Tag: CV

Career Guidance, Events, Workplace Wellness

International Volunteer Day

International Volunteer Day

Today December 5th marks International Volunteer Day celebrating the theme of solidarity through volunteering.

International Volunteer Day

This year’s campaign highlights the power of our collective humanity to drive positive change through volunteerism. There are many advantages of volunteering, it is an excellent way to meet new people, give back to the community and help people in need. It gives you a sense of purpose while also increasing your social skills. It can even help your chances at gaining employment as it looks good on your CV, showcasing your commitment to improving yourself and helping others in society and the world.

Did you know? International Volunteer Day
  • 60% of hiring managers see the act of volunteerism as a valuable asset when making recruitment decisions.
  • 92% of human resource executives agree that contributing to a nonprofit can improve an employees leadership skills.
  • 6.5% of working-age people worldwide engage in formal volunteering via an organisation or association. 

3 Types of Volunteer Work

There are many different types of volunteering programmes and it can be difficult to choose which one is the best for you. Here we list 3 types of volunteer work where you can put your skills to good use and help out.

Volunteer
  1. Volunteering for Environmental Issues

As people are becoming more environmentally aware, volunteering in this area is becoming more popular. People know that it is vital to act sooner rather than later when it comes to our environment. This type of work can include farming, environmental conservation and even working with ecovillages. It can be fun if you like the outdoors, like animals and don’t mind getting a bit dirty.

2. Volunteering in Healthcare

This is an ideal situation for medical students in order to gain training however, you don’t have to be a medical student to do this type of volunteering. You could simply visit patients in hospital to keep them company, work in health food shelters or even fundraise for cancer research, the list is endless.

3. Volunteering in Education

This is a great way to give someone the knowledge you possess and can involve working with children or adults. There are a range of countries where you can travel to and do this. It will allow you to gain teaching experience as well as helping those in need.

Servisource and Volunteering

At Servisource and CPL, we have the opportunity to get involved in a volunteering programme called INSPIRE, an online mentoring programme. we believe in giving back to the communities in which we operate, which is why we actively encourage our people to avail of this chance to get involved. With our Volunteering Time Off initiative, we ensure that employees get paid for any days off used to volunteer. The programme aims to match a young person with a professional role model to support and guide them. We know that mentoring works and having a positive role model in life is critical in order to prosper.

About the Mentors

INSPIRE works by matching a young person with an experienced professional. We want you to be that positive role model and make a difference in a young person’s life. Volunteer mentors commit to regular meetings with their mentee for up to one year and Innovate Communities provide the required training and support to help them become a successful mentor. This mentoring programme is online as you could be matched with a student from anywhere but if proximity permits you can meet them in person.

This is what the mentors have to say:

Ciaran – Senior IT Developer

I find I’m feeling quite energized seeing how the mentee is drawing on my expertise. There is a real sense of satisfaction about being able to help someone younger from my community. I’m learning there’s more to these young people than I may have thought. I see my mentee’s confidence building with every meeting. I see him leading more with every interaction and being more and more specific and honest about what he needs from me.

Marian – HR/Training Consultant

I’m really enjoying it. I’ve noticed my mentee’s thought process has widened from when we first met. She is thinking about the bigger picture, the longer term and about her career.

About the Mentees

Mentors are currently working with over 150 young people aged between 18 and 25 years of age. These mentees are diverse– Irish, Migrants and Immigrants (First Generation), Irish Black, Irish Asian and represent many different nationalities. They are HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) students studying Business & Management, Computers & ICT, Health & Social Care and Science and Pharma etc. The majority are the first in their family to go to college, don’t have a professional network to engage and have voluntarily signed up to INSPIRE to receive access to a mentor.

There are a range of volunteering opportunities to choose from around the world. With an array of benefits from it such as valuable work experience, learning new things and making new friends, why not give it a try and see how your help can benefit the world. You can find out more about the INSPIRE mentoring programme here and even sign up with their online application form.

So happy volunteering and let’s help each other in solidarity throughout the world!

International Volunteer Day

You can find out more about our opportunities below.

Recruit Island
5 tips to get you through January
Career Guidance, Workplace Wellness

5 TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH JANUARY

5 TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH JANUARY At the start of a new year, there is a lot pressure to get back into the usual daily routine after the Christmas break. January can be an especially challenging month for everyone, but with a little effort you can set yourself up for success this year by…

Continue reading

New Year New Job
Career Guidance, Job Search

New Year New Job

New Year, New Job Now that we have reached a new year, you may be considering what kind of changes you want to make to your life. Is there something missing, do you need a new challenge, something more fulfilling? Maybe a career change is what you need and maybe a new year means a…

Continue reading

International Volunteer Day
Career Guidance, Events, Workplace Wellness

International Volunteer Day

International Volunteer DayToday December 5th marks International Volunteer Day celebrating the theme of solidarity through volunteering. This year’s campaign highlights the power of our collective humanity to drive positive change through volunteerism. There are many advantages of volunteering, it is an excellent way to meet new people, give back to the community and help people…

Continue reading

CV Tips

How to Create the Perfect CV

How to Create the Perfect CV

Your CV is a vital element in the sculpting of your career. It’s essentially what stands between getting an interview and being overlooked completely. A CV is more than just a list of your qualifications and jobs-to-date, it’s actually a chance to sell your skills to potential employers. This blog will show you how to create the perfect CV and turn it into a sales tool that will land you your dream job.

1. Tailor your CV to each role you apply for

When you’re job-hunting, it might be tempting to send the same CV to multiple employers to save time. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if your CV is impressive, but you’ll stand out even more to potential employers if you take time to tailor it to each role you’re applying for. Do some research to find out as much as you can about the company and use the job description to help you highlight which of your skills to mention. This will save you time when it comes to interview prepping, and your would-be boss will appreciate the effort you’ve gone to.

2. Personal statement

Your CV should include a short, one paragraph personal statement that explains why you’re the best person for the job you’re applying for. This should include:

  • Any skills you have that are mentioned in the job advertisement.
  • Statistics from projects you’ve worked on in previous employment.
  • How you can add value to the role.
  • Your career aspirations.

If you prefer, you could split your personal statement into bullet points to make it more reader-friendly, you don’t want your potential employer getting bored and skimming through the important bits! We’ll talk more about how long your CV should be later.

3. Skills and qualifications

Recruiters and business owners will be keen to see what skills you’ve acquired throughout your career. You should ideally link your key skills to workplace experience and include a range of transferrable, job-related and adaptive skills. Though you should include any relevant qualifications you have, don’t feel the need to clog up your CV with every exam result you’ve ever got. If you have a qualification that is especially relevant to your desired job role, then it would be sensible to include it, but you don’t need to list all your Junior Certificate results if it’s not necessary to do so.

  • 27% of CV’s give falsified references.

  • 29% of CV’s state fraudulent degrees.

  • 30% pf CV’s have inaccurate job descriptions.

4. Former employment

List your previous employment placements in chronological order and provide a brief list of your duties, and how you applied your skills. This will give recruiters and employers a chance to see how you’ve worked before and if there’s anything you’ve done in a previous role that could be transferred into the position they’re offering.

It’s possible that you might have a gap in your employment history. While this isn’t always a cause for concern, employers might ask about them, so it’s a good idea to be prepared. Explaining a gap in your CV won’t harm your chances of getting a job but lying about it might. Try to put a positive spin on the situation and even add in some volunteer work/course work you may have done during this period which will definitely help.

Here is an example: if you were struggling to find a job, you could say something like, “I took some time out between [date and date] to refocus my career and find a position in my chosen industry”. This puts you in control and displays you as a positive individual who cares about your career.

5. Don’t mention salary expectations

Salary expectations and creating the perfect CV.

Talking money on your CV can be risky. Including your expectations can put potential employers off if what you’re asking for is higher than the salary they’ve set. If you’re new to the job market, putting your pay expectations on your CV might mean that you miss out on an opportunity that pays less than you’d like, but helps you get your foot in the door. Often due to lack of experience, you might be paid the minimum wage until you’ve acquired more skills. But experience is invaluable and if you do well in your job, career advancements and pay rises will come your way.

6. Include specific examples of results

Sometimes, it’s not enough to just state your achievements; you need the data to back it up. Rather than saying that you increased rankings for a website, provide percentages and real-life examples with time frames to really wow the company you’re applying at.

7. Check for grammar and spelling mistakes

There’s no point in having a CV that is formatted neatly but when it is read, there are plenty of grammar and spelling mistakes. Make sure to proofread your CV for any mistakes, this is especially important if you are applying for an editor or proofreading job.

8. Be honest

It’s a common assumption that everyone tells porkies on their CV, but this is a huge no-no. Employers will check your background and if they smell a rat, you’re bound to get caught out. Nobody wants to get asked a question they can’t answer during their interview and besides, if you lie on your CV, get the job and then find you can’t actually carry out the role because you don’t have the experience you said you have, it’s only going to cause problems for you.

Honesty is an admirable trait and employers will appreciate candidates who tell the truth just as much as those who have lots of experience.

9. Include your interests and hobbies

It’s good to tell a bit of who you are as a person, outside of your work life. Team sports are always a good way of showcasing how much of a team player you are. In fact, exercise in general or hobbies show how you like to destress and look after your health which is essential for a good work/life balance.

10. CV length

Potential employers are often very busy and don’t have time to read through long, detailed resumes. Typically, a CV should be no longer than 2 A4 pages. If you have a lot of experience to fit in, try to condense it so that only the most relevant information for that specific job is included. You can always expand on your experience in the interview.

With these tips, you can hopefully craft the perfect CV that will help you land your dream job in no time. You can also check out our blog 6 Ways to Prepare for Online Interviews for when you do receive that interview call.

Check out our list of jobs on offer and put your CV to the test!

Recruit Island
5 tips to get you through January
Career Guidance, Workplace Wellness

5 TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH JANUARY

5 TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH JANUARY At the start of a new year, there is a lot pressure to get back into the usual daily routine after the Christmas break. January can be an especially challenging month for everyone, but with a little effort you can set yourself up for success this year by…

Continue reading

New Year New Job
Career Guidance, Job Search

New Year New Job

New Year, New Job Now that we have reached a new year, you may be considering what kind of changes you want to make to your life. Is there something missing, do you need a new challenge, something more fulfilling? Maybe a career change is what you need and maybe a new year means a…

Continue reading

International Volunteer Day
Career Guidance, Events, Workplace Wellness

International Volunteer Day

International Volunteer DayToday December 5th marks International Volunteer Day celebrating the theme of solidarity through volunteering. This year’s campaign highlights the power of our collective humanity to drive positive change through volunteerism. There are many advantages of volunteering, it is an excellent way to meet new people, give back to the community and help people…

Continue reading

Career Guidance, Compliance, Construction

So you want work in Construction?

My name is Joe Kenny and I look after the Temporary Construction Division in Servisource Recruitment.  What follows is a guide on how to get a job in construction from the perspective of a recruiter.

Time and again I watch candidates sabotage themselves by making the same handful of mistakes which can easily be avoided with a little effort, organisation and raising of personal standards.

What to do
Construction Compliance

To start with, get the basics right: to work on a construction site you must have:-

  • Valid Safe Pass
  • Valid Manual Handling
  • PPE Gear – Safety boots, Hi Viz vest, Hard Hat, appropriate clothing (not t-shirt and shorts!)
  • Relevant CSCS card if you are working as a Machine Driver, Banksman, Crane Driver, Scaffolder etc.

Keep all of the above in a safe place.  Just because you have a valid safe pass and manual handling cert does not mean you will be allowed on site.  If you cannot provide proof that you have completed those two certs, it is as good as not having the two certs.

If you lost them, left them in your ex-girlfriend’s house who you no longer speak to, the dog ate them, you will not get a job in construction without being able to provide physical or digital copies of those 2 documents.

I recommend:

  1. Take 30 photocopies of your Safe Pass and Manual Handling cert and keep them in a safe place.
  2. Take photos of your Safe Pass and Manual Handling and save them to your phone gallery so you can send them on to recruiters easily and prove that you are compliant whenever you need to.
  3. Email the photos of the certs to yourself so that if you ever lose your phone, you still have copies of them within your email sent items.
  4. Keep a record of when your certs expire. Even if your safe pass expired only last month, you are now not legally allowed to work on a construction site.  Renew your certs before they expire and you will never be in a position where an outdated cert stops you from getting a job.
  5. Make a note of your local building supplies stores. If you lose any of your PPE gear, you know then where to go to replace it.

Sell yourself with an amazing Construction CV

Candidates that do not send in a CV are at a distinct disadvantage to those that do.  A CV is your opportunity to sell yourself, to list what work experience you have, what skills and attributes you can bring to a role and where you can put references from previous employment.

It also demonstrates that you want the job enough to make the effort to write it up. Take the time to write up a CV, save an electronic copy of it in your emails, so that you will always have your CV to hand should you need to apply for a role.

Applying for a construction job

Be specific and clear in your application.  Perhaps write a brief paragraph on what job it is you are applying for or what type of work you are looking for and in what area of the country.

Do not simply send a blank email with your CV attached to a recruitment agency.  Recruitment agencies receive hundreds if not thousands of applications per week and may deal with a variety of industries.  If a recruiter cannot see clearly which job or which type of job you have applied to and where, they have to then get in touch with you to try and decipher which job you applied for and quite frankly, most recruiters do not have the time to do this chasing up.

Follow up on a construction job:

Call or email the recruitment agency or ideally the recruiter that looks after the type of roles you are interested in.  Make sure they have your most up to date CV on file and your certs on file also.

There is no need to call daily, but so long as you are looking for a job, getting in touch once a week is a good idea to keep you fresh in the recruiter’s mind and shows them that you are genuine and enthusiastic. This goes a long way to building trust and increases the chances of you being offered a job.

Get fit and look after yourself

Working in construction is a physically demanding job.  You may be on your feet for most of the day, lifting, carrying, using power tools, the list goes on.

In order to deal with the demands of the duties associated with working in construction I recommend trying to maintain good cardiovascular health, not smoking, eating a healthy diet and doing some form of regular physical exercise.

Make sure that you adhere to all the health and safety guidelines on site, and that if working throughout the summer months, you use sun protection to avoid the risk of contracting skin cancer.

What NOT To Do:

If you really want to lose the confidence of a recruitment agency or contractor and minimize your chance of securing further work, follow these simple steps:

  • Promise the world and then don’t show up and don’t give notice as to why you haven’t shown up. Don’t get me wrong, things happen.  You may be sick, your child may get ill unexpectedly and you have to look after them, your car breaks down, there is a death in the family.  If you are due to start work and cannot due to circumstances beyond your control, a simple phone call, email, text message or all three to your employer before you are due to start work is just common courtesy and allows the employer to either try and find a replacement or plan around your absence.  Not getting in touch ruins any trust that there was previously and decreases your chances of being hired again.
  • Walk off site randomly without giving the site manager or your supervisor notice – this is relatively uncommon but still happens. If you are employed to work on a construction site, unless you are on lunch or on a break, you are not permitted to leave site.  Walking off site during working hours is fraud and will not be tolerated, you are being paid to work there not to be elsewhere.
  • Find a quiet place on site and hide there scrolling through social media on your smart phone and hope you don’t get caught.
  • Arrive late or leave early.
  • Using drugs on site or arriving to work under the influence of drugs – absolutely unacceptable and a guarantee the contractor and recruiter will never hire you again.

Make yourself stand out

There are thousands of people with a safe pass and manual handling cert.  You can sit each course which will last between half a day and a day and obtain both for a total of around €150.

These certs make you compliant to work on a construction site but they don’t make you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

If you want to work in construction and you want to maximise your chances of securing long term work, you have to pay attention to how valuable you are to the contractor or recruitment agency when working for them.

If you are the type that always arrives early, never forgets your PPE gear, doesn’t sit around on their mobile phone, puts an honest day’s work in, is eager to learn … chances are you will be kept on or hired again.

This is how you build up trust, confidence and your own reputation.  I will often put forward candidates that I have hired before who we have received positive feedback from our clients on past jobs.

Another important one is before you finish any job, make sure to get the contact details of your supervisor or site manager and ask them if you can use them as a reference when applying for future jobs.  If you have worked hard for them, usually they are happy to do this for you.  This gives you added leverage when applying for jobs as now you can provide some proof to back up the content of your CV.

I hope you have found the above points helpful, and if you are looking for work in the construction industry, please send your CV and certs to [email protected] and we will do our best to find you a job.

Click here to view all Construction & Engineering Jobs

Article Written By:
Joe Kenny | Business Development Consultant: Construction & Warehousing
Email: [email protected]

DD: +353 (0) 42 936 8310  | Tel: +353 (0) 42 93 52723  

Job Search

Are You Sabotaging Your Job Search?

Are you sabotaging your own job search by engaging in self-destructive behaviour? We would like to share some warning signs to help you.

Do you rule yourself out?

When job searching, do you often ‘rule yourself out’ if; when reading a job spec, you don’t have a certain skill?

“I didn’t apply for that position because it states in the job spec they require  “X” skills, and I don’t have that”.

Just remember, managers are not always trained in writing strong job descriptions and can sometimes include anything and everything they ‘want’ within the job spec.

Generally, job seekers should apply the 80:20 rule:

Apply for positions where you meet about 80% plus of the job requirements.

Do you find self-doubt and self-elimination prevents you from applying for roles?

Oftentimes, low self-esteem, insecurities in a role or feelings of ‘not good enough’ to apply for a role stops you from opportunities in life; even applying for your dream job.

job search
job search

Do you have a clear career focus?

Focus is the “key to job search success”

Focus isn’t just a mindset: it’s an act of doing, an action that, when used properly, can propel your job search.

Think about it – you need to:

  • Internal focus to identify strengths, weaknesses, passions, core values and skills, target industries.
  • Focus on your cover letter (generic cover letters don’t “cut the mustard”
  • Focus on your CV
  • Focus on your interview skills / prep
  • Focus on your mindset; maintain positivity, maintain curiosity
  • Focus on your behaviour & productivity levels

Another crucial aspect of the job search is knowing what you want from a role and company. Are you able to define and communicate what you want for your next role to potential employers?

Read our blog: Be Successful in Your Job Search – Tips for Success

Do you fear change?

In life – In your career – Financially?

People associate change with a loss of control, money or pride; fear of being outside of their comfort zone, feelings of uncertainty and dread. It’s the unknown.

The majority of the time, it’s not the change itself, but rather our interpretations of it, that make the situation appear negative.

Is it better to embrace change rather than letting fear get in the way of happiness?

Force yourself to interpret the fact of change from a wildly different perspective, don’t let past experiences skew your mindset.

If you are unhappy in your current job; do something about it! Contact Us Today

Do you avoid Networking?

It is commonly said that 80% plus of available jobs never get posted whereby recruiters or hiring managers fill roles through referrals (SO GET NETWORKING!)

Yes, it can be intimidating and scary but remember, you network every day; everywhere you go!

Professional networking is about making contacts and building relationships that can lead to jobs or other work-related opportunities.

  • Get Social

We don’t just mean go on Facebook all day! Become an influential expert in your field, an influencer who adds value, a unique hidden resource. Build your brand.

Adopt a networking lifestyle.

  • Attend Industry Events and/or Job Fairs

Industry events and job fairs give you the opportunity to ask a lot of questions, be asked a lot of questions (a months’ worth of interviews in one day!) and are also a GREAT place for networking & an opportunity to learn about your chosen industry and make new contacts within that industry.

Do you use the same CV to apply for all roles?

If you are submitting the same CV for all roles, this can be seen as lazy which may lead to the recruiter or hiring manager to presume you are applying to many positions at once.

Customisation is Key!!

Both your CV and cover letter should be updated specifically for the position you are pursuing. Job descriptions are a combination of requirements (needs) and wants (would be nice to have) therefore highlighting and relating your relevant experience for the specific role is important.  Quantify your achievements in any given role. Showcase your value and how you can help the company.

It is becoming common-place, especially if your CV is online (such as LinkedIn or online job boards), the recruitment process is streamlined. This means your CV will be pre-screened by algorithms; signifying the importance of optimising or customising your CV to include core keywords from the specific job spec.

You could even earn bonus points if you research the company values and include aspects of these within your CV & Cover Letter. Your cover letter is an opportunity to demonstrate a personal connection between yourself and the company, similar to an elevator pitch when you are networking.

Make yourself accessible to recruiters and hiring managers.

Did you know that our recruiters don’t just post their open vacancies on Recruitisland.ie?

They also actively look for people to fill their vacancies by searching through our Candidate Profiles.

Create a candidate profile and we can help you find that dream job – let’s get you hired 😊

Do you feel you are a failure if you are not successful at interview?

Oftentimes, candidates lose self-esteem as they go into interviews believing that there are two outcomes: pass or fail. You are qualified or have specific experience; if the hiring manager doesn’t get you, they don’t deserve you!

Example: When you go on a date with someone and there’s no chemistry, do you feel like a failure?

No – because if you are not a match, you are not a match.

So don’t let one or two rejections get in the way of you finding your perfect career.

STOP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!

Basically, if you are engaging in these behaviors, take a step back, analyse what and why you are engaging in such destructive behavior and take action.

STOP avoiding or doing all of the above. A behavior change in all of these areas can have big results in your job search.  Never give up trying to do what you really want to do.

If you can dream it, you can do it  🙌

Recruit Island is ‘an island of opportunity’ where your goals can be achieved – have a look at all available jobs and lets make those dreams come true!

Contact Us Today!

Article Written By:
Donna Farrell

Job Search

Job seeking on your Mobile Device and Social Media

With the improved economic climate, and the increase in job prospects; many workers are considering career or job changes; making competition rife. If you are serious about finding your dream job, you must be ready to apply for a job instantaneously – on your mobile device and social media!

Mobile device use in Ireland:

It is not hard to tell, Ireland is mobile mad! 90% of Irish adults (three million people!) have a mobile device. The numbers of people with access to a tablet has increased from 64%  to 71% (higher than the European average (Ipsos MORI on behalf of Deloitte).

smartphone use in Ireland
37% of Irish people access the internet most often via a mobile device. In 2018, more people accessed the internet on a mobile device than desktops.  52.2% of all website traffic worldwide was generated through mobile phones, up from 50.3 percent in the previous year (Statista 2018).

The dominance of smartphones and their usage is only going to increase in the coming years which means that activities that we conventionally used PCs and laptops for; including work & job seeking, will migrate onto the mobile device.

43% of mobile device owners in America have used their mobile to look up information about jobs and 39% have used their phone to submit a job application (Pew Research Centre, 2015).

Today, job seekers expect to view jobs seamlessly on their mobile device and apply to them quickly and easily. A copy of your resume must be easily accessible.

Is the CV Dead?

Because of this increase in mobile device usage, many are insinuating that “In the game of getting noticed, the CV is dead”.

Let’s not get carried away with this – the CV is no longer THE ONLY way of securing an interview; with many job seekers using various relevant channels to get noticed; interlacing a coherent story to promote themselves.

The online age has shifted a lot of information online into digital form; where applicants enter their work and educational history into a form which allows employers and recruiters to find top talent.

Additionally, with the increase in AI tools, employers can use specific software to weed out the no-hopers.

The A.I. Paradox:

Because of the pace of technological advancement and innovation, there is an argument rising that robots will eventually take our jobs. However, “technological change leads to job creation as well as automation, and these two effects are interdependent: History has repeatedly borne this out”(Cisco, Oxford Economics, 2017).

Technology, whether it be “workforce science”, “data aggregation” or “Big Data” has already changed the way people find jobs. Look no further than the way job recruitment has changed.

Traditional routes of job seeking such as sending a CV to 25 recruiters or companies and waiting, is over. Companies are harvesting and interpreting online activities of potential candidates; availing of large databases of candidate information; using data aggregation and keyword analysis to find suitable candidates in order to identify the candidate with the “perfect fit”.

That being said, we may have to assume that with the increase in A.I, work in the future may not be full-time equivalent spanning a person’s lifetime – there is already a shift in full time to contract or agency work, which is likely to become the norm.

Tell the story of your brand – YOU!

Of course, none of this means that a well-thought out, up-to-date CV is useless. Self-assessment provides invaluable information to enable career decisions; where you can identify the match between your acknowledged values & skills to the requirements of career fields and suitable companies.

Even if you don’t upload your CV in full to a website, the process of writing a CV will have helped you focus on how best to present your strengths and your brand – YOU!

Be Successful in Your Job Search – Tips for Success

What can Recruit Island do for you – the job seeker?

Recruit Island is a huge repository of information about job seekers and the skills they have. It is a platform where people can advertise their talents, store their work personas in a searchable, communicable form showcasing a lifetime of work.

How do I apply via mobile?

  1. On your browser, go to our website recruitisland.wpengine.com

Tip: for instant access to jobs, add Recruit Island to your Homescreen

Add Recruit island to your homescreen on Mobile device
Mobile device

Add Recruit island to your homescreen on Mobile device
Mobile device

 

  1. If you are browsing Recruit Island for career opportunities on your mobile and find the perfect job, click the ‘Apply Online’ button.  You will first be asked to fill out your contact details then add your CV.

Attach your CV to your application from your cloud storage application (Google Drive/Dropbox/Box/One Drive) or upload your CV from your mobile device or tablet.

  1. Once uploaded, complete the remaining fields and hit “Send Application”

How do I sign up to text alerts?

If you are searching for jobs mainly from your mobile device, let the jobs come to you! Sign up for text or email alerts whenever a new, relevant, job is posted on Recruit Island.

  1. Click here to sign up for weekly job alerts & enter your contact details
  2. Choose the most relevant category for your dream job
  3. Click the Subscribe Now button.

What can Recruit Island do for you – the employer?

Online platforms are fast becoming the quickest way to shortlist quality staff and if an employer knows what they want, they can make a sound recruitment decision quickly and effectively.

Click here to register your employer profile

We are offering, for a limited period, FREE 30 day job posting for employers and companies hiring.

Escape the recruitment nightmare, visit Recruit Island where we have thousands of profiles already live, make your next recruitment process an easier and more rewarding experience.

 

Article Written By:
Donna Farrell

Career Guidance

Tips for Graduates: The Transition from Student to Career

A graduate is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “A person who has successfully completed a course of study or training, especially a person who has been awarded an undergraduate or first academic degree“. Starting your career as a graduate is a new beginning that many students look forward to. It is an exciting time as you leave the student life behind once and for all and take a step on to the career ladder. No more all-nighters to finish assignments, no more cramming months of study into weeks or even days and no more plain pasta and baked beans, well! Going from a graduate to the professional world can be a challenging time as routine and responsibilities kick in. It can be stressful as other graduates are looking for employment, increasing the competition and leaving companies choosing the best. Practice patience and don’t let knock-backs get you down. Aim high and read these tips for kick-starting your graduate career.

Find Your Niche

First, figure out what it is that you want to do. Make a list of things you want to change in the world, your skills, passions, motivations and goals. This will help you learn what kind of person you are and what you want to become. It will aid you in choosing a career that suits you. Ask friends and family for support and advice. Speak to people already working in the area you would like to try out and get advice from them, if you’re lucky you might even get some work experience.

Graduate Networking

Networking is extremely important and useful for graduates and future graduates. There are so many people in your network that can help you when it comes to your career – lecturers, classmates, peers, other students, friends and family. Talk to as many people as you can about your aspirations, you never know what advice or help you may receive. It can also be a good way to listen out for employment as most vacancies are filled by word of mouth and as the saying goes it’s not about what you know, it’s who you know. The more people you talk to, the more likely you are to pick up tips, learn and find opportunities.

Update Social Profiles

Ensure that your online presence is presentable. This is a must! Most employers will search for potential employees and it is important that you don’t make a bad impression. Keep yourself respectable on all social platforms and make sure you are using LinkedIn to its full potential. Network and search for companies and employers of interest etc. Include contact information such as phone numbers, e-mail address, all social media profile URL’s, company websites, blog web address etc. This will make it easy for an employer to research and contact you. And think before you post!

Your CV

Recruiters search for CVs on job websites when looking to fill vacancies and hire employees. Create a profile on job websites and upload a copy of your CV, it doesn’t take long to do and it means potential employers looking for the type of skills or qualifications you have can find you. Upload your CV to your LinkedIn profile as employers can use this to search for employees. Tailor your CV to individual jobs. When applying for a specific job role, you are essentially telling the employer why you are perfect for the position. It might be more time-consuming but changing your Cover Letter and CV for jobs will make you stand out more.

Volunteer

Volunteer for charitable organisations that you have an interest in. Get involved in new projects or new tasks whether it is in college, work or socially. The more experience you have and things you have done the more interesting you seem, the more you people you meet the more learn.

Skills & Experience

Most people will have work experience whether it is related to your graduate job/degree or not. Use your experience from previous jobs or the skills you have obtained through work life such as efficiency, working in a fast-paced environment, organisation and leadership etc. Don’t forget about college or voluntary experience. If you were involved in college projects or activities such as college radio or magazine make sure to include this and list the skills that you have gained from them.

Research the Company  

Make sure you do your research and know the company history and core values before going for an interview. It is important to know about the company because if you are questioned on it and you don’t know anything about it you can give off a bad impression and it show disinterest. It is also helpful when it comes to writing your cover letter and knowing which skills to enhance during the interview process.

Aim High

If there is a brand or company that you would love to work for then don’t be afraid to approach them. Do your history, research them and find out as much as you can. See if they have any vacancies. Find out who works for them and network with these people. Send them your CV or approach them directly. If you would like to work here then you more than likely have the skills and personality fitted to the company. It’s worth a shot.

Start a Blog

Sell yourself as well as your degree. A lot of the time, employers are looking for skills and personality. Use your strengths and make yourself stand out. Blog about things you know and are interested in or passionate about. You can share these on your LinkedIn profile.

No longer a Graduate – When you Get the Job

Ask Questions

Your employer can’t read your mind. They don’t expect you to know everything. If there are certain elements of the company or workload which you don’t understand, ask for clarification.

Stand out

Throw yourself into the work assigned and show your enthusiasm. Don’t wait for things to happen, make them happen. Get involved in important events and projects. Use your initiative to think and act independently. Speak up and voice your opinions and ideas.

Assess Yourself

Assess yourself regularly, set yourself some long-term career goals. Know your personality, your skills, your weaknesses. Be honest with yourself and improve on where you think you should. With appealing jobs being limited and those that are advertised getting snapped up quickly it can be tempting to apply for all sorts of jobs which might not appeal to you, just for the sake of finding a job. Think about what it is exactly that you are applying for. Do not apply for something which you have absolutely no interest in. You spend most of your time at work so choose something which you will enjoy, learn from and can grow in.

Work Hard

Even if you don’t love your job, do it well anyway. Every job is an opportunity and you must start somewhere. It’s OK if you feel that this is not the right job for you. It will give you a greater understanding of what you don’t want to do and what want from your career.

Making Mistakes

Making mistakes in your career is a lot different to making mistakes in college. When you make mistakes in college you might fail an assignment or subject. When you make mistakes in your job you learn lessons that you can grow from and take with you throughout your career.

Learn

Most great people did not get to where they are today on their own. They had a strong support system to help them on their way. Learn from your colleagues and if they give you advice, listen to them and take it on board. Chances are, they have a lot more experience than you, accept their help.

Update Skills

You never stop learning. Read books that are related to your job role, sign up for events or courses to update your skills. If you are passionate about it, this won’t even be work and you will enjoy it.

Now go and prosper! 😊

Prosper after graduating