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Sharp Consultancy Supports Yorkshire Children’s Charity’s annual schools day out at Cannon Hall Farm.

On Wednesday, September 11th, half of our staff from both the Sheffield and Leeds offices volunteered to support Yorkshire Children’s Charity. Each year, this charity provides hundreds of children from schools across Yorkshire with the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic day out at Cannon Hall Farm, and they rely on many volunteers to make this happen.This year, over 600 children who might otherwise not be able to enjoy a day trip like this, partook in what turned out to be a brilliant day. Yorkshire Children’s Charity is very close to our hearts here at Sharp Consultancy as not only is it focused on the county we call home, the charity helps children who for a variety of reasons, are in a position of disadvantage. For many of these children, this was their first visit to a farm and possibly their first experience outside their local area. Apart from a brief deluge for 10 minutes at the start of the day and a light shower at the end the day, the rain mostly stayed away. The team from Sharp Consultancy, along with many other volunteers helped get the packed lunches delivered, drinks poured, biscuits distributed and joined the teachers showing the children around the farm – from reptile houses to the pig pens (much holding of noses and retching noises!), tractor rides to see Llama’s and reindeer, sheep racing, ferret racing, meerkats and mongoose. It was a day like no other.No matter how old you are, if you think back really hard, you can probably just about remember the first time you saw a snake or huge monitor lizard in a zoo; or goggled at the size of a shire horse and the amazement you felt – multiply this by 608 children and you might just have some idea how special the day was. And don’t children ask the best questions. I have never been asked so many questions I didn’t know the answer to – ‘Why do snakes put their heads in that position?’ Why are some leaf cutter ants carrying leaves to their nest and some carrying them away from their nest?’ Why is that cow laying down and that one stood up?’ my answer – ‘it must be tired’ – there response ‘what’s it been doing to get tired?’ Or my favourite ‘What can run faster, a meerkat or a ferret?’. The team here at Sharp Consultancy had an amazing day (I think if enjoyment could be measured, we’d have given the children a run for their money!) It was a humbling and enlightening experience and on occasions, very emotional (my word, you really appreciate just exactly how lucky you are and have been). Most of all though it was a delight to meet 608 amazing young people, dozens of teachers and assistants (you really are heroes, and nothing will make me change my mind on that) and all our fellow volunteers and charity employees Annabel and Abbie – join the teachers in our collective hero worship. A day to remember…forever.

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As we gradually move towards the ‘new normal’, many accountancy and financial professionals across the Yorkshire region are reflecting upon their future career options. These are some of the most
commonly asked questions from candidates to our experienced team of consultants when it comes to their next role.

I was considering looking for a new role - should I now put this on hold?

Nobody knows when things will get back to ‘normal’ so it is worth continuing to look for new roles. We are seeing demand for top talent from a number of sectors including storage and warehousing, food manufacture and retail, energy suppliers and healthcare to name but a few. Discuss your career goals with a recruitment specialist who can guide you towards opportunities that are right for you.

I’ve got an interview via video conference – I’m not sure how to approach it?

Prepare as you would for any interview; review your CV and job description, prepare key points of interest and compile a few interesting questions that show you have considered the role. Before the interview, check that you have login details and passwords and that you are familiar with the technology and platform you will be using. Dress like you would for a face-to-face interview and set up somewhere that’s comfortable – yet professional – and you won’t be disturbed. For more tips on delivering a successful interview take a look at our Interview Guide

I’m starting a new role and my first day will be working from home – what should I do?

Imagine it like a normal first day – dress smartly, have a neat and tidy work area set up in advance and be at your desk ready to work on time. Review any reading material that has been provided and prepare a list of questions before your initial conversation with your line manager. Read more about starting a new role remotely here

I’ve been offered a new role - normally I would be keen to take but I’m not sure now is the right time to move?

Think about why you wanted to change roles originally; is it an opportunity that interests you, are you ready for the next challenge, will the pay and benefits be better? This period will pass and those reasons will still be relevant so don’t miss out on the right chance to move your career forward.

What can I do now to improve my future employment prospects?

Now is a great time to consider your next career move. Refresh your CV and LinkedIn profile, update your roles and achievements, review job adverts for similar roles to see what skills and experience is in demand and identify online courses, webinars or tutorials that you can participate in. Speak to an experienced recruitment consultant who specialises in your area – start those conversations early and you will have a head start on opportunities that arise over the competition.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond CONTACT UStoday to discuss your recruitment needs with a member of our team.