Tag Archives: recruitment

New year – New Convertible? – be careful

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Convertible - bad for Health?

Convertible - bad for Health?

If you find yourself at the start of 2011 jealous of that neighbour with the shiny new Convertible – Don’t be!

According to Irishhealth.com, a new study has found that driving a convertible with the top down can put the driver at an increased risk of hearing damage.

US Researchers have found that driving in excess of 55 miles per hour put the drivers at an increased risk of noise induced hearing loss.

The study was carried out using five different makes and models of cars.

Sound level measurements in 80% of the cars at 88.5 km per hour with the top down had maximum sound recordings greater than 85 decibels. Exposure of noise above 85 decibels for prolonged periods is not recommended and the higher the noise level, the shorter the recommended exposure time.

At 120.7 km per hour (75 mph) the average noise exposure inflicted on the driver of a convertible car driven with the top down was 89.9 decibels. Furthermore, not only was the average noise exposure excessive with the top open, but the driver was also exposed to extreme noise ‘spikes’ while driving on a motorway, for example, when driving next to a motorcycle or lorry.

The study was undertaken using a sound level meter operated by a passenger in each car tested. The passenger took a series of between eight and ten sound level measurements at various points in the journey from the position of the driver’s left ear, at various speeds. During all data collection, the car radio was turned off, there was no conversation between occupants, air conditioning was turned off, the car horn was not used and there was no rain or other inclement weather.

The researchers noted that drivers of convertible cars may also be exposed to additional noise when listening to the car radio. Even for comfortable listening, the radio volume levels required while driving under the conditions assessed in this study are likely to add significantly to the noise exposure level.

However, the study did note that no excessive noise levels were recorded from any tested car driven with the top closed, meaning there is no more than minimal risk of excessive noise exposure when driving with the convertible top closed.

“When the convertible automobiles were driven with the top open, high levels of noise were consistently recorded. Although driving for short distances under such levels of noise exposure is unlikely to cause a significant degree of noise-induced hearing loss, our study demonstrates that long duration driving at high speeds with the convertible top open will increase the driver’s risk of hearing damage.

“In light of the results of this study, we are recommending that drivers be advised to drive with the top closed when travelling for extended periods of time at speeds exceeding 85 km per hour,” said lead researcher, Dr AA Mikulec, of the Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

Details of these findings are published in The Journal of Laryngology and Otology

So, if you are planning a new job and a new car for the new year – don’t get a Convertible!

To look beautiful – go to sleep!

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Sleep is the key to beauty!

Sleep is the key to beauty!

To look beautiful – go to sleep!

If you want to look attractive and healthy, the best thing you can do is get a good night’s sleep, the results of a new study indicate.

According to Swedish researchers, their findings mean that for the first time, there is scientific backing for the concept of beauty sleep.

They investigated the relationship between sleep and perceptions of attractiveness and health. They insisted that such research is important in today’s 24-hour society, particularly as the number of people suffering from sleep disorders and disturbed sleep is on the rise.

The study involved 23 people aged between 18 and 31. Each person was photographed between 2pm and 3pm on two occasions, once after normal sleep and once after being deprived of sleep.

Smokers were excluded from the research and no alcohol was allowed for two days prior to the experiment.

The photographs were taken in a well lit room and the distance to the camera was fixed. During both photography sessions, participants wore no make-up, had their hair loose (combed back if they had long hair) and underwent similar cleaning or shaving procedures.

They were asked to have a relaxed, neutral facial expression for both photos.

Sixty-five observers, who were blinded to the sleep status of the participants, rated the photographs for attractiveness and whether the individuals looked healthy/unhealthy or tired/not tired.

According to the researchers from the Karolinska Institute, the observers judged the faces of sleep deprived participants as less healthy, less attractive and more tired.

The team concluded that the facial signals of sleep deprived people affect facial appearance and judgments of attractiveness, health and tiredness.

Details of these findings are published in the British Medical Journal

In summary – who needs to go to the expense of face lifts, Botox or facial Therapy when all you have to do is go to sleep?!

This is also important information for all those Job Seekers out there who are attending interviews – it has been noted the difference between a job seeker turning up for an interview tired and those who get a good nights sleep before their interview.

Jobs on the Increase

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Light at the End of the Recessionary Tunnel!

Light at the End of the Recessionary Tunnel!

It seems that jobs are on the increase and that there really is a map in place for new jobs coming up in the next 2-3 years in Ireland.

There have been various reports on the news about Ireland coming out of this recession in the next 3 years and slow as I am to admit it, it does seem like the investments keep coming!

From semiconductor producers investing in their Irish plants to US call center giants  creating 400 jobs in the gaming industry, to a Galway company winning a space agency contract, one cannot argue with the facts in plain sight - jobs are on the increase!

Plus don’t forget all this talk of Nano-Technology – however, that may be just a little longer than 3 years!

So whether you gained all your experience in the semi-conductor world or you have worked in a call centre all your life, things really do like they are turning for the better.

Slowly but surely we will get there!

Other peoples’ opinions can be dangerous

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Other people's opinions

Other people's opinions

Other people’s opinions can be dangerous – always check it out before making a decision based on them.

We have had 2 recent episodes where our job seekers had been told by other people negative things about the Company they were applying to for a job and nearly pulled out as a result.

This is where word of mouth can be dangerous.

Check out the facts yourself first before making such a critical decision regarding your career and life balance.

Both cases were unfounded and it transpired that these were ex Medical Sales Reps who had left both Companies on a bad note and were both spreading negative feedback about these Companies down the Medical Sales Grapevine.

If you are a job seeker, you need to be very thorough in your methods and your research.

It is okay to hear negative things about the Company you are considering, but check it out – try to get a balanced non biaised opinion.

We are very thorough as Recruitment Consultants within the Medical Industry and will know whether rumours or word of mouth is true or not as we know our Client Companies very well and can therefore advise.

However, it is still imperative you seek out both sides of story and DO NOT let one person’s opinion dictate your career path.

Track your CV

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Check!

Check!

Are you applying for jobs on the internet? Make sure you track your CV and know exactly where you send it. It is good CV management to know who you have applied to so you do not duplicate your applications.

Take a look at our advice section on ”A Guide to Using Recruitment Agencies”.

The best advice we can give you is to start a checklist on each and every company and agency you send your CV to. Recruitment Agencies should always tell you where they would like to send your CV and leave the decision with you. From here you can goto your checklist and see if you have already submitted your details to that same company.

We have a special excel spreadsheet you can download to make sure you don’t forget who you send you CV to.

If you are using multiple agencies or applying to multiple positions around the country then this document is a must!

The Right Job

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The Application

The Application

Applying for the right job is paramount in this day and age. It is an employer’s market right now so your application success depends on a variety of moves.

A few tips to point you in the right direction!

The Application

  • Make sure you quote the job reference yes, but more importantly the Job Title!
  • Read the Job Spec. It is imperative you are qualified to do the job – whether educationally or years experience. Some people require both! Most importantly, if you can’t do the job don’t apply for it! It really won’t be the right job for you.
  • The questions. Answer the questions given at the end of the job before you click send. It saves a lot of time so be nice to the kind people receiving your application?

The Cover Sheet/ Email:

  • Let the person receiving your mail know why you are applying. They really do read it, so give a small synopsis of yourself right and your working experience.

The CV

  • If you are happy with it, attach it!

The Send Button

  • Does exactly what it says on the tin!

Word is the Word

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Take the time to format your CV in an accessable format.

Take the time to format your CV in an accessable format.

Word is the word when applying for a job, particularly to a recruitment agency your opening shot is with your CV and the worst thing you can do is send a CV in a format that cannot be edited easily such as Pdf. Whats the difference I hear you say?

Well for a start  all CV’s received by agencies (and some direct hiring companies require CV’s to be presented in a particular fashion that  has to be done swiftly.

As the majority of  agencies use MS Office and in particular MS Word, it means having to convert CV’s to a completely different format. But that should’nt take long you say. You’re absolutely right but tell that to the recruiter who is under pressure and has a hundred CV’s to review before lunch and edit those of use.

If you send your CV in PDF or other format, it will remain most likely untouched and unconsidered at the bottom of the electronic documents submission list. What would you prefer?

Take time about your CV but the simplest thing you can do is send it in the most easily accessable format that can be read, re formated and read by OCR (Optical Character  Recognition) technology used by most recruitment databases for data capture.

Give yourself at least a fighting chance for your next job.

It pays to be nice!

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Take the time to listen and to talk

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.