Centraltest, an online UK psychometric specialist with over 2,500 corporate clients, will later this month launch a highly modified version of a temperament assessment tool that it has licensed to its clients. The 'temperament evaluator' has been recalibrated to account for changes in the wider UK and London job market, many of which are impacted by new European regulations pertaining to workplace diversity.

The evaluator has been calibrated to account for recruiters and employers’ changed needs, the company says. The company especially addressed "tenacity vs need for diversity" issues, which forms one of the test’s twelve chapters.

The changes account for the recent overhaul in UK employment law following the October 2006 introduction of new European regulations aimed at stamping out (age) inequality in the workplace. The alterations make up some 25 percent of the 98-question test to the test now render ‘homogeneity to the candidate's personality’, the company writes in a statement on its website, adding that it was achieved by factorial analysis of the items in the test.

The company has recently completed testing its findings on thousands of internet users worldwide and is now offering the temperament evaluator to its clients, including the 79 recruitment companies on its roster.

Temperament issues have begun to gain significant traction in the UK jobs market, yet practical initiatives like Centraltest’s are few and far between. People point to US giant Google as one trend setter in terms of measuring human capital in innovative ways. The company, often criticized for its cumbersome hiring rounds , recently is being tipped to make use of quite immaculate user-end recruitment metrics.

Google moved from relying on recruiter information that was word dense, free form to a more targeted point by point feedback style. The new format includes highly precise questions about someone’s past and personality, which are rated on a piecemeal basis. Sample questions are ‘How strongly would you describe yourself as someone with an assertive personality?’ and ‘At work would you prefer to manage others or do the work yourself?’

One blogger outlines the significance of this development; "These two points are interesting [...] because [...] the hiring metric "time to hire" is becoming more critical, especially with global competition for a limited talent pool. And [...] companies are increasingly trying to match the right job with the right candidate using factors besides just skills and experience like a candidate's personality."

Centraltest optimizes some of its tests as often as every six months, but indicates its new version of its personality temperament is a landmark development.

Labels: london jobs

Often working long hours and having to deal with a shortage of staff, being a nurse is most certainly not an easy job. For many the rewards of assisting others in need balances the cons of the career. Still, no amount of human goodwill can take away the fear that job insecurity can cause.

The Royal College of Nursing, which represents nurses through out the United Kingdom and is the largest single nursing union in the world, recently conducted a survey of its members and found that the morale of nurses is at the lowest it has been in the last ten years. The results of the poll showed that many UK nurses are worried about the possibility of losing their jobs in London, the state of training, and job progression. It was also found that more than a quarter of the country's nurses still have to taken on a second job just so that they can be able to pay the bills.

The survey also found that 55% of nurses feel that they have too much work to allow them to offer the quality of care that they feel is deserved by their patients. Because of this 58% of nurses polled stated that they work seven more hours than they are contracted for a week.

At this time only 49% said that they would recommend nursing as a career. This figure is down 7% since only two years prior. Much of this has to do with the fact that many UK nurses feel they are not being offered adequate continued training. Only 45% of nurses polled said that they are able to take the time off to participate in continuing professional development (CPD) courses.

Despite the long hours and extra efforts that UK nurses are putting forth, 87% feel that they are underpaid when their profession is compared to other careers. Aside from being paid far too little and working too much, many nurses are beginning to fear for their London jobs. When the last poll was conducted by the Royal College of Nursing in 2005, 71% of nurses stated that they felt their careers offered job security. The most recent poll found that only 34% of these individuals still felt this way.

These general feelings of unhappiness have prompted many nurses to wish they could leave their healthcare jobs all together. The survey found that one out of every four nurses would quit and find a different sort of job if they were able to.

Hopefully these statistics will prompt a change in the way nursing the in UK is handled. When nurses feel overworked and under appreciated the quality of care given to patients declines and the entire hospital suffers.

Labels: london jobs

If you are searching for jobs in London, it is important to have plan. Many people simply write their CV, and blanket the city with it somewhat indiscriminately. Searching the help-wanted ads is a good idea, but should be used in combination with other tactics. Many positions go unadvertised, and with strategic effort, you can find them and land the one that is right for you. An effective job search plan includes some of the following strategies:

• The proper mindset: Hunting for jobs in London can be a full-time job. Tempting diversions abound (sleeping-in, watching the telly, lunching with friends), but it is important to stay focused. Maintain your regular schedule: awaken at the usual time, shower, get dressed and go to 'work'. Dedicate each weekday morning to job searching.

• Do your homework: Learn as much as you can about your target industry, then narrow your search to companies within your desired geographic region. Go online, view the company's Web site and any other news that turns up in a search. Other resources include annual reports, promotional materials, trade publications and relevant magazine articles.

• Join a professional organization: Professional organizations are a good resource for finding jobs in London at all stages of your career. Professional associations present mentoring opportunities and research resources; and can keep you 'in the loop' about what’s happening. Tell other members your goals and ask for advice. You never know when someone might hear of an opportunity, or will offer you a referral.

• Stay on top of recruitment patterns: Be in-the-know about your targeted company’s plans to hire, downsize, or maintain a stable workforce. Subscribe to trade journals, scan mainstream business news, and subscribe to news alerts which include targeted keywords about jobs in London.

• Follow up: Don't be content to send a cover letter and expect an automatic call back. Follow up approximately one week later with a phone call or email, making sure to keep it short and direct. Ask if your letter was received and offer to provide additional information if desired.

• Don't be too modest: Finding good jobs in London is a competitive business, so prepare to sell yourself at your interview. Review the job requirements and think about your experience. Make a list of skills and achievements that speak directly to the prospective position, and plan to emphasize them during your interview. Be personable yet confident, and prepare to clearly articulate your career objectives.

• Ask smart questions: The questions you ask will tell an employer a lot about your business acumen. Ask specific questions regarding current projects, business development and goals, company expectations, industry trends, recent innovations, employee turnover, ratio of managers to employees, company reputation and lines of authority.

Having a structured plan in place will help you find the most desirable jobs in London and accelerate your career. Also, remember to stay positive, and avoid getting too excited or too discouraged. Apply for multiple positions at once, and regard each interview not as a last chance, but as opportunities to hone your interviewing skills.

Labels: london jobs