News & Events

Daine Ferguson, Director of Gemini Search’s Client side recruitment team, touches upon the current demand for digital savvy professionals within various industries.

A rapidly growing number of businesses in both the Commercial and Not for Profit industries have recognised the potential and long-term value of investing in digital marketing.

UK charities are seeing a considerable increase in supporter engagement which raises awareness through mobile applications and innovative digital fundraising initiatives. The majority of UK Charities are increasingly aware of the importance of developing a compelling digital brand and they are actively experimenting with a diversified online presence.

Our recent observations have seen the retail sector develop an increase in demand for professionals that are knowledgeable and highly experienced in improving online customer journey and consumer insight/market research. This is somewhat in response to savvy businesses recognising that online stores are outstripping bricks and mortar with regards to the increasing market share.

With the development of mobile marketing and audience engagement, consumer data and analytics are changing the way brands and marketers interact, engage and are repositioning themselves towards consumers.

Many operations have begun to direct their focus on combining new online strategies with new organisational structures. This has resulted in the increasing demand for digital marketing professionals at all levels. The most recent positions our Client side team has recruited for include:  Digital Managing Director, Head of Digital, Head of e-CRM, Digital Designers, Information Architects, CRM Managers and professionals that specialise in SEO and web analytics.

Overall, the markets are all being affected by the fast-paced development in digital technology and the demand for specialist and highly skilled talent is set to intensify throughout the year.

Daine Ferguson, Director, Client side recruitment

daine@gemini-search.co.uk / 0203 056 0985

Taryn Lambert, Manager of Gemini Search’s Digital Media and Performance recruitment team, talks about her passion in developing a positive work environment and how it is a necessity for every business.

The quote above is true to a certain extent – company culture develops and evolves through the hiring of talented employees and through the consistent nurturing of the internal community. Alongside the hiring of talented and diverse personalities, the creation of a strong and strategically planned work culture develops a unified company vision which everyone can strive to achieve together.

Work culture is a product of values, beliefs and expectations where inclusion, acknowledgement and collaboration are essential. This should be instilled from management and progressively spread amongst the rest of the team.

At Gemini, we take great pride in the culture and work environment we have created. We work hard to continually encourage a fun and enjoyable work environment for our team. Through internal events and activities, socials, divisional incentives, monthly and annual competitions we encourage friendly competition whilst giving recognition for co-workers’ individual achievements.

Graham Symons (Digital Creative Recruitment) and myself recently organised the second installment of ‘Gemini Search’s Quiz Night In’.   We used the format of a traditional pub quiz with rounds such as “Guess that Song” and “Flags of the World” and personalised it more by adding in a round called “Guess that Gem”.   We got everyone in the business to submit one random and unknown fact about themselves. This was a fun way to enable co-workers to open up and become more engaged within the group – companies should remember that there are personalities and diverse lifestyles behind every professional.

We made sure to mix the divisions up so that teams consisted of a real mix of people and we got junior members of staff to be team captains so it was great to see different personalities coming out.  Each member’s contribution is essential to their overall performance so we made sure that everyone played a part.

These sorts of events are really cost effective and such a great way for everyone to have fun and get to know each other.  This promotes stronger communication between peers and opens up the potential of higher performance within the workforce.

Recruitment is a fast-paced and dynamic work environment which requires all employees to be moving in the same direction through shared values, ambition and a friendly competitive spirit.

Recognising and understanding each individual within your team enables you to align their personal aims with your company’s vision.

Taryn Lambert, Manager, Digital Media and Performance Marketing recruitment

taryn@gemini-search.co.uk /0203 056 7599

Last Wednesday evening the team at Gemini Search headed to the Seven Dials, Covent Garden to attend the Young Creative Council’s first event of the year Unite VII.

The initial concept of Unite VII (which was proudly sponsored by Gemini Search) was to create a platform for young creative students/graduates, eager and fresh professionals to exhibit their work in front of a diverse audience of professionals from the Advertising, Integrated and Digital industries.

Instead of submitting a portfolio to earn a place within the top 20 exhibitors, their creative brief focused on local businesses which sit amongst the cobbled and Brightonesque little boutiques, pubs and independent shops of Covent Garden. The submitted work varied from short one-minute TV spots, posters, the creation of smartphone apps or even a rejuvenation and jig of their current brand identity.

Upon entering the building, the space seems to have this recognisable sense of innovation – whilst the tables and chairs were not set within conformity, you could certainly feel the buzz that was in the air. Creative heads and individuals stood in small clusters expanding on arguments/opinions regarding topics such as the new Adobe updates or the merging of conceptual ideas and environmental-aware executions.

Walking around – it was great to see a diverse array of work such as:

Celine & Chris: @creative_frog1

Their designs for Adidas Originals combined the international recognised sports logo with popular songs through the ages. Visually this stood out to me as genius and kept in mind the importance of simplicity and visual balance.

Dan Clark: @danMclark

Dan definitely showed huge enthusiasm for promoting a local independent music store.  Innovatively using the rarity of British red telephone booths as a fun and highly interactive way to market and promote the business – he created strong visual material to accompany such a strongly developed concept.

Jack Eugene:  @ZacharyMountain

Jack’s collaboration between fine art/illustration and brand identities really impressed me. As I mentioned before, simplicity is a huge factor within brand identity and he has certainly developed and curated a highly concentrated display of print-based work. It’s apparent to see his own self-awareness of his own professional branding and certainly engages through each concept by providing highly visual concepts and design.

Again, we would like to thank the Young Creative Council for organising such a refreshing night of networking and insight of young up and coming creatives.

Are you a creative professional looking for freelance opportunities within the advertising and integrated or digital industries? Why not send us an email alongside your portfolio; we’d love to hear from you: freelance@gemini-search.co.uk

- Jeffrey Cervantes, Online Communications Executive, Gemini Search

The Top 25 entries for UNITE VII have been compiled and finalised. Will you be attending the Young Creative Council‘s first BIG event of 2013?

The chosen 25 of their recent competition will be invited to showcase their exciting, fresh and creatively innovative portfolios on Wednesday 24th April 2013 in Seven Dials, Covent Garden. Attendees include some of London’s best creatives and professionals within the industry in addition to the business owners whom the talented 25 have chosen to promote via their initial entries.

UNITE VII is sponsored by Gemini Search

Special thanks Don’t Panic and the team at Studio Moross.

Tickets available here (Free!): http://unitevii.eventbrite.co.uk/

http://www.youngcreativecouncil.com/feedevents/unite-vii-call-for-entries/

We have some exciting news following on from our previous articles regarding creative portfolio tips and advice…

For those who haven’t heard about the Young Creative Council, here are a few words from the team themselves:

“We are a group of advertising creatives that aim to inspire across disciplines. We live in the real world and aim to influence beyond our online presence. There are currently 15 YCC Monkeys and we run the group in our spare time – new ideas are always welcome

The Young Creative Council started in 2007, with a bunch of creatives sending links to each other through a Facebook group. When admin of the page was handed over to a new generation of youngsters (us), the purpose of the group was transformed.

Our aim is to help motivate, educate and support those wishing to make a go of it in the creative industry. We run workshops, talks, portfolio nights, classes, socials and our own projects.” – @YCC

The YCC have recently announced their first major event of 2013 (UNITE VII) which focuses on providing a platform for students/graduates to showcase their talent and creative work. The team at Gemini Search are exciting about being part of such a innovative concept.

Held in Seven Dials on Wednesday 24th April, the selected top 25 students/graduates will be invited to showcase their entire portfolios at the event. This is a great opportunity to network, liaise and discuss industry trends, updates and creative portfolios on display!

The implemented creative brief is an strong collaboration not only between creative professionals but with local businesses based within the Seven Dials, Covent Garden.
Please visit their recently updated website for more information regarding the event/how to enter and more about the YCC: http://www.youngcreativecouncil.com/feedevents/unite-vii-call-for-entries/#

Whether you have your own official website or have a Facebook page which you’ve utilised as a platform to promote your work – an online portfolio is highly recommended to push your professional brand out into the industry. Most importantly, networking with like-minded creatives and professionals enables critique for development and indeed a friendly face potentially providing recommended events and creative sessions to attend.

Online portfolios aren’t as easy to create as many believe. It’s far from being an easy journey from placing all your work onto one site and hoping for the best. Just like your CV it should be thoughtfully curated with a selection of your work.

Read my previous article Write your CV with Confidence for tips regarding portfolio creation.

• Some sites are free and some are paid (establish with yourself whether a paid membership would be beneficial for you – weigh out the advantages certain portfolio/networking sites provide).
• Visit different portfolio networking sites and test the navigation and credibility of your site.
• Update your work regularly – discipline yourself and plan ahead.
• Don’t make it complicated – a smaller selection of work says more than 50 designs
• Always provide contact details and a professional email address
• Don’t be afraid to connect, communicate and comment on other portfolio pages

The last bullet point is something I feel should to be remembered. It’s one thing uploading your work, another thing shouting about it (via Twitter/Facebook/Tumblr) but engaging with others within your field of specialism will certainly open up more awareness of what’s going on within your industry, key trends or that special invite networking event.

Here are a few portfolio networking sites I would recommend to get you started:

http://designrelated.com/

http://www.behance.net/

http://figdig.com/

http://carbonmade.com/

Happy creative networking!

Jeffrey Cervantes, Communications Executive, 2013

An artist never selects his boldest, brightest and biggest pieces of work for a portfolio. They select work which shows their adaptability to medium, themes and style of work (depending on the direction their work). Think of your portfolio as a documentation of your progress and keep in mind your individuality (both in thought processes and visual creation).

In retrospect– your portfolio should show your potential employer who you are and how you work. It should depict your knowledge of digital but should convey your own individual style. Quality over quantity is essential and you must ensure that each piece of content is necessary and aesthetically placed within a structure.

What Part Did You Play?

Tell them how you contributed to that particular project. Were there last minute changes which made a significant difference to the final result? Did you contribute to this decision?

Specify and pinpoint how you played an essential role. Demonstrate your personal input and thought process (this could include screen shots and wire frames which led up to the completed design). Keep text and information brief and concise – you can expand on particular details during the potential face to face interview.

Although a portfolio is essentially about your final work – you need to ensure that a visual narrative is available for your potential client to grasp a stronger understanding.

Create Balance in Your Portfolio

If you have initiated independent or personal projects which strongly relate to this position you’re applying for – feature it within your portfolio. Potential employers will be analytical on what technical design skills you possess and have mastered but they also would like to see your style of work and the tone in which you progress through with each project.

You Are a Brand But You Are a Person Too (Never Forget!)

Think about the packaging of your work. Navigation through your portfolio should be logical, smooth and easy – remove unnecessary designs or projects which you think would not be beneficial for them to see. This ultimately depends on the role you have applied for – so it could be beneficial to talk to a specialist consultant regarding the required skills for the role.

Digital Footprints and Your Journey in the World

Include links to external content that gives the client a larger view of who you are and how you engage within the digital community (be it Twitter, Behance or other online platforms). It will not only prove your experience in using various platforms but will demonstrate your enthusiasm to network and communicate with like minded creative professionals.

Please stay tuned in for next week’s article which will expand on Portfolio tips and Networking Online!

Jeffrey Cervantes, Communications Executive at Gemini Search, 2013

Writing your CV may seem like a daunting experience for any and every professional. Whether you’re searching for digital media jobs or media sales jobs your CV should embody and represent you as a talented professional who is looking to expand and enhance your skills and experience within a specific industry.

Note to self that employers will see your CV (whether digitally or on paper) before they see you. A strong CV is essential for the duration of the interview process.

The task of creating the skeleton structure of your CV is where job-seekers have least amount of confidence and experience (especially for professionals who have worked within a specific industry for many years). Many professionals can easily express their passion for the industry face to face but many find it difficult to formulate the perfect CV which parallels their professionalism, passion and personality.

Throughout the CV it is essential to portray your personal achievements and useful skills.  Convince the reader that you are a suitable candidate of this role. If you have been given the job description – Can you see any keywords which are of importance? Highlight these words, note them down and write a few sentences of how you’ve experienced doing these tasks and your proficiency.

Mention relevant skills and your professional experience – reflect about your previous roles within your career. Is there anything that you have learnt that could be beneficial for this new role? How could you contribute to the company or towards the teams aims?

I know that many people cringe at the idea of selling yourself (especially with enough enthusiasm to go through paper). But the main principle for a CV is to present your unique selling points – What makes you different from other professionals? What could you potentially bring to the table?

Accurately convey who you are and don’t be afraid to highlight achievements within your previous roles.

• During the half way point of editing your CV – you may realise that you have so much writing that it extends further than four pages (you may have narrated your whole career to every minute detail).
• Condense your writing and highlight which sentences are appropriate for the employer. This maintains relevancy with the role you’ve applied for.
• Prioritise the importance of these facts and see which ones could be removed and touched upon during the interview process
• Facts are important – Don’t be vague, be informative
• Ensure that the employer/reader can digest your CV easily. This can be done by writing short sentences and bullet points if necessary. Try not to use complex words which they may not understand but if necessary define key terms within the application.
• Write in first person (not third) and exhibit your passion.
• Be formal and always conscious of your tone of writing.
• Keep the structure simple with clear legible fonts.
• Never use Comic Sans or Freestyle Script (any fonts which do not seem formal) – keep writing simple and clear with legible fonts.
• Make it easy for the reader to browse your CV with no complications.
• Don’t use a variety of fonts, different sizes or layouts within your CV
• Keep your application simple with a plain white background with black font text.
• Only use pictures/graphics when appropriate.
• Keep your CV to a maximum of 2 pages – employers tend to have a pile of CVs which they need to look through.

Cover letter

• Your cover letter should be reasonable short (usually half a side of A4).
• Explain your reasons of interest in the company
• Explain your individual reasons of how you are interested in the role
• Support your interest within an explanation of how you can see a connection with this potential role. You can mention how the move could be beneficial for you and the potential employer/company.
• Key areas of experience – explain how you perceive yourself to be the ideal candidate
• Many companies request for salary expectations and notice period (Make sure these details are correct and accurate)

I will be touching upon creative portfolio tips next week – which will feature key points and advice from Gemini Search’s team of specialist consultants from the Advertising and Integrated, Digital and Freelance team.

Jeffrey Cervantes, Communications Executive. 2013

Are you having difficulty finding that next exciting opportunity within the digital industry? Still looking for that perfect role which screams out through your screen? Are you treading through a swamp of digital media jobs through numerous job boards with the feeling of exhaustion during what should be one of the most exciting processes in your life?

Gemini Search is a digital recruitment agency which understands the importance of forging that perfect partnership whilst emphasising the necessity of career progression (regardless of what level). Be it client side or within one of London’s top digital agencies, our team of consultants have a strong network which enables us to find the right role for an ambitious and talented professional. Frequently rubbing shoulders with some of the best (and most talented) organisations, we truly believe in supporting the development of what is such a significant and rapidly progressive industry within the United Kingdom. Find out more about our management team here.

Gemini Search’s Digital Director Richard Bloom states the importance of the digital industry in the UK and the constant demand for digital professionals,

“Digital technology is developing into something that is holding an increasingly high level of importance for the UK and especially for London. This digital progress has unarguably revolutionised how consumers act and interact which in turn has affected how businesses engage with clients and customers.

With the technology and internet industries contributing over £60 billion to the UK economy in addition to the digital e-commerce market which worth more than £600 million across the UK – it cements the notion that digital professionals are a necessity.

You cannot argue that the digital industry is rapidly diversifying despite being fairly new. A career in the digital industry requires professionals to learn and experience within a hands on role. It’s about finding that right opportunity and position that will enable you to experience and learn.”

So with the excitement in getting yourself out there – How can you make that great first digital impression? Which specific online platforms could boost your exposure? What resources should you know like the back of your hand?

In weekly intervals Social Media Executive Jeffrey Cervantes will be highlighting several ways professionals have utilised online and offline media for self-promotion and marketing purposes.

If you have any questions or queries regarding Digital recruitment, please do not hesitate to contact our team via digital@gemini-search.co.uk or alternatively you can give us a call via 0203 056 5515.

We’re pleased to announce that Gemini Search has been shortlisted for the ‘Best Newcomer Agency’ award in the Recruiter’s Awards for Excellence 2013. The ‘Best Newcomer Agency’ award aims to recognise agencies who add outstanding value to their business partnerships and relationships over and above a solid professional service. The winner of the award will be announced at the ceremony on 1st May at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

For more information regarding the event: http://www.recruiterawards.co.uk/