Do you start your day looking at your to-do list and immediately become filled with dread? 

Do you get a sinking feeling in your tummy about all the tasks you need to complete?

Do you feel like your to-do list is never ending and you never seem to make any progress? 

Well you are not alone. It is very easy to feel suffocated by the endless day to day duties that divert our attention and demand our time. Here at Selective Recruitment we have come up with some helpful tips that will allow you to take back control of your schedule and feel confident and proud of the work you produce. 

The 4 Ds

One of the main problems with a to-do-list is that it can lack structure and as such seem overwhelming. The 4 D’s is a simple strategy that will help you focus on the tasks that matter most, and ensure you become more productive and efficient. The 4 D’s stand for ‘Do, Delay, Delegate, Delete’. By analysing your tasks and placing them into one of these four categories you can manage them more effectively and ensure that those featured on the ‘Do’ list are given the time, attention and commitment they deserve. You may also be surprised by how many tasks you can ‘delete’ or ‘delegate’ to others, thus freeing up your time to hone your focus. By applying this system, your to-do-list should become instantly less daunting and more manageable.

Time Management

Now that you have worked out which items on your to-do-list need to take priority, you should address how long each will take and when is the best time to complete them. By allocating a specific time period to an activity you will give structure to your day. Moreover, there is evidence to suggest that by setting a completion deadline one becomes more motivated and focused to deliver on time. That said, many of us work in jobs that require us to be responsive and as such it is important to allow for a degree of flexibility and not get stressed if you have to amend your workflow.  

Another key factor to think about when scheduling your tasks is when you are personally most productive. We all work differently; some of us are highly energetic first thing in the morning, whereas others need at least 3 cups of coffee before we can get the wheels in motion. When looking at your daily schedule think about aligning the more challenging or time-consuming tasks to when you feel most switched on and have the most energy. In so doing you will find that the challenging tasks don’t seem as formidable. A classic mistake many people make is putting things off to the end of a day when energy stores are low. This often results in extended hours in the office and tasks taking longer to complete. 

Break down big tasks

More often than not there are tasks on our to do lists that seem impossible. You may not know where to start or how you are ever going to reach the finish line. You end up procrastinating and put off starting due to sheer fear, and then you reach that point of no escape and it all comes tumbling down. Stop! Take a breath and pull back for a second. When presented with such a scenario you need to break it down; divide it up into smaller, more digestible and realistic activities that you can achieve. This is often referred to as ‘chunking down’ and will enable you to reframe your thinking; instead of being focused on the final outcome (which is the bit that seems impossible) you will be able to look at each component task as a stepping stone towards your final goal. Also, by taking this approach you will often find that a logical order presents itself and instead of feeling swamped you will feel in control. 

Ask for help

If you are struggling to complete one of the tasks on your to-do-list, then it may be beneficial to look to others for help. Do you have a work colleague or a manager who could give you a different perspective? Many people see asking for help as a sign of weakness or worry that they will be shunned. This is not the case; a supportive workplace should always allow for colleagues to work together and pull on resources. It is important to remember that we are all individuals and have distinct problem-solving abilities; depending on our personality type and experience we see things differently. So instead of letting that difficult task consume you, or not doing it for fear of getting it wrong, reach out to someone who may be able to support you in taking it forwards. The likelihood is that you will be able to return the favour at a later date and ‘two heads are always better than one’!

Think Creatively

Sometimes even simple tasks can cause no end of problems, but, as the well known saying goes “if at first you don’t succeed, then try and try again” However, what this doesn’t make clear is that if something isn’t working it may be time to take a different approach. When tasked with an assignment that doesn’t seem to be going to plan it may not be best to plough on regardless. The likelihood is that even if you complete it you will not be totally happy with the results. Instead, you may need to readdress your approach and think outside the box. Try grabbing a sheet of paper and brainstorming some ideas – it doesn’t matter if they seem far fetched, this will help get the creative juices flowing. By allowing yourself to find an innovative approach, it is likely that you will become more engaged in the task and produce better results. 

Acknowledge your accomplishments. 

In our day to day working lives it’s very easy to complete one task and move straight onto the next without taking a moment to stop and take stock of what you have done. Even the simple activity of ticking off, or crossing out, something you have completed will have a beneficial effect on your psyche and give you a moment to note your accomplishments. Equally, taking some time to evaluate the success of a task will allow you to think about areas for improvement and you can apply these moving forwards. It is even more important to celebrate ‘the win’ when you have finished a significant piece of work. Give yourself permission to feel proud of what you have achieved. After all, success at work is likely to be one of the driving forces behind why you do what you do. 

Is it time for you to re-evaluate your to-do-list? If you apply these techniques not only will you be able to become more effective in managing your workload, but you will be able to deliver ‘ta-da’ results that you can feel proud of. 

It may be that you’ve been in your job for some time, that you are currency between roles, or that you have recently entered the job market having secured your first position, whatever the case, a pivotal focus throughout your career should be Continued Professional Development (CPD). That is, developing your professional knowledge and skills through self- learning, specified interactive courses and/or formalised training. Many workplaces encourage and provide opportunities for CPD, but if you’re savvy you can tailor your CPD towards your own personal career goals. Through targeted learning you can carve out the path you want to take or rise up through the ranks at an accelerated pace.

But what’s that we hear you say, “I don’t need CPD, I am comfortable in my job and know what I am doing”. Granted, but with this mindset you won’t be moving anywhere fast! It’s a competitive market out there, so do you really want to stay where you are while your friends and colleagues surpass you? Is comfortable good enough when you could be aiming for ‘engaging’, ‘rewarding’ or, dare we say it, ‘fun’?

Perhaps you are looking at CPD all wrong; CPD shouldn’t be a chore, it is an opportunity for personal and professional growth and your chance to flourish in the workplace. Here at Selective Recruitment we see first-hand how candidates with strong CPD accreditations stand out from the crowd, so we implore you to consider its importance and if it’s worth taking some time to invest in your career development.

Benefits to CPD:
1 – Knowledge is power.
This may be a little cliché, but there is truth in this well-known phrase. By arming yourself with knowledge in a specific area you will undoubtedly not only become more proficient and increase delivery in your current role, but you will grow in confidence to be able to push yourself further. Furthermore, more knowledge makes us better at decision making and undoubtedly we become more equipped to make informed choices.

2 – It opens doors
CPD is a great way to help you attain the skills required for a promotion, or if you are looking for a new role, adding CPD accreditations to your CV is a must. Employers are always on the lookout for candidates that can bring something extra to their company, and those applicants who have clearly invested in their own personal development present as hardworking and motivated individuals.

3 – It allows you to move with the times
In these ever-changing times it’s important to stay up to date with current trends and not fall behind the curve. With technology constantly evolving and the climate of industry ever changing, keeping yourself informed will allow you to amend working practices to ensure that you are able to deliver a consistent and professional service.

4 – You can help to enhance your company
Employees who undertake CPD can contribute in a meaningful way to company growth and a strong reputation. Through continued learning you will be able to pitch yourself as an expert in your field and can also support the development of others within the workplace via the sharing of information.

5 – Personal satisfaction
CPD can stop things getting stale and will keep you engaged in improving your work. Although many of us struggle with time, learning is a valid investment and when you have a clear destination in mind, studying can be exciting and fulfilling. Through CPD you will become more accomplished and this in turn will boost your confidence.

There are many CPD opportunities available. It may be worth speaking with your employer about relevant training within the workplace. Or, you could allocate some time each week to keep up to speed with current affairs, set up some training or mentoring with a coworker, or identify an area in which you want to personally improve and track down an online course that works for you.

Are you spending hours trawling through job adverts? Do you keep applying for roles but don’t seem to be getting any responses? Or, have you found yourself unexpectedly looking for a new employer but just don’t know where to start? We hear you… hunting for a new job can be hard and if you speak to anyone in the know, you’ll quickly learn that it is very rare that the ideal position will just fall into your lap (although wouldn’t it be great if it did!).

Now, in theory it should be simple to get a new role, but your input is the key to success; especially if you want to find the right position. So, you have your end goal in sight, but what are the steps you need to take to get you there? Here are some suggestions that will help you on your road to success:

Start simple

Be clear about what you are looking for. You need to identify your non-negotiables and where there may be room for some room for flexibility. Ask yourself some simple questions, and here’s a tip, write down your answers. This will help you truly analyse your needs and you can refer back to this throughout your journey to ensure you stay on track. Think about salary, location, type and size of company, work hours and flexibility, and perhaps most importantly what is your key motivator; what is driving you to seek a new role. If you are looking for career progression your answers are likely to be very different from someone who has been made redundant and has a sense of urgency about finding their next opportunity. 

Do some research 

A common mistake people make is to dive straight into their job search and start hitting the apply button for any and all roles. It is much better to get the lay of the land first and work out what roles appeal to you, and more importantly, what positions match your skill set. If you start applying for roles without taking the time to ensure your credentials align, then you may become disheartened when you don’t ever get shortlisted. It is also important that you refer back to your original list; there is no point applying for a role if it doesn’t match your key criteria. It is imperative to read job specifications carefully and in full and take note of any specific qualifications required and what the recruitment process involves. If you notice a specific certification keeps cropping up, then why not obtain this to strengthen your chances?

That said, it is sometimes hard to know what the must haves are, as opposed to the desirables. Another common mistake people make is not applying for a job because they can’t tick every single box on the specification. It is important to focus on the skills you do have, not those you don’t. If you are unsure if you should apply for a role a good tip is to take a highlighter and mark all the things you have experience of or can do. If when you finish, there is more highlighted than not it’s probably worth throwing your hat in the ring. At Selective Recruitment we are always happy to discuss any of our roles with prospective candidates and will be able to guide you on whether you should apply. 

Make sure your CV is up to scratch

Now, this one may sound obvious, but we are all guilty of it… just adding to our CV as we go instead of taking the time to review and edit it properly. It may be that after conducting your research there are lots of skills missing from your CV. If they don’t feature, then you risk ending up in the rejection pile.

When was your personal statement written? Have you just been tweaking it as you go? If so, it may be time for a complete overhaul. Your personal statement is your chance to shine; to grasp the reader’s attention and set out your intentions for your next career move. Spending some time on getting this right could make all the difference. If you need support in editing your CV our team of dedicated consultants are always happy to schedule an appointment to help. 

Register with a Selective consultant

But job hunting is a lonely and tiresome process I hear you say! It doesn’t have to be, it is much easier with someone in your corner. Especially someone with the knowhow and industry knowledge. Our experienced consultants are always happy to help and are on hand, not just to assist you with CV writing, but to advise on the right type of companies and roles for you, as well as give you honest feedback. They will support you at every step of your recruitment journey and the registration process is simple and hassle free.  

Don’t lose momentum or see rejection as a set back 

Finding the right role can take time and patience. The hiring process often has a few stages, but it is important to remember that this isn’t about making you jump through hoops. Prospective employers want to ensure that they find the right person for the job, and you should view the process in the same way. As you progress through the application process, the different stages are your opportunity to find out if the job is the right one for you, if the role matches up to the criteria you set out at the onset, and your chance to get to know more about the position and company. If you do receive a knock back, try not to get disheartened, take feedback and keep moving forwards. Rejection can be empowering if you use it to drive you. As the renowned life coach Tony Robbins postulates “The more rejection you get, the better you are, the more you’ve learned, the closer you are to the outcome. If you can handle rejection you will learn to get everything you want”.  At Selective we will help guide you along your road to success.

So, you now have the tools to take control of your job search. You are in charge of your destiny; be proactive and remember Selective Recruitment are always here to help.

As a result of the recent pandemic many companies have faced adversity and have been forced to review their spending. As such, we have seen a move towards some businesses taking their recruitment in-house, but this may not be as cost effective as you think. Finding the right person for a job, not only takes expertise, but a great deal of time and money. Our Recruitment Consultants are dedicated to understanding the current job market, sourcing top talent and helping businesses grow.

By choosing Selective Recruitment to help you with your hiring needs you can be assured that:

• You’ll have access to a team of experienced consultants who not only have strong relationships with a wide pool of expert talent but will also be on hand to support you at every step of the recruitment process.  
• Your job adverts will feature on a range of targeted job boards as well as across social media. With expertly written copy to attract the best applicants we will ensure it reaches the right audience.
• You won’t have to spend time sifting through endless CVs, we do all the filtering for you and will only send you candidates with the right skills and credentials for the job. We screen all candidates and can even conduct early stage interviews.
• You will receive professional impartial advice on how your role sits in the current job market and we will help you secure candidates that embrace your company ethos and values.
• As an independent agency we work with a range of businesses of varying sizes and can offer a bespoke service that caters to your specific needs. 

If you are currently seeking to expand your team, take a minute to consider if going it alone is the best option. Why not have an informal chat with one of our team today and find out more about how we can save you time and money.