Friday 16 February 2024

Employers and Employees

Early background - a new Employee 

This will probably be a bit of a ramble, having been on both sides over the past five decades. As a teenager with good qualifications from a grammar school, I applied for a clerical position at a local branch of a national company. Despite my extremely short 'skinhead' haircut and fashionably smart clothes of the era, the interview with the 'old boy' in charge (probably aged around 50) went well and I was offered a job at a reasonable salary. A fast learner, I quickly progressed until such time as the office was taken over and closed. It was a great experience for a first job where I started from absolute zero and learned at my own pace. 

Eventually, the experience from this and my next job landed me a role as team leader in the British HQ of an international company. This is the first time I encountered a 'ceiling' within the profession, as the company valued higher qualifications. To be fair, they agreed to release me at full pay for one day a week so that I could pursue a business degree. Part of the course covered computer programming and, at my request, the company assigned me as liaison between the administration department and the new computer department, in preparation of automating some of the menial admin tasks.  

Recruiting: The Thatcher Years and the Fallout 

The Thatcher Years meant that, in the London catchment areas, there was a demand for staff and the rewards were good. Having worked my way through various departments of a multi-national technology corporation over the years (information systems analyst, computer-user trainer, technical support and marketing support at management level), I was head-hunted to run the European Sales and Support department for a USA-based software company for a few years. Subsequently, I was again head-hunted to set up and run the UK office for a German tech company. Both these roles required staffing from scratch. Having used local recruitment agencies for the more generic vacancies, I used industry knowledge and contacts to fill the specialist roles. 

When the boom years were followed by recession, HQ asked the likelihood of the UK office breaking even in the next business year. Having advised them that it was unlikely, I was asked to arrange termination of staff contracts by the end of the current business year. Staff were given a generous redundancy package and references for their next employment. Personally, I applied for a few positions but was never invited for interview. Jobs were like gold-dust. In one case, an agency's recruitment ad described me perfectly so I followed up their puzzling non-response with a telephone call. I was advised that there were so many applicants that the agency just picked the first twenty who ticked most of the boxes and discarded the rest, not even bothering to read them nor reply. Unbelievably rude and a poor service to their clients. Contacts from over the previous decade meant that I was able to offer freelance ad-hoc assistance therefore results of the recession were less significant than for those who lost all equity in their homes. It was a terrible time for many families.

Today - a young person's search for employment 

Generally, for a career in admin or commerce, it is expected that GCSEs will be followed by A-levels or an equivalent BTEC, which will lead to a place at University. 

The job search comprises endless applications that are mostly ignored. Companies are generally more inclined to respond than agencies, as those with good reputations will want to keep them. A good tip for applicants is to find out about the company from their website and contact them before submitting your application, asking a relevant question. This means that your name may be more familiar to them when they see your CV. 

Personal bug-bears include the over-use of the word 'passionate' when describing the 'ideal candidate'. How can people be passionate about an aspect of a job they don't have? They can be very interested but passionate is definitely unlikely. Another annoyance is starter-level roles in which the potential employer lists the years of experience the ideal candidate will have, yet is offering very little remuneration. In certain industries, there is a pro-BAME policy therefore denying opportunities to applicants who, for example, are Caucasian, heterosexual males who live with their parents in a middle-class home. 

It's tough. I wish both employers and employees the very best of luck. The unemployed, homeless, those with mental health issues, etc. are yet another topic. 


Thursday 1 February 2024

Virtual Living vs Life Experience

We recently published a blog post, considering the reasons why people are not reading blogs so much any more (blogging vs vlogging) then - lightbulb moment - we were discussing how so much has changed in such a short time. 

Two of the contributing factors are AI and the pandemic. Let's assume that blog readers want to learn something new or be entertained, many bloggers are now relying on AI to assemble information from the internet - unoriginal and uninspiring, so why bother to read that when you can do it yourself? 

There are long-term lifestyle changes in the aftermath of covid and lockdown. Bloggers who used to entertain readers with their travel experiences (be it a holiday, reviews of local eateries or live gigs) aren't pushing their boundaries, opting instead for a life in front of the computer or the TV. 

How popular are bloggers' reviews of TV shows, movies or books? Not very, we believe. What readers really want is an insight into something less standard and less available which will inspire their future plans - they almost certainly are not wanting to plan a future of TV channel streaming. 

So, how to regain your readership? Get your life back. The one that your readers were interested in. Leave the computer on the desk and experience life as you used to know it. Then write about your new adventures in your blog. 

And we'll try to follow our own advice!! 

Wednesday 17 January 2024

Over-Used Exclamation Marks!!

We're all guilty of this, sometimes. Possibly because there can be such unbelievable stupidity in the world? The BBC/ITV morning 'news' programs are masters of stating the obvious and 'news' is often a feature from a few weeks, months or even years ago. So we despair and we use exclamation marks to signify that we remember when there wasn't a need to constantly fill air-time.  

Is it Too Much Information or is it just too much repetition? We need to switch off - and this is meant in two ways. Switch off the news feed now and then, whether it's TV, social media or whatever source is your personal addiction. Switch off our brains now and then, assimilate what we know and decide how much we need to know. 

It's difficult to avoid the bombardment of collective opinions (because that is what much of the 'news' seems to be). For example, which reporters have researched their facts and which ones are merely repeating a point of view, either theirs or the spokesman for whatever is being reported? 

The over-sharing of opinions, that is the way of the world right now, is having an impact on mental health, particularly on younger people who have very little personal experience of history. Older people who are in authority often make it worse. 

Sometimes, everyone needs to stop, step back and evaluate. Maybe, instead of patching up the systems that have been in place - and failing - for some time, it would be a good idea to start over. And if this were to happen, it may still not work out well because the wrong (overpaid, not living in the real world) people are likely to be making those decisions, wasting much time and money. 

I went way off-topic in this post, not even touching on grammar but I think this is warranted (drumroll please, I've left it till the end...) aargh!!!


Saturday 30 September 2023

Artificial Intelligence

The Spielberg film, AI, unsettled me - but we're not there yet!

Using Artificial Intelligence software within the writing and editing industry has already had an impact on the creative economy. Enabling 'lazy' writers to generate income more quickly opens up opportunities for freelance and contract work, providing a pathway for marketing professionals to pursue their career goals.

The downside for those professionals is that, now, anyone can do it. Once their clients cotton on to this, some will just do it themselves, saving £££s off their costs.

Note. Much of the above was originally created with AI but has since been edited to actually be meaningful. Below is a generated paragraph that was totally unnecessary.

Creative Text, Images and 'Moving Pictures'

This is reminiscent of the problems that graphic designers suffered when affordable design software was released. Many small businesses decided to create their own logo, for example. It took several months for most of them to realise that having access to tools doesn't mean that no skill or experience is necessary - would you attempt to re-wire your home just because you had coils of wire and a screwdriver?

Video creation is easy too - kids are growing up with it. A few entertaining TikTok vids are a long way from traditional cinema but could easily become a good marketing tool, in the same way that YouTube is used. The new generation of creatives can engage with the new generation of buyers and users. Podcasts are used by a number of businesses these days, as well as the entertainment industry.

Will the time come when AI writes quality books and film scripts? This was the dream of Film Studios which prompted the recent writers' strike. They also wanted to not pay supporting actors - were they hoping to create a host of androids to play those roles?

Editing and Honing Media

Editing happens all the time! Whether it's for scripts, books, film, etc.. The editing industry contributes to professionalism and growth, enhancing published media to appeal to a wider audience by improving its quality and accuracy. 

The growing use of AI is likely to increase the need for professional editors, both for text and images. 


Thursday 29 June 2023

Retirement - no longer a viable option?

 



Picture this: you've been lucky and enjoyed your chosen career then one more major change in the way you need to optimise your skills comes along and you think, "No, I've had enough. What's the point of having years' of experience just to struggle to keep up with new trends?" There are younger people whose brains are not cluttered with all this historical data who are way ahead of your curve, so you decide to retire. 

But... half your clients ask you to keep working for them and you agree - after all, part time is a gentle step towards retirement. The other half of your time, you ponder the state of your income. Used to a good living, will your pension make up for the shortfall of retirement? No, not if it's just the government pension! 

'Boomers' were mostly lucky with their pension plans - one almost-octogenarian told me recently that his retirement income is higher than if he was working. Probably not so if you're younger.

Most will have been paying into a private pension during the years of bounty or as employees of a company scheme. Due to government policy tweaks, some will have suffered heavy losses in the early part of the century, virtually wiping out their investment. Also, life expectancy is longer therefore pay-outs are often lower. 

Many people downsize their homes or move where property is better value for money, putting aside the spare cash for an unknown future. At 0.1% interest, this doesn't come close to inflation. So how does an Ordinary Joe (or Jo) enjoy their retirement? 

One solution is to keep on working as long as you can, for as long as you enjoy it. Long may it last! 


Tuesday 27 June 2023

Social Media for Business or for Fun

Time for an update? It's not that nothing occurred to me since the previous post but life changed during and after lockdown. Please accept our apologies for diverting our attentions elsewhere.

On 30th August 2016 (yes, almost 7 years ago) I wrote a post about Google+ and Tumblr which predicted that Google+ was doomed. It died in 2019, R.I.P..

I also made observations about Tumblr which noted... 

Tumblr is a popular blog tool, supposedly, but in my opinion it is rarely used for business. I have struggled to find interesting posts, despite trying a variety of search terms. It seems mainly full of images and these are mostly from photographers and the leisure crowd. I dip back in now and then but find no significant improvement.

So, here is an update of what's changed, in my opinion, since then. I would now state that... 

Tumblr is a popular blog tool, supposedly, but in my opinion it is unsuitable for business-to-business. I have struggled to find interesting posts, despite trying a variety of search terms. It seems mainly full of images and self-indulgence - lost people who are trying too hard to be seen to be different. I dip back in now and then but find no significant improvement. 

Not a lot different, really. And guess what... 100 posts but no more followers. In fact, I think I may have lost one! 

It's probably not a bad thing that there is a non-business element to Tumblr as there are other options for businesses: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok are largely leisure posts. 

Twitter has a foot in both camps, despite all the negative publicity over recent months. 

If you want to advertise your business online, the three listed above in purple text are worth considering in addition to or as an alternative to Google ads. Depending on your niche market, Amazon can also be used for paid promotion. 

Is blogging worthwhile?

As previously stated, Tumblr is essentially a blogging tool. Its reach via search engines does not compare favourably with WordPress or Google Blogger (in the UK, anyway). WordPress is the most interesting, at present, as it offers a free blog (with ads) or a paid option (ad-free). They can both be made to look and function as websites and no other software comes close to the popularity of a professional WordPress-based website.

Personally, I love blogs. To be able to read at my own pace, rather than sit through a webinar or YouTube output, is the best use of my time. 

Keep on blogging! 

FYI, here's some more about blogging and alternatives

Monday 19 August 2019

Flexibility is the Key to Business Survival

At the end of this year, The BPc will reach its 30th anniversary as a small business providing services to other small and medium businesses. We have a varied set of skills, some of which are uncommon in many companies. This has enabled us to offer consultancy or practial assistance across a range of technical, design, marketing and admin projects.

Current Services

website design
Client demand is the key to the services we offer within our specialist skillset. Our most poplar contracts this year are for website design, website updates and social media management. As demands change, grow or fall, it provides an indication of significant changes within industries.

Since a few months prior to Brexit becoming a possibility, we have had no work from outside the UK. With the final day looming, we are not even contemplating accepting overseas clients.

Additional Future Services

Over the next few months, we plan to add more video-related services for clients. These tend to fall into two main categories: product showcase or demonstrations (which could be 'live' or animated or a series of stills) or informational presentations and 'vlogs'.

video filming and editingWe have seen sparks of interest in video services.
We have filmed and edited product videos since 2012 for a small handful of clients and, for the past year or so, other clients have used our filming and editing services. We are looking to invest in a studio next year with appropriate equipment for filming in-house.

Problems can arise when DIY videos feature people who have a great face for radio or the perfect voice for silent film. Don't worry, there are experienced professionals available who can assist and do not cost a fortune (providing you don't want Beyoncé to spend half an hour extolling the virtues of the Hertfordshire pond life).

Popular Services from Previous Years
In 1990, the internet was unheard of by most small businesses in the UK. The BPc mostly focused on a range of marketing, digital design and branding projects plus - believe it or not - word processing and creating templates for company stationery. A small selection of business cards, brochures, catalogues, etc. is still kept in an archive somewhere.

By 1997/98. some smaller business required our services with their emails and, soon after, we began designing websites for them. In 2009-ish, we moved completely over to WordPress CMS website development that enable clients to update their own content.

Flexibility is Key

30 years services timeline
During the decades, we covered multiple services. When DIY software made it easy for unskilled people to create their own graphic designs, our work in that area dropped off. It usually came back a few months later as clients needed a professional clean-up but, meanwhile, we spent more time on website design.

Similarly, some small businesses try to save money by creating their own websites and, sometimes, this goes very well. However, clients generally don't pay enough attention to optimising websites for search engines - this is when they usually need services from The BPc. If website design work starts to drop, we focus on branding or social media clients.

We don't sit back. This is why we've been building towards a film studio and improved editing suite. There is more in the pipeline, too, further down the line.

Don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like our assistance. Our website lists our services - these have grown organically and website navigation could be easier, to be honest, so we're working on a new design in our spare time. Thanks for getting this far!