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Adaptive Globalization – More than just a recruitment partner for the Language Service and Technology industry. Adaptive Globalization was founded in 2005 with a simple goal, bring together the best talent in the language service industry with the best employers. Since that day the Language Service market has grown and changed beyond all recognition and we have evolved to, but that driving aim has never changed. The Language Service industry is nearly unrecognisable from that of 18 years ago, both in size and diversity of offerings. Language technology has gone from being just Trados to hundreds of TMS, MT and VRI companies and the staffing requirements have developed and changed in line with that. Adaptive Globalization has been there all the while, making sure our partners have the best in ever evolving talent. Today, Adaptive Globalization stands at the fore front of Language Service and Technology recruitment. Partnering with Language Service Providers, Fortune 500 Companies and Language Tech pioneers to match perfect candidates with outstanding businesses and ensure that no matter the future developments, our partners are ready. Exclusive Focus on the Language Service and Technology Industry Over the last 18 years we have made it our mission to embed ourselves in this industry, working with over 80% of the top 100 LSP’s and ensuring that we are at the up to date with any and all industry developments. We pride ourselves in having partnered with Machine Translation before NMT, helped the cloud based TMS companies find their first sales people and assisted multinationals set up their first office in a new country. In that time, we have made sure that we stay relevant by keeping abreast of all industry changes and sometimes even leading the way, as with our Best Employer in Localization Awards. Proven Industry Experience You don’t do anything for 18 years unless you are good at it, and we here at Adaptive Globalization are no different. During our time we have helped build sales teams from scratch, grown candidates from Project Managers to Manging Directors and seen our partners explode from $1m to $100m. We have built extensive global networks and our consultants are the corner stone of our success, building tight knit personal relationships with clients and candidates alike to ensure a great fit with every placement based on more than just ‘gut feel’ or ‘luck’. All our consultants are experts with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the industry and their regional market, able to assist with specific regional data. This has meant that our clients see us as partners, not just when it comes to recruitment but also when benchmarking salaries or advising what market to enter next. Building Winning Teams Salespeople are everywhere, but it takes experience and knowledge to understand if they are suitable for your business and more importantly if their sales figures are realistic, or if their client wins are real. Similarly, understanding and vetting is key when you go to hire a Global Technology Manager or Product Manager, are they going to understand your tech stack and product offering or be left out of their depth when it comes to future proofing your business. We vet our candidate network extensively and work with our clients to ensure that they are not caught out by impressive CV’s and talented interview technique. This combined with a candidate network of over 50,000 active candidates helps explain why we have been so successful, for so long, in the industry. Global Market Reach London, New York, Singapore, Berlin, Amsterdam, and San Diego….no, that is not a list of nice places to go on holiday. That is a list of everywhere we have an office. Much like our clients, we believe if you are going to go global, you must be local. Trying to source candidates and build a network when you don’t speak the language or are 4-8 hours ahead is only going to limit your talent pool. Therefore, we have built a company where we can support you with ‘on the ground staff’ in almost any market and with consultant that speak the language. Amongst our team we have consultants that are fluent in; English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Czech, Polish and Chinese. Wherever you need our support we can help. Try the experts So, whether you are recruiting for your first German speaking Project Manager in the UK or looking to replace your Chief Technology Officer in New York, Adaptive Globalization is perfectly placed to assist you. Why not reach out today for an open chat about the market and how Adaptive Globalization can support your growth.

Working from home has become the norm for many of us during the pandemic and it looks like it might just be here to stay for a lot us too! It’s great to have the flexibility that comes with working from home, but it’s also a totally different ballgame and something that we need to adapt to as it certainly comes with its challenges. Whether you’re a work from home pro or are still struggling to get accustomed to this new way of life, here are some top tips and reminders to help keep productivity high on a work from home day without compromising your wellbeing: 1.     Try to get into a routine. It can sometimes be tempting to sleep in on a home office day and just roll out of bed and get straight into work, but it’s far more beneficial to get into a routine and have time to mentally prepare yourself for the day ahead. It’s also nice to have some time to yourself before diving into work. Use the time that you would usually spend commuting in a positive way, you could try yoga, meditation or even just spending extra time treating yourself to a lovely breakfast! Did someone say pancakes?2.     Create your designated workspace. Whether you have an office room or not, you should avoid working from your bed or sofa as these should be your spaces for relaxation. Try to create a working space with a desk/table and a comfortable chair and make it YOURS, add items to make it an enjoyable space to be in, this could be your favourite plant or some artwork but try to keep clutter to a minimum because, after all, a tidy space = a tidy mind!3.     Don’t overwhelm yourself. Making a plan for each day can be really valuable and help to give your day some structure but be realistic about the how much you can get done. Make your to-do lists reasonable and be flexible! If you give yourself too many tasks to complete in one day, the thought of even starting the first task can be so daunting that you’ll be more likely to procrastinate and have to rush through your tasks later on. Figure out what works for you for instance, some people like to work to a schedule and adopt time management practices such as the Pomorodo Technique (work for 25 minute intervals, followed by a 5-10 minute break).4.     Take a proper break! When you’re working from home, it can be strangely easy to just keep working through lunch and not step away from your desk for a proper break and change of scenery, but studies have actually shown that taking time away from your desk can directly increase productivity and creativity! Going for a walk or spending time outside is even better for your well-being, soak up that Vitamin D!5.     Hydration, hydration, hydration. Okay, you’ve heard this 100 times before but it never hurts to be reminded. An easy way to ensure that you’re drinking enough water is to buy a time marked water bottle. Fill it up in the morning, set yourself a challenge and make sure that you finish it before the end of the day. You might just notice that your concentration is better, and it will help to keep headaches at bay, particularly when you’re on screens all day!6.     Limit distractions. Of course, we can’t always control everything but do try to control what you can. If you have a particularly demanding project or are under time constraints, you could try removing distractions; let friends/family know not to disturb you, close the door, put your phone on airplane mode or in another room and switch off that TV!7.     Try a productivity tool/app. Utilising productivity tools can be the extra push that you need; they give you incentives and motivate you and there are so many to choose from! Try an app such as Forest, where you plant a virtual tree that takes, for example, ten minutes to grow, and if you can stay off your phone long enough, the tree will finish growing and be added to your on-screen forest, but if you return to your phone too fast, the tree withers and dies. It’s a light-hearted way to avoid digital distractions and gives you a sense of satisfaction! What tips do you have to stay productive at home?

“Self-care has become a new priority – the revelation that it’s perfectly permissible to listen to your body and do what it needs.” ― Frances Ryan Burnout - lets talk about it!It’s one of those subjects that often gets mentioned, but never really discussed. I think it’s time to change that.I am actually quite surprised that in today’s day and age it has not been classified as a medical condition yet, because let’s face it – it is.Burnout is very popular and happens more often than people would like to admit. It’s that state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion, caused by prolonged, work-related stress. In order to come up with ways of avoiding it, let’s break down the definition to see how each of the factors can be FIXED!Emotional exhaustionEmotional exhaustion is a state of feeling emotionally worn out and drained. This can be easily improved by ensuring we eat right, take technology breaks, meet with our friends, and of course exercise. Yes, many people could argue that exercise is a suggested remedy for almost everything nowadays, but in this case it is true. Exercise releases chemical endorphins to the brain which triggers a positive feeling in your body. So there, we have proof that going for a run or taking that HIIT class is worth it!Mental exhaustionMental exhaustion is similar, but the symptoms can be more severe, as the person experiencing this feeling starts to be detached, showing apathy towards their work colleagues and the work itself. The first thing to do if possible is to remove the stressor. If it is an overwhelming task at work, perhaps speak to your Supervisor – see if they could offer you some help. Don’t feel that you have to go through this alone.Again, try to eat well and stay active, but also practice relaxation techniques like yoga, massage, or mindfulness – all scientifically recognized to lower stress and anxiety.Physical exhaustionPhysical exhaustion is an extreme state of unrelenting fatigue and sometimes it can be brought on by the previously mentioned mental exhaustion. Being in this state can cause dizziness, chronic tiredness, and headaches, which if untreated can lead to moodiness, slow reflexes or even bad judgement/decision making.Get some sleep! Clocking in your 7 - 9 hours of sleep a night can restore well-being. Set aside some time each day to stretch and try eating foods that improve your energy level, like nuts, fish, and cheese. Magnesium is an essential mineral to promote a healthy nervous system, energy production, and for muscle relaxation.Also, if you ever notice that someone around you is starting to display any of the above signs, see if they are ok, offer them help. Trust me, it will make their day!

Dealing with conflict or tough conversations at work. It’s comparable to the ‘we need to talk’ dread all of us have undoubtedly faced at some point in our personal lives.Whether it’s addressing distracting behaviours in the office, challenging your colleague on the accuracy of a report or confronting a long-overdue company problem – these conversations need to happen, and they need to happen for a few reasons:-         The problem can’t be fixed if there is no awareness of the problem in the first place.-         Get that weight off your shoulders, its liberating!-         It’s how we achieve professional and personal growth – your company will benefit from this too. The art of conversation is like any art. With continued practice you will acquire skill and ease.Finding the right words, and the right moment – it is no easy task in the fast-paced commercial world. Step 1) Conquer your fears and just do it.Here are some tips to make the conversation easier…Set a Positive Tone -         Mindset matters. Frame the conversation in a different way and put a positive spin on it. Be constructive, not negative. Can you offer an alternative solution to the one currently on the table? Make sure there is an action plan in place when a consensus (or even just an understanding) is reached to ensure you move forward.Keep Your Cool-         Don’t forget to breathe! Taking this brief moment to focus on your breathing will allow you to refocus and absorb any information. It’s important that whether you are the recipient or provider of a challenging discussion, that you make a conscious effort to slow down the pace of the conversation, listen, collect your thoughts, and respond rationally.Plan with Emotional Intelligence-         Think ahead. What do you anticipate the response will be to the discussion? Put yourself in the shoes of your counterpart to mentally consider their possible responses. You can have some flexible strategies to hand on how to move the conversation forward in a productive way. If you don’t feel confident on the recipients view beforehand, ask them.Be Concise and Direct-         Difficult conversations need to be clear and to the point, otherwise the message gets lost in a muddled delivery. To avoid receiving objections, be prepared with concrete examples. Focus on facts, not feelings. Try not to let your emotions get the better of you when you are trying to find a resolution.Make It a Conversation-         Feedback shouldn’t be a monologue - there should be two-way communication. Make sure there is an opportunity for an open discussion and questions to allow the meeting to end with unwavering clarity on both sides. Do you fully understand each other and what will happen next?  “Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.”- William Ellery Channing, American Theologian

Amazon is closing the gap on Google’s paid ad dominance – what should marketers understand about differences between the two platforms?WPP’s Martin Sorrell famously described Amazon’s rise to prominence in the paid advertising arena as a challenge that keeps him awake at night – and with good reason.With an estimated 40%+ of product searches now beginning on the Amazon platform, the sway the company holds over the ecommerce sector is without parallel, and it’s no wonder that the retail giant has made improving its offering to paid advertisers a top priority in recent years.Helmed by the richest man in modern history, Amazon certainly isn’t short of resources to take the fight to established paid search heavyweight Google and their flagship Ads product. So where is the opportunity for marketers, building strategies to achieve maximum return on brand and client ad investment across an evolving landscape?Amazon vs Google – how do the platforms differ, and how does this impact ROAS?We highlight 4 key differences between the reigning champion and the intimidating challenger…1. Funnel stageAmazon’s in-built advantage over Google is that users on the ecommerce platform are typically lower in the sales funnel, closer to making a purchase decision and often in buying mode.Google users are more likely to be conducting research or exploring options.This foundational difference is reflected in click-through and conversion rates, with studies such as Marin’s benchmarking report showing a clear lead for Amazon ads in basic metrics.Amazon’s ecommerce infrastructure is also a key balance-tipper – many users browse the platform with billing and shipping details pre-registered, Prime delivery accounts and even 1-click ordering.For advertisers paying premium rates to drive users to product pages, the additional ease of purchase feeds back into delivering maximum ROI.2. ReviewsA complexity of the Amazon platform is the inclusion of user reviews in its core algorithm.Although many new security measures have been introduced to crack down on review manipulation (in the form of discounted products or even paid incentives for users to leave positive product comments), many retailers still exploit the power of a 5-star heavy review page to ‘game’ the system wherever possible.Both an opportunity and an obstacle for marketers, the importance and prominence of the user review feature needs to be factored into any overall Amazon marketing strategy.Just as Google’s algorithm changes have fought to provide users with genuinely helpful content and eliminate out-dated SEO link-building shortcuts, so Amazon will continue to focus on promoting products their user base endorses.3. RedirectionWhere Google Ads typically redirect users to other sites, a fundamental platform difference is that Amazon advertising keeps users within the Amazon site.This gives Amazon marketers multiple opportunities to impact buyer behavior, with a range of tools and products available to deploy at different moments (brand ads, sponsored products, display ads, video ads, stores etc.).Amazon’s own suggestion engine also feeds into the mix, with “customers also bought” and “compare with similar items” features offering further product promotion opportunities.Where a Google ad can ultimately end in a terminated session if the user decides not to purchase a product, Amazon retains shoppers within the core platform, where marketers can use a comprehensive strategy to have a second (or even third) shot at securing a sale. 4. DataAlthough much has been made of the dizzying array of data held by Google on its product users, Amazon’s user information is more uniquely concentrated in the e-commerce field.Via its maps, search, mail and other products, Google may well know more about general human behaviour than any company past or present.Amazon, however, possesses a treasure trove of data exclusive to online shopping.Not only monitoring which products have been viewed and bought, Amazon also knows what has been added to wishlists, which reviews are read, how those reviews impact purchasing decisions… as well as understanding which products are returned, re-purchased or bought as gifts.The sheer volume of pure purchase-related information gives Amazon a current and future advantage to refine its offering to marketers and continue targeting greater ROAS for its growing user base.***Looking for Paid Search career opportunities?Adaptive Digital recruits across Europe and the USA for digital marketing and ecommerce professionals, filling roles with brands & agencies in more than 20 countries. To view Adaptive Digital’s full range of open jobs, click here.

The questions you ask during interview play a key role in the impression you make on a prospective employer – choose wisely...Even at the most innovative companies, interviews can follow a predictable pattern. When the interviewer is comfortable that they’ve completed their assessment of you, a familiar question rolls around:“Do you have any questions for us?”What you choose to ask can have a greater impact than you might suspect.If you produce the same questions as everyone else (“What do you like most about your job?”, “What does your ideal candidate look like?”), you might learn some valuable information, but you can’t expect to be stand out for your innovation or make yourself memorable to the interviewer.If you ask something more thought-provoking, however, you can not only set yourself apart from the competition but take the conversation into unexplored territory which the interviewer has not talked about with other applicants.Your conversation becomes memorable, and you have a chance to score points not available to other candidates by discussing things they don’t discuss.Having a selection of insightful, business-focused questions ready can help you distinguish yourself from the crowd and create a unique exchange with the interviewer.Here are 6 examples and why they work:1. What short-term opportunities do you see for the team to improve results?Asking this shows that you’re focused on coming into the role to make an impact.You move away from typical interview generalities (candidate experience, desired skills etc.) to focus on tangible results and what actions can be taken to deliver better outcomes. At the end of the day, this is what the interviewer needs most on their team – no amount of experience or ability matters unless it’s applied to make a difference.Making the question about team rather than the individual role can also reassure the interviewer that you understand your function as being part of a wider collaborative effort.2. What’s the best investment the team has made?This question demonstrates an appreciation of budget and resources, understanding that team results are shaped by the resources at their disposition.Linking work outcomes to the investment and platform provided by the company reveals an ability to think about team performance from a more strategic angle, showing the interviewer that you have the capacity to think beyond the immediate confines of your personal role.It also gives the interviewer an opportunity to talk about positive aspects of the team you’ll be joining - if they are the hiring manager then they may well have been responsible for the investment they choose as their answer.3. How do you see the team in 3 years’ time?Asking questions with a time horizon creates confidence that you are thinking about your position in the long term, and expect to be part of that team after 3 years.The question implies a level of ambition, probing on opportunities that may be created as the team expands.It also invites the interviewer to talk about their own growth goals, and to share the plans they have for developing the group. You then have the opportunity to ensure that your interview performance and responses synch with these objectives.4. Are there trends you’re worried you’re not keeping pace with?This shows that you view your role in a commercial context, and don’t expect anything outside your job description to be someone else’s problem.Rather than be a passive member of the team, you are aware of threats and challenges in business and assume shared responsibility for overcoming these together with your manager and colleagues.Raising the issue of trends also takes the conversation into a wider reflection on industry news and developments, where you can have a chance to showcase your expertise and share your opinions of where things are headed.5. What will be the next big investment the team will make?Probing around future change to the team illustrates a potential to think big as well as small.In addition to joining the team to excel in your assigned function, you’re also interested in the roadmap for the team’s evolution.Are there any big changes coming up?What tools, infrastructure or additional talent would help the team’s performance move to the next level?You demonstrate a collaborative mindset, focus on team success and excitement for the future.6. What are you most proud of about the team?By inviting the interviewer to talk about what they’re proud of, you switch the conversation onto their own career and contribution, which inevitably generates a positive vibe in the discussion.Putting them and what they’re proud of in the spotlight helps show that you’re aware of your manager’s own career, and creates an opportunity for you to make clear that you will be an asset to their personal development and ambitions – joining the team to give, to support and not simply to follow instructions.***Ready to explore new digital marketing career opportunities?Adaptive Digital recruits across Europe and the USA for digital marketing and ecommerce professionals, filling roles with brands & agencies in more than 20 countries. To view Adaptive Digital’s full range of open jobs, click here.