All posts by Rachel Pallett

There’s been lots of coverage on the news about the HGV driver shortage – but unfortunately there’s also a shortage of forklift drivers too at the same time, meaning even more of the supply chain is under pressure.

Forklift drivers are in demand more than ever before due to a variety of reasons, and this demand is likely to continue as demand for a fast-paced supply chain grows. As we know, forklifts are a vital component of every warehouse, and without an adequate number of forklift drivers’ warehouses can’t operate at full capacity.

Whilst this all sounds a bit bleak, the good news is that the demand for forklift operators means that a career in forklift operation is a stable career path offering excellent benefits. The rise in wages means that if you’re considering a career change into forklift operation, now is the time. Flexistaff also works with the Forklift Truck Training Centre, who can provide all the forklift training you’ll need to kick start your career today.

For more information about our latest vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

We’ve all come out of an interview at some point in our lives wishing the ground would swallow us up! It can be hard to take when an interview doesn’t go to plan – So what should you do when an interview goes badly?

Relax! Immediately after you must give yourself some time to relax and de-stress. Spend some time doing the things you enjoy and try to take your mind off it for a while.

Assess the situation. Try to consider what went wrong in the interview, and try not to overreact – mistakes happen, and those mistakes that seem big to you might not in reality be that significant to others.

Take time to learn. Once you’ve considered your mistakes, learn from them. Plan what you’ll do differently next time, but also remember the positives too.

Follow it up. Send an email to your interviewer, thanking them for their time and adding in any points you think you may have missed in the interview – but keep it brief and to the point.

Keep on going. Don’t give up on your job search – keep looking for that ideal opportunity!

For more information about our latest vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

Working in a warehouse can be challenging at times. It’s a fast paced, highly pressured environment, which demands a wide range of skills. So might you be suited to working in a warehouse?

Adaptability is key. Warehouse work means you’ll likely find yourself in a variety of different environments, both hot and cold, inside and outside. Good warehouse workers are prepared to adapt to changing environments and demands.

Don’t forget the customer. Warehouse work might seem behind the scenes, away from the customer, but there’s times where you’ll need to be customer facing, representing your company. Make sure you’re ready to offer great customer service where needed.

Do you have problem solving skills? Whilst warehouse work can seem fairly consistent, with consumers becoming ever more demanding you may find new challenges when it comes to delivering a service. Good problem-solving skills and imitative are a must.

Think training. Whilst most companies offer training, good warehouse workers ensure their training is up to date at all times, so make sure you’re compliant, because it’s your responsibility to be safe too.

For more information about our warehouse vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your warehouse, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

It’s not long now until the big day, and whilst it’s an exciting and busy time, job seekers must continue to prioritise their job search. It may feel like now’s not the time to be looking for a new job – nothing could be further from the truth! Here’s our top tips.

New year, new career? New year often leaves people wanting a new start, a fresh challenge – and a new job is the perfect way to shake things up. Companies will start recruiting more in January too, and with a brand new feeling of optimism, January certainly feels like the time to start your job search.

But wait! If everyone is waiting until January to start looking for a new job, you could find your applications lost amongst an overcrowded playing field. Which is why NOW is the time to get organised.

Don’t wait until January – In amongst the Christmas chaos, tidy up your CV, keep an eye on the job boards and keep applying. Get ahead of the game to guarantee 2022 success!

For more information about our latest vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

When it comes to multi drop driving roles, efficiency and timing is key to keeping customers happy. Especially at Christmas! Therefore, it’s vital that the route of the delivery driver is well managed and planned.

These days there are a number of software options companies can use to streamline their processes. It’s worth investing in these; with multiple vehicles tasked with multiple drops, rerouting and rescheduling technology can make a huge difference to cost and efficiency.

Routing software can plan the best routes for drivers, ensuring that travel times, distances and fuel costs are kept to an absolute minimum. Each journey may only save the organisation a few pennies, but over years this can make a significant difference to profits.

Another plus point with routing software is the communication. Today’s customer is demanding; eCommerce has meant that customers expect good communication and an excellent service every time. Routing software has the capability of keeping your customer in the loop about their delivery at all times.

So why don’t you invest and make your multi drops efficient this Christmas?

For more information about our latest driving vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

So it’s nearly here! It’s almost 2022 and some will be using the time between Christmas and New Year for updating their CV ahead of a brand new job search for the New Year – if you haven’t started about your job search for the new year already! So how can you make sure you find your ideal job in 2022?

Get motivated! It’s time to decide where your passion lies when it comes to work. Aim high; now’s the time to make a fresh start, so make it count and decide what type of job you want for 2022 – and beyond!

Is it really all about the money? If you can, try not to make money your main motivator in 2022. By focussing purely on the salary you’re after, you may miss an opportunity that’s just right for you, or worse still, end up in a role that makes you unhappy.

Get networking. It’s time to make contact again with recruiters (like yours truly!) to find out about market trends and to be kept up to date with new opportunities. Think about contacting people and making new connections via social media too.

Be brave! Looking for a new job can be a big step and it can be a difficult decision, so think carefully, and take a leap of faith when you’re sure. It’s just the beginning of an exciting new adventure!

For more career advice in 2022, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

With the warehouse usually being incredibly busy, the need for a replacement forklift can sometimes be overlooked. It’s important to replace forklifts when they need to be as soon as possible however to ensure no time and money is lost. Here’s the signs to watch out for.

What’s the maintenance cost per hour? If you’re finding that maintenance costs for your forklift is starting to creep up, it’s time to consider a replacement. Even a newer model, with the upfront cost, will ultimately be cheaper than growing maintenance costs on an older model.

Is it working – every time? Typically as forklifts become older they experience malfunctions, such hydraulic lifts and forks malfunctions. If these problems are becoming more regular, it’s time to look for something new – Not only will you save money on repairs everyone working in the warehouse will be safer too.

How often are you using it? Do you find the same forklift is left standing still more often than not? Chances are that’s because it’s not effective and therefore needs to be replaced.

For more information about our latest warehouse and forklift opportunities, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

It’s inevitable that once you’ve secured a brand new job you’ll have to hand in your notice to your current employer. People can find this difficult and sometimes don’t know the best way to go about this – take a look at our top tips below.

Speak to your employer face to face. If you don’t share the news face to face it can seem dismissive, so make sure you schedule time with your employer and deliver the news in person.

Offer your support. Your employer more than likely will need to hire a new person as your replacement, so where possible offer your help in the hiring and training process. Continue to support your colleagues and remain on task.

Be prepared for the counter offer. Your employer may ask you to stay, offering more money and better prospects. Consider this carefully; more often than not accepting a counter offer isn’t a good idea, so make sure you know what you want and how you will respond to this.

Keep it friendly. You never know if or when you might meet old colleagues or managers again throughout your career, so stay friendly and helpful during your last few weeks in employment – at the very least, your current employer will be asked for a reference!

For more advice on job seeking and to discuss our latest vacancies, or to find out how Flexistaff can support your business, contact Flexistaff 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

It’s that time of year! Well, nearly – but Christmas planning is starting early this year, and many employers are already recruiting for Christmas. Here’s how to make the most of your Christmas job search.

Start NOW! Yes, Christmas might seem ages away, especially if you still need to start your Christmas shopping, but now is the time to apply. Companies are hiring right now for Christmas temps so get yourself out there!

Flexibility is key. Christmas is a busy and demanding time for most organisations. Try to be as flexible as possible for potential new employers – You’ll find you’ll be snapped up in no time!

Pay attention to your application. A Christmas temp job might seem unimportant, but think of the possibilities – it could lead to something permanent in the new year! So make sure you spend time crafting and tailoring your application to each vacancy.

Not much experience? Christmas is a great time to apply for something temporary and get some experience in the world of work.

Be organised. Hiring for Christmas can be fast paced; bringing ID with you to an interview might be useful to a potential new employer. For more information about our latest vacancies, or to find out how we can support your business, contact Flexistaff on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].

Second stage interviews are becoming a popular part of the hiring process, and job seekers need to be aware of what they are, why they are necessary and how to manage them effectively. Here’s how!

Why a second interview? Typically, a first interview is to assess your experience, skills and personalities against the vacancy. The second stage interview may also cover some of these aspects, but really it’s to see what makes you stand out from the other candidates.

Second stage interviews are slightly different from first stage interviews in format. It’s likely you’ll be asked more about your salary expectations and offered a tour around the working environment.

Job seekers must ensure they are well prepared for a second stage interview, just as if it’s the first interview. It’s best to research the organisation again ahead of your second stage interview, as well as prepare some questions to ask at the end of the interview.

Second stage interviews are a good sign for job seekers – but it’s vital you still ensure you’re fully prepared to impress your potential new employer!

For more information about our current vacancies, or to find how Flexistaff can support your business, contact us on 0844 556 2916 or [email protected].