Things we'd like to talk about

• 

  #OrchardBaby Competition

  It's hard to imagine that some of the Orchard team were babies once upon a time, well here ...

  20/01/2012 2 comments

  20/01/2012 2 comments

  It's hard to imagine that some of the Orchard team were babies once upon a time, well here is proof!

  20/01/2012 2 comments

   
  To celebrate @MattOrchard's new arrival we are giving away a £50 Amazon voucher with our very own #OrchardBaby competition. For 12 days, from Monday 23rd January we will add a baby / toddler photo of each Orchard employee onto our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Orchard - you just need to guess who it is.
  
  For a reference point you can take a look at our Orchard Folding photo album on Facebook which has current photos with names of all of the Orchard team.
  
   Here are the rules....
  
  1 - You must 'Like' our Orchard Facebook page in order to enter the competition.
  
  2 - You only have 1 guess per photo - you enter by simply commenting under the photograph with the name of the Orchard employee you think it is. If any of your guesses are correct over the 12 days you will automatically be put in the hat - which will be drawn at random.
  
  3 - The competition ends on Wednesday 8th February when a winner will be revealed.
  
  Follow our @OrchardTweets & #OrchardBaby page to get all the latest competition news!
  
  
• 

  #Blogfromthearchive: Freelance, should you take the plunge?

  Going solo as a freelancer is a daunting and challenging life decision, but the rewards can ...

  17/01/2012 2 comments

  17/01/2012 2 comments

  Going solo as a freelancer is a daunting and challenging life decision, but the rewards can outweigh the negatives when successful. It's just getting there.

  17/01/2012 2 comments

  As it's my turn to write a blog this week, I thought to myself "What would be most relevant to our candiates and readers?" I have been asked a few times this week about 'what it's like to go freelance' and have given out my thoughts on the matter. Alex has hit the nail on the head with this blog so I have reposted it for all you permanent job creatives thinking of taking the plunge!
  
  Especially in the design world, freelancing is something that I think most designers and artworkers would like to have a shot at during their career. It is unfortunately one of those instances were you have to try it out to know whether it suits you, and making the first leap can be a risky and unstable time - especially at the moment.
  
  Here are a few qualities that make a good freelancer:
  
  - Versatility. As a freelancer is it crucial that you not only have great communication skills, but that you have the ability to get on with a wide range of different people. You will have to be able to adapt quickly to different working environments without issue. It is in essence, like constantly starting a new job.
  
  - Confidence. An integral part of being a freelancer is being confident with others, as you will be continually meeting new people and employers. You have to be sure of yourself and your abilities, and not be shy of networking.
  
  - Motivation. There will be some times as a freelancer when times will be tough and quiet. It is important that you have an upbeat positive attitude during these periods, and are able to motivate yourself to find work and contacts.
  
  - Have an easy going and pleasant personality. We find that the majority of our clients will call and request a freelancer by name, someone that they have had before, as it make things easier for them. So, making a good first impression is vital.
  
  Some people may fail miserably, some may freelance for a few years until returning to permanent work and some will have long profitable careers. If you're currently in two minds about whether freelancing is the thing for you, here are some pros and cons to help you out.
  
  PROS
  
  - It goes without saying that pound for pound, when working as a freelancer compared to permanent, that the rates are generally higher. You have the potential to earn big bucks.
  
  - Due to the flexible nature of freelancing, you have the control over the impact of your work on your lifestyle and out of work plans, choosing to work as often or as little as you want (or can afford).
  
  - You get the opportunity to build relationships with many different agencies and companies, and once you're in, if you do a good job you are more likely to be asked back. Not just for freelance, but forming these relationships increases the chance of being offered a permanent role for when / if you return to this way of working.
  
  - Working for many agencies and companies on different projects and in different industries widens your skills and experience. You consequently learn a great deal when working as a freelancer, benefiting from working with many different people. Not only this but it increases your networking pool.
  
  CONS
  
  - The main point that scares many people away from freelancing is the lack of financial stability and not knowing when the next job will come along. A lot of freelance work is unpredictable and last minute, and at times you will have to leave personal plans in order to earn some money. If you aren't in a comfortable position financially or just starting out, you will most likely need to take whatever comes your way regardless of plans previously made.
  
  - Working as a freelancer, you will need to accept that generally, you will be placed with the more routine and 'mundane' tasks to complete, the more creative work will most likely go to the permanent employees.
  
  - Another downside to working as a freelancer in the financial sense, is that you get no sick pay, no redundancy pay and will find it very hard to get a mortgage without showing long term regular income.
  
  If you are interested in making the transition from permanent to freelance and have any questions then please do not hesitate to ask.
  
  Written by Alex Fisher @orchard_alex  
  Stolen by Mairi Wilson @Orchard_Mairi
  
  
• 

  Top 10 Creative & Marketing Events in the North West & Yorkshire

  Whether you're looking to go to your first networking event or a regular event goer yourself, ...

  12/01/2012

  12/01/2012

  Whether you're looking to go to your first networking event or a regular event goer yourself, take a look at our top 10 list of industry events that regularly happen throughout the North West and Yorkshire.

  12/01/2012

  In no particular order....
  
  1 - Northern Digitals / BLAB @NorthernDigital
  
  Northern Digitals is a monthly meet up (on a Thursday) at Cafe Bar Barcelona in Manchester. This evening is a very informal gathering of people interested in digital and a great way to meet more like minded individuals - and it's FREE. We would definitely recommend going along to a Northern Digitals meet up - especially if you are new to networking due to the friendly atmosphere. Every few months Northern Digitals has a BLAB night, held at the Deaf Institute, which involves speakers - the topics vary greatly and Orchard have been known to giveaway fantastic prizes here.
  
  http://www.meetup.com/northerndigitals/
  
  2 - Hudds Digitals @huddsdigitals
  
  Hudds Digitals has a very similar set up to Northern Digitals, in respect to it being an evening of digital people meeting for drinks and chats. Although not quite as established yet compared to Northern Digitals, Hudds Digitals is building a great reputation. It is again a free informal, welcoming event for new attendees who want to meet others within the industry. Hudds Digitals additionally hosts the occasional football friendlies. The evening is held in a lovely little bar in Huddersfield, Zephyr Bar, on the last Wednesday of the month and is definitely one to give a go.
  
  http://huddsdigitals.com/
  
  3 - Geek Up Manchester / Leeds / Liverpool @GeekUp
  
  GeekUp is another informal evening which takes place in many cities across the country but locally Mancheseter, Leeds and Liverpool. GeekUp attracts predominantly web designers / developers / technology minded people rather than print designers and consequently the evening focuses more on peoples interests in technology and the web. GeekUp has been successfully running for 5 years now.
  
  http://geekup.org/
  
  4 - Creative Networks @CNwestyorks
  
  Creative Networks Yorkshire is a free monthly meet up - usually the last Thursday of every month - held at the Leeds College of Art. You will find people here from all corners of the creative world. Creative Networks has been successful for a couple of years now and consists of networking and a guest speaker. Creative Networks is a relaxed and informative evening very much worth your time - plus there is normally free drinks and food to get you into the networking mood! Additionally, at the start of each evening they have a few minutes dedicated to 3/4 business pitches.
  
  http://www.creativenetworksyorkshire.co.uk/
  
  5 - Northern Soho @NorthernSoho
  
  Northern Soho describes itself as 'a collective celebration of our region's vibrancy, creativity and potential - all that's good about the Northern scene and all the great work we do.' Northern Soho is a monthly meetup event, on the last Thursday of the month at Circle Club, Manchester and is another informal style networking evening with a prize draw.
  
  http://www.northernsoho.com/
  
  6 - LSx Cafe @LSx
  
  Formally the OpenCoffee Leeds, LSx Cafe is a morning coffee and cake monthly networking event held at the Old Broadcasting House in Leeds. It is held on the second Tuesday of every month. Attendance is normally between 30-40 people and the morning consists of a demo and encouraging attendees to show off what they're working on, previous demos include Richard Englund's Xbox Kinext hacks & Dom Hodgson's Click N Mix.
  
  http://lsx.co/
  
  7 - CING Network @CINGnetwork
  
  CING (the Creative Industries Networking Group) has been going for around 5 years now and has two main functions - firstly they hold an informal monthly networking event, held on the first Monday of every month currently at the English Lounge, Manchester. This is a free event although you do need to RSVP. Additionally to this, CING host various business skills workshops and have recently launched their next series of CING Coffee club, the price is £18 and start from February through to May - location tba.
  
  http://www.meetup.com/C-I-N-G/
  
  8 - MPA @MPAweareyou
  
  The MPA, Manchester Publicity Association, is a non-for-profit membership organisation for people within the creative and digital industries who's aim is to give the creative community it's own voice. The MPA regularly host various networking events, panel events, training programmes and business lunches / functions. MPA's next event is the MPA & NABS Creative Forum and lunch with speakers Danny Brooke-Taylor and Jim Thornton.
  
  http://www.mpa.org.uk/
  
  9 - Madlab Events @madlabuk
  
  Madlab, aka Manchester Digital Laboratory, is a venue within the Northern Quarter of Manchester which carries out a variety of different self funded events to attract and cement the creative community within the city, especially digital / technology minded people. This is a space which has a bustling calender full of meetup and activities.
  
  http://madlab.org.uk
  
  10 - CIM, Meet With Drinks @CIMinfo
  
  CIM Meet with drinks is a networking event more appealing to the marketer than the designer - this is a monthly event held at Club LS1 in Leeds. You can expect a free drink on arrival and a relaxed if not slightly corporate atmosphere. CIM also hosts many speaker events across the country which generally come with a fee. The CIM, Meet With Drinks event is free, although you do need to book a place through their website.
  
  http://www.cim.co.uk/home.aspx
  
  All of the above are continually updated in our events section with detailed information given - so keep an eye out on there and also follow our Twitter feed @orchardtweets for event news.
  
  If you have a creative or marketing event that you would like listed on our events page - please get in touch - Manchester@Orchard.co.uk Or if you have any suggestions for other events, please comment below.
  
  @Orchard_Alex
  
  Other related blog entries:
  
  http://www.orchard.co.uk/Blog/New-to-Networking-1132.aspx
  
  http://www.orchard.co.uk/Blog/Guest-Blog---Amir-Lodge
  
  http://www.orchard.co.uk/Blog/Manchesters-First-Instameet-1456.aspx
  
• 

  Paying for Internships

  With a record 1.16m young people unemployed and not in training, I guess it’s not surprising ...

  22/12/2011 1 comments

  22/12/2011 1 comments

  With a record 1.16m young people unemployed and not in training, I guess it’s not surprising to hear reports that young people are paying to gain work experience in a desperate attempt to bulk out their CV’s.

  22/12/2011 1 comments

   
  Image courtesy of The Daily Beast
  
  The practice’s reported in the news include interns paying between £50 - 200 / day for work experience, in addition to admin fees being charged by company’s offering services to find internships.
  
  It disturbs me that people feel this is their only option and also that there will be plenty of people out there willing to exploit this practice. This doesn’t mean I agree that all work experience should be paid either. Offering services free of charge has long been a way of gaining experience but also proving to prospective employers an individuals determination to succeed in their chosen path. Offering employers money in exchange for work experience is not illegal and the moral issues are for those involved to contemplate.
  
  It is illegal under The Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003, to charge work seekers fees for finding work. Therefore the above practice is testing the limits of the legislation.
  
  We regularly receive enquiries from graduates and students with regards to work experience opportunities. We also hold seminars for students studying relevant sector qualifications, in local Universities, geared at preparing them for the jobs market. There are also plenty of other companies out there that are still willing to invest in young people, train them up and help them realise their potential.
  
  The Youth Contract announced by the government in November is reported to be offering subsidies worth £2,275 for employers to take on young people but if you are interested hurry as it will only be extended to a mere 160,000 young people.
  
  If you think you might have been charged a seekers fee for finding work and want further advice on if it was legal then contact the Department of Business Skills & Innovation (BIS)
  
  Diane Edwards
  @DiOrchard
  
  See related blog by Andy Chesters: Get a Job Seminar does the job
  
  
• 

  Guest Blog by Andrew Thomas: Care in the Creative Community

  It would seem topical, in the week that we see a young filmmaker winning the “Young Apprentice” ...

  15/12/2011

  15/12/2011

  It would seem topical, in the week that we see a young filmmaker winning the “Young Apprentice” on BBC1, that we think about the influx of younger adults entering the creative industries and what impact that has upon us ...

  15/12/2011

  Although it could be argued that we have always seen bright, young, dynamic and enthusiastic individuals entering the industry at grass-roots, it is likely with the focus now on alternative routes into industry, beyond the vanilla bachelor level degree, that we are going to see much younger workers as apprentices, and high-level apprentices coming into the workplace.
  
  So what? you might think. Well I think there are a number of potential benefits and pitfalls in this increasingly likely occurrence. On the plus side, seeing the raw energy and can-do spirit of eighteen and nineteen year-olds is liberating. These “digital natives” are quick to embrace the opportunities of digital and multi-platform. Let’s face it, they were born into the digital age and see no barriers, or silos within which to hide. They are keen to experience everything and not be shackled by anyone or anything. No job is too small or too trivial to warrant less than total commitment. Their influence is fresh and enabling and permeates right through an organisation.
  
  I spent some time with a chief executive from one of our larger agencies last week. She was eulogising about the energy and positive impact her first cohort of apprentices were having on the company. In a way, it is humbling how those with supposedly limited knowledge, and even less experience, can alter how we think about what we do, through the clarity of their thought process and complete lack of bias.
  
  However, what happens if we don’t nurture this young and fragile school or college leaver? What about the individual, who may not have the robustness of someone who has left home and had to fend for themselves whilst way at university? 
  
  Thrown into an agency where many of their allocated mentors are accidental leaders and managers, and perhaps barely out of college or university themselves, they can easily be misunderstood or in some extreme circumstances even crushed under foot. How do we make sure this doesn’t happen and we end up with a trail of talented broken young things with a sense of injustice and a jaundiced view of our industry?
  
  Perhaps at this time of festive cheer and goodwill to all men…and women, we should consider these three gifts for these young apprentices.
  - Firstly, understanding, that those who have not yet left home perhaps deserve a special sense of nurturing in our creative workplace.
  - Secondly, the gift of time. Time to listen and provide a clear, consistent sense of expectation.
  - And thirdly, empathy. Remember what you were like at that age and the commitment this young person in your charge is making to you and your business.
   
  Andrew Thomas
  @thegreenfield
  
  In case you missed it, here is Andrew Thomas's previous blog post:
  
  Is there a difference between – winning and not losing a pitch?
  
  
  
  
  
• 

  Different Types of Interviews

  Formal? Informal? Panel? Telephone? .... Getting ready for an interview? Take a read of these ...

  14/12/2011

  14/12/2011

  Formal? Informal? Panel? Telephone? .... Getting ready for an interview? Take a read of these different types of interviews and make sure you're ready for you're next time to impress.

  14/12/2011

  So you’ve got your foot in the door and it’s time to shine at your first interview. All you have to do now is prepare. Easy! If you know how…
  
                   
  
  There can be many different types of interviews and the more you know about the style, the better you can prepare.
  
  
  The Telephone Interview
  Often companies request an initial telephone interview before inviting you in for a face to face meeting in order to get a better understanding of the type of candidate you are. The one benefit of this is that you can have your notes out in front of you. You should do just as much preparation as you would for a face to face interview, and remember that your first impression is vital. Some people are better meeting in person than on the phone, so make sure that you speak confidently, with good pace and try to answer all the questions that are asked.
  
  The Face-to-Face Interview
  This can be a meeting between you and one member of staff or even two members.
  
  The Panel Interview
  These interviews involve a number of people sitting as a panel with one as chairperson. This type of interview is popular within the public sector.
                                      
  The Group Interview
  Several candidates are present at this type of interview. You will be asked to interact with each other by usually a group discussion. You might even be given a task to do as a team, so make sure you speak up and give your opinion.
  
  The Sequential Interview
  These are several interviews in turn with a different interviewer each time. Usually, each interviewer asks questions to test different sets of competencies. However, if you are asked the same questions, just make sure you answer each one as fully as the previous time.
  
  The Lunch / Dinner Interview
  This type of interview gives the employer a chance to assess your communication and interpersonal skills as well as your table manners! So make sure you order wisely (no spaghetti bolognaise) and make sure you don’t spill your drink (non-alcoholic of course!).
  
  
  All these types of interviews can take on different question formats, so once you’ve checked with your potential employer which type of interview you’ll be attending, get preparing!
  
  Here’s a list of interview formats that you should prepare your answers for;
  
  Competency Based Interviews
  These are structured to reflect the competencies the employer is seeking for the particular job. These will usually be detailed in the job spec so make sure you read it through, and have your answers ready for questions such as “Give me an example of a time you worked as a team to achieve a common goal.” For more examples of competency based questions click here.
  
  Formal / Informal Interviews
  Some interviews may be very formal, others may be very informal and seem like just a chat about your interests. However, it is important to remember that you are still being assessed, and topics should be friendly and clean!
  
  Portfolio Based Interviews
  In the design / digital or communications industry it is likely that you will be asked to take your portfolio along or show it online. Make sure all your work is up to date without too little or too much. Make sure that your images if in print are big enough for the interviewer to see properly, and always test your online portfolio on all Internet browsers before turning up.
  
  The Second Interview
  You’ve past the first interview and you’ve had the call to arrange the second. Congratulations! But what else is there to prepare for? You did as much as you could for the first interview! Now is the time to look back and review. You maybe asked the same questions you were asked before, so review them and brush up your answers. Review your research about the company; take a look at the ‘About Us’ section on their website, get to know their client base, search the latest news on the company and find out what the company is talking about.
  
  General Interview Preparation
  Here’s a list of questions that you should consider your answers for when preparing…
  
  • Why do you want this job?
  • Why are you the best person for the job?
  • What relevant experience do you have?
  • Why are you interested in working for this company?
  • What can you contribute to this company?
  • What do you know about this company?
  • What challenges are you looking for in a position?
  • Why do you want to work for this company?
  • Why should we hire you?
  • What are your salary requirements?
  
                         
  Ever experienced an interview not listed above? Have a story to tell about an interesting interview you've been on? Let us know by commenting below!
  
  @Orchard_Mairi
  
  If you've found these helpful, please take a look at our other interview related blogs!
  
  Interview Planning by @Orchard_Mike
  
  Interview Questions - How to avoid that awkward silence by @Franisaholden
  
  Portfolio Presentations by @OrchardRich
  
  Top 5: What NOT to do in an interview... by @OrchardRich
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 

  Interview Planning

  As an MD in a small business I know that the key to success is to plan for it. Infact, if ...

  13/12/2011

  13/12/2011

  As an MD in a small business I know that the key to success is to plan for it. Infact, if 5 excellent years at the MD support group Vistage taught me anything - it was that.

  13/12/2011

   
  Recruiting new team members is tough. However I find that so often the employers thinks 'phew, we have three interviews set up and that's the hard part done with', not so, that is just the start.
  
  Most recruitment projects are done under duress. We are in a hurry and we need someone yesterday - this is not a great planning environment I grant you, but planning as the name implies, is best done in advance and this is no exception.
  
  Step 1
  Job Description. Not everyone does this in advance but it's essential especially if there's more than one person or groups doing the interviewing. Everyone needs to fully understand the role, including the candidates and a good job description facilitates this.
  
  Step 2
  How many interviews? Best practise would ask for three interviews with three different people in three different locations, but this is not always possible. The point here is that this person will cost you a lot of money if they fail, whether they are recruited with a fee or directly. Therefore spend as much time as you can with them before you make any decisions.
  
  Step 3
  What do you need to know? Looking at the meetings you have planned (two or three) and try and decide different ways to spend the time. For example here at Orchard we have a chemistry meeting to discuss previous employment. Then we have a presentation and competency meeting to discover more about the candidate. Then finally, we have a third offer meeting to discuss what Orchard can do for the candidate.
  
  Step 4
  Plan your questions. If you want to find out information in Step 3 you need the right questions before the interview. If you are having multiple interviews then find out what questions are used in which interview. Ensure you have enough questions to spend time with the candidate, an important part of the process.
  
  Step 5
  Evaluate the interviews on paper. It's important to have a writer to record the meetings incase any questions arise in the future. Also, it helps when evaluating candidates against each other. I would always sleep on a job offer if at all possible.
  
  Within the Digital, Creative and Marketing sectors the team we have is our most valuable asset and as such hiring decisions are critically important and mistakes can be hugely expensive in terms of time and money.
  
  Can you afford not to sit down and spend between 4 and 8 hours to ensure that you do that process to the very best of your ability?
  
  If you require any help in interview planning or interview training for managers that have had no formal training then please contact us.
  
  Mike Carter 
  @Orchard_Mike
  
  
• 

  Top 5: What NOT to do in an interview...

  Although Orchard have been successful in placing thousands of candidates over the years, there ...

  08/12/2011

  08/12/2011

  Although Orchard have been successful in placing thousands of candidates over the years, there are always those who attended the same interview but weren't offered the job.

  08/12/2011

   
  Most of the time the reason is simply down to there being a 'better suited candidate'. However the occasional applicant does fall foul of some obvious interview mistakes. You will be amazed how one small thing can significantly decrease your chances of getting that job.
  
  I've therefore listed a top five below of what not to do in an interview situation:
  
  1. Bad Manners / Communication
  - Don't chew gum / sweets, smell of smoke, treat the interview chair like a chaise longue, leave your mobile on, fidget, come across as over confident or give the impression that you've already got the job.
  - On the other hand, don't combat nerves by looking at the walls, by waffling, taking over the interview, look disinterested, reply to a question without fully understanding it.
  - Remember your personality is one of the first things that will be picked up on and first impressions count.
  
  2. Portfolio
  - Don't take too much work. Remember that interviews are generally limited in time and if all your work is to the same high standard then you will still get your message across with 16 to 20 pieces max.
  - Don't present your work with an overload of distracting boarders, own corporate identity or thumb nail samples. Keep work clearly visible, clinical, well laid out with plenty of dead space around the work to draw the eye in.
  - Don't rely on there being internet access within the interview room to view your work online.
  - Finally, don't use other peoples work, it won't take long for an employer to suss you out.
  
  3. Interview Preparation
  - First and foremost, don't arrive late. Your sat nav might let you down on the day so pre-plan your journey using Google maps (street view is great) or even better do a dummy run the day or weekend before. You may know the way but what is the travel time like in rush hour? If you are running late at least call ahead to let them know.
  - In the interview itself, don't rely on your knowledge of the company and the job role, do your web research and gain knowledge from your connections in the industry. Knowledge shows interest and enthusiasm and will always earn you brownie points.
  - A big no no is dressing inappropriately for an interview. This can be an easy pit fall in the creative industry these days as some companies (agencies in particular) have moved towards a 'dress down' code rather than formal suit and tie. It is important to 'look the part' and that could mean dressing up or down, if unsure call the company reception prior to the interview.
  
  4. Being Negative
  - Don't slag off work in your portfolio. If you really can't stomach some pieces why put it in? Most people have done some 'bread & butter' work at some point in their career and indeed there can be a positive spin to this by confirming the reason you put it in as most studios do it and you understand it has to be done.
  - Similarly don't bad mouth your employer or peers. Even though you might be the innocent party, at the very least you will come across as a moaner.
  - Don't change your interview date unless its a life or death reason. It may annoy the potential employer and disrupt their tight work / interview schedule.
  - Make sure your diary is free before you commit to a date.
  
  5. General Don'ts
  - Don't ask about the salary or what time they finish work.
  - Don't mention you will have to leave early to pick up the kids on a Monday.
  - Don't show a desire to do a job not within the job description or mentioning other job interviews you are going for that are more appealing.
  
  Some of the above points are comical but still happen, others are down to nerves. However, thinking about the interview in detail before hand will make you better prepared and this should at least calm some of these nerves. As I've mentioned already the most common reason you didn't get the job is because another applicant was better suited. It can be a fine line between yourself and them, so making one small error could throw all that effort out of the window.
  
  Richard Bridgwater @OrchardRich
  
  

read other articles Go to our blog