In this article, you will find 8 interview tips from recruiters to help you make the best impression.

An interview is a chance for an employer to see if you are the right person for the job. But, it is also a chance for you to make sure the job and company are a right fit for you.

If you have had an unsuccessful interview in the past, the important thing to do is learn from past mistakes.

Do Your Research

Without a doubt, this is the best piece of advice you can receive. Demonstrating your prior knowledge about a company and role can make you stand out from the rest. As well as this, it can highlight your interest in the position.

Some key areas for research include: company mission, values, or any recent news or events that the organisation has been involved in. Doing so will help you understand the culture of the business. Also, this can shape your answer about why you want to work for the company.

Dress Appropriately for the Position

When deciding on an outfit, go beyond the traditional smart attire and focus on the small details, such as ensuring clothes are free of wrinkles.

Following the above step and researching the company can help you decide whether it is better to wear something casual or more formal.

Ask Appropriate Questions

Having a pre-planned list of questions to ask the interviewer makes you look interested, enthusiastic, and engaged- which are all qualities that the employer will be looking for.

A good candidate will ask questions beyond the standard topics of salary and employee benefits.

Some useful example questions include:

• What does a typical day look like?
• Where do you think the company is heading in the next 5 years?
• What do you enjoy about your job?
• Can you tell me more about the team I would be working with?

Familiarise Yourself with the STAR Method

Whenever you are answering an interview question, you want to make sure that there is a structure and the takeaway message is clear. Using the STAR method can assist this.

Situation – briefly lay out the scenario using just enough detail that the interviewer will understand the context of your answer.

Task – talk about your specific role within the situation.

Action – discuss what you did and the reason behind this.

Result – discuss the outcome and what lessons were learned.

Body Language is Important

The interviewer will be aware that nerves will be high going into the interview, so it is important to outwardly project your confidence. Be aware of what you are communicating.

One of the most powerful non-verbal communication tools that can be used is a smile. Giving a genuine smile on arrival will make the interviewer feel as though you are pleased to meet them and looking forward to the interview.

If you are offered a glass of water, always accept (or bring your own water bottle). If you are nervous, this can give you something to do with your hands. Plus, taking a drink can give you a few seconds to pause and consider your answer to a question.

Prepare for Small Talk

When done correctly, interview small talk can build a strong rapport. Many benefits can come from this: making the hiring manager remember you, make you stand out even more, and help make an okay interview into a great one.

When meeting someone for the first time, it is generally not the best to bring up topics that may be perceived as offensive, uncomfortable, and inappropriate.

Some good small talk topics include: the weather, sports, entertainment, food, company news and events, and hobbies.

Be Polite

It goes without saying, always be polite.

Always be polite and friendly to the reception staff or the person that signs you into the building. This could work hugely in your favour as the hiring manager will often ask them for their first impression of you. Something so simple can make a huge difference.

Follow Up After the Interview

Finally, always follow up with a thank-you. A thank-you email is a great opportunity to demonstrate your excitement about the role and show appreciation for being considered for the position. It is recommended to follow-up within 24 hours of the interview.

Visuna are here to help and support your journey. Read more recruitment advie, such as CV tips, or relevant news within the energy and tech industry.

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Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) offers businesses the opportunity to transfer all, or selected elements, of its recruitment processes to a third party service provider.

What can you expect from an RPO partner?

The external provider acts as an in-house recruiter for the business and is responsible for managing recruitment within the organisation. This includes all elements of attracting, screening, interviewing and onboarding candidates.

The RPO partner will also take a consultative approach to offering strategy and innovative solutions across the whole recruitment process. They’ll be hands-on, guiding you through the process and providing recommendations. In addition to sourcing candidates for immediate vacancies, they’ll also help you to build a talent pool for long-term hiring needs.

In some instances, one or more members of the recruitment partner’s team would be based onsite at the client’s office to fully embed themselves into the organisation.

The right RPO provider will tailor a bespoke solution to each client’s requirements. They would work in partnership with you to reach the agreed objectives.

What benefit does recruitment process outsourcing bring?

Finding and nurturing new talent can be a lengthy and expensive process, which diverts resource from other areas of the business. Outsourcing hiring requirements can bring many benefits to an organisation.

Flexibility

Using an RPO model allows organisations to scale resources up and down as recruitment needs fluctuate. The third party provider is adaptable to the changing demands of the organisation. An RPO partner can take on as much or as little within the recruitment process as needed. They can act as an extension of your internal HR team, or they can be fully integrated as your recruitment department.

Efficiency

RPO specialists have wide networks to reach new and diverse talent. Positions can be filled more quickly with an RPO provider. They’ll use tried and tested processes, identifying barriers, and ultimately being accountable for the deliverables. Outsourcing also relieves internal teams of the administrative work associated with hiring processes.

Cost Effectiveness

You only pay for what you need at the time, so you can meet hiring demands without the need to pay in-house recruiters.

Technology and Data

Access to recruitment technology, such as, an RPO providers applicant tracking system (ATS) can facilitate a better candidate experience. This consistent and streamlined hiring and onboarding process can lead to a decrease in turnover. RPO provides access to industry data for competitor benchmarking, which allows intelligent decisions to be made based on trends.

Expertise

Organisations gain access to instant recruitment expertise without the need to invest in internal resources. RPO providers are subject matter experts and are usually specialists in a particular industry or role, so are likely to find more skilled candidates, particularly for niche disciplines, than you would on your own.

Compliance

RPO’s are experts in their field so will offer compliance support with regards to employment law, in line with changing regulations to help you minimise risk.

What types of RPO are available?

A number of recruitment process outsourcing models are available. The hiring challenges and long-term goals in your business will determine which is the best option for your organisation.

Fully Outsourced

In this situation, the provider takes complete control of their clients full end-to-end hiring process. This ongoing solution is best for organisations that will have regular and ongoing recruitment requirements over a long period of time.

Project Based

An end-to-end approach applied to a defined project. This model has the benefits of a fully outsourced solution but on specific roles over a particular period of time, for example, the opening of a new branch or department.

Hybrid

This method sees the RPO provider fill only vacancies for certain specialisms or departments, while internal teams fill the remainder.

Selective

With selective RPO, a company chooses which elements of the recruitment process they’d like to outsource. For example, if a company has some internal resources already in place, they may ask the RPO provider to handle the sourcing and screening of candidates only.

On-Demand / Contingent

This solution can be turned on and off for short periods of time or even for single roles. A good example of this would be to cover seasonal recruitment demand, when the internal team may need additional resources to help fill multiple roles.

Total Talent Management

A relatively new type of outsourcing that also incorporates MSP to allow one provider to fill all roles at an organisation, whether that is full time, part time, permanent, temporary or contract.

At Visuna, we will work with you to agree the best solution for your business needs. Speak to the team today to find out more about our staffing services.

An energy recruitment firm has raised funds to buy life-saving equipment for its North East office.

Staff at Visuna, which is based at Wynn House, on the Hertburn Estate in Washington, held a number of fund-raising events to pay for a defibrillator to be installed on-site.

The company employs 50 people on Wearside, where it has had a presence for more than 2- years. It also has bases in the US, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

Chief executive of Visuna Ford Garrard said: “The closest defibrillator to our Washington office is one mile away, so it’s likely this would be too far to save a life in an emergency situation.

“The team decided they’d like to purchase a defibrillator for the office. They received some funding from the London Hearts charity to help with this, as well as hosting their own fund-raising activities.

“This life-saving device will be situated outside the UK office. Team charity activities have funded this and will be a public access defibrillator. This means that in the event of an emergency, anyone in the local area on the estate will be able to make use of it.”

The fund-raising events included a Pancake Day buffet, an Easter Egg decorating competition and hunt around the office, and a raffle with a star prize of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s signed gloves. Along with a donation from the company, the team raised £1,335 for the defibrillator.

Ford added: “I’m extremely proud of the team and have loved seeing how passionate everyone has been about this worthy cause.

“At Visuna, a key part of our ethos focuses on supporting and organising charity events. We approached the team for charity suggestions ensure we choose causes that are close to our people’s hearts.”

Other Fundraising

Other charity initiatives the company has taken part in include a Macmillan Coffee Morning that raised over £630. We donated goods to the Washington Community Food Project. Finally, we supported Norah’s North Pole, which ensures as many children as possible wake up with a gift from Santa on Christmas morning.

As part of the Visuna rebrand, we are wanting to make a difference. Sustainability is everyone’s responsibility and Visuna want to help drive forward this agenda. The three pillars of our ESG pathway are People, Planet and Policy. All of this is underpinned by our business vision and culture.

Our approach to ESG mirrors the way we do business – it is proactive, honest, agile and reliable.

Read more about our ESG commitments

Saudi Arabia is located in the Middle East between the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. It is divided into 13 provinces, and each area is headed by a governor or European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR).

With a third of the world’s oil being produced in the Middle East, there is no denying that oil and gas jobs in Saudi Arabia are increasing rapidly over time.

Here are some of the most popular roles in Saudi Arabia currently:

Well Testing Operator

Well Testing Operators are responsible for all areas of well testing operations, including planning, execution, data analysis, and reporting. Their work occurs on offshore oil rigs, as well as land base rigs. Within the workplace, it is important that Well Testing Operators continuously develop their skills to maintain a competitive advantage.

As companies are becoming more conscious of their impact on the environment, there is an increase in demand for Well Testing Operators with experience working in environmentally sensitive areas. Well Testing Operators can capitalise on this trend by becoming certified in areas, such as waste management.

Coiled Tubing Engineer

To begin your career as a Coiled Tubing Engineer, there is a requirement to have a bachelor’s degree or diploma in petroleum or mechanical engineering. Alongside this, due to the frequent field visits, Coiled Tubing Engineers are required to have first aid and H2S training.

During their daily activities, Coiled Tubing Engineers run simulations for each proposed operation, monitor the operation, and provide technical support.

Within the role, there is the opportunity for progression to become a Senior Field Engineer or a Lead Field Engineer. Therefore, this is a position that can provide growth opportunities and aid career development.

Pumping Operator

A Pumping Operator is a skilled worker who operates, maintains, and controls pumps and other equipment that is used to move liquids or gases from one place to another. Work locations can range from: chemical plants, power generation facilities, or oil refineries.

During daily operations, Pumping Operators tend to work in teams, and need to practice effective communication with other team members, engineers, and managers to ensure efficient operations.

Traditionally, the work environment consists of travelling and primarily outdoor work.

Electronics Technician

An Electronics Technician performs all maintenance on equipment as well as providing supervision to lower-level technicians. Alongside this, they are responsible for calibrating pressure gauges and metering equipment.

Being able to comprehend complex technical manuals, as well as following them accurately is essential in becoming a good Electronic Technician.

Here at Visuna, we can held find your next role, and assist with your smooth relocation to Saudi Arabia. Contact us today, or look at our most recent jobs in Saudi Arabia.

In a competitive market for talent, having a good workforce solutions partner has never been more important. Skills shortages, global workforces, changing legislation and economic uncertainty all present additional challenges. This makes a workforce solutions supplier a good option for many organisations.

What is a workforce solutions provider?

A workforce solutions partner is an outsourced service provider who manages the talent acquisition process for an organisation. This can be the staffing requirements for all permanent and contingent roles; including full time team members, temporary employees and independent contractors.

By offering a full end to end solution for all talent needs, the workforce solutions partner can encompass the work of both recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and managed service provider (MSP) models.

What are the benefits of using a workforce solutions partner?

Consistency

Having one blended solution for both permanent and contract recruitment facilitates a more consistent hiring journey for candidates. It also simplifies processes for internal departments. A smooth and streamlined candidate experience during the recruitment process helps a business to stand out from competitors.

Cost and Time Saving

The process efficiencies brought about by using one supplier for all staffing requirements can save a business time and money. Taking a holistic view of the current situation allows a workforce solutions partner to fill roles quickly with the person holding the best skills, regardless of whether that talent is permanent or contract.

Expertise

Outsourced staffing services provides access to market insight, relevant technology, regulatory compliance, support and advice,. This is in addition to a wide network of skilled talent. A workforce solutions provider will handle candidate attraction, screening, background checks, preliminary interviews and more.

Flexibility and Optimisation

A blend of permanent and contingent workers provides organisations with flexibility for changing priorities. A consolidated pool of all available talent allows for a wider and more strategic view of all options to fill a vacancy.

Working with a workforce solutions partner, like Visuna, gives your business access to experienced staffing specialists who will ensure the best outcome for your recruitment requirements. Your organisation can benefit from sector experts without the need to invest in HR resources, whilst scaling support up or down as needed. By outsourcing your staffing services, you can gain access to a wide network of quality talent and use your time and budget efficiently in a competitive and fast moving market.

Contact us today for your workforce solutions, and follow our LinkedIn for more industry information.

A CV, sometimes referred to as a resume, is a short summary of an individuals’ key skills, experience and qualifications. Hiring managers will only spend a short period of time – just seconds – reading a CV, so it is crucial that it catches their attention first time.

Here are some of our top CV tips to help you stand out.

Make It Specific

Conducting research into the job can help you stand out from other applicants. It is important to treat every job application as unique. Therefore, assess each job advert before applying and make sure that your CV highlights the most important traits for the role.

One easy method that can be used is looking at the job description for key words, and distribute these throughout the document. If possible, include facts and figures about your previous achievements as evidence of relevant experience.

A Good Structure for Easy Navigation

It is important that the CV can be read and understood easily, or some employers might disregard it straight away – especially if they are busy.

Always remember the CV hotspot – the upper middle area of the page. This is where the recruiter’s eye will naturally fall, so make sure to include the most relevant information here.

One easily forgotten aspect is using the right font and size. Throughout the document, the font should be consistent and professional. Some of the most common fonts are: Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri. Sizing can be changed for titles, subheading, main body, etc.

Key Skills

Key, soft and hard skills can come through in the employment history section, but including a ‘key skills’ section can highlight areas that could be missed. Within the competitive job market, it is likely that this will be one of the first sections an employers looks at the save time.

Employers will look for a variety of skills. This includes skills that are on the job description, as well as personal skills that will decide if the individual can fit into the company culture.

Include a Personal Statement

Including a personal statement can help explain to the employer why you are the best person for the job. This should be a short paragraph located under the CV header so it grabs attention.

Within the paragraph, there should be an obvious statement of career objectives, communicating the value that can be brought to the position and company, and well as a brief summary of experience.

Proofread It

An essential CV tip would be to proofread the document. Majority of the time, a CV is the first impression of a candidate. Therefore, you want to avoid any mistakes with spelling or grammar. Show it to someone of trust who will give constructive feedback.

Many benefits can come from proofread before submitting an application. The most obvious one is that it will be free of mistakes. Alongside this, it allows you to put yourself in the employer’s shoes for a minute. Enabling you to see yourself in a different light.

Keep Updated

A crucial step is regularly reviewing your CV and adding in any new skills or experience.

Undergoing regular check-ups can highlight gaps within personal skills and experience that needs to be developed for a certain industry. Being able to fill these gaps is another way that can help you stand out.

Be Concise

When it comes to a CV, it is important to stick to the two A4 page rule. As you gain new skills and experience, you can remove older information as it becomes outdated. An example of this could be clubs joined in school, or part-time jobs at the beginning of a career.

References

It isn’t essential to include references on a CV. Usually, a statement along the lines of ‘references available upon request’ is sufficient.

Think Outside the Box

If you’re moving into a new sector or just starting out in your career, think about how experience you have gained could demonstrate the skills needed for the role.

Depending on the job you’re applying for, and if you really want to stand out from the crowd, you could consider including a link to a video CV or webpage. This is a unique way to showcase examples of your work.

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Communication is key in creating a successful team, but it isn’t always easy when businesses are operating with a global workforce. A report conducted by ClearCompany reported that businesses with effective and clear communication are 50% more likely to have lower employee turnover.

The rise of globalisation has had significant impact on the way international businesses communicate. Companies are now more likely to have experienced employees who come from a range of cultures.

In this article, we are exploring the importance of communication for a global workforce, and acknowledging methods that can ease the process.

Ensuring a Productive Global Workforce

The main benefit from efficient communication in a workplace is the impact it has on productivity levels. Clear communication is essential for understanding the task at hand. Therefore, employees are willing and able to work together and complete their objectives without confusion.

Naturally, investing in communication and the workforce will produce many organisational benefits.

Ensure Regular and Open Conversations

For company culture and staff morale, it is important that everyone feels as if they have a voice. Open communication refers to sharing information in an honest, consistent, and transparent manner. The American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) found accountability meetings, that are used as a space to talk about anything, increase the likelihood of individuals fulfilling their goals by 95%.

Bring People Together

When workforces are located around the globe, it is easy for individuals to feel left out. It is important to prevent this as location shouldn’t matter. Many online streaming platforms, like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, allow for easy communication in global organisations. Some benefits of face-to-face communication includes: building trust, enhancing the power of human face, and increasing perception of feelings. All of these aspects assist in building relationships within the workplace.

Navigating Time Zones

For global workforces, communication in various time zones can cause some issues. However, establishing an understanding of different working styles can help avoid these problems. For example, when organising meetings, it is important to consider a happy medium that works for everyone. Naturally, one party might have to start work earlier, or finish later, so if this occurs, acknowledge this and show appreciation.

Small gestures such as an email signature stating “Our work hours might not align, so don’t feel the need to respond straight away” can build a positive workforce and remove the unnecessary pressure.

Show an Interest

One huge benefit of working in a global business is that there will be people who come from a variety of different cultures. Show an interest. Alongside this, organisations can create internal culture where learning and sharing is encouraged.

When there are various office locations within the business, there is opportunity to recognise a range of national days and public holidays. It has been reported that different cultures can bring new ways of thinking and can prevent an organisation from being narrow-minded.

At Visuna, we can help ensure moving abroad to work is a seamless process. We take care of payroll, tax, travel, and human resources for your international staff through our global mobility services. We can offer relocation support to the successful candidate, so contact us today.

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Companies within the oilfield industry who are agile, collaborative, and employee-orientated gain the most from digital transformation in oilfield services. In today’s landscape, it is important for organisations to embrace the digital transformation to gain the highest value.

Deloitte US reports that the value from embracing digital transformation is realised by; increasing production, being safer and faster, lowering costs, and creating a better experience for all stakeholders.

In this article, we have summarised some of the key ways that oilfield companies can benefit from adoption of digital processes.

Edge Computing

Edge computing helps businesses to optimise their daily operations by rapidly processing large volumes of data. It has been reported that a single oil rig can generate over a terabyte of data each day. As oil and gas companies can work in remote conditions, edge computing allows data to be processed easily. This can even occur when the internet connection is disrupted.

Many benefits can come from this; from reduced downtime as well as contributing to high profitability. By 2024, it has been reported that the global edge computing market will grow to $250.6 million.

Cloud Deployment

Cloud computing is the newest addition to the digital revolution within the oil and gas industry. By definition, cloud deployment is the process of setting up a virtual environment.

One area where cloud technology has been implemented is the process of being able to maintain and monitor production units, wells and oilfields. A main benefit from this is being able to reduce any unexpected failures down the line. Above all, increasing production levels.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology that allows computers to think in a ‘human’ way. AI enables companies to overcome a handful of challenges within the industry.

Exploration and Production: companies can collect and analyse large quantities of data, which can help increase their production levels

Maintenance: AI systems can identify upcoming and current failures, the lifespan, and highlight the efficiency of equipment.

Drilling: able to optimise drilling of wells which can help reduce the overall cost of labour

Safety: companies can check for potential safety and environmental hazards, which can be crucial for the industry

Business Intelligence

Business Intelligence (BI) refers to the methods of collecting, storing and analysing data from business operations to optimise their performance. BI provides a real-time view of business data. Implementing BI within a business structure can provide better quality analysis.

As the oil and gas industry is a competitive sector, BI can provide the sector with a competitive advantage. For example, BI enables “intelligent enterprises”, which means businesses can utilise the knowledge provided to better predict future economic and market changes.

Tech Recruitment Consultant at Visuna, Ryan Kilbey, explains “The energy transition is dictating a huge change in the daily operations of the industry as everyone is striving for decarbonisation. Oil & Gas companies are prioritising attracting and retaining the top tech talent that will get them through the digital transformation, whilst remaining competitive in the market”.

At Visuna, we’re here for you in the energy transition and can support you in sourcing the workforce needed for digital transformation in oilfield services. Get in touch to find out more about our tech recruitment services.

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At the start of February, Louise Tate from our UK office relocated to Australia and started working in our Brisbane office.

Once she was settled, we caught up with her to see how she is adapting to her new life down under, as well as working in her now role as a Recruitment Consultant.

How was the move?

The travelling part seemed like it lasted forever, however, it was worth the 32 hours. It was hard to say goodbye to my friends and family, but I soon realised that the time zone doesn’t make a difference.

Why did you choose to move to Australia?

From a young age, I have always wanted to spend part of my life in Australia. When we received the email about the opportunity, I knew I had to take the chance. I have been extremely lucky to relocate to Australia and continue to do the job I love.

What have you enjoyed the most since moving to Australia?

I have enjoyed meeting new people, trying new local foods, and going on adventures at the weekend. There is so much I still want to see and do such as the Australian Zoo, a Koala sanctuary, theme parks, beaches, and a boat party.

What surprised you the most about Australia?

Everyone is so polite, happy and friendly. Whenever you walk down the street, everyone is smiling. I was also surprised at how big the country is.

Is there much difference in the way of working?

Within the business, the processes and day-to-day tasks are almost the same. However, within Australia, there is a better work life balance.

Have the company been supportive in the relocation?

The company could not have been more supportive! They have made every step of the journey stress free. My colleagues in both the UK office and Australian office have been amazing.

How are you finding your promotion to Recruitment Consultant?

I have loved every second of it so far. Each day I am learning something new, and it is great speaking to new clients and consultants. The team in the Australian office have been a great support and are always more than happy to help me.

Could you see yourself living in Australia for a long time?

Although it feels surreal at the moment, I could definitely see myself living here for a long time.

Have you found any cons with the relocation?

I think the only thing would be trying to get used to the heat! It is a bit of an adjustment.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to move?

If you are ever given the opportunity to do it, then take the leap and don’t look back! Although it was tough and an adjustment at first, I have no regrets at all.

Our people are at the heart of what we do and our values. Learn more about working at Visuna, and follow our Instagram to gain an insight to life at Visuna.