Redundancies are a necessary and inevitable element of many businesses. When implementing redundancies companies should not only examine how they are perceived by those leaving but also by those who are staying. The effect that redundancies have on the morale of those staying could lead to a de-motivated and de-moralised workforce.

An effective outplacement program gives a strong message that management is aware of staff concerns and will commit to ensuring as smooth a transition as possible into their next or new position. It can also create the confidence that, should further redundancies be required, they will be supported   An outplacement program that shows a company cares about its workforce may negate a large amount of the negative factors associated with redundancies and protect its reputation as a desirable place to work.

This is not simply a strategy for dealing with the immediate problems. In the long term former employees of the company could potentially influence good or bad press about the manner in which they were treated.  The impact of a positive experience can give a company the edge over a competitor.

A solid outplacement plan will have other positive effects. Treating transitioning employees with respect , care, honesty and dignity not only supports the company’s reputation , but can help with staff retention and attract a higher level of industry talent and high performers as the reputation of the company is raised.

Financially, Outplacement is justifiable for a number of reasons. Aside from the employee issues discussed above, outplacement programs may avoid the risk of future litigation.  As staff move on they spend less time in the transition process and move as quickly as possible to the next stage of their career.

The post The Benefits of Outplacement appeared first on Career Consultants.

The Profiles vs. Cover Letters topic has not been definitively answered, and as with most job search topics different circumstances and personalities may call for different approaches. As such every application must be approached individually.

There has, however, been a distinct and increasing trend towards the adoption of profiles. Job applicants across a number of industries and levels of management are opting towards profiles as opposed to longer cover letters.

As with any other section of your CV, the profile must convey a large amount of information that is instantly recognisable, and deliver it in an extremely short space of time. As difficult as this process is, it ultimately presents a chance for you to sell yourself to your prospective employer in 10 seconds or less.

Within a brief and succinct paragraph, your profile should be able to demonstrate your previous skills and experience. Ideally the language and content should highlight issues that make  whoever is looking at your CV realise that you are the right person for the job.

While the writing of a suitable profile can be a complex and difficult process, it can also present an opportunity for the jobseeker. Within a few short sentences, an employer may have found the qualities, experience or ambition in order to convince them to keep reading and examine your CV in greater detail. A solid profile can be the first step in your successful application process.

The post Profiles (And why they’ve replaced your Cover Letter) appeared first on Career Consultants.

When returning to work after maternity leave, you may be undergoing a number of emotions, positive and negative. Whatever your feelings, put on a brave face and show your employers you are still as capable and dependable as you ever were, whether you believe it or not.

“The emotional and psychological impact of going back to work can be very stressful, particularly after the first child” says Sharon Vize, of Career Consultants. She advises that preparation is the key to successfully returning to the workplace. This can include a detailed back to work plan, and if possible doing it before you leave. This can allow you to find out what flexibility is or will be available, give you and your company time to plan accordingly.

This planning ahead isn’t just a courtesy for your employers. The current economic climate has changed the situation dramatically, resulting in less flexibility when returning from maternity leave. “It’s about you coming up with the solution rather than expecting your employer to” according to Vize “You need to present them with suggestions and explain how this can work for them.”

Importantly, there is no legal obligation for your employer to consider requests for flexible hours, so you should prepare yourself for a “no” answer and maintain the idea of a “yes” as a pleasant surprise.  Even if your request is initially rejected remember to keep your eyes on the prize, by maintaining your standards and showing yourself to be an engaged and valuable employee you may be able to revisit the topic at a later date.

If the answer is yes, similar standards must apply and you must demonstrate you are willing to follow the agreement to the letter. Once the times are set do not infringe on these even slightly. If you say you will be there at 8am be there at 8am, even if you are the only person in the office.

Communication is a vital part of the process. Remain good humoured and make sure everything is addressed effectively and with adequate time to make preparations. Ensure you are aware of what is expected of you when you return, and consider how this impacts on your careers and goals. An excellent way to address this is to ask for a meeting before you return to work. This can show you are still fully engaged and proactive.

Lastly, be flexible. Returning to work after maternity leave isn’t a one way system of shifting hours and management seeking to ease the transition for you. Demonstrate quickly and diligently that you are both productive and eager to find a solution that works for everyone. For example, if your manager agrees on 3 days per week then ensure you can be contacted via phone or email the other days. The more you can demonstrate a willingness to find a solution and be open minded the better the return you’ll see.

The post Maternity Leave – Returning to Work appeared first on Career Consultants.

Unfortunately, that’s not the way it works. At all…

Most research (and general experience) states that we make our initial impression of someone from the first 5-7 seconds, and is likely to happen when you meet your interviewer. So you’d better make them count.

This isn’t as harsh as it seems. The interviewer has an extremely difficult task in assessing your ability and personality as an organisational fit in an extremely limited space of time. In this case it’s only natural that they’re going to use every indicator they can, which will include your appearance and dress code. They’re not looking for dashing good looks and a winning smile (couldn’t hurt, though) just a generally well-kept and groomed appearance.

First impressions provide a problem and an opportunity for candidates. On the one hand, you can potentially put yourself at a severe disadvantage by being unaware of these issues, and on the other by making a strong first impression you can put yourself in a position where your prospective employer is immediately thinking “This is the person for us”.

Fortunately, turning yourself into the latter is simple enough. These steps will give you a helping hand towards making those first 5 seconds count:

• Dress sense:

You should be neat, well dressed and appropriately styled for the interview. It’s not uncommon to ask what the dress code is for the meeting. In most cases you can safely assume business-wear. People will form their initial opinion of you from the way you dress, so make sure your clothes are clean, sharp and appropriate for the occasion. No need to go to great expense, you can dress smartly at a budget if you have a look around.

• Hygiene:

Personal hygiene is a must for any interview situation. Remember, the person that interviews you will either work with you, or report to people that do. If there is a hygiene issue it is unlikely they will recommend you for further progression. You don’t want to be ‘that funny smell in the corner’…

• Eye Contact:

Solid eye contact is a must for any occasion, whether personal or professional. Most importantly in the initial few seconds is to make strong (though not overly intense) eye contact with your interviewer. If your interviewer notices difficulty with making eye contact it will potentially put you at a major disadvantage. Put technically, it makes you look a bit shifty…

• Handshake:

As you meet your interviewer the initial step is to stand (if you are seated) and shake hands. A good handshake will tell a lot about a person, and coupled with good eye contact and a warm smile this can immediately put them in a position where they feel they are going to like you.

These may seem simple enough (and they are), however your interviewer is looking for any signals they can as to whether or not you’re a fit for the position, both personally and professionally. There’s no secret code and you’re unlikely to be immediately discounted for having a tie that’s a little bit skewed or something trivial like that.

Think of this more as a general, holistic approach. Use these simple tips to allow you to demonstrate right off the bat that you’re the right person for the job.

The post Interview Preparation: Looking your best for an Interview (The first 5 seconds) appeared first on Career Consultants.

Across any number of industries the internships and work experience offered will vary wildly. With this in mind, the following article is intended as a broad guideline into how to find the information that will help you start your Internship on the best footing possible.

1. Dress code

If you weren’t clear from the interview, calling ahead and checking the dress code of the office is relatively standard. For the time it takes to make a brief phone call and clarify, you can put your own mind at ease and know you’ll be appropriately dressed. As with most things in an Internship you’re not expected to know these things immediately, so it’s perfectly acceptable to ask.

2. Start/End/Lunch

These may seem like tricky topics to address if you’re not sure. However if you weren’t fully informed of these details ahead of your first day you should check to make sure you have all the details correct. Remember not to think of it as “How long do I have to be here for…” and more as you wanting to make sure you’re there on time and meeting all your requirements etc.

3. Sick days/Holidays

The holidays you are entitled to will vary depending on the length of your contract, and for some interns can cause some difficulty or awkwardness in raising. While it wouldn’t be recommendable to address the issue as they’re still showing you around the building it is certainly something that’s reasonable to discuss. Again, approaching it as an understanding of requirements and expectations allows everyone to ensure there is no confusion or difficulty. Sick days will most likely be at the discretion of the company, and will probably depend on the situation.

 The various issues you’ll face during an internship or work experience may well be unique to your organisation or particular situation, however the way in which you approach the issue will usually remain the same. From the outset you can foster a position of honesty and openness by ensuring you communicate with your employers about any issues or questions you may have.

The post Internships & Work Experience: Before you start… appeared first on Career Consultants.

With this in mind we thought it would be useful to pose a simple question:

How important is your CV?

The answer is, quite simply, extraordinarily important. Your CV is most likely the first contact point you have with a recruiter, hiring manager or the organisation, so it had better be impressive…

Errors

The Cpl Group recently conducted a survey finding that 89% of CV’s contain spelling errors. In our conversations with recruiters they have repeatedly stated that poor layout, grammar and spelling will cause them to lose interest in a candidate that might have otherwise potentially been successful. The CV with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes is at a significant disadvantage to the candidate with a well laid out and grammatically correct CV.

Content

One of the recurring issues we face at Career Consultants is candidates who are concerned about their skill set and how it applies for the job or field they want. More often than not the issue is not their skills or achievements; it is that these skills and achievements are not on the CV.

With any CV it is worth checking that your content accurately portrays your skills and experience to a potential employer. Your content should be efficient, economical and show every applicable reason why you’re the best person for the job.

Tailored

Each position is different (though some only marginally), and this should be taken into account with your CV. Having an excellent template is a good start, and will allow you to tailor your CV to the specific job. In this way you can emphasise your relevant skills and place less importance on irrelevant skills.

Your CV is typically your first point of contact with any organisation. The average time spent viewing a CV is approximately 30 seconds, so this presents a very narrow window for you to sell yourself. In order to get your CV to the top of that pile you need to ensure every part of it is correct, accurate and specific for the position at hand.

The post The Importance of a Great CV appeared first on Career Consultants.

Before you know it you’ll be surfing the professional networks, establishing connections and creating exciting opportunities for yourself and your business.

But there’s a slight problem. You don’t have a profile.

Building a profile is the first step towards starting your LinkedIn use, however for many it can be a tripping point. A good profile can say a lot about you, give people a snapshot of your professional credentials, and encourage them to engage with you on a professional level. A bad profile can leave people wondering who you are, what you do, and why you’re trying to connect. This guide will take you step by step through the main points from building your first profile.

Get a picture!

Frequently this can be a tricky topic for users. Either they don’t have a suitable picture or they’re not sure they want a picture of themselves up on the internet. A profile picture is typically a necessity, as not being able to put a face to the name can be quite disconcerting. The type of picture is important but not difficult, it should simply be a nice respectable picture of you, smiling if possible.

What’s a Summary?

A summary is a basic rundown of your current status, previous experience, and areas of speciality. LinkedIn has tonnes of examples of these, and if you’re not sure just start randomly checking pages to get a feel for it. Always write in the 3^rd person and be as economic with your phrasing as possible. People will usually not read a long summary so keep it to a few sentences at absolute maximum.

Work Experience

This can be a tough area to fill out (despite seeming relatively straightforward) as most are unsure of stating too much or too little information. Generally the key to this is moderation. Include the major working points of your career, the major duties in each job (the important ones, not the one where you were on tea rotation) and then leave it at that. If you’re job was more than a few years ago you don’t need to go in to massive detail about it.

Keywords

This may seem to be a minor part of the profile, but may well in fact be the most important (or at least, the most critical not to have) aspect of the process. The “Skills & Expertise” section allows you to list the areas you’re particularly good or interested in. This is not just for your profile, this will also allow keyword searches to rank your profile higher. Essentially, when people are looking for someone with, say, social media marketing skills, you can rise higher in that ranking by having it as one of your skills. This will ensure that when you want to be found, you will be.

There are a number of other elements involved in creating an online profile, however these are best discovered yourself, as you scan other profiles to see what you think works and what doesn’t and become more familiar with LinkedIn. Typically you should only place as much information online as you’d be happy to discuss with a complete stranger, however in this case you will most likely find that if you give a little, you’ll get a lot back.

The post How to Build your LinkedIn Profile appeared first on Career Consultants.

The next step can be a big decision for graduates, to go in a different direction and try another program, or to wait until the next intake of graduates and reapply.

This is an extremely personal decision and will depend on your specific set of circumstances (everyone’s is different so weigh up your options) to take the right course. This article is intended as a short guide to starting whichever course you choose to take.

Find a new program

Graduate programs are run by a plethora of companies and across most major fields. While you may have missed your “ideal” program, you may well find another one that you would be very happy in. Remember also that you may find a better fit in a company that you had not previously anticipated. Try to keep your mind open as you search, for instance working for (say) a recruitment firm, may not mean being a recruiter, or working for an accountancy firm may not require an aptitude for numbers.

Waiting for the next intake

If you decide to wait for the next intake, however long that is, you can use the time as an opportunity to increase your skills and likelihood you will apply successfully. You may be provided with 3/6/12 months before the next intake, so the onus is on you to use that time wisely and ensure your CV and application is as good as it can be.

Internships

Internships can be a great way to fill out your CV and gain some new skills or hone some existing ones. Finding an internship in a similar field or a position that will provide useful skills can be a great use of your time.

Diploma Courses

Many courses are available now that take place over a drastically reduced schedule. Provided the courses fall within your budget they can be a very useful ways to take a crash course in a skill or area your college course might only have glanced over.

Waiting for the next intake can be a gamble, in that you have no guarantee that you will be successful, however if you have the qualifications necessary and spend a few months improving on those, your chances can be greatly improved. The key to using this time is to make a decision early on (try not to rush, but not to dawdle either) and follow through with a plan.

Whatever you choose…

Whether you choose to choose a different program, or wait for the next intake (or quite possibly a combination of the two) the key to your next stage is making the decision.

The most effective use of your time is to make a plan and stick to it. Either find another course of action or educate yourself in preparation for the next round. If you ensure you are constantly doing something positive for your career (even if it’s only a small step) you will be constantly increasing your chances of successful application.

The post Graduate Advice: Missing Application deadlines appeared first on Career Consultants.

So basically, yours had better be to the point.

Cramming your life’s experience into 2 sheets of A4 paper can seem like an incredibly difficult task, and siphoning out the unnecessary from the important is even harder. In my own experience I had initially tried to cram everything I possibly could to persuade, nay, force a hiring manager to pick up the phone.

The truth is that in today’s market 30 seconds to view a CV is more than you’re likely to get. The reality is that you are probably dealing with someone who has a few dozen CV’s to get through and not a lot of time to do it. If yours is lucky enough to get 20 seconds you can consider yourself extremely competitive in an increasingly difficult marketplace.

This may seem daunting however it’s an opportunity for you to gain an edge over other competing candidates.

Knowing that you have only 20 seconds (probably a quick scan over your 2-3 most recent roles) allows you to be brutal in cutting unnecessary terms. Most CV’s contain some form of clutter or focus on insignificant details that don’t sell what you can bring to the company to a prospective employer. Keep it focussed on this job, not you in general.

Remember that a CV is not a summary of your life, just your career. Any details which are not relevant to selling your experiences to an employer should be examined carefully and you should consider whether or not they should be there at all.

Using the right keywords can allow your CV to be picked up during searches, and a well organised CV can be the difference in you making a shortlist, or being passed over.

The post CV- 30 Seconds to Impress (actually it’s closer to 20) appeared first on Career Consultants.

I have recently completed an internship as part of the JobBridge Scheme set in place by FAS. I began work in Career Consultants, a career transition firm (ironically enough) and part of the Cpl recruitment group. My internship took place through JobBridge and I was made permanent a little under 6 months later.

With this in mind I thought it would be useful for those prospectively and currently on internship/work experience to share my experience of the process, both the positives and the negatives.

My initial impression of the Job Bridge scheme was less than enthusiastic. The scheme itself seemed reasonable, though I had recently returned to education and completed a Masters degree. As you can imagine an internship was somewhat less than the Gold and Silver I had expected to be heaped upon me as I marched into the offices of Multinationals and began to shape the global economy.

However I was in a similar position to many within the jobs market, my qualifications were there, but my experience wasn’t. I had completed a business degree in 2008, just in time for the global economy to collapse (timing is not my thing) and had subsequently followed a career in Theatre Project Management, so had no office experience whatsoever. This had proved my tripping point throughout a number of interviews.

On the recommendation of a close friend who vouched for the company I submitted a CV and was called in for an interview. A few days later I returned for a second Interview with the Director and we agreed a start date. Too good to be true, I thought.

I was right.

This was my first negative experience of the JobBridge. Due to the terms of the scheme, I had to be unemployed for 3 months in order to be eligible. I was unfortunately only unemployed for just over 2. This put me in the awkward position of being unemployed, but not quiteunemployed enough. I had asked at the social welfare was there any way they could simply move the forms forward as it was essentially a few extra weeks drawing the dole pointlessly, but to no avail. I had considered turning up with rags and my form in a bowl in a similar vein to a Charles Dickens novel but decided against it.

Luckily my employers were very understanding and we came to an arrangement that suited us both, and a few weeks later I started my first day as an intern. I had a solid education and a sharp suit, and walked in with all the confidence of someone who knows it’s only a matter of time before he is found out as a fraud and appropriately ridiculed.

Happily my fears of ridicule and pointed sticks (don’t know where that particular fear came from, the mind is a funny thing) were unfounded. From day one it was understood that while I was competent, I was still an intern, and that any questions I had or issues I was not clear on would be addressed.  With this in mind I set myself to learning everything I could about the business and what was expected of me. It was by no means easy, however with a good support network and training I was on my feet and productive reasonably quickly.

One thing I should mention at this point is the money. And yes, it’s not great. The typical dole allowance plus 50 euro is about enough to live on but that’s it. I wouldn’t expect to be buying expensive clothes or taking any holidays, however it’s enough to cover your expenses during the week and some social life at the weekend. All things considered, I found I had enough to cover my living expenses with a few quid for going out. This may change with different people and circumstances, however I found it was quite liveable.

The important thing to remember, however, is that the pay isn’t really what you’re there for. Working as an intern is a chance to learn or improve skills, gain some new and useful contacts, and hopefully make an impression that will earn you a full time job. Even if the company isn’t in a position to employ you full time, ideally you will leave with a number of new and marketable skills, and an employer reference that will sell you. Ireland is a small place, and you would be amazed how far a solid recommendation can go.

It wasn’t all easy however. I had never worked in front line staff before and had no intention of doing so, feeling myself and the general public had an unspoken agreement. You leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone. A few short weeks after I arrived I was participating in a Careers fair and would be asked to put together some material, which was easy, and talk to prospective customers, which was not.

Arriving at the venue, and not staying on the bus driving around in a circle until someone asked me to leave (plan B), was difficult. Crowds of people were shuffling about looking at various prospects, with yours truly hovering around our stall like some sort of sharp-suited imposter.

Eventually the moment of truth arrived and I had to deal with a customer. A pleasant Indonesian woman asked me about our services and I responded, explaining what we did, supplying a brochure and a complimentary pen. No slip ups, accidents or uncontrollable weeping.

During the following weeks I could see the change in my own behaviour. I went from being someone who was afraid to answer the phone to diving across the desk like a deranged lunatic in order to ensure I had caught it before 3 rings (ok, well that didn’t technically happen…but I’m really good on the phone now).

There are, of course exceptions to these experiences. I had a very positive and productive internship, however there have been many accusations that positions have included “Managing consumer goods in an FMCG environment” (stacking shelves) and various other glorified terms for petrol pump attendants and other positions that provide no real value to the intern. These should of course be avoided, the authorities notified and where applicable they should be named and shamed.

It is only right to see these occurrences as one side of the coin. On the other side an internship while not being perfect is nonetheless a very useful way for jobseekers to get a foot in the door in a company. For people who have little experience in an industry (such as myself) or have been out of the jobs market for a while it can be a useful and rewarding experience.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this piece I’m currently finished my internship, and will be beginning full time employment immediately, with an increased confidence in my abilities and excited about new challenges and career progression. I was extremely lucky in that Career Consultants were a fantastic team to work with and have gone to significant lengths to employ me on a permanent basis.  Now if I can just get through the next six months without being found out…

The post Internships & Work Experience – Confessions of a JobBridge Schemer… appeared first on Career Consultants.