Five Things To Avoid When Recruiting!

Posted on 13/02/2022 | by Marcus | Leave a Comment

Five Things To Avoid When Recruiting!

We have all made blunders when it comes to recruiting new staff.

There are some things to avoid, making work life easier for everyone.

The first rule …

… of recruiting is never employ someone recommended by another member of staff. If it does not work out, you could lose two members of staff, not just one!

The second rule …

… is never to recruit either a patient or a patient’s family member. Again, if things don’t work out you run the risk of losing a patient as well as a member of staff.

Thirdly …

… never recruit someone who is passionate about their hobby…it will always take second place to work. Imagine someone is a mad keen surfer and the best waves were to be found in Portugal. Would their mind be on the job or on the surf board?

Fourthly …

… and potentially most importantly, references. Taking references on every new recruit is imperative. This goes without saying really, but assess the quality of the person giving the reference. Exclude references from family members (you’d be surprised at how often this is offered!) and previous teachers/lecturers as these cannot reflect work ethic other than attendance in class. You want your younger staff to do much more than just turn up for class. A great way of getting references is on the phone, but if this is not possible, then by writing. Make sure to ask specific questions about dates worked, roles the candidate was employed in, what did they bring to the role that made them stand out. This is your opportunity to ask specific questions about the person you are about to trust your reputation with, so accuracy is vital.

And Finally …

… never hire anyone if you could do their job better than them. This applies right across the board, including non-clinical staff. Let your new recruits lead the way at reception, in treatment planning, in managing your practice or assisting you at chairside.

Each role in a clinic requires a special skill set and not everyone can do every job in your practice. Try to place yourself in their position and ask if you would do anything differently. Dentists should try being a dental nurse or a receptionist for the day so as to appreciate fully the role requirements.

Good luck in recruiting your next staff member. Don’t forget to post your next vacancy on BlueGloveJobs so that you attract the cream of the crop!

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Staff Don’t Leave Jobs, They Leave Managers.

Posted on 27/09/2021 | by Leigh | Leave a Comment

You’ve probably heard that phrase before, that ‘staff don’t leave jobs, they leave managers’.

And we’re here to tell you that it’s true.

The number one reason for people quitting their jobs is because of their manager. 75% of people who voluntarily leave their jobs do so because of their boss. No matter how good a position might be, not matter how good the job benefits, staff will quit if the reporting relationship with the person in charge is poor.

Today on the blog we look at why this is the case, and the types of managers that staff will gladly leave behind.

Why do staff leave managers?

Staff leave managers more often than not because they are at least one of four things: under-valued, under-paid, undermined and under pressure. Work is never going to always be a barrel of laughs, but it shouldn’t be somewhere that staff dread going to either. Bad bosses are the number one cause of unhappiness at work. If a staff member is unhappy, don’t be surprised that they are going elsewhere to look for work. Your staff spend most of your life at work, they shouldn’t feel anxious or drained there.

What kind of bosses or managers do staff want?

Staff look for bosses who are leaders but not demanders. They want bosses who know when their plates are full as it is without piling on extra loads of work and expecting quick and good results. They want bosses who are encouraging and who acknowledge greatness. Staff want people in charge who are going to pay them fairly for the amount of work they’re doing.

What kind of bosses do staff members leave?

The ‘King Kong’ Boss: Some managers forget where they came from. These type of managers possess a superiority complex and like to draw the distinction between management and staff. It is dreadful to work under a manager who is more worried about pushing their weight around than building relationships. Great leaders should never talk down to their employees or make them feel inferior. Remember where you started and be respectful to everyone.

The ‘Task Master’ Boss: Who piles on work constantly to employees without checking how much they already have to do. This type of boss is usually great at dishing out tasks but completing none of their own. Giving too much work to staff before they have even completed their own mandatory day to day tasks is a sure fire way to kill staff morale and motivation. Think before handing out tasks ‘what can I do to take some of this work load away from my workers?’. If you don’t you’ll push them to a breaking point, where they will feel under pressure and stressed out. This might lead them to taking time off or actually quitting. ‘Task Master’ bosses are usually found in smaller organisations where there are less staff to spread the work out across.

The ‘Stuck in Old Ways’ Boss: Staff leave bosses who don’t move with the times. If you’re paying them what you paid them 5 years ago even though they’re now doing a lot more work, they’re going to leave. If you’re not letting your staff try working in new, modern ways, they’ll leave. Maybe you won’t let anyone try anything new. People don’t like bosses who don’t like change. If you’re stuck in your ways to the point where you’re holding your staff back, don’t be surprised when you’re having to fill vacancies.

Check yourself.

There are too many exceptional employees out there that become disheartened, stop caring but force themselves into work everyday until they find another job. If you’re a manager, take a look at yourself and ask yourself if you are truly a good one. No matter how good a job is, staff certainly won’t stick around for you if you are not treating them correctly. Remember, staff don’t leave jobs, they leave managers.

Is Dentistry Right For You?

Posted on 11/04/2021 | by Marcus | Leave a Comment

You are a compassionate person, great with your hands and creative in finding solutions. You enjoyed the sciences at school and thrived under the pressures at university. Your heart is full of hope and aspiration. Does this make you a natural dentist? Is dentistry the right career choice for you?

Your Journey

You spend time shadowing a dentist and realise that you are only at the start of a very long journey. The length of this journey is not defined. You are in control of how far you want to take your career. Is your eventual aim to become a dental provider in a small community where dentistry is managed around your lifestyle? Or perhaps you want to move towards a specialism and become a referral point for all other dentists? Maybe you will find your niche as a solid player on the front line of a large clinic and be happy with not having the pressure of clinic ownership.

Dentistry as a Lifestyle…Is it the right career choice for you?

Is dentistry the right career choice or is lifestyle more important?

Career Choices in Dentistry

These are just a few of the wide variety of choices facing young dentists as they set out on their dental career. However,there is no right or wrong answer, it is simply a case of finding out what is right for you…what is good for your life value. Is money your driver, or is providing oral health for everyone your driver? Is time your biggest influence and finding a work/life balance that allows you to pursue other interests?

You are one step closer to happiness. You have made your decision on how you want your life story to play out. Be entirely honest with yourself. However, another way of looking at this is to ask yourself what the rewards for your efforts should be? Is being rewarded with happy and healthy patients enough for you? Perhaps your reward is winning an accolade, or being invited to give a presentation or training session? How important are the material things such as a quality car, a larger house, or a statement watch?

The rewards that you aim to gain from your dental career, almost defines your career path. Do you elect to work in the NHS environment, possibly in a dental hospital or in a local clinic? Perhaps you jump into private dentistry to see more challenging cases and reap higher rewards? Do you look into buying your own dental clinic, or a partnership in one?

Recently, we have seen many dentists launch a secondary earning stream. This could be anything from working for a supplier or manufacturer to singing on TV. In short, dentists are becoming more entrepreneurial. Is this something that you should be considering?

Who Can Advise You?

Talk to as many people around you as you can about your career path, and not just your colleagues in dentistry. People outside the profession may not fully understand the nuances of your choices. They will be able to offer advice on what makes you happy. This is vital. There are too many unhappy dentists around us who have not been honest with themselves and have aimed at the wrong path. We are often too insular in dentistry, especially when talking about our careers. Break this mould and talk to friends and family who have nothing to do with dentistry as they can provide you with the clarity of vision we all need. Most importantly, is dentistry the right career choice for you?

The 5 Questions

Rudyard Kipling’s 5 questions are vital…who, why, where, when and how? Who do I want to work with? Why do I want to work in that type of clinical environment as opposed to another? Where do I want to work? When do I want to work…and when do I not want to work? How do I find this ideal role? The last question is simple…you are on the right website to find a wide variety of roles across the UK and soon in Australia. We wish you every success in finding the right career path for you, and to finding the right role to achieve happiness.
https://blueglovejobs.com/

You can also check out clinics across the UK on
https://www.defactodentists.com/

Good Luck With Your Job Search

You can also post your job vacancies on this website by clicking on https://blueglovejobs.com/

Managing Staff Performance – FREE Webinar from CODE Total HR

Posted on 27/11/2018 | by Leigh | Leave a Comment

What Are Your Plans for Thursday Lunch Time?

Keep your diary free! Blue Glove Jobs are happy to share with you all that CODE Total HR are giving you the opportunity to take part in a FREE Webinar this Thursday (29th November 2018) all about Managing Staff Performance.

THE DETAILS

What: Free ‘Managing Staff Performance’ Webinar

Who: Hannah Larkworthy, CODE’s HR Advisor (who provides daily advice & support to more than 3,000 practices!!)

When: Thursday 29th November 2018 at 1pm (duration approx. 50 mins)

What will the Webinar Cover?

The key topics covered in the webinar are as follows:

Understanding when to instigate formal capability procedures
Conducting an appraisal
Instigating performance improvement plans and competence records
How to manage underperforming self-employed associates
Minimising the risk of a tribunal

In the webinar, Hannah will explore how to introduce informal performance improvement measures into your organisation and equip you with the knowledge and skills to manage the capability process and help reduce the risk of a tribunal claim. When it comes to HR issues, mistakes can be costly. CODE Total HR are here to help you manage your team with total confidence, so that you know that you’re doing the right thing by your staff and in the eyes of the law.

To find out more about the webinar and to sign up, fill in the registration form here.

You can also sign up via your social media accounts if that’s more your thing!

Not free on Thursday at lunch?

Don’t worry – you don’t need to miss out! You can find videos of past CODE Total HR webinars here.

Stay tuned to the CODE Total HR website to make sure you don’t miss out on opportunities like this in the future…

Let us know if you get involved with the webinar on Thursday in your lunch hour – the Blue Glove Jobs team will certainly be tuning in!

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Four Things To Avoid When Looking For Your Next Dental Job

Posted on 22/11/2018 | by Leigh | Leave a Comment

Want your dream dental job? Avoid these 4 things.

Searching through job vacancies can be a bit of a tough task. It’s not fun, especially after a hard day’s work. It’s a daunting task. You read through the specifications and doubt whether you meet them or not. The demand for dental jobs in the UK is unpredictable, and it’s set to stay that way thanks to the challenge of Brexit and seemingly never-ending cuts to the NHS. If you’re thinking about a change in career path, or simply want to look for a new role elsewhere, it’s worth understanding what is important for you as a dentist the UK, even if you’ve been working here for years.

Today on the blog, we are discussing the five key things you should avoid doing in your next dental job.

Avoid Accepting a Small Holiday Allowance.

Being a dentist is physically and mentally exhausting. It’s not a 9-5, even if that’s your practice’s opening hours. You’re often in the practice from 8am and sometimes won’t leave until 6 or 7. The daily grind of dentistry is tough, and that’s why you should pay attention to your holiday allowance. Everyone needs a holiday to take time our and recharge the batteries. Before applying for or accepting any roles, find out the holiday entitlement. The average holiday allowance is 28-30 days, excluding bank holidays. Usually, you’ll be able to decide for yourself when you need a break. Your corporate may make you complete a “Holiday Request Form” which will require approval. This can make taking time out a bit of a bother, and they can reject your requests. Make sure you know the holiday policy before you agree to anything.

Avoid Accepting a role somewhere, where the staff turnover is high.

It can be hard to deliver quality dental care when a team isn’t a team. It’s a team effort that only strengthens over time. It can be hard to spot, but if you can avoid working for a practice with a high staff turnover, then do so. A quality dental practice should have high levels of staff retention. If the dentists and nurses and reception team have been working there for 15 years, 10 years, it must be a good place to work. If they are committed to the team, you can guarantee they are committed to their work, and that is a place you want to be.

Avoid practices that are stuck in the stone age.

We’re not saying that you should only join a modern practice, but if you’re in 2018 and they’re stuck back in 2008, consider whether that’s somewhere you really want to work. To deliver the best dentistry to patients, the practice should – where possible – move with the times. If you’re trained in all things digital dentistry and they’re stuck in the stone age, it’s probably not right for you. Look for a practice that wants to be the best and offer the best to patients. That’s the only way a practice will grow.

Avoid Long Notice Periods.

This might seem like a funny one. Your notice period determines how many months you have to work before leaving. The industry standard in dentistry is three months. Avoid jobs with long notice periods, such as 4 or 6 months. If you’re leaving, you’re leaving for a reason. Longer notice periods can cause people to become unmotivated. If you can, negotiate your notice period to match the industry standard.

There you have it – our four top things to avoid when looking for your next dental job. Are there any red flags you look out for when you are looking to find a new job? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you. Comment below, or get in touch with us via social media.

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Why You Shouldn’t Feel Bad About Quitting Your Job

Posted on 09/10/2018 | by Leigh | Leave a Comment

It’s ok to quit your job. Despite what your employer might make you think.

Everyone seems to get nervous when it comes to leaving their job. They worry about approaching the subject with their manager. They worry about writing their notice letter and worry about what other staff might think. Today, we’re looking at why quitting your job is totally okay and why you shouldn’t be made to feel bad for doing so.

If your employer makes leaving your job uncomfortable or difficult, it’s probably just as well you’re leaving.

You’re under no obligation to stay in a job forever. You can get up and leave tomorrow if you really want to. You are your own person, you can do what you want. On occasion, employers will make you feel bad for leaving, or try to convince you to stay. If you hand in your letter of notice, or discuss that you’re parting ways with the company and they give you the cold shoulder, it’s probably best that you’re leaving. You shouldn’t be made to feel bad on a decision that is nobody else’s but yours.

Don’t let a bad reaction from your employer change your mind.

There’s a reason why you’re leaving. You’re fed up, you need a new challenge, or you’re entering a new field. You want to grow as a person and in your career. Your employer might not be happy that you’re leaving, but you’ve decided you’re leaving. Don’t let their opinion change your mind. Don’t question yourself. They might try and talk you out of it or make you feel guilty, but do you really want to continue working for someone like that? We certainly hope not! If it’s time for you to move on, go ahead and do it, don’t let anyone stop you!

No bad blood on your part.

If anything, it’s always the ideal scenario to leave a job on good terms. We know that isn’t always possible though. Some employers can make it difficult, but cutting ties isn’t a great idea, you might end up back there one day. You might be made out to be the bad guy for quitting your job, but if you can walk away from your position knowing full well that you’ve been gracious in your exit with your head held high, that’s really what matters.

See it through until the end.

Regardless of the situation after you’ve handed your notice in, don’t slack off. See it through until the end. Quitting your job doesn’t mean quitting right away. Work hard in your notice period, don’t stop caring because you know you are leaving soon. Finish your tasks and continue to help others out as you usually would. That way, you’ve covered your own back and know you can leave with the knowledge that you always did what was asked of you.

Have you ever had awkward experiences when it’s come to quitting a job? We’d love to hear your stories! Comment on this post or get in touch with us on social media!

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4 Things You Should Do Before You Leave Work Today For A Better Tomorrow

Posted on 02/10/2018 | by Leigh | Leave a Comment

Bad day at work?

It happens to the best of us. As much as we’d always love to have a good day at work, it’s not always the case. Sadly, a bad day can leave us feeling defeated, overwhelmed and a bit down. So today, we’re firing right into our blog post. We want to share with you FOUR things you should do everyday before you leave work today for a better tomorrow. Let’s get started!

Be Honest with yourself.

Are you the cause of your bad day? Could you have handled something better? Maybe you’ve performed really well today and completed all your tasks. Regardless of how your day has went, be honest with yourself. To have a better tomorrow, acknowledge how your day has gone. What did you do well and where could you improve? Figure that out. Try and improve on yourself tomorrow and keep doing the things you do well!

Iron out any concerns.

Maybe you had a disagreement with another colleague or a superior. If it’s playing on your mind, speak with them. If you don’t, it’ll most likely play on your mind after you’ve left work. It’s always good to be the bigger person and to clear your conscience. Iron out any concerns so you’re not carrying them around on your shoulders into a new day.

Tidy workspace = tidy mind.

No matter what your work environment looks like, a tidy workspace = a tidy mind. Whizz round at the end of the day and give it a tidy. Put everything in it’s place, take any dishes back to the kitchen, empty the bin, tidy away your papers. A messy workspace can be overwhelming and distracting. Keep on top of it to keep on top of your tasks.

For a Better Tomorrow, Plan Tomorrow Today.

The very last thing you should do everyday in work is plan your tomorrow. Grab a notebook, a pen and jot down a list. Write down any left over tasks from today and then add in all your tasks for the following day. That way, when you come in in the morning you can get straight down to business. You know what’s facing you before you even come in. You’re prepared ahead of time. It also saves you 10 minutes in the morning trying to figure out what you need to do that day.

Are you going to try these four things out to see if you’ll have a better day tomorrow? We hope so! Let us know how it goes!

What To Do When Your Colleagues Don’t Pull Their Weight.

Posted on 25/09/2018 | by Marcus | Leave a Comment

Ever feel like you’re the only one with the get-up and go attitude?

Everyone has bad days. Work isn’t always sunshine and rainbows and sometimes, the motivation can be hard to find. However, if you’re the one who is constantly picking up the slack of your colleagues, this blog post is for you. Today, we’re discussing how to be an effective team player, but noticing when you’re being taken advantage of. We’re also looking at ways to tackle these types of problems in the work place. Sound like something you’d like to know more about? Read on.

Being a Team Player isn’t always easy.

Just because you might prefer to work alone, doesn’t mean you can’t be a good team player. After all, you all work for the same company, and therefore should have the similar, if not the same goals for your company. Working in a team isn’t always easy though. It is often made challenging by other workers doing the bare minimum or doing nothing at all and tiding over on the graft of others. This is when problems start to arise and persist if not addressed.

Being an effective team player means that you lift each other up instead of holding each other back. It means helping each other achieve collective goals. Being a team player means not watching anyone struggle. Being a team player means refusing to rely on others to do your assigned tasks for you. It means knowing when to get the head down and get the job done!

When your colleagues don’t pull their weight, try to get the motivation going.

If you know that your colleagues aren’t pulling their weight, try to tackle it positively. Try to boost the motivation of your co-workers. Encourage them genuinely, not condescendingly. Let them know that they’re doing a good job. Everyone likes to hear that once in a while! If you need them more hands-on in a task, ask them to help you carry out the task together. That way, you have another pair of hands on deck. You never know, inviting them to join you on a task just might be the kickstart they need, once they start, they might not want to stop. We’ve also written a blog post on motivation boosting at work – check that out here for more tips and tricks!

Address The Situation.

Although it can be frustrating, try to keep calm. If you need to, you can always go and speak to superiors about staff who are not pulling their weight. Nobody wants to be seen as the ‘tell-tale’ or ‘the office grass’ but it’s important to know when enough is enough and put your foot down. If you don’t address the situation, the problem will continue and leave you being the one who is picking up the slack consistently. If you are always the first to arrive and the last to leave because you’re finishing off the little left-over tasks, that’s a problem. Speak to the culprits individually if you are confident enough to. Speak to your manager, or raise it at a staff meeting. A problem shared, is usually a problem halved. And, the chances are, you’re not the only one noticing the problem.

So there you have it! Our top tips on dealing with co-workers who slack off and leave you to run around making sure the jobs get done. Have you ever had to deal with a similar situation? How did you deal with it? Let us know in the comments, or hit us up on social media! We’d love to hear from you!

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When Is The Best Time To Ask For a Promotion?

Posted on 07/08/2018 | by Marcus | Leave a Comment

Think it’s time to step your career up a notch?

Are you bored of the same old job, day in, day out? Do you feel like you’re stuck in a rut with your job? It might be time for a change. That doesn’t always mean it’s time to hit the job search and hand in your notice. Might it be time to ask for a promotion?

Today on The Blue Glove Jobs blog, we look at how to ask for a promotion, and when is the best time to ask for a promotion!

Should you really ask for a promotion?

If you don’t ask, you don’t get. It really is that simple.

We understand, some people feel awkward asking for opportunities, especially from superiors. But asking shows that you’re keen. That you actively want to take the next step in your career and try your hand at something new. So while you might think it’s embarrassing, it can actually impress employers. If you don’t stick your head above the parapet, your employer might over look you.

Asking for a promotion is also a good idea because it may not be someone that you work with directly who is doing the hiring. If you ask your superior, they will be able to pass your details on to the person who is actually doing the recruiting. It’s a good way of getting your name out there!

When is the best time to ask for a promotion?

Believe it or not, the best time to ask for a promotion is during the summer months and the worst time to ask for a promotion is during the autumn months – September/October/November – according to Visier Analytics. This is a result of the financial cycle of many companies. Most companies review in the first quarter of the year and look to promote in the second quarter. Most financial budgets are done in quarters 3 & 4 so it’s best not to ask then.

What should I do if I ask for a promotion and don’t get it?

If you ask for a promotion and don’t get it, don’t worry. It’s a good thing to know that the summer months are the period in which you’re most likely to find a new job. Employees who are looking to leave jobs will often wait until the Spring bonuses have been shared out among employees. Then, they will leave their jobs. It’s a good time to begin searching for jobs during May, June & July. This is when most job openings will appear.

The Signs That Prove You Are Over-Worked

Posted on 26/07/2018 | by Marcus | Leave a Comment

How can you spot someone who is working too hard?

You’d think it’d be easy to spot someone who is over-worked. We often imagine that over worked people would have dark, dark under eyes, with cocktail sticks holding their eyes open. We picture them living off of strong black coffees, never taking a break and being the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at night.

In reality, that’s not the case. Just because you aren’t showing the stereotypical signs of tiredness doesn’t mean you’re not over worked! Today on the blog, we’re talking spotting the signs of being worn out, and what you can do about them!

You cannot switch off from ‘work-mode’ no matter how you try.

You might be going home at night from work, but you aren’t able to switch off. Your mind is always thinking about e-mails and phone calls. You might even take work home with you to get a head start on the next day or to finish off tasks from the day before. Finding it hard to switch off from work mode is a sign that you’re overworked. This is a clear sign that you are overwhelmed and feel pressured by your job to try and stay on top of things, even out of hours.

You’re not your usual, happy self.

Overworked? Yeah, your workmates can tell, because you snap at the tiniest things, or don’t laugh along with the team. You prefer to work over your lunch hour and prefer to sit alone. Being overworked is taking hold of your energy levels. You feel sluggish and therefore act sluggish. Your bright peppy, usual self has been taken hostage by mountains of work. This is a sure fire way to recognise someone who is overworked.

Your To-Do List has never been empty.

When was the last time your to-do list had nothing on it? If you can’t remember, you probably fit in to the over-worked category. If you know that you can’t manage an extra job, don’t say yes to it. Simply, if you feel like you’ll never catch up, you’ve already got too much on your plate.

You’re physically and mentally unwell.

Working too hard can take a serious toll on your health. Not only do you feel tired, your muscles can become sore and your body may ache, despite not having an ‘injury’ as such. Your skin can become dull or you may suffer from break outs. You might gain or lose weight, have a massive appetite and comfort eat, or have no appetite and barely eat at all. More importantly, if you’re losing interest in everything, that is a sign that you’ve been worked too hard.

What can I do?

Know when you’re being over-worked and take action. If other people tell you you’re over-worked, listen to them. If you feel too pressurised at work, speak to someone who can help you whether that be a friend at work or a manager. The more your work consumes you, the more likely you are to burn out and need time off, or worse, feel like you should quit. Finally, always remember to put yourself and your health first.