recruitment agencies ireland

Trusted Recruitment Agencies in Ireland

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How do you find trusted recruitment agencies in Ireland? You take a hard look at their values. RecruitmentPlus was founded on putting people first. We are Customer-Centric. Our Managing Director – Anne Fanthom – looked back on our company history and shared the reason she established her own recruitment agency all those years ago:

“Having worked in recruitment in the UK for ten years, I returned to Dublin. After spending two years at home with my young daughter, I ventured back into the world of recruitment with a large firm in the city centre. However, I found my values were changing. For me, people are at the heart of recruitment. It’s not just a numbers game.

I knew something had to change. So, in 1999, I took a leap of faith. Keeping my core values foremost in my mind, I established RecruitmentPlus as a niche, specialist agency. Over 20 years later, candidate and client needs are still at the forefront of everything we do.”

 

Clients

We are a leading provider of recruitment solutions. We work with some of Ireland’s leading organisations to develop, implement and manage their talent acquisition strategies.

We are a service-based business. We want to take some stress away from our clients. We want to save their valuable time. We first meet with our clients to understand their business, professional needs and expectations. We do our best to understand our client’s company culture. This way, we can find someone who will fit in seamlessly with what makes our client’s company special. Our goal is not just about finding candidates; it’s about finding the ideal candidate for each vacancy.

 

Candidates

We believe in finding the best talent for each role; not just meeting quotas or filling positions as quickly as possible. Our approach is based on providing candidates with an excellent experience from start to finish, ensuring that they have a fulfilling career in their new organisation and that clients get the best possible return on investment.

Our director – Hazel Whelan – gave us an example of why she goes out of her way to meet her candidates:

“Technology has changed drastically throughout the years, but no matter how much it advances, you will never replace intuition or empathy with a CV scanning app. This is why I always meet my candidates. One interview that sticks out in my mind was a woman who was home for Christmas for four days. So I went to Dublin airport and met her for a coffee on Stephen’s Day hours before her flight took off to New York. She got the job. She’s back in Ireland with her family. I was part of making that happen.”

 

The Process

Matching candidates to roles is a complex process. It relies not only on experience and in-depth market knowledge, but it also demands intuition, empathy and often lateral thinking to get the best possible outcome, something no computer algorithm can deliver.

Our recruitment process can only work once we have learned everything we can about our client’s business and our candidate’s career goals. There are definitely apps out there that can match keywords from a job spec to keywords from a CV… but to us, that isn’t recruitment and it certainly isn’t customer-centric.

The customer-centric approach is a guiding principle for the way we do business as one of the most trusted recruitment agencies in Ireland. We are committed to understanding, meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers and candidates.

To apply for a job, please click here.

To learn more about RecruitmentPlus, please click here.

To connect with Anne Fanthom, Managing Director quoted above, please click here.

To connect with Hazel Whelan, Director also quoted above, please click here

A recruiter in one of the best recruitment agencies in Dublin

Spotlight on Recruitment

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This blog post was going to be entitled A Day in the Life of a Recruiter, but really there is no typical day. No two days are alike because the resource our recruiters are dealing with is people. Their clients and candidates are all people with different needs, wants, personalities, and career goals. All of these differences make for a varied day at work. Read on to find out what it’s like to work for one of the best recruitment agencies in Dublin.

 

So, what does a recruiter do?

A recruiter- also known as a recruitment consultant- is essentially in a sales role. A client will contact a recruitment consultant and request assistance in finding an employee for their company. Those potential employees are referred to as candidates. The recruiter then matches a candidate to the company’s job vacancy. Simple, right? Well, that’s just a basic explanation of what a recruiter does. As with any job, some people do the bare minimum and others excel in their roles.

 

What does a good recruitment consultant do?

A recruiter’s job is part human resources, part sales, part marketing, part negotiation but mostly it’s about listening. An important part of the job is the ability to listen and learn the needs of their candidates and work together with them to provide solutions to fulfil those needs. People are at the heart of recruitment. It’s not just a numbers game. It’s not about pulling a report from a database and using that information to fill a role. A CV can tell the basics of someone’s job history, but only in a one-on-one meeting (online or in-person) does a recruiter find out the WHY behind the CV. Why did the candidate take those specific roles to date? Why are they looking for a new job now? What plans do they have for their future career?

The same is true when a recruiter is working with a client. Again, the recruiter is not just working with some faceless company, they’re working with a person who needs to fill a vacancy. A good recruiter will do their best to understand the sector for which they are recruiting. Ideally, the recruiter will have had some real-world experience working in that sector. For example, if they’ve worked in Human Resources before, they will have a unique insight into what a client may need for a new HR Specialist vacancy. Anyone can learn sales techniques, but understanding the ins and outs of a specific sector will make someone stand out as a top recruiter.

 

What about job satisfaction?

One of the top reasons for job satisfaction in recruitment is the knowledge that the recruiter has made a difference in a candidate’s life. There are few things better than knowing a candidate is in a happier place because you’ve helped them source a new role where their personality is a good fit for the company’s culture.

 

Recruiters also love their jobs because they get the opportunity to grow their professional networks both with their clients as well as candidates. It’s a very rewarding role but it also requires hard work, resourcefulness, and versatility. A reputable agency will offer a basic salary along with a fair commission structure.

 

Have you considered a career in recruitment?

If you feel you have the right attitude, determination to succeed, and a winning personality, contact RecruitmentPlus today on 01 2788610. You could work for one of the best recruitment agencies in Dublin!

 

Not only do we offer a favourable salary, but the following benefits as well:

  • Commission with uncapped commission structure
  • Quarterly bonuses
  • Annual bonus
  • Mobile phone
  • 4 weeks AL which increases with tenure
  • Birthday day off
  • Social events
  • ERF Certificate in Recruitment Practice
  • A great working environment with a team who has been together for over 20 years.

Learn more about our company and culture on our Linkedin page.

Call us today on 01 2788610, visit www.recruitmentplus.ie  or email your CV in the strictest confidence to anne@rplus.ie

The 5 Rules of Temping

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Across Ireland, employees are dreaming of their first proper summer holiday in 2 years. Meanwhile, their managers are wondering how to cope with the extra workload when their teams are out of the office. What’s a manager to do?

Enter: “The Temp” – someone who is smart, confident and adaptable, as well as being multi-skilled. The Temp saves the day!

Does this sound like you? Would you like the flexibility to choose between short term work or months long contracts? Do you think you’d enjoy the variety of working in different environments? Follow these 5 rules of temping and you’ll have your choice of assignments.

  1. First things first, you need a good temping CV. This CV should be specifically used for applying for temp work. At the top of the page, list your technical skills, your contact details, your availability and the locations where you can work. The rest of the CV should be as normal- education and work history. A Temps Controller may receive hundreds of CVs, but will remember the one that highlights skill set and gives availability.
  2. When in doubt, dress UP. As a temp, you will be working in many different environments. Some may be on production lines; others may be business casual offices. Some offices may run a strict, corporate-style dress code. Always check the dress code with your Temps Controller in advance. First impressions count and nowhere more so than in the world of temping.
  3. On time means 5 minutes early. You don’t want to arrive too early, but you never want to arrive late. Research the location of your assignment. Make sure you know how to get there. Drive by if you’re unfamiliar with the area or check public transport timetables the night before. Again, plan on being there 5 minutes before you’re due to start.
  4. Be discreet. Anything you hear or read, while working in a company is strictly confidential. When you register for temp work, you will sign a contract of employment and a handbook explaining the importance of confidentiality and non-disclosure while on temporary work assignments
  5. Work like your career depends on it. Again, first impressions count and if you’re only in an assignment for a week, you don’t have time to have an off day. Temping is an excellent way to get your foot in the door of some amazing companies, which could lead to wonderful opportunities. Good work does not go unnoticed.

If you’re interested in temping or want to talk to someone about your career, contact RecruitmentPlus on 01 2788610 or visit www.recruitmentplus.ie.

 

Top Tips: CV Writing

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Your CV outlines your work experience and maps your career path to date. It is the tool that will get you an interview for the job you want. Whether you’re writing your first CV or polishing your old CV up for a career move, staring at a blank page can be daunting. The good news is, there’s a formula you can follow. Make sure you add the following sections to your page and work from there. Before you know it, you are no longer staring at a blank page, but a document that will get you noticed by a recruiter or hiring manager.

 

Personal Details
Your name, mobile number and email should all be listed at the top of your CV. We want to be able to contact you if a career opportunity arises! You may consider also listing a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile.

 

Profile
The profile should make the employer want to meet you. It should be short enough to read quickly and concise enough to capture your skills and experience in a short paragraph.

 

Chronological Order
Most people list their most recent employment first, and the recruiter will probably appreciate you following this standard.

 

Key Information
Make sure your CV is easily readable. Three key pieces of information are titles, company names and dates of employment for each of your prior jobs. Align all 3 so it is easy to follow and read. Keep in mind that most hiring managers will only take a minute to scan your CV. Make sure they can easily find your key information. Then fill in your major responsibilities for each position using bullet points.

 

References
There is no need to list referee contact details on your CV. In fact, many referees would prefer their contact information isn’t given out too freely! Generally, we would recommend having your referee’s details to hand in case your application proceeds and to contact your referee to let them know your recruiter will be calling.

 

Technical Skills
An understanding of Microsoft Office is almost compulsory for all roles and you should indicate your expertise level and if you are an advanced user, intermediate, a beginner or somewhere in between. It is generally important to have skills in Outlook, Word and Excel but roles do vary. In addition to MS Office, certain roles may require knowledge of specific software such as a CRM Database or CAD software.

 

Education
If you’re entering the job market then there is justification for listing your educational accomplishments at the beginning of the CV. If you’ve been working for 12 months or longer, then a company may be more interested in your work history than your educational path. However, certificates, diplomas and degrees should definitely be listed.

 

Additional Training and Qualifications
Readers are interested in your training but list it in such a way that it is easy to read. The training should be relevant to the role for which you are applying. You may also have professional qualifications or licenses and it is important to list these clearly on the CV. They are generally best positioned with or next to your educational details.

 

Volunteering, Hobbies and Interests
Some people choose to close their CVs with voluntary experience or examples of their hobbies and interests. While it’s not as popular to list these sections nowadays, if your volunteer experience or hobby relate to the job you want, by all means include it!

 

Hopefully this short guide has been helpful and you’re on your way to writing the perfect CV for your dream job. When your CV is read and you want to take the next step in your career, contact your local RecruitmentPlus office or apply online for one of our current vacancies.

Workspace Spring Clean

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Minute by minute, the days are getting longer. Day by day, the birdsong grows louder. After what feels like a 2-year long winter, spring is around the corner. Get ready for this hopeful time of year by organizing a spring clean of your workspace!

 

Define your workspace(s). 

Are you working from home in a spare room? Do you have a desk in your company office? Do you make business calls from your car between sales visits? These can all be defined as your workspaces. You may use one or a variety of these spaces. If you use more than one of these spaces, make sure to “spring clean” each one!

 

Throw out rubbish/ bring coffee cups to the kitchen. 

Some people are tidier than others, so you’ll know if this applies to you. If you’re the type of person who brings their second – or third- mug of tea to their workspace without clearing up the mug(s) already there, or if your rubbish bin is constantly overflowing, this tip is for you. A cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind. You will be able to focus much more clearly when you’ve cleared your space. Each time you leave your workspace, have a look around to see if there’s anything you can clear from your space. Soon this will be a habit and your desk will never look better.

 

File away documents and shred what’s no longer needed. 

A place for everything and everything in its place! Now is a good time to set up files for 2022 (if you haven’t done so already) and file paperwork away accordingly- whether you use paper or digitized methods. When you know where all your important documents are located, it saves you time and worry. You should also take the time to see if there is any documentation containing data you should no longer hold on to. Check with your company’s Data Protection Officer and make sure you are up to date with GDPR requirements.

 

Clean your desktop, keyboard, phone, and more. 

This is probably something you’ve gotten into the habit of over the past couple of years. Even if you wipe off these spaces daily, you’ll want to do a more thorough job for your spring clean. Take note of every surface that you touch in your workspace. Get a soft cloth and an antibacterial cleanser and get to work! Don’t forget places like the armrests of your chair or the switch on your desk lamp. Use caution when cleaning electronic items. You can purchase tech-specific antibacterial cleaning kits online or through most stationery supply companies.

 

Make this space your own. 

This is the fun part. Some offices may have rules on what you can and cannot put in your workspace. Please keep those rules in mind! Having said that, most will allow you some personal items. Does a certain colour pen inspire you to write better proposals? Then get yourself that pen. Are you more likely to keep a handwritten diary than a digital one? Then make sure you have a diary on your desk. Are you working towards a specific goal? Then maybe hang up a picture of your dream house to remind you why you’re saving up for a deposit. Do you have a dream holiday location? Print out an image of that beach scene or cityscape. You need items that encourage you to work at your best level as well as reminders of why you’re working so hard.

 

Spring Clean the mind!

Now that your physical space is cleared, time to clear any issues going on in your mind. Are you worried your company won’t offer you a hybrid work scheme? Have you noticed that your salary isn’t quite keeping up with inflation? Are you perhaps ready for a completely new challenge? Contact the consultants at RecruitmentPlus today. The answers to your workplace worries could be just a phone call away.

Focus on 2022

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A Proven Technique to Get More Done in Less Time

 

Was your New Year’s resolution to be more organized and productive? Do you dread the start of each new workday, wondering what lies ahead? Would you like to have more control over your day? Then you need to focus.

 

What Happens When You Lose Focus at Work?

You become a firefighter. No, not the brave people who run into burning buildings when everyone else runs out… What YOU do is react to crisis after crisis after crisis until all you know is last-minute panic and dread. There’s a proposal due at 9 am tomorrow, and you work all through the night to complete it, hitting “send” at 8:59. You have 100 agendas to print out before a meeting 30 minutes from now, and the printer keeps jamming. The payroll is due at the same time each week, and you find yourself coming up to the wire at every payroll deadline. You see, you manage to get things done; however, not before hitting crisis mode.

 

You get a gold medal for procrastination. Interestingly, your procrastination will eventually lead to the above fires you constantly put out. It’s a vicious circle. You know this on some level. So why do you do it? There are many reasons why people procrastinate at work. Some examples are perfectionism, anxiety, lack of focus, fear of failure. But remember I said vicious circle. Are you procrastinating at work because you’re burned out from putting out fires? How are you meant to organize your workload if you are in crisis mode?

 

You use multitasking as a shield. Admit it. Saying you are a multitasker is code for “not only am I a busy person, but I’m busy doing a few things at once.” It’s time to drop the act. Gone are the days where multitasking was considered a skill. Now we know better. Not only is it impossible for you to focus on more than one task at a time, but studies have shown that multitasking can affect your memory as well as cause anxiety. Did that lapse in memory mean you forgot to print those 100 agendas until the last minute? Is that anxiety causing you to procrastinate? I’ll say it again: a vicious circle.

 

How Do You Break Free?

You need to focus. A good plan will help you do more in less time. Below are some steps to take to ensure you’re stepping into 2022 on the right foot.

 

Get comfortable with change. Be gentle with yourself and trust the process. Take each step as it comes and allow for the fact that you might be so used to firefighting, procrastinating, and multitasking that changing to a more focussed process will seem strange at first.

 

Get rid of distractions and multitasking. One option is to set up “focus” time in your MyAnalytics dashboard if you use Microsoft applications. This will show people on Teams and in your calendar that you are focusing and unavailable for meetings. If you are not using Microsoft, many other online apps will assist in helping you focus on the task at hand. You can find these by googling “online focus apps” and choosing the one that is the right fit for you. Many apps are free of charge, or you can pay a small fee to upgrade additional features.

 

Set goals and prioritise tasks. Now that you are free of distractions, how do you spend your focus time? First, you need to identify your work goals. You can break your goals down by week or quarter or even think big and come up with lifetime career goals. Once you know your goals, you can see the roadmap to where you want to go. The next thing you’ll want to do is list all the tasks you will need to complete to attain those goals. Have a good look at your list. Are some of those tasks time-sensitive? Do some seem more arduous than others? Can you delegate any of these tasks? Prioritize accordingly and make a to-do list.

 

Find your flow. Some call it flow. Others call it being in the zone. It’s that feeling of being perfectly focussed on one task and working on it to your best abilities. With the help of your focus app, you’re not being distracted. Working from your prioritized to-do list, you’re only working on one task at a time. The last piece of the “flow” puzzle is finding your peak hours during the day. When do you feel most energized? When do you feel creative? When do you prefer to do analytical work? Are you an early bird or a night owl? Do you hit the ground running at 9 am but fall victim to the 3 pm slump? Then schedule your most significant tasks in the morning. Do you feel most lively after lunch? Maybe that’s the perfect time to plan your sales calls. Know yourself, recognize your patterns and find your flow.

 

Are You Ready for 2022?

Hopefully, the above tips will help you keep your New Year’s resolution of being more productive and organized in your job. When you go through the step of writing your long-term career goals, keep RecruitmentPlus in mind. Our consultants can help you focus on the next stage of your career with their proactive approach to recruitment. Contact us today.

Christmas 2021

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Best Wishes for a Wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year

RecruitmentPlus will be open and operating as usual through Thursday 23rd December at 1pm. Our offices will then be closed until we re-open at 10am on Tuesday 4th January 2022. In case of emergency or urgent queries, you can contact Anne Fanthom on 086 831 4668.

We hope you are winding down after another very strange year with your sights on what’s in store for you in 2022.

Please see a selection of our best advice blogs from 2021 below. We hope they give you some business inspiration for the New Year. We look forward to working with you again then!

 

The Hybrid Working Model

Advice on the National Remote Working Strategy

8 Silver Linings of Working from Home

Recruitment Trends 2021

The Hybrid Working Model

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Change is on the horizon. As we begin to slowly come out of an incredibly challenging fourteen months, some significant changes are occurring in the way in which we work, not only in Ireland but globally. I’m sure we could all do without reliving the past with businesses being forced to either shut or drastically change all aspects of the day to day running of their processes, workforce, IT and more. 

 

The doors closed on physical businesses and employees across the country were faced with adjusting to remote working, perhaps for the first time. It was unfathomable to most of us. Surprisingly, many started to embrace this new way of working and living. Not only were employees’ minds changed about working from home but employers started to see the benefits of having a fully remote team. 

 

Referring to the Remote Working Strategy initiative documents released by the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment, 94% of people asked in a survey voiced that they would like options to work from home after the pandemic. The strategy’s main action is to mandate that home and remote work should be the norm for 20% of public sector employment. 

 

Three Pillars for The National Remote Working Strategy 

 

One main objective of the initiative is to ensure that remote working is a permanent feature in the Irish Workplace. 

 

Pillar One: Create a Conducive Environment

Pillar Two: Develop and Leverage Remote Working Infrastructure

Pillar Three: Build a Remote Work Policy and Guidance Framework

 

Find out more information about the National Remote Working Strategy. 

Companies Are Starting to Embrace Change  

        

It seems as though we are on our way to this new hybrid working model with some companies such as BOI already publicly announcing their plans. 

 

BOI is offering their staff much more flexibility in how and where they work. 

 

“This working model will allow colleagues to work from a combination of home and central office locations, and will also offer colleagues access to a network of 11 remote working hubs by the end of 2021.” – BOI website

 

Bank of Ireland goes on to say that this new hybrid working model will allow workers to have not only greater flexibility but also reduced time spent commuting and a more positive work-life balance. 

 

Benefits of Hybrid Working 

 

Work-Life Balance 

 

A common grievance among employees is not having a healthy work-life balance. Long commutes every day can add on several hours to the workday, leaving little time to spend on personal activities throughout the workweek. 

 

Flexibility 

 

Providing employees with options as to how they work will give them more flexibility. It will allow employees to make personal plans and structure their workweek in a way that suits themselves and/or their family. 

 

Productivity 

 

Having a more flexible and less rigid workweek can improve employee morale and therefore boost productivity. 

 

Cost-Effective 

 

A very appealing benefit of the hybrid working model is that it can be a cost-effective option for both employees and employers. Employees will have reduced commuting costs as well as other costs such as lunches. Employers will have fewer overheads with fewer people in the office. 

 

Wider Talent Reach 

 

With no restrictions on geographical location, employers have a wider reach when it comes to recruiting new staff. 

 

Challenges of The Hybrid Working Model  

 

Although there are many benefits of this new way of working, it is understandable that there are some concerns. Managing both remote and in-house staff may take some careful planning and consideration especially regarding collaboration and IT requirements to ensure that there is cohesive and streamlined communication among the company as a whole. 

 

It will be up to employers to guarantee that the best processes possible are put in place to support employee welfare, motivation and productivity. 

 

Conclusion 

 

Many companies have started to embrace the new hybrid working model and many more will follow. Time will tell the full advantages and challenges they will face. However, it could overall have a highly positive impact on the Irish workforce. 

 

It is unclear as to whether such an initiative or model would materialise had the pandemic not forced businesses globally to reevaluate everything. Perhaps it will show itself to be one of the few silver linings. 

 

Are you an employer looking for resources to support your staff? Here are some articles you may find useful: 

 

8 Silver Linings of Working From Home

Supporting Field-Based Workers

Supporting Employees Remotely

 

Advice on the National Remote Working Strategy

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We all breathed a sigh of relief at the announcement that Level 5 restrictions have been eased somewhat across the country. It was a welcomed piece of good news that I think we all can admit, couldn’t have come too soon. Although we still have some way to go, it has certainly instilled hope that there are better days ahead and that this is the beginning. At Recruitment Plus, we are seeing a steady pick up in recruitment trends.

 

As employers, this might be news you are waiting to hear in order to start planning for the remainder of the year. You may have started to think again about adding to your headcount.

 

Have you considered how you will accommodate the government’s recently launched “Remote Working Strategy”? An initiative that, without COVID, would have taken decades to implement and has now been propelled into the forefront of every industry across Ireland.

 

Whether you’ve read the strategy document yet or not, you probably have questions about how this will affect your workforce structure, recruitment plans and just about every other aspect of recruiting and managing staff.

Here are some of the main takeaways from the Remote Working Strategy document to equip you with the knowledge to take your next steps.

 

National Remote Working Strategy

Main actions that will be taken by the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment:

  • “Mandating that home and remote work should be the norm for 20 per cent of public sector employment
  • Reviewing the treatment of remote working for the purposes of tax and expenditure in the next Budget
  • Mapping and investing in a network of remote working hubs across Ireland
  • Legislating for the right to request remote working
  • Developing a code of practice for the right to disconnect
  • Doing what we can to accelerate the provision of high-speed broadband to all parts of Ireland”

 

Interesting Statistic Regarding Employee Attitudes & Remote Working

According to research carried out in October 2020, 94% of those who partook in the survey said that they would like to work remotely after the pandemic. This was an  increase of 10% on results from a similar survey carried out the previous May.

 

Three Pillars for the Remote Working Strategy

 As stated in the strategy, the initiative will be broken down into three pillars with one main objective “Ensure Remote Work is a Permanent Feature in the Irish Workplace”

 

Pillar One: Create a Conducive Environment

Pillar Two: Develop and Leverage Remote Working Infrastructure

Pillar Three: Build a Remote Work Policy and Guidance Framework

 

Resources for Employers

So, what should employers be doing to prepare?  Knowledge is power. Take a look at the full strategy document and the remote working checklist for employers below to have a better understanding of what to expect.

It will also allow you to put in place policies and strategies to facilitate employee needs and future rights.

 

National Remote Work Strategy

Government of Ireland Remote Working Checklist for Employers

 

 Recruitment Plus’ Promise & Your Next Steps

 

Recruitment Plus has a strong track record in finding flexible solutions for clients and candidates. Our positive approach to Remote Working will be no different. We believe that this flexibility will only expand the pool of talent beyond candidates that traditionally would be more fixed on location.

What you choose to do now will directly affect your workforce structure in the third and fourth quarters of this year.

Contact our office to find out more about how the Remote Working Strategy will affect your business. We will find the best possible solution and provide you with the knowledge and assurance for smooth recruitment moving forward.

 

STILLORGAN OFFICE

01 2788610

jobs@rplus.ie

DUNDALK OFFICE

042 9356910

careers@rplus.ie

 

Supporting Remote Employees

 

Here are some of our most popular reads which you may find useful in further supporting your employees.

8 Silver Linings of Working From Home

Supporting Field-Based Workers

Supporting Employees Remotely

 

 

An Interview with Bernice Brennan

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The 8th March was International Women’s Day. We’ve so many wonderful and talented women working at Recruitment Plus, so we decided to interview one of them! 

Meet Bernice Brennan. Bernice has over 20 years of experience in the Irish recruitment market across diverse disciplines. She is a dog lover and an avid reader.  

We asked Bernice a couple of questions about women in the workforce and about her hopes for the future: 

  1. What is your current job role?

I am primarily Business Development Manager for the Group, supporting consultants in our Dublin, Dundalk and Limerick offices.

  1. What industries do you work closely with?

I have a broad remit and work with existing and potential clients in the Pharmaceutical/Medical Devices, Property, Finance, HR, Sales/ Marketing, Engineering and Office Support.

  1. What challenges do women face in the  profession/ academia?

There still seems to be a lack of social encouragement and self-perception in young women,” said Fionnuala Meehan, Sales Director for Google, gender coding competition last year. Only one girl out of 1,500 girls who took part advanced to a further round.

It is the 21st century. The world talks about progression and creating an environment where all people are treated equally. 

But, why does it stop when it comes to women? 

Why does it happen that women are expected to balance between their career and home while men are supposed to be the breadwinners of the family?

While there are men who have come forward to support women in all their endeavours, why is the word “feminism” branded with, in my opinion,  contempt? 

It’s time we shatter toxic masculinity and make people understand that feminism’s goal is to reduce gender gaps and achieve political, economic, personal, and social gender equality.

It is good to see that this can be industry-specific. There are industries that have a gender preference though this is not a “hard and fast” rule. I believe that mandatory shared parental leave, more affordable childcare and initiatives to tackle gender stereotyping are amongst the measures needed to address the gender pay gap in Ireland.

  1. What are your hopes for women in the workforce in the future? 

I hope that the next generation has even more opportunities and experience and increases the value of their contributions as women. I hope they will help take us all to the next level in achieving gender equity. I already see a level of strength and vulnerability in the next generation that I believe has the power to make great strides forward.

We wish we could show off and celebrate all of our staff this week. However, Bernice is an excellent example of the women we are lucky enough to work with every day.  

 

Recommending Reading: An Interview with Mhairi-Therese Gallagher