Jobs & Enterprise
14 December 2009
Business Advice:
More than 35 advisors with different skill sets have volunteered as part of the programme to give confidential one-to-one advice on the specific problems facing small businesses
The Programme is sponsored by Bord Gáis Eireann, Plato Cork, The Cork Chamber and The Cork Business Association.
Response has been encouraging with 100% the small business who has applied for assistance contacted by the programme, and teamed up with advisers with expertise in their specific problem area.
The confidential nature of the programme and the fact that you can apply quickly and easily online has facilitated small businesses looking for help.
The application process is quite simple and there are a number of options;
WEB log on to the website www.smallbusinessadvice.ie where there is a user-friendly on-line application form
EMAIL apply by email to applications@smallbusinessadvice.ie
PHONE HOTLINE apply by phone to 021-4534163.
FAX HOTLINE apply by fax to 021- 4534341
POST apply by post to;
Small Business Advice Programme
PO Box 51
Gasworks Rd.
Cork
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15 August 2009
MONDAY 31ST AUGUST 2009
NATIONAL COLLEGE OF IRELAND
Life Changing Advisory Conference
for people recently made Redundant or those looking for a New Career
· Is it time to take control of your life?
· Are you looking for direction?
· Do you want to change how you are thinking?
· think2Act will inspire you to take action for your positive future and will bring this future life and career within your control
The Think2Act conference is a one-day event encompassing the theme of ‘change’, seeking to change the recession mindset, through expert advice and transformational coaching.
Key components of the day include:
· Career Coaching using the Success Suite model: A minimum of 120 free coaching sessions will be offered to attendees. These sessions will be booked on the day. These transformational sessions are held over the course of the day using a unique coaching model that helps provide the transformation participants need to overcome the challenges they now face.
· Live Forum Theatre focusing on the perfect interview,: techniques, body language and professional image. This interactive session will allow participants to watch an interview as it happens, see how not to do it, and make the changes that are needed in an environment free of judgment. Participants are not asked to perform, but to be the directors of the action.
More information at http://www.think2act.org/
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10 August
Interview techniques
Do your homework
Nothing says “I am not that interested in this job” like someone who has done no research and knows little about a company. It is easier than ever to find information about a company and its activities candidates who don’t could be perceived as lazy, unmotivated or disinterested.
Don’t get too personal
The last thing an employer wants to do is to hire someone who brings personal drama to the office. Even if the interview seems casual, always keep it professional and avoid sharing unnecessary personal information.
Be honest
Interviewers don’t expect you to have all the answers. Often they are testing your reaction to “tough questions” to see how you respond under pressure. It is much worse to get caught in a lie than to admit you do not know something. If you are unsure of an answer, it is ok to say you don’t know but then outline the steps you would take to find out – this will demonstrate you are a problem solver.
Prepare for these common questions
“Tell me about yourself?” Why do you want to work here?” “What motivates you?” These questions may seem simple, but because they are so broad, candidates can get tripped up by them if they don’t know where to start or when to end.
Do not be negative
No matter how tempting it is to share woes from prior jobs or how much an interviewer is pushing you to do so, it is never a good idea to say negative things about a previous employer. The interviewer will assume you will also be likely to bad mouth their company in the future.
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21 July
New Jobs at Olive Safety, Mahon
For more information on jobs, contact:
Cork Office
Olive Safety
NSC Campus
Mahon
Cork
Tel: +353 (0)21 2307106
Fax: +353 (0)21 2307115
Email: cork@olivesafety.ie
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Six Steps for Writing a Recession-Proof CV
Ken Harbourne, Country Manager, Robert Half International Ireland
Don’t just update your old CV. If you haven’t been on the job hunt for many years, it can be tempting to simply pull out the last CV you used, add your most recent accomplishments and send it out. But the document could be many years old, which means the content is likely outdated. At the very least, give your CV a thorough review and weed out any information that is not applicable to your current career goals. You may, for example, remove positions you held while at college/university or delete the mention of an old software application. You might even find the best course of action is to prepare a new CV from scratch.
Consider your form. A chronological CV, in which you list your work experience in reverse chronological order, has long been the standard format that job seekers use. But in a downturn it may not be the best style for showcasing your skills and experience. If you have frequent or large gaps in your employment history, you may want to use a combination CV instead. A combination CV places the most emphasis on your skills and accomplishments, downplaying your previous positions and dates of employment. Rather than having a section called “Work Experience” serve as the bulk of your resume, for instance, you might have sections titled “Accounting Experience”, “Computer Skills” and “Management and Training Skills”. A combination CV still details your work history, but this information is abbreviated and placed near the end of the document. A combination CV also could be a good choice if you are hoping to switch careers. If you don’t have experience that relates directly to your new path, this format allows you to highlight transferable skills that are applicable to the position you seek.
Focus on the bottom line. Companies today are looking for ways to reduce expenses and increase efficiencies. When detailing the positions you’ve held in the past, be sure to mention how you’ve helped boost a former employer’s bottom line. So, if you worked as an entry-level clerk, rather than saying “processed payments” or “maintained accounts,” try something like this: “Identified new financial services vendor, resulting in cost savings of 25 percent.” Be as specific as possible when describing your achievements, and don’t be afraid to brag a little.
Customise your content. One of the most important steps when crafting your CV is to target your content to each company and position. Rather than creating a standard document for use with every opportunity, customise your CV so it speaks directly to a potential employer’s unique needs. That may mean highlighting different accomplishments or going into greater detail about certain contributions, for instance. Doing so might take a little extra time and effort, but submitting a targeted CV demonstrates your knowledge of and interest in each position and will help you stand apart from other job candidates.
Use your cover letter. Like many job seekers today, you may have extended gaps in your work history due to current economic conditions. The cover letter allows you to address any concerns an employer may have about these gaps. In it, explain how you’ve kept your skills up-to-date since your last full-time position, whether through temporary assignments, volunteer work or professional development courses. The more specific you can be the better.
Check for mistakes. In a survey by our company, 84 percent of executives polled said it takes just one or two typographical errors on a CV to remove a candidate from contention for an open position. Employers see typos, misspellings and grammatical mistakes as a sign you lack professionalism and attention to detail. And in today’s environment, hiring managers are less willing to take a chance on applicants who seem unqualified. Use the spell-check function and ask friends and family to proofread your resume before you send it out.
One last piece of advice: Use your network to your advantage. Even if your CV is solid, having a professional contact who can refer you for an open position or personally hand your document to a hiring manager could be key to landing the role you seek.
Robert Half Finance & Accounting is the world’s first and largest recruitment consultancy, specialising in the placement of accounting and finance professionals on a temporary and permanent basis. With more than 360 locations throughout North and South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, the company provides a complete financial and banking recruitment service at all levels - from clerical and trainee accountants to Finance Director. For more information about Robert Half Finance & Accounting or to search vacancies online, please visit www.roberthalf.ie
From http://www.careerbuilder.ie/Article/MSN-61-C-V-s-and-Cover-Letters-Six-Steps-for-Writing-a-Recession-Proof CV/?sc_extcmp=int_iemsn61&lr=int_iemsn&SiteId=int_iemsn61&ArticleID=61&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=6d9748ebd43d4dbab5885db977680490-300897724-JR-5
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This is a great website in terms of promoting ideas for employment. Well done! (Kmc)
(adopted from the home page of half a loaf)
Welcome to half a loaf and thanks for logging on.
This site we hope will make you realise that although there are a large number of people currently unemployed there is hope out there.
A few months ago you may have been supervising twenty people, now you manage a two year old and a dog and neither do what you ask them.
You miss the camaraderie of the office/site /warehouse/factory and many days you have no adult contact from time you other half goes to work to the time they come home.
This site will not solve all of your problems but it will make you realise that even though you feel socially isolated at times you are not alone.This may be your first time ever unemployed and boy is it a steep learning curve.
This site has a three fold purpose
- It is a social forum where people can post their opinions on various issues.
- You may have received some redundancy payment and have a business idea you want to expand.
- You have a skill/business and want to barter something for it.
You do not have to be unemployed to use this site it is open to all.
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Losingyourjob.ie is provided by the Citizens Information Board. The microsite provides public service information for those who are currently unemployed or are becoming unemployed in Ireland. Losingyourjob.ie is based on content from www.citizensinformation.ie. Learn more about Citizens Information.
Help with your Rent or Mortgage
Options for Education and Training
Leaving Ireland
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Adapted from www.think2act.org
A Free Advisory Conference for People Recently made Redundant or Those Looking for a New Career
On Tuesday 30 June 2009, National College of Ireland will sponsor and host Think2Act, a free conference for people who have recently been made redundant or are considering taking new steps in their career. The conference, which will encompass the theme of ‘change’, seeks to change the recession mindset, through expert advice and transformational coaching. This energetic space is the brain-child of Eibhlin Johnston, ThinkCoaching and Celine Mullins, Act 4 Business.
This free conference offers people access to some of the leading experts in this field including Brian Colbert, a Director of the NLP Institute and resident mind coach on the RTE One Afternoon Show and Eibhlin Curley, Assistant Chief Executive, Dublin City Enterprise Board. Eibhlin will provide expert advice on the support available to people who may choose the self-employed route. Experienced psychologists will address the issue of stress management and dealing with the loss of your job/career.
A panel of ‘Fresh Entrepreneurs’ will be present to share their pitfalls and success stories, and expert image consultants will be on hand to offer advice throughout the conference. To lift everyone’s spirits comedian Jarlath Regan, the new face of RTE’s comedy show ‘The Panel’, will also be supporting the think2act conference and will act as MC for the afternoon.
Key components of the day include:
· Career Coaching using the Success Suite model: Free coaching sessions will be offered to the first 200 people who book a space for the event. These transformational sessions will be held over the course of the day using a unique coaching model that will help provide the transformation participants need to overcome the challenges they now face.
· Live Forum Theatre focusing on the perfect interview,: techniques, body language and professional image. This interactive session will allow participants to watch an interview as it happens, see how not to do it, and make the changes that are needed in an environment free of judgment. Participants are not asked to perform, but to be the directors of the action.
The Think2Act conference will be the first time that live theatre and career coaching will be delivered as part of the same event. A series of workshops on the enterprising mind, making yourself a marketable asset, positive thinking and stress management will also be held throughout the course of the conference.
Venue: National College Ireland (NCI), IFSC, Dublin 1
Time: Tuesday 30 June 9.30am-5.30pm (Registration and networking starts 8.00am).
All details are subject to final confirmation.
FREE ADMISSION*
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Small businesses and entrepreneurs are coming together in a new way. Open to all, for the benefit of all, small businesses and entrepreneurs are invited to join smallbusinesscan to create and share the business knowledge, the insights, the experience and the contact networks needed to generate new growth for their own businesses and spark a new beginning.