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Redwood Recruitment Blog

The Power of AI in recruitment: unlocking opportunities in the publishing sector 

AI (artificial intelligence) has become the buzzword of the moment, with an increasing number of people becoming aware of the role it plays. It has revolutionised almost every industry, and the field of recruitment is no exception. With advancements in AI technology, the process of finding a new job has become more streamlined and efficient. In our latest blog post, we explore how AI is reshaping the recruitment landscape in the publishing sector. We will delve into the many areas it touches, such as proofreading, editing, and educational publishing, giving some examples of how AI is transforming these areas and benefitting job seekers.

In the publishing industry, AI has already made significant contributions to various stages of the publishing process, from content creation to distribution. Today, people looking for a job in the publishing industry can benefit from AI-powered tools that facilitate the discovery of new opportunities, matching candidates with suitable job roles. It is also helping publishers identify emerging trends and consumer preferences, shaping the publishing job roles of the future.

Platforms like Draft2Digtial and Reedsy enable authors to self-publish their work by automating formatting, cover design, and distribution processes, making it easier for writers to reach their audiences.

AI for jobs in publishing
Proofreading and editing are some of the core skills needed in the publishing process, both ensuring the production of error-free and high-quality content. AI has enhanced these stages by providing advanced grammar and spell-checking tools, improving language usage, and even suggesting better sentence structures. These AI-powered solutions save time for both job seekers, resulting in faster turnaround times and increased productivity.

For instance, Grammarly is a popular AI-driven writing assistant, offering real-time proofreading and suggestions to improve writing quality. It helps those looking for a new job in publishing create polished CVs, cover letters, and writing samples, increasing their chances of landing their dream job in the publishing sector.

AI in educational publishing
Educational publishing involves creating scholarly materials, such as textbooks, and e-learning resources. AI has had a significant impact on this sector, enabling the development of interactive learning platforms, adaptive learning systems, and personalised educational content. These advancements help those looking for a job in educational publishing by offering opportunities to contribute to the creation of innovative learning resources and digital tools that enhance student’s educational experiences.

Companies like Cognii and Knewton leverage AI to develop adaptive learning platforms that personalise the learning journey for students. Job seekers in the educational publishing sector can contribute to the creation of engaging and effective educational materials using these AI-powered tools.

AI supporting publishing recruitment
Within candidate screening and assessment, AI has transformed this process making it more efficient and objective. AI algorithms can analyse vast amounts of data, including CVs, cover letters, and online profiles, to identify suitable candidates based on specific job requirements. This enables recruiters, such as the team at Redwood, to focus their efforts on reviewing the most promising candidates, saving time and resources. Job seekers benefit from this streamlined process as they have a better chance of being matched with positions that align with their skills and experience.

Talent acquisition platforms like Greenhouse and HireVue use AI to screen and assess candidates, analysing their CVs and evaluating their video interviews to identify top talent. This helps job seekers stand out in the competitive publishing job market.

Conclusion
AI has undoubtedly brought transformative changes to the recruitment process, making it more efficient, personalised, and objective. In the publishing sector, AI has revolutionised content creation, proofreading and editing, opening up new avenues for job seekers. Embracing AI-powered tools and platforms can significantly enhance job search experiences and increase the chances of finding exciting opportunities in the ever-evolving publishing industry.

Our vacancies are updated regularly and there is plenty of additional career advice available online on our site.


 

How to carve a different career in publishing

Whether you are a couple of years into your publishing career or are a seasoned publishing professional, chances are you will be tempted, at some stage, to develop or change your publishing career path. In-fact, according to a recent survey, one in three adults are looking to change their career or job in the next two years.

Feedback from several candidates that we know and speak with on a regular basis shows that this is not a one-off trend. During our decades in publishing recruitment, we have seen talented individuals working in publishing moving within the industry to sometimes several different types of jobs. For instance, someone who started as a Publishing Marketing Executive may end up having a senior post as an Editorial Director or Commissioning Editor.

So how do such changes happen and is it as straightforward as natural career progression? In some instances, opportunities are opened up internally, but in most cases an individual has made a conscious decision to make a change to their career, and perhaps having worked in publishing for some time, it makes sense to stay in the industry but change focus in terms of the type of job role.

The knowledge that someone has built up over time in publishing – and especially in a particular sector, such as education, science or children’s fiction, present an opportunity to be built on, not moved away from. But – there are steps that often need to be taken to make such changes:

  • Speaking to peers and getting a clear understanding of the options available and what skills are needed for different roles
  • Signing up to podcasts or webinars on the subject matter. For instance, if you are looking to move into marketing there is an endless amount of material to look through and engage with
  • Upskilling – so learning new skills in your spare time that will enhance your career or facilitate a career move
  • Looking at the career opportunities available at Redwood who can help find the best new job in publishing depending on what you are looking for and your skillset

Our vacancies are updated regularly and there is plenty of additional career advice available online on our site.


 

January Career Resolutions

When we think about making new year resolutions, we tend to focus on our health, fitness and wellbeing (which we perhaps all need to do after the excesses of Christmas!). But January is also a great point in time to decide whether you are happy in your current role, and what steps you could take to move up the publishing career ladder. 

With new and exciting jobs becoming in January, why not use this month to focus on a career refresh and set a resolution to refresh your career and job aspirations? It’s the perfect time to think about any changes you need to make to your career in publishing.

CV Review
So where do you start? If you were not excited about returning to your job in this January, now is the right time to start looking for a new role in publishing. And if the perfect job comes along (keep your eyes peeled on our jobs board!), your CV needs to be ready to send.

Therefore, our first suggestion is to review your CV to ensure it is up to date and contains the most relevant and important information about your career. At Redwood, we have always promoted a ‘one CV does not fit all’ approach, instead ensuring your CV meets the requirements of a job you may be applying for. Although this might mean creating several versions of your CV, it will pay dividends in the long run as each version will highlight a particular skill set or career experience that will be more relevant to positions in those areas. For instance, if you have marketing experience, create a marketing focused CV, or one that highlights your digital capabilities.

Remember to include any training courses you may have completed, such as those done in our own time, plus add in any new professional skills (for instance time management and team building during covid).  Keep your CV up to date with these details and it will be a true reflection of your current and most relevant skillset.

In addition to knowing publishing inside out, employers also want to hire people who are tech savvy – i.e., are competent at using Excel, PowerPoint and other IT packages. Add these in the skills section, using these skills to make sure your CV is also presented well – with no spelling mistakes!

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the world’s biggest networking site, with latest figures showing it has 34 million users in the UK alone. It is your public showcase and is one of the first ports of call for a potential employer.

Therefore, it's a great opportunity for you to showcase your professional and publishing experience. Here are a few things you can do immediately to make LinkedIn work harder for you:

  • Ensure you have an up to date and appealing profile picture (pictures showing you smiling are the most clicked on)
  • Add a banner image to reflect your professional career (for instance books, pens, magazines – all of which can be searched for online such as through sites like Canva)
  • Make sure your career history and current role is up to date
  • Reach out to people you have worked with to ask for recommendations or endorsements
  • Try to post new or ‘evergreen’ content each week to help keep your profile fresh and relevant – and in sight of potential employees

Keeping Recruiters Close
If you are looking to change career, we would always advise to get in touch with a member of the team straightaway for an informal chat. This is because while we might not be advertising a role in that area, opportunities present themselves each day, so if we know you are looking, one of our expert team can advise you straightaway if something comes up.

January is the perfect time to review, refresh and evaluate, whether this is ensuring your CV is up to date, or taking the plunge with a new career or role. Whatever you are looking to do, keep us updated as we can help and give support, in confidence, at all stages of your publishing career. 


How to nail your first publishing job

The world has returned to the office and the job market is buoyant, with the team here at Redwood Publishing seeing a demand for talented people at all levels of the publishing industry.  So, whether you are looking for a junior position, or are changing sectors, bringing the experience in marketing, finance or creative skills, we share the insider’s secrets to landing your perfect job in publishing.

CV ready
Without a doubt, having a relevant and up to date CV will help you get one foot in the door. Not only should this include your career and education history, but it should also have key skills listed as stand-out bullet points at the top of the document. This means your relevancy will stand out and if scattered with keywords, make it even more pertinent for the position being applied for.

Remember to tweak your CV to make it role-specific, always checking for spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes.  

Have a career plan
If you are looking for a career change, make sure you are moving for the right reasons. And if you need to upskill to get to where you want to be, there are plenty of courses, free and also subscription-based, which are available to complete in your own time.

Ask the expert
Having an expert team of recruiters at your fingertips is priceless and can be the difference between a new job and staying in a dead-end role.  At Redwood, we have decades of publishing recruitment expertise, spanning good decades, and downturns, including recessions, Brexit challenges and covid lockdowns.

By remaining focused and knowing the market inside out, we have a consistent track record of placing the right candidates in a range of publishing jobs, from editorial, non-fiction, fiction, marketing, sales, digital and education – to name a few. And we don’t just work with experienced candidates. We also work with graduates looking for their first job, or those looking to change industries and move into publishing.

Whatever your level, and whatever publishing job you are seeking, we can help.

We have close working relationships with some of the top publishing houses and associated businesses, plus often have bespoke or unique publishing jobs on our books. Using the latest technology to help our search, we also rely on the human touch to place the right candidate in the right job.

As a candidate, be clear on the role you are looking for, your salary expectations, and type of business you want to work for. Then, we will look at the openings we have and match you with a suitable position.

LinkedIn
In the meantime, keep your professional LinkedIn profile up to date as potential employers will look at this as part of their research. So, repost interesting and relevant content; connect with others in the industry you are interested in, and comment, like and share useful articles; manage your invites and keep your bio fresh.

Summary
A specialist publishing recruitment firm, such as Redwood, takes the pressure out of finding your next publishing role. From junior to senior positions, to digital and education, we can help you with your publishing career journey. Contact us today for an informal chat and advice.


Interview Tips

Whether your interview is online or face to face, the planning and preparation for a job interview remain the same. Working in publishing recruitment, our team is able to support your preparation and we are sharing some of our insights to help you make your job interview as successful as possible.

Firstly, preparation is key. Once we have set up your interview for a new job in publishing, it is your job to be as prepared as possible to ensure you show yourself in the very best light for this important next stage.

There is no doubt that the outcome of a job interview can be enhanced or hindered by the quality of your preparation. Take time to research as much background information as you can about the company, the market and the role itself. Our team will help and support you with this part of the interview too, as we will know the employer really well, and may have placed other candidates in the business. The resulting insights are invaluable resources for you and can help set you apart from another candidate looking for a new publishing job.

Have a good look at the company website, as usually, this will provide a huge amount of information for you. Plus, we know that many interviewers, be it the HR team or manager, will ask you specific questions about the company. The organisation’s social media channels are also a useful way to learn more – and remember to check them for any news or announcements on the day of the interview. It’s always useful to find out who the company’s competitors might be.

The good news is that if you’ve been invited for an interview, the employer has already decided you are a potential match for their vacancy. Interviews are used to determine if you fit into the company and team culture, plus it’s your opportunity to consider if the role and the business is the right fit for you also.

From the employer's perspective, our feedback as recruiters and the details on your CV will have demonstrated that you have the level of experience and technical expertise they are seeking. An interview gives you the opportunity to expand on the information detailed on your CV, so it’s a good idea to have a copy of your CV to hand, as well as being clear as to what you have written on it ahead of the interview.

We would also advise you to be prepared to outline how you would fit into the role you are interviewing for, using solid examples of how you will achieve this. 

An interview is as much about compatibility as competence, so use the interview to determine whether the company is able to offer you the professional growth and career development you seek. One great way to do this is to prepare some questions to ask at the interview. If you are struggling with this, do speak to one of our team who will be able to help you.

If you are well prepared for the interview, your next priority is to come across as motivated and enthusiastic. This is because the way you interact, and your body language, will provide the potential employer with a positive – or negative impression.  Make sure you are polite and friendly and retain good etiquette by greeting your interviewer with a firm handshake, or keep focused during an online interview. 

Arriving around 15 minutes early will give you some breathing space and allow you to nip to the loo! And, don’t forget to make a note of the name and title of your interviewer.  For online interviews, download and test the software ahead to remove any last-minute stress around technical glitches.

Finally, good luck – and call your recruiter afterwards, to give feedback and ask any questions you didn’t get an opportunity to ask in the interview.

Summary

  • Look at the business’s website! You will most certainly be asked a question around your knowledge on the company
  • Check the social media channels, even on the day of the interview to ensure you have not missed any news or announcements
  • Know your CV inside out
  • Have examples ready to show what you can bring to the role
  • Prepare questions in advance which allow you to determine how you can grow and develop in the role
  • Think about your posture and non-verbal communication
  • Dress appropriately and know the name of the person who is interviewing you

See more interview hints and tips here.


Keeping your skills up to date

New years bring new beginnings and the chance to review and refresh. This is no exception when it comes to thinking about a new job, changing careers and thinking about our publishing career. Why not make the most of this momentum and review your skillset, looking at ways to improve your CV with a new set, or improved set of skills, that will help you stand apart from other job seekers?

Comments Redwood Publishing MD Theresa Duncan: “The spring is a great opportunity to refresh your professional skills, from improving IT to learning more about a new area of publishing. There are plenty of free, remote learning courses available thanks to online learning, many of which can be done in the evenings or over a couple of hours at the weekend. With so many courses available, you just need to identify the areas you need to improve on and then sign up!”

We’ve compiled a list of courses that are applicable to those working in publishing:

Content Marketing
All areas of publishing need to be marketed, and there are increasing opportunities for marketeers across all levels. The IDM has a very comprehensive Content Marketing course which is tutor-led and completely online.

Creative writing
If you are looking to improve your writing skills or even see yourself penning your own novel, have a look at the Open University’s Fiction Writing course. This free course looks at genres to developing an enhanced awareness of fiction writing.

Career Development
Look no further than LinkedIn for a huge number of free career development courses. Covering a range of areas, there is something for every upskilling need here.

Social Media
Social media plays a part in everyday life, from LinkedIn helping you to push your professional profile, to publishers marketing via Facebook and Instagram. Therefore, improving your skillset in this area will be a valuable lesson and also will help your CV to stand out (and your LinkedIn profile!). There are a number of courses available, with Pearson offering an introductory course. This is ideal if you are looking to offer your employer some added value skills and help them to market themselves digitally. The short course can be found here.

Computing and IT
The Open University does not just offer academic courses; its Computer Basics course provides a helpful refresher and will enable you to improve the day-to-day skills you need in the workplace.

Numeracy
If maths isn’t your strong point (often true for more creative types) don’t worry. There are plenty of resources available to help you, including from the Government which has help on numeracy, maths and English. Click here to sign up.

Negotiation
Persuasion is a key business skill, and often a core requirement for management. Why not have a look at this online course from the London School of Economics and Political Science, which lasts six weeks. At £2,100, it’s not the cheapest, but is very comprehensive and could be a good investment to help progress your career.

Equality & Diversity
It’s more important than ever that your business is doing everything to ensure an inclusive workplace and great environment for all. So why not try Vision2Learn’s Equality & Diversity course to build more awareness in this area?

Redwood can also support your career development by helping you find the best opportunities in publishing. Learn more here.


New Year, New CV

January is the perfect time to turn over a new leaf and set your goals for the year. So, whether you are thinking about a new job in publishing or have updated your skill set, now is the perfect time to update your CV.

It's also worth keeping your CV up to date, as recruiters like Redwood Publishing may approach you with a new job opportunity – and you will want to be able to share your career history details as quickly as possible. Also, as soon as you graduate or are looking for that all important first job, you create a CV.

Theresa Duncan, Redwood Publishing Recruitment MD, shares her advice on how to keep your CV up to date:

“It’s always worth having your CV pitch perfect, but realistically when do we have time to make updates to this type of document? We always suggest to candidates that they use the new year to make a fresh start and review their CV, career aspirations and also make plans for the year ahead, whether that is around upskilling or seeking a new publishing job.

Here are my insights, based on many years of experience in the publishing and recruitment industry, on getting your CV new job ready.”

  • Get rid of any logos, photos, symbols and different shades of colour on your CV. Stick to the standard CV format, and use Ariel, Courier or Times New Roman fonts. When we think about the use of AI in recruitment, the bots just see text!
  • Include words that refer to software, responsibilities, basic skills and licenses or certificates associated with performing the job, as the AI robots will be looking for key phrases and contextual information related to those qualifications.
  • Pepper keywords multiple times throughout the CV (but bear in mind when your CV is read by a person you don’t want to drive them crazy with repetition!).
  • Instead of paragraphs, use bullet points.
  • Keep the formatting on your CV simple. Our tips are when targeting all the relevant categories, put them on separate lines.

“It’s also important to remember some CV ‘rules’ to ensure you get your key points across in a concise way, whilst leaving the reader with a clear understanding of who you are and what you can bring to the job being advertised. These include:

  • Keep your CV to two pages. The aim of a CV is to give the person who is shortlisting a ‘taste’ of your experience/skills, whilst ensuring you get across all of your relevant experience/skills. Remember, they may have a high volume of CVs to look through.
  • Start with your current role at the top of your CV and work back. This is because your current role will probably be the most relevant for the position being applied for.
  • Add interests and hobbies as it can prompt a good talking point and will give the person shortlisting an idea of what you enjoy outside of work.
  • Do check spelling, punctuation and comprehension. There are a number of packages available to help you, such as Grammarly, which flag up spelling and grammatical errors.
  • Be careful of your personal profile, as it could ‘pigeon-hole’ you if you highlight aspects of your experience that are not relevant to the role you are applying for.
  • Make sure all your dates of education/employment are correct and are consistent.

Remember to follow us on social media for regular updates, news and publishing insights.


What does the post-covid workplace look like?

With all schools in the UK now back, at the same time many offices have begun to welcome staff back either full time or on a flexible basis. If you have a job in publishing it is likely that you will be one of the many thousands of people being encouraged to also make a return to the office. But what will the workplace look like post-pandemic?

Two years ago, working from home was uncommon, with most senior members of staff being given the opportunity to not travel to their main office. But fast forward a few months and the work from home model is now so common, that many workers would argue that they are not only more productive, but they also enjoy a better work-life balance not having to commute.

It has also opened up roles that employees may not have been able to consider in the past. This is very true for those who work in publishing where often most publishing jobs have been found in larger cities. The team at Redwood Publishing now can approach candidates who are not necessarily based near to a publishing vacancy, as employees offer flexible or remote working options.

But if you are going to be back in the office full-time or even on a flexible basis, what can you expect?

Hotdesking
Had a desk before lockdown? Many employers have reduced their office space to account for remote working, so your desk might no longer be there. Instead, employees are being encouraged to hotdesk and move around the business to maximise space. Safely of course. This is true for those working in publishing who might need to meet a number of teams, so having a permanent base is no longer applicable.

Video calling rooms
Meeting rooms will still exist but now expect to see a large screen and video conferencing hardware as standard. Calls to teams, writers, or other publishing support needs to be as professional and seamless as possible, so having equipment that works in a dedicated room is the norm.

Social distancing
The pandemic has not gone away – it's just more manageable. So employees are still being asked to keep their distance and remain mindful of other people’s space.

Cleaner working environment
With hot-desking and our awareness of hygiene, expect there to be a much cleaner working environment, with plenty of hand sanitiser available and a requirement to clean down your desk at the end of the day.

Better mental health support
Many people have suffered with their mental health during lockdown and employers are much more tuned in to supporting their staff. Many workplaces now have dedicated mental health teams and external support set up to offer help if required. Mental wellbeing is no longer a taboo and is there to help you if needed.

Socials
As we have not seen our teams, many employers are offering more socials, whether it be a night out bowling or team dinner. These events are important to regain our team bonds, meet new employees and improve our mental wellbeing. At a distance of course!

For more information on finding your next job in publishing, or information on which publishers would support your flexible working requirements, get in touch with one of our team today.


Developing a return-to-work strategy in publishing

With the job market opening up and a surge in publishing jobs, you need to make sure your next move is timed well and is right for you. There is no doubt job seekers feel more pressure than ever to secure a new job in publishing, but with the right strategy in place, you can be one step ahead of other candidates.  

First things first
Be honest with yourself and know how achievable your next move is. Stepping up is great, but in today’s climate you have to be a stand out candidate to secure a new publishing job. Why not utilise our team of experienced recruiters who can give you a market overview and the career expertise you need to make your move achievable?  You can discuss your current situation in confidence and benefit from our extensive knowledge of the publishing industry.

Careers in publishing
Know the area of publishing you want to head in to – for example, education – then you can focus on the types of roles and organisations which are of interest to you, and would also suit you. Look at our online jobs boards to see the selection of roles that are available and ask us to share details of publishers you might not have come across – they could be the right fit for you.

Remote working
With the majority of publishers offering flexi and remote working options, you don’t have to just consider your immediate location when it comes to a new job. The post-pandemic way of working has opened up huge opportunities for publishing jobs that candidates might not once have applied for due to location issues. Now, you don’t have to be city based, but instead be happy to work from home and travel to the office occasionally. Our recruitment team can make initial enquiries with your chosen businesses and will provide you with feedback on how likely they are able to accommodate this style of working.  

Graduates
Bagging your first job in publishing after getting your degree might seem challenging, but having a professionally written CV which stands out from the crowd will significantly improve your chances of securing that all important job. Our tips include adding 'Relevant Skills' and ‘Achievements’ to help bolster your CV if you are lacking in experience. 

Climb The Career Ladder
If you've been with a company or in specific job for a number of years, the time may come to progress to the next level. Alternatively, you may have done well in your current job or relish the prospect or increasing your responsibilities and so wish to climb the career ladder. If this is your goal, you need to market yourself and keep learning new skills. Moving ahead in your career requires you to continually update and enhance your skills, so ensure you keep a record of what you've accomplished. A professionally written CV is essential if you are looking to secure a higher-level job as the design and layout will have a direct impact on your entry and salary level. 

Summary
When you're ready, search our online jobs board for new positions and use networking opportunities to your advantage by joining sites like LinkedIn. When applying for new jobs make sure you tailor both your CV and cover letter for each application, and ask for a professional recruitment team to review it. You can also see our advice under the careers advice page on this website.


Creating the perfect CV for publishing

As publishing recruitment experts, we use your CV to learn more about your career history, relevant experience, training and education. And unlike a non-specialist recruitment agency, we specifically look at your CV to see how we can help you get a new job in publishing.

We will review whether your CV is applicable for your next publishing role, looking at whether it carries relevant information and highlights specific experience. Some of our tips to ensure it is new-job ready include:

  • Make sure your CV is no more than two pages. Not only do you want to avoid bombarding the reader with too much information, but it also needs to be as relevant for the job you are applying for as possible, balanced with giving the viewer a taste of your experience and skill.
  • Work in chronological order, starting with your current role first and simply working backwards. It is most likely that your current role will be the most relevant for the position being applied for, so concentrate on making this stand out as much as possible.
  • Showcase your knowledge not just through your current or past roles, but by including experience and any training that is relevant. For instance, did you complete additional learning during lockdown, or have you gained new qualifications while at work?
  • With AI being a factor in how some companies review CV’s, it’s also important to include the job title and other keywords that show how relevant you are for the role. For instance, if the role is for an Education Publishing Manager, include these terms in your CV and back up with examples of jobs in this area showcasing your skillset.
  • AI bots will be looking for key phrases and contextual information related to those qualifications. Therefore, include words that refer to terms associated with performing the job, such as qualifications and skills.
  • If you are struggling to reduce your word count, use bullet points as they are easier to read than paragraphs and help you to remain concise.
  • Our experienced team offers registered candidates a free CV checking service, offering advice on how to write, pitch and present your CV. We will give you helpful insights on any changes that are needed and how you can make it as relevant as possible for publishers in your chosen specialism.

Register with us to hear about the latest and most relevant roles in publishing. You can also speak to us for advice and industry insights which might be useful for the job in publishing you are looking for.

 


How to get a job in publishing

The last 18 months have been a challenging time for those looking for a job, and the publishing sector has not been exempt from its share of difficulties. However, during this time, Redwood has continued to find those looking for a job in publishing work, both at junior and senior levels.

So, what’s the secret to landing your perfect publishing job?

CV ready
Firstly, have an up-to-date cv which details your career and education history. If you are registered with Redwood, we will review your cv and give you advice on what changes you might need to make, or tweaks needed to ensure it is relevant for the job you are applying for. This could mean you have two or more versions depending on what job you are applying to.

Have a career plan
Even if you are unhappy in your current job, we would recommend not moving for the sake of moving! Instead, take some time to map out your career path and think about where you want to be in five to 10 years’ time. At this stage, you can more easily plan the steps you need to take to ensure you get to where you want to be.

Lockdown proved a valuable time to upskill, but expanding your knowledge and skillset is something that will always deliver a long-term reward, whatever the time of year.

Ask the expert
Recruitment teams know their area of business inside out, and at Redwood, we have decades of publishing recruitment expertise. We place candidates in a range of publishing jobs, from editorial, non-fiction, fiction, marketing, sales, digital and education – to name a few. We also work with graduates looking for their first job, to people who have a number of years’ experience under their belt. In short, whatever your level, and whatever job you are looking for, we really can help.

We work with some of the top publishing houses and associated businesses, plus often have bespoke or unique publishing jobs on our books. Using the latest technology to help our search, we also rely on the human touch to place the right candidate in the right job.

At Redwood, we believe publishing recruitment is an artform, so as a candidate, you might require specialist help to get the job you are looking for.

All we ask is that you are clear about the role you are looking for, your salary expectations, and type of firm you want to work in. Then, we will look at the openings we have, or know are coming in, and match you with a suitable position.

LinkedIn
In the meantime, keep your professional LinkedIn profile up to date as potential employers will look at this as part of their research. So, repost interesting and relevant content; connect with others in the industry you are interested in, and comment, like and share useful articles; manage your invites and keep your bio fresh.

Summary
A specialist publishing recruitment firm, such as Redwood, takes the pressure out of finding your next publishing role. From junior to senior positions, to digital and education, we can help you with you publishing career journey. Contact us today for an informal chat and advice.


The benefits of using a publishing recruiter

In an age when we use LinkedIn and have access to the latest jobs in publishing online, you might wonder what the benefits are of using a specialist recruiter.

Neither LinkedIn or the online job boards cannot replace the expertise offered by a publishing recruiter, both in terms of the knowledge they have and the wealth of specialist knowledge they are able to offer.

The team at Redwood Publishing Recruitment is no exception. We have supported publishers and those looking for jobs in publishing for over 30 years, after building a positive reputation and trust in the industry.

Our business was founded to bring an original, professional and fresh approach to publishing recruitment, an aim that still stands true today. The team has collectively worked across different areas of publishing recruitment for a number of years, building good relationships with leading businesses in the industry and proactively placing candidates in emerging disciplines. This expertise span books, journals, magazines, part-works, digital and print, where we are able to utilise our talent, knowledge and expertise to bring you a recruitment service that can be relied upon, whatever the requirement.

Unlike LinkedIn, we bring a personal touch and human insight, with industry knowledge that sets us apart. This is supported with cutting edge search and selection recruitment technology, to enable us to find the ideal candidate for role.  In addition, our team is here to listen, consult and deliver, as a trusted partner to clients and candidates alike.

Our wealth of experience has enabled us to provide top publishing talent a huge range of great opportunities, placing candidates of all disciplines into a broad spectrum of publishing jobs across all levels.

For clients, we offer a reliable, tailored and competitively priced service, bringing up to date knowledge of the industry and a modern approach to publishing recruitment, delivering a personal service, whatever the level of role.  Our team understands your requirements and builds a tailored recruitment service that will add value to your business by having the right team in place.

At Redwood, our aim is always to provide a first-class service and to build solid, long term relationships built on honesty, trust, and professionalism, now and in the future. Contact one of our consultants today to learn how we can find you the best publishing talent or support you in your next publishing job.


Why register?

When you are looking for a new job in publishing it's worth taking the time to plan ahead and be clear on the role you are looking for. Knowing the role you are looking for seems obvious – but is it when you think about the future and what your publishing career will look like?

For instance, do you always see yourself working in educational publishing? Or would you like to eventually move into the world of online journals? Whatever your eventual goals, our specialist publishing recruitment team will always look at your future career goals when discussing your immediate plans.

This is why registering with us is so important. Not only will you be the first to know about jobs in your chosen publishing sector, but we can offer more a bespoke service for your longer-term publishing career.

For instance, if we are aware of your plans, we can offer you new opportunities before they are advertised, and get you a job interview more quickly. We can support you across the whole journey, from initial interest to third job interview.  By getting to know you, we can give publishers more insights about your career history and how you will fit with a new team.

Register your details with us here, and leave the job search to us!


Securing a new job in publishing

Whether you have been furloughed, made redundant or looking to move roles, there is no doubt candidates feel more pressure than ever to secure a new publishing job. The normal pressures of searching for a new job have been further impacted by the global pandemic and uncertainties bought on by lockdown and also Brexit.

Our expert publishing recruitment team has come together (virtually of course!) to share their tips for making a success of your next publishing job move.

What next?
Be really clear on what your next move is – and what your qualifications are to achieve this. We suggest analysing your current publishing career and what you want to achieve by moving roles. It is at this point that a conversation with our team of experienced recruiters is invaluable. You can discuss your current situation in confidence and benefit from our extensive publishing industry knowledge.

Publishing jobs
Once you are clear about the direction you wish to head in, you can then focus on the type of roles and organisations you would be interested in – and would suit you. We can share job descriptions with you to provide you with a better idea of which jobs or roles you may be suited to.

Remote working
With companies now starting to introduce office-based working, there is far more flexibility when it comes to remote working. This has opened up huge opportunities for publishing jobs that candidates might not once have applied for due to location issues. No longer will candidates have to be based in London for instance, so by identifying a company you wish to work for, so you can now plan and give yourself a time frame in which to find and secure your ideal position. However, in our experience, you may find you have to enlarge your search criteria or include other related options to help facilitate the move you are looking for. Our publishing recruitment team can make initial enquiries with your chosen businesses and will provide you with comprehensive feedback throughout the application process.


Why Choose Redwood Publishing Recruitment

As we slowly pull out of lockdown and things start to look more normal, we still look to trusted brands and services that will support us during good times, and not so good times. During the pandemic, Redwood has continued to support publishers and those looking for jobs in publishing thanks to our experience and trust we have built during our 30 years of trading.

The original aim of creating Redwood Publishing Recruitment was to bring an original, professional, and fresh approach to publishing recruitment. Our team has collectively worked across different areas of publishing recruitment for a number of years, building good relationships with leading industry players and emerging disciplines. These span books, journals, magazines, part-works, digital and print, where we are able to utilise our talent, knowledge and expertise to bring you a recruitment service that can be relied upon all year round – and whatever the requirement.

We have weathered recessions and latterly the pandemic, adapting our business model to support our candidates and clients during uncertain times. Our industry insights set us apart, plus, we use cutting-edge search and selection recruitment technology, to enable us to find the ideal candidate for the role.  Our recruiters are here to listen, consult and deliver and are a trusted partner.

Our wealth of experience has enabled us to provide top publishing talent a huge range of great opportunities, placing candidates of all disciplines into a broad spectrum of roles within publishing at all levels.

We offer a reliable, tailored and competitively priced service, bringing up-to-date knowledge of the industry and a modern approach to recruitment, delivering a personal service, whatever the level of the publishing role.  Our team understands your requirements and builds a tailored recruitment service that will add value to your business by having the right team in place.

At Redwood, our aim is always to provide a first-class service and to build solid, long-term relationships built on honesty, trust, and professionalism, now and in the future. Contact one of our consultants today to learn how we can find you the best publishing talent or support you in your next publishing job.


Drafting the perfect Cover Letter

In this digital age, it seems almost at odds to be discussing the topic of letter writing when CVs and portfolios are emailed or uploaded to support a job application. However, there is still a need to draft a cover letter to introduce yourself and to summarise why you are applying for a role, supporting your CV. They will be sent electronically like other application documents, but nevertheless, it is a tool that helps an employer glean a quick summary about you.

The experienced publishing recruitment team at Redwood has pulled some helpful pointers to get you started.

Aim to create a letter that is no more than 150-200 words in length, but most importantly, relevant for the job you are applying for.  Time and again we hear of applications being rejected because the cover letter refers to the wrong position or business – this is a surefire way of not reaching the next stage!

We suggest thinking about you the role being applied for and who the letter is being sent to, tailoring it accordingly. Your cover letter is a brilliant opportunity to introduce yourself, highlighting the reason for your application and your interest in the company. Remember to include keywords and phrases pertaining to the job role and include your most relevant skills and achievements to date. 

Ahead of writing the letter, plan your response by re-reading the job advert and familiarising yourself with the requirements of the role. This will then allow you to refer to what skills you have that are relevant, providing more detailed examples of these in your CV.

Our tips for the most relevant things to include are:

  • Briefly introduce yourself
  • State the post you are applying for and where you saw it advertised (this could be written as a by-line, i.e. Covering Letter to support the application of Publishing Assistant).
  • Explain why you are interested in the role.
  • Explain why you are interested in the employer, showing evidence of research into the company.
  • Highlight what makes you suitable for the post and show how your key strengths reflect their requirements.
  • End by respectfully asking for the opportunity to discuss the opportunities further in your final paragraph.
  • Ensure there are no errors/spelling mistakes – use packages such as Grammarly for accuracy testing.
  • If you know the name of the recipient, you should end your letter with 'Yours Sincerely', but if your letter is addressed ‘Dear Sir / Madam’ it should end with ‘Yours Faithfully’. Ideally however you should know who you are writing to – and if not – do some research!
  • Save your letter as a pdf to ensure all formatting is saved and changes cannot be made to the content.

Keep your cover letter to the point, relevant and engaging, leaving the recruiter with a real sense of who you are and eager to meet you to learn more. Contact us for advice how to achieve your next publishing move. 


Back to school: showcasing your skillset with the easing of lockdown

With the schools back and a roadmap for easing lockdown, now is the perfect time to make sure you stand out from the crowd when it comes to your skills and talent. But how to go about this? We are re-posting an update on some of the ways you can upskill NOW to stay ahead of the crowd and secure your dream publishing job.

Comments Redwood Publishing MD Theresa Duncan: “Now is the perfect opportunity to refresh your professional skills, from improving IT to learning more about a new area of publishing. As we are at home it can be easier to develop your skillset thanks to online learning. With so many courses available, you just need to identify the areas you need to improve on and then sign up!”

So here’s a reminder of some of the courses available:

Content Marketing
All areas of publishing need to be marketed, and there are increasing opportunities for marketeers across all levels. The IDM has a very comprehensive Content Marketing course which is tutor-led and completely online.

Creative writing
If you are looking to improve your writing skills or even see yourself penning your own novel, have a look at the Open University’s Fiction Writing course. This free course looks at genres to developing an enhanced awareness of fiction writing.

Career Development
Look no further than LinkedIn for a huge number of free career development courses. Covering a range of areas, there is something for every upskilling need here.

Social Media
Digital is no longer a buzz word – social media plays a part in everyday life, with LinkedIn helping you to push your professional profile, to publishers marketing via Facebook and Instagram. Therefore, improving your skillset in this area will be a valuable lesson and also will help your CV to stand out (and your LinkedIn profile!). There are a number of courses available, with Pearson offering an introductory course. This is ideal if you are looking to offer your employer some added value skills and help them to market themselves digitally. The short course can be found here.

Computing and IT
The Open University does not just offer academic courses; its Computer Basics course provides a helpful refresher and will enable you to improve the day-to-day skills you need in the workplace.

Numeracy
If maths isn’t your strong point (often true for more creative types) don’t worry. There are plenty of resources available to help you, including from the Government which has help on numeracy, maths and English. Click here to sign up.

Negotiation
Persuasion is a key business skill, and often a core requirement for management. Why not have a look at this online course from the London School of Economics and Political Science, which lasts six weeks. At £2,100, it’s not the cheapest, but is very comprehensive and could be a good investment to help progress your career.

Equality & Diversity
It’s more important than ever that your business is doing everything to ensure an inclusive workplace and great environment for all. So why not try Vision2Learn’s Equality & Diversity course to build more awareness in this area?

Redwood can also support you with job applications. Learn more here

 


How to have a great video interview

Video conferencing has moved away from being a solution for long-distance work calls and instead has become a daily part of our lives during lockdown. Over the past year we’ve been keeping in touch with friends and family online, playing games, having virtual dinner parties and celebrating special occasions.

But it has also become an essential way for teams in the world of work to stay in touch, have meetings and attend virtual events. As recruiters, we have increasingly used video to meet candidates to hold initial discovery meetings and also for first interviews. It has been an essential tool to help people find a new job and discover more about the publishing industry.

If we feel a candidate has the suitable skills for a job role, we will then recommend they have an interview with the potential employer, and again, this is being done via video conferencing.

To make sure this goes as smoothly as possible, we’ve pulled together our top tips based on real experience and feedback from both clients and candidates to make your virtual interview go as smoothly as possible:

Getting ready
Just because you are at home and not meeting someone face to face, it does not mean you can’t be prepared! Spend time getting ready and do your homework. Have the appropriate resources to hand and take time to make sure you look presentable. Simply put, treat a Zoom or Teams session like a face-to-face meeting to ensure you have a positive interview.  

Being unfamiliar with the software
Just because you’ve had a few Zooms with friends and family does not make you an expert! Get to know your way around the software you are using, especially if you are having to share a presentation or your screen. We suggest clicking the meeting link well ahead of the scheduled time to allow you to download any required software. Test your microphone and camera – and remember you can mute yourself if you are online ahead of the start time.

Get charged!
Ensure your laptop has enough battery power and you have headphones (if needed). Do you have a working pen to make notes, and have you got a pdf of your presentation (if one was required for the interview) ready to send?

External noise/distractions
Don’t bring your cat face to the interview! We have all loved the meeting with the cat character, but this won’t make your interview panel smile (well maybe not!). So, no cat pictures on the screen!
Also, try to avoid and minimise noise and distractions from the home to make the interview go as smoothly as possible. People are sympathetic to us having to be at home currently, however, do your best to avoid interruptions and background chaos.

Video as a barrier
Conferencing software is a great way to facilitate conversations when people are apart, however they can form a barrier especially during an interview which can be stressful at the best of times. So, use the situation to your advantage, make yourself as comfortable as possible and surround yourself by things that make you feel reassured. Even pop your slippers on if they will help (and won’t be seen!).

Notes
Remember to use the note facility to send links to areas that are relevant to the interview – maybe your LinkedIn profile or online portfolio of work. You can also share your presentation in this way (if you have been asked to create a presentation).

In summary, we cannot avoid not being able to have online meetings, and interviews are no exception. We can support you and help you make the most of the experience and we would advise you to treat an online interview no differently than a face-to-face session.

Make sure you are set up ahead of time, have all the login details required, and are fully prepared. Our team is on hand to help you through the interview process, so speak to us today about finding the right opportunity and how we can support you all the way to a new job in publishing.


Undergraduate and postgraduate students set to benefit from Redwood Publishing’s expertise

Managing Director Theresa Duncan will share industry insights at the Oxford Brookes Working in Publishing event 2021

Oxford Brooke’s annual Working in Publishing event offers undergraduate and postgraduate students a unique industry insight and next week will welcome its doors to notable guests including Redwood Publishing MD, Theresa Duncan.

This year’s event takes place online on Tuesday 2nd March and offers an afternoon of advice and networking with industry professionals. Over 50 companies of note from a range of publishing sectors will participate in the online sessions, in what the organisers are celebrating as attracting the largest number of participants ever.

The keynote speech will be delivered by Hilary Murray Hill, CEO of Hachette Children's Group, with previous speakers including David Shelley, Joanna Prior, Mark Allin, and Jamie Byng. Companies in attendance include Penguin Random House, Pearson, Faber & Faber, OUP, Elsevier, Felicity Bryan, Thames and Hudson, Usborne and Bloomsbury, and of course Redwood Publishing Recruitment.

Theresa will be taking part in an online ‘Working in Publishing’ afternoon, offering a ‘speed dating’ session for third year undergraduates and MA students. This facilitates a conversation about the realities of working in the industry, giving students an opportunity to meet active professionals from a range of roles and companies, and to get tips on how best to find jobs in the industry.

Comments Theresa, “We are delighted to be supporting the event for the 10th running as we can see first-hand how valuable speaking to the students is. To be able to share our insights and give one to one advice is really helpful for those embarking on their publishing careers”.

The Redwood team has extensive experience in publishing, recruiting for roles spanning books, journals, magazines, part-works, digital and print. They bring you a recruitment service that is built on cutting-edge search and selection recruitment technology, backed by personal insight and experience.

Redwood can also support you with job application support. Learn more here.


CV tricks and tips to get noticed

Not only is our CV a review of our career history, but it’s also a tool to help candidates stand out from the crowd when applying for a new position. So how can you ensure your CV is both relevant for the new position you are applying and contains your career history?

Redwood Publishing Recruitment MD, Theresa Duncan, shares her top tricks and tips to ensure your CV is fit for purpose.

“We’d all like to think that our CV is read by the HR team or team lead, but the reality is that AI is often used to identify the most relevant candidates for a role. Deploying AI is not new – but we are seeing it being increasingly used following the steep rise in the number of candidates applying for roles since the pandemic. Here are my hints and tips to make sure your CV makes it through the initial recruitment stage:

  • Leave your creativity for the interview as CVs need to be clear, concise and contain the position keywords. For instance, if the role is for a Publishing Marketing Executive, include these terms in your document – of course backing up with examples.
  • Recruiters don’t need to see logos, photos or diagrams. Don’t steer away from the standard CV format using regular fonts (such as Ariel, Courier or Times New Roman).
  • Recruiters will expect CVs to be created in Microsoft Word – so don’t save as a PDF (and AI bots will read Word).
  • AI bots will be looking for key phrases and contextual information related to those qualifications. Therefore, include words that refer to terms associated with performing the job, such as qualifications and skills.
  • Bullets are easier to read than paragraphs and help you to remain concise.

“Another way to ensure you get noticed to leave the with a clear understanding of your personality and what unique skills you will be bringing to the job being advertised. For instance:

  • Make sure your CV is no more than two pages. The is because a CV aims to give the reader a ‘taste’ of your experience and skill.
  • Work in chronological order, starting with your current role at the top of your CV working back. Remember, your current role will probably be the most relevant for the position being applied for.
  • Add interests and hobbies as it can prompt a good talking point and helps to show off your personality.
  • Check spelling, punctuation and comprehension. There are a number of packages available to help you, such as Grammarly, which flag up spelling and grammatical errors.
  • Redwood offers a free CV checking service for registered candidates, and it is areas such as this that we can advise on and suggest any required changes.
  • Make sure all your dates of education/employment are correct and are consistent.

Register with us to hear about the latest and most relevant roles in publishing. You can also contact us for an informal chat about your next job move.


Building your skillset during lockdown

With the pandemic showing no signs of easing and lockdown keeping us inside for the foreseeable future, it might be a good moment to review your professional skillset. All too often candidates look to apply for a particular job but then realise they have some key competencies missing. So why not take the opportunity now to upskill?

Refreshing your professional skills, whether it is improving IT competency, learning more about social media, or looking into a new area of publishing (such as education or digital) can all be learned at home thanks to a wealth of online training. There are a large number of online courses available, some of which are free, all of which can be completed at your own pace – and from the comfort of your own home.

There is no doubt that all employment sectors are facing a surge in talented candidates -with more applications than ever being received for jobs. Publishing is no exception, with all areas being inundated with high-quality applications for new roles.  Therefore, it is more important than ever that candidates stand out to not only get their CV through, but then infront of the employer for an interview.  

We’ve shortlisted some of the areas of training it is worth investing your time (and sometimes money) in, with the focus being on remote learning and completing courses at your own pace:

Content Marketing
All areas of publishing need to be marketed, and there are increasing opportunities for marketeers across all levels. The IDM has a very comprehensive Content Marketing course which is tutor-led and completely online.

Creative writing
If you are looking to improve your writing skills or even see yourself penning your own novel, have a look at the Open University’s Fiction Writing course. This free course looks at genres to developing an enhanced awareness of fiction writing.

Career Development
Look no further than LinkedIn for a huge number of free career development courses. Covering a range of areas, there is something for every upskilling need here.

Social Media
Digital is no longer a buzz word – social media plays a part in everyday life, with LinkedIn helping you to push your professional profile, to publishers marketing via Facebook and Instagram. Therefore, improving your skillset in this area will be a valuable lesson and also will help your CV to stand out (and your LinkedIn profile!). There are a number of courses available, with Pearson offering an introductory course. This is ideal if you are looking to offer your employer some added value skills and help them to market themselves digitally. The short course can be found here.

Computing and IT
The Open University does not just offer academic courses; its Computer Basics course provides a helpful refresher and will enable you to improve the day-to-day skills you need in the workplace.

Numeracy
If maths isn’t your strong point (often true for more creative types) don’t worry. There are plenty of resources available to help you, including from the Government which has help on numeracy, maths and English. Click here to sign up.

Negotiation
Persuasion is a key business skill, and often a core requirement for management. Why not have a look at this online course from the London School of Economics and Political Science, which lasts six weeks. At £2,100, it’s not the cheapest, but is very comprehensive and could be a good investment to help progress your career.

Equality & Diversity
It’s more important than ever that your business is doing everything to ensure an inclusive workplace and great environment for all. So why not try Vision2Learn’s Equality & Diversity course to build more awareness in this area?

Learn more here about Redwood's job application support.


New year resolutions: update your LinkedIn profile

LinkedIn continues to be the largest online business networking site in the world, with 26 million members in the UK alone.

It will therefore come as no surprise that recruiters and potential employers will view your profile on LinkedIn to assess your suitability for a role and learn more about you and your career. But have you ever taken time to make sure your LinkedIn profile is fit for purpose?

Up to 90% of recruiters regularly use LinkedIn so it’s vital that if you are seeking a new role, your business profile is accurate and promotes the image you are seeking to project.

The number one piece of advice we can share is to have actually have a profile! LinkedIn has seen a surge in conversations during the pandemic, with a rise of 55% year on year, after professionals have been forced to move face to face interactions online. So, if you don’t have a profile, not only will you not be seen, but you will not be able to be part of the news feed.

Once you have signed up, keep your profile updated. This means adding a decent profile shot and banner image, plotting your career, education and qualifications, and making sure your bio will appeal to those you are hoping to reach. For instance, if you field of expertise or interest is educational publishing, focus your content, article shares and bespoke content on this area. Follow people who work in this area, key educational publishers and news feeds.

Having clarity about what you want to promote will help keep the content you are posting clear and polished. It might be helpful to set goals so you upload 1-3 posts each week, or at least are interacting for this amount of time. Like other social media news feeds, the more you post regular content, the more visible you will be to those who are interested in those subjects.

Do you have colleagues or past work associates who could endorse you? Referrals and recommendations are a really effective way of promoting someone on LinkedIn and serve as a useful point of reference for recruiters and employers alike.

It’s important that you don’t however treat LinkedIn like Facebook. It is a professional site, so flirting, adding a non-professional image or inappropriate comment should be avoided at all costs. It’s a sure-fire way of losing contacts and possible job opportunities.

If you are open to a new opportunity, there is a clever way of flagging this that your employer won’t see. Simply add your settings so recruiters can see you are looking for a new role. Just remember some employer’s HR departments may have this facility so to be sure you can promote yourself in confidence, speak to Redwood who can help you with your next role. Registering is free and you will not only hear about the most relevant positions first but have access to our extensive publishing expertise and recruitment talent.

Contact the team here for more details about how we can help.

 


 

Make Your Career Resolutions NOW

January is traditionally a time when we plan for the future, with many people making resolutions around health, fitness and wellbeing.

But when was the last time you made a career resolution? As we look forward this month, it is the ideal time to think about any changes you need to, and should be making, to your career in publishing.

CV Review
This naturally starts by reviewing your CV to ensure it is up to date and contains the most relevant and important information about your career to date. We have always advocated that ‘one CV does not fit all’ approach, instead ensuring your CV meets the requirements of a job you may be applying for. This might mean creating several versions of your CV, each one highlighting a particular skill set or career experience that will be more relevant to positions in those areas. For instance, if you have a level of marketing experience, create a marketing focused CV, or one that highlights your digital capabilities.

If you have completed any training courses, have invested in home learning or have acquired any new professional skills (for instance teamwork while working remotely), remember to add it in. Keep your CV up to date with these details and ensure it’s a true reflection of your current skillset (and interests).

In addition to knowing publishing inside out, employers also want to hire people who are tech savvy – i.e., are competent at using Excel, PowerPoint and other IT packages. Add these in the skills section and make sure your CV also reflects this by being presented well – with no spelling mistakes!

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the world’s biggest networking site, with 26 million users in the UK alone. It is your public showcase and is one of the first ports of call for a potential employer.

Therefore, it presents a great opportunity for you to showcase your professional experience and publishing experience. We will be focusing on LinkedIn later this month, but here are a few things you can do immediately to make it work better for you:

  • Ensure you have an up to date and appealing profile picture
  • Add a banner image to reflect your professional career (for instance books, pens, magazines – all of which can be searched for online)
  • Make sure your career history and current role is up to date
  • Reach out to people you have worked with to ask for recommendations or endorsements
  • Try to post new or ‘evergreen’ content each week to help keep your profile fresh and relevant – and in sight of potential employees

Change Direction
Instead of focusing on the current pandemic situation, open your eyes to the new opportunities that have presented themselves over the last few months, so you don’t lose out on any opportunities. Many of our candidates have made the most of upskilling through vocational training, many of which was free during the first lockdown. There are still a number of excellent course available, with some with little or no cost.

By identifying areas that have opportunities, you can complete some training to make sure you have the right skillset – and confidence – to apply. For example, the education sector has had to adapt to remote learning needs, resulting in a surge of opportunities in the digital education sector. The pandemic withstanding, this is an area that will continue to grow and therefore will continue to present good career opportunities.

Keeping Recruiters Close
If you are looking to change career, we would always advise to get in touch with a member of the team straightaway for an informal chat. This is because while we might not be advertising a role in that area, opportunities present themselves each day, so if we know you are looking, we can advise you straightaway if something comes up.

Equally, if you are simply seeking advice, or have a query on a particular area of the publishing industry, our experienced team will be able help. Having worked in publishing for a number of years, we have infinite knowledge of all sectors and all the leading publishing houses. This means we are fully qualified to help you – whatever your query or question.

So in summary, January is the perfect time to review, refresh and evaluate, whether this is ensuring your CV is up to date, or taking the plunge with a new career or role. Whatever you are looking to do, keep us updated as we can help and give support, in confidence, at all stages of your publishing career. 


Work In Publishing Week

We are supporting ‘Work in Publishing Week’, a national campaign by the Publisher’s Association which aims to inspire young people to look at publishing as a career.

Despite the current upheaval in the job market, it is vital that people aged between 14-24 are introduced to the various opportunities that are available in publishing, and the week-long events and content shared across The Publisher’s Association’s website and on social media will do just that.

Running from Monday 16th to Friday 20th November, the annual campaign might be a little different this year, but still has the same objectives. These are to:

  • Provide practical support and guidance for those looking to enter the industry including CV and interview tips
  • Showcase the breadth of career opportunities in publishing, from editorial to IT, through case studies and job profiles
  • Champion industry professionals from a diverse range of diverse backgrounds through Q&As with professionals at all levels of the publishing business
  • Challenge common myths and assumptions about the industry

Redwood Publishing Recruitment is fully supportive of the campaign and is offering free ‘insight sessions’ to those young people who want to find out more about the various opportunities in publishing. Simply contact us via our social media or email the team at info@redwoodrecruitment.com using #WorkInPublishing and we’ll set up a free 30-minute session.

There are a number of events being run during the week by organisers, including webinars and workshops, and there is a competition to win a year's free Society of Young Publishers membership. Follow Work in Publishing Week’s social media for information on how to enter.

Events taking place include:

Work in Publishing Q&A with Ellie Pilcher
Publishers Association and Pop-Up Projects webinars
Comics and graphic novels
Children’s publishing
Penguin Random House JobHack Workshop
Production
Marketing, Publicity & Communications
New Writing North webinar
Book Publishing introduction
Illustrated fiction
Editorial
Picture books

Access the campaign website here to register and find out more. 


Future proof your CV

As experienced recruiters, Redwood Publishing will review your CV and offer support to make sure it shows off your skillset in the best light to potential employers.

But in this current time, we are finding that publishers and other industries are looking for candidates that offer something more than just a good career history and experience.

With AI being a dominant force in pre-candidate selection, not only do you have to ensure that your CV meets algorithm requirements, but you also need to demonstrate a wider yet relevant skillset.

By upskilling, particularly when you may have been furloughed, or during a period of looking for work, new skills will help set you apart from others who have a similar level of experience. One way of doing this is to become more familiar with marketing techniques, especially social media, which is today an accepted way of publishers getting in front of their customers. By being able to demonstrate knowledge in this area for instance, you may be able to secure a position which has an additional copy writing requirement but has not been a key part of a job description.

Other areas to consider include:

Flexing your CV to meet the requirements of the job.
Don’t take the ‘one CV fits all approach’ as employers will see that you are not positioning yourself for the job – if the AI bots don’t dismiss your CV first!

Don’t forget that training…
Once you complete a course, or spend time learning a new skill out of the office, jot it down! Keep your CV up to date and a true reflection of your current skillset (and interests)

Get tech savvy
We’re not talking coding here; instead, make sure you know Word and Excel inside out, so you can create a report or format a document quickly. There are plenty of free online courses available to help you get your Office skills up to scratch

Get studying
Dream of getting a degree, or even a further degree? Then do it! There are some great courses available which you can study for in your free time. Your current boss and future employer will always look at additional study in a favourable light.

Interpersonal skills?
If letters after your name are not your thing, there are a huge number of courses in ‘soft skills’ out there, from leadership, delegation, management…take your pick!

Be aware
Make sure you are aware of what is going on in the publishing industry, so when it comes to interview, you can be confident to talk about key topics – such as the recent Frankfurt Bookfair or the top 10 hardbacks. Even if this knowledge results in some comfortable pre-interview chat, it will be worth it!

Speak to us about how Redwood can help you secure your next job in publishing with an informal and confidential conversation.


Libraries Week

This week (from 5th October 2020) we celebrate Libraries week, in which we can take a moment to reflect on the books that have most influenced us. We’ve been asked to share photos of our bookshelves, which you can find on Facebook and Twitter feed, which is a fascinating insight into who we are – and perhaps what we want others to learn about us.

Lockdown prompted a surge in online borrowing across the UK, with local authorities reporting increases of 600% - 700% in people registering with their local library, according to The Bookseller.

There have been a number of events taking place this week, including library-led initiatives #NationalShelfService and #LibrariesFromHome, driven by Libraries Connected. What a step change from life pre-lockdown when some libraries were facing the threat of closure. At that time, we commented that local authorities need to make a step-change in how libraries were run in order to survive; one good thing to have come out of lockdown is how libraries have been forced to go digital and change how they operate, not just now, but into the long term future also.

Nick Poole, CEO of CILIP, the UK’s library and information association said: “The digital offer has been remarkable, but as the nation rebuilds and libraries reopen, it is more important than ever to see the restoration of face-to-face services that enable libraries to serve all of their community. Libraries Week is a great opportunity for us to celebrate and thank librarians for the incredible work they do and to help secure the future of professionally staffed libraries.”

Activities to catch during the rest of the week include:

  • Daily YouTube broadcasts from authors and illustrators from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators sharing what books have inspired them
  • Virtual event on 8th October with Matt Haig where he will read from his novel The Midnight Library. He will be joined by The Reading Agency co-founder and CD Debbie Hicks looking at why libraries must be protected
  • The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards take place on 9th October, with the winner of the Shadowers’ Choice Awards being announced. These are voted for by children and youngsters who are involved in its shadowing scheme.

Bookshop Day 2020

There has never been a more important time to support our high street, with bookshops, in particular, having suffered during lockdown. Consumers however certainly showed their support once shops started to reopen, with The Guardian reporting that 4 million books were purchased in the first six days of them re-opening – this was a surge of 30% versus the same point last year.

But with local lockdowns now becoming more frequent and face masks putting some shoppers off, we must continue to support our wonderful book stores on our high streets.

Thankfully the BOOKS ARE MY BAG campaign is helping to drive awareness of the importance of books and reading with Bookshop Day on Saturday 3rd October. This is a nationwide campaign run by the Booksellers Association to celebrate bookshops. In addition to Bookshop Day, it runs the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards which are curated by bookshops and chosen by readers.

You may already be familiar with the campaign thanks to the BOOKS ARE MY BAG tote bag, with over a million people wearing a Books Are My Bag to show their love for their local bookshop since the campaign’s launch in 2013.

Booksellers, publishers and authors work collaboratively to encourage people to shop in their local bookshop and keep the high street is thriving, something that is more important than ever.

At the core of the campaign are local bookshops, with over a thousand around the UK taking part. They hold special events, create bespoke window displays and more. The campaign celebrates the hard work, knowledge and passion that goes into being a bookseller on Bookshop Day and EVERY day of the year.  The campaign also has the support of all of the country’s major trade publishers, plus the team here at Redwood Publishing Recruitment.

Find out more about participating stores and events via this link.


Job Boards 1/2

The majority of recruitment is now online, with candidate’s almost total reliance on the internet during the pandemic. Thousands of sites are now operating in the UK alone, the growth changing the way jobs are advertised and found. Trade magazines such as The Bookseller do have a small selection of roles in their print publications, however as many publications will testify, job seekers are now only searching online for their next role.

Companies, large and small, and all recruitment agencies in the UK, will now display vacancies on their website. At least one job board will be used to find the skills and talent they need for their business, either by posting their vacancies or by accessing a database of registered candidates. 

More now than ever before, you must use online job boards to help you, as this is where employers are looking to find people with the skills that you have. The easiest place to start is to type in your basic requirements into your favourite search engine, such as Google. When the results come back, you are going to have links to several different resources: 

Job Search Engines / Aggregators 
Search engines gather lists of jobs from many of the big job sites, employers and recruitment agencies and then allow you to search all the jobs in their database using a single search. This can be quicker than using individual job sites, but they can be inaccurate and have out of date information. 

Job Boards 
These are websites that specialise in advertising job vacancies, displaying a range of jobs from employers and recruitment agencies. The big job boards have vacancies in all sectors and industries, whilst niche boards are dedicated to one particular area/industry. Portals and online versions of magazines / newspapers are the online editions of the local, national, and industry newspapers and magazines and tend to have fewer job vacancies than the job boards.

Recruitment Agency Sites 
These sites, such as Redwood’s, display the vacancies being recruited for on behalf of its  clients. They may have many more vacancies that are not advertised so it's wise to telephone them first and enquire about your preferred type of role. In addition, the recruitment consultants will have far more detail about the company advertising a role, the type of candidate they are looking for and additional information such as package.

Employer Career Sections 
Larger companies will have a comprehensive careers section to their website, which will include a list of vacancies. You will need to register your details and set up job alerts for the type of role you are looking for.

How to Search 
Use keywords, so words, phrases, and terms that you can enter to describe technical and professional experience, locations and company names. By typing in various keywords, you will maximize your chances of retrieving jobs that most accurately match your search. If the jobs that come back in your results are not what you expect, try using the 'Advanced' or 'More Search Options' function, which will allow you to be more specific. If you are searching for a job title, which applies across different market sectors, "Project Manager" is a good example; you'll need to use advance search fields to filter out roles that are unsuitable. 

In next week’s blog, we’ll look at how to get information about new jobs when you are too busy to look.


Job Boards part two: getting information about new jobs when you are too busy to search 

In the second part of our Job Boards blog, we look at some of the ways to be informed about relevant roles, even when you don’t have the time to search for them yourself.

There are a number of ways to receive automatic updates on new jobs, including the following:

Registering
When you initially look for a job, registering is not one of the first things you think about. However, and especially with Redwood, registering your details gives you a number of benefits. This includes the ability to set up job alerts, be notified about new roles before they are advertised, and save time by being alerted to jobs without having to search for them!

When you register on a site, your details will be stored on a database for potential employers to find. And with most agencies and some employers spending a large proportion of their time searching through these databases, it is a good opportunity for the right job to find you. 

Set up Search Agents and Job Alerts
Most sites will also allow you to create 'Job Alerts' or 'Search Agents' to proactively find jobs for you. These will be emailed to you on a regular basis, but in most cases, you will need to register to benefit from this service.

Optimize your CV 
If you are going to register your CV with job boards and agencies, the best way to get it noticed is through adding the right keywords. This is because recruiters will search a CV looking for generic or specific keywords. Therefore, if your CV carries the particular keyword they are seeking, preferably in the title, your details will be a preferred choice. 

The purpose of optimizing your CV is to allow it stand out from other applications, so best practice is to incorporate the keywords into the title and summary section. Add detailed information about qualifications and experience further down the CV along with relevant experience and qualifications.

By having as many matches as possible between the CV and the job posting, the more chances you will have of getting seen by the recruiter. 


Assessment Centres

During recent months, contact with candidates has been minimal, with most interviews taking place online. In traditional recruitment, assessment centres have been used to simulate a number of job-related situations across multiple evaluations. In this week’s blog, we’ve included assessment centres as its useful for candidates to understand what they are and how they can be used in ‘normal times’.

What are they?
Employers use assessment centres when recruiting managers, professionals and graduates to make the selection process more accurate. It’s a reliable way of identifying the very best candidates, with the type of activities carried out at an assessment centre including: 

Presentations 
This format allows you to show your ability to organise and structure information – plus gives you the chance to think on your feet! Our advice for a great presentation is to prepare thoroughly and include examples to illustrate the points you are making. Remember to support the facts you find with examples. 

Group Work 
In a non-Covid world, group exercises measure leadership, teamwork, negotiation, and problem-solving. If assessment centre activities are taking place, to succeed in group exercises, you need to keep focused on the overall objective and make sure your contributions are relevant. Key is how you work with team members to solve the problem, something which is usually more important than the solution! You need to make sure you contribute ideas and encourage others. 

Verbal and Numerical Tests 
Most employers use verbal and numerical tests with multiple choice answers. These tests check your accuracy, reasoning and numeric skills. The key to hypothesis testing is to practice working quickly and accurately.

Psychometric and Personality Testing
Psychometric testing looks at how you behave in different situations and your preferences, helping employers understand how you would fit into the company. To succeed in these types of tasks, answer questions honestly and do not overthink the answers. You should not guess what you think a company is looking for as it is likely your scorecard will come out with differences in each area. 

Panel Interviews 
Panel interviews are structured and more usually carried out by senior managers. They will ask for examples of what skills you possess that are relevant to the role and how you've demonstrated these. Do your research on the company and read through your CV so you know in the order in which the information appears. Make regular eye contact with all panel members and let them know you are engaged. 

Roleplay 
A roleplay exercise involves interacting with others to complete a business-related task. Be yourself and use your skills to take on and act out your part given to the best of your ability! These types of exercises measure communication, conflict resolution, decision-making, leadership and problem-solving skills. Initially, you need to address the underlying problem and then present a solution. Overall, make sure you consider the audience and project a confident image.


Preparing for your first day at work
Our website is full of useful resources to help you get on and keep on moving up the career ladder. In an emerging lockdown world however, we realise that our advice has to flex and adapt to meet the new normal, a topic that we have touched on many times over the past few months.

Therefore, we are re-visiting one of these articles, ‘the first day at work’, and making it more relevant for the world we are now living in. But one thing that will never change is how nervous you can get on your first day! Whether you are physically in the office or working remotely, embarking on your first graduate job or you're an experienced professional moving up the career ladder, day one of a new job is always going to be a nerve racking but exciting prospect. The best piece of advice we can offer is to arrive (virtually or in person) as fully prepared as possible, and open what will be a new experience.

Whether it’s learning new processes, meeting your new team, or even finding your way around the intranet, be open to finding out as much as possible, asking questions and learning from those around you.

One way you can help to achieve this is to get a good night’s sleep so you are well-rested and alert. Think about packing your bag the night before if you are heading into the office, which should include any equipment you might need. Whether you are going to be working remotely or in the office, decide what you’re going to wear. Have your National Insurance number, your P45 and even a copy of your CV (for HR). 

If you will be working from home, do not make the mistake of getting up late and winging it! The last thing you want to be doing is rushing around and being flustered for your first Zoom call! You want to aim to be as relaxed and confident as possible, keeping those first-day nerves in check!

For those commuting, allow plenty of time, thinking about traffic hotspots and roadwork issues. Plan to arrive at least 15-20 minutes early, giving you the opportunity to establish where you'll be sitting, meet the team and familiarise yourself with the office setting. 

When in the workplace, it’s important to build relations with colleagues by being friendly, helpful and polite and if you are unsure of anything, ask. Offer ideas and contributions and try to get tasks done as quickly and efficiently as possible to show off your capability. 

And whether you are working remotely or in the office, re-familiarise yourself with the business so you have a good understanding of what they do and the sectors they operate in. 

The impact you make in the first few days will have a lasting effect on the way you are perceived by your colleagues, so small things, like making a point of remembering the names of the people you will come into contact with regularly will really help.

The first day at work is the hardest for many people as there's uncertainty as to what the people will be like, what the company culture is like and what the job role will entail. The first week of a new job can be a physically and emotionally exhausting so be prepared and understand the responsibilities of your job role – in or out of the office.


Creating a back to work action plan – Part One

The last few months have been a testing time for everyone, meaning the normal pressures of searching for a new job have been further impacted by the global pandemic. If you are currently working, you need to carefully consider the impact of a job move and be certain that you are moving for the right reason.

We suggest analysing the placement of your current career and what you want to achieve by moving roles. It is at this point that a conversation with us, experienced recruiters, is invaluable. You will be able to discuss your current situation in confidence and benefit from our market and publishing industry knowledge.

Once you are clear about the direction you wish to head in, you can then focus on the type of roles and organisations you would be interested in – and would suit you. We can share job descriptions with you to provide you with a better idea of which jobs or roles you may be suited to.

Sometimes candidates are looking to move as they want to change location. Not all publishing roles are in London for instance, so by identifying a company you wish to work for, you can then plan and give yourself a time frame in which to find and secure your ideal position. In our experience, you may find you have to enlarge your search criteria or include other related options to help facilitate the move you are looking for. We can make initial enquiries with your chosen businesses and will provide you with comprehensive feedback throughout the application process.

If you are invited for an interview, be prepared and thoroughly research the prospective company and role - you want to impress the employer with your knowledge and enthusiasm! We have previously published a blog on interview techniques which is a useful preparation tool.


Creating a back to work action plan – Part Two
In our last blog, we took a general look at how to create a back to work plan and how Redwood can help you to facilitate a move. This week, we look more closely at the exact reasons why you might be looking to change jobs and specifically how we can help.

What stage are you at in your career?

Career Change
When contemplating a career change you should know your preferred industry by researching and understanding what prospective employers are looking for. At this stage it is useful to find out what qualifications and transferable skills they require. When drafting your covering letter, ensure you explain why you are seeking a career change and the interest in the new area. If you have no direct experience of the job you're applying for, enclose a functional CV. This places emphasis on your skills and achievements you have gained throughout your career. Alter the sections on your CV around this so your skills are the first thing the reader sees. We can also support by speaking directly to the prospective employer and finding our whether your skillset will meet the needs of the role.

In your CV, include a career objective and explain what you're looking to achieve in your next role. You should appropriately highlight any relevant experience and explain what motivated you to seek jobs like the one you're applying for. We may advise you to re-write sections of your CV so it has broader appeal, but do make sure that your skills and knowledge are up to date. During lockdown, many people been upskilling and benefitting from a range of free course which were made available by many training businesses. By leaning new and applicable skills will give you an insight into the industry and provide you with valuable experience. Developing a wide range of skills will also enhance your employability in the future. 

Returning To Work After A Career Break
When returning to work after a career break it’s important to know how to write your CV so prospective employers can identify the skills you've gained whilst you've been out of work. If you have unexplained gaps in your CV for long periods of time, employers are going to want to know what you've accomplished. Be honest and explain why you decided to take a break and show the employer that you are now keen to commit. Share your CV with us to review and share our insights on how best to manage any gaps.

Adding any new qualifications achieved in your time off will show the employer that you are eager to learn - your CV projects your professionalism and is a great way to tell potential employers that you want to find a job in which you can grow. 

Returning To Work After Maternity
Returning to work after maternity can be a difficult and stressful time. If you are returning to the same company, especially as we come out of lockdown, means that procedures will have changed. We advise you to be as prepared as possible and to ask as many questions as you can in the early days to help you feel as comfortablele as possible.

If you're applying for a new job, its key to remember that you need to match your skills with those that are advertised in the job description. These skills do not necessarily need to have been overdeveloped from previous work experience, as transferable skills may have been gained outside the workplace. 

New Graduate
We are facing one of the largest global recessions on record, so many graduates are faced with the task of securing a job in extremely difficult times. The amount of jobs advertised has dramatically decreased and many publishing employers are recruiting only those with relevant experience. As competition for places intensifies, it is now more than ever important that your CV communicates and connects with potential employers. 

A professionally written CV is one which stands out from the crowd, impresses employers at first glance and significantly improves your chances of securing that all important job role. Gradates should include a section at the beginning entitled 'Relevant Skills' and show the potential employer you have the skills required for the job. This could be communication, time management, teamwork, organisation and confidence, at the very least detailing how you demonstrated skills like this at university.

The achievements section on your CV is extremely important if you are lacking in experience. This section gives you the chance to show employers essential skills you have gained that will be transferable to the job, for example, you may have been the captain of a sports team, which demonstrates leadership and teamwork. To help further improve your chances of obtaining work you could consider volunteering or a summer internship. These are good ways to gain experience, make contacts and show potential employers that you are serious about the field you want to enter. With the amount of graduates entering the work place it is important that your CV portrays a professional and mature image to increase your chances of being selected for interview. Our professionally written CV service will help you make the most of what you have achieved at university and prepare you for a long and successful career. 

Climb The Career Ladder
If you've been with a company or in specific job role for a number of years, the time may come to progress to the next level. Alternatively, you may have done well in your current job role or relish the prospect or increasing your responsibilities and so wish to climb the career ladder. If this is your goal, you need to continuously market yourself and keep learning new skills to maintain your marketability. Moving ahead in your career requires you to continually update and enhance your skills, so ensure you keep a record of what you've accomplished.

If you're happy at your current company your first step is to look for internal vacancies. To increase your chances of progression within a current organisation you need to perform outside your job description duties and go the extra mile by displaying initiative and competence. However, if you feel your current employer cannot offer you the right opportunities, you should seek employment elsewhere and explain your decision. Whatever you decide your CV needs to be updated to show the new relevant skills and experience you've gained. Showcase your accomplishments in a career portfolio that contains a sample collection of suitable work and achievements. Use your portfolio during performance evaluations and interviews to show what you've accomplished. A professionally written CV is essential if you are looking to secure a higher-level job as the design and layout will have a direct impact on your entry and salary level. 

Redundancy
Being made redundant can be a worrying and stressful time but try to remain positive and keep a list of things you have accomplished and skills you have gained. If you are unable to find a job straight away, you may wish to take time to retrain or improve your skillset to help you increase your career prospects. A good way of getting back on your feet is finding temporary work as it ensures you receive a regular income and that your CV is consistent. Even volunteering will add value to your CV and show a prospective employer that you are focused and willing to try something new).

When you're ready, search online for new jobs and use networking opportunities to your advantage by joining sites like LinkedIn. When applying for new jobs make sure you tailor both your CV and cover letter for each application. If you had been in your previous job for a long time you may not have had to write a CV for a number of years so are unsure about formatting, layout and design. If you need assistance writing a new CV, check out our advice under the careers advice page on this website.


Selection Techniques

Submitting your CV and a cover letter are not the only ways in which candidates are selected for an interview. There are a number of techniques used by HR departments to sift out the best applicant for the role being advertised.

We have a range of resources available to candidates on our website, including an overview of the different kinds of selection techniques that you may come across. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve reviewed our listings and are sharing the most relevant with you here.

Application Forms 
These are one of the most common ways to apply for a new role. They assess background information through a form or questionnaire in order to assess an individual's behavioural reliability, integrity, and personal adjustment. The employer will then assess applicants' scores, determined by weighting each item according to the item's derived relationship to the criterion of interest. The application form is very common in roles where a high volume of applications can be expected and are used extensively in the current job market.

Personality Tests
Personality tests are used to measure the personality characteristics of applicants. In the main, they are related to future job performance and typically measure one or more of five personality dimensions. These include extroversion, emotional stability, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience. Tests like these can consist of up to 100 questions with a view to finding answers, which are most descriptive of the target group or person in question. The idea is to draw out personality styles to assess the potential for the role in question. Our experienced team can help you to prepare for this and other tests used ahead of the selection process.

Intelligence Tests 
Like personality tests, intelligence tests are paper and pencil-based assessments, but seek to measure an individual's general mental ability or intelligence rather than their characteristic suitability. Tests may include time limits and could involve mathematic or scientific problem solving. Many tests will contain the same requirements that occur on the job on offer so a direct performance measure can be applied. 

Virtual Career Fairs 
Virtual career fairs work in the same way as traditional career fairs but are held online. Previously employed as a modern approach to search for a job, with restrictions on travel and social distancing, expect this type of event to become the norm.
The virtual visitor has the options to chat to prospective employers, submit CVs, and receive expert advice at their convenience. The standard procedure is to register and upload your CV and cover letter so prospective employers have a chance to screen your details. You then get the opportunity to interact directly with company representatives through video, chat, or virtual interviews, with employers using a search function to find candidates with their virtual profiles. A professionally written CV can help employers to locate you, which can lead to further discussions and interviews.


The pitfalls of video conferencing

Never before have we used video conferencing more, with software such as Zoom used for keeping in touch with both friends and family during lockdown and also with work colleagues.

But for many, using this type of software has come with a number of challenges, often leading to frustration when we are looking to communicate with those whom we would normally see face to face.

At Redwood, we have been listening to clients and candidates’ feedback on using video tech and in this blog post, are sharing some things to look out for to make your calls as smooth as possible!

Preparation
Like any meeting or 121, being prepared and having all the correct data or resources to hand is key. By treating a Zoom or Teams call like a face to face meeting, you will be able to have an effective session. One tip is to have an agenda that is shared ahead of the call and taking notes of any actions to share afterwards.

Being unfamiliar with the software
Knowing how to use the software definitely needs to be part of your meeting preparation. Clicking the meeting link just ahead of the scheduled time and finding that you need to download software, allow camera or microphone access, can be time consuming. If you are about to have an interview this can become a very stressful and stop you from performing at your best.

Set up time
So, the moral of the above point is to allow plenty of time to get set up ahead of the meeting! Make sure your laptop has enough battery power and you have headphones (if needed). Have you downloaded the software in advance and made sure that you can been seen (remember to remove any stickers that you have placed over your laptop camera for instance)? It’s far better to be early for the meeting, or interview, than late and flustered.

External noise/distractions
We’ve all seen the video of the businessman being interviewed by a journalist only to have his two small children creating havoc in the background!!  Whilst working from home it’s very likely that there will be family members who are also at home, if you are having an important call (such as a job interview), see if you can get some support for the length of time the call is going to take. Equally, try to prevent any noisy house cleaning for taking place and turn off the radio for the duration of the call.

Poor/slow connection speed
There is nothing more frustrating than buffering or a frozen screen when you are on a conference call. If your organisation is encouraging you to work from home or remotely, speak to IT about some support with your broadband. They may for instance be able to provide a booster or facilitate an upgrade to your current system.

Hard to use when discussing sensitive issues or negotiating
Conferencing software is a great way to facilitate conversations when people are apart, however they can form a barrier when you are having a sensitive discussion or looking to negotiate a job offer or promotion. If you would feel more comfortable having a telephone in this instance, request one.

Planning the order that people speak
With software such as Zoom, only one person is able to speak at a time, which can make discussions hard. One way to solve this is to have a plan of who is speaking when and maybe setting up a flag system to indicate who wants to speak next.

Presentation
We may have all enjoyed some more relaxed dressing over lockdown, but PJ’s are not the best attire on a video call!  Think about how you are presenting yourself, what can be seen in the background and how you want to come across to others. Zoom offers a range of backdrops which can hide that dodgy brown sofa in your living room – just don’t use the beach scene option!

Video conferences can work very well and create a solution to a number of groups communicating from a number of locations. However, it’s best to think ahead and determine whether video calling is the best way to communicate and whether it will meet the needs of the meeting you are going to have.

Make sure you are set up ahead of time, have all the log in details required, plus are fully prepared for the meeting. Perhaps ask your direct reports if they need any assistance in advance and check what their IT requirements are. We know that an increasing number of job interviews are being carried out remotely and the Redwood team will help you to prepare and be set up in advance of such a call.

Call one of our experienced team on 020 7048 6223 to see how we can help you.


How to manage remote and office-based teams

With the news that many staff are being encouraged to home work until 2021, including those working for Google, employers need to have robust working practices in place to effectively manage its workforce. This can be made all the more complicated if teams are split between the office and home.

This way of working may be adopted as standard practice by some firms in the longer term, so we’ve looked at some proactive steps which can be taken to keep teams aligned and working as one.

Establishing policies
At the start of lockdown, companies were forced to impose remote working, having to retrospectively consider performance and output expectations for employees. Now working away from the office is established, it is important that policies are in place and there is clarity around expectations. For instance, if weekly meetings are in place, staff must attend these and be available for 121’s with line managers – in the same way that they would be working in the same office.

Understanding challenges
Working remotely can be more time-effective for employees and less demanding for those who have to commute a long way. However, there will be some factors that are less positive, such as managing to work in the wider home environment and avoiding being distracted by friends or family. For some, especially younger people who may live on their own, working alone can be lonely and can leave the individual feeling anxious and isolated. The first step is to acknowledge someone may be feeling this way and to take steps to reassure and support staff members who may be suffering.

Leading by example
In an article in the Harvard Business Review, it was reported that employees will look to their managers even more during difficult times. Therefore, if a manager is stressed or unsure, it will have a negative effect on the team. Effective leadership takes a two-pronged approach, recognising stress but then “providing affirmation of their confidence in their team.”

Communication
The most important element of effective management, and something that is critical for scattered teams, is communication. Zoom and other video calling software has been used extensively to assist with meetings and updates and has proved to be an effective comms tool. Whichever platform is used, it is important that ‘face to face’ interactions happen as often as possible, both from a 121 perspective, but also between teams.
And not all touchpoints need to be about work! Many employees miss those ‘water cooler’ moments, so those times when they catch up with colleagues on a more social level. Therefore, build in some downtime with the team, whether it’s a Friday afternoon quiz, a Monday motivation session, or a call led by one of the team to mix things up. Keep up to date with the team, encourage them to interact with each other, and show that you want to be proactive, not reactive, with communication.

Productivity
Instead of enforcing time sheets, or check-in and out times, focus on your team’s outcomes, not activity. Those working in the office may have more set routines, such as nipping out for a coffee at 11am, or lunch at 1pm. Homeworker’s routines will be different again, so an employer should focus on the work being produced, not when they are in the office or taking a break.

Technology
Make sure those working remotely have the same tools as those colleagues located in the office. For instance, if they are unable to make a video call as they have slow internet speeds, look at how this can be improved. Do your remote team have a business mobile or use Apps that might help with their productivity.

Their workstation should also be comfortable and fit for purpose, with your Occupational Health teams having tools in place to support them.

Flexibility
When working in the same office, offering a level of flexibility can be easy – from allowing an employee time to visit the dentist or coming into work slightly later. Those working remotely should be given the same level of flexibility and understanding for appointments to feel included in the wider team who may be in the office.

If you are looking to develop your team or take on new talent, talk to the team at Redwood. With over 25 years of publishing industry experience, we can help fill positions from exec level to senior management. Contact us for more details.


Advice for Employers Post-Lockdown

With the lockdown period easing, and businesses looking to return to work, recruitment of new staff and teams will also start to get back on track. According to the monthly Recruitment Trends data released by APSCo, June saw a positive uplift in permanent and contract vacancies increasing by 38% and 31%.

Therefore, with employers having the market confidence to take on further staff, what does post-lockdown recruitment look like? We’ve pulled together 10 areas to consider during recruitment that might now be different since the pandemic. This is largely because now businesses have made the decision to recruit, the temptation will be to execute this quickly, filling the vacant post. But this is just one of the pitfalls to guard against. Our advice is to:

  1. Create an accurate job description
    Carefully consider the role being advertised and what skillset you are looking for to fill it. For example, if the role involves digital marketing, specify experience of curating social media content and executing online marketing campaigns. If the role will form part of a wider team, interpersonal skills will be important, along with the ability to recognise when the wider team may need support.  

  2. Take time over the recruitment process
    Once the decision has been made to recruit, the JD has been written and the salary confirmed, don’t rush and hire the wrong person! Take time to look for the candidate that best fits the job being advertised. Using an experienced recruitment firm, such as Redwood, is invaluable at this stage, as they will be able to research and review the most appropriate candidates. Their expertise and ability to screen prospective candidates in advance will actually save you time in the longer term.

  3. Be honest with the Recruitment Consultant!
    It’s very important that you explain exactly what type of candidate you are seeking for the role, so that your consultant can find the best fit for your business. This stage is important as the more information they have, the more they will be able to find the right person for the role. They will need to know aspects such as salary, benefits package, expectations of the candidate and role objectives, so they are able to find the very best person for the job.

  4. Take advice and guidance from the professionals
    If you are using a recruitment consultant, do use them – don’t ignore them! They are experts in their field and will know the wider employment landscape inside out. This includes having expert knowledge and insights around the most suitable candidates and what your expectations should be.

  5. Get to know the candidate
    When it comes to that all-important interview, make sure you spend time actually getting to know the candidate. Once the questions around skillset, qualifications and experience have been asked, take some time to find out more about the person you are interviewing. Not only do you want to ensure the person you are interviewing will be able to do the job, you need to ensure that they will fit into the culture of the business and also the wider team. Ask about their interests, what they achieved during lockdown and what makes them tick.

  6. Allow time post-interview for follow-up questions
    In our experience, candidates often have additional questions after the interview. Many people find the interview experience stressful and this can prevent them thinking of questions around the role. Therefore, it’s always useful to allow some time for any additional questions or queries to come through from the candidate, via your recruiter.

  7. If applicable offer flexible working
    Lockdown has led to flexible working becoming more widely accepted, therefore, this might be something that your business is offering. Be clear on the expectations or opportunities around this with the candidate and if it is not something that your firm offers, be clear around this from the outset.

  8. Explain the benefits package
    Salary and job benefits certainly should have been discussed with your recruitment consultant, but have these details to hand during an interview, with any details around benefits available to send to the candidate for review.

  9. Induction and onboarding
    Post lockdown inductions and onboarding may be different. It is important however that a robust induction or onboarding programme is in place and makes the new employee feel as welcome and included in your team and business as possible.

  10. Set targets and objectives
    One thing that should be the same is the setting of objectives and targets early on in the role. In order for a candidate to succeed, and to be clear of what is expected of them, share their objectives and deadlines to achieve them.


Interview Preparation

As recruiters, we cannot stress how important it is to prepare for an interview. Submitting an application is time consuming, but we will need to be ready to invest in time to prepare to ensure you show yourself in the very best light for this important next stage.

The outcome of the interview can be enhanced or hindered by the quality of your preparation. Before you attend, research as much background information as you can about the company, the market and its competition. Redwood will help and support you with this part of the interview too, as we will know the employer really well, and may have placed other candidates in the business. The resulting insights are invaluable resources for you and can help set you apart from another candidate.

Many companies proudly state their achievements and more general information on their corporate website, so this is a good starting point. Its social media channels are also a useful way to learn more – and remember to check them for any news or announcements on the day of the interview.

The good news is that if you’ve been invited for an interview, the employer has already decided you are a potential match for their vacancy. Interviews are used to determine if you fit into the company and team culture, plus it is your chance to consider if the role and the business is the right fit for you also.

From the employer's perspective, our feedback as recruiters and the details on your CV will have demonstrated that you have the level of experience and technical expertise they are seeking. An interview gives you the opportunity to expand on the information detailed on your CV, so it’s a good idea to know your own CV inside out!  Be prepared to outline how you would fit into the role you are interviewing for, using solid and up to date examples of how you will achieve this. 

An interview is as much about compatibility as competence, so use the interview to determine whether the company is able to offer you the professional growth and career development you seek. One great way to do this is to prepare some questions to ask at the interview. 

If you are well prepared for the interview, your next priority is to come across as motivated and enthusiastic. This is because the way you interact, and your body language, will provide the potential employer with a positive – or negative impression.  Make sure you are polite and friendly and retain good etiquette by greeting your interviewer by their last name and a firm handshake. Wait until you are prompted to sit down, adopt a positive posture and look alert and interested at all times.

In terms of getting to the interview, you should plan your route and allow plenty of time to reach the destination. If driving, ask about parking arrangements at the venue and if using public transport, check tube, train or bus routes.

Make sure you are presented appropriately, digging out a smart suit if it is for a corporate job, or business casual for writing or creative industries. Arriving around 15 minutes early will give you some breathing space and allow you to nip to loo! And don’t forget to make a note of the name and title of your interviewer. 

Finally, good luck – and call your recruiter when you leave to give feedback and ask any questions you didn’t get to in the interview.

Summary

  • Look at the business’s website! You will most certainly be asked whether you have – and what you do and don’t like about it!
  • Check the social media channels, even on the day of the interview to ensure you have not missed any news or announcements
  • Know your CV inside out
  • Have examples ready to show how what you can bring to the role
  • Prepare questions in advance which allow you to determine how you can grow and develop in the role
  • Think about your posture and non-verbal communication
  • Plan your journey and aim to arrive around 15 minutes early
  • Dress appropriately and know the name of the person who is interviewing you

Upskilling during lockdown

With lockdown easing and many of us thinking about returning to work, you may want to look at refreshing your professional skills, or even learning new ones, to improve your CV if you are considering a job move. There are a host of online courses available, some of which are free, all of which can be completed at your own pace.

Redwood’s Theresa Duncan explained why it’s so important to keep your skills fresh and current: “The job marketplace is more competitive than ever, with less vacancies available and more candidates going for jobs. Our live roles have never had more applicants – so it’s important that candidates stand out in order to get noticed. Upskilling and refreshing your skills demonstrates that you are professional and determined to bring a new approach to a job, which is invaluable, particularly in a crowded job market.”

So, what type of training should you be investing in, and who offers it? We’ve picked 10 online courses that offer a range of benefits, from polishing up computer skills to learning something new. Here’s our rundown:

Creative writing
We love author Margaret Attwood’s creative writing course which covers everything from creating a dialogue to crafting a cliff hanger. There are 23 videos available with prices starting at £14. Click here to learn more.

Career Development
Pearson offer a great range of courses, especially as many of them are free of charge! Its Essential Skills for Career Development course gives you the tools to take your career to the next level – in four hours! Access it here.

Social Media
There are a number of courses and e-learning tools around Social Media, with Pearson also offering an introductory course. This is ideal if you are looking to offer your employer some added value skills and help them to market themselves digitally. The short course can be found here.

Computing and IT
The Open University does not just offer academic courses; its Computer Basics course provides a helpful refresher and will enable you to improve the day to day skills you need in the workplace.

Numeracy
If maths isn’t your strong point (often true for more creative types) don’t worry. There are plenty of resources available to help you, including from the Government which has help on numeracy, maths and English. Click here to review.

Negotiation
Persuasion is a key business skill, often becoming more important the higher up the career ladder you get. We like the online course from the London School of Economics and Political Science, which provides an online course lasting six weeks. Costing £2,100, it’s not the cheapest but is very comprehensive and could be a good career investment.

Grammar
Confused about their and there, or how to address someone? Brush up your grammar with OpenLearn course. From the Open University, all courses are free and there is a wide catalogue to choose from.

Psychology
Oxford University has a dedicated site for its online learning courses, which includes an Introduction to Psychology. It introduces the science of psychology, exploring the richness of human functions, uncovering the brain’s secrets, revealing its complexities.

Equality & Diversity
Bring new stills back from lockdown thanks to Vision2Learn’s Equality & Diversity course. Make sure your business is doing everything to ensure an inclusive workplace and great environment for all.

Communications
The way in which we speak, our language and even non-verbal communication is used every minute, every day. So, make sure you are communicating at your best with LinkedIn’s range of resources. This is great platform to upskill in a number of areas and we particularly like its communications training.

Redwood can provide job application support. Learn more here.


Competency-Based Interviews

During recent times, most interviews have been conducted via telephone call or virtually using technology such as Zoom. These initial interviews are very effective as it allows the hiring team to understand whether the candidate is the right fit for the job and if they are suitable to be taken through to the next stage. Interviewers will ask questions that are relevant to the role but without any specific aim in mind other than getting an overall impression of the candidate as an individual, with questions more open and designed to gather general information.  

At the next stage, competency-based interviews (also called structured interviews or behavioural interviews) is more systematic, with each question targeting a specific skill or competency.

Candidates are asked questions relating to their behaviour in specific circumstances, which they then need to back up with concrete examples. The interviewers will then dig further into the examples by asking for specific explanations about the candidate's behaviour or skills. 

For instance, when exploring how the candidate deals with stress, they will be asked how they manage stress followed by asking for an example of a situation where they worked under pressure. 

Which skills and competencies do competency-based interviews test? 

The list of skills and competencies that can be tested varies depending on the post being applied for. Taking a Project Manager post for example, skills and competencies would include communication; ability to organize and prioritise, and ability to work under pressure. 

For a Senior Manager, skills and competencies could include an ability to influence and negotiate, an ability to lead and the capacity to take calculated risks. 

Some of the more common skills and competencies that a candidate may be asked to demonstrate include:

• Adaptability

• Influencing

• Client Focus

• Integrity

• Commercial Awareness

• Leadership

• Communication

• Leveraging Diversity

• Compliance

• Organisational Awareness

• Conflict Management

• Schedule

• Creativity and Innovation

• Problem Solving

• Decisiveness

• Resilience and Tenacity

• Delegation

• Risk Taking

• External Awareness

• Sensitivity to Others

• Flexibility

• Technical

• Independence

• Teamwork

Assessment of competency-based interviews

Interviewers will have determined what type of answers would score positive points and what type of answers would count against the candidates ahead of the interview. For questions such as "Describe a time when you had to deal with pressure?" for example, the positive and negative indicators may be as follows: 

Positive indicators 

·       Demonstrates a positive approach towards the problem 

·       Considers the wider need of the situation 

·       Recognises their own limitations 

·       Is able to compromise 

·       Is willing to seek help when necessary 

·       Uses effective strategies to deal with pressure/stress 

Negative indicators 

·       Perceives challenges as problems 

·       Attempts unsuccessfully to deal with the situation alone 

·       Used inappropriate strategies to deal with pressure/stress 

In some cases, negative indicators are divided into two further sections: minor negative indicators, i.e. those that are negative but do not matter so much; and decisive negative indicators i.e. those for which they will not forgive you for, e.g. not asking for help when needed. Marks are then Allocated depending on the extent to which the candidate's answer matches those negative and positive indicators. Here's an example of a marking schedule: 

1. No evidence - no evidence reported 
2. Poor - Little evidence of positive indicators. Mostly negative indicators, many decisive 
3. Areas for improvement - Limited number of positive indicators. Many negative indicators, one or more decisive. 
4. Satisfactory - Satisfactory display of positive indicators. Some negative indicators but none decisive. 
5. Good to excellent - Strong display of positive indicators 

If the interviewers feel there are areas that the candidate has failed to address, they may help by probing appropriately. For example, in answering the question "Describe an example of a time when you had to deal with pressure", focus on how you dealt with the practical angle of the problem but don’t forgot to discuss how you managed your stress during and after the event. The interviewers may prompt with a further question, such as "How did you handle the stress at the time?". This would give the candidate an opportunity to present a full picture of their behaviour. 

Techniques for Answering Competency Questions 

One interview style is the STAR Technique:
• Situation: This is where the candidate would be asked to give an example of a situational question relevant to the job being interviewed for.
• Task: Describe a task that has been undertaken.
• Action: Provide an example of what action was taken relevant to the question.
• Result: Explain to the interviewer the outcome of the action.

Throughout the interview, think about the questions and the response to those questions. The team at Redwood Publishing Recruitment will fully prepare you and support you through the entire interview process, particularly if a candidate is able to highlight an area that they are not so confident in, such as competency-based interviews. Make sure you have registered with us to benefit from this and other candidate support such as cover letter writing.  


Reconnecting with your team

As lockdown (thankfully) begins to ease, we are slowly starting to emerge from a cocoon of remote working and isolation, which presents its own challenges and uncertainties.

Whilst lockdown was a very strange and unpredictable place, people adapted to working away from the office and learnt to live a new 9-5, coping with a change of routine and keeping on top of work – even if it was from the spare room or the kitchen table.

Zoom meetings and team calls have become the norm as workers looked to remain connected to each other and continue to work as one, albeit from different locations. 121’s perhaps become more regular, and instead of water cooler or coffee machine chats, many teams set up Friday quiz’s or a virtual ‘drink’ after work.

So now as we approach another change, we need to readjust and learn another new way of working. There is no doubt that provision will be made for people to work safely in their office, but will the office ever be the same again? Publishing is one industry that certainly benefits from teams working together, but now the remote and flexible ways of working has proven to work, there is an expectation that this will continue post-lockdown. For instance, employers will need to manage the adjustment period of working in an office again sensitively, so why not offer flexibility in the hours worked on site, and embrace Zoom in place of long train journeys to meet with colleagues or clients?

Another key element will be maintaining the strong lines of communication that have been formed during lockdown. There is a tendency, because people are physically in the office and do catch up during a break, to remove the number of meetings and face to face get togethers. It’s vital that communications remain robust and time is put aside for conversations with teams. This is especially important during such a transition period, with many people bound to be feeling vulnerable and unsure when entering the office environment after a long period of time away.

This is especially true of those who have been furloughed and have had little or no contact with colleagues or the wider business during the pandemic. They will need to be eased back into the workplace, with time taken to explain how the business is now operating and future plans.

In an interview with Personnel Today, Brian Kropp of Gartner explained: “Companies will need to re-onboard their furloughed staff when they do return to the office. It will be important that the business treats them as a new member of staff, giving them time to settle in, and working hard to create a new sense of belonging.”

We are Tech Women has also recently addressed the issue of the returning workforce, stating that new working practices will need to be established and experiences shared to help relieve the pressures of the new office environment. The office will look different, the way in which teams work will be different, and it will become the new normal. However, in order to get industry back on track, is to start building business and that involves the biggest asset – its people.

For more help and advice around returning to work, read resources from Fluidity, UP Performance Coaching and wearetechwomen.com


The Perfect Cover Letter

In our last blog we shared some insights on how to write your CV, including what information should be included and how it should be written to get approved by ‘bots’ and then considered by a prospective employer.

When sending your CV, a covering letter is used to introduce yourself and to summarise why you are applying for a role. Redwood offers free advice on cover letters to registered candidates, but we’ve pulled some helpful pointers to get you started in this blog post.

Your cover letter should be around 150-200 words in length and should be bespoke for the job you are applying for.  Often, applications will get rejected because the cover letter refers to the wrong position or business – a sure-fire way of not reaching interview stage!

Therefore, think about your target audience and tailor each application accordingly. Your cover letter is an opportunity for you to write an overview and explain to the potential employer the reason for your application and your interest in the company. Remember to include key words and phrases pertaining to the job role and include your most relevant skills and achievements to date. 

Take some time to plan and prepare by reading the job advert and the requirements of the role. This will then allow you to think about the skills required and then provide the examples of these in your CV. Use your letter to highlight particular parts of your CV that are your unique selling points and supply any additional information that does not fit neatly into your CV. 

Things to include are as follows:
 

  • Briefly introduce yourself.
     
  • State the post you are applying for and where you saw it advertised.
     
  • Explain why you are interested in this type of work.
     
  • Explain why you are interested in the employer; demonstrate enthusiasm and evidence of research into the company. 
     
  • Highlight what makes you suitable for the post and show how your key strengths reflect their requirements. 
     
  • End by respectfully asking for the opportunity to discuss the opportunities further in your final paragraph.
     
  • Ensure there are no errors/spelling mistakes – we highlighted Grammarly as one package that can be used to check spelling and grammar, and there are plenty more free options available.
     
  • If you know the name of the recipient, you should end your letter with 'Yours Sincerely', but if your letter is addressed ‘Dear Sir / Madam’ it should end with ‘Yours Faithfully’. Ideally however you should know who you are writing to – and if not – do some research!
     
  • Save your letter as a pdf to ensure all formatting is saved and changes cannot be made to the content.

Most of all, keep your cover letter to the point, relevant and engaging, leaving the recruiter with a real sense of who you are and eager to meet you to learn more. Contact us for advice on how to achieve your next publishing move.


 

Secrets to the perfect CV

As soon as we graduate or are looking for that all important first job, we create a CV.  As time goes on, it becomes updated with more and more information to showcase our career, achievements and interests. But how relevant is your CV and will it actually stand out?

We asked Redwood Publishing Recruitment MD, Theresa Duncan, to share her advice on getting your CV pitch-perfect.

“First and foremost, don’t presume that your CV will be read by an actual person when you first apply for a position. As unreal as it may seem, there are some clever AI programmes out there which are used during the initial job application process. Some pointers to remember to ensure your CV makes it through this stage are as follows:

  • Don’t worry about being clever and creative. Copy the keywords listed in the job description. For example, if you’re applying for a Post-Doc Researcher, make sure you include these words on your CV.
     
  • Get rid of any fancy things, such as logos, photos, symbols and different shades of colour. Stick to the standard CV format, and use Ariel, Courier or Times New Roman fonts.
     
  • Send your CV as a Microsoft Word document instead of a PDF file, unless you are a Designer.
     
  • Include words that refer to software, responsibilities, basic skills and licenses or certificates associated with performing the job, as the AI robots will be looking for key phrases and contextual information related to those qualifications.
     
  • Pepper keywords multiple times throughout the CV (but bear in mind when your CV is read by a person you don’t want to drive them crazy with repetition!).
     
  • Instead of paragraphs, use bullet points.
     
  • Keep the formatting on your CV simple. To target all the relevant categories, put them on separate lines.

“It’s also important to remember some CV ‘rules’ to ensure you get your key points across in a concise way, whilst leaving the reader with a clear understanding of who you are and what you can bring to the job being advertised. These include:

  • Ideally keeping your CV to two pages. The aim of a CV is to give the person who is shortlisting a ‘taste’ of your experience/skills, whilst ensuring you get across all of your relevant experience/skills. Remember, they may have a high volume of CVs to look through.
     
  • Start with your current role at the top of your CV and work back. This is because your current role will probably be the most relevant for the role being applied for.
     
  • Add interests and hobbies as it can prompt a good talking point and will give the person shortlisting an idea of what you enjoy outside of work.
     
  • Do check spelling, punctuation and comprehension. There are a number of packages available to help you, such as Grammarly, which flag up spelling and grammatical errors.
     
  • Be careful of your personal profile, as it could ‘pigeon-hole’ you if you highlight aspects of your experience that are not relevant to the role you are applying for. Redwood offers a free CV checking service for registered candidates, and it is areas such as this that we can advise on and suggest any required changes.
     
  • Make sure all your dates of education/employment are correct and are consistent.

Do contact us for an informal chat about your next job move and remember to follow us on Social Media for regular updates, news and publishing insights.


Virtual Interview Tips

During the lockdown period, employers are having to conduct interviews with job candidates remotely, either by phone or video conference. The format of this stage of the job application process may have changed, but there are many elements that have stayed the same. Now, as the format has to be different, the way in which the interview is conducted will have changed. In the first of two blog posts, we share our tips for making your interview a success.

One thing that remains the same for any interview, but especially for a face to face or video call, is to be presentable and look groomed. Chewing gum is a no no, as is wearing non-appropriate clothes. You may be enjoying shorts and t-shirt weather, but a shirt or smart top is more appropriate for an interview. And many people like to dress the part even for a phone interview. You will be more focused if you have brushed your hair, brushed your teeth and have changed out of your bed clothes ahead of the call.

Preparation
First and foremost, any interview will fall apart if you’ve not done your homework. From being clear on the role and having read the job description, to researching the potential employer and business, preparation is key. When we speak to candidates about a role, we provide background information to help with this stage of the process Additional research could be to look at the interviewers profile on LinkedIn (remember to perform an anonymous search if you don’t want them to know you have checked them out) and see what details can be found online.

Getting your answers planned
During the interview, you will be asked a number of questions which will include background on yourself, your career history, current job status, why you are interested in the role and future plans. We’ll cover some of these off below in more detail, but an additional question that’s being asked now is about lockdown. Use this opportunity to share anything you did that was new, even if it was doing a HITT class each morning, taking up knitting or dusting off your bike.

Interviewers want to get to know you, so this includes your personality and character, and these elements are harder to learn when you are not engaged in small talk that often takes place before and after a face to face interview.

About You
The interviewer will want to learn more about your career journey, but as succinctly as possible! Have a career precis planned and ready, to include key milestones, career path choices and how you got to be where you are today. This could include your degree, key positions and relevant businesses that are relevant for the position you are being interviewed for.

Why Us
The interviewer will want to know why their business and the position appeal to you. This is where you can really stand out against another candidates and reveal how passionate you are about the industry and the business. Include clear examples and make references to campaigns or activities the business has executed. This could include their social media presence, business strategy, announcements or technical expertise. Research is key here and it will pay off to know as much as you can about the potential employer. Redwood is very proactive in this area and will give you as much information and detail as possible. Remember, we know the publishing industry inside out and will be happy to share our knowledge with you. For instance, we can tell you who their competitors are, how many employees they have and how they position themselves in the publishing market.

Tell me more
This part of the interview is the time to tell the employer why you want to work for them. What is it about this business that sets them apart and why are they are different to the competition? What is it about the role specifically that excites you and why did you apply for it? Have your answer ready and plan in advance what you want to say.

In part two, we will look at the questions that might be asked by the employer about you, including your current job, the expectations of the new role and the best way to ask them questions. In the meantime, register with us and benefit from a free cv check and our cover letter writing service.


Virtual Interview Tips Part 2

As we continue to work remotely and have restricted movements during lockdown, the way in which we approach work and career development has had to change. This includes adapting to a new approach for job interviews which are now being conducted virtually. In last week’s blog we shared our tips for making your interview a success, and now in part two, we focus on some of the questions that a candidate might be asked, and what kind of questions can be asked by the candidate to the employer.

Each interview will of course be different, with specific questions asked to explore how a candidate might best fulfil the role. However, there are some standard questions that will be asked which should be prepared for.

What can you bring to the role?
After asking why a candidate is interested in working for the business, an employer will want to find out what skills they can bring to add value and make a difference. This is terribly important as it can help make a decision between two very similar candidates and highlight more relevant skills or expertise.

About your current job
Asking questions about your current role, your responsibilities and achievements, can also help an employer understand whether your skills match the role being advertised. In this part of the interview, have some examples ready to illustrate what you have achieved, how you have developed the role and even why you now feel it is time to move on. For example, this can include company structure, lack of career opportunities and even location.

What drives you?
This question allows the panel or interviewer to gauge what motivates a candidate, and they are not looking for ‘great salary’ as an answer! Instead, think about why you get out of bed for work, what you do to make your working day great.

What’s your availability?
Asking when a candidate can start a role is very often a positive question, as it indicates that the employer is interested in you joining the business. Ahead of the interview, make sure you know how many days holiday you have left to take, and your notice period, so they are clear on a possible start date.

About them
Redwood Publishing MD, Theresa Duncan, is an expert in helping candidates to prep for interviews and has shared some of her insights for this stage of the interview. “When asked if you have any questions, this your opportunity to get a feel for the business you are interviewing with and cover off any areas that have not already been discussed,” says Theresa. Ideally have three or four questions to hand, with the aim of asking one or two at this stage of the interview. Theresa also has some great advice for candidates:

“It is so important for you to have a feel for the organisation you are interviewing for, therefore, ask the interviewer, or one member of the panel, what they like about working for the company. This question will be quite unexpected, so will result in an honest answer – and show that you are really interested in the firm”.

Following up
As soon as possible, give your recruiter feedback – this is really helpful as your recruiter can gauge how well the interview went, and also gives an opportunity for any unasked questions to be flagged. So, if you were not clear on any of the points raised, or had an additional question, now’s the time to ask it. The team at Redwood have positive relationships with employers and might even be able to answer the question but will also be happy to field it on your behalf.

This is also the time to tell your recruiter if you would want to accept the job if it was offered. An interview is a two-way process and it is important to have your opinion on the role at this stage.

Make sure you receive alerts about our roles by registering with us.


Mental Health Awareness Week 2020

During lockdown, we have been very aware of the impact of staying at home, working differently and having your normal routine turned upside down, sharing ideas and tips on how to cope with the changing times better.

This week is Mental Health Week (#MHAW2020) and part of its focus is drawing attention to the effect of the coronavirus on people’s wellbeing. The Mental Health Foundation is doing this through focusing on the power and potential of kindness. Protecting our mental health now is going to be key in helping us to recover from the pandemic with “the psychological and social impacts likely to outlast the physical symptoms of the virus”.  

Furthermore, “kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity”. We have seen kindness in many forms during lockdown, from the support of Captain Tom to the weekly clap for carers.

And we’ve also become better at building connections. Charity Mind recently conducted a survey with over 10,000 people, which revealed that one of the most common coping strategies used during this time is connecting with friends and family online.  Even saying hello to those we meet on our daily walks, cycles or runs has become easier and more common, building a sense of wellbeing and solidarity around us.

What is key is that we continue to focus on our mental wellbeing and make is as commonplace as say eating healthily or taking regular exercise in the longer term. The Heads Together initiative started the conversation and we need to now keep our confidence to maintain awareness around mind health. So, what can we do now and in the future to do this?

Our suggestions include:

Having regular calls/chats with friends and family – and also checking in on workmates. This will be important if we have to continue to work flexibly and perhaps are not seeing others as regularly as before

Staying focused – we are creatures of habit and routine is a good way of keeping on top of things. This could include ‘to do’ lists, getting out of the house at the same time each day, and keeping a note to regularly check in on a neighbour

Taking up a hobby or learning something new – knitting and crocheting are more popular than ever and with bike sales going through the roof, how about learning how to repair yours?

Me time. Leave the pc and mobile behind for a few hours each day and instead pick up a book, loose yourself in a magazine and have some time out. Recharge your mind with some escapism which will help you to focus on things and have more clarity around any problems too

Be kind to yourself – in these times we can be too hard and self-critical, so learn some self-love

It is also a good time to think about your career and path in life, opening up questions about whether you actually enjoy your current role. We are here to help thanks to our extensive experience in the world of publishing recruitment. For instance, we can look at your cv and give you sound advice about your next move, perhaps areas that would suit you to work in, after getting to know you a little better. Simply register your details with us and we’ll do the rest.


Business as unusual

Following Boris Johnson’s update to the nation on Sunday, and further clarification during the week, the UK workforce can now start looking forward to a return to work…of sorts. Businesses are being encouraged to continue to look after their staff, with an extension to the furlough period, and a clear message to work from home (or remotely) if possible.

On the high street, booksellers are now turning their attention to whether they can – and how they can – safely open, backed by an increasing appetite by the public to get things moving again.

But caution is certainly needed. No-one in the UK wants the virus rate to increase, however the thought of further lockdown is depressing. Therefore, a balance needs to be achieved. Redwood’s recruitment model has certainly changed to accommodate business as unusual, or the new normal, filling positions that are now remote, and perhaps will continue to be once brick and mortar workplaces fill up again. In addition, businesses need to ask themselves if they are comfortable with staff travelling to work on packed trains, and whether 9-5 should really be standard working hours – just by staggering a start time will be a positive move for everyone.

Our clients are certainly more open to this remote and more flexible working style.  There will not be a uniform approach to how we move forward, and each business will be different. But unity and safety will be at the forefront of every business, setting a new standard of how the world will work, and should work, going forward.  


The rise of the e-book during the coronavirus 

Figures released by Libraries Connected have revealed that there has been a 205% increase in the number of e-book library loans during the coronavirus. These figures mirror stats being reported nationally which show that e-reader book sales are on the rise during the pandemic.

E-Book App Libby reported a 30% increase in downloads at the end of March alone, with 10m e-book borrows and 247,000 downloads.

And April’s World Book Day survey results showed that Brits are reading more in lockdown than ever before, with a spike amongst younger readers, aged between 18-24 in particular. And it’s not just the e-book market booming. The Guardian reported that the nation rushed out pre-lockdown to buy actual books, with sales increasing by 6%, with sales monitor Nielsen BookScan noting a 35% week-on-week boost for paperback fiction. That same week, Waterstones, the UK’s biggest book chain, reported that its online sales were up by 400% week-on-week*.

So, what does this mean post-lockdown? Libraries have been under the threat of closure for a while, but perhaps now the Government will see what a useful resource they are for a more united community, off and online. With 120,000 people joining libraries in the three weeks after lockdown began, actions are speaking as loud as words – but library groups will have to push hard to keep the momentum seen over the past few weeks going, looking to how they market and promote their services in a post-pandemic world. Perhaps support from authors and publishers will help, and more services offered, such as creative writing groups, or book clubs, to cement their place in society.

And as for reading matter, lockdown has shown that we all need a book to escape to, whether hard copy or on a Kindle, so let’s embrace both, and ensure that we are recruiting the right people to create, edit and publish to maintain the positive momentum we have seen at a time of crisis.

*The Guardian


Giving you all the support you need, now and in the future

In good and bad times, we all like certainty. We rely on trusted brands and products and seek advice from those who have experience and knowledge, as we know they can provide the answers and solutions we need. During these times of uncertainty and lifechanging times, this has never been more important as we all seek security and clarity.

Business is no exception, with brands and organisations pulling on their resources to support and help their customers. This is why we feel our experience and 30 years of trading is even more important at the moment.

Redwood Publishing Recruitment was created to bring an original, professional and fresh approach to publishing recruitment and our team has collectively worked across different areas of publishing recruitment for a number of years. We have been involved with leading industry players, spanning books, journals, magazines, part-works, digital and print, and utilise our talent, knowledge and expertise to bring you a recruitment service that can be relied upon.

We have weathered recessions, adapting our business model then, like now, to support our candidates and clients during uncertain times. Our industry insights set us apart, plus, we use cutting edge search and selection recruitment technology, to enabe us to find the ideal candidate for roles, whatever the business model might look like.  Our team is here to listen, consult and deliver, now and in the future. We have broad, reliable shoulders and will help you or your business to adapt and adjust as we face a new normal during the pandemic.

Our wealth of experience in providing top publishing talent within the industry for many years will enable us to ride out this storm, placing candidates of all disciplines into a broad spectrum of roles within publishing at all levels.

We offer a reliable, tailored and competitively priced service, bringing up to date knowledge of the industry and a modern approach to recruitment.  Our role is to understand your requirements and deliver a recruitment service to you that will add value to your business by having the right team in place, whatever issues the outside world might be facing.

At Redwood, our aim is always to provide a first-class service and to build solid, long term relationships built on honesty, trust, and professionalism, now and in the future.


Staying Focused during this challenging time

It’s Monday and the start of the working week still for many. Whether you are working or if you are looking for a new role, it’s important to have some clear goals and focus during these unsettling times. This is very important if you are working remotely and are finding it hard to get into a routine. We’ve got some suggestions of things to do this week to help keep you focused and on track.

Planning
Monday is the perfect day to plan for your week, whether this is for your current role or setting yourself job hunting targets. By writing done at least five things you want to achieve, your brain will stay engaged and help you to feel like you have achieved something, no matter how small.

Housekeeping
Before you groan, we’re not encouraging you to do more housework! Instead, use any spare time you have to get yourself back on track. For instance, clear out your email inbox and delete all those messages that you really won’t ever look at. Unsubscribe to email lists that you always bin, leaving you less clutter in the future. If you have a home office, give your space a spring clean and file paperwork and declutter. By having a clear space, whether digital or physical, being tidier will not only make you more organised but will be one less thing to do when we get back to normal again.

Time out
In our blog post last week, we wrote about the importance of getting outside. We are able to get out once a day to exercise, but also remember to step into your garden, or look out of the window at regular points during the day to give yourself a break. Several of our candidates and clients have recommended the Headspace app, which gives you the chance to refocus and have some time out. There are many more out there, plus you can stream some great yoga and meditative lessons at the moment. Just choose something that enables you to take some much-needed time out during the day.

Talk
Whether you need to or not, make time in your day to talk to someone. If you are working remotely, set up some time for 121’s each day, and a team chat at least once a week. Having regular contact with people is great for mental health, in particular when you are suddenly away from work and people you normally work with. We love Zoom, but there are also plenty of other ways to get in touch, including a phone call, WhatsApp calls and Facetime. Remember to keep in touch with us too – we may have opportunities available that are not advertised, plus we are offering free coaching sessions also, so make sure you pick up the phone.

Challenge and learn
Use this time to learn a new skill or upskill. There are a number of companies offering training for free at this time, so once you have identified an area that you could improve on, search for that topic and look into online training that is available in that area. From improving your Excel skills, learning about Pinterest or even accountancy, there are plenty of subjects to choose from.


How to be most effective when home working
With an increasing number of companies asking their staff to work remotely from the office, many people will be learning new ways of tackling the daily task list. We’ve compiled some helpful tips to make working from home more straightforward, based on our experiences and those of candidates we work with.

The first, and one of the most important tips, is to create a dedicated workspace. Perching on the end of the kitchen table while your family eat around you is never going to work! Even if you have to move to a spare bedroom, use the sitting room for part of the day or even the garden shed, creating your own area to work in.

Once you have secured your workspace, now’s the time to set out a plan and schedule. Think how your normal workday is scheduled and try to mirror this as much as possible. For instance, if you always start with a ‘to do’ list, make this the first thing you do. Keep team meetings and 121’s in place and look to achieve tasks during the day and week.

To help keep your schedule, share it with others who are in your home. Whether this is flatmates or family, it’s important that they respect your time and keep noise and activity to a minimum, especially if you’re on a video call!

It’s important to schedule regular breaks, whether it’s for a coffee or lunch away you’re your desk. While you are at home, take advantage of eating as healthily as possible – homemade sandwiches, baked potatoes, veggie pasta, and rice bowls are great options. Avoid sugary snacks such as biscuits and cake – they only give you a false energy high. And step outside. We are still able to exercise outside, so perhaps use your lunch hour for a power walk or jog. Drop into the garden for air during the day, to literally clear your head.

Identify when you are at your most productive or change your work hours to be online when your clients or colleagues are. And think about dressing for the occasion. We’ve all heard about newsreaders wearing shorts under the desk and a jacket just for the TV camera, but if dressing more smartly helps your productivity, or doing your hair gets you in the zone, embrace it! There is nothing wrong with looking the part just because you are working from home. The important part is your output and getting the job done.

If you were in the office, you would not be thinking about the washing or running errands, so the same should apply when you are home working. Quit the tasks during the day or make time for them before you start work. You need as few distractions as possible, so taking housework or errands out of the mix will help you to focus. Social Media can be a huge distraction, so disable alerts and put your personal phone on silent to help you focus on the 9-5.

One of our final tips is to keep in touch with co-workers. As a recruitment business, Redwood do this on a daily basis, contacting candidates and clients regularly. We plan in calls, emails, and meetings and stick to them, becoming business as usual. Use this to keep yourself motivated in and in touch with your colleagues. We’ve heard how effective Zoom has been for all team and 121 meetings, even being used by some for a 5pm Friday hurrah as the week draws to a close. There are plenty of video calling options; the key thing is to utilise them to keep motivated and in touch with your team. Remote working can be challenging, but this, and the other ideas, should make your working week a little easier to manage.


The Do’s and Don’ts of CVs

Writing a CV can be tricky if you’re just starting out or if you’ve been in a job for numerous years. There is no perfect example of a CV but there are standard rules when creating your CV to make sure yours is even read. We are here to assist you when putting together a CV with a few basic do’s and don’ts.

DOs

  • Tailor the CV to the job; emphasize the areas that apply to the job that you’re applying for.
  • Keep the CV neat; make sure it is easy to read, the employer looking at your CV doesn’t have time to read big paragraphs so bullet points for your duties in each job will make the CV an easier read.
  • Put your work history in reverse order; this keeps it easier for the employer to see your relevant experience by having the most recent work at the top
  • Keep it updated!

 

DON'Ts

  • Don’t make it too long; no longer than 2 pages and no big paragraphs. Employers don’t have time to read 3 or 4 pages of block text.
  • Don’t have fancy font; keep the font a reasonable size and easily legible.
  • Don’t mix between third and first-person; this will make it confusing for the employer to read it.
  • Don’t send a CV without proofreading; mistakes in a CV can be the reason behind you not getting an interview. Especially if you are applying for an editorial role, make sure you have no spelling mistakes/grammar errors. If in doubt yourself, get someone else to proofread your CV.

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Experts in recruitment; specialists in publishing 020 7048 6223

Adam Phillips, Business Development Director - Rotolito Lombarda

Adam Phillips, Business Development Director - Rotolito Lombarda

I would not hesitate using Redwood and Theresa for any future recruitment drives. You will not be disappointed!

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