Joanne Caine

Enough theory. We asked seven business leaders their favourite questions to ask when interviewing candidates. From the comical to the canny, what they told us proves that - apart from being an oddly British obsession - each interview is unique for all involved.

Grab your wi-fi routers and americanos, it’s time to head for Exeter. It just so happens that Devon’s capital is asserting itself as a digital hub - and is one of the best cities in the UK to start or grow your digital career.

Forget your scone-based food fantasies. There’s more to Devon than jam and cream. With excellent digital infrastructure, convenient travel links with London and Birmingham, a top university supplying a steady flow of bright-eyed graduates and some of the most beautiful coastal and countryside scenery in the UK, it’s little wonder local business leaders are so proud to call this part of the West Country home.

With 56% of employers saying that they lack access to relevant candidates, the ongoing challenge of volume versus quality remains. In trying to tackle this problem, the rise of virtual recruiters and video interviewing has surfaced.

Lots of SMEs are slow to hire HR professionals. There’s a perception that HR recruitment is a low priority; that the money would be better spent filling vacancies that have a more ‘tangible’ impact on productivity. Unfortunately that perception could be holding your business back.

When your business is buckling under the weight of its own workload, you may feel the urge to hire. But taking on new employees is not your only option.

The www is crawling with tips designed to help hopeful candidates nail their job interviews. But come on. How about some assistance for the people sat on the other side of the table?

Just 9% of the engineering workforce is female. In HR, only one-in-five staff is male. There are plenty more examples of professions where gender imbalance is rife. So what is it about these professions that seems to predetermine which gender is most likely to work in it?

Recruitment: it can be a costly business. We’re not talking simply advertising costs either. The hiring process can be time-consuming to set up. Not to mention all the further time taken out of the working day to train new staff.

It’s the interview! Calm down, you’ve got a foot in the door. In fact, your whole body, so it’s clear your polished CV and attention to detail has paid off. You’ve piqued the company’s interest enough for them to spend time on you.

You want to write a CV that knocks spots off the competition and secures you an interview. Get set for CV success with our comprehensive guide.

Exeter had the tenth highest growth in private sector jobs in the UK last year, a new report has revealed. The Centre for Cities Outlook 2018 report shows an increase of 3,000 jobs in Exeter – a 5.1% increase on the previous year.