Job platform Recruit Ireland’s experts tell it like it is. Here’s all you need to know to present your best version of yourself.
Job hunting is hard work. There are many screening processes and criteria that companies use to shortlist candidates, including human and AI-generated resources.
Part of The Irish Times Group that includes Breakingnews.ie, Recruit Ireland has asked some of the nation’s top recruiters for advice and insights into helpful tips that will help you stand out from the crowd, from customising your CV to tailoring a cover note and preparing for interview.
Some, like making sure your CV has no spelling mistakes, may seem blindingly obvious. But it is the view of these experts that many jobseekers don’t follow many of these simple career commandments. With a record number of people in employment it means you need to do everything in your power to get past the gatekeepers, from the algorithms scanning your CV to the decision makers calling the best candidates to interview.
Ireland’s top recruiters spell out some easy wins:
How to make a CV stand out?
“There are many approaches but at Lidl the first thing I would look at is how well the CV is structured and personalised to the position advertised. It should include a summary statement, which in effect is a sales pitch briefly describing who you are, your key qualifications and qualities that will make you stand out from the crowd. Well-composed summaries should highlight professional skills as well as core qualifications and don’t need to be any longer than a couple of lines.
Another section I look at closely is a candidate’s work experience, to understand what the their previous roles and accomplishments have been and whether they suit the role advertised. It is important that this section is neat, has no spelling mistakes and the candidate finds the right balance between adding enough details and not overloading the CV. This document should never be longer than two pages.
Employment gaps should be avoided. Transparency is key. Lastly if a candidate wants to be noticed they should use their creativity, be consistent in what they say and ensure there are no spelling mistakes in it. The use strong words and phrases such as: ‘succeeded in’, ‘responsible for’, ‘accomplished’, ‘created’, ‘managed’ or ‘delivered’ all help to convey a dynamic individual.
Denisa Baltatu, employer brand specialist, talent acquisition, Lidl Ireland
How do you research the company before sending your CV?
“A little research goes a long way. LinkedIn has all of the data, so spend time searching it, stitching team structures and company context together. Use your networks, real and digital, to find out what the company is really like to work for by talking to people who have that first-hand experience. Before the interview ask who will be on the panel and make sure you know about those individuals. You’ll still have blanks to fill in but that’s what first interviews are these days – discovery meetings to get a feel for shared context and for each other.”
Elaine Brady, managing partner, Barden.ie
What do employees want? And how do graduates want to work now?
In the workplace there are currently four generations working side by side and the so-called generation gap looks and feels different to employees of different eras. Millennials are now managers within most organisations. Being tech savvy it is important to this peer group to have the right technologies in place to support their work and support efficiencies. Gen Z is just starting off its careers and is actively seeking opportunities to learn from others. Gen X and Baby Boomers have a wealth of experience and knowledge and so are perfectly placed to offer mentoring or coaching to those not quite so far up the career ladder.
There are also common denominators. They all want great managers, development opportunities, flexibility and a role that is suited to their strengths, values and interests.
Sinéad D’Arcy, head of Jameson International Graduate Programme
What is the office set up – is there a shift back to the office?
“There has been a shift back to the office. The power dynamic is swinging back to employers, and, in a tougher market, there is a balance to be struck between employee wellbeing and employee performance.
We have seen a move from full-time remote working to a hybrid model, which figures show has increased by two-thirds in the past year.
Workers want flexibility, and most believe that hybrid is the best way – not just to be seen in the office but because there is a benefit to working together, collaborating, and building teams.”
Robert Mac Giolla Phadraig, founder of the Talent Summit
For your next career move and insights on how to make it happen visit Recruit Ireland
