Archives 2022

Some interview questions seem straightforward. Some seem totally irrelevant and difficult to answer! Here’s some common interview questions – and how best to answer them…

Why should we hire you for the job? The key here is to link your experiences to the needs of the role, without where possible turning it into a sales pitch about yourself.

Tell me about yourself… A question that’s (worryingly) open. Keep it brief – a 2 or 3 minute overview of your experience and background is definitely more than enough.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Again, this is another question widely open to interpretation. You should tailor your response to the needs of the organisation, and demonstrate your passion and ambition for progression.

Why did you leave your last job? The key here is to NEVER criticise your previous employer. Be positive and talk about how you’d like to progress or develop.

What are your weaknesses? It’s normal to have weaknesses, everyone has them! When answering this question, name your weakness AND what you’ve done to try and improve on it.

Do you have any questions? YES, without a doubt – Ask questions demonstrating your interest in the role and company.

For more information about our latest opportunities or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or office@flexistaffuk.com.

Forklifts are paramount to every warehouse – but used irresponsibly they can be hugely dangerous. Here’s a list of the things you should definitely not do when operating a forklift!

Forget or skip inspections. Conducting regular forklift inspections is vital to keeping a forklift working, but also keeping them safe. Inspections should be both visual, checking the forklift looks in top shape, but also operational too. Skipping forklift checks can endanger both forklift operators and warehouse pedestrians.

Lack of attention – and horseplay! It’s easy for operators to forget simple things like checking their surroundings before moving their forklift but it can be very dangerous – just as horseplay and fooling around rather than paying attention can be damaging too.

Speeding. Easily done when forklift operators are under pressure to deliver, but simply not worth it. A split-second decision to break the rules can have devastating consequences.

For more information about our latest forklift vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or office@flexistaffuk.com.

Post 2020 and life in lockdown we’re working more remotely that ever before, with video interviews becoming more common than they once were. Here’s our top tips for acing your next video interview.

Don’t get interrupted! Find a quite space at home where you can log on for your interview. Make sure the space is light, and if you can try to keep the space behind you clear and free of any personal items or information.

Test in advance. Check your computer is suitable for running the chosen video technology for your interview, and test your camera and speakers / microphone in advance to make sure everything is in working order!

Take it seriously. You should prep in the same way as you normally would for an interview, and make sure you dress to impress! Be personable and energetic.

Be ready for glitches. If you can’t hear your interviewer properly, let them know and work with them to adjust the equipment until everything is working correctly. If the video drops at any point, don’t panic! Make sure you have a contact number of the interviewer in advance so you can call them if necessary.

For more information about our latest vacancies, and to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or office@flexistaffuk.com

The warehouse is a busy, fast paced environment, and mistakes can happen at any time. Injuries will happen, but it’s vital that you prepare to avoid any injuries and you’re ready with the best response when someone has an accident. Here’s our top tips.

Make sure your team is protected. The best way to manage an injury is to avoid one! Make sure everyone has the correct protective equipment according to their role and adheres to the company health and safety procedures at all times. Is everyone aware of health and safety? Make sure everyone has the correct training!

Is your warehouse well equipped? Make sure there’s enough first aid equipment accessible across the warehouse for if the time comes. Additionally, emergency equipment should be available and regularly inspected – make sure your warehouse is ready for an emergency with fire extinguishers and other necessary emergency equipment.

Get planning! Make sure your warehouse has a clear procedure for when things go wrong, and make sure it is well known and rehearsed by everyone in the team. It’s vital that when the time comes people are prepared!

For more information about our latest warehouse opportunities, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your warehouse, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or office@flexistaffuk.com.

It’s important to be ambitious in your career, and having a plan in place to progress your career can be a great way to develop at work. So how can you improve your chances for career progression and promotion?

What’s their perception? It’s good to try and understand how people perceive you at work, and whether or not you need to adapt the way you approach your work to be as effective as possible.

Be proactive. If opportunities for training and development come your way, make sure you volunteer. If these opportunities are few and far between, ask your line manager for more opportunities to develop.

Make your voice heard. If you have an opinion on how your team can work better and more effectively, speak up. Don’t wait for someone else to take the spotlight!

Consider all feedback. Any and all feedback can be useful to you – good or bad. Take it on board and learn from it.

Explore what’s out there. Opportunities for progression may not always exist with your current employer – if you’re ambitious, see what other opportunities are out there!

For more information about our latest vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or office@flexistaffuk.com.

If you work for an organisation operating 24 hours a day, it’s likely you’ll find yourself working different shifts each week. Shift work can be challenging and it’s vital you stay fit and healthy. Here’s how.

Think about your food. Smaller, more frequent meals will ensure that you remain well energised, and by preparing your meals before your shift and bringing your own food to work you can ensure you make healthy choices, boosting your energy and ensuring you’re more effective and feeling well whilst at work.

What are you drinking? It can be tempting to rely on coffee to get you through the final hours of your shift, however if you do you might find it difficult to wind down once you’re home. It’s best to stick to drinking water, to make sure you remain hydrated.

To exercise or not to exercise? It’s important that you take proper breaks whilst working, and you should make sure you sit whilst you are eating. When you’re not eating, light exercise on breaks can be beneficial to a healthy body and mind; take a walk outside during your break and enjoy the fresh air!

For more information about our latest warehouse vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or office@flexistaffuk.com.

Let’s face it, we all face problems at work now and then. But more often than not, there’s a way of overcoming those issues – Here’s some solutions to the most common work place concerns.

You’ve made a mistake! Mistakes can happen, we are all human after all! When you make a mistake, it’s vital you own up to it and try to rectify it. Ignoring it will only make matters worse. Explain what happened to your manager and make it right.

You’ve fallen out with a work colleague. The important thing here is to be polite and professional at all times. At the end of the day, you don’t have to like everyone, but you do have to work with people professionally. If you feel bullied, speak to your manager immediately.

You’re not being recognised. Do you feel like you’re going above and beyond and no one is noticing? Don’t be afraid to highlight your achievements and successes – And you might find yourself in line for a promotion!

You’re struggling with the workload. It’s time you learnt to say no! If you’re struggling with your workload, speak to your manager immediately and explain the situation. There’s always a solution!

For more information about our latest vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or office@flexistaffuk.com.

The deadline for the majority of drivers for 35 hours of CPC training required every five years is 9^th September 2024. It feels like a long way off, doesn’t it?

It’s not! At time of writing, its just 772 days. It’s probably less than that now you’re reading this.

It can feel tempting to leave the training for another day later on, with so much going on and logistics under huge demand. But the longer you leave it, the harder it could be to book your training when the time comes.

In 2019, the last time the majority of drivers needed to complete their training, many training providers had to turn drivers and companies away with demand being so high, leaving drivers unable to work and companies unable to operate.

This is a legal requirement. If you leave it to the last minute, and then can’t book your training days, you won’t be able to continue to drive.

Don’t delay! Book your training days today with our sister company WeTrainCPC

We can provide training in our Milton Keynes based training centre or online – £50+VAT per module.

For more information about our latest training opportunities or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or office@flexistaffuk.com.

Job fairs are a great place to sell yourself as a job seeker and find out more about available jobs. Now, as we learn to live with Covid-19, we’re meeting each other again in the real world and job fairs are becoming a popular way to find new employees. How can you make sure you make the most of each job fair you attend?

Plan ahead. Most job fairs will advertise prior to the event which employers and agencies will be attending. It’s vital you research those companies of interest to you and plan your time effectively so you’ll be able to visit their stalls.

Get your CV ready. Make sure your CV is up to date and take plenty of copies with you to give to potential employers whilst you’re speaking with them – it gives representatives a great snapshot of your experience.

What are your wearing? Dress as if you’re attending a job interview. It’s likely employers will see you before they speak with you, so make sure you make a good impression.

Be professional. Much like your dress code, treat the job fair as if you would an interview. Make sure you’re polite and professional to everyone you meet – who knows, they might be your next boss!

Gather information where possible. Ask for business cards, information and contact details where possible and follow up the job fair with a call or email to the organisation to express your interest.

For more information about our latest vacancies, contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or office@flexistaffuk.com.

We all know the huge benefits of using forklifts in and around the warehouse, including when unloading goods from trucks. But if you’re not paying attention or being diligent, mistakes can happen that are both costly and dangerous. Here’s what to look out for when unloading a truck using your forklift.

Trailer curtain. Before you start make sure the curtain has been pulled back in full to ensure proper access to all pallets.

Straps. Make sure all ratchet straps and harnesses have been fully removed before you attempt to move anything, making sure pallets can move freely.

Back to front. Generally speaking, goods should be unloaded from the back of the truck to the front, unless you are directed otherwise. Tall or double stacked pallets are usually stored at the front where they can be supported by the truck body.

Watch the roof! And the truck sides of course. When you’re unloading tall or wide products knocking into the side of the truck can cause product damage.

For more information about our latest forklift vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 084556 2916 or office@flexistaffuk.com.