Posts Tagged ‘Candidates’
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
Employers have the pick of the crop to choose from
In the current economic climate we find that employers have the pick of the crop when it comes to choosing candidates for their resourcing requirements.
Not in decades has there been such an opportunity for Irish employers to choose from such a wide range of superbly qualified candidates with such excellent experience and skills and as a result they are taking their time before they make their selection.
Many employers only too well remember the scarcity of skilled and qualified candidates that existed in the Ireland of less than five years ago and the relentless career and salary demands of prospective employees.
Fast forward five years and the employment landscape has changed beyond recognition.
Applicants for new positions often describe interminable periods of time waiting for feedback leading to a lack of self worth and a pronounced sense of limbo, this can erode already dwindling confidence whilst waiting and wondering-what happened??
Candidates cannot be blamed for wondering or doubting did their cv meet the criteria? Was there an ulterior reason why they have not heard back? Is the requirement real? Where they or their qualifications good enough?
Feedback is the key and all candidates certainly deserve feedback ;-even if it is negative or disappointing because at least that way they can move on to looking at the next job. Because in the current economic climate it is the persistence to overcome disappointment and the determination to succeed despite competition that will get you your next job.
Tags: apllicants, Candidates, climate, economic climate, employers, qualifications, resourcing requirements, skills
Posted in Candidates, Client, job seekers | No Comments »
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Back to the Brain Drain of the Eighties
A New Order seems to have decended on the Irish employment front with salaries being one of the most obvious signs that things have changed in Ireland and that the Celtic Tiger is becoming more and more of a distant memory.
The New Order today for job applicants requires greater flexibility in taking on job roles that require increased duties for in most cases salaries as much as 15 to 20% less than previously paid less than two years ago and job descriptions that have expanded responsibilities which would have previously merited increased pay but now are considered mandatory and simply part of the job.
Additionally we see greater flexibility demanded of candidates required to take work further and further away from home requiring longer commutes and in some cases having to be transferred overseas to sister offices whilst the current economic conditions prevails.
Job seekers should consider this as temporary however as these were similar conditions some of our earlier readers may remember existed in the eighties when emigration was the order of the day. But that order changed too and then came the boom of the mid nineties bringing us to the recent present.
The key point to remember is things do change no matter how bleak or omnipresent that they can appear. Our current downturn will change but it requires willingness to accept change to current or previous existing terms and flexibility to continue working in order to survive the harsh conditions we must go through today to meet the eventual upturn of tomorrow.
Tags: Candidates, Celtic Tiger, commute, downturn, economic conditions, eighties, emigrate, employment, flexibility, future, Irish, job, job applicants, job descriptions, job roles, job seekers, New Order, nineties, overseas, pay, Salaries, upturn
Posted in Candidates, News, Redundancy, job seekers | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
Take the time to listen and to talk
It pays to be nice! Simple manners go a long way when dealing with people you meet in recruitment. How often have you found yourself in a situation where you helped a person not seeking a reward but for the simple pleasure of being nice or to help a person out of a difficult situation. Being nice pays! This might appear disingenuous but in recruitment potential and opportunity are closely relatives and a good recruiter nevers wastes an opportunity to be nice.
In the Irish recruitment industry, recruiters meet many people and often its the little things that count or lead to success-such as taking the time to talk to candidates. Perhaps you dont have a job for them today but the time you take to talk with them can be all some people are looking for. Some people may simply be looking for help or guidance about their career prospects, feedback on their CV or a little direction.
Because of our intimate market knowledge it doesnt take much to helpfully point a candidate in the right direction or to steer them out of a potential dead end career. So if we can we take that time to talk and we help when we can.
So- whats in it for you? Why bother? Why waste valuable recruiting time talking to people when you need to spend that time making placements and securing your job I hear you say? Well, for one, a candidate can be a candidate today but they can also potentially be a client tomorrow. They can potentially introduce you to friends or colleagues who may be able to help you with your requirement or be the ideal candidate you need tomorrow -or in quite a few circumstances, be the husband, wife, brother or sister, of a client you have been trying to do business with for months.
Always remember be nice to people, its good for its own reason and it will make you feel better but more importantly remember- it’s too small a world to be nasty to people. The wheel will turn and you never know who knows who or who will be in a position to either hire you in your next job or give you your next break-its in your best interest.
Tags: Advice, Candidates, career advice, Client, CV advice, Irish Recruitment industry, job, market knowledge, Recruiters, recruitment
Posted in Candidates, Uncategorized, job seekers | No Comments »
Friday, January 8th, 2010
Meet the criteria before applying for a job
It is always worth reading the essential requirements for a job before applying.
All too often, CV’s are being sent to us by people totally unsuitable for the jobs they are applying for.
There are a number of reasons for this -
- Careless
- Rushed
- Poor attention to detail
- Desperate
This creates a bad impression from the outset which is not what you want to give the Recruiter who will be helping you to find your next job.
It also wastes alot of valuable time when a Recruiter gets hit with 20 unsuitable and careless CV submissions before he/she can get to the ones that are suitable.
This may also be the reason why job seekers can feel they are being ignored or not responded to as even the most fantastic Recruiter in the world - all of whom work for JBM!, will eventually lose patience with what are commonly knows as the ‘time wasters’
Applying for a job is a process which requires care, attention and time - never fall in to the trap of just sending your CV out to a multitude of jobs and sites as this will be spotted very quickly as it starts turning up at the same place more than once and will instantly give a bad impression of you
Please always ensure you meet the criteria on the job advert before applying and if you dont - dont apply
Tags: Candidates, essential criteria, Interview, job applications, job criteria, job seekers
Posted in Candidates, Interviews, Medical Jobs, Medical Recruitment, Recruitment Agencies, job seekers, recruitment practice | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
Medical Devices Manufacturing R&D continues to seek high caliber candidates
Follow the money! A maxim often quoted in recruitment when looking for the areas of activity where recruitment is taking place. At present it certainly appears that the medical device manufacturing industry is ploughing ahead in new Research and Investment Projects across Ireland.
Where as the beleagured construction industry is rapidly faling into decline and infrastructure is imminently due for winddown, medical devices continues to expand and grow as a major contributor to the Irish economy.
In terms of world class R&D competition, Ireland is in the top ten leagues of countries with a major R&D presence usually a prime indicator of strategic importance of where multinational medical device manufacturers see value and where they tend to carry out serial reinvestment at multiple sites and in new products.
Boston Scientific and Abbotts are just two examples that spring to mind and some of the most significant investors in terms of R&D and employment in Ireland Inc.
Recruiting in this area requires an active involvement in the industry and an understanding of the requirements of client companies operating in this sector. The demand for high caliber candidates continues to support a range of medical device manufacturing clients and sees an increasing continuing future demand for high end skills and services for R&D Managers, Regulatory Affairs, Manufacturing and Quality professionals amongst others. Long may it continue.
Tags: Abbotts, Boston Scientific, Candidates, Clients, Engineers, Follow the money, Irish Economy, Irish Industry, J&J, Manufacturing, Medical Device Jobs, Medical Devices Manufacturing, Polymer Engineers, Quality Assurance, R&D, recruitment, Regulatory Affairs, Research and Investment, Science Jobs, Scientists, Technicians
Posted in Medical Devices, Medical Jobs, Medical Recruitment | No Comments »
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
Interview and CV preparation skills
It’s always nice to give something back to those who you work with. In the case of recruitment its nice to give something to those that recruiters most depend on to ensure their business’s continue to function;-ie the job seekers.
Many Irish recruitment agencies spend a lot of time taking CV’s but not giving enough feedback to those who are unsuccessful in their application but none the less have taken the time to respond to the advertisements that the agency has run. If they didn’t reply the agencies wouldn’t have the CV’s they require to support their clients requirements and by extension they would have nothing to offer to sell their recruiting services.
As recruiters work continually involves the professional assessment and presentation of CV’s and daily interviewing of candidates, they are uniquely qualified to present valuable insights and advice to candidates, and to enhance their candidates with the maximum possibility of achieving success in not only winning an interview, but also maximising their competitive potential against opposition at their individual interview.
The NRF has recently taken measures to address this and has set up workshops to educate those who require information on a variety of topics on areas such as CV and interview preparation. Jackie Brown Medical, an NRF award winning recruitment agency in particular, has provided it’s applicants with specialised tips and advice on a wide variety of professional topics to ensure and to enhance their job hunting prospects in today’s challenging employment market for medical professionals seeking work in the medical jobs recruitment market.
Please feel free to visit our website to read our testimonials and to review our advice center topics if you are looking for a winning CV or tips on how to get the best out of agencies and interviews. Its worth your while and our pleasure to help. After all, its nice to give something back.
Tags: beating the competition at interview, Candidates, CV, CV advice, CV preparation, Interview advice, interviewing, Irish agency, Irish Recruitment Agencies, Jackie Brown Medical, job hunting, maximum possibility of achieving success at interview, Medical Jobs, medical jobs recruitment, NRF Award Winner, Winning cv, winning the interview
Posted in CV tips, Candidates, Interviews, Jackie Brown Medical, Medical Jobs, job seekers | No Comments »
Monday, April 27th, 2009
I was at the NRF (National Recruitment Federation) Annual Conference last Thursday 23d April in Citywest Hotel and I learned a lot of things.
First and foremost, the Conference was all about positivity and the title of their Conference ‘Facing the future with ease’ demonstrated this. There was an air of optimism amongst the delegates and whilst chatting amongst them, I couldn’t help but ask myself ‘what recession?’
Now don’t get me wrong here, the recruitment industry has not been without its casualties, 5,000 to be precise. That seems a lot of people who have lost their jobs in the past year. But as Lucy Gaffney(Chairperson of Communicorps) so rightly said in her lecture on ‘Triump through adversity’, companies have got to become lean and in so doing have got to get rid of people who are not adding to the bottom line.
This is what has happened recently to the Recruitment Industry and those left in the Industry have to work harder and smarter to gain the confidence of their Clients and Candidates. That can only be a good thing as relationship building has been a long forgotten word in this industry. More and more complaints have risen to the fore where candidates now only see recruitment agencies as only in it for the money.
I sincerely hope that the trimming back of the Industry will leave only the best. The best are those who put both their Clients and Candidates first and will always go the extra mile. Don’t get me worng here. The fee is essential to the bottom line and no business can survive without this, but it is not the sole reason in working with a Client or Candidate.
Another lecture that I found fascinating and really enjoyed was the one entitled ‘Taking it personally: Managing our personal response to stressful times’. This was very interesting as Tempy Cummins (Vision 2 Reality) brought us through 9 persoanlity types and how each of these types respond to stress. Each one of us in the room could identify with the response to stress but I found that it was more difficult to identify my personality type. I believed myself to be a mixture of a few. But my reaction to stress was easy to identify. I won’t say it in public but all those who know me, know which way I re-act!
Another lecture I found most interesting was given by Rowan Manahan (Fortify Services). He spoke about the need for the recruitment industry to ‘evolve’. He said that computers are getting more and more intelligent and that by the early teens i.e. 2013, 2014 and 2015, they will take over the Recruitment Industry. This was not said to panic us but to tell us of the importance of innovation and to move with the times. Our industry will be saved by reputation alone and it is up to each one of us working in the industry to keep that intact.
The importance of having a recession strategy was also highlighted at the conference. This meant that each business owner should look at their business and see if the client mix and product offering could be improved or changed to move with the times. This could mean doing a client survey asking what other services outside of recruitment they would like agencies to offer. This could include outplacement services and CV preparation and Interview advice for employees recently made redundant.
Keeping a very positive spirit in the Conference, Frank Collins (NRF President) was delighted to tell us that 13,000 people had come off the live register in January and that out of every 5 people employed one of these had been placed by an agency.
Bill Boorman (Tin Hat Strategy) was also very pleased to tell us that the ‘green shoots’ of recovery were already showing and that he was very confident that a full recovery will start mid 2010.
All in all, it was an excellent Conference and gave back to all of us the positive spirit and hope that we need to meet the forthcoming challenges.
Tags: Agencies, Candidate relationships, Candidates, Client relationships, client survey, Clients, CV preparation, employment, importance of innovation, Interview advice, move with the times, National Recruitment Federation, outplacement services, recession strategy, Recruitment Industry, recruitment industry to evolve, saved by reputation
Posted in Candidates, Medical Jobs, Medical Recruitment, job seekers | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
I was talking to a Medical Sales Candidate of mine who has recently attended interviews with three Medical companies. I asked him how he got on and he told me the following:
1) the first Medical company who brought him back for second interview told him that he was too expensive and on that basis could not hire him
2) the second Medical company who also called him back for second interview told him that he was far too experienced for the job and that he would get bored
3) the third Medical company is yet to come back to him with feedback. His first interview was a week ago
I think it is very imprtant that the Employer is very frank with the jobseeker at first interview and highlights the unsuitability of a candidate after the interview is complete A candidate shoould not be called back for second interview unless he/she is a strong contender for the posiiton
As Candidates are very vulerable in the market at the moment, I think the Employer, like the Recruitment Agency should guide the Candidate gently in the recruitment process.
By all means, the Candidate needs a helping hand to find the next suitable position, but let that hand be a warm and caring one. Let’s not fill the Candidate with false expectations at interview stage but rather with practical, frank and helpful advice.
That is what the jobseeker will be thankful for in the future.
Tags: Candidates, employer, first interview, Interview, interview stage, jobseeker, Medical companies, medical sales, recruitment agency, recruitment process, second interview
Posted in Candidates, Medical Jobs, job seekers | No Comments »
