Our Blog
Benchmark’s blog section contains expert advice, and market information to both businesses and candidates.
Spring Into Action – Why Now is the Ideal Time to Start Your Job Search
There’s something undeniably energising about spring. Maybe it’s the lighter evenings, the first signs of blossom, or just finally being able to leave the house without multiple layers on, but it’s a season that gives us all a bit of a boost. The world starts to feel...
Choosing a Good Egg
Finding a perfect candidate isn’t as easy as it seems, but if you have firm processes in place to sift out the golden candidates, you will soon have a dream team. Fulfilling a role is one thing, but finding an employee that has the skill-set and the cultural fit for...
Finding Seasonal Joy – I’m Embracing the New Year and the New Opportunities it Will Bring
Finding Seasonal Joy – I’m Embracing the New Year and the New Opportunities it Will Bring I love ringing in the new year with my friends. As we cross arms and enthusiastically pelt out Auld Lang Syne, hug, and open another bottle of bubbles, I can’t help but...
Recruiting Right, Right from the Start
Recruiting Right, Right from the Start I’m the biggest believer that by focusing on your recruitment strategy and hiring right, right from the start, you are likely to save an enormous amount of time, and money. I have however seen it time and time again where...
Embracing Change – Why Autumn is the Perfect Time to Grow your Team
Who joins me in loving this time of year? For me, there is something about a crisp start to the day, the colours, and the general shift change as we enter autumn. As soon as I see that autumnal sunshine I’m desperate to get outside. Coat – tick! Sunglasses – tick!...
Why You Should Ask Tricky Questions in an Interview
There is no denying that interviews can sometimes be as painful for the interviewer as they can be for the interviewee. Going through the motions of asking all the standard questions can be tedious and often when interviewing several similarly qualified candidates,...
Small IS Beautiful
It was an enormous privilege to be invited by unTLD Business to participate in a round-table podcast discussion about 'Small is Beautiful'. This subject is especially close to my heart, given that my own business, Benchmark, is small and in my opinion...
Making Your Mental and Physical Wellbeing a Priority as a Business Owner
Mental Health in the workplace is certainly not a new subject. We understand the importance of looking after our employees to ensure they are fit and well-supported, and no doubt we have all read countless articles advising us of the best ways to do this. But, what...
Is Quiet Quitting a Problem in Your Business?
Quiet Quitting—whether you have heard this term before or not—is a real problem across businesses right now and is potentially happening in yours. Quit-quitting describes employees who fulfill their job requirements but do not go beyond their prescribed duties;...
Discover Sheffield: 3 Unique Spots for Engaging Meetings Outside the Office
This blog post is a collaboration between ourselves and SDP Student Homes. SDP Student Homes are a local business who share our love of all things Sheffield. Being in the same place all the time isn't great for us. You feel it in your soul, your creativity...
Maximising Your Time Off During Annual Leave
The holiday season has arrived and let’s be honest, we’re all thrilled about it! After what feels like the soggiest spring (and summer so far) on record we are all ready to dig out our holiday gear, enjoy some downtime, and hopefully enjoy some sunshine. Whilst...
Top Tips to Help You Secure Your Dream Job
We understand how dipping your toe into the recruitment market can feel overwhelming. Perhaps your hand has been forced through redundancy, or you have decided it is time for a change on your terms. Either way, it can be difficult to know where to start. We would love...
Office Politics
With the upcoming general election, political discussions can be difficult to avoid, you’ll hear them on the office radio, read them on social media, and naturally be drawn in to comment. Where you may be able to embrace healthy political discussions in your own time,...
How Not to Make Recruitment a Drag
With my extensive experience as a Recruiter, I have seen time and time again recruitment processes that drag on a little bit too long. I know what you might be thinking; here’s a typical recruiter trying to earn a quick buck and get a bum on a seat but please, hear me...
Managing Mental Health in the Workplace
13th – 19th May is Mental Health Awareness Week so we felt it was timely to create our latest blog around mental health in the workplace. Mental health is no longer a taboo within the workplace with many UK workers experiencing common mental health problems including...
How to Create a Memorable Interview Experience and Land Your Dream Candidate
Have you interviewed your DREAM candidate, and they've accepted another offer? As an interviewer, it's up to you to choose the right candidate, but it's also your job to make sure they choose YOU! By creating a positive and structured interview experience, you'll...
6 Tips for Effective Interview Preparation
Need help with Interview prep? Not sure how to build that all-important rapport with your interviewer? Some people really struggle with selling themselves, they know how to do their job (and well) but don’t always get this across in an interview. Sometimes it’s...
Tips for Junior Developers (Including Linkedin!)
At Benchmark Recruit we often get approached by Junior Developers looking for their first role in the industry. Although we do not always recruit for many junior roles, we always want to help people looking to get started in the sector. In this blog post, we wanted to...
The infamous ‘Two Year Itch’
In the ten years that I have worked in recruitment, I have been told time and time again that anything fewer than two years’ service on a CV is a concern. I am sure I shared this view in the early days of my career, but having met countless candidates over the years I...
CV Advice We Recommend You Ignore
Helping someone find their perfect role is so rewarding, it’s one of the most fun parts of the job. It’s literally what gets us out of bed in the morning. As recruiters, we spend most of our time talking to people, finding out their wants and needs, and exploring...
Hands up for a Career Move
New Year, New Job? Hands up if you are thinking about a career move for 2024?! If so, our advice to you is to be ahead of the game as it can be a crowded candidate market in January with lots of people looking to jump ship and embark on a new challenge. You absolutely...
Can You Face Another Year in Your Job?
With Christmas and the hope of January just around the corner, can you face another year in your job? Here we ask you a series of questions to uncover whether it's time for a change in job role. Glass ceiling Have you reached the point where you can see how you...
Embracing the Winter Months
As this piece is being written, we are nearing the end of Autumn and will soon embark on a new season – winter. Winter has a reputation for ranking the lowest for many people when it comes to season preferences, especially for those who suffer from Seasonal Affect...
The Importance of Downtime
When embarking on a career many of us thrive on being successful, climbing the ladder, breaking through the glass ceiling and, ultimately being well paid for our efforts. Whilst it is great to have a rewarding job and to be stimulated by the 9-5, it’s very easy for...
Benchmark’s Managing Director runs Sheffield 10k
Benchmark’s Managing Director, Becca has raised just shy of £900 for charity partner SCCCC by running the Sheffield 10k. Becca had wanted to run the Sheffield 10k for SCCCC last year, but unfortunately due to injury was not able to. Becca was determined more than...
5 reasons to Collaborate with a Recruitment Agency to build a perfect team
5 reasons to Collaborate with a Recruitment Agency to build a perfect team If you are looking to build a brilliant team, collaborating with a recruitment agency to support your recruitment campaign could be of real benefit, and help you build your perfect team. In...
5 Ideas for Keeping Your New Recruits Engaged
5 Ideas for Keeping Your New Recruits Engaged Benchmark are huge advocates of employee retention and work closely with clients to advise on the induction of new recruits. It is priority for Benchmark to ensure longevity in the workplace for the candidates they...
5 Truths Behind Counter Offers
5 Truths Behind Counter Offers When a Counter Offer comes it can be easy for candidates to be dazzled by a hike in salary, and commitment from their current employer. From Benchmark’s experience, this new enthusiasm is short-lived, and the candidate will soon be back...
The Signs That It’s Time to Change Jobs
The Signs That It's Time to Change Jobs Benchmark understands that for some of us, career progression and development is very simple and straightforward. Some of us determine whilst in secondary school or college an end goal that we must attain. If you are...
How to Sack Someone Gracefully
How to Sack Someone Gracefully Benchmark strongly believes that you can dismiss somebody gracefully. Telling an employee that they are dismissed can be very daunting. There is huge potential for an angry outburst, awkward tearful bargaining, or furious...
Our Blog
Benchmark’s blog section contains expert advice, and market information to both businesses and candidates.
Spring Into Action – Why Now is the Ideal Time to Start Your Job Search
There’s something undeniably energising about spring. Maybe it’s the lighter evenings, the first signs of blossom, or just finally being able to leave the house without multiple layers on, but it’s a season that gives us all a bit of a boost. The world starts to feel...
Choosing a Good Egg
Finding a perfect candidate isn’t as easy as it seems, but if you have firm processes in place to sift out the golden candidates, you will soon have a dream team. Fulfilling a role is one thing, but finding an employee that has the skill-set and the cultural fit for...
Finding Seasonal Joy – I’m Embracing the New Year and the New Opportunities it Will Bring
Finding Seasonal Joy – I’m Embracing the New Year and the New Opportunities it Will Bring I love ringing in the new year with my friends. As we cross arms and enthusiastically pelt out Auld Lang Syne, hug, and open another bottle of bubbles, I can’t help but...
Recruiting Right, Right from the Start
Recruiting Right, Right from the Start I’m the biggest believer that by focusing on your recruitment strategy and hiring right, right from the start, you are likely to save an enormous amount of time, and money. I have however seen it time and time again where...
Embracing Change – Why Autumn is the Perfect Time to Grow your Team
Who joins me in loving this time of year? For me, there is something about a crisp start to the day, the colours, and the general shift change as we enter autumn. As soon as I see that autumnal sunshine I’m desperate to get outside. Coat – tick! Sunglasses – tick!...
Why You Should Ask Tricky Questions in an Interview
There is no denying that interviews can sometimes be as painful for the interviewer as they can be for the interviewee. Going through the motions of asking all the standard questions can be tedious and often when interviewing several similarly qualified candidates,...
Small IS Beautiful
It was an enormous privilege to be invited by unTLD Business to participate in a round-table podcast discussion about 'Small is Beautiful'. This subject is especially close to my heart, given that my own business, Benchmark, is small and in my opinion...
Making Your Mental and Physical Wellbeing a Priority as a Business Owner
Mental Health in the workplace is certainly not a new subject. We understand the importance of looking after our employees to ensure they are fit and well-supported, and no doubt we have all read countless articles advising us of the best ways to do this. But, what...
Is Quiet Quitting a Problem in Your Business?
Quiet Quitting—whether you have heard this term before or not—is a real problem across businesses right now and is potentially happening in yours. Quit-quitting describes employees who fulfill their job requirements but do not go beyond their prescribed duties;...
Discover Sheffield: 3 Unique Spots for Engaging Meetings Outside the Office
This blog post is a collaboration between ourselves and SDP Student Homes. SDP Student Homes are a local business who share our love of all things Sheffield. Being in the same place all the time isn't great for us. You feel it in your soul, your creativity...
Maximising Your Time Off During Annual Leave
The holiday season has arrived and let’s be honest, we’re all thrilled about it! After what feels like the soggiest spring (and summer so far) on record we are all ready to dig out our holiday gear, enjoy some downtime, and hopefully enjoy some sunshine. Whilst...
Top Tips to Help You Secure Your Dream Job
We understand how dipping your toe into the recruitment market can feel overwhelming. Perhaps your hand has been forced through redundancy, or you have decided it is time for a change on your terms. Either way, it can be difficult to know where to start. We would love...
Office Politics
With the upcoming general election, political discussions can be difficult to avoid, you’ll hear them on the office radio, read them on social media, and naturally be drawn in to comment. Where you may be able to embrace healthy political discussions in your own time,...
How Not to Make Recruitment a Drag
With my extensive experience as a Recruiter, I have seen time and time again recruitment processes that drag on a little bit too long. I know what you might be thinking; here’s a typical recruiter trying to earn a quick buck and get a bum on a seat but please, hear me...
Managing Mental Health in the Workplace
13th – 19th May is Mental Health Awareness Week so we felt it was timely to create our latest blog around mental health in the workplace. Mental health is no longer a taboo within the workplace with many UK workers experiencing common mental health problems including...
How to Create a Memorable Interview Experience and Land Your Dream Candidate
Have you interviewed your DREAM candidate, and they've accepted another offer? As an interviewer, it's up to you to choose the right candidate, but it's also your job to make sure they choose YOU! By creating a positive and structured interview experience, you'll...
6 Tips for Effective Interview Preparation
Need help with Interview prep? Not sure how to build that all-important rapport with your interviewer? Some people really struggle with selling themselves, they know how to do their job (and well) but don’t always get this across in an interview. Sometimes it’s...
Tips for Junior Developers (Including Linkedin!)
At Benchmark Recruit we often get approached by Junior Developers looking for their first role in the industry. Although we do not always recruit for many junior roles, we always want to help people looking to get started in the sector. In this blog post, we wanted to...
The infamous ‘Two Year Itch’
In the ten years that I have worked in recruitment, I have been told time and time again that anything fewer than two years’ service on a CV is a concern. I am sure I shared this view in the early days of my career, but having met countless candidates over the years I...
CV Advice We Recommend You Ignore
Helping someone find their perfect role is so rewarding, it’s one of the most fun parts of the job. It’s literally what gets us out of bed in the morning. As recruiters, we spend most of our time talking to people, finding out their wants and needs, and exploring...
Hands up for a Career Move
New Year, New Job? Hands up if you are thinking about a career move for 2024?! If so, our advice to you is to be ahead of the game as it can be a crowded candidate market in January with lots of people looking to jump ship and embark on a new challenge. You absolutely...
Can You Face Another Year in Your Job?
With Christmas and the hope of January just around the corner, can you face another year in your job? Here we ask you a series of questions to uncover whether it's time for a change in job role. Glass ceiling Have you reached the point where you can see how you...
Embracing the Winter Months
As this piece is being written, we are nearing the end of Autumn and will soon embark on a new season – winter. Winter has a reputation for ranking the lowest for many people when it comes to season preferences, especially for those who suffer from Seasonal Affect...
The Importance of Downtime
When embarking on a career many of us thrive on being successful, climbing the ladder, breaking through the glass ceiling and, ultimately being well paid for our efforts. Whilst it is great to have a rewarding job and to be stimulated by the 9-5, it’s very easy for...
Benchmark’s Managing Director runs Sheffield 10k
Benchmark’s Managing Director, Becca has raised just shy of £900 for charity partner SCCCC by running the Sheffield 10k. Becca had wanted to run the Sheffield 10k for SCCCC last year, but unfortunately due to injury was not able to. Becca was determined more than...
5 reasons to Collaborate with a Recruitment Agency to build a perfect team
5 reasons to Collaborate with a Recruitment Agency to build a perfect team If you are looking to build a brilliant team, collaborating with a recruitment agency to support your recruitment campaign could be of real benefit, and help you build your perfect team. In...
5 Ideas for Keeping Your New Recruits Engaged
5 Ideas for Keeping Your New Recruits Engaged Benchmark are huge advocates of employee retention and work closely with clients to advise on the induction of new recruits. It is priority for Benchmark to ensure longevity in the workplace for the candidates they...
5 Truths Behind Counter Offers
5 Truths Behind Counter Offers When a Counter Offer comes it can be easy for candidates to be dazzled by a hike in salary, and commitment from their current employer. From Benchmark’s experience, this new enthusiasm is short-lived, and the candidate will soon be back...
The Signs That It’s Time to Change Jobs
The Signs That It's Time to Change Jobs Benchmark understands that for some of us, career progression and development is very simple and straightforward. Some of us determine whilst in secondary school or college an end goal that we must attain. If you are...
How to Sack Someone Gracefully
How to Sack Someone Gracefully Benchmark strongly believes that you can dismiss somebody gracefully. Telling an employee that they are dismissed can be very daunting. There is huge potential for an angry outburst, awkward tearful bargaining, or furious...