Joanne Caine

Sharper increases in permanent placements: There was a marked rise in permanent placements in January, with the rate of expansion highest since April 2015. In contrast, growth in temp billings softened to a 10-month low

Permanent placements expand at softer, but still marked, pace: Permanent staff placements continued to rise across the UK in February. Though sharp, the rate of expansion moderated slightly since the start of the year. Temp billings meanwhile rose at a faster pace midway through the first quarter.

Recruitment agencies can be a mixed bag. However, the best ones will help you find a job that’s a great match for your skill set and career ambitions. Beyond that, you can expect career development and enhanced salary expectations too.

Your heart beats faster. Your palms are sweaty. Your voice trembles. Or maybe not. Because do you know something? Interviews don’t have to be the anxiety-inducing calamities many people fear them to be.

Graduates are disappearing from the south west. And we’re not talking about the odd few thrill-seekers swapping green fields for the bright lights of the big city. You expect a few of those. This is a more serious desertion of skills from our region.

When it comes to interview questions for managers, knowing what to ask isn’t always straightforward. The stakes are high. But with our ideas, you can’t go wrong.

Perm placements rise sharply, but temp billings growth eases: March data signalled a further sharp increase in permanent staff placements across the UK, with the pace of expansion edging up fractionally since February.

Softer rise in perm placements contrasts with steeper increase in temp billings, growth of demand for staff picks up for first time in nine months, steeper decline in overall candidate availability leads to sharper rises in pay.

Beautiful beaches. Breath-taking countryside. Exceptional artisan cider and - whisper it – the best pasties in the region! There are some parts of Devon’s reputation that we are only too happy to uphold. When it comes to salaries? Different story.

There’s more to working in the West Country than surrendering to the magnetic pull of Bristol and Bath. If you are prepared to broaden your horizons it’s possible to find fabulous jobs in truly gorgeous parts of the region - such as Devon, recently voted by Country Life Magazine to be the best place to live for quality of life in England.

At this moment, in an office far away, an interviewer is shuddering at the prospect of asking the same question for the umpteenth time today. The simple fact is that some interview questions are asked more than others. And that’s good news for you and your job hunt.

Living in London is exhilarating. It’s also exasperating and exhausting. If it’s time to shift focus towards a better quality of life, South Devon could be your perfect exit from the rat race. Give us five minutes to explain why.