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I am so pleased to share with you some of the most insightful information and statistics we’ve covered yet. There’s something for everyone in this week’s newsletter so let’s get started!

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”166″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”firstpost”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][vc_custom_heading text=”The Valuable Skills You Should Take Notice of in Digital Marketing CVs
” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23055091″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”1345217″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1488863478345{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text]We discovered a fascinating infographic from StandOut CV that lists 63 of the most valuable digital marketing skills you should be looking for as a recruiter. The skills are split into different sections, with the skills listed underneath. We’ll show you some:

SEO & Content Marketing

• Content Creation
• Link Building
• Outreach
• Keyword Research
• PR
• Guest Posting
• Competitor Analysis
• Traffic Analysis and Reporting
• Web Page Structuring

Tools
Key tools that a great candidate will be able to use include WordPress, Moz OSE, SEMrush, Ahrefs and of course the beloved Google Analytics.

Social Media

With 95% of adults following one or more brands on social media, it’s crucial businesses have a social presence, and for those reasons you should keep an eye out for the following skills:

• Community Growth
• Customer Service
• Social Campaign Management
• Engaging Post Creation
• Viral Marketing
• Social Analysis and Reporting

As for tools for social media? You want to keep an eye out for proficient use in Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Hootsuite, Sprout Social and Buffer.

We found this infographic informative, easy to understand and just fantastic for employers and employees alike to take notice of. Hire multi-talented candidates or as an employee broaden your skill set. Great! You can see the full infographic right here.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”secondpost”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][vc_custom_heading text=”What You Need to Know About Phased Return to Work and SSP
” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23055091″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”1345219″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1488863809279{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text]It is now a requirement to pay employees a minimum rate of pay when they’re off sick – that is providing they meet certain conditions. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) can be pretty tricky and the introduction of ‘phased return’ from sickness absence can  make it even harder to navigate. So we’re going to lay down quite simply what you need to know about this with thanks to HR 24:

Eligibility of Employees

• – Employees must have performed some work for an employer in order to be paid SSP during sickness absence; a period of sickness starting on day one of employment will not attract any SSP.
• – Employees must also earn on average at least £112 per week in -order to qualify for SSP (this will increase to £113 in April 2017). Other qualifying rules also apply.
• – SSP is currently £88.45 per week, increasing to £89.35 in April 2017.
• – It is noted that for an employee to receive SSP they must be sick for a least 4 days which is called a ‘period of incapacity for work’ (PIW) and these include non working days.

Waiting Days

The website explicitly states that “Within a PIW, SSP will only be payable from the 4th missed day of work. This is because the first 3 days missed are ‘waiting days’, for which SSP is not payable. If there are two PIWs in a period of 56 days, the waiting days served in the first PIW are deemed to cover the subsequent absence, and so no further waiting days are needed. SSP would be paid from day 1 of the second bout of sickness provided that a PIW of minimum 4 days was formed.”

Phased Return to Work

This is where things become a bit more complicated. The overhaul of doctor’s medical certificates, or ‘sick notes’ as we currently know them have shifted into a new form – ‘fit notes’ this means that instead of being unable to work until a certain date it states that the employee can recommend that an employee will be fit for work if certain amendments are made. A phased return to work includes things such as the employee taking on lighter duties or fewer hours per day or per week than normal.

So now you’re in the know! Make sure you’re prepared![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”thirdpost”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][vc_custom_heading text=”The Most Sought After Occupations of 2017
” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23055091″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”1345214″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1488865951799{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text]We mentioned a while ago that NGA Human Resources reported that 23% of people in the UK are unhappy at work.

If you’re thinking of a career change this year then we have some pretty useful information for you this week. The recession and the perfect storm of unfilled jobs across the US at least, has resulted in some very sought after positions.

The highest demand jobs going this year are Registered Nurses with a monthly demand of 9.1K, Office Manager with a monthly demand of 6.3K, Operations Manager, monthly demand of 5.7K, Personal Care Aide garnering a monthly demand of 5K and lastly the Accountant with a monthly demand of 4.1K.

There are also certain industries that are growing fast this year. IT has an 18% growth, Healthcare has 16%, Design has 14% growth and Business & Financial and Sales have a growth of 9.9% and 6.2% respectively. It’s not entirely surprising that IT and healthcare are rising but the design industry is interesting – mostly carried along by web design. Web design is an occupation that is seeing an incredible 27% rate of growth.

Best get brainstorming for that life changing career move then!

Source[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][vc_custom_heading text=”Female Execs Give Advice on the Perfect Outfit for Any Interview
” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23055091″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”1345216″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1488866073568{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text]You might have all the confidence in the world, you know your stuff, and you’re feeling pretty good about the job interview. That is, until you realise you don’t have a clue what to wear. Thank god we have some experts to lead us:

A Job in Finance – Ida Liu, the Managing Director and Global Market Manager for Citi Private Bank says that it’s key to remember your interview should be focused on the message you’re trying to convey. In short, she recommends that your clothing shouldn’t be stealing the show – so avoid loud patterns, jewellery, sleeveless dresses and accessories. She says that conservatism is the best option for a position like this. Well tailored dark pants or a skirt suit are a good choice. “The power suit gives you an extra boost of confidence,” she says. “Blouses and collared shirts are a nice touch, and I prefer a colourful scarf or pin to accessorize.”

A Job in Law – This advice comes from Linda Addison, immediate past managing partner of Norton Rose Fulbright U.S. She says “I’m a big believer that if you want to be hired by a big, corporate law firm, look to the partners [to see what they wear],” she advises. “Even if you’re interviewing for an associate position.” Although apparently law firms have a relaxed dress code nowadays it is respectful to dress the part. She adds: “It’s not just dressing conservatively; it’s about dressing appropriately, shoes that aren’t too worn or scuffed, clothes that are steamed and pressed, nails and hair that are appropriate.”

Job in Retail – Now this one is quite interesting. Jobs in fashion and retail allow for a lot more options in terms of expressing your own personal style. Lee Ann Sauter, the CEO and Founder o Maris Collective gives the following fantastic advice (bearing in mind she interviews from 15-20 candidates a month. “Competence always overshadows [your clothes], so it’s important to feel good in what you’re wearing, we actually appreciate opinions and people who have their own style.” She thankfully tells us that a fail-proof outfit is a “pair of jeans, a great-fitting jacket, and an awesome bag. Dressing with confidence is really what’s most important.”

Source[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][vc_custom_heading text=”The Gender Pay Gap is Narrowing but Won’t Close Until 2041
” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23055091″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”1345223″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1488866356788{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text]A recent report from PwC has concluded that when it comes to equal pay for women the UK is below the OECD average. British businesses seem to take equality a bit more seriously, but we are still behind in comparison to other countries.

5 indicators were measured across 33 OECD countries for the Women in Work Index and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has ranked the UK in an embarrassing 13th place in terms of overall gender equality. Nordic countries dominate the top positions, with Iceland, Sweden and Norway making the top three spots.

According to the research the UK has definitely improved in the last 17 years, but PwC noted that it’s still only ranked as the 30th best OECD country when you take women in full-time employment into consideration. It also notes that it’ll take until 2041 for the British gender pay gap to close entirely. There was a lot of other very insightful information in the report too. We decided to summarise it for you:

The gender pay gap is significantly different between the regions in Britain. There’ a 6% difference in earnings in Northern Ireland (which was the smallest pay gap in the country) however the pay gap is 22% in the West Midlands – the biggest in the UK.
The average woman will earn £6,100 more across the country and Britain’s economy can stand to gain £85 billion.
If men and women were paid more equally, each woman in London would earn £8,000 more per year.

Yong Jing Teow, the PwC economist and co-author of the report said “There is much more that businesses and governments could do to address the causes of the gender pay gap, which are deep rooted,” he continues “Policy levers that improve access to affordable childcare and shared parental leave have been shown to get more women in quality work. Businesses can also make flexible opportunities more widely available, enabling their employees to manage their family commitments around work.”

Source[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][vc_custom_heading text=”The Men Who Campaigned for More Diversity at London Fashion Week Mens
” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left|color:%23055091″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”1342766″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1460995515866{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text]I’m ending this week on a fabulous note by letting you know about the men who campaigned for more diversity during the prestigious London Fashion Week Mens. The need for diversity in the fashion industry is illustrated by the vast increase of dialogue between designers, models, activists and bloggers alike.

The group of body image activists and models made sure their voices were heard at LFWM in the hope the designers would actually take notice of this cause. Girl Talk HQ reports that it was “Spearheaded by plus size menswear retailer Jacamo, campaigners Jack Eyers, Jamie Park, William Girling, Andy Caine, Gordon McCormick and Paul Gill staged the #FashionForEveryMan protest in January, as they want to see different body shapes, sizes and abilities being represented on the runway.”

Jack Eyers, a leader, told Mashable how men such as himself are entirely excluded from the mainstream fashion aesthetic and conversations. He said “As an amputee, growing up there was a lack of fashion icons that looked like me and nobody that I could relate to. This made me feel singled-out and alone, as I was not represented. My ambition is to change this so that people and particularly young people growing up feel represented in the fashion industry,”

The retailer Jacamo got involved in the discussion by saying “There’s no denying the models here at Men’s Fashion Week look great, but they’re not always representative of UK men and we’re here to make that known. We believe that fashion should be for every man, without any barriers, and that’s why we aim to widen the net of models used.” This is a very forward thinking statement that we’re pleased to hear.

Jacamo have actually commissioned their own studies and found that as many as 95% of men don’t feel represented by fashion campaigns. 33% are not happy with their body shape, 57% admitted they have tried to alter their bodies with a change of diet and even 20% resorted to extreme measures such as diet pills, which news coverage as shown can be fatal.
We respect all groups drawing attention to diversity within the fashion industry and anything that combats the toxic masculinity driven into young males through men’s fashion media we think is incredible.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Did you know?

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About the author…

Nicole Debson
Director & Founder

With 30 years in recruitment, a genuine interest in people and a desire to help forge careers, Nicole has built ABL on the principle of making businesses better and that little bit more international. Seeking to help candidates navigate their career path; to help clients find the ideal employee, her hands on approach is what has moulded our company. Fluent in French, with good Spanish, and a Masters in Industrial Relations & Personnel Management, you’ll find Nicole thumbing through her well-worn copy of Jack London’s White Fang, her all-time favourite book.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]