficiency e.g. basic, intermediate and advanced
- A quick overview of your life outside work – include hobbies, sporting activities and personal interests so that employers get a sense of the real you and what makes you tick
How to present your CV
Lay your CV out clearly and logically, using short sentences, bullet points, a single typeface and consistently sized headings. Make sure it covers no more than two sides of A4 and that your finished article is polished and error-free. Be honest, accurate and able to talk confidently through any point on your CV. Tailor your CV to emphasise skills and experiences that match the role you’re applying for.
Decisions about which candidates to invite to interview are invariably based on the relevance of the information in their CVs. Keep your CV up to date. New experiences, skills and qualifications will improve your value to future employers.
Finally, provide a covering letter or email to give a ‘voice’ to your CV and let your words do the talking. Draw out key points from your CV to state where there is a good match between what is required of the role and what you have to offer.
For more information speak to one of our Orbis consultants.
Cover Letter Advice
Content of the cover letter
A good application letter follows a formula. It must always contain the following information: the sender, addressee, place and date, salutation, reason, motivation, suitability, conclusion with signature, and your CV. Phrase your motivation and suitability in a positive way.
Typed or handwritten?
An application letter should stand out for the right reasons. It has to invite someone to read it. A handwritten letter isn't always easy to read and it is not very contemporary. That is why you're better off typing your cover letter and CV.
Avoiding mistakes
Many people stop reading a letter as soon as they run into a mistake. So check your letter carefully for errors in language, spelling and typing.
While a word processor's spell-checker will catch most mistakes, it is never foolproof. If possible, have someone else read through your letter. Using a fresh pair of eyes is often worth the effort.
Who should I send it to?
Usually a job advertisement will state who the letter should be sent to. If it does not, or if you are writing an open application, then check with the company first. That shows that you have made the effort and stops your letter from going to the wrong person, which may lead to it getting lost, or even being thrown away. Do not forget to ask for the person's initials, as well as the correct spelling and their job title.
Interview Advice
Being invited for an interview means you’ve effectively convinced a potential employer that you’re capable of filling the role. A face-to-face meeting is your chance to convince them you’re the best candidate available – and decide if the role and the company are right for you.
Making a great impression – your five-point plan
1. Arrive on time
Plan your route in advance and allow time for bus, train or traffic problems. If you are running late, make that all-important call and contact your Orbis consultant or the interviewer direct to advise them of when you expect to arrive.
2. Look the part
You never get a second chance to make a first impression – so make sure you look smart and business like for your interview. Shake hands with confidence, remember to smile and maintain regular eye contact.
3. Know your stuff
Take time to find out about the company you’re talking to: visit their website, brief yourself about their main products and services, recent performance, client base, competitors and brand values. Make sure you know how many people they employ and where they operate. And don’t forget to ask your Orbis consultant what they know too. Come up with a couple of thought-provoking but relevant questions to ask the interviewer:
‘How do you invest in people and career development?’
‘How has the business changed over the past year?’
‘What new products or services do you have in the pipeline?’
Questions like these can help you stand out from the crowd.
4. Don’t stop when the interview ends
Try to leave the interview on a positive note. Thank the interviewer for his or her time and tell them how much you’ve enjoyed the experience. As soon as possible after leaving, phone or email your Orbis consultant to let us know how you think things went.
5. Tips to remember
- Be polite, be honest, be yourself
- Think before you answer any question
- Show your interest, enthusiasm and energy
- Accentuate the positive reasons for wanting to leave your current job
- Don’t be negative about past employers or colleagues
Explain what makes you unique and how you could make a positive difference