TipTopJob Blog

We have recently been asking if you are looking forward to your Christmas do or not?!

Many dread the socialising with their work colleagues as well as bosses/managers at Christmas and are worried about having too many drinks and being out of control causing much embarrassment when back at work. So, we were surprised but over the moon to see the results of our latest surveys that 79% of employees very much look forward to their Christmas Do's. We certainly do here at TipTopJob. It is the time to get to know the people you work with and spend so many hours of the day with and explore relationships. 

Our top tip would be to drink a glass of water in between your drinks and eat some food. You are less likely to allow the alcohol to go to your head and remain in control.

What are you doing to celebrate this year? 

Our latest review on how colleagues felt about each other sadly found that 6% cannot actually stand who they work with. Even though 6% is not a huge number, it is still a proportion of individuals who do not enjoy working alongside their colleagues. 

On the happier note, a total of 74% fortunately "liked" or "loved" them (of that 74%, 33% LOVED their colleagues). This is great news for the morale, motivation and productivity of those organisations because if colleagues actually like each other, they will enjoy being around each other, be happier in their daily activities and therefore ultimately the company wins all around.

So, what is the advice to those who hate their co-workers? If it is really making you feel unhappy at work and you cannot concentrate on your work, then maybe it is worth talking to your manager/boss about changing your seating arrangements so you are either away from those you do not like or with people that you prefer to be around. 

If there are multiple people that you cannot stand at work, then maybe it is worth considering a change in your role or even company. Maybe the industry you are in does not suit your personality and fit in with the kind of people you want to be surrounded by. Hopefully, it does not require a job or career change, but if it does, do not forget to check out the roles we have on our site and apply online there. 

Here is an illustration of the full survey results that we found....

With the Christmas party season kicking off this week, we thought it suitable to review some tips to surviving it and investigate whether employees "hated them and do not go", "go but prefer not to" or totally "love it and always go"! 

Our latest study found that 47% of employees do actually LOVE a Christmas party and always attend. Well, why not? It is an excuse to socialise with your work colleagues, enjoy food and drinks paid for by the company and have a night out!

On the other hand though, 25% unfortunately hated the thought of going to their Christmas party and find an excuse not to go. Are you one of these employees? Come on, tell us what your excuse is this year? On top of this, 28% go because they feel that they have to but prefer not to.

If you are one of those people avoiding the celebrations at Christmas with your work colleagues  have a read over the following tips to help with surviving the night:-
- drink a glass of water with every alcoholic drink;
- have a cut off time - pre-book your taxi home and stay safe;
- make sure you either eat before you go out or eat the food that is provided;
- do not go overboard with your choice of outfit and reveal too much flesh;
- pace yourself with the amount you drink and avoid any shots;
- stay away from office politics and gossip as it can get out of control on a night out when everyone relaxes;
- enjoy some dancing but avoid provocative dancing with your work colleagues and bosses;
- avoid posting onto social media throughout the evening;
- try to steer the conversation away from work.

If you can keep some of these pointers in mind, you are sure to enjoy your Christmas party without facing any uncomfortable situations. Have fun, stay safe and be merry!

After finding out in a recent survey conducted by TipTopJob that most people worry about what questions they will ask at the end of the interview, we thought it would be useful to put together some questions to think about choosing to use.

Asking good quality questions after being interviewed for a new role can highlight your interest in the company and role, show your motivation, ambition and intelligence.

You must not forget that an interview is a two way street and it is just as much about you deciding whether the job is right for you as it is the company working out if you are right for them.

So with this in mind, what sort of questions could you ask?? Here are some ideas that you can take with you…..

What are the biggest challenges of the job?
This will help you decide if you are up for the challenges and how far you are willing to push yourself should you take on the role. It can also help you to prepare for any further interviews you may be invited to as well.

How many other people are you interviewing?
This will help you to gauge what competition you are up against and possibly how long you will need to wait to hear from the hiring manager about how you have done.

When are you looking to recruit?
This gives you a stronger idea on timescales and how long you will need to wait to hear if you have another interview or if you have got the job. It shows you are keen and want to know when the position can potentially be yours!

Why is the job available?
This can help you to understand why someone may have left from the role or why the role has been created. The answer to this question can help you determine what to expect from the job and if it is suitable for you.

Are you confident that I am suitable for the role?
This puts the interviewer on the spot and shows your confidence. It can help you to gauge how well you have performed and if you are in for a good chance. It could be the opportunity, if negative, to find out what you have not done right and how you can work on improving certain areas before any other interviews.

What do you love and hate about working for this company?
This can give you a great idea of the positive and negative factors relating to the company and what someone else likes/dislikes. Hearing from someone who actually works at the company is one hundred times better than reading a company website or brochure. You will get a much better feeling about the truth.

What are the most and least enjoyable parts to this role?
By asking the positive and negative you may get a more rounded answer. Although it is the opinion of the interviewer, this will still help you to understand the good and bad aspects and whether this is something you agree with and want to take on.

What training do you offer?
This shows you are interested in increasing your own skills which is something a company will be keen to see.

Is there scope for promotion?
Again this shows you want to develop yourself and that you are keen. It is another classic question to ask!

So, now you have some ideas, maybe think about those that may be most suitable to ask for your interview coming up. Good Luck!