Tag Archives: employers

Reason for Leaving

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CV writing

CV writing

One of the most common questions Employers ask when they see a job seekers Curriculum Vitae (CV) is their reason for leaving their current or last job.

We advise regularly on CV writing to our job seekers and this is an area we cannot emphasise enough.

It is essential on your CV as a job seeker to clearly state your reason for leaving each job.

This can be done in one line at the end of each job and makes it alot easier for an employer to gauge if a job seeker is a ‘hopper’ – someone who leaves jobs after a short time regularly, or a ‘stayer’ – someone who shows commitment and longevity in the work place.

Employers prefer the latter.

It may simply be the case you have had contract positions, or a baby or many of the good reasons to only be in a job a short time, but if you do not state your reasons for leaving on your CV, you are left wide open to the wrong interpretation which may be the difference between an Employer dismissing your CV or not.

As a Medical Recruitment Agency, this also helps us to analyse our job seekers better.

So remember, when submitting your CV to a Recruitment Agency or directly to a Company, always state your reason for leaving after each job.

Choose Wisely with your Sales Career!

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Stay on the right Career Path

Stay on the right Career Path

Choose wisely when it comes to applying for jobs in these times.

With dole queues out the door and numbers of unemployment rising, it is understandable that getting back to work is the ultimate goal. But be careful what you send your CV forward for as it may prove fruitless.

Choose wisely and do not be hasty in applying for every “Sales” job you see on the internet if you are in Sales.

As aware as you are of the lack of employment in the country, rest assured that potential employers know this all too well, which makes them even more picky in the CVs that they wish to see.

Tips for applying for jobs:

  1. Job Title:  if the title fits then read on!
  2. Job Description: Read through the job description, the responsibilites and especially the area/ industry this job is in. e.g. if you have worked in Medical Sales and the job spec is for IT Sales then tread carefully. You may have all the skills for selling Medical products, OTC products or medical devices but no experience in selling Computer Software, JAVA programmes or PCs then this may not be the job for you.
  3. Qualifications Required:  These days employers really like their Sales employees to be relevantly qualified, i.e. Nurses selling Wound Care/ Dressings, Science qualifications for medical device, and Nutritionists/ Dieticians selling Nutritional products. Take special heed to the qualification requirements.
  4. The Location: This job may be based in Cork and you are based in Dublin. This could be another deciding factor, as confident as you are that you can cover the Southern territory with your home life in Dublin, the higher the chances are of “burn out”.

The fact is that if you are an experienced Medical Sales Rep then you have the advantage of -

  • Product Knowledge – no need for month long training sessions!
  • Client base – which means you have the existing client relationships and are on a business relationship with key opinion leaders in  hospitals, GPs or pharmacies. This, to potential employers, is like gold to them and is an essential part of what they are looking for when taking another Medical Sales Rep on their books.

I know there are bills and mortgages to pay, but best advice? -  Stick to what you know and choose wisely.

Play the waiting game as your working experience will stand to you once the right job comes up.

Instead of applying for every Sales job that comes in, choose only ones relevant to your experience.

You cannot submit a CV without a Personal Profile

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Your CV Personal Profile is essential

Your CV Personal Profile is essential

Your Personal Profile on your CV is essential in today’s jobs market – you cannot submit your CV for a job without one.

When a potential employer receives an average of 50 CV’s today for 1 job, your Personal Profile can be the determining factor as to whether he/she will look at your CV in more detail, or not.

Employers use them as a guide to you!

Your Personal Profile is your one chance to highlight yourself and point out why you should be seriously considered for the job.

Your Personal Profile is your introduction to you – your chance to sell yourself, your chance to shine and stand out from the crowd.

Without one, the CV has no introduction and simply becomes a black and white list of your life.

Your Personal Profile should be one paragraph, approx 5 sentences outlining where you have come from and where you are going.

It can be used to sell yourself to a particular job and altered accordingly.

It can be used to rule out the competition.

It can be used to highlight your biggest achievements or used as a Sales ‘brag list’

These days, you cannot afford to have a CV without a Personal Profile at the top of it which takes minutes to draft but can alter your career path

A CV without a Personal Profile is like buying a new computer with no instructions!

So remember, you must have a Personal Profile on the top of your CV – do not send your CV anywhere without one.

In the current economic climate

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Employers have the pick of the crop to choose from

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.

Bank on It

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From ATM to AMT (Advanced Manufacturing Technology)

From ATM to AMT (Advanced Manufacturing Technology)

Banking on it, the banking industry in Ireland today is suffering with almost 800 jobs are going in Bank of Scotland, Ireland/ Hallifax. Today people are looking elsewhere for employment prospects that offer security and good salaries.

Currently those conditions only appear to exist in either the public sector at senior clerical officer grades or within certain growth sectors in the Irish economy such as Medical Device Manufacturing or within Medical Sales. Both of these sectors are exhibiting phenomenal growth despite the current down turn.

Positions such as those for Medical Technical Sales rep, Chief Science Officer, or Senior Injection Moulding Engineer are on offer from a variety of major employers such as Vistakon, Mergon, KCI, Medtronic or HSL. All these positions offer considerable career prospects and attractive salaries that still hark back to the good old days of the early naughties.

Referees and References

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Help yourself-make sure your References are contactable

Help yourself-make sure your References are contactable

Referees and references should  be considered as vital a part of your CV as your CV content and layout after all its little point in going to the trouble of producing a wonderfully laid out CV without  having consideration of  the reliability and effectiveness of your references.

One should always be assured that the referees you choose are happy to give you a reference to begin with as generally -in particular with large multinationals, they may have a policy of not providing more than a factual reference; ie the person worked here between said dates as a “fill in Job Title”

These references serve to provide little support for an applicant and can in some instances appear to be suspiciously vague or reserved as if the former employer is anxious not to incriminate themselves-which in some instances may be the case given that candidates are entitled to check references obtained or stored under the data protection act. 

As a professional, it is in your interest to obtain reliable references- ideally in advance of departure from a current employer as your referee may move on-in which case your reference is lost or may lose its veracity as a person who worked indirectly with you may only be able to provide a standard rather than glowing reference. With this in mind it is worth your while to keep in contact with your referees. Professional Social Networks such as LinkedIn can be ideal for this as members will voluntarily update their own records and are easily found on this excellent website.   

Written references are another form of reference insurance because at least you have a hard copy from your referee who may not be available when you require them due to holidays or work commitments that make them unavailable for immediate comment but will at least buy you time.

At the end of the day, references are a general assessment but the ultimate decision lies with the employer to decide to take on the candidate but if the reference concurs with the assessing employers opinions their decision making process will be moderately more assured than if they have to rely on dated, inaccurate or vague references which do more harm than good to your application.

Do your homework in advance and do not leave it until the job offer to look for your references- even if you think they will be easy to get. That may be so, but you should treat your references with as much consideration as your passport. Ensure you have a minimum of two; but better still three references, that you can call on or contact via e-mail or phone contact as you never know when you may need them and if you have them in advance  your application has a far greater chance of success.  Remember your references are up to you.