In the USA the use of contract to hire arrangements is quite a popular approach for bringing in talent. So why do we not see it in Ireland where so many US owned companies operate and, quite often, our talent acquisition strategies and workforce structures align? Here we will attempt to explain what ‘contract to hire’ is and why it is not used by employers in Ireland.
The process of hiring a new employee who fits the technical requirements as well as the cultural aspect of your company requires a lot of work and dedication. It comes down to the question of whether you want to spend your time seeking out talent or save your time and spend the money to make that perfect hire.
As a recruiter, I work with both contract and permanent positions. In recent months there has been an increasingly large number of people who are now working as contractors. With the economy so unpredictable, more businesses are embracing the concept of hiring contractors for project-based work. I find that there are a lot of questions asked about contracting but one question in particular is, “how do I convert a perm salary to a contract daily rate”?
Working in the Data Centre space is becoming increasingly popular in Ireland, and with that also comes the demand for exceptional staff to work within them. The systems and designs of data centres are constantly changing and innovating and this can make them an exciting but also a tricky place to work. There are many reasons that people find data centres an appealing place to work and the ever evolving industry has many delights that you can read about further here.
Contracting is where you are hired to work on a project or task for a set period of time, normally 6 or 12 months. You receive what is called a contract for service rather than a contract of service (perm position). The 2 types of contracting are fixed term or daily rate.
IT contracting has recently been gaining popularity considering the market situation and improving people’s willingness to jump on board with contracting opportunities. However we’ve always come across a variety of questions from candidates on whether contracting is beneficial or not for them and their career path. In last week’s blog, Cathay Wojnicki spoke about a few tips for new contractors, however the list below covers a few more topics that might be helpful and might set you up on a path to a successful contracting career.
In recent years, IT contracting has become an agreeable option for many developers. This is largely due to multinational IT companies choosing Ireland for their European headquarters, and respectively, the vast amount of choice that experienced developers have when choosing a new job. Not only does contracting come with flexibility for the worker, but increased pay and better life to work balance to name a few. However, in the post COVID-19 market, how can those looking to move into IT contract work be best prepared? Below I have outlined some key nuggets of information to get you ready for your new career adventure.
Nurses, doctors, paramedics, and other members of the emergency services have - quite rightly - received a huge amount of praise for their efforts out there on the coal face. Whether we were out clapping at 8pm on a Tuesday (and then the following Tuesday which in some places got moved to the Thursday) or, for those who hail from my side of the sea, “Going blue” on Facebook for the NHS, we were doing our 21st-century best to acknowledge how indebted we are to them.
Contract workers play a key role in the IT sector. They are hired to carry out specific projects. They are distinct from permanent employees as they are required to perform certain project roles in many organisations. These skilled workers compliment the permanent workers in the companies they serve. Hiring contractors is becoming extremely popular in the IT sector as more companies aim to fill niche roles.
Ireland has been growing in popularity as the ideal data centre destination over the past few years. There are 53 operational data centres in Ireland, with 8 more under construction and 26 with planning approval and are expected to double by 2025.
The Software Development team in GemPool have traditionally recruited for a mixture of contract and permanent job opportunities in recent years. When a candidate is faced with a dilemma of choosing one or the other, there is a recurring theme of job stability that has routinely emerged as a deciding factor.
Throughout this piece I have highlighted a number of elements of Irish Employment Law that I believe may be of interest, particularly to those coming to Ireland from abroad. I’m not an expert in Irish Employment Law, but I’ve recently undertaken a course on the subject, in order to bolster my proficiency in the area and was fascinated by a number of points that wouldn’t necessarily spring to mind. Also, much like that song that you hear for the first time, then find yourself hearing it everywhere you go, I’ve found that in my work as a specialist in the Data Centre Recruitment space, not a day goes by when I don’t come across at least one of these points these points that, prior to taking the course, I could well have been oblivious to.
Have a read, yourself. Were you aware of these things before?
I have found myself asking many of my contacts the same question I am asking myself. When should we bring people back to the office? Some of the larger multi nationals are keeping their offices closed for the rest of the year. Others until next summer, believe it or not, little more information here if you want to explore further.
PHP is a popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development. Its fast, flexible, and practical, PHP powers everything from blogs to the most popular websites in the world like Wikipedia.
At the beginning of April, all we hoped for was things to return to “normal”. Our personal and work-lives were completely displaced and we were introduced to a new way of living as our home and work life began to merge into one. Now, as things are now beginning to wind down and we’re allowed to step back into the office it almost seems impossible to just snap back into our former normalcy.
I find it prudent to precede this article with a bit of a disclaimer. This is very much an opinion piece and the opinion of the author is heavily weighted against the practices described.
In a previous piece, I touched on the subject of patience in the job application process. I opined that patience is not something that today’s society-at-large is blessed with. Again, information, money and, yes - jobs, are never more than a couple of clicks away and, as a result, we’re all guilty of being impatient and/or lazy.
With the recent restrictions, lockdowns, and a lack of simple stimulation from everyday activities, many of us have been confined to our homes. Unemployment has risen and economic uncertainty is looming, but let’s park these scary thoughts just for a moment. By staying athome, many of us have been handed a surplus of time, one of the most valuable commoditiesthere is. Through eLearning, this time can be converted into opportunity.
Our interview series definitely felt the impact of the pandemic, but here’s the next one with one of Ireland’s best! Our Director Michael Lantry interviewed the Head of People and Operations at Strata3- Shona Healy, to learn about the companies core values, their people-centric environment, their growth plans and how quickly the company adpated to these unprecedented times. They are Ireland’s largest independent digital strategy, innovation and performance agency, you can now read their whole story below.
We decided to host a Round Table with a few HR leaders within the industry. Using this platform they were able to share their challenges and develop solutions to the same in a collaborative envirnoment. Some great insights was gathered from this session that can be benefical to the others in the industry. Below we’ve attached a graphic capturing all the key points from the conversation, have a look.
.NET is an open source developer platform used for building many different types of applications.Microsoft started to develop the .NET Framework in the late 1990’s with the first version beingreleased in February 2002, bringing managed code to Windows NT 4.0, 98, 2000, ME and XP. Since the first version, Microsoft has released nine more upgrades for .NET Framework, seven of which have been released along with a new version of Visual Studio. So we have .NET 1.0 through to .NET 4.8.
You will often here job titles like Data Engineer, Data Analyst, and Data Scientist when people are talking about Data Science. Data Science is one of the fast-growing fields that is reshaping the world we live in. The application of Data Science is vast and powerful. Companies use data to run and grow their everyday business. Data Science has a vital role in helping these companies to make decisions to progress in this competitive market.
The process of looking for, interviewing, and hiring new employees has probably been altered to a great extent with the onset of COVID-19. There were some who were hired even during the lockdown, and now that we see restrictions being lifted, there are more jobs going live. This means companies are on the lookout for new talent.
Just a couple of weeks ago, held a webinar on the subject, featuring highly reputed industry professionals, advising on how you can present your best self to the job market. Consider this post then, a sort of companion piece. Volume two, if you will, in a string of PSAs that may just guide you to your next role.
In the last few months, people around the world have endured different kinds of stress. People have been impacted physically, mentally, and economically.
Cyber Security protects our devices and networks from harmful attacks. As our dependence on technology grows, our vulnerability to these cyber attacks becomes increasingly dangerous. Most of us now store personal information on our mobile phone or laptop, such as bank details or healthcare records. If this sensitive information is not secured, hackers can gain access to it remotely at our expense.
Project Management is a massive area within almost any company or industry within today’s world. Be it on a construction site managing the build of a new hotel or in a tech startup creating the latest analytics tool - in order for a project to be completed, you first need a Project Manager.
This survey was conducted from February 2020 to March 2020, just before the COVID-19 outbreak in Ireland which created a huge shift in the market. However, there are many valuable learning points to takeaway from this analysis.
According to multiple sources, the Java programming language has been the most popular language since it was created in 1995. The language was created by James Gosling. Java is widely used in the software world and it is expressly created for the world of the internet. It facilitates computers talking to each other. Java was designed to be like the C++ programming language, but compared to C++ it is an easier language to use and operate, and it implements an object-oriented programming model. Java can be used to build software applications to run on a single computer or be distributed among servers and clients.
The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) involves several distinct stages, including planning, design, building, testing, and deployment. A Software QA looks at the testing phase. A software quality assurance engineer is someone who monitors every phase of the software development process to ensure the quality of the software. They make sure that it meets the standards of the company which would be stated beforehand as the requirements
specifications. They make sure that the new products work before being released to the public. If there are any bugs they are reported and sent back a phase until it is ready to be moved to the release stage. The basic goals of software tests are to eliminate bugs and to enhance various aspects of the software, such as performance, user experience, security, and so on.
The job market has suffered a great deal due to the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, there are many finding it tough to make a switch or even find a suitable job opportunity. In light of this tough situation, we decided to put together a webinar around building and improving your professional profile. The webinar was broken down into 4 parts that concentrated on 4 areas that are important to ensure that you are ready for your next opportunity.
Over the last few weeks I had the pleasure of talking to a number of really talented individuals who are looking to change careers into a more creative field. After some research, many have come across UX/UI Design and realised that THIS is what they want to do when they “grow up”. For those who do not know, UX or ‘User experience’ and UI or ‘User interface’ design, is design that takes place for a digital medium. You can be a UX designer, UI designer, or both, however it is important to understand that they are two different disciplines.
The job industry has suffered a great deal as an impact of COVID-19. Here’s a chance to prepare if you’re looking for your next opportunity. Listen to the insights and tips from Ed McDermott, Mark Valentine, Michael Lantry and Robert Hourie on how to build a strong profile.
An area as we mentioned earlier, that is feeling the impact of the current restrictions is the onboarding of a new candidate into the company and team. It’s always easier for a new person to settle into a company when they’re able to interact with their team members and are able to learn their way around the company. But in these trying times, it’s time to adapt!
Covid-19 has brought about big changes to all of our day-to-day activities. An area that has specifically experienced a significant impact is the working conditions in all companies due to the need for social distancing. As a part of this measure, the process of hiring and on-boarding of new candidates has taken a significant hit.
How are you keeping your future hires content and warm during these testing times?
Nailing video interviews is important now more than ever. With social distancing being one of the key factors in flighting the Covid-19 outbreak, all interviews are now taking place virtually.
Staying true to our words here’s the next interview we promised. Our Director Michael Lantry sat down with Uptick Labs’ General Manager for Ireland, John O’Connell to gain a better picture on their product.
The tech industry is booming and there are constantly growing opportunities, but the available talent is scarce in comparison to the demand levels, this essentially makes it a candidate driven market in Ireland.
Our Director Michael Lantry recently sat down with the CEO of area22, Kenneth Jackson to gain a better understanding of their product and their functions. “We are pioneering the provision of personality for virtual assistants that help them become more capable and actually engaging as well for the end audience”. Learn more below on how their product will revolutionise the way we interact with our virtual assistants, certainly a new and interesting space to be working in!
As we’re moving towards the new year that’s filled with opportunities and new beginnings there’s probably many people out there looking to move jobs or even countries for a fresh new challenge and start. We’ve all heard about the ever growing IT market in Ireland and the number of jobs being created in 2020 alone, so Ireland could be a good place to start.
Recruitment agencies are growing in number and there’s a reason for this rapid increase in popularity. More companies are realising the benefits of having an agency on their side to help deliver on their talent needs. Recruitment agencies help improve the efficiency of your company’s functions in more than one way as they essentially take away a huge chunk of time-consuming activities from your company’s schedule such as identifying, screening and delivering strong candidates, by studying the company functions and culture. They help you as a company scale up quickly and efficiently to ultimately reach your business goals.
One of the main reasons that start-ups are becoming popular today is due to the fact that it gave young entrepreneurs and innovators in the market a chance to work on their ideas and turn them into reality. They are a product of an existing gap in the market that people have been able to develop smart solutions. The article published by Silicon Republic highlights the consistent growth of startups in the tech industry and the potential job creation as a result of this growth. Even though many are in favour of startups, an element of risk always exists in comparison to well established corporate firms. Maybe the points listed below will help build your confidence when it comes to taking a chance with a startup company.
Can you pinpoint the exact moment when you realised you needed a fresh start in terms of your work life? Are you able to determine the factors and circumstances that lead to this decision? It’s never just a single reason that leads to this moment. It usually is a mix of different elements, piling up over a period of time, that made you realise it’s time to start the next chapter.
Employee experience is defined as an employee’s observations and perceptions regarding their time in an organisation. It is a three-fold concept which consists of the company’s culture, the physical environment within which they work and the technological factors that enable them to grow and develop their skills. Employee experience is more than just a buzzword, its the secret to a successful organisation.
Owning the freedom to pick a job from two different offers is difficult often rather than an easy task. It is lovely to have the option until you’ve to make a final call. No matter how great your final pick sounds, you might always feel like you’re losing out on the declined offer in some way or the other.
Networking is more than a buzzword in today’s industry. Networking is about establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with people. It’s a two-way street, if you open doors for others and deliver good opportunities in return you’ll reap its benefits. We all understand the importance of networking, however many situations we face it might not seem like the easiest task and sometimes it is just downright awkward. Understandably at some point, we all have experienced those nerves that hold us back from going up to someone and starting a conversation or connecting with them through social channels, but this is a barrier we all need to break in order to gain a positive outcome.
We have heard time and again that there’s a war for talent since the market at this very moment is candidate driven. With the growing job opportunities, the need to find ideal candidates is becoming more prominent. Every good candidate in the market now is faced with a number of choices career-wise. It is only by developing a unique recognition in the market would you be able to stand out from the crowd. Developing this unique identification can be termed as employer branding.
Technology and times are evolving and with it, the work culture should evolve as well. Back in the day where we did not have the pleasure of video call and constant access to the internet, there was a prominent communication barrier for people who were working from home. But now we live in a day and age where we are always connected to our team and work. With the development of IoT (Internet of things) and fairly large access to WiFi, communication has become more free-flowing. People are able to communicate with their team onsite from the comfort of their home and work in collaboration. IoT is growing in popularity and that is going to pave a stronger path for remote options for employees.
Are we facing a housing crisis at this moment in Ireland? Yes, there are difficulties experienced across the country but there are valid reasons to explain the sudden spike and recently there have been measures taken to counter this.
If you’re in the market and looking to hire new talent to help your company expand and grow, you now know that it is a candidate-driven market and the demand for talent is at its highest. You blink and you could be losing out on valuable resources. There is a war for talent and you need to act quick. All employers out there need to realise there are competitors or more attractive industries who could compromise your chances of grabbing the attention of your prospective candidates.
Let’s talk about recruitment agencies and why people immediately deflect from the idea of working with them. It’s a few bad fish that give everyone a bad name, but there are some of us out there giving it our best because only a happy candidate and a happy client, keeps us happy. We’re out here working day-in and day-out trying to match the ideal candidate with their ideal company in this candidate driven market.
Voice recognition and voice assistants are growing and are slowly becoming a part of everyone’s daily lifestyle. Trying to recall the age where we Siri, Alexa or Google wasn’t a part of our life seems tough. As more and more devices go online with the expansion of IoT, voice is becoming a key interface as it is an easier and more consistent form of interaction with devices. The voice and speech recognition market is predicted to grow from $1.1 billion from 2017 to $6.9 billion in 2025. This steady growth can be attributed to the ever-developing AI industry that acts as the backbone of the voice and speech recognition technology.
It’s a new threat everyday and personal data is always at risk, security around personal information should be the priority of all businesses. Cybersecurity has gained significant attention in today’s world with all companies taking all their businesses digital. It involves technologies, processes and practices designed to protect computers, networks, programs and data from unauthorized access.
Customer experience has been making its rounds as one of the most crucial factors for a business to thrive. Something that is gaining equal significance in the market now would be the factor of employee experience. A relatively new concept that has created a buzz within the industry and brought about a few changes in the everyday work environment. If employee experience hasn’t yet gained momentum within your organisation, maybe it’s time it gains a little attention.
We recently conducted a survey towards the end of 2018 to try and gain a better understanding regarding the factors contributing to a lower employee retention rate that might exist with different companies. We reached out to people working in the Irish Market to attain proper feedback in relation their personal opinions concerning the reasons why they would be quick to switch jobs. All the responses received supported our inital analysis, but a few distinctive trends were also drawn that helped us understand, what steps the company would have to take in order to go the extra mile for their employees. The entire process of scouting, screening and hiring new employees results in higher levels of expenditure for company. So, we tried to zero down and pin down the major factors that can contribute to this expense. Below a we have depicted the trends along with our own insights into countering these issues.
The new year brings about many changes and one of them tends to be a change in jobs. A recent market research conducted by us indicated that even though a large portion of people are happy with their job situation, a majority of them were still willing to switch up if the right opportunity presented itself. If you are in two minds and looking for a new start, we at GemPool have a few roles we’re looking to fill for our clients. We work across 17 different verticals in the tech industry and if you are looking, maybe we have a role that suits your area of expertise. Have a look through a few of the roles we are currently scouting for. If any of these interest you and you fit the profile, get in touch with us!
As we approach the end of yet another wonderful year, everyone is gearing up to make those new resolutions and bringing about big changes. A new year marks new beginnings, and new jobs come calling. Looking for a change on the work front is definitely a popular opinion amongst people as well. But, there are always a few factors that need to be taken into consideration before making drastic changes.
Salaries always sit at the centre of all job-related decisions, but should never be the sole dictating element. Don’t get us wrong, the numbers are important, but there are other significant factors that play an equally important role in ensuring job satisfaction. We’re going to go through these factors that should be given a proper thought while making life -changing decisions.
Last weekend was a great one! Apart from the bank holiday weekend and the spirit of Halloween, GemPool crossed the awaited 20,000 LinkedIn followers mark. We’re excited, we’re thrilled and lets just say we went all out to celebrate (There was a lot of cake as usual).
You could be the best candidate out of the pile of applications and one wrong step from your end could change the course of your chances at bagging the job. We have had candidates that meet the job description to the mark and a slip up from them during their first interaction with the interviewer cost them a wonderful opportunity. From the direct feedback we have collected so far we are going to try and prep you for your next shot at an interview.
Salary is always a sensitive topic at the end of every interview, but a key element in any job negotiation. If you are shifting countries, switching companies or new to the work environment having prior salary knowledge regarding the expected salary for what you bring to the table will provide better perspective and ensure you are not being underpaid. You are putting in the effort, you should be fairly rewarded.
Ireland, as mentioned in our earlier blogs, is booming with employment opportunities and the IT sector is one of the larger contributors to the growth. This growth makes Ireland more attractive to candidates from different locations and we are looking at talent pouring in from different places. Relocating to Ireland is exciting and a fresh start is wonderful, so we are going to go through a few things on the cost perspective to best prepare you for this move.
Straight out of college, with a degree in hand, all you’re looking for is the right fit. It’s the vicious circle of signing up to 20 different job listing sites, hoping to find one right match. It takes time, it’s overwhelming and it’s never a simple process. Also, you’re drowning in the ever-growing talent pool and the competition that exists today is unmeasurable.
But the good news is that you’re not alone and we’re here to make this slightly easier on you.
The jobs scenario in Ireland has been thriving since 2017. The available job opportunities have only been flourishing and according to the article from the Irish Times by 2019, the Irish economy could be potentially looking to achieve full employment. One of the key industries that is contributing to this growth and which is creating a pool of jobs is the tech industry. If you’re an IT professional and located in Ireland, your future looks pretty promising.
Social recruiting is booming as a trend in today’s environment as a substantial level of employers indicate that quantity and quality of applications they receive through social channels are high. According to Undercover recruiter, 79% of job seekers are scanning through social media for job opportunities. Looking for job opportunities or looking for job seekers, social platforms are increasingly growing as a popular go-to option.
Most people think September-October or during the first half of the year is the best time to look for a new job. This is often a misconception and you could miss out on some great opportunities.
So, why should you consider looking for a job during summer?
On Friday 6th July GemPool participated in the ‘Techies4TempleStreet’ event, a treasure hunt aimed to raise money for sick children treated by the Temple Street Hospital in Dublin. This super event is in its 4th year and had over 1500 techies taking part. The event started at lunchtime in the Aviva Stadium. Following a touching presentation from the Temple Street Foundation CEO, our team was even more motivated to crack the treasure hunt in record time!
If you have secured more than one job offer, its brilliant news but also presents a challenge. How do you decide which offer is the best for you? What criteria should be driving your decision?
In 99% of interviews, you will be given the opportunity to ask questions. This is an opportunity to gain more insight into the role and the company, amongst other things. Also, this is a key part in terms of showing
your own interest in the position. Not asking anything is seen as a red flag by most.
We are working with a wolrd leading multi national who are looking to add contractors to numerous Network teams including deployment and Operartions. Below is a little more detal on the type of skillset we are looking for. If you would be interested please email robert.hourie@gempool.ie.
As the technological market is now booming it is even more common that international companies are hiring candidates from everywhere in Europe, and beyond. Having a willingness to attract talent from anywhere in the world is crucial in giving companies a competitive edge. The global war on talent is real and you may find yourself being asked to relocate to another country with the company you already work for, or you might find yourself attracted to a great opportunity in another country. This relocation can be quite a daunting thing. What is the best way to prepare to ensure that the experience is a positive one?
Being creative when writing a CV is one of the most debated issues in recruitment. People often wonder if being creative with a CV may work in their favour or if it cripples their job opportunities.
Working abroad is one of the most desired life-changing challenges. This decision can completely change your life and career path. According to a recent Monster poll, 48% of respondents would leave the U.S. to pursue their dream job—and 31% of those respondents would move across the world for it.
What should you consider before making your decision and moving abroad?
In today’s business climate, it is common to come across job descriptions that have requirements of both practical experience and academic qualifications. Despite this, what hiring managers value more is left unclear. What is more important? How can we better leverage both features as an advantage?
Big Data Analytics is used by many global companies to understand people’s behaviors; Amazon and Ebay are notable examples. Through web attitudes and habits, these e-commerce driven businesses are able to obtain information on what people search online. For example following a search for a product on Google, you might find the same product appearing magically on your Amazon homepage later. This is not magic however; it is personalized target marketing through Big Data Analytics.
Leaving your country to start a new life abroad is a difficult choice to make. I would like to share my personal experience, especially to those who are hesitant or undecided as to whether they should take a job opportunity in a new country.
In late 2017, on my thirtieth birthday, my girlfriend got me a gift for my new hobby. I must say she has always supported me in my crazy obsessions and hobbies. In this case the obsession started a few months prior after coming across a First Person View (FPV) Drone freestyle video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPncw2vhiMg
In early 2010’s FPV drone racing and aerial photography drones began to be more accessible to the larger populace. This was due, in part, to the components beginning to become more affordable and the spread of toy drones. From these toy drones, new RC enthusiast’s began to experiment and joined RC veterans in the world of FPV.
Artificial Intelligence - Taking or Creating Jobs?
The diffusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to significantly influence
human life over the next decade, but to what extent will it replace the humans
it seeks to help? Humans often look to the future in a linear fashion, perhaps
unaware of the exponential change that technology will bring. Here at GemPool,
we’ve seen the market edge closer and closer towards a more mature AI focused
industry in Ireland, with the potential for exponential growth. The question
has arisen as to whether humans and robots can co-exist in our current working
environment. Will AI make human labour redundant? If so, what jobs are at risk?
Furthermore, what jobs will be created?
truly become a global tech hub and, with the industry thriving, 2018 is set to
be another exciting year within the ICT sector in Ireland. As a recruiter in
this industry, I just don’t understand why I spend most of my days speaking to
men. Each day I source for developers
and each day I ask myself the same question, where are all the women? At GemPool, we cover so many areas within the ICT sector and each area
does vary in terms of the woman to man ratio. However, after sourcing for
developers for over 5 months now, I can count how many women I’ve spoken to on
one hand.
At GemPool your right to privacy is paramount. We commit to following all principles and guidelines outlined by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) effective May 25th 2018.
The GDPR is designed to protect individuals and their personal data. As part of the GDPR we seek consent for all data we collect, collected only to enable the recruitment process.
Please review this policy before agreeing that we can process your data.
Short article aimed at those planning on joining a tech start-up. This article highlights 3 key questions you should be asking during the interview process.
