Where Do Our Career Choices Originate?

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Euro London

Choosing a career is a decision that is somewhat time consuming with the process for many beginning at such a young age. Many decisions may be slightly farfetched from ‘Superman’ to the more attainable career path of a police officer, a doctor or a nurse. But where do these career choices or decision originate from throughout our lives?

Some are simply dreams of course from childhood imagination, (no one can really be Superman, can they?) but others are passed onto them from parents or even grandparents. Choosing a career path that your parents are in is typically an old age tradition which still continues today. But why has the tradition continued over so many years?

First of all there are a number of positives when it comes to inheriting a career path, particularly in the current economic climate. For instance, a parent can be an asset for your career path especially if it is in the same field as theirs. Having access to an expert within an area that you are looking to go into is invaluable; it allows a strong possibility that an opportunity into a company is achievable.

In some cases this is not always attainable, but there are still fantastic opportunities for you to get some great networking opportunities to those that work within the industry. Remember the saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know?” Therefore it could be argued that having someone as a source of knowledge and expertise, as well as someone who can open doors, is the main reason for children following in the footsteps of their parents. With the recession still lurking around every corner in the European Union and its effect of certain markets it has become an incentive to seek opportunities that are closer to home.

On the other hand what a number of young adults forget is that the world is forever changing and skills, qualifications and what is needed in todays economy is diverse to what some parents grew up with. Multilingual jobs are all over the job market and continue to grow across every continent in the world and in sectors other than teaching and translating.

Language skills can be useful in many different fields including IT roles, support roles, sales and marketing, just to name a few. Businesses are branching out vastly across the world and are seeking language speakers to assist them in traditional roles. So even if you follow in the footsteps of a member of your family – why not add something new to the table and keep up with the world by learning a language?

Say Goodbye To The Euro Zone Crisis in 2013?

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Euro London

In 2008 a global financial crisis hit the world, a crisis that is considered to be the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930’s. As many of us know this resulted in great damages including the collapse of financial institutions, the bailout of banks by national governments, housing markets suffering which consequently lead to thousands of evictions and also the worst unemployment figures witnessed in decades. Millions were declared as unemployed across not only Europe but the world.

However in 2012 some good news began to surface across Europe as not only did unemployment rates decease in selected countries but we could also be waving goodbye (and good riddance) to the Euro zone crisis – at long last! Towards the last quarter of 2012 unemployment in the UK fell by a staggering 82,000 – the largest decrease seen since 2001. Similarly Spanish unemployment also fell by almost 60,000 in December 2012. Both results provide optimism to emerge from the recession in 2013.

Optimism is further strengthened to separate from recession as Japan has proposed to buy foreign exchange reserves in order to help Europe in the current recession. It is in Japans best interest to provide this assistance in order to boost the European economy. As Europe is the world’s third largest economy it therefore has had an impact on the Japanese economy. Mr Aso, Japans’ new finance minister said “Stabilising Europe’s financial crisis will eventually contribute to the stability of currency including the yen, and so we plan to keep purchasing ESM bonds using foreign reserves.” [1] Some fantastic news to finally hit us at the beginning of a new year.

So if you’re looking for a career change or even new job opportunities to better the unemployment figures then please keep checking for our regular job updates found either on our website or any of our social media sites: LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

[1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9787987/Japan-to-buy-EU-bailout-bonds-to-ease-eurozone-crisis.html

US Elections Offer Body Language Tips

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Euro London

With the American elections just finished, Euro London takes a look at what advice the running candidates, Obama and Romney, can provide us when maintaining composure when it comes to body language.

In 2012, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney went head to head for the top job in the USA, providing the world with some useful body language tips. Politicians are more than aware that not only are they judged on their verbal messages and what they propose to better a nation, but just as importantly they are judged on their non verbal communication. Non verbal communication can be the deciding vote on whether the public votes for one politician or another. Suggestions said that Obama was elected as he made a stronger emotional connection with the audience, [2] which was assisted via his body language.

Research has suggested that between 60 and 70 per cent of all meaning is derived from non-verbal behaviour. [1] The body language tips from the 2012 US election can be useful for those attending interviews in the future as first impressions count for a lot. Within a small time-frame as little as 30 seconds someone can generate a perception just based on body language.

Body language can be judged on eye contact, handshakes and even the way a person is sitting. Indications show that body language can be responsible for as much as 90% [3] on a person’s first impression of another person.

We’ve related some useful body language tips from the election to keep in mind when it comes to interviews:

Smile - This assures the interviewer that you understand what is being asked, as well as during your responses. This generates confidence.
38% of employers cite a lack of smile as a key interviewee mistake. [4]

Eyes – Averting your gaze makes you seem less certain, trustworthy and truthful.
67% of bosses cite that a failure to make eye contact is a common non-verbal mistake. [4]

Posture – Keep your back straight, head up and with your arms at your side or hands clasped below your waist.
33% of interviewers cite that bad posture is a key interviewee mistake. [4]

Focus - If part of the interview is conducted while walking and talking or standing, be careful not to shift your weight or rock.
33% state that fidgeting too much is a common interview mistake. [4]

[1] http://www.bodylanguageexpert.co.uk/bodylanguageandfirstimpressions.html
[2] http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/facial-recognition-technology-shows-president-obama-better-in-second-debate
[3] Engleberg, Isa N Working in Groups: Communication Principles and Strategies. My Communication Kit Serioes, 2006. Page 133.
[4] http://thecareercafe.co.uk/blog/?p=3922

Interview Tips

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Euro London

So, you’ve impressed with your CV and landed yourself an interview even though the odds haven’t truly been in your favour. As previously mentioned in our blog (Invest in Your Future Career By Using A CV Clinic); a staggering 53.7% of CV’s are thrown away [1] so ideally you want to continue in the winning streak by impressing your potential employer.

The next crucial stage is here – the interview! Now you may be confident in your approach when it comes to the interview process therefore leading you to have a successful interview. However there are some candidates that even though they have all the skills and qualifications needed for a job role they choke on the interview stage. The interview stage although initially positive can leave candidates to feel anxious, leave them with a blank mind or in some extreme cases even physically faint.

Is this you? Well don’t worry because we’ve decided to give you a few interview tips which will help you fly through your interview without all of the turbulence.

Do Your Research – Make sure you are entirely prepared for your interview. It’s almost a certainty that specific questions will be asked during interviews so make sure you expect these questions and you have a unique way of answering them in order to stand out. It is also important to know the ins and outs of a company before you attend an interview. Therefore why not look into the company’s history, what the company is currently up to and if there are any developments that are planning to become reality. Most importantly expect the unexpected. Employers can sometimes like to put interviewees on the spot to see how they cope in under pressure or in certain situations.

Practice Your Answers – As we all know interviews can be daunting leading us to develop a sudden case of temporary amnesia. However if you practice your answers you are more likely to remember what it is you want to convey. Remember to be careful though and do not make yourself sound like a robot, the interviewer will pick up on this and it won’t work in your favour.

Look The Part – Believe it or not your personal appearance does count for a lot in an interview. Just a few tips to take into consideration; tattoos should be hidden so your image looks professional, have a shower so you are looking and smelling clean and deter yourself from using too much aftershave or perfume as you don’t want to make the interviewer pass out. Further to this make sure you are groomed and dressed in a presentable manner (even if the job role you are applying for is informal).

Be Positive – Positivity will put you in a better frame of mind and can even alter your answers in an interview. If you go into an interview believing in yourself this will come across in not only your answers but your body language too which can have a positive effect on your interviewer.

Are there any tips that have worked for you in an interview, if so what?

[1] http://www.thecvclinic.com/

Longer hours in France?

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Steve Shacklock

How long is your working day? As the song goes, a lot of people work 9-5, although here in the UK it’s not unusual for people to be in the office until 6pm or 7pm. However our neighbours in France are renowned for their 35 hour week. Could this be set to change?

A potential future leader of France’s opposition Socialist Party (PS), Manuel Valls, is calling for this tradition to be abolished, saying it holds the economy back. “The world is changing fast, and it is the responsibility of the left to reconcile the French with this need for change. The 35-hour rule affects this country’s competitiveness and it needs to go” he’s quoted as saying.

With France still recovering from the downturn which hit its economy significantly, will this idea get Mr Valls a bigger following? And will the 35 hour week eventually disappear? It was in fact only brought in during the 1990s to try and boost employment anyway. Time will tell, but it could certainly be a good idea to make companies in France more competitive.

So you want to be a poker customer services representative?

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

You may have seen our recent post explaining that we are going to be profiling a range of the different jobs you can do with languages here on our blog. Our first one was on life as a football researcher followed by life as a video games tester. Here is the third one – carry on reading to find out about life as a poker customer services representative. (Remember: these aren’t roles we’re actively recruiting for – just a selection of jobs we have recruited for in the past to give you an idea of the wide range of jobs you can do with a language!)

What does the role entail?

Being a poker customer services representative will see you providing customer support via email to customers; this may be assisting them with depositing funds into their account, navigating them around the site or explaining how to play in tournaments. You will also be involved in updating and translating web content and watching live poker games online to ensure there is no cheating. Continue reading →

So you want to be a football researcher?

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

So you want to be a football researcher?

You may have seen our last blog post explaining that we’re going to be profiling a range of the different jobs you can do with languages here on the blog. So here is the first one – read on to find out about life as a football researcher…

What does the role entail?

Being a football researcher involves using the internet and other sources to research and analyse all aspects of football, clubs and players. This information will then be passed on and used to make betting decisions. Hours that you work will follow the football calendar, including weekends.

What languages are needed for it?

A range – we have recruited for roles requiring French, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese.

What’s the typical pay?

Normally around £24,000 a year.

What skills and qualifications will you need?

You’ll need fluency in a specified language, e.g. German if you’re going to be working on the German league. Some research experience would be beneficial but mainly you’ll need an excellent knowledge of football in whatever country you’ll be working on. You’ll be asked a series of questions on the football leagues of that country and must get the majority right to be considered for an interview.

Why is it a great job?

For football fans, this is the opportunity to do a professional job doing something you follow and absolutely love. Not many people realise that is possible! Many companies also offer great benefits which can range from free healthcare to free food.

How can I apply?

If you think a football researcher role is for you, keep an eye on our website for the latest vacancies, or send your CV to m.eddleston@eurolondon.com so we have your details on file. Most importantly, make sure you know your football and get some research experience if possible. Good luck!

Anything we’ve missed? Let us know below and we’ll answer any questions you may have.

So you want to be a…?

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

You don't have to be a teacher!

At Euro London, every day we’re recruiting for a wide range of jobs involving languages. Yet we’re often surprised at the fact that many people don’t really know what opportunities are out there. Time and time again, we hear that people think their only option is to become a translator or teacher. We have run workshops with school students who didn’t realise what great jobs they could do if they continued to study languages and this proved to be one of the most popular discussion points among graduates at the Language Show, which we recently attended. Plus in our recent poll you told us what you wanted to hear about most was what jobs you could do with languages.

If there was more awareness about what exciting jobs multilingual people can do, in which you can really make a difference and more importantly earn good money, would it encourage more young people to learn languages? Well, we hope so, which is why we’re starting a series of blogs profiling some of the interesting jobs we’ve recruited for. If there are any you have in mind and would like more information on, just leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to cover it!

Look out for the “so you want to be a…” posts coming soon. We’ll also be posting links to the blogs on Twitter and Facebook to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

Hyper Japan

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

Our Japanese desk took some clients to the recent Hyper Japan event – and what a successful day it turned out to be. It was the first time the event was put on so we had no idea what to expect but had done our research and looked forward to seeing and hearing all about Japanese culture – we weren’t disappointed!

We had a great time! We got to sample some great Japanese food – octopus ball and one of my favourites, sushi; we were even shown how to make it by a top sushi chef! We listened to some great music and our clients seemed to enjoy it as much as we did! So why did we go to the event and why was it being held? Continue reading →

Learning a foreign language – the way to boost your career

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

We recently featured in an article in the Guardian discussing how learning a new language can really boost your career and that it is never too late to learn. To see the article and our comments in full click here. But here’s a summary of the piece:

Speaking to people in their own language for business purposes will yield results; people are far more likely to speak freely and openly if you are speaking in their own language
In jobs in sales, marketing or technical support, languages can really open doors. In fact it is estimated that having an additional language on your CV can add between 10% to 15% to your salary.
For those looking to boost a career, and in particular the graduates that are currently facing a tough time getting work, learning a language is very beneficial.
Most countries may speak English, and whilst some business may very well be completed in English to accommodate parties from across the globe, if you are seen to know a language and demonstrate this it can help to retain business. It is form of courtesy to show someone you can and are willing to speak to them in the native language.
Cultural knowledge is just as important as being able to speak another language. If you know the way of life of the country you are doing business in or with it will really prove beneficial.
The five most useful languages to learn currently are as follows: French, Spanish, Swedish, German and Russian.

What’s your experience? Can you relate with the points in this article or are you thinking about learning a language to boost your career? Let us know!