TipTopJob Blog

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!

We have come to our last TipTop video featuring a bunch of very cute children. This final video asks the children what they want to be when they are older in the TipTopMe campaign.

You can find the video on YouTube here.

Some of the children have responded saying they want to be: a teacher, a gymnastics instructor, a pediatrician, a fisherman, a ballerina :)

Ask your child what they want to be, take a video and share it with us on any of the following social media platforms:  YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+ or Instagram.

It is National Stress Awareness Day today, Wednesday 4th November.

How do you deal with stress?

It is such a big factor in everybody's lives today that it is good to experiment with different ways to deal with and overcome it.

Do you take yourself off for a cigarette? Have a bath? Meet friends outside of work? Take a day off?

Whatever it is, share with us here. You may be able to give other people who are struggling some ideas on how to cope with the stress of everyday working life.

If you are seeking a better career or if you are simply looking for a position that is full-time, stable and high-paying, consider your knowledge of foreign languages and how they can help to benefit you. 

When you consider language a learning, it is possible to find new career paths and opportunities by improving your skills and abilities when it comes to communicating with individuals from all around the world. If you choose to study foreign languages, there are many benefits that come along with doing so that not only helps with your communication capabilities, but also with potential future job opportunities and placements that are right for you. 

The Benefits When You Study Foreign Languages
Any time you want a better job with more stability, consider the option of studying a foreign language. Whether you choose to learn languages online or if you prefer to learn within a traditional classroom, having the knowledge of multiple foreign languages greatly increases your chances of getting hired into a position you desire and that is also high-paying. One of the newest methods of learning a foreign language are online language learning tools and solutions such as Lingualia.

Foreign Language Positions
Obtaining a job using your skills when it comes to speaking, reading and writing a foreign language is possible through both local and online channels, regardless of where you are currently located and whether you prefer part or full-time work. When you want to find a position that is ideal for individuals who understand multiple languages, consider your options before selecting the language you want to immerse yourself in learning to understand thoroughly some of the best positions such as working in translating, interpreting and even language-teaching. These roles are available for those who are familiar with multiple languages, whether you know two, three or even more. It is also possible to find a solid position in the scientific, medical or even the engineering field once you have the knowledge of foreign languages. 

Before you begin pursuing the option to learn a new language, it is important to consider the type of work you are interested in the career you have your heart set on. Understanding where you want to work and the specific type of work you are interested in personally can give you the guidance you need to find a language-learning program that is just right for you.

If you have a desire to learn languages online, you can do so with Lingualia, a free application and online tool to help with learning a second or third language of your choice, on demand. 

Read more on our website.

You are sitting with your friends having a catch up when they start talking in riddles and using abbreviations or random words you have never heard before! Corporate jargon otherwise known as corporate lingo, workplace jargon, business speak to name a few is often commonplace among large corporate companies and especially those originating in the USA. For some, it can be frustrating to be lost among such language so we have collated some common terms and provided you with an explanation for each. There are many references to such jargon which include using abbreviations, nouns, verbs and adjectives. Here they are………. 

Abbreviations

COB – close of business

CSW – completed staff work

EOD – end of day

FTE – full-time equivalent

FY – fiscal year

HIBBIS – heads in beds, butts in seats

KPI – key performance indicators

NDA – non-disclosure agreement

PCP – previous corresponding period

POS – point of sale

PQQ - pre qualification questionnaire

RFP - Request for Proposal

RFQ - Request for quote

RIF – reduction in force

SBU – strategic business unit

SME – subject matter expert

TCO – total cost of ownership

TTT - this time tomorrow

WC – week commencing

WE – week ending

YTD – year to date  

Nouns

Blue sky thinking: Idealistic or visionary ideas 

Cascade: Array of possible actions to take in response to a problem: protocol

Check in the box: complete the task

Flavor of the month: the current popular activity/person as directed by the company/client/management

Hub: an idea which other ideas are linked to

Joined-up thinking: Discussing the viewpoints of each organization and coming to an agreement or compromise

Kill two birds with one stone: doing one action will result in achieving two goals

Low-hanging fruit: Tasks that have the greatest positive effect for the least effort, used when promoting new projects to show the advantages

One belly button to push: Reduced number of suppliers

Raft of measures: A collection of proposals or schemes

Tent pole: the task or item most likely to delay a project or consume the most resources

Silver bullet: One solution for everything

Under-pinning: The foundations of an idea, which helps another related scheme or proposal

Womb to tomb: An idea or program that is killed before it has a chance to grow or flourish 

Verbs

Baked In: Same as "included," in principle. Something which has been "baked in" is implied to be impossible to remove

Boil the Ocean: An effort or task which is perceived by the speaker to be impossible or impractical

Build Capacity: Take actions which produce no useful output immediately, but increase the amount of useful work which can be done in the future

Cover all directions of the compass: Try to make things acceptable for all stakeholders

Create the storyboard: Outline what the solution will look like

Deep dive: Get into the detail

Eating one's own dog food: Use the same product that is sold to your customers, especially if it's a bad product

Land and expand: To sell a small solution and then grow it within the client's environment

Moving forward: Making progress on an idea or scheme

Pick the low-hanging fruit: Go for the easiest option

Power to the elbow: Get additional backup information to make your case stronger

Pushing the envelope: Going outside normal boundaries to achieve a target or goal

Sing from the same hymn sheet: Show a united front or everyone understanding and saying the same thing to customers or service users

Touch base: To meet up with a colleague to discuss progress 

Adjectives

Cross-Functional: resume jargon, music to management's ears

In the loop: knowing what's going on and being kept informed

Off the shelf: buying in a product or service already completed 

You can also read this article on our website.

Today, we are launching #TipTopMummy!

Are you a mummy (a working mummy or stay at home mummy)? Have you ever asked your son or daughter what you do for work?

Well, over the last few weeks we have asked a handful of children what they thought and this is what we found. 

Have a laugh and ask your children what they think you do for a job and see what they say!

Share your video with us on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+ or Instagram.

Do not forget the hashtag #TipTopMummy.

Keep your eyes peeled for the more videos coming in the next few weeks.....

Watch the video on YouTube here.

You may have already noticed some tweaks to the site...

Now you can click through to our Instagram account and Blog right from the icons at the top right of the homepage. You will now find icons for Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Linkedin, Instagram and our Blog which will link directly to the accounts.

Underneath these icons, we have a new image that allows Clients to click through to pay and post for 1 job online.

And finally, on each job vacancy, there is a new button at the top of the job description that allows the jobseeker to click to apply making it easier to find the APPLY button :)

If you would like to see any tweaks, changes or additions to the site, please do get in touch with us and let us know what you think....

Here are the changes....

The Higher Education Funding Council For England are currently recruiting for an Assurance Consultant (Qualified Accountant) in Bristol. 

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) funds and regulates universities and colleges in England and is responsible for distributing nearly GBP4 billion a year for teaching and research in universities and colleges in England. We are the lead regulator for higher education in England.

You must be a fully qualified accountant or auditor with significant post qualification experience of risk assessment, financial monitoring or assurance related skills. Experience of a regulated sector, or of due diligence type work would be an advantage.

You will work with senior colleagues and institutional staff so excellent communication, presentational and interpersonal skills are essential. You should enjoy building relationships and working with others. Committed to your professional development, we will give you the opportunity to gain experience and to develop your professional skills.

This is a challenging but rewarding role for someone with the right skills and experience during a changing environment for the higher education sector. Some travel within England will be required along with an occasional need for overnight stays.

Does this role interest YOU?

Do you know someone who it may interest?

READ MORE about the job by CLICKING HERE and APPLY ONLINE.

With Halloween around the corner, we thought it was good timing to investigate some of the spookiest jobs and places to work. When we think of spooky, we think eerie, dark, quiet, old, dead, insects, creepy.

Here are some of the spookiest jobs we thought about when we think of the word ‘spooky’…

Housekeeper in an old mansion

Have you ever wondered around a large house in the dark when it is silent, hearing noises that are really only in your imagination? Well, can you imagine if that was what you did every day and it was your job to keep a mansion house, in the middle of nowhere, in the dark! Imagine if that mansion had history dating over 200 years or so old or if it was an ex-prison or even a place where murders or torturing went on. This is well and truly am eerie, creepy, spooky job!

Funeral Director or Mortician or Embalmer

Dealing with the dead at any point gives us the creeps! Having to hold it together to plan and execute a funeral, day after day would mean you would have to have a strong character and ensure you were not emotionally attached. An embalmer takes this category to the next level though and the process of preserving dead bodies so they look suitable for public displays is definitely an unappealing one!

Miner

Miners are very brave having to work in very dark, small, confined spaces for long periods. It can provide a scary experience for most and one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

Night security at a museum or similar

Again working in the night, looking after a large space where there is no one in sight bring shivers to our spines. Being in charge of security in venues like this to ensure there are no trespassers means having a thick skin! 

Forensic Scientist

A Forensic Scientist is tasked with collecting, preserving and analysing scientific evidence which can be traumatic at the best of times, let alone if it was a gruesome crime scene where someone has been killed and there is blood involved. An interesting job but surely one that can keep you awake for hours at night.

Gravedigger

Dealing with the dead again and digging up the area required for a new burial means working alone at times in large, eerie graveyards. Maybe not as spooky as some jobs but enough to make us shudder!

Arachnologist

Sooky means insects and especially spiders so a job as an Arachnologist, who studies spiders and scorpions, harvestmen etc are brave human beings. This is one eerie role.

Taxidermist

Although this job would appeal to some, many would run a mile at the idea of preparing, stuffing and mounting the skins of dead animals. Again we are talking about dealing with the dead and handling them! Yuk!

Have we missed a spooky job that you have experienced or know about? Share with us :)

Serious post-holiday blues? How to re-focus after a holiday!

You have just returned from your annual holiday with friends and family whether it be in the Sun, Countryside, Slopes or similar and you cannot seem to switch that flick in your head back to work-mode. You are swimming in emails, you are jet-lagged, you are re-living the days from holiday, you are missing your afternoon nap or you have just experienced that dreaded over-packed train or extra 40 minute traffic jam in the motorway!

Whatever it may be, do not fret, we know the feeling and we are here to help. Here are some top tips on how to get re-focused and back into the flow.

#1. First things are first.
Allow yourself several days or at least a week to catch up on all of your emails and conversations with colleagues and managers. Do not jump into new assignments/projects straight away to over-load yourself! Talk about your holiday and get it all off your chest early on. You may find it easier to arrive early to work in the first week to address your emails, voice messages and just generally to catch up!

#2. Stay revived and refreshed.
Holidays are a great way to relax, unwind, refresh and re-vive yourself. See this as a refreshing new start and allow yourself to bring innovative ideas to the table and begin any new resolutions you may have.

#3. Routine is key.
Get yourself into a strict routine to help yourself settle back into things. Set your alarm to get up at the same time every day, eat lunch at the same time and make sure you leave work on time to start with. It may also help to structure your day so attend to certain tasks/projects/jobs at set points throughout the day and do your best to stick to them. This can help to manage the workload and stop yourself from flitting from job to job.

# 4. Planning.
Start your day off by planning what you will be doing that day and creating a list of tasks to do. Finish off by completing any unfinished tasks and re-setting your desk for the next day. This way you will not get stressed out with too much going on and each day will be a fresh, new on.

# 5. Treat yourself.
Take yourself off for some retail therapy at lunchtime to give yourself that little boost or maybe grab a gourmet coffee on the way into work. Anything to make you feel a little better – decide what it is and do it!

# 6. Plan your next trip.
Most of us need a holiday in order to get our heads down, work hard and to use as a goal. It is a great motivating factor so book in the next holiday and work towards it.

# 7. Start something new.
This could be a good time to start a new hobby, join a gym or exercise class. Keep yourself occupied so you are happy and have enough to do that you do not end up feeling depressed you are not still away on holiday.

# 8. Perspective.
Just remember, everyone feels the same when they return from holiday – you are not alone. You want to quit your job, you cannot concentrate nor motivate yourself – whatever it is! But please do just keep reminding yourself that it is just a temporary feeling and within no time at all you will be back into the swing of things.