2026 Retention Strategy Checklist: What To Implement This Quarter
Hiring is expensive. Losing people is even more expensive. The cost of replacing an employee isn’t just the recruitment fees – it’s the lost productivity, the knowledge that walks out the door, the impact on team morale and the time spent training someone new. Here’s the reality: retention is cheaper than replacement. Always. After nearly 12 […]
Here’s what to do if job applications are low quality
You’ve posted the role and applications are rolling in. But as you scroll through, your heart sinks. You’re getting generic cover letters, irrelevant experience, CV’s that have been written with ChatGPT and candidates who’ve obviously mass-applied without reading what you’re looking for. After nearly 12 years helping businesses hire, we see this constantly. The good […]
Interview Questions That Actually Reveal Cultural Fit
After nearly 12 years placing candidates in roles across Wokingham and beyond, we’ve learned something crucial: technical skills get someone through the door, but cultural fit determines whether they stay and thrive. The problem? Most interview questions don’t actually reveal cultural fit – they just reveal who’s best at interviewing. Here are the questions that […]
The Ripple Effect: How Hiring Locally Transforms Our Community
When you make a local hire, you might think you’re just filling a vacancy. But the impact of that decision reaches far beyond your office walls – it creates a powerful ripple effect that strengthens our entire community. Understanding the Local Hiring Ripple Effect Picture this scenario: 1: The Hire Your business hires a […]
Why the best candidate might not have the ‘right’ experience…
When you picture your ideal hire, what comes to mind? Someone who’s done the job before? A CV packed with years in the industry? A track record that ticks every box? It makes sense. Experience feels safe. It’s tangible proof that someone knows what they’re doing. But what if that logic is costing you the […]
Go Local, Grow Local: Why Choosing a Local Recruitment Partner Makes All the Difference
For nearly 12 years, Journey Recruitment has been more than just a recruitment agency – we’ve been your neighbours, your community partners and your advocates for local growth right here in Wokingham. As we head into 2026, we’re reflecting on what makes local recruitment so powerful, and why “Go Local, Grow Local” isn’t just our […]
The interview is broken: rethinking how you assess candidates
For years, the job interview has been the cornerstone of the hiring process. It’s where employers “get a feel” for candidates, assess skills and decide whether they’re the right fit. But the problem is that traditional interviews often don’t work. Research shows that unstructured interviews, the kind where questions vary widely and conversations drift, are […]
The hidden skills employers love (that don’t always make the job description)
When you’re scrolling through job ads, it’s easy to get caught up in the long list of technical skills and qualifications. But many of the qualities that actually make you stand out as a candidate aren’t listed in the job description. Employers are increasingly looking beyond the “tick-box” requirements to find people who bring hidden […]
Hiring for cultural fit vs skill: do you really have to choose?
One of the most common dilemmas hiring managers and HR teams face is this: Should you hire the candidate with the perfect skills – or the one who feels like the right cultural fit? At first glance, it can feel like a trade-off. But in today’s workplace, where team dynamics, adaptability, and shared values are […]
Is it time to leave your job?
Sometimes, the biggest career move isn’t climbing the ladder, it’s knowing when to move on. Whether you’re feeling unsettled or just plain stuck, recognising the signs that it might be time to leave your job is a crucial step in taking control of your career. Here are 7 signs that you may be ready for […]
