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How to Futureproof Your Skill-Set with Online Upskilling

Upskilling is a great way to futureproof your skill-set for industry 4.0 while also standing out from the crowd. Read this guide to learn everything you need to know about how to upskill yourself in 2021.

 

 

Table of Contents

  1. What is Upskilling?
  2. Upskilling & the Future of Work
  3. What are the Benefits of Upskilling?
  4. The Rise of Online Upskilling
  5. What to Consider Before Choosing an Online Course?
  6. 10 Things to Look for When Browsing Courses
  7. What are the Top Online Learning Platforms?
  8. What to Do After You Finish Your Course?

 

What is Upskilling?

 

The term “upskilling” refers to when a person pursues further training or education in order to improve their skill-set and boost their professional prospects. Individuals may choose to undertake an upskilling programme themselves or in some cases, training may be provided by their employer. An employer may wish to provide a continuous learning programme to help employees stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies so that they can progress in their jobs and move on to new opportunities within the company.

 

How global CEOs' concern over the availability of skills has risen

Source: PwC 22nd Annual CEO Survey

 

Upskilling & the Future of Work

 

“Due to the speed of technological change and its impact on business processes, upskilling increasingly matters for everyone in employment, regardless of their occupation or existing educational level.” 

–  Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025

 

According to data from the 2018 “Future of Jobs Report” from the World Economic Forum, 54% of all employees will need significant reskilling and upskilling by the year 2022. Technological advances mean that many professionals will require further training so they can keep up with the latest developments. In some cases, individuals may require complete reskilling as their occupation may cease to exist. As such, training and education are key parts of transitioning to the future of work. 

 

 

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What are the Benefits of Upskilling?

 

Figures from TalentLMS reveal that 42% of employees pursued training on their own following the coronavirus outbreak. With many professionals now pivoting to remote working, they can put the time saved from commuting to a more productive use. By participating in a further learning programme, professionals can learn new hard and soft skills. This may enable them to advance further within their role or seek out new job opportunities. Demonstrating a commitment to learning helps to make them more marketable to potential employers as it shows drive, initiative, a good work ethic and a curious mindset. 

 

In addition to professional mobility, there is also a raft of personal benefits to be had from upskilling. The TalentLMS survey found that 66% of employees ranked the joy of learning new things as their top motivator and a further 80% said that it boosted their confidence. Through upskilling, employees may also stumble upon previously-unknown talents as this article highlights:

 

 “Upskilling allows employees to gain knowledge in a new arena in which they may excel. This can lead to previously undiscovered talents, passions and, eventually, career paths leading to even more opportunities.” 

– “Knowledge Is Power: The Benefits Of Upskilling For Employers and Employees”, Forbes

 

The Rise of Online Upskilling

 

In recent years, online learning has emerged as the most popular upskilling method. Before COVID, the global online education market was forecast to reach $350 billion by the year 2025. Since the outbreak, the major players in online learning have seen an unprecedented rise in numbers. For example, Udemy had a whopping 425% increase in enrollments. 

 

What are the Advantages of Online Upskilling Courses?

 

  • Study at your own pace
  • Flexibility so you can fit study time around your schedule 
  • Many courses are available for free or at a low cost
  • In many cases, no textbooks or additional resources are required
  • Availability of reviews 
  • Many courses are offered by reputable and accredited institutions 

 

Woman doing a video call in a cafe

What to Consider Before Choosing an Online Course?

 

1. Consider Your Goals & Motivations

 

“… there is a huge human-made gap between learning something and demonstrating to the world that you have learned it sufficiently to be ‘certified’ as competent.”

-“Saylor Academy Sidesteps the Evil Duo”, Forbes

 

Before jumping into a course, think about why you want to take it in the first place. Are you simply trying to understand a new subject or are you trying to prove a level of competency? Is there a specific certification that will be useful to you when job-hunting? This will determine whether or not you will require a course that provides a recognised certification. 

 

2. Identify Your Learning Style

 

Research shows that everyone has their own unique learning style. The three main styles of learning are: 

  • Visual: This style describes people who best process new information by seeing and reading. 
  • Auditory: This style describes people who learn best by listening to audio recordings, spoken repetition or through discussion. 
  • Kinesthetic / Tactile: This style describes people who take in new information by taking part in hands-on activities. 

Most people have a mix of styles with one dominant style. Before choosing a course, it’s a good idea to research your unique learning style. This will help you to pick the course that is best suited to your unique educational needs and preferences. 

 

3. Choose an Area of Study

 

“The biggest challenge for learners is to figure out what skills are emerging, what they can do to compete best in the global market. We’re in a world that’s changing so quickly that skills that were valued just three or four years ago are no longer relevant. People are confused and don’t know what they should be learning.”

-Darren Shimkus, President of Udemy

 

Invest time into researching all possible avenues of study. First, consider if you want to work on your hard skills or your soft skills. If your occupation requires a great deal of technical expertise, then refining your soft skills can be a great way to stand out from the crowd. 

 

Think about whether you want to learn something new that will help you in your current position or if you want to learn something that could act as a bridge into a wholly new occupation. If your aim is to futureproof your skill-set then perhaps you could look into courses related to emerging tools, trends and techniques. It’s also a good idea to seek out advice from peers or your manager. For a more subjective perspective, consider asking a professional recruiter who has a specific industry focus as well as an understanding of the wider market.

 

4. Determine your Level

 

Once you have selected the subject you would like to study, the next step is to assess your current level. Be honest with yourself as you don’t want to waste time and effort on a course that is too easy or well beyond your understanding. Ideally, the content of the course should be just beyond your comfort zone so that it is stimulating enough to keep you interested but not frustratingly difficult. 

 

10 Things to Look for When Browsing Courses

 

  1. Are there reviews of the course? If so, read through them and note down any recurring pros and cons. 
  2. Does the course offer accreditation? 
  3. Is there a deadline or can you learn at your own pace? 
  4. What is the instructor’s background? What qualifies them to teach in this field? 
  5. How easy is it to communicate with your instructor or your classmates? 
  6. In addition to video lectures, does the course offer interactive elements such as quizzes, exercises and projects? 
  7. Is there a clear, detailed curriculum? 
  8. Is it possible to try out the course for free before committing to a payment? 
  9. How does the course provide students with feedback? 
  10. What kind of technology is required? 

 

Top Online Learning Platforms

 

Udemy

 

With over 150,000 courses and 259 million students, Udemy is the most popular e-learning platform in the market today. Boasting a vast library of courses, it’s possible to study virtually any subject under the sun. However, Udemy boasts a particularly strong portfolio of IT and business development courses. Courses can cost anywhere between €10 to €200 however, there are frequent sales during which you can avail of hefty discounts. Udemy offers a limited number of free courses. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case the course is not to your liking. Upon finishing your course, you will receive a Udemy certificate of completion. However, it is worth noting that Udemy is not an accredited institution and their certificates can’t be used for formal accreditation. One of the most common complaints about Udemy is that the review system can be misleading. Many courses seem to have a disproportionate level of five-star reviews. Before signing up, you should carefully scrutinise the course summary and read through plenty of reviews. 

 

Popular Courses on Udemy

  1. 2020 Complete Python Bootcamp: From Zero to Hero in Python
  2. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate 2020
  3. Microsoft Excel – Excel from Beginner to Advanced
  4. The Web Developer Bootcamp
  5. Machine Learning A-Z™: Hands-On Python & R In Data Science

 

Alison

 

Founded in Galway in 2007, Alison offers over 1,700 free courses. It provides educational materials on a wide range of topics including Tech, Language, Science, Business and Marketing. Alison aims to help professionals learn skills and knowledge. As Mike Feerick, the founder explained in an interview with Forbes: “The workplace is our sweet spot. Globally, the workforce market is far larger than the academic market will ever be, and that distance is set to increase. We want to continue to be the global leader in the workplace skills and training space and that will include providing free learning more traditionally provided through the university systems.”

 

Alison students can choose between three types of programmes: 

  • A 2-3 hour Certificate programme
  • An 8-10 hour Diploma programme 
  • An 18-20 hour Learning Path programme

While the courses themselves are free of cost, students do have to pay for the qualification. It is also worth bearing in mind that while an increasing number of employers and professional bodies accept Alison certs, Alison is not accredited by any external body.  

 

Top Courses on Alison

  1. Dynamics of Information Security Management System (ISMS) 
  2. Advanced Diploma in Chemical Process Safety
  3. Essentials of European Medical Device Regulations (EU MDR)
  4. Diploma in Operations Management (Ops)
  5. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

 

Coursera

 

Coursera was launched in 2012 by two computer science professors from Stanford University. The platform works with universities from around the world to provide students with high-quality courses. Coursera has a reputation for excellence as it offers students a university-level education delivered by certified university professors. It features a diverse range of accredited and non-accredited programmes; most of which revolve around business and technology topics. While Coursera is considerably more expensive than other options, students are guaranteed a very high standard of education. However, financial aid is available. Coursera offers students several learning options: 

 

  • Audit: This is a free option in which students can view the course materials. However, there are several limitations as these students cannot apply for a certificate, hand in homework for grading, or take part in course-specific activities.
  • Certified Course: Students pay a fee to enrol in the course and start learning. They may submit homework assignments and complete assessments. Upon completion, the student receives a certificate.
  • Specialization: This option bundles numerous courses under a single topic to give a more comprehensive education on the subject. Upon finishing, students get a special certificate of completion.
  • Degree: Coursera partners with accredited universities to allow students to study for bachelors or masters degrees online. 

 

Most Popular Courses

  1. Machine Learning (Stanford University)
  2. Neural Networks and Deep Learning (deeplearning.ai) 
  3. Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) (University of Michigan)
  4. Algorithms, Part I (Princeton University) 
  5. English for Career Development (University of Pennsylvania) 

 

EDX  

 

A non-profit education project, EDX offers more than 2,500 online courses from 140 institutions (including some big names such as MIT, Harvard and Berkeley). Programmes on EDX comprise weekly learning sequences that include videos and interactive exercises. It also has a forum where students can enhance their learning experience by engaging with other students. Upon completion of some courses, students receive a Verified Certificate. Fees vary per course and financial aid is available. The platform offers six different types of programme including MicroMasters, Professional Certificates and XSeries Certificates. 

 

Top Courses on EDX

  1. CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science
  2. ColumbiaX’s Artificial Intelligence MicroMasters® Program
  3. HarvardX’s Data Science Professional Certificate
  4. RITx’s Project Management MicroMasters® Program
  5. BerkeleyX’s Blockchain Fundamentals Professional Certificate

 

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What to Do After You Finish Your Course?

 

“Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future.”

– Brian Tracy, Motivational Speaker and Author

 

When you finish a course, your work doesn’t just end there! No matter the level of the course, you should share your accomplishment! Update your CV to include your achievement. You should also

 

add the certificate of completion to the courses section on your LinkedIn profile and update your skills section. It’s also a good idea to leave a review so you can share your experience (good or bad) with other learners. 

 

At work, you should inform your manager and offer to take on additional responsibilities that align with your newly-gained skill-set. You may also want to try applying your knowledge on a practical project – be it at work or on your own time – that allows you to show off your new skills. If you found the course to be enjoyable and useful then you may want to progress to a more advanced course that offers accredited certification. 

 

Want more advice on how to further your career through online upskilling? Talk to one of our consultants today!

Career Resolutions for the New Year

In January every year, many of us decide to set New Year’s Resolutions in order to become better people. While these resolutions often focus on personal goals, they also provide a great opportunity to think about ways of developing and improving your career. This is especially the case in 2021, as we bid farewell to a year that ushered in profound changes to the working world. 

 

In this guide, we will discuss how to set achievable career goals for the year ahead. We will look at five examples of common New Year’s Resolutions and offer advice on how to achieve these. We will also provide a list of 20 career-boosting resolutions that you can make in 2021. 

 

Start with Self-Reflection 

The New Year is a great time for reflection. Use the holiday period to think about the big picture stuff that tends to be forgotten during our busy day-to-day work lives. 

 

During the break, take the opportunity to reflect on where you currently are in your career and where you would like to be. Think back on the previous year and identify key achievements, setbacks and learnings so you can determine activities that you would like to build on or reduce in the year ahead. 

 

“We do not learn from experience… We learn from reflecting on experience.”

~ John Dewey, American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer

How to Set An Achievable Resolution

 

Tip 1: Make it SMART

The best way to stick to your resolutions is to set goals that are achievable and realistic in the first place. One way to do this is to use the SMART method of goal setting. This describes goals that are: 

  • Specific 
  • Measurable 
  • Attainable 
  • Realistic 
  • Time-bound

The SMART framework is beneficial as it allows you to define goals that are clear and specific. It also enables you to break down your resolution into achievable steps, each with a realistic timeframe. This in turn helps to promote greater focus and motivation as you work towards achieving your goal.

 

Tip 2: Make it Meaningful

Research tells us that another way of making your resolutions more doable is to link them in with a long-term goal that is meaningful to you. Think deeply about your rationale and where this resolution will take you. Consider the person you want to become and the steps you need to take in order to achieve this. Use these insights to create a focused resolution that ties in with your long-term goals. 

 

Tip 3: Make it Flexible

 

“A tree that is unbending is easily broken.” 

~ Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher 

 

While a year doesn’t seem like a long time, we know all too well that many things can change in this time period. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s how to be adaptable and flexible in the face of an ever-changing environment. Keep this in mind when choosing your resolution and acknowledge that you may have to tweak your goals throughout the year. Allowing yourself some flexibility from the outset will make your goals feel more doable and will enable you to stay motivated even when your plans change. 

 

Common Resolutions & How to Achieve Them

 

“I Want To Develop A New Skill”

Upskilling is an excellent resolution as it can lead to career growth and professional development. Mastering a new skill may just be the thing that helps you to land a promotion or to find your dream job. 

 

Your Plan of Action 

  • If you haven’t already identified the skills you wish to learn, then you will need to do some research on your industry and discover the most in-demand skills. 
  • You will then need to assess your learning style and existing skill level and choose a learning option based on this. 
  • Another major decision is whether or not you will be seeking accreditation.
  • Make a realistic time commitment. Look at your schedule and see how you can fit study time into your diary. 
  • Finally, think about how you can apply this new skill at work – perhaps you could use it as part of an existing project or create a new project altogether. 

 

Related Post: How to Future-Proof your Skillset with Online Upskilling

 

“I Want To Get A Promotion At Work” 

This is a good resolution to make if you feel ready to challenge yourself and move on to the next level of your career. 

 

Your Plan of Action 

  • First of all, you will need to consider if your current role has any scope for upward mobility. If this is not the case, then you may wish to chat to a recruiter about making a move elsewhere. 
  • One of the most effective ways to show that you are ready to move to the next level is to take on additional responsibilities. Brainstorm some ways you can take on more within your current job.
  • Start keeping a record of your achievements and professional successes. 
  • Schedule an informal review with your manager during which you openly discuss your ambitions and get some feedback on how you can work towards these. 
  • Learn a new skill or hone an existing one. 

 

“I Want To Find A New Job”

If you intend to find a new role, then the New Year is an ideal time to lay the foundations for your job search. Our advice – don’t quit your current job straight away. Take your time to make a plan that ensures that the next role is the right move for you. 

 

Your Plan of Action 

  • Firstly, you will need to reflect on your current role. Note down what you enjoyed and what you disliked, and use these insights to help you identify what you are looking for in your next job. 
  • Update your CV and LinkedIn to ensure that it is up-to-date and accurate. 
  • Schedule a consultation with a recruiter to discuss your career goals. They will be able to advise you on the current state of the jobs market and what you need to do to become a stand-out candidate. 
  • Invest in yourself. You can do this through upskilling and by developing your professional network. 

 

“I Want To Achieve A Healthier Work-Life Balance”

When remote working became the norm in 2020, the line between work and home was blurred for many of us. For those unused to working from home, this presented many new challenges. Home-working is unlikely to go away in 2021, so the New Year presents a good opportunity to review your work-life balance in the context of your new working environment. 

 

Your Plan of Action 

  • Step back and reflect on your work-life balance in 2020. Try to identify what things you would like to improve and what you would like to stop. 
  • Research time management tools and techniques that will allow you to work smarter, not harder. 
  • Be stricter about setting boundaries e.g. switching off your devices, learning to say no, setting work hours etc.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. 
  • It may help to set measurable goals that you can build into your week and plan ahead of time e.g. arranging a virtual lunch once a week, starting your day with meditation three days a week, doing lunchtime fitness classes two days a week. 

 

Read our guide to discover ways of maintaining positive mental health while working from home.

How to Keep Your Resolution?  

 

“8% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions, while a massive 80% fail to stick to their New Year’s goals.”

~ University of Scranton

 

Research shows that developing habits is hard work and the process can take anywhere between two to eight months. So what can you do to set yourself up for success? 

 

One way is to design a path to your goal that includes weekly goals, a schedule of benchmarks and rewards. In the book Atomic Habits, James Clear writes “Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress. A handful of problems arise when you spend too much time thinking about your goals and not enough time designing your systems.” 

20 New Year’s Career Resolution Ideas  

 

  1. Reduce time spent on social media during work hours 
  2. Take up daily meditation 
  3. Stand up and move more throughout the workday
  4. Build your network 
  5. Develop your personal brand 
  6. Maximise lunch breaks 
  7. Read a career-related book
  8. Update your CV & LinkedIn
  9.  Find a mentor 
  10.  Become a mentor 
  11.  Learn stress management techniques that work for you 
  12.  Make your work from home space more productive
  13.  Do more networking 
  14.  Join a professional organisation 
  15. Volunteer at a charitable organisation
  16. Read more industry publications 
  17. Work on your communication skills 
  18. Start a new social club or group activity at work
  19. Document your successes in a “Feel Good Folder”
  20. Try out a new hobby 

 

Job Interview Checklist (Infographic)

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Need to prepare for an important job interview? Scroll down to the infographic below to read our ultimate job interview checklist.

 

The job interview is probably the most critical step of the job search journey.  It will give you an opportunity to show the hiring manager that you’re the best person for their job. As Roy Keane once wisely said, “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” Investing the time to prepare for an interview in advance can be a big help in terms of securing a job offer. Thorough preparation will allow you to stand out from your rival candidates as your answers be more well-informed and in-line with the values of the interviewing organisation. What’s more, doing your homework is one of the best ways to help you feel more calm and confident before the big day.

 

Download our FREE e-Book: How to Prepare For A Job Interview

Preparing for Your Job Interview

Preparing for a job interview takes time and focus. In fact, one study reveals that job applicants spend up to seven hours researching the company before their interview. To help you get prepared, our consultants have created a handy checklist of pre-interview tips and tricks. This useful infographic guide will help you to stay organised and focused in the lead-up to your next job interview. It covers:

  • Getting ready for the interview
  • How to research the company
  • Tasks to complete the day before the interview
  • Tasks to complete right before the interview
  • How to prepare for a remote interview
  • Things to remember during the interview
  • Steps to take after the interview has taken place

Complete the steps below and show the interviewer that you’re the best candidate for the job.

Read our Job Interview Checklist

 

Job Interview Checklist Infographic

 

If you need more help in advance of your interview, why not request a free consultation with one of our experienced recruitment consultants.

 

Book A Free Consultation

How to Calm Your Nerves Before A Job Interview

You’ve submitted your CV and done the prep, now all that’s left is the interview. Read our guide to discover how to calm your nerves before a job interview.

 

No matter how well-prepared you are, nerves are a normal part of the job interview process. According to a survey from JDP, 93% of job candidates have experienced anxiety related to their interview. To stop your nerves from getting the best of you on the big day, read our guide for ten stress-busting techniques.

 

 

10 Ways to Calm Your Nerves Before A Job Interview

 

1. Be Prepared

 

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Roy Keane

 

Investing plenty of time into preparation is the best way to build up your confidence before an interview. Before your interview, be sure to set aside time to do the following:

Don’t forget to schedule a chat with your recruiter before the interview. They will be able to give you useful information about the company as well as some insights into their hiring processes.

 

linkedin poll- how do you research an employer before a job interview

 

2. Focus on Your Breathing

Right before the interview, take a mindful moment so you can relax and achieve a clear state of mind. Breathing exercises and meditation are highly effective ways of keeping anxiety at bay. An article from the University of Michigan explains, “Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. This is because when you breathe deeply, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. The brain then sends this message to your body. Those things that happen when you are stressed, such as increased heart rate, fast breathing, and high blood pressure, all decrease as you breathe deeply to relax.” A 2011 review article in Health Science Journal compiled some of the top health benefits of deep breathing techniques, these included:

  • decreased fatigue
  • reduced anxiety
  • better stress management

 

 

3. Pump Yourself Up

According to data from JDP, 64% of candidates listen to music to get them into the right mindset before an interview. A 2014 study from Northwestern University revealed that participants who listened to high-powered, bass-heavy music showed improved performance during interviews. Just as an athlete will listen to an empowering tune to get pumped up for an event, you might listen to some motivational music for a pre-interview confidence boost.

 

4. Practice Visualisation

Visualisation is a technique used by many top athletes to give themselves a pre-game confidence boost. Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali and Jack Nicklaus have all attributed part of their success to practising visualisation. Psychology Now explains the reason why visualisation works: “Mental imagery impacts many cognitive processes in the brain: motor control, attention, perception, planning, and memory. So the brain is getting trained for actual performance during visualization.” Set aside some time before your interview to visualise what a successful interview would look like.

To do this:

  • Lie down in a quiet space. Shut your eyes, and fully focus on your breathing.
  • Once you feel relaxed, imagine yourself entering the interviewer’s office. Think about the various colours, light, shadows and objects in the room. What does the interviewer sound like when they greet you?
  • As you settle in, imagine yourself smiling warmly and the interviewer is smiling back. Once the interview commences, visualise yourself confidently and successfully answering the interviewer’s questions.
  • Visualise what a successful outcome would look like. For example, at the end of the interview, you might imagine the interviewer say something like “You’re hired” or “Welcome to the team!”

 

Related Content: Our Top 10 Video Job Interview Tips 

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5. Practice Positive Self-Talk

Put simply, self-talk is your internal monologue. Sometimes, self-talk can be positive, uplifting and encouraging. Other times, it can be distressing, pessimistic and demotivational. Before an important event like a job interview, it’s important to pay attention to this as it can have a huge effect on your mindset. Use positive self-talk to silence your inner-critic. Be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion. If a nasty thought creeps into your head, try to distract yourself or challenge the self-criticism by asking whether it’s even true.

via GIPHY

 

6. Get a Sweat On

 

“After a fast-paced game of squash or several laps in the pool, you’ll often find that you’ve forgotten the day’s irritations and concentrated only on your body’s movements… As you begin to regularly shed your daily tensions through movement and physical activity, you may find that this focus on a single task, and the resulting energy and optimism, can help you remain calm and clear in everything.” – Mayo Clinic

 

One great trick to help calm your nerves before an interview is to exercise. Not only does exercise help take your mind off the upcoming job interview, but it is also a proven stress-reliever and confidence-booster. Studies show that exercising reduces levels of stress hormones (e.g. cortisol and adrenaline) in the body and stimulates the release of feel-good chemicals. On the day of the interview, set yourself up for success by going for a brisk walk, a dip in the pool or a half-hour yoga session.

 

FREE e-Book: How to Prepare For A Job Interview

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7. Maintain Good Posture

 

 

Studies show that maintaining good physical posture not only projects confidence but it can also help you to feel more confident in yourself. A 2009 study found that people who sit up straight were more likely to believe thoughts they wrote down while in that posture concerning whether they were qualified for a job. Before and during the interview, be sure to do a quick posture check:

  • Is your back straight?
  • Are your shoulders relaxed?
  • Is your chest lifted from the breastbone?
  • Are both your feet firmly resting on the floor?

 

8. Plan a Nice Treat

Sometimes distraction can be a useful tool. While preparing for your interview, you should also plan something to look forward to afterwards. This will give you something else to focus on so that you’re not wholly consumed by interview anxiety. Perhaps you could plan an activity you enjoy or arrange to meet a friend for a delicious lunch. A lot of hard work went into applying for the job and preparing for the interview, you have earned a reward!

 

9. Drink Tea Not Coffee

Be strategic in what you eat and drink on the day of the interview. Avoid coffee directly beforehand as this may leave you feeling jittery. For your pre-interview caffeine boost, try a calming cup of green tea instead. According to Healthline, “Many people report having more stable energy and being much more productive when they drink green tea, compared with coffee.”

via GIPHY

 

10. Make A Gratitude List

Another effective way to calm your nerves before a job interview is to make a “Gratitude List”. According to the JDP survey, 6% of respondents said that they made a Gratitude List as part of their interview preparations. A gratitude list involves writing a list of good things that you appreciate in your life and/or career. This exercise can help to relieve stress and increase feelings of positivity. As the career coach, Katherine Street writes, “people with a greater sense of gratitude are less depressed and neurotic, and more agreeable and open — traits that are attractive to employers.”

 

Related Post: Tools to Overcome New Job Anxiety

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How to Calm Your Nerves Before A Job Interview: Key Takeaways

It’s natural to experience anxiety throughout the job interview process. However, it is possible to learn how to calm your nerves before an interview through the right combination of preparation and self-care. It may also help to approach a recruiter who can prep you for the interview and advise you on job interview techniques so that you feel more relaxed ahead of the big day.

 

10 Ways to Calm Your Nerves Before A Job Interview - Berkley Infographic

 

Why Contingent Labour is The Future of Work

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Check out our guide below to find out why contracting and contingent labour represents the future of work in Ireland and around the world.

What Is A Contingent Worker?

Contingent Workers are those who provide services to an organisation but who are not on the payroll. This is an umbrella term that encompasses many types of workers including contractors, consultants, temps and advisers. Oftentimes, these people are brought in temporarily to address a specific project need. 

 

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The State of Contingent Labour in Ireland

Contingent labour is on the rise in Ireland. According to a 2018 ESRI report, contingent employment made up just 10% of the overall active workforce in Ireland between the years of 2011 and 2013. According to one study, 45% of Irish workers can now be categorised as contingent labour.  

 

A group of employees sharing a coffee at work

Why is Contingent Labour the Future of Work? 

Prior to 2020, contingent workforces were trending upwards with many multinationals and large tech companies (such as Google and Facebook) leading the way. Contingent workforces are becoming increasingly mainstream, sectors that wouldn’t traditionally have used this model (e.g. engineers, accountants, architects) are now exploring this as an option. 

 

FREE eBook: Embracing the Agile Tech Workforce

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The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Contingent Labour

The ongoing pandemic has accelerated uptake of contingent workforces with more and more organisations adopting this model. Research from Gartner has found that 32% of organisations are replacing full-time employees with contingent workers. So why is this?

In times of crisis, organisations need to be agile in order to weather the storm. Contingent workforce models can be easily scaled up or down. This gives organisations the flexibility they need in order to dynamically adapt to changing market conditions. 

Cost savings have long been a key driver for companies adopting contingent models, and with the ongoing pandemic this has taken on even greater importance. Contingent models help to decrease costs by reducing the costs of hiring, payroll, and the management of employees. Download a copy of Berkley’s 2022 Contracting Rate Guides to benchmark rates today. 

 

What are the Benefits of Growing Contingent Work for Candidates?

 

As our previous article about the benefits of contracting outlines, there are many reasons why workers may want to look into contingent work. 

 

  1. These days, workers are no longer seeking a job for life. Contingent work offers greater mobility to move between a variety of jobs, projects and organisations. 
  2. Contingent work gives candidates more control over when and how they work. This gives them greater freedom to take breaks if they want to travel, study or spend time with loved ones. 
  3. As an increasing number of organisations implement contingent models, job opportunities for contingent workers will continue to grow. 
  4. The mobile nature of contingent work means that contingent workers can quickly develop new skills. 

Contact Berkey today to learn more about contingent workforce models

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Meet the Team: Louise O’Neill

Louise O’Neill is the Manager of Berkley’s Business & Technology Permanent Division with responsibility for software and infrastructure. In this interview, she tells us about her recruitment career journey.

 

Translating Skills Into Career Change Success

Louise took a non-traditional path into recruitment, having started her professional life as a translator. “During that time, I gained excellent exposure to project management, team management, and working within timeframes. All of these skills have really stood to me and are now essential for my day-to-day work here at Berkley.”

After three years, Louise took the brave step of stepping into the whole new world of recruitment. “I realised that translation wasn’t people-oriented enough for me and didn’t offer the daily variety that I needed.”

So what attracted her to a career in recruitment? “I carefully reflected on the different career paths that would suit my skills in project management and team management, but that would also give me more social interaction and a busier day-to-day routine.” Ultimately, it was a meeting with a recruiter friend that sealed the deal and Louise hasn’t looked back since.

Louise O'Neill Headshot

 

Scaling the Ladder at Berkley

Four years on, and Louise’s passion for recruitment hasn’t faded. “I get great satisfaction from it. One of the most rewarding things about recruitment is that I get to help great people grow their careers and to be a part of that story.”

It’s clear from our conversation that Louise is passionate about her field and that continuous learning is a key part of that. She comments “I’ve learnt so much in my time here. I relish the opportunity to continue to develop my market expertise with a leading recruitment company in the Irish market.”

In her short time at Berkley so far, Louise has made a real impact and her recent promotion to Manager reflects this. “One of the great things about working at Berkley is that the opportunity to advance is just there for the taking. The support I get from Tony, Arthur, Paddy and the whole team makes it possible to really grow my professional career.”

 

What is the Secret to A Successful Client-Candidate Match?

When it comes to supporting clients by finding the right candidate for a role, Louise asserts that “A job spec is just the beginning.” For her, meaningful engagement is the key to finding a good match. “I like to start the process by having an in-depth conversation with the client. I must be able to understand the role, its position within the business and the right cultural fit so I can identify what they really want in an individual.” She explains, “It’s all about engagement for me. From experience, having two-way quality engagement from the onset lays the path for a streamlined recruitment process that delivers the right candidate and strengthens the employer brand.”

 

What Do Candidates Need to Know to Boost Their Chances of Success?

The “Engagement Factor”, as Louise dubs it, is usually the biggest indicator as to whether or not a candidate will be a good fit for the role. “If a candidate is engaged throughout the process, then that gives me all the information I need to assess if they will be a good cultural and technical fit for the client.” She emphasises that personality is paramount, “It’s important that the candidate seamlessly integrates with the team and aligns with the organisation’s work culture and values.”

 

Tech Job Trends in 2020

In tech alone, Ireland employs over 37,000 people. In 2018, the Expert Group for Future Skills Needs predicted a shortfall in ICT skills of up to 146,000 people by 2022. So, what has Louise identified as the biggest growth areas when it comes to career opportunities in tech?

“Pre-COVID, cybersecurity was one of the fastest-growing sectors in tech. Now with a mass transition to hybrid working models, there has been increased pressure in the sector,” she says. “Currently, 6,000 people are working in Ireland’s IT security industry, and experts say that this figure will double by the year 2030.” Given the dynamic nature of cybersecurity careers and the ever-changing cyber-threat landscape, she states that career opportunities in the sector are varied and widespread.

She also highlights the tremendous rise in demand for skilled developers and programmers, “Cork is a Software Development hub with many multinational and SME’s here. It’s no surprise that we have a number of roles open across Software Development with some key clients of ours”.  Between the years 2011 and 2016, the number employed in software engineering in Ireland grew by 35%. This demand continues to grow with digital and cloud adoption.

 

What are Louise’s Interests Outside of Work?

Louise is a passionate advocate for animal welfare. She cares for not one but three dogs – a labrador, a shit-zhu and a rescue pup. Her family also spent many years breeding puppies for the Irish Guide Dogs. “You get so attached to them but the flip side is that they’re a lot of hard work”, she explains. “It’s really rewarding to know that these little guys are going to change lives and that we get to be a part of that story.”

 

Talk to Louise O’Neill about Opportunities in Tech Today!

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5 Ways to Mind Your Mental Health When You’re Working from Home

While work-related stress is nothing new, the past few years have marked a watershed moment in the history of workplace mental health. As such, it’s important to take time to reflect on how these changes and challenges brought on by the “new normal” may be affecting our mental and emotional health. In this guide, we will share five tips that have been proven to promote positive mental health in the workplace. 

 

 

A Snapshot of Mental Health in the Workplace

 

According to data from the WHO, one in four people will suffer from mental health problems at some point in their lives. Given that the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime, it’s crucial to ensure that we develop healthy working habits. It is also key to ensure that the workplace provides a safe and supportive environment in which positive mental health is promoted – even when that workplace is located in our own homes. 

 

How Has The COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Mental Health in the Workplace?

There is a wide variety of factors to consider when looking at how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected our mental health at work. The pandemic is triggering feelings of stress, anxiety and uncertainty for many workers. On top of this, the mass transition to remote working has brought about numerous new challenges for employees and employers alike. Against this backdrop, many people are now experiencing unprecedented levels of stress, while those with pre-existing mental health conditions are further challenged by the current climate. As a result, many organisations are now looking into ways of promoting positive mental health among their employees.

 

 

5 Ways to Mind Your Mental Health At Work

 

1. Take A Daily Lunch Break

 

A recent Liberty Games survey revealed that 41% of respondents are likely to work through their lunch breaks while working remotely. When we work from home, many feel pressured to be visibly productive throughout the day and experience feelings of guilt or anxiety around taking breaks. Taking a daily lunch break is beneficial for your mental health as it gives your mind a chance to rest, recharge and refocus. Lunch breaks have also been shown to boost productivity, concentration and creativity. 

 

How to Get the Most Out of Your Lunch Break

 

  • Log off from your work phone and computer for the entirety of your break. 
  • Step away from your workspace. 
  • If the weather permits, go outside for some fresh air – get a walk in or go for a quick cycle. 
  • Do a creative activity that you enjoy such as playing an instrument or working on a crafty project. Research from Drexel University reveals that just 45 minutes of creative activity is a highly effective way of reducing stress in the body, regardless of artistic experience or talent.

 

2. Meditation & Mindfulness

 

The Mayo Clinic describes meditation as an activity during which “you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress.”  Research has linked meditation with numerous emotional benefits, including: 

 

  • Developing resilience and stress management skills
  • Cultivating self-awareness
  • Learning how to focus on the present
  • Boosting imagination and creativity
  • Increasing patience and compassion 
  • Increasing focus, energy and productivity 

 

Practicing meditation at work may help you to cope with day-to-day stress and can be an effective way to ward off burnout. For example, when Aetna launched a meditation program across their organisation they found that participants’ stress levels dropped by 28%. 

 

The more regularly you meditate, the more you will experience the benefits. So rather than only meditating in times of stress, it is more beneficial to work it into your daily routine. It’s a good idea to schedule a daily session into your calendar. To minimise distractions during this period, be sure to switch off your email and any other digital notifications. Alternatively, you can step away from your desk and try out a walking meditation. 

Top Free Online Meditation Resources:

 

  • Headspace: This app teaches users the skills of mindfulness and meditation. It has a vast library of meditations that range in length, topic and style. The app also provides a useful daily reminder to “get some headspace”. 
  • Mindful Minute Podcast: This weekly podcast is hosted by Meryl Arnett – a meditation expert and certified Yoga instructor. Typically up to 30 minutes in duration, this show is a great way to start or round off a busy day in the office. Each episode features a guided meditation that aims to help you to get out of your own head while learning how to focus on the present moment.
  • Calm: Like Headspace, Calm offers a diverse array of options ranging from guided meditations to soothing playlists, breathing exercises and instructional videos on stretching. You can find meditations on any topic imaginable including a whole category of work-focused meditations. To help you maintain momentum, the app offers progress trackers as well as seven-day and 21-day programmes.
  • Insight Timer: This is a completely free app that offers access to over 45,000 guided sessions. It features calming music tracks and therapeutic talks from acclaimed yogis and therapists. You can filter by time (5 to 30+ minutes) and need (e.g. stress, sleep, confidence). 
  • Daily Meditation Podcast: Every week, this podcast focuses on one emotion. Each episode in that week will include a guided meditation that explores different styles and techniques related to the weekly theme. Episodes are less than ten minutes long and are an ideal option for those of us who don’t have much time to spare during the workday. 

 

3. Create Clear Work-Life Boundaries

According to a survey carried out by Mental Health First Aid Ireland, 42% of Irish workers are struggling to manage the boundary between work and home. Achieving a healthy work-life balance is one of the most effective ways to protect your mental health against burnout and work-related stress. However, when we lack the geographical boundaries that usually separate our personal space from our workspace it can be hard to disconnect. 

What steps can you take to ensure a healthy work-life balance when working from home?

  1. Devise a structured work schedule with set start, lunch and finish times and stick to it. 
  2. Find some rituals that help you to transition into and out of “work mode”. For example, you could wear your work clothes or go for a “commute” (i.e. a short walk around your area) at the start and end of each day. 
  3. When you are finished work for the day, disconnect from your devices so that your work doesn’t spill into your leisure time.

 

4. Keep up Healthy Routines

 

Research shows that poor physical health can elevate the risk of developing mental health problems. Therefore in order to support positive mental health, it’s important to maintain healthy everyday behaviours. These could include: 

 

  • Diet: Research reveals eating a balanced and nutritious diet can improve both your physical and mental health. It has also been shown to influence the development, management and prevention of numerous mental health conditions. When working from home, plan your meals ahead of time to ensure a healthy mix of foods that will keep you energised and focused for the day. For more advice, check out the HSE’s dedicated page on the topic. 

 

  • Exercise: Between the elimination of the commute and heavy restrictions on gyms, many people are no longer getting the same amount of exercise as they did pre-lockdown. Exercising releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins in the brain that boost our mental alertness, energy and mood. A study in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports found that people who walked at lunchtime three times a week reported feeling less tense, more enthusiastic, more relaxed and were better able to cope with their workload. To increase your activity levels, consider going for a walk during your lunch or following along to an exercise video on YouTube. At Berkley, we enlisted the help of Karolina from Inner Light Yoga who specialises in providing corporate and personal yoga classes that help to offset the effects of a sedentary office lifestyle. 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Have you ever tried chair yoga? A few quick stretches and movements during working hours is so good for your posture. I often catch myself in an unhealthy position with my back rounded or slightly twisted while working at my desk. Body awareness is something we need to constantly remind ourselves of. No wonder chair yoga are the most popular videos on my YouTube channel. There are short and exactly what a tired and tense body needs to get that quick boost of energy and pain relief. You can see them all completely for free: Inner Light Yoga YouTube Lookout for the purple-golden logo ??? #chairyoga #officeyoga #posture #yogaatwork #ireland #healthyhabits #yogaeveryday #healthyposture #lowerback #textneck #stress #tension #wellness #corporatewellness

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  • Sleep: It has been proven that there is a strong link between poor sleep and negative mental health. According to one survey of 2,000 new home workers revealed that 70% experienced disrupted sleeping patterns. 

 

“Our day-to-day routine plays an important role in helping to anchor and regulate our circadian rhythm – the internal clock which guides us through each 24-hour period, cycling us between periods of wakefulness and sleep. When our circadian rhythm is interfered with, usually, so is our sleep…Those unused to working from home may have a less established structure for doing so leading to less consistency for their body-clock to anchor around. ” –

Lauren Peacock, Sleep Consultant

 

To improve your sleep quality, consider removing all technology from your bedroom at least an hour before your bedtime. You could also establish “bedtime rituals” routine (e.g. read a book, take a bath, listen to a podcast) that signals to your body that bedtime is approaching. 

 

5. Stay Connected

 

People are social creatures by nature. Research has shown that building social connections is a surefire way to one surefire mood-booster.  According to a 2019 report from Buffer, 19% of remote workers stated isolation as their top challenge. For many people, the workplace provides their main source of social interaction. Those new to home working may be struggling with the long hours on their own. There are a few things you can try to combat loneliness: 

 

  • If other people in your household are also working from home, why not schedule your breaks together? 
  • During your lunch breaks, schedule a video call with a close friend or loved one. 
  • Create a calendar of virtual team building activities. 

 

 

How do I Recognise A Mental Health Problem?

 

The UK Mental Foundation offers helpful advice on how to identify if negative mental health is presenting itself at work: 

 

“At work, we might notice that we are more tired than usual. We might make uncharacteristic mistakes, find it hard to motivate ourselves, our timekeeping might slip, or we may be short-tempered… We might find we isolate ourselves, avoid colleagues or appear distracted. We might procrastinate more – or grind to a halt altogether. Or we might speed up or become chaotic, intruding into others’ conversations and work, and taking on more work than we can manage.”

 

If work is overwhelming you, arrange to speak to a supportive colleague, manager or someone in HR. Not only will talking about your feelings help you cope with difficult times, but it may also allow you to address any factors at work that are hampering your mental health. If you don’t want to talk about feelings at work, then try to talk to a trusted family member or a friend.

 

Generally speaking, you should seek help from your doctor if you experience feelings that prevent you from coping with everyday life, have a major impact on the people you live or work with, affect your mood over a few weeks or that cause you to have thoughts of suicide. 

 

For more information about how to look after your mental health, visit the official HSE website.

 

Upskilling Your Workforce: How to Run a Successful Training Programme

To remain competitive in 2022 and beyond, organisations need to invest in upskilling existing employees in key areas and skills.

 

 

What is an Upskilling Programme?

Upskilling falls under the umbrella of talent development activities. It describes the further training that an individual may undertake to widen, update or specialise their professional skill-set. In 2021, an increasing number of organisations are realising that upskilling programmes are an effective way to bring their workforce into Industry 4.0.

Industry 4.0 & The Looming Skills Crisis

Recent years have seen significant advancements in the field of digital technologies (e.g. automation, analytics, IoT, AI) that are transforming the way we work. A key challenge for today’s organisations is figuring out how to prepare their workforce for the fourth industrial revolution. Organisations that fail to embrace these new technologies are likely to fall victim to digital Darwinism.

 

“As it currently stands, 25% of the global workforce will either need to find new professional activities by 2020 or significantly broaden their technological skills as well as their digital citizenship and classic skills, including their cross-disciplinary skills.”

– “Closing the Future Skills Gap”, McKinsey

 

Numerous studies have revealed that there is a profound structural shift taking place in the workforce, as skills and occupations that were once essential are heading towards irrelevance. Employers have a key leadership role to play when it comes to addressing this looming skills crisis.

 

Chaulkboard illustration representing upskilling

Why Start an Upskilling Programme?

Employee Retention 

Upskilling initiatives demonstrate that your organisation values its employers and is invested in their growth. In a recent TalentLMS survey, 58% of participants agreed that upskilling has had a highly positive effect on employee retention rates. This retention boost will result in additional benefits including improved employee engagement and decreased recruitment costs.

 

Boost Morale & Productivity

Upskilling initiatives have also been linked with improved levels of employee morale, engagement and motivation. Happier employees not only contribute to a more pleasant working environment but also lead to better productivity and ROI for your organisation. TalentLMS data backs this up with 91% of companies and 81% of employees saying upskilling/reskilling training has boosted productivity at work.

 

“Good employees always want to continue moving up, forward, earning more, learning more, etc. If they aren’t offered continuous opportunity to grow their skills, grow personally and learn new things that interest them… or earn enough in compensation and benefits to make them feel comfortable, then they will look elsewhere for a career and company that does offer these things.”

– “What Makes Good Employees Quit?”, Buzzz

 

Enhance Your Employee Value Proposition 

According to Gallup, 87% of millennials look for professional development and career growth opportunities in their jobs. Demonstrating your organisation’s commitment to talent development can have a hugely beneficial effect on your reputation. Satisfied employees are more likely to spread the word about your organisation and leave positive reviews on online platforms. This positive PR can only strengthen your employee value proposition which will make it easier to entice high-impact professionals to join your organisation.

Upskilling & The Rise of Hybrid Employees

Another way in which the jobs market has changed is the rise of hybrid employees. Increasingly, employers are seeking candidates who have a range of skills that wouldn’t traditionally be found on the same CV together. Hybrid employees are adaptable and can work across a diverse range of projects. In a 2019 report, Burning Glass analysed a database of nearly a billion job ads and forecast that 25% of jobs show signs of hybridisation. They identified five key areas were hybrid employees were particularly sought after:

  1. Big data and analytics
  2. The intersection of design and development
  3. Sales and customer service
  4. Emerging digital technologies
  5. Evolving compliance and regulatory landscape

Whereas 42% of traditional jobs could be automated, just 12% of hybrid jobs could be automated. As such, it makes sense for employers to look into ways of hybridising their workforce in order to get the most out of their employees.

 

One to one training session

Who to Target?

Organisations with limited resources may want to initially focus their upskilling efforts on the people that need it the most. So how do you identify these?

  • The first thing you should do is to analyse trends in your industry and identify the people within your organisation who are likely to be affected by these changes.
  • Alternatively, you could take a top-down approach by starting with management. This might be a good place to start as 74% of employees think their managers need reskilling and upskilling training.

Once you have identified your test group, carefully consider how you could tailor the content and delivery of the course to their needs, abilities, interests and values.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Once you have identified a group of employees to participate in an upskilling programme, the next step is to determine the skills you will target.

 

“…businesses also see the nurturing of human skills, particularly leadership, creativity, empathy and curiosity, as essential if they are to take advantage of the potential benefits of new technologies. As a result, although purely functional skills related to automation and AI are often essential for business growth, they are not enough; they won’t suffice without these more ‘high-touch’ managerial and people-oriented capabilities.”

– “Talent Trends 2019”, PwC

 

For those in highly-technical roles, you may wish to help them to develop soft skills that will enable them to collaborate better or progress into management positions. Whereas, employees whose work demands a high level of soft skills may benefit from a course on hard skills that may help them to perform more efficiently or communicate better with more technical divisions.

For many companies, it is a challenge to predict what digital skills will be required over the next five to ten years. Many digital skills have a short shelf life, so it’s important to invest in the ones that are right for you. However, a survey of executives in the US, found that 42% admit they currently lack a “good understanding of how automation and/or digitization will affect our future skills needs.” As such, it is key to develop up-to-the-minute industry knowledge so you can confidently identify the skills that your workforce needs to work on now.

Upskilling Your Workforce: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Consider how an upskilling programme could support your organisation’s overall goals.

 

2. Complete a company-wide skills audit and identify gaps in your current employees’ knowledge. You could do this by holding discussions with co-workers, managers, and leadership, sending out an organization-wide survey or by running focus groups.

 

3. Compare the various upskilling methods and find the one that works best for your organisation. Weigh them up in terms of effectiveness, cost, ease of implementation and employee convenience. Some options include:

    • Classroom Training
    • Blended Learning
    • Virtual Classroom Training
    • Microlearning
    • Lunch and Learn sessions
    • Mentors

 

4. Compile your research and ideas into an upskilling strategy report and present to the relevant stakeholders. Be sure to highlight how this programme aligns with the organisation’s overall goals and identify metrics that will measure how the programme is supporting these goals.

 

5. Once you have buy-in from leadership, consider how your organisation can foster a culture of learning. In other words, how can you support employees in their learning endeavors. A key part of this is to allocate time for employees to upskill so that they don’t have to study when they’re off the clock.

 

6. Continuously seek out feedback from upskilling programme participants so you can tweak and improve it.

 

7. Upon completion of the programme, arrange a meeting with the participants so you can discuss their feedback and create a post-training action plan.

 

Case Study: Amazon

In July 2019, Amazon launched “Upskilling 2025” – a $700 million programme aimed at retraining and developing 100,000 of its employees over the course of the next six years. The initiative targets employees across various locations  in the US including its corporate offices, technology centers, warehouses, retail stores and transportation hubs. As the retail giant automates more and more of its processes, this initiative will help employees to transition to new positions by teaching them in-demand skills for fast-growing technical and non-technical roles such as data mapping specialist, data scientist, software and security engineers and business analyst roles. Ardine Williams, Vice President of People Operations, Amazon, in an interview on the Chief Learning Officer blog outlined further by stating that the programme was designed to “meet employees where they are and create opportunities for them to build on the skills that they have.”

 

Have a question about how to upskill your employees? Why not talk to one of our consultants today! 

 

Market Trends & Remote Interviewing Tips [Recording & Transcript]

,

In August, Berkley held a two-part webinar series in conjunction with IT@Cork. Entitled “Helping You Map Your Career”, this series was designed to help jobseekers successfully navigate the jobs market in post-lockdown Ireland. This episode was hosted by an expert panel made up of Berkley consultants – Louise O’Neill and Vanessa Pawleta – as well as Eric Clarke from Labskin. The webinar included an insightful overview of the tech jobs market in Cork and a guide on remote interviewing. Scroll down to view a recording of the webinar as well as transcripts and other related content.

 

Understanding Ireland’s Current Jobs Landscape

 

Transcript

My name is Louise O’Neill and I am the Manager at the Business & Technologypermanent desk in Berkley Group. I have almost four years of experience as a Technical Recruiter and have worked very closely with the Cork market on the IT Support, Infrastructure and Security space. I am going to start today’s session by providing some current market information and highlighting some of the positive news that we have been hearing on the jobs front in Cork and Ireland.

 

An Overview of Ireland’s Jobs Market in 2020

2020 was set to be the best year yet for Ireland, setting itself up as a great place to work and live. Unemployment rates had dipped to under 5% for the first time since the financial crisis in 2008. Brexit was a clear question mark throughout 2019, causing a lot of uncertainty in the Irish market, but things were certainly starting to move in the right direction with a number of multinationals looking to Ireland as a safe haven for 2020.

 

“With the unemployment rate dipping to under 5% for the first time since the Irish financial crisis in 2008, Ireland’s labour market is now essentially at full employment – simply speaking, there is a job available for anybody that is seeking one.”

– Chartered Accountancy Ireland

 

While COVID-19 has caused a number of issues Globally, and we may be facing a “short” recession, Leeside is keeping positive with some of our key employers in the Pharma, Fintech, IT and R&D sectors continuing to advance and hire.

 

What’s more, Ireland has been ranked as 28th in the world for digital quality of life out of 85 countries, meaning our broadband and mobile speeds did well with the shift of working from home. The growth of remote working across the country has resulted in increased usage of digital hubs in rural areas (e.g. The Ludgate in Skibbereen, the RDI Hub in Killorglin) which has proven to be a boost for local economies.

 

12 Positive Job Announcements for Summer 2020

✔️ Amazon Announces 1,000 Jobs in Ireland, New Dublin Campus – Bloomberg

✔️ TikTok to open $500m data centre in Ireland – BBC

✔️ Gilead Sciences to create 140 jobs at Irish operations – RTE

✔️ Global Shares on recruitment drive despite Covid-19 crisis – Southern Star

✔️ ServiceNow confirms new data centre for Dublin in wake of Brexit – Silicon Republic

✔️ Money transfer firm Remitly to take office space in Cork’s Penrose Dock – Irish Examiner

✔️ Cadence have started hiring in Cork and will be rapidly expanding

✔️ Cork-based Workvivo nabs €14.7 million for its employee communications tools – EU-Startups

✔️ SMS acquisition of Solo Energy will bring 20 new jobs to Cork – Silicon Republic

 

Other Cork-based companies that are still hiring include: Apple, Client Solutions, Logitech, Malwarebytes, MSD, OneLook Systems, Stryker, J&J, PGi, Red Hat, Tyndall and Varonis. We do work with some of these companies, so if you’re interested in hearing any more, please do reach out as all of our details will be included at the end of the presentation or check out our website.

 

How Are Companies Adjusting to COVID?

A number of companies are embracing work from home and are driving forward regardless. For example, Siemens is rolling out a mobile working programme worldwide which will enable employees to work remotely for 2-3 days a week post-COVID. Both Google and Uber will be encouraging their employees to work remotely until Summer 2021. Like most countries, Ireland has seen a significant rise in remote working throughout the pandemic.

 

“Where are the Jobs?”: Key Areas for Tech Hiring

IT Security has become a real emerging space and jobs in this area are set to double over the next ten years. This is great news for Cork as we have a great IT Security hub here. What’s more, there are several excellent university courses in the area of cybersecurity in Cork:

? Cyber Risk for Business MSc – UCC

? Cybersecurity MSc – CIT

 

Software Engineering remains a very busy and key area in today’s technical space. Ireland is the second-largest exporter of software products in the world. In fact, 16 of the top 20 global software companies have operations in Ireland. There are a number of companies in Ireland that are expanding their offerings via applications. Ireland’s gaming industry has also expanded hugely in recent years and is poised for further growth.

 

Big data and AI are still massive areas that continue to advance and grow. Skills Ireland estimated that there will be 49,000-62,000 vacancies in Big Data/Analytics by 2020. As such many graduates have chosen to further their education and boost their career prospects by pursuing further education in these areas:

? Data Science and Analytics MSc – UCC

? Data Science & Analytics MSc – CIT

? Artificial Intelligence MSc – CIT

What are the Key Motivators for Jobseekers Active on the Market?

Candidates active on the market are now ensuring their next move is the “right one” for them. They are really assessing companies, whether they are established and what they are offering as an overall package. Today’s employees are less attracted to fancy and novel workplace perks, they show more interest in company culture and strong organisational values. Young professionals tend to value future earning potential and opportunities, whereas senior professionals want to realise their full earning potential and leadership aspirations now. So we can see a defined, and interesting difference in candidates across the different levels. Work-life balance – flexibility and remote work – are now more than ever. With COVID proving it’s possible to maintain productivity with a remote workforce, any company that was against it in the past, may need to review their policies surrounding remote work.

 

Candidates are increasingly looking at the full package now, not just the base salary. Benefits packages now tend to outweigh salary. If the proposed salary is low, most jobseekers are happy to get good benefits that offer financial support. No benefits tend to be a big turn off for many candidates on the market, especially if they’re moving from one company to another.

 

Specifically, candidates in the tech space want to know what technologies a company is working with, or planning to bring into the business in the near future. It’s all about being at the forefront with technology for candidates as they want exposure to the latest and greatest. Adding to this, professional development is a big focus for young professionals.

Connect with Louise

 

How to Ace Remote Interviews

Hi guys, my name is Vanessa and I am a Team Lead recruitment consultant at Berkley’s Business and Technology permanent team. Today, I will be sharing some tips and tricks to help you with your next remote interview. While there are a few things that you will have to do no matter what format the interview will take – there are a few extra steps you will have to take for remote video job interviews so you can make the best impression possible.

Download our FREE e-Book: How to Prepare For A Job Interview

Step One: Preparing your Set-Up

The first thing you will need to do is to make sure that you are set up properly. So what do you need to remember:

 

☑️ Your Lighting: If you are preparing for a webcam interview, you should consider your lighting. Avoid any harsh lighting behind you, as this will turn you into a shadowy silhouette. Try to find a spot that will have some natural light in front of you but do not sit right in front of your window either! You want the interviewers to be able to clearly see your face.

☑️ Your Background: Do not forget about your background. Try to keep it plain and simple so the interviewer will not be distracted. If you can’t find an appropriate location, remember that many video-conferencing applications allow you to set a blank background.

☑️ Minimising Disruptions: Ensure that you won’t be interrupted by a family member, housemates, pets or by any external noise. I would recommend switching off alerts and chats during the interview and making everyone aware that you are not available during that one hour.

 

Step Two: Conducting a Test Run

Once your set-up is ready, you should conduct a technical trial run of your video conferencing platform. Aim to do this about two days in advance so you have plenty of time to resolve any issues. During your test run, check your computer camera, microphone, and internet connection. If you are using a laptop or tablet, check that your Wi-Fi connection is stable and that your equipment is fully charged! You also need to make sure that you can access and use the video call software on your device.

 

Believe it or not, poor internet connection can affect not only your interview itself but also the company’s final decision regarding your application, especially if the job you are interviewing for can be done remotely. I’ve had a situation when a hiring manager decided against a strong candidate because their video interview indicated that they didn’t have a suitable working environment.

 

Also, have the interviewer’s email and phone number ready in case any technical difficulties arise. If a recruiter representing you, make sure that he or she will be available during your interview time, although they should know it themselves.

 

Growth of Popular Video Conferencing Systems During COVID 19, 2020

Statista chart showing market growth of video conferencing systems during COVID-19 2020

 

Step Three: Dress for Success

 

Even though you will not be meeting the interviewer in person, you will still need to dress professionally. I’ve seen plenty of uncomfortable videos that went viral from times when people forgot to dress up appropriately, so please do not just dress the top half of yourself because you never know you may need to get up at some point.

 

Step Four: Do Your Homework

 

Do your research on the company as well as their products, service, plans and culture. It’s important to understand ahead of time if the company culture is one where people are receptive to new ideas. Ask yourself if the company is known for inclusion and open-mindedness, or do they have a slow-moving legacy mindset? Does the leadership team encourage open communication and innovation, or not really?  Knowing the answers to these questions can hugely help you in your interview or even your final decision if you would have an offer.

 

If a recruiter is representing you – don’t be afraid to ask them about the company. Recruiters can provide you with extra information that individuals who applied directly to a company wouldn’t typically have! This is because the recruiter will have already established a good relationship with the company and as such, they will be familiar with their culture and interviewing methods.

 

Online Resources for Pre-Interview Research

 

☑️ Glassdoor

☑️ LinkedIn

☑️ Twitter

☑️ Reddit

☑️ The company’s website

☑️ The company’s social media profiles

☑️ Google news

 

Bonus Content: Our Top 10 Video Job Interview Tips 

Read Now

 

Step Five: Elevate Yourself!

 

In an interview, try to structure your answers in a way that highlights how you can add value to the company. Make sure you answer all questions clearly and in detail, giving specific examples and explaining what you have learnt from previous experiences. For example, if you are asked about your strengths: tell them what your strength is and back it up with proof of it.  For example, you can say: “I am a hard worker, I’ve exceeded my KPIs every quarter and I was promoted twice in the past three years.”

 

When asked about your weaknesses, don’t choose a weakness at random. Instead, select one that is not job-critical and that you are actively trying to improve upon. This shows a high level of self-awareness and a proactive mindset. Let’s say that your weakness is a lack of confidence, what you could say to your interviewer is: “I’m naturally shy. From school and into my early professional interactions, it prevented me from speaking up, so I decided to act on it by joining an improv acting class. It has really helped me with my confidence.”

 

Another important point is not being afraid to say: I don’t know. No-one has all the answers and so instead of panicking, stop for a second, think and say: I don’t know how I would solve it but here is how I would approach the problem. This shows that you are self-aware enough to know that you don’t know and have the courage and the honesty to admit it.

 

“Those three words are so powerful because what they say to people around you is that you are self-aware to know that you don’t know, which is a big, big deal, and that you have the courage to admit it. And that you will go off and get an answer.”

– Robert Hohman, Glassdoor Co-founder & CEO

 

Step Six: Ask Questions

 

Remember that interviews are meant to be a two-way conversation, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. Before the interview, print out a list of questions of the interviewer. After finishing an answer, you can also put the question back on the interviewer by asking for their opinion. If you feel like your interview went well, you can also ask: “Based on our conversation, what concerns do you have about me in relation to this position?”, at the end of an interview. That will give you a chance to rule out some of the potential concerns they could have about your application.

Step Seven: Post-Interview Follow-Up

Once the interview is finished, send an email simply thanking the interviewer for the interview. Sending a short thank you note will help to distinguish you from other candidates as not only does it show good manners but it will also give the interviewer another reason to remember you. According to data from Cultivated Culture, 76% of job seekers overlook this simple step.

Connect with Vanessa

 

Berkley Welcomes the Return of Michael & Eoghan

In August, Berkley Group were delighted to welcome back two former employees – Michael O’Brien and Eoghan Fitzgerald. 

 

Meet Michael O’Brien

Michael will be resuming his role as a recruitment consultant in the Permanent desk in our Business and Technology division where he will be specialising in recruiting for software development roles across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Speaking on his return, Michael tells us “I’m really enjoying it so far. It’s great to get the chance to re-ignite old friendships. I’m learning a lot from my teammates and I look forward to deepening my knowledge of the software development market.”

 

Meet Eoghan Fitzgerald

Eoghan will be returning as a Resourcer within the Life Sciences & Engineering team and will be focusing on roles in the areas of quality, manufacturing and validation. “I’m thrilled to be back working with my old colleagues and to get to know the new faces too.” He says, “I decided to come back to Berkley for the chance to hone my expertise and grow in my career. My teammates here represent some of the best recruiters in the country – in terms of industry knowledge and of the labour market – and I have a lot to learn from them.”

 

Tony Tynan, Operations Director of Berkley, commented:

“Michael and Eoghan return to Berkley to where they were first trained as they feel it is the best environment where they can both realise their potential. Both have huge subject matter expertise within their respective divisions which has had an immediate impact. It has been a pleasure to welcome them back to the Berkley family and we are excited to see them back on the journey with us as we continue to grow.”