Bond Unveiled as Key Sponsors at European Premiere of the Staffing Industry Analysts Executive Forum

As key sponsor, Bond UK demonstrates its commitment to supporting Staffing Industry Analysts in their UK launch, following their long-term relationship with Bond International Software in the United States.

Tim Richards, Managing Director, Bond International Software (UK), comments, “Bond have worked closely with Staffing Industry Analysts for many years, sponsoring and exhibiting at their hugely successful North American events. Supporting the exciting launch of their Executive Forum in Europe is a natural extension of our strong relationship.”

For more information click here to read our latest blog

Bond Sponsors European Premiere of the Staffing Industry Analysts Executive Forum

Executive_Forum_Europe_300x300As key sponsor, Bond UK demonstrates its commitment to supporting Staffing Industry Analysts in their UK launch, following their long-term relationship with Bond International Software in the United States.

The event will provide unparalleled access to the recruitment industry’s top thinkers, leaders and innovators.

Focussing on important strategic issues, developing trends, future opportunities and current challenges – combined with the ability to network with leaders within the recruitment industry.

Demonstrations of the latest version of its market-leading product, Bond Adapt, specialist portfolio of recruitment software applications, will be taking place throughout the event – showcasing enhanced features to empower recruiters in their day-to-day activities.

Tim Richards, Managing Director, Bond International Software (UK), comments, “Bond have worked closely with Staffing Industry Analysts for many years, sponsoring and exhibiting at their hugely successful North American events. Supporting the exciting launch of their Executive Forum in Europe is a natural extension of our strong relationship.  Staffing Industry Analysts events consistently deliver excellent keynote speakers and the attendees in London will have access to the knowledge required to be even more successful.  Bond are delighted to be sponsoring this event.”

Top Tips for Achieving Recruitment Industry Event Success

The Business Development team at Bond International Software regularly speak with prospective clients, ensuring they receive the right levels of contact at the right times and they’re always up to date regarding Bond International Software’s latest releases.  

Bond International Software sponsor and exhibit at a number of recruitment industry events annually.  Part of the business development role is to research, co-ordinate and organise the company’s presence at the selected events – making sure diaries line-up and all the relevant people are available.

It’s great to meet clients and prospects face-to-face and discuss the hot topics of the day with the recruiters handling them ‘on the ground’.  Alongside the valuable networking environment provided – events also deliver informative seminars, workshops and speakers to ensure delegates receive the best and most current information and advice available.

Below are our top tips to consider if you are looking to attend an event:

  1. Pre-event planning – Do you have goals in mind?  Be sure to save time and energy during the event by planning what you would like to achieve in advance.  If you are looking to learn about new technology developed to support your business, check which companies are exhibiting and plan when to fit in a visit to their stand.  If you are keen to stay up to date with industry news and trends, research the event’s speakers and decide whose insights would be most beneficial to your business and make sure to arrive in time for their seminar.
  1. Book appointments – If you are researching the latest technology, contact the providers ahead of the event and book an appointment time.  Booking a time-slot with your chosen providers enables you to avoid waiting for an opening at their stand and will add some structure to your day which will save time and hassle, making sure you can meet everyone you would like to.
  1. Study the map – Most events provide maps with seminar/workshop room details and exhibitor stand numbers.  Study the map and where possible pre-plan your routes, saving time and confusion due to the sheer size of some venues which often have different floors and inter-connecting halls.
  1. Know your requirements – If you are looking into new technology, writing a list of your requirements will help you effectively shortlist potential suppliers.  Make copies to give to consultants, this could help immensely in finding the right supplier by allowing them to factor in your requirements early.  Don’t forget notepads, pens and business cards, which can run out at the most inopportune moments, as you never know who you might meet!

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Industry events continue to offer great insight, especially valuable considering some of the challenges the recruitment industry is facing at the moment, with the 24/7 ‘always on’ culture.  Next up we have the Recruitment Agency Expo in Birmingham, hopefully we will see you there!  You can find out more about Bond International Software’s upcoming and previous events here.

Keeping Your Business’ Recruitment in the Fast Lane

shutterstock_135273797In this blog Toby Conibear, European Business Development Director at Bond International Software, discusses how to ensure you are utilising your recruitment technology to stay ahead of the competition.

Do you find getting candidates through the door a long winded process? Keeping recruitment turnaround in the fast lane can be a challenge for any recruiter. Whether you are a recruitment agency or in-house HR departments, waiting around to source the ideal talent for a vacancy can be frustrating.

With a 24/7, always connected mobile environment both candidates and employers are becoming increasingly unwilling to adhere to a slow recruitment process. Latest statistics show that 50% of worldwide job searches now takes place on mobile, with over half of UK citizens now using their smartphones to look for jobs. Where once we submitted a CV via the Royal Mail, recruiters now expect to pull top line information from profiles such as LinkedIn.

So how can you speed up your candidate search experience?

Using the right recruitment technology solution for your business environment is critical. Too often you hear of recruitment agencies or in-house teams selecting solutions based on buzzwords. Yes, it is important to research and understand the software available to your business; but firstly, truly understanding what you require it for and how you need it to perform are top of my technology checklist.

How do you search? Do you search from the database you have built up of past and current candidates; do you look to post on multiple job boards and search their databases; or do you use social media profiles such as Twitter as your first point of the search? Although crucial, creating and running searches can be laborious and often require high-levels of human input in the final stages of the candidate selection process. By finding a solution that helps to bring together all the candidate information including your database, multiple job boards and social media profiles, you will increase efficiency and improve accuracy. If you are a large organisation recruiting in bulk, you may want to have your recruitment technology set up so you can batch email or text in bulk to invite candidates for jobs.

So how can I secure the best candidate before the competition?

Selecting the right candidate for the role comes as second nature to recruitment agencies and in-house departments, but what next? Depending on your preferred style, whether that is the traditional telephone call or perhaps a text message or email, ensuring candidates are notified in the most suitable and efficient way possible could help beat competition to the finishing line.

Ultimately, selecting the right recruitment technology for your business is about not missing good opportunities. With competition fierce for new candidates and unemployment figures nearing a six-year low adding pressure to the mix, understanding how your particular business environment works and ensuring you are using the right technology at the right time will help you stay one step ahead of the competition.

Click here to read more about how Bond Adapt can help you keep your recruitment in the fast lane.

If you would like to read more about how Bond Adapt can keep your recruitment search mobile, download our mobile eBook.

Bond International Software Operating Profits Up

Bond International Software’s operating profit rose by 25% to £1.7m in the six months to the end of June.

Revenue of £18.4m (H1 2013: £17.0m) now represents 98% of fixed operating costs (H1 2013 94%).

Operating margins increased to 9% (H1 2013: 8%) and adjusted profit before tax rose by 31% to £1.4m (H1 2013: 1.1m).

Group Chief Executive Steve Russell said: “The ongoing economic recovery in the UK and overseas is having a positive impact on the group.  Not only are we seeing robust growth levels returning in the UK but also we have made substantial headway in our Asia-Pacific office.  The acquisition of Eurowage was a significant step change for the group and the Board believes this will produce good growth prospects.  We maintain our confidence that we are well placed to benefit from global growth and combined with our continued innovation in our products and services we see a positive second half for the group.”

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Master Body Language and Become A Better Recruiter

Our bodies create up to 700,000 different signs, according to one expert. That leaves recruiters with a lot of body language in interviews to read as they determine which candidates will be “just right” for their staffing firm’s valued clients. Although people realize at a young age that a frown means displeasure, did you know, for instance, that a candidate’s feet in an interview might be the best signal of how they truly feel?

Recruiters’ body language during interviews can also convey subliminal messages. Are you conveying interest in your candidates by facing them squarely and leaning in when listening?

Learn about body language in interviews with our visual representation of how recruiters can better interpret candidate body language and leverage their own.

Master Candidate Body Language and Become a Better RecruiterClick for the full infographic.

Learn how body language for recruiters can help you build rapport with clients, body language for sales can help recruiting salespeople make a killer first impression, and management communication skills can be improved with our tips on how to master body language and become a better recruiter.

Studying the Stars: What Recruiters Can Learn from Understanding Celebrities’ Body Language

To help recruiters study and understand nonverbal cues, we’re looking to the stars. Check out these celebrity photos for insight into understanding body language. The next time you’re interviewing a candidate, what they do may tell you clearly what they’re saying, even if it conflicts with their words.

Between 65 and 95 percent of what you say is said through body language, not by what you say out loud, so understanding body language is extremely valuable when you’re working with candidates.

  • Understanding Body Language From Celebrities’ Photos Gives Recruiters Insight into Candidates from the Bond Blog.

    Looking relaxed and confident
    Photo Credit: Getty Images

    Between 65 and 95 percent of what you say is said through body language, not by what you say out loud, so understanding body language is extremely valuable when you’re working with candidates.

    If you ask a candidate how likely they are to take a job and they look around the room, you can take that body language as a clue to follow up with a question about any concerns holding them back. Schedule a reminder post interview in your recruiting software to send the candidate more information about their concerns.

  • Understanding Body Language From Celebrities’ Photos Gives Recruiters Insight into Candidates from the Bond Blog.

    Looking up and to the left: is she telling the truth?
    Photo Credit: Getty Images

    The Eyes Have It. Where a candidate is looking can give clues into what they’re thinking, and maybe even let you know whether or not they’re telling the truth. According to changingminds.org, looking up and to the left, like Lindsay Lohan, may indicate recalling a memory. But looking up and toward the right conveys using one’s imagination.

    Depending on the person’s body language — and what they’re saying — that might mean they’re lying. It’s not fool-proof, but understanding body language like this can be helpful when you’re talking to clients about a sensitive topic, such as if you ask, “Are you working with other recruiting agencies?” or “How happy are you with this job opening?”

    Staffing firms’ sales teams can advance their careers by understanding body language to better connect with clients. That advice can be found in Part One of our series, Killer First Impressions: Body Language Advice for Your Staffing Sales Team.

  • Understanding Body Language From Celebrities’ Photos Gives Recruiters Insight into Candidates from the Bond Blog.

    A powerful stance improves poise.
    Photo credit: Entertainment Weekly

    Standing Tall. If someone needs to boost their confidence, they should remember what their mom instructed and stand up straight. Assuming a powerful stance can help someone feel assured. Researchers found that holding one’s body in a high power pose for even two minutes, like Taylor Swift is doing in this photo, gives more empowered feelings.

    Candidates who are standing powerfully may be feeling very confident about the meeting … or they may be trying to use the pose to feel more in control.

  • Understanding Body Language From Celebrities’ Photos Gives Recruiters Insight into Candidates from the Bond Blog.

    Is your candidate bored?
    Photo credit: Chris Pizzello

    Heavy Head. Remember your most boring high school teacher and think of your classmates, slumped in their chairs, hands under their chins, trying to stay awake. Hopefully your candidates are alert and engaged during interviews and actively listen. If they put their head on their hands, like Robert Pattinson’s posture in this photo, they might be bored.

    Other signs of indifference include doodling and drumming fingers, according to Carol Kinsey Goman, PhD, Forbes leadership blogger and an expert on understanding body language.

    “When you see people turn their shoulders and torso away from you, you’ve probably lost their interest,” says Goman. If your candidate is looking bored, ask questions to discover whether they really want a new job or are merely using an offer to get a raise or promotion at their current company.

  • Understanding Body Language From Celebrities’ Photos Gives Recruiters Insight into Candidates from the Bond Blog.

    Do her crossed arms indicate that she is unhappy with her title?
    Photo credit: Newsweek

    Crisscross. When 3-year-olds get cranky, they often cross their arms in front of their body, go “Hmph!” and glare. Crossing your arms in front of your body is a natural way to show that you don’t like what you hear. On this Newsweek cover, Hillary Clinton has been posed with her arms in a certain way. But her body language is reserved and relays that she possibly feels closed off.

    According to Goman, crossed arms almost always indicate a closed sign of resistance. Watch how candidates hold their arms; crossed arms may indicate they’re unimpressed by the company, salary or their new title. Find out if they expect a better offer elsewhere or had a certain rate in mind.

  • Feet can indicate nervousness.
    Photo credit: Buzznet.com

    Footwork. Feet shuffling and shifting show signals, too. When people are making an effort to appear a certain way, they usually concentrate on controlling their facial expressions, overall posture and what their hands are doing. Their feet, however, may display their bona fide feelings.

    Britney Spears is trying to smile on the red carpet, but we know by understanding body language that she’s nervous by her shifting feet. During meetings, keep an eye on candidates’ feet. If they’re shuffling, stretching and curling, or kicking as if they want to run away, your candidate is showing that he or she feels anxious. Ask if they’re having second thoughts about a career move.

  • Understanding Body Language From Celebrities’ Photos Gives Recruiters Insight into Candidates from the Bond Blog.

    Crossed legs show engagement.
    Photo credit: Jimmy Kimmel Live

    Sitting pretty. Even when a person is sitting, their feet can give clues about their feelings. “If someone is sitting with ankles crossed and legs stretched toward you, they probably feel positively toward you,” says Goman. “But when you see feet pulled away, wrapped in a tight ankle lock, pointed at the exit or wrapped around the legs of a chair, you would be wise to suspect withdrawal and disengagement.”

    In our photo, Justin Timberlake’s top foot angling toward Jimmy Kimmel shows that he’s most likely enjoying their conversation. Recruiters who can view candidates’ feet may be able to glimpse hints into whether or not they feel engaged.

  • Understanding Body Language From Celebrities’ Photos Gives Recruiters Insight into Candidates from the Bond Blog.

    Why is she moving away from you?
    Photo credit: FlynetPictures.com

    You Turn. There’s a reason that the phrase “cold shoulder” means being rejected, and yep — it’s all about body language. A person’s shoulders and torso can tell you what they feel. In the photo, Liv Tyler is about to turn away from the camera and head in a different direction.

    Candidates who move away from you physically by leaning back and creating space may disagree with what you’re saying, be uncertain about the situation, feel defensive or be uncomfortable. Mention other positive aspects of the new job, such as benefits, 401k match, a generous vacation policy or telecommuting opportunities.

  • Understanding Body Language From Celebrities’ Photos Gives Recruiters Insight into Candidates from the Bond Blog.

    Natural smiles relay positivity.
    Photo credit: Blackenterprise.com

    Smile. A smile is more than just a pretty expression — it helps create feelings of positivity in both the person smiling and the people around them, too. A genuine smile, like the one above from Oprah Winfrey, relays that she’s approachable and feeling cooperative.

    Candidates’ smiles can convey whether they feel upbeat and if they view you as trustworthy. Forced smiles or grimaces might mean that a candidate feels uncomfortable or on edge. Mention some of your best success stories and testimonials from candidates whose careers have skyrocketed with your help.

  • Understanding Body Language From Celebrities’ Photos Gives Recruiters Insight into Candidates from the Bond Blog.

    Are your candidates interested?
    Photo credit: ekimeeza.com

    As you interview candidates, you know they’ve prepped by practicing what to say and how to say it. They understandably want to do a good job at the interview. As you get into the nitty gritty details about job tasks, salary range, benefits and other specifics, you want to know if they like what they hear.

    Knowing what nonverbal cues mean can tell how they truly feel, or give you hints about following up with more information that’s helpful to them. Whether candidates have nervous feet, defensive arms, a powerful stance or a relaxed smile, understanding body language helps you gather a clearer picture of their true message.

    For more fascinating body language insight, learn how staffing firms’ sales teams can connect better with clients in part one of our series, Killer First Impressions: Body Language Advice for Your Staffing Sales Team.