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​Starting a new job is a daunting prospect at the best of times. Factor in the all the changes and adaptations to working life that have been implemented over the past 12 months and it is unsurprising that we are feeling cautions about making a move. ​Without the support, encouragement and advice of our colleagues, work can become stressful, and it is more important now than ever that businesses are ensuring their employees are not isolated and able to maintain great relationships. When starting a new position, you must build new relationships and given the fact most of us are now working from home, businesses need to ensure they are taking this into consideration when it comes to their induction process.​Ganymede have continued recruiting throughout the pandemic. Although, we have been mindful of the fact that are new starters are joining us at strange and unprecedented time. I’m pleased to say we have successfully inducted a number of new employees across all areas of our business and below are just some of the steps that we have taken to make their start as easy as possible.​Virtual Meetings ​Every new member of staff is introduced to their team virtually. Team meetings are an open forum in which our challenges are discussed and successes celebrated! Despite the fact that they have not been able to spend time with their new colleagues face to face, our new starters quickly become valued members of our team. Digital Marketing Executive Ashleigh Lancaster, who joined us in December 2020 said the following about her relationships within the business:​“We communicate daily over MS Teams and work as collaboratively as we would do were we in the office (we even still had the obligatory Christmas Quiz!) Whilst I can’t wait to get in the office to spend more time with my new colleagues, I couldn’t be happier with my new role and I feel as though I have already built strong relationships within the team.” ​Training and Development ​Just because we’re not in the office, doesn’t mean our training isn’t as effective! We have moved the majority of our training online. Some is conducted through our training portal and some done ‘virtually’. Different members of our leadership and recruitment team are always on hand to welcome and support you through our structured 12-week programme. As restrictions continue to ease, we have also begun weekly socially distanced training in the office in small groups to maintain face to face contact where possible. Recruitment Specialist, Asad Hussain, who joined us in February 2021 said the following about his induction with us:​“The team have been very impressive thus far and they have not compromised on any of my induction or training whilst I have been in the role. They have put great processes in place to ensure I have the best possible start. So far, things are going very well for me in the business and they can only get better. I have the flexibility of working from the comfort of my own home when I need to and I have been provided with all the equipment I need to do so. I also have the benefits of 1 to 1 training and a very easy going and understanding manager who is providing me with all the training, tips and tricks I need to be successful.”​Ganymede Connect​Not only have we taken steps to ensure our new employees have the best possible start with us from a social perspective, it’s also important that we equip all of our team with the tools they need to be successful. Alongside providing all of our staff with the IT Equipment required to move their workspaces to their homes, we also invested in numerous pieces of software to help our clients and candidates with their recruitment processes. Connect is the latest Video Software, designed specifically for the screening and interview process. By making the process smooth and more user friendly for candidate, client and internal employee, Connect solves many common problems in the virtual recruitment process. This ensures our staff are able to make the best use of their time whilst working remotely. ​Wellbeing Support ​As highlighted by the Mental Health Foundation, it is said that “74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope”. It is vital to us that our employees still receive the wellbeing support they would in an office environment. As such, fully trained Mental health first aiders are on hand should any of our new starters or existing colleagues require a confidential discussion regarding their wellbeing. ​Likewise, employees have access to the Employee Assistance Programme – a support network that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Designated, trained consultants are available to provide advice and support on a variety of issues, whether they be at home, at work or health related. ​Similarly, we may not be able to take part in our usual social activities due to current restrictions, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t staying in touch and maintaining our relationships outside of working hours. By taking part in team activities such as 310,000 steps for Samaritans and the Rainbows #LeicesterToLeHavre challenge, employees can still enjoy friendships across the business.​Join the Ganymede team today​Due to growth, we have a number of Recruitment Consultant jobs across all of our UK offices – Derby, Doncaster, Leeds, London and Portsmouth. We are keen to speak to ambitious individuals. Whether you are a recruitment novice or an experienced recruitment professional, we could have the exciting new role you have been waiting for. For a confidential conversation about what we offer, get in touch today! Either call me directly on 07920 595 229 or send your CV to rachael.bailey-frost@ganymedesolutions.co.uk.

April marks the start of Stress Awareness Month 2021, and the theme this year is ‘Regaining Connectivity, Certainty and Control’. ​Stress Awareness Month raises awareness of stress and the way in which it is damaging the health of people across the globe. High levels of stress can be extremely detrimental to our mental health, often leading to anxiety and depression. Likewise, many people do not realise the impact stress can have on our physical health too. Heart disease, insomnia and digestive problems are just a few of the physical conditions that can be linked to high stress levels. As such, it's critical that we take the time during this national awareness month to look at how we can manage our stress levels.​12 months on from the first national lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is said that 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope (Mental Health Foundation). ​This could be due to a number of factors: ​Worries around health and contracting COVID-19 Concerns over job stability Lack of satisfaction in personal life due to social restrictions Increased workload due to organisational changes ​​Below are 3 tips on how you can manage your work-related stress during Stress Awareness Month and beyond.How to manage work-related stress ​1. Communicate with your employer ​People working from home may be experiencing a lack of connectivity with their employers when it comes to workloads and occupational wellbeing. ​​Despite how quickly many employers have adapted to remote working, your line manager may not be as aware of how well you’re coping with work-related stress. Whereas before it was easy to check in across the office, now it may not be the case. ​​It’s important that you are open and honest regarding your workload and how you are coping so your manager can help reduce any work-related stress. Likewise, if you have a problem you are struggling to overcome, use the technology provided to you (MS Teams, email, over the phone to name a few examples) to speak to the appropriate person(s) and not suffer in silence. ​2. Keep work time and personal time separate​As we mentioned in our article ‘how to effectively work from home’, try not to extend your workday too far over what you planned, as this might lead to burning yourself out and starting to see your home environment as a stressful place. Keeping work time and personal time separate should make you less stressed when you aren’t working. ​3. Take part in the 30 Day Challenge ‘Regaining Connectivity, Certainty and Control’ ​To help combat the effects of stress, the Stress Management Society have introduced a 30 day challenge: Pick one action each for your Physical, Mental and Emotional Wellbeing to carry out every day. It is said that is takes 30 days to turn an action into a habit. So the objective is at the end of April, any actions you have started during the challenge that are aiding your stress levels, you will easily be able to incorporate into your daily routine. ​For more information on how to take part in the challenge, visit the Stress Management Society website here. ​

What is fatigue?​Fatigue is a general term used to describe a wide variety of conditions, but is generally accepted as a decline in mental and/or physical performance, where the person suffering feels very tired, weary or sleepy, as a result of insufficient sleep, prolonged mental or physical work, or extended periods of stress or anxiety. Boring or repetitive tasks can intensify feelings of fatigue. Fatigue can also be described as either acute (usually reversed by sleep and relaxation) or chronic (a constant severe state of tiredness not relieved by rest). The consequences of fatigue include reduced alertness, poor perception and sleepiness, whilst chronic fatigue has also been associated with several long-term health problems.​Indicators of fatigue​A person who is suffering from fatigue may experience a range of symptoms, including:Cognitive: slower reactions, memory lapses, reduced ability to process information, lack of concentration, decreased awareness, underestimation of risk, irritability, reduced coordination, reduced ability to make decisions.Emotional: depression, giddiness, lack of motivation.Physiological: tiredness, headaches, increased susceptibility to illness, loss of appetite, digestive problems.These symptoms can lead to errors and accidents, ill-health and injury, and reduced productivity.​Health risks associated with fatigue:Higher risk of being involved in/causing an accidentHigher levels of anxiety and depressionImpaired cognitive function and memoryHigher rate of higher blood pressure and heart diseaseHigher risk of diabetesIncreased risk of breast cancerHigher risk of strokeGreater appetite for unhealthy food cravingsGreater risk of chronic sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnoea, narcolepsy 

How to make a great first impression on a recruiter​In my role as Talent Acquisition Manager and after years of working within the recruitment sector, I have seen a lot of job applications! I never want to miss out on a potentially fantastic candidate, so I always ensure I review every application sent to me. ​Due to the popularity of the recruitment sector, the number of applications I receive is usually in the hundreds. This makes it near impossible to pick up the phone and speak to every single person who has applied. Because of such a high number of applications, I use a ranking system which allows me to identify the most suitable candidates to contact first. ​As a rule, I am a firm believer that a CV does not always do a candidate justice. A piece of paper can never fully represent a person, their achievements, their personality or their ambition. However, here are a few CV tips that will ensure your application stands out from the crowd and that you are at the top of a (probably very long!) call list:​A cover letter; A short cover letter highlighting the key achievements in your CV that make you suitable for the position you are interested in will go a long way. You are showing the Hiring Manager that you are keen on the position and making the effort to pitch yourself. Where possible look for a direct email address as this will ensure your application goes straight to their inbox and you will get noticed. Try and avoid using a generic cover letter; make the company feel like you want to work for them specifically.Target your application; There is nothing wrong with applying for roles in multiple sectors, this is your job search and you should explore your options. If you are unsure about which direction you want to take, you should tailor your CV to each specific sector. This also allows you to highlight the key skills you have that are relevant to that sector alone, meaning you will have more of a chance of attracting the attention of the person reading it.Be clear and concise; Try to keep your CV to a maximum of two pages. Take out any irrelevant information and use bullet points where appropriate to condense the information you are providing. Ensure your most recent work experience is listed at the top of your CV and your academic achievements and contact details are clearly visible. People often over complicate their CV. Make it as easy as possible for us to understand your background and why you are right for the role we are advertising.Spelling, punctuation and grammar checks; It sounds so obvious, however so many people do not give their covering letters and CV’s a thorough check before applying for a job. In this day and age you can avoid many of these mistakes by using spellchecker which will highlight and change any grammatical errors. First impressions count, so make sure something as small as this doesn’t make you stand out for the wrong reasons. ​Use our CV help and cover letter advice to get yourself noticed – and one step closer to the job of your dreams!​Due to growth, we have a number of Recruitment Consultant jobs across all of our UK offices – Derby, Doncaster, Leeds, London and Portsmouth. We are keen to speak to ambitious individuals. Whether you are a recruitment novice or an experienced recruitment professional, we could have the exciting new role you have been waiting for.​For a confidential conversation about what we offer, get in touch today! Either call me directly on 07920 595 229 or send your CV to rachael.bailey-frost@ganymedesolutions.co.uk.

Understanding Diabetes - (Covid-19 and beyond)​​Diabetes is a serious condition that you have for life. It means your blood glucose (sugar) level is too high. You will probably be aware of the fact that there are two main types of diabetes (but there are rarer forms as well)​What causes it?​All types of Diabetes have one thing in common – they cause people to have too much glucose (sugar) in their body. We all need glucose as it gives us our energy:We eat and drink carbohydrates Our body breaks these down into glucose That glucose goes into our blood We need insulin from our pancreas for the glucose in our blood to enter our cells to fuel our bodies ​When you have diabetes the pancreas doesn’t sense when glucose has entered your bloodstream. ​Type 1 diabetes means that you don’t make any insulin at all. People with this type of diabetes have to be careful to take their medication regularly, watch what they eat and when, and have health checks like yearly eye checks . Only 10% of people with diabetes have type 1. ​Type 2 diabetes means that the insulin you make doesn’t work effectively OR you don’t produce enough of it. 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes and there are many who will not know they have it. If you have a prediabetes diagnosis this means your doctor has taken your blood and the test shows high blood sugars, indicating that your body is not using insulin properly. It is often a precursor to Type 2 and can come on slowly over the age of 40 ​What are the signs and symptoms?​Common symptoms are: Frequent urination – especially at night Being really thirsty Feeling more tired than usual Losing weight without trying Genital itching or thrush Cuts and wounds take longer to heal Blurred vision Use the free Know your Risk tool, have some measurements ready; height, weight and waist.​Complications of high glucose levels ​Complications from long term high glucose levels can include damage to Your heartYour eyesYour kidneysYour feet Men are more likely to develop diabetes; suffer complications; have amputations; die from diabetes and face a higher risk of serious illness and/or death from Covid-19. ​What are my risks of developing Type 2 diabetes? ​Your risk increases with age; So you are more at risk if you are white and over 40 or over 25 if you are African-Caribbean, Black African or South Asian and type 2 diabetes is 2-4 times more likely in those from South Asian, Black African or African-Caribbean descentYou are 2 – 6 times at greater risk if you have a parent, brother, sister or child with diabetes You’re more at risk if you have or have had high blood pressure or are overweight - particularly around the middle If you have had a heart attack or stroke you may carry a greater risk as will those with certain mental health conditions and women who have had polycystic ovaries, gestational diabetes or a baby weighing over 10 poundsIf you live in England and are between 40 and 74 you may be eligible for a free NHS health check​What can I do about it? ​Download the British Heart Foundation booklet, which explains how the food you eat, influences whether you are likely to develop diabetes type 2 and It gives some great advice on food groups; ‘healthier swaps’ and why you should be ‘eating a rainbow’ – lots of fruit or veg of different colours and packed with nutrients, vitamins and minerals that we all need to maintain good health!

​International Women's Day 2021 ​March 8th is International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. ​The theme this year is #ChooseToChallenge, encouraging us to challenge gender bias, call out inequality and celebrate women's achievements across the globe. In recognition of this, we have spoken to 2 women that we have the pleasure of working with at Network Rail and Taziker. ​​Discussing various topics surrounding IWD2021, from #ChooseToChallenge to what interested them in Engineering in the first place, we hope to shine a light on what we can all do moving forward as we continue to #ChooseToChallenge all year round. ​​Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Kelly Tallis said of #IWD2021, “As part of our Being Socially Responsible strategy, and our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be part of the International Women’s day Celebrations. EDI (Equality, Diversity, Inclusion)is very much a focus for our business.”​Visit the International Women's Day website here.​​​Stay tuned throughout this week as we hear from Maxine Prydderch and Katy Primavesi on their experience as a female in engineering.​​​Today is International Women's Day, and the theme is "Choose to Challenge". What will you choose to challenge?​​​What inspired you to start a career in engineering?​​