Willow Resourcing

23/11/2020

Are you a German speaking Compliance professional in the Manchester area? Or perhaps you know someone who is. If so, we'd like to speak to you / them for this excellent new role. Please click on the link below for more details.

Posted 4 hours ago. Compliance Manager (Fluent German Speaker)Manchester£45k - £60k + benefitsJob posted: Monday 23rd…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.

09/10/2020

THE NEXT TIME YOU RECEIVE AN AUTOMATED REJECTION....

By way of a lighthearted end to the week, I thought I'd share a tongue in cheek response to the automated rejection emails that unfortunately are all too common at present.

Dear Hiring Manager

Thank for your recent rejection. Unfortunately due to the sheer volume of rejections I've received recently, I am unable to progress your rejection any further on this occasion. As a result, I look forward to joining you on Monday.

Good luck with rejecting candidates in the future.

Regards

14/09/2020

THINKING OUTSIDE THE (FINANCIAL SERVICES) BOX

We''ve talked previously about the importance of operating within your niche. This is really important during your job search, but some niches are broader than others.

For example, Financial Crime is essentially industry independent. And that means if you're a Financial Crime specialist, your skills and experience are highly transferable.

Candidates have successfully secured Financial Crime roles in other sectors including Telco, Energy and the Legal arena. Have you considered such options?

Risk is another discipline where cross-pollination between sectors is certainly possible. Numerous candidates who have gained traction in the public sector in particular, securing Risk roles with the NHS, Social Housing providers and local Government amongst others.

If we look back to the financial crisis of 2008/9, we can remember a number of Public Sector organisations actively targeting Private Sector candidates.

They saw an opportunity to bring in commercially astute risk professionals who may not normally have been available to them. Don't be fooled by the 'not for profit' title; they're generally keen to make as large a surplus as they can!

Is it time for you to think outside the FS box?

27/08/2020

WHY NOW MAY NOT THE BEST TIME TO ADVERTISE YOUR RISK & COMPLIANCE VACANCIES DIRECTLY.

It’s a candidate-rich market and so recruiting a Risk or Compliance specialist should be easy. All you need to do is place an advert on one of the recruitment websites. Right?

Possibly, but before you go ahead, I suggest you bear a few things in mind.

Are you ready to receive hundreds of applications? Because you will. Do you have the time and resources to acknowledge, review and reply to all applicants? Are you aware of the potential impact failure to do so can have on your brand integrity?

Do you have a plan in place to identify passive candidates? If not, are you prepared to overlook them entirely?

Advertising a vacancy may appear to be the most cost-effective solution. But is it? The direct costs associated with the time and resources required are one thing, but the hidden costs
of the potential damage to your brand or, worse still, hiring the wrong person often mean it's far more expensive than you'd think.

Working with the right recruitment partner will ensure your brand is represented positively throughout the process and they'll give you access to the 'hidden' passive candidate community. And that may prove to be priceless.

27/08/2020

PIVOTING - WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND HOW DO I DO IT?

'Pivot' is one of the most used words of 2020. We hear a lot about the importance of being able to pivot in such challenging market conditions. But what does it mean for jobseekers?

I think it's important to say straight away that pivoting does not mean reinventing yourself. If you're an AML specialist it's not about trying to move into a general compliance role. What I've said before about identifying your niche and operating within it still applies.

It's the way you go about your job search where a pivot may prove beneficial. Just because you've secured all of your previous roles through recruiters doesn't mean they'll deliver the goods this time. Or perhaps you've only ever worked with one recruiter in the past. The market is so fragmented at present, that may not be the best way forward now.

The CV that opened doors for you throughout your career may not do so this time around. It could be a good time for an overhaul.

And social media should now be integral to your job search. You may have previously adopted a somewhat voyeuristic approach to LinkedIn but now it's time to participate!

Pivot is one of the words of 2020 for a reason. Done well, it can transform your job search.

26/08/2020

DON'T TRY TO APPEAL TO TOO WIDE AN AUDIENCE

I've recently spoken to several candidates who undoubtedly have more than one string to their bow. As a result, they could realistically apply for 2 or more distinctly different types of role.

Whilst in theory this increases their chances in such a difficult market, it can at the same time cause its own problems.

My advice would be to avoid the temptation to try to appeal to too wide an audience in one CV. By doing so, you may not appeal sufficiently to your real target audience.

It's often best in such instances to have more than one CV so as not to dilute your message and/or confuse your audience. And make sure that in each one you well and truly nail your colours to the respective mast. Don't sit on the fence - fully commit one way or the other.

Focus on one particular target market in each CV. The message should start in your Profile / Executive Summary and continue throughout your Experience. The responsibilities and achievements detailed should relate specifically to that particular role. They may read very differently between the various versions of your CV.

By doing so I genuinely believe that you'll secure more interviews and after all, that's what it's all about. Good Luck!

07/08/2020

Posted 55 minutes ago. Interim Internal Controls AnalystRemote, although may involve the odd trip to Birmingham Head…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.

30/07/2020

WHAT MAKES A GOOD CV PROFILE?

I love a good profile on a CV. And so do many others. It's usually the first thing that I read and I'm sure I'm not alone.

And that means it's a hugely important element of your CV. In fact I'd go as far as saying it's THE most important element in the current market.

Apparently the average time spent reading a CV is around 6 seconds! Given the current highly competitive market, this may be even less now.

And so your your profile really needs to grab the reader's attention. It needs to be impactful and highly specific to you. It's your elevator pitch as it were.

Forget the generic statements about communication skills etc. Anyone can say that. Drill down into your experience, your technical knowledge, sector experience, qualifications etc.

And then when you apply for roles tweak your profile to ensure it addresses the 'essentials' and 'desirables' detailed in the ad.

An impactful bespoke profile will genuinely increase your chances of being shortlisted for interview. It's worth taking the time to tweak before every application. It's this level of attention to detail that can really make a difference.

29/07/2020

Here's a useful guide to writing your CV. A strong CV really is critical in this highly competitive market.

With the recovery in the job market being slowed somewhat by the arrival of the traditional holiday season, now is a good time to review your CV and make sure it's as strong as possible for when things improve again in September. In this article I aim to provide you with some useful hints and tips w

27/07/2020

Are you seeking your first No.1 Compliance role? Or perhaps you already have experience in a similar hands-on position but are seeking a new challenge. If you live in the Lancashire region then this could be the ideal opportunity for you. It's a Compliance Manager role with an early stage financial services business that's geared for considerable growth and success. Salary to c£55k. Please click on the link for more details.

Posted 17 minutes ago. Compliance ManagerLancashire£45k - £60k + benefitsJob posted: Monday 27th July A Compliance Manager…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.

23/07/2020

SHOULD YOU BE USING THIS TIME FOR CPD?

We're regularly asked by jobseekers who are currently out of work whether they should be using this time to undertake further studies and gain additional qualifications.

The answer is simple. It depends on your motivation. Having the right motivation is key if you're going to get the most from any course.

If it's a subject of particular interest then go for it, and it will almost certainly add value in the long-term. But if you'd simply be doing so in order to increase your marketability and hence chances of securing a new role, then I'd think twice.

Ultimately it's the quality and depth of your experience that's going to secure you your next role. Simply adding an ICA or ACAMS Certificate to your profile is not going to suddenly open doors for you.

There are exceptions. For example, if you're a few credits away from your DipPFS diploma, then it's well worth completing as this can be an essential requirement for compliance roles in the wealth management space. The next sitting for these is in October with results in December.

Don't get me wrong, CPD is great and does add considerable value. But do it for the right reasons. It's not going to be some form of magic bullet for your job search.

20/07/2020

JOB-HOPPER? CONTRACT ENDED? REDUNDANCY?
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO OFFER ANSWERS TO UNASKED QUESTIONS.

Following up on other recent posts of mine regarding avoiding reasons for your CV to be rejected, I now come to a very sensitive issue. Job-hopping. Or at least appearing to be one even if you're not.

Unfortunately many employers and recruiters don't like to see CVs where candidates exhibit short stays in roles. They don't like so-called job-hoppers. And that's a reason to reject your CV. Worryingly your CV may suggest you're one even when you're not.

The trouble is if you don't explain why you left a role then whoever is reviewing your CV may assume the worst.

And so if a role was a contract, state that it was. Then it's obvious why you left; your contract came to an end.

If you were made redundant then say so. There's no shame in that. It's also useful to explain the reason for your redundancy e.g. role was relocated, company closure etc. Essentially, things outside your control.

By offering answers to unasked questions, you're explaining the reason why you may have held 5 different roles in the last 5 years. And this prevents the reader making up their own reasons!

These little tweaks to your CV could make all the difference.