by Niall Murray | Aug 27, 2015 | Career, Career and Interview Advice, Work Life
All around the country today, parents dropped their kids off for their first day of the new school year. Some kids will barrel into this new environment without a care in the world, others will be anxious, wondering what their new classmates will be like, if the teacher will be nice, and how tough their new classes will be. The first day of a new job is a little like the first day of school. Nervous but excited, you hope everyone is friendly and that you get off to a good start, but you are unsure what to expect. Here are my best tips to help you get off to a great start in your new job. Tip 1 – Good First Impression Arrive on time, and be friendly and enthusiastic, without being over the top. Show everyone that you are happy to be there and looking forward to working with them. It can take a while for people to change their mind about you after a bad first impression so you need to hit the ground running. Learn peoples name as quickly as possible and be as helpful as you can. Tip 2 – Know Your Job Your boss will have certain expectations for you when you start your job. You need to know what these are. You will also need to learn what parts of your job are the most important so that you can prioritise your tasks when under pressure with deadlines. Obtain a detailed job description from your boss so that you know precisely what is expected of you. Tip 3 – Understand the Culture Learn everything you can about the company’s policies and procedures. Observe how people interact with one another and how they go about their work. Talk to everybody, your new colleagues will be a great source of information. It is up to you to adapt to their way of doing things. Tip 4 – Find a Mentor A mentor can give you an inside perspective on what it takes to get ahead in the company and can be an excellent source of knowledge and advice. A mentor should be someone you have a natural rapport with and is at a more senior position in the company. They will help you develop your career and make the most of your opportunity with the company. Having a mentor to guide you is a huge advantage. Tip 5 – Commit to Your New Job Leave your old job in the past where it belongs. Don’t repeatedly refer to it in conversation, whether you are being positive or negative. There is nothing worse than hearing someone constantly saying “that’s not how we did things in my last company”. Bonus Tip Finally, remember to be patient. It takes time to settle in to a new job, so embrace the challenge and get stuck in. Niall Murray General Manager, Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services...Read More
by Caroline Ward | Aug 19, 2015 | Assessment Centres, General Interest, HR and Training
In recent years there has been an increase in what is termed “gamification” in the assessment process. This refers to using gaming technology and themes traditionally associated with computer or video games to form an assessment during the recruitment process. This can involve building simulated online versions of the potential work environment, developing interactive games and trying to incorporate “fun” into the assessment process. A recent article in “Assessment & Development Matters” pointed to the Marriott Hotel Group, L’Oreal and several other multinational highly respected graduate and high volume employers as favouring this method of assessment for recruitment. It might be fun and engaging but is it effective? Why use gaming technology as part of the assessment process? Organisational brand can be promoted throughout the assessment “game”. High potential to provide a realistic preview of the role for candidates by providing an interactive simulation of the work environment. Assessments can be completed remotely and with limited supervision. It’s “fun”! What are the potential risks? Bias toward younger candidates or those interested in gaming as a hobby. May create a distance between candidates and the hiring company by limiting real communication. Possibility of losing sight of the role’s competencies in the midst of creating a visually impressive tool. Further testing required to prove the process works. For further information on Psychometric Assessments, contact Caroline Ward on 09064 78104 or email...Read More
by Caroline Ward | Aug 13, 2015 | Psychometric Assessments
While talented musicians from around the country descend on Sligo for a week long festival of music, Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services Group ask, if we were to run an Assessment Centre for these roles, aside from a musical ear and an amazing natural musical ability, what types of dexterity might be required of these musicians? (Obviously this is just for fun – we won’t be going into competition with the XFactor or Louis Walsh any time soon!) The Fiddler Fine Motor Dexterity & using a tool The Harpist Fine Motor Dexterity The Bodhrán player Gross Motor Skills & using a tool The Accordian player Fine Motor Dexterity & Gross Motor Skills For further information on Psychometric Assessments, contact Caroline Ward on 09064 78104 or email caroline.ward@collinsmcnicholas.ie...Read More
by admin | Aug 6, 2015 | Career, Career and Interview Advice, Work Life
Striking a healthy work life balance can be difficult. Sometimes you are completely unaware of an imbalance until someone points it out to you, or an event happens that forces the issue to be addressed – such as your health breaking down, or missing family events, etc. It is often when you are on your holidays that it becomes particularly obvious – there you are sipping your Mojito on a sunny beach and checking your work emails! You might love your job as an Accountant, Finance Manager or Engineer, and are working really hard to succeed in it, but if you’re not setting boundaries and making the most of life outside of work, it won’t be healthy for you. You need to be able to strike a balance between your work / career aspirations, and your health, family and hobbies. Here are 5 easy steps to help manage your life at home while increasing your productivity at work: The all-important Sleep! Start your day refreshed and positive after a good night’s sleep. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep per night is essential, especially if you are commuting long distances to work. Lack of sleep will quickly zap your energy reserves leading to poor concentration and poor performance at work. Ban the smart phone, buy an alarm clock and go easy on the TV! For those of you who work in IT, Software Development, Administrator roles, or anyone whose jobs involves working with a computer all day, it’s important to take a break from the screen. A UK survey published in July this year found that the average person spends a decade of their lives in...Read More
