Career Services from Measurability

There has been some great news in Limerick with the announcement that Cook Ireland will create 200 new jobs over the next five years as a result of a €25m investment. Cook Ireland currently employs 480 staff at Plassey Industrial Park in Castletroy and it is expanding its medical devices manufacturing and services facility. This expansion will establish Limerick as the only global plant manufacturing Cook’s new drug eluting stent.
On the negative side of things unemployment has reach an 11 year high in Ireland. This is a worrying downward slide as things across the globe do not seem to be getting any better in property, stock markets or credit.

Re3 create 50 new jobs in Limerick

It is finally nice to read a positive job news story after all the doom and gloom in the jobs market in Ireland. Ther will be 50 new jobs created by Re3 a waste management company based in Limerick. These new jobs come as a result of the development of new waste management recycling technology. Re3 will invest EUR15 million in the new sustainable waste technology known as autoclaving. This system uses steam technology to recycle up to 85 percent of the domestic waste which currently goes to landfill. For those of you interested Re3 is based in Galvone Industrial Estate in Limerick.

Career Coaching View – A safe sector to work?

I am often asked what is a nice safe sector to work in especially during these rough employment conditions. Personally I think the focus should be on the right job rather than the right sector. If you do want security then Waste Management & Recycling Sector, Energy or Green Jobs would certainly not be a bad place to start looking.

CV Format – What is a chronological CV?

CV format is an important aspect of CV writing which is often overlooked by jobseekers. There are a number of CV formats that jobseekers can consider but the most popular CV format is chronological CV. Basically Chronological means that your work experience is arranged so that the most recent work project is first. The chronological CV is currently the most popular CV format with employers in Ireland.

CV Format – Advantages of the Chronological CV

There are a number of advantages of the chronological CV. It is a familiar format, recruiters in Ireland expect this format and they are comfortable reading this CV format. It is also very easy to read and highlights the recent work experience and education.

CV Format – The Disadvantages of the Chronological CV

There are a number of disadvantages of the chronological CV. It focuses on facts and dates and has little emphasis on abilities and competencies. It limits the jobseeker particularly if your most recent work experience is not relevant to employer. It also highlights gaps in employment or frequent changes in jobs.
 
CV Format – When to use a chronological CV.

A chronological CV is fine when your recent work experience and recent qualifications are relevant to the post you are applying for. It is an appropriate choice if you have no gaps in the CV or have not regularly switched jobs

You should avoid a chronological CV is you have switched jobs often or if you have a few gaps in the career history. You might also avoid this format if you are re-entering the workforce after a long period out of work. Finally avoid this CV if your most recent jobs are not relevant to the post you are applying for.

If you are struggling to write a CV perhaps we can help. Measurability designs CV for professionals across Ireland – Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford & Sligo. We are CV experts with a professional approach and vast experience in the Irish job market. Read more about our CV service.

Most jobseekers appreciate that we are now entering into a tighter job market in Ireland. The last 12-18 months has seen redundancies across most sectors in Ireland. Manufacturing, Retail & Construction have been the hardest hit but there have been job losses in other sectors including the Pharmaceutical Sector.

Whether you have been affected by redundancy or you are seeking for a new job it is essential to have a professional CV that makes an impact landing you those important interviews. The problem is that most jobseekers cut corners when writing a CV. In a buoyant market this may be fine BUT in a tight market you will suffer.

CV’s fail for a variety of reasons – poor spelling and grammar, poor format, bad layout, poor content BUT the biggest problem with most CV’s is that they lack focus and therefore do not make the required impact on the reader.

Get the CV right and you will notice an increase in your application to interview ratio. Some jobseekers benefit from the help of a professional.

Measurability offers an expert CV service to jobseekers across the country. I am regularly asked were we are based BUT it does not matter for CV design as most communication is via phone and email and we do not meet clients. CV design is unlike interview coaching or career coaching where face to face meetings are quite important. So we design CV’s for jobseekers in Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Cork, Waterford and other counties. Visit our website to read what other jobseekers have said about our CV service.
Measurability offers other Career Services and I have outlined the regions:

Career Coaching – Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Louth and other regions in Leinster.
Career Tests – Online career tests for jobseekers nationwide.
Interview Coaching – Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Louth and other regions in Leinster.

There are many views on CV’s but my view on CV format and CV layout is simple –“keep it simple”. I have seen many CV’s over the year with bells and whistles and fancy frills but a clean well formatted CV wins hands down any day. I am sure you have heard the saying that magnolia sells houses – well simple format and layout will secure interviews. The clean CV will offend no one and it will make it easier for the hiring manager to find the information they need. Fancy Dan CV’s can offend and paint the wrong picture. The only time I advice jobseekers to throw caution to the wind is when their content is light and they need something to catch the employer’s eye.

I have outlined some basic points on CV format & CV layout below.

Font & Font Size – It is essential to use uniformed font and font size. CV’s with different font and font sizes look untidy and rushed. If you use Times New Roman then use it throughout. If you use font size 14 headers and font size 11 for main text then maintain this throughout the CV.

Clear Headers – Clear bold headers will make navigation easy. This will help the reader and improve your chances of securing interview.

Bullet points – Bullet points are powerful on a CV. Again they assist the reader and are pleasing on the eye

White space – Trying to get too much information on the page will not work. I often see jobseekers cramp information in a bid to reduce the length of the CV. I would prefer a longer CV which has ample white space than a cramped one page CV.

Measurability offers a nationwide CV writing service for all levels of jobseeker Graduate to Executive. We work with jobseekers from all industry sectors in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Galway & Limerick. If you would like more information about out CV service or career coaching and interview coaching visit our website or contact us.

There have been some positive jobs news announcements in 2008 BUT most of the jobs headlines have been dominated by redundancy and job loss.

Manufacturing Sector

Manufacturing has diminished over the last five years. It was once the pillar of the Irish jobs market but a number of factors have resulted in the relocation of manufacturing to low cost economies. Since the turn of the year we have had many closures in manufacturing – Jacobs in Tallaght, Sercom in Limerick and Grove Turkeys in Monaghan to name a few.

Construction Sector

Construction has been doom and gloom for about a year. There has been a lot of spin put on this sector but the reality of the situation is that 1 in 10 workers from the sector have lost their job. We may not notice it as much because if “Joe Murphy Engineering” lets go 25 staff it is not exactly front page news. But is there are a few hundred similar sized construction firms out there it soon adds up.

Retail Sector

Retail has suffered from job loss too. On the whole retail is still a relatively strong sector in Ireland but there was the Arnott’s announcement and Christmas and January trading wasn’t that great for retail.

Conclusion

These three sectors provide prime examples of situations where Outplacement Services and Consultancy can benefit employers and employees. BUT remember that job loss is not exclusive to these sectors – remember IT and the dotbomb.

Employers – In all cases outplacement services would help employers by appeasing the anger and emotion. In the case of Jacobs it would help paint a positive pubic image as they have been part of the Tallaght community for years. In the case of Arnotts it could help bring productivity and business back to normal as it is not completely closing. Also by Arnott’s looking after departing staff it will improve their image when attracting staff for the new store when it opens.

Employees – All of the above example could benefit from outplacement services which would support staff, help them cope with the event and transition into new employment as quickly as possible.

For more information about outplacement services and how they can help you and your staff contact us or visit out website.

Are you having problems hiring the right staff? Made some bad hires, suffered the cost and do not want to do it again. Or are you recruiting a key role and cannot afford to make a mistake? If you are recruiting staff the psychometric assessment can assist you assessment and selection of candidates. Psychometrics provides objective information to help you make recruitment decisions. This information is often on skills and behaviours that are difficult to pick up on or assess with a traditional interview.

Who provides a psychometric service?

Measurability provides a psychometric assessment and testing service nationwide. Measurability offers a wide range of SHL assessment tools and we are a leading Irish SHL business partner. We have provided support in most counties including Dublin, Cork, Limerick. Galway and Waterford. The assessment solutions we have offered to date have been a combination of onsite assessments and online assessments. We have worked with companies for both recruitment and development projects. We have serviced and have clients in a variety of industries and sectors including, Manufacturing, IT, Public Service, Pharmaceutical, Retail, Leisure, Banking & Finance. You can view some of the companies we deal with and what they say about our service.

What types of psychometric assessments are available?

We offer the full suite of assessment tools. Ability tests and aptitude tests which can be accessed online or administered onsite. We offer a wide range of personality questionnaires including the leading OPQ32. We offer motivational questionnaires and competency based interview support. There are assessments available for all levels of your organisation from senior management to entry level.

If you require any additional information about psychometric assessment, cost or process. Or you would like to view some sample reports or perhaps avail of a discount trial. Contact us.

Most jobseekers do not realise that 99% of CV design is completed by phone and email. You do not actually have to meet the CV expert. In fact I will only meet clients for Career Assessment, Career Coaching or Interview Coaching. I find that meeting with individuals only adds time to the process – and time adds to the cost. I work with clients all over the country including Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford.

I design CV’s for all levels of the organisation and all business functions. I design CV’s for Executives, Professional and Graduates. I have designed CV’s for sales, IT, production, engineering, materials, finance and management.

What does my CV look like?

I have worked in careers, HR and recruitment for 14 years. I have seen everything when it comes to CV’s and CV design – the good, the bad and the ugly. I am a career doctor with The Irish Independent and The Sunday Tribune and regularly write CV articles for a number of online sites including RecruitIreland. If you need an impact CV whay not check out my profile or read what other individuals had to say about my work.

Need more information?

I would be more than happy to provide more information about my CV service or my other services career coaching, career assessment and interview coaching. Feel free to contact me or visit my website for more information.

Redundancy is now part of everyday life in Ireland. All you need to do is open a newspaper or turn on the news to hear about more job loss. Redundancy affects all regions and all sectors. We have had redundancies in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway. All industries have been affected especially manufacturing and construction but also retail, banking and pharmaceutical. Redundancy is a difficult period for employers and employees alike. It is therefore essential that organisations implement a strategy to provide support. Outplacement Services have been available for years. I guess we did not take much notice about them as the Celtic Tiger was roaring for the last decade.

Measurability – Outplacement Services

Measurability offers a full outplacement service for organisations in Ireland. We have experience working with all sectors (manufacturing, pharmaceutical, IT, electronics, banking and retail) and we work in all regions in Ireland. We will work within your budget and tailor a service to meet your needs.

Measurability – What is on offer?

We offer a wide range of programmes from 1-1 coaching to group workshops. We cover a wide variety of topics including career assessments, career direction, CV design and interview coaching. We encourage and support participant and help them move on with their life and career.

If you require more information about our services contact us now.

It is difficult to predict what questions will arise at interviews. There are however a few gems that keep coming up over and over again. I posted previously about the “Salary Question” and in this post I will examine how to handle two additional interview questions that may come up at your next interview.Interview Coaching – Question – Why should we employ you?
This can be taken as a guaranteed question at any interview. Here you have the employer asking you how you meet the job requirements. Some jobseekers take this as the opportunity to babble on about everything positive they have ever achieved. Be careful!! You must take a focused approach. You will have identified the key points the employer is seeking and now is your opportunity to tell them how you meet the requirements. Back up any points with evidence. So tell them what you did but also the results and achievements.Interview Coaching – Question – Why do you want to work for our company?
This question is the employers establishing if you have researched and planned your job hunt and if you have researched their organisation. Another way to ask this question is “How do the company and the role meet your needs?” This question is important as it helps the interviewer find out if you have a scattergun approach to job hunting or a planned approach. You will need to research the company and analyse the role and pick out key points that relate to your career goals.Preparing for interviews can be a daunting thought. By working with an Interview Coach you can access unlimited professional support, experience and advice. This could make the difference between success and failure. Contact us for more information about our service and costs.