Exercise has been a big topic around the office recently due to the team running the Great South Run in October, but lately we’ve been starting to think about not just exercising the body but the mind too!  Looking for a job can be a stressful time, especially filling out those application forms, researching companies and psyching yourself up for interviews interviews etc. The entire process requires a high level of concentration, a positive attitude, but most importantly a pro-active approach.

So, how do you keep your mind healthy and fit? Well, it’s just the same as keeping your body fit, you have to exercise and eat the right foods! Throughout August we will giving you different ways of keeping your mind fit, from brain puzzles to what types of foods increase your brainpower so you can be fit and healthy when you are looking for the perfect role with Solutions.

Landing the right job is about persuading a prospective employer to trade their money and benefits for your skills and labour - in other words it's a simple business transaction like any other. So how do you get employers to choose you rather than a competitor?

As a marketing, PR and Design recruitment agency we should know that it’s all about Marketing! Marketing yourself to create a demand for your product! You.

We’ve put together a few basic tips to make sure you are marketing yourself in the right way!

* Understanding your target market is one of the first steps in any good marketing strategy. There's quite a bit you'll want to know: What do they really want?

* Find out what's important to them and how do they judge it? i.e. they may value industry experience and so look for a relevant track record. The more you know about who your target market are the better positioned you are to meet their needs and land that job.

* What's unique about you? Chances are quite a few of your competitors (other applicants) will have similar backgrounds, similar education, job history etc. You need to find ways to make your application, CV or interview stand out but still be able to keep it professional.

* Creating your marketing message is about taking what you have and packaging it effectively for your target audience - in this case your prospective employer.
Use what you know from your research into your target market and target employers to tailor your message to directly address their needs and wants

* Deliver the message professionally - Get the basics right and ensure that your message will be taken seriously. Typos might seem a simple, easily forgiven, mistake but they impact on the employer's impression of you as a whole.

* Delivering the message is about finding effective ways to communicate your message to your target market.

As an established agency in the South we have build strong relationships with enviable agencies and fantastic brands, so we are a great communication tool for your product!

We’re talking about work/life balance this month and it’s obvious that the world of work has changed – in the 24-hour, 7-day society, customers expect service at times that suit them, which isn’t between 9 and 5! More and more people have to juggle responsibilities at home and in the workplace.

Findings from CIPR show that three out of four people say they are working very hard; many say they are working as hard as they can and could not imagine being able to work any harder. These factors help explain the increased interest being shown in the issue of work-life balance as many people find that work demands get in the way of their non-work commitments.

Most people can relate to the situation of having an ever increasing workload expected to be delived in shorter timeframes and that many people are taking their work home with them every night. Due to technological advances it is now possible to work 24hrs a day, it’s just sleep that gets in the way.

So how are companies combating the battle of the work/life balance? We’d love you’re comments on how you embrase the work/life balance issue, if at all!

There isn’t an industry that hasn’t been affected by the recession but JP Morgan have released a report suggesting that the Search Marketing industry is set to grow.

As people harness the power of the Internet, it isn’t just businesses having a digital presence that is important, it is ensuring that they are being found by their correct target market! The world wide web has millions of pages and Search Engine Marketing is the key to ensuring websites aren’t being lost in the ether of information.

The economic crisis has in fact increased this importance due to people becoming increasingly cost conscious and using comparision websites to get the best deals on websites.

Being a Marketing, PR and Design recruitment agency we have seen an increase in the number of Digital roles being recruited for focusing especially on SEO. So if you’re a digital marketeer looking for a new challenge then email your updated CV to info@solutions4recruitment.com.

Topic of the month for July - We’re talking about the importance of a work/life balance, and how, with today’s hectic lifestyle the majority of people are finding the balance tipping the wrong way!

Today’s culture seems to have more to do, in a lesser amount of time with the pressure to do it better, and this isn’t just within the workplace but also at home too!! How can this culture change OR what needs to give in order for people to get some balance back?

Businesses are being persuaded to address the work/life balance issue and the ones that have, have said it’s beneficial, and can actually lead to cost savings, improved motivation and higher productivity.

Research has shown that the majority of employees would welcome a flexible working environment, but there are still people who are reluctant to the idea due to the fact that it could have a detrimental effect on their career and if they are going to be working less hours, who will be taking on the workload?

We’ll be blogging about this throughout the month, so let us know your views and opinions on your work/life balance!