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​​The workplace and job market have evolved rapidly over that past year due to the pandemic. Of course, the job market is always evolving, but the pandemic has caused it to change more quickly than before.While on the hunt for a job in this new landscape, you are bound to come across the words “skills” and “competencies”. While they may seem interchangeable, believe it or no...

​Making anyone feel welcome without in-person contact can be challenging, but it is massively important. Team bonding and morale must take a higher priority while businesses embrace remote working as it won’t come naturally for some to communicate effectively from home. In order to avoid isolating your new colleague, schedule conference calls, introduce them to the team...

​Productivity has always been a challenge that most of us struggle with, but the pandemic adds another layer of complexity for those of us who are working from home. In the beginning, we saw a multitude of advantages of working from home; no time wasted on commuting, a chance to work uninterrupted on projects, and a change of environment. However as working from home guidanc...

​Searching for a new position is a physically, mentally and emotionally consuming journey. Whether you are currently employed and looking for a better opportunity or you have left a previous position and need a new job, the hunt can require a considerable amount of time and energy. It can sometimes feel discouraging and draining.How will you continue to stay motivated and en...

​As governments across the world outline their next steps, market confidence is beginning to grow in many regions. Vaccine rollouts and falling infection rates are putting the world at ease once again, and Personnel Today has reported the sharpest rise in permanent appointments in six years, as well as the temporary market growing at the fastest rate since 2017.The market re...

As we start to see signs of improved outlook for hiring plans in 2021, finding the right talent for your business will become more crucial than ever as competition ramps up.Is your current internal talent acquisition team ready to handle the onslaught of hiring challenges coming their way and do they have the resources on hand to support your organisation’s talent needs? If ...

As the market starts to recover, we are seeing the hunt for talent becoming more competitive than ever before. The market is shifting to being very candidate-driven, meaning candidates will now have multiple opportunities readily available.Candidates now have the upper hand in determining which opportunity is best for them. How do you ensure that you find and acquire the bes...

As 2019 comes to an end, Ball and Hoolahan look back at 2019’s trends and focus ahead to what 2020 has in store for the FCMG and Retail industry. E-CommerceThe popularity of online shopping has been on a massive trajectory for the past few years, and in 2019 it was no different. According to DKSH, online sales are growing 4 times faster than offline sales and E-Commerce is e...

Statistics reported by The Grocer has revealed that 81% of food and drink start-ups don’t feel they get enough support, especially when considering the growth it generates for the Grocery industry. The numbers seem to back this up too, with food and drink start-ups accounting for 59% of growth in the industry, according to the Food & Drink Federation. So, are supermarket...

Brexit is already causing a plethora of problems, both costly and damaging, for small businesses across the UK; however, many are finding ways to succeed despite the current economic state.The confidence and effort required to start a small business proves the optimism of those entrepreneurs fighting back at Brexit, but are they failing to recognise the adverse effects of th...

The term “nomad” is generally described as a member of a community of people who are constantly travelling, moving to different places around the world, usually to make a living. Technology is changing the way that people live their day-to-day lives and has made way for previously unimaginable business opportunities. A digital nomad is considered as an individual who is able...

Why is it important to make a good first impression?  When applying for that dream job you want to stand out from the crowd because hiring managers often will be receiving many applications. If you get invited and shortlisted for an interview, you really want to make a great first and lasting impression!Admin/reception are not the ones making the decision but the chances are...

​Picture this… It’s a Thursday night and you are about to meet your date for the first time. You have agreed to meet in a bar in St Paul’s – somewhere you’ve never been. You arrive and it’s swish. She is wearing a cocktail dress and heels. You are in board shorts, a vest and flipflops.That moment there, is the same level of awkward as wearing something to an interview that i...

As part of a continued drive to improve standards within the business, Ball and Hoolahan has been appointed as a full member of APSCo, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies.​Ann Swain, APSCo Chief Executive commented:“APSCo is delighted to welcome Ball and Hoolahan into its membership. All of our members have to commit to a strict Code of Conduct and a rigorous,...

Here’s the scenario. You’re a digital marketer and you have been invited to interview with a company that you’re really excited about. So, what do you do? Do you spend hours making a deliciously juicy presentation with colours and charts and bold numbers in red because who knows what the other candidates are doing, right? What if they really really want the role too and have...