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Redundancies provisions relating to temp lay-offs and short-time work have been extended until November 30th. This could mean that workers who were laid off since March will be denied their right to invoke redundancy. So if you take a job in the meantime you could lose out on redundancy payments if you take on another job. For some workers this could be a massive loss – imagine working over 10 years in a business or organisation and giving that up?Some workers feel they would be better off staying unemployed until November and getting what they deserve, as it’s unclear whether a laid-off worker, who cannot afford to wait to be re-hired takes on another job, loses his/her entitlement to redundancy lump sum payments from their original employer. Many of which may have built up many years of service.Under the Redundancy Payments Act 1967, an employee who is laid off normally has the right to demand redundancy if the employer is unable to guarantee work within a certain period but recent amendments have changed this.Minister Humphreys, Minister for Social Protection said in the announcement yesterday that measures are aimed at protecting businesses and preventing permanent job losses. She acknowledged that the decision will be met with competing views, but added that it is necessary in order to protect businesses and prevent permanent job losses.Commenting on the decision by Cabinet to agree to a further extension until 30th November, Minister Humphreys said:“First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the impact Covid-19 has had on businesses, many of whom have been forced to close, as well as employees who have been temporarily laid off. “Today’s decision to extend these provisions was a difficult one. But in making this decision, we had to consider the need to ensure businesses survive and that permanent job losses are avoided as much as possible.“I know many employees who have been laid off are experiencing great uncertainty. It’s important to note that the right to claim redundancy has not been permanently removed. Employees who remain on lay-off or short-time work for the requisite period when this emergency measure expires will be entitled to exercise their right to claim redundancy from their employer.“Whether you’re an employer or an employee, we are all in this together. As a Government, we will continue to listen to all stakeholders as part of our combined efforts aimed at suppressing this virus.”The suspension of the redundancy provisions was brought into effect from 13th March 2020 under Part 8 of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Act 2020 in order to ensure the future viability of businesses and help prevent further permanent job losses.It is considered that an extension of the end-date continues to be important for employees to ensure that they have a continued link to their job and a pathway to return. For employers, many still regard their businesses as being temporarily closed or they are operating well below their capacity.Minister Humphreys continues to believe that extending the end date further will help prevent redundancies at a time when the labour force as a whole is facing a significant challenge with some 210,000 people in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment and a further 32,200 employers have registered with Revenue for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme in respect of their employees.Additional redundancies would expose businesses to further debt at a time when they are facing considerable trading difficulties and have a serious impact on the potential for a business to recover.The further extension until 30th November is necessary to continue to mitigate against the risk of insolvency and bankruptcy situations and further job losses, and will contribute to the viability of business.Minister Humphreys reminded workers that this extension only affects redundancy payments by delaying the date to 30th November, when an employee can trigger a redundancy if they have been laid-off or put on short-time work for a period. All other redundancy provisions remain unchanged and in force. If an employer is going to make an employee redundant, protections such as notice periods for redundancy and the payment of a redundancy lump-sum to the affected employee still apply and the existing suite of employment rights legislation remains in place.If employees believe their employment rights have been breached the Workplace Relations Commission remains fully operational and can provide advice to employees on how to obtain redress where appropriate.For more announcements like this head over to gov.ie or for jobs check out www.jobalert.ie

Redundancy Rights further extended, leaving some workers in limbo

<h2>Do you run childminding services from your own home?</h2>Check out the Childminder Development Grant, it provides up to €1,000 to assist childminders to enhance the quality and safety of the valuable service your provide through the purchase of small capital items such as equipment, toys or minor adaptation costs. The grant is also available to new or prospective childminders with their initial set-up costs.In addition to the Childminder Development Grant, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs this year also approved reopening grants to both childminders and centre-based services, to assist with the additional costs of reopening during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government are also finalising a Childminding Action Plan that will set out plans for bespoke training, regulations and supports. We can help you to find childminding practitioners, for more information click <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/employers" target="_blank">HERE</a> or of course if you are looking for a childminding opportunity search for roles <a href="www.jobalert.ie" target="_blank">HERE</a>Setting up a Childminding ServiceHere&#x27;s some points to review if you are thinking of setting up your own childminding service;Scope out the hours of ServiceDecide how you want to run your Childminding service, full-time or part-time? Research ratesWhat will your rates be? A good place to start is by carrying out some research into the going rates in your area.Plan out adaptions that you may need to make to your homeGet your home ready – Child proof the house and make sure you have enough toys and equipment!Registering your Business?Find out if you should register with, Tusla or if you can notify your local Childcare Committee.You must register with Revenue as self-employed within a year of starting.Garda VettingYou must get Garda Vetting as a Childminder. Parents of course will expect it and evidence of Garda Vetting for Childminding is a mandatory requirement for registration with Tusla.InsuranceMake sure you have appropriate insurance.AdvertisingPrepare simple advertising – you can advertise on Childminding websites or put a small ad in local shops, toddler groups or on Facebook. But remember, word of mouth often works best!Parent AgreementsDevelop a working agreement to use with parents. It will help to clarify arrangements so that everything runs smoothly.You can use your working agreement to discuss the care needed and your approach to managing your service. Maybe you could also allow some pre visits to ensure that the child will settle in.Best of luck and for further information check out the regulations in relation to pre-school childcare services <a href="https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/pre_school_education_and_childcare/health_safety_and_welfare_of_preschool_childcare_services.html#:~:text=A%20childminder%20can%20care%20for,in%20the%20minder&#x27;s%20own%20home." target="_blank">HERE</a>

Up to €1,000 grant to assist Childminders operating from their own homes?

<h2>As the first round of this year&#x27;s CAO college offers to students are issued online today, we look at the next steps with a simple Q &amp; A</h2> What do I do after I receive an offer?If you’re happy, you should accept this offer online before the closing date specified. Make sure to check that the information contained in the Offer Notification is correct and inform CAO of any incorrect or omitted information as soon as possible.You may be given an offer off both your Level 8 and Level 7/6 list on one offer round but you must choose between them and only accept one offer. What happens after I accept an offer?You will receive an email from the CAO and the college will then contact you about registration. Whether you accept your offer or not, it will not prevent you from receiving an offer on a course that’s higher up your CAO list, if you are deemed eligible in a later round. The advice from the CAO is to treat your current offer as if it’s the only offer you might receive. However, it&#x27;s important to remember when you do this, you will no longer have access to courses lower down on your list. Be careful not to miss the deadline for accepting the offer, as it will be offered to someone else if you don’t accept it. The acceptance date for Round One is Wednesday, September 16, at 3pm.After you accept the offer online you will receive an acknowledgement e-mail and you can check that your acceptance has been recorded online at www.cao.ie Can I apply to defer my offer?There&#x27;s been a lot of speculation that some students may consider deferring, due to the current situation with Covid-19 restrictions. You can request to defer your place by contacting the admissions office of the college in writing or by e-mail. You must give your name as it appears on your CAO application, quote your CAO application number and the course code of the offer you wish to defer, you should also outline your reasons for requesting to defer. In the subject line type DEFERRED ENTRY or write this clearly on the envelope if writing to the college. You will need to do this immediately, don&#x27;t accept your offer yet if you wish to defer. The college will communicate their decision to you. If it’s not granted you may still accept the offer for the current year provided you record the acceptance on line by the reply date.What happens if I am not happy with the offer I received and don&#x27;t wish to accept it?If you don’t won’t to accept the course you have been offered, you don&#x27;t need to do anything. Your name will remain on the waiting list for any courses higher up in your preferences.What should else should I prepare for after I accept my offer?The next challenge will be to figure out how you will commute to your college and if you need accommodation you will need to start looking at the options. A lot of colleges have decided to present courses on line this year or at least some modules on line, but further clarity will be required for each course. Check out the College website as I&#x27;m sure they will upload further information. What happens if I do not receive an offer?This can be really disappointing, but it’s still possible that you may get an offer in the next rounds. The CAO also release and continuously update the &#x27;Available Places&#x27; list for unfilled places on courses, so you can check this out on the CAO website.You could also consider doing Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) course, many of which can help you to enter college next year. I did not get an offer, and I am not happy with my Leaving Cert calculated grades, what should I do?Appeals for Leaving Cert calculated grades open on Monday, September 14. You will be able to begin an appeal via the Calculated Grades Student Portal from 9am. At this stage you will also gain access to the estimated grades determined by your school. From this, you will be able to fairly assess if you were downgraded, or upgraded, during the process. It is important to point out that you will not have access to your individual class ranking, the Department of Education have decided not to disclose this information.If there’s a major discrepancy between the grade your school estimated for you and the calculated grade you received, you should consider an appeal. The appeals process is strictly confined to checking if your information was inputted, transferred across, processed, and downloaded correctly. It will not cover how your school determined your estimated marks. Appeals will be accepted until September 16th. What happens if my appeal is successful and I get higher points?The Department of Education is aiming to have the checks done within the normal timeframe for appeals. If your appeal is successful and you may receive an upgraded offer in later rounds. There’s nothing guaranteed at this stage as it will depend on a number of factors, such as the number of appeals received, the courses being applied, the number of people who defer etc. What can I do if I am unhappy with the outcome of my appeal?You can seek a review by the Independent Appeal Scrutineers. Again, this will be confined to checking that information was processed correctly. Students who are successful here will receive a deferred offer to start their course next year. Students also can sit the exams when they are held, which are now planned in November. However, students who sit these exams will not be able to apply to the CAO until next year. You will also have recourse to the Office of the Ombudsman, or the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, if you are under 18.  More information on the CAO system and contact details can be found <a href="http://www.cao.ie/" target="_blank">HERE</a>

CAO Offers - Simple Q & A

A Bachelor’s Degree can earn you 81% More

Well if 2020 thought us one thing, it was that we can achieve amazing things and adapt to change really quickly when we have to. Never was this truer than in the case of flexible working, when thousands of workers were forced to work from home during lockdown.  Of course it’s not possible for all roles, but if you could do your job at home, would you like to keep the ‘remote working’ option? It may well be on the cards for many people as companies realise the massive real estate and general overhead savings involved. Take for example the news that Google are not proceeding with original plans to rent a massive office in Dublin city, obviously they don’t feel that they need office space for over 2000 workers going forward with everything that’s happened over the past six months. The reality is that businesses have also copped on that workers are more productive while working remotely. So it’s a win, win situation all round.<h2>Resistance to change</h2>Covid-19 lockdown pushed a lot of organisations into working remotely, some were ready for it making the transition easy enough, but for others it sent shock waves down the spines of management as they ventured into a whole new way of working. We all know the type of businesses or business managers that have been rejecting flexible remote working for years. They somehow feel that employee contribution can be measured by getting in early and leaving late. They like to call random meetings and have quick chats face to face to get updates. They may lack the technical skills to embrace modern day technologies and are just not comfortable using video conferencing or collaboration platforms like Slack, Zoom or Skype. They may have trust issues. Hopefully Covid-19 changes will have dragged them into the 21st Century, albeit reluctantly, but at least they will have had the opportunity to experience a new way, learned new skills and gained some confidence that will change the old way of doing things.<h2>What to consider</h2>Remote working won’t be for everyone, even if it is possible. Some people miss the social aspects of being in the office, working in a team. Video calls and online group chats can’t replace the office craic and the camaraderie. Culturally it’s a big shift.Right now as it’s temporary, a lot of people may not have the most professional set up at home to continue remote working on a long term basis. Space could be an issue, particularly if they share the home with flatmates who are also working from home. For families the reality this year is that college students could well be receiving lectures remotely also. So will everyone have to work from their bedrooms? Working from the kitchen table with kids passing by may not be ideal either. Security and data protection could also be a major issue never mind the background noise, procedures and policies will have to be amended and further training will be required. For a more permanent arrangement to be successful professional headsets, comfortable chairs, desks, monitors, lighting and faster internet will also be a necessity. Remote working doesn&#x27;t always mean that you have to work from your home, some workers may also decide to work at a local shared workspace or co-working environment sparing themselves the long commute to their business office but at the same time it provides them with a nice place to work where they can use all the facilities that modern co-working spaces have to offer.So, as a lot of companies embrace this new way of working during these strange times, some business owners and leaders may find it difficult to continue with remote working for the long term, even if you’re happy to remain working remotely. What can you do about this situation? Be prepared to make your case and ask for a more permanent arrangement. The following steps will help you to persuade even the most skeptical boss. <h2>How to ask to remain or begin working remotely</h2>Document successMake a list of the benefits of remote working for the company. You want to clearly show how successful it was during lockdown. You could explain that because you didn’t have to commute to and from work, you were able to work a little longer on the busy days. So, while it was also more convenient that you didn’t have to commute, the company also gained. You could explain that you were less tired and therefore you were able to give 110% to every task that you had to do. Were you able to focus more on projects because you had less disruptions? You could show how you were able to complete tasks more quickly. By presenting this information, you can show how productivity was higher.ResearchLook at other organisations in your field. Do they have remote working and flexible arrangements with their employees? Check out how it’s working for them. Put a document together outlining how you think it will work going forward and by providing examples, you can show how common remote working actually is, how it works for competitors and how it could work in your organisation.Meet half wayBe willing to accept a mutually acceptable arrangement. For example maybe there is an option to work one or two days remotely and the balance at the office or maybe your employer could agree to extending a trial run, with an official review after a set period of time.StatisticsYou don’t want to overload them with too many statistics, but it might be beneficial for them to hear some facts, encouraging them to get onboard the flexible remote working trend.-       70% of global employees work remotely at least one day a week-       50% do so for half the week or more(Source; International Workplace Group)Anticipate barriers, provide solutionsThink about potential challenges and barriers. Research the type of technologies that can be used. By coming up with solutions you will make it easier for your boss to agree.Create a PlanStart with an introduction for example; “I am proposing to work from my home office each Wednesday and Friday, so that I can have interruption free time to work on the following projects. Working from home will save me over 3 hours of travel each way to work and will also enable me to be there when my children return from school (or you may want to explain how your Pet really enjoyed having you around). I will then be able to work later, see full details of my proposed schedule below. This schedule will enable me to meet and exceed all my work responsibilities.” Outline how you expect the arrangement to work. Include your proposed schedule, the days and times that you will work remotely and the days and times that you will be in the office. Provide a summary of how you will communicate with your team and manager and how you will track your work. Include details of the software tools available that will help with project management and remote communication.Roles and responsibilities; List all your job functions and duties and how you will accomplish each of your responsibilities while working remotely.Performance evaluation; suggest how you and your manager will assess your performance while working remotely. This could mean sending a weekly report or email providing updates.Your home office; describe the set up that you have at home. List the equipment, internet speed etc., and list any other equipment or software that you may need.Security; show that you understand the importance of security and that you would be willing to work with the IT Department or Manager to ensure that the security policy is still adhered to while you are working remotely. TimingChoose your timing wisely, it always helps if you bring up a suggestion like this after you have successfully completed a project or when you know that your boss is particularly impressed with your work. Ensure that you make an appointment, don’t just spring the request on them. Suggest that you would like to have a meeting to discuss some ideas about improving your work and how you work. Suggested template to request the meeting;Hi [Your Boss’s Name],I wanted to see if we could schedule a meeting to discuss some ideas I have for improving my work environment and making it more conducive to accomplishing my job responsibilities.In the next two weeks I’m free [insert specific dates and times]. Looking forward to talking with you in more detail.Thanks,[Your name] At the meeting walk your boss through your plan. Ensure that you have rehearsed responses to any objections that you anticipate. Cost Savings &amp; Benefits Outline the cost savings for the company, if there are any. Maybe your desk could be used for another person who is required to work at the office. For some businesses space was becoming a problem for them. You want to assure your boss that working remotely is a good idea not just for you, but for the company so make sure you get the balance right. If you are turned downBe prepared for the fact that they may not want to let employees work remotely or they may not be ready for a long term commitment. If they refuse, be sure to thank them for their time regardless. It’s important that you keep a good working relationship with your employer. If you are adamant that you would like more flexibility and you feel they will never change their minds, maybe it’s time to start looking for an opportunity with an organisation whose culture is more accepting of change. We’ve found some great remote jobs to get you started, see links below, but there are many more opportunities coming on board as the trend grows.Some companies are leading the &#x27;Work from Home&#x27; revolution so could also be worthwhile following, for example Jack Dorsey, the dual CEO of both Twitter and Square, has informed employees at both companies that they can continue working from home “forever&quot;, Facebook also announced that they will allow workers to work from home.Shopify, Coinbase, Upwork, Lambda Schools and others have also permitted their people to work from home, while most have committed to this arrangement for the next year to come, it is envisaged that working from home will become the norm due to the cost savings on real estate and the impact on the environment as less people will have to commute.Shopify announced that they are now a digital by default company. &quot;We will keep our offices closed until 2021 so that we can rework them for this new reality. And after that, most will permanently work remotely. Office centricity is over.&quot;Upwork CEO, Hayden Brown, tweeted “Building on our 20 years of experience as a remote work company, we are now permanently embracing a ‘remote-first’ model.”Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said he’s planning for the future to look different, in light of the coronavirus pandemic. &quot;Over the last two months, I have come to believe that not only is remote work here to stay, but that it represents a huge opportunity and strategic advantage for us.&quot; Employees will still be able to work in an office, but they will now have the option to work remotely or split their time between time working in and out of the office.  Lambda School the online classroom that uses interactive technology to teach people the tech skills have rolled out a permanent “work from anywhere” policy. CEO Allred tweeted that employees are free to work from home, from an office or from anywhere. Google, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, Capital One, Zillow, Slack, Amazon, PayPal, Salesforce and other major companies have extended their work-from-home options, according to the largest human resources organization, SHRM, and other sources. Best of Luck Everyone<h2></h2><h2>Here are some great opportunities that offer Remote Work:</h2><h1><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f54d6a34cb009001d9704a8" target="_blank">Administrative Assistant - Salesforce </a></h1><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f53542f4cb009001d96fe76" target="_blank">UK / European Talent Lead at Cameo</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f53516a4cb009001d96fe68" target="_blank">Senior Product Manager at Cameo</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f5352124cb009001d96fe6a" target="_blank">CRM Manager at Cameo</a> <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f53529c4cb009001d96fe6e" target="_blank">Creative Director at Cameo</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f52b9cf4cb009001d96fb80" target="_blank">Lead Customer Experience Agent, Policy</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f52bbbc4cb009001d96fb86" target="_blank">Sr. Manager, Customer Experience Services EMEA</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f52c0074cb009001d96fb92" target="_blank">Backend Developer, Sketch</a>What these guys say - they care about your wellbeing, so they offer you:<ul><ul><li>Flexibility to organize your own time, no set hours</li><li>As many vacation days as you need</li><li>Whatever training you need to develop in your job</li><li>A powerful laptop</li><li>The option to work anywhere in European/African timezones</li><li>Company equity</li><li>Paid family leave </li><li>Annual meetup</li></ul></ul> <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f5344b44cb009001d96fe17" target="_blank">Data Operations Associate at MURAL</a> <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f5345814cb009001d96fe1c" target="_blank">Head of Product – Growth at MURAL</a> <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f5345fc4cb009001d96fe1e" target="_blank">Product Manager - Platform Enterprise at MURAL</a> <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f5346a54cb009001d96fe24" target="_blank">Senior Product Designer at ClassDojo</a> <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f5347464cb009001d96fe27" target="_blank">Head of Marketing at ClassDojo</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f5348094cb009001d96fe2b" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f5348094cb009001d96fe2b" target="_blank">Executive Assistant to the CEO at ClassDoj</a>o<a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f355ceee7a444001f736381" target="_blank">Customer Experience Agent, Germa</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f5348a04cb009001d96fe2f" target="_blank">Social Engagement Product Manager [Remote] at Bitfinex  </a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f5349174cb009001d96fe31" target="_blank">Mobile App Developer [Remote] at Bitfinex </a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f5349bd4cb009001d96fe34" target="_blank">Front End Developer [Remote]</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f534acb4cb009001d96fe37" target="_blank">Business Developer</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f534c064cb009001d96fe3b" target="_blank">Digital Brand Designer at Klara</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f534c964cb009001d96fe3d" target="_blank">Associate Customer Support Representative</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f534d014cb009001d96fe42" target="_blank">Associate Customer Success Manager</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f534dc64cb009001d96fe47" target="_blank">Community Manager at Grow Remote</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f534ebb4cb009001d96fe51" target="_blank">Senior Vendor Manager (remote)</a><a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/job/5f534fb94cb009001d96fe57" target="_blank">Middle/Senior Developer (remote) </a>

Given the choice would you work remotely forever?

Good luck to everyone who’s waiting for Leaving Cert results tomorrow. It’s been the strangest year ever, but no matter what happens please be assured that you’ll be ok! You have reached an important milestone in your lives, but it’s certainly not the be-all and end-all. There are now so many options available to you, traineeships, apprenticeships and lots of pathways into further education should you not get the points that you were expecting. The most important thing is to choose a course that matches your aptitude and interests, otherwise you risk dropping out early or worse still ending up in a job that you really don’t like.This is the start of a lifelong journey of learning, where you will have the ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances in your life. These are just predictive grades, they don’t define you as a person.Don’t forget if you’re ever looking for work, even part-time we’re here to help – we also have resources to help you to prepare for Interviews. Click<a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog?tag=jobseekers" target="_blank"> here</a> for more information.To receive daily alerts for jobs available in your area create a jobseeker account in just a couple of clicks. Get started <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/create-account/jobseeker" target="_blank">here. </a>

The Very Best of Luck With Your Leaving Cert Results

<h2>Win FREE Student Accommodation in Dublin City Centre for a year - 3 rooms up for grabs at Point Campus</h2><h2></h2><h2>Straight to the point!</h2><h3>The Point Campus want to make next year the best yet for three lucky students.</h3><h3>They&#x27;re now giving you the chance to win 1 of 3 rooms to live completely rent free for the academic year 20/21.</h3><h2>About Point Campus</h2>Make your mark at Dublin’s hottest student accommodation, Point Campus!Located at Point Village in the Docklands area of Dublin City Centre, Point Campus is a place you will want to call home!The accommodation offers students modern, spacious surroundings with great facilities. Residents have the use of a gym, fitness studio, cinema rooms and laundry facilities. In addition large common areas, generous study spaces and rooftop terraces are all incorporated.Rent includes your furnished room with double bed and en-suite. A shared kitchen and living area is also included in each apartment with TV, plus 100MB Wi-Fi and all bills are included!<h1></h1><h1>Spaces</h1>The interior and exterior spaces at Point Campus are designed to help you live well. Communal spaces help you socialise and relax; study zones are ergonomic. Facilities include a gym and fitness studio, cinema, games room and outside courtyards. The finishing touch? Some pretty inspiring views from the rooftop gardens.<h1></h1><h1>Rooms</h1>Bedroom space is carefully calibrated to support both study and relaxation time, with desk areas, double beds and en-suite bathrooms. Classic rooms (Clusters) are centred around their spacious communal kitchen/lounge areas. Studios are self-contained, with their own in-room kitchen and lounge space.<h1></h1>Peace of mindPoint Campus has 24-hour security with CCTV, electronic access control and a member of staff on site at all times. Flexible Booking at Point CampusBook a 40 or 51 week tenancy at Point Campus today, and if your university or higher education institute’s Autumn 2020 term dates are pushed back to a later date, due to COVID-19, Point Campus will credit you for the weeks not required from the start of your tenancy.DON’T WORRY... If you book now, you can still enter! Should you be one of the lucky competition winners, you will get a full refund!No Place, No Pay!If you book a room at Point Campus today, but don’t get the grades or an offer from a Dublin university, and no longer require the room then you won&#x27;t have to pay a cent!.Refer a friendRecommend a friend who goes on to book a room at Point Campus for the September 2020/21 academic year and be eligible for €500 cashback or rental discount.To be eligible for the offer students must contact Host and provide the name and contact information of the person that they are recommending to take a room at Point Campus. This must be done prior to, or at the time of booking.AND NOT FORGETTING... our loyal existing residents. You too could be starting back at university with free accommodation for the year - no costs, no hassle. To enter:<ol><li>Simply complete the entry form</li><li>Receive a confirmation email</li><li>Keep an eye on your emails and winners will be contacted on the 1st of October 2020</li></ol><h2></h2>So complete that entry form by <a href="https://stayatpointcampus.ie/?utm_source=Search&amp;utm_medium=Paid&amp;utm_term=Comp2020&amp;utm_content=Keyword&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuIbBy9jS6wIVk2DmCh3wOANnEAAYAiAAEgJalvD_BwE" target="_blank">CLICKING HERE</a> and think positive thoughts!Read more about the Point Campus <a href="https://pointcampus.ie/" target="_blank">HERE</a>

FREE Student Accommodation up for grabs - Dublin Point Campus

The HSE will be seeking applications for paid roles in testing, swabbing and contact tracing in the coming weeks. HSE urges public to apply for these paid testing and contact tracing roles. The average number of tests carried out per day last week was 12,000 and almost 62,000 tests have been completed across the 46 labs in the last week.Meanwhile, HSE officials have reported that one in four people are not showing up for their Covid-19 appointment, prompting concerns about the risk of spreading the virus.Figures show that around 25% of people who have been given appointments for a Covid-19 test are failing to appear, when people are not availing of their scheduled test it means someone else is losing out.HSE chief operations officer Anne O’Connor said: “On a daily basis you can have 3,000 or 4,000 appointments, so if a quarter of those aren’t turning up that is a significant number of appointments.Figures show that the average number of new positive cases over the past seven days is 120 per day, up from 104 from the previous week.Over 375 HSE corporate staff have been deployed to testing and contact tracing. A significant number of clinical staff were also deployed to take swabs when health services were stood down in the early days of Covid-19. HSE CEO Paul Reid said that the HSE will be seeking applications for paid roles in testing, swabbing and contact tracing in the coming weeks and he has urged the public to apply for these roles as soon as they are advertised.At this morning’s HSE briefing, Reid said that 3,000 tests have been completed among meat plant workers as part of the HSE’s serial testing programme, with a positivity rate of 0.4%.Testing will be expanded to workers in other food processing sectors such as fish and mushrooms, he said. Plans for serial testing in Direct Provision centres, which have seen a number of outbreaks in recent weeks, are “well commenced”.Stay posted, as soon as recruitment opens we’ll share the link.

HSE will be recruiting for testing, swabbing and contact tracing roles

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, and the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Catherine Martin TD have launched the Stay and Spend scheme.Stay and Spend is a tax scheme aimed at consumers to help drive sales in the hospitality sector during the off-season which has been negatively impacted as a result of COVID-19.The scheme will provide a maximum of €125 in income tax credits to tax-payers who spend up to €625 in restaurants, pubs, hotels, B&amp;Bs and other qualifying businesses, from Autumn 2020 through to Spring 2021, including over the Christmas period.The taxpayer can submit receipts via the newly updated and easy-to-use Revenue Receipts Tracker mobile app.Speaking at the launch of the Stay and Spend Scheme, An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said,<blockquote>“This government is determined to support businesses across Ireland which have been adversely impacted by Covid-19. While many sectors have taken a hit, the hospitality industry is undoubtedly one of the worst affected by the public health measures which have had to be imposed to stop the spread of the virus.</blockquote><blockquote>We recognise the strain that restaurant owners, hoteliers, bar and café owners are under and have taken steps to help them through this difficult period. The Stay and Spend scheme will encourage people to go out for a meal or take a staycation and support the Irish hospitality sector by enabling them to claim back 20% of their spend.</blockquote><blockquote>The tourism and hospitality sector is so important in this country; Ireland’s reputation as a prime tourist destination is built on the hard work and dedication of those working in the industry. We need to protect these jobs and businesses and the government has put in a range of supports through the July Stimulus plan and other measures to help them recover from the effects of Covid-19.</blockquote><blockquote>I’m encouraging all eligible businesses to register with Revenue so that they can participate in the scheme next month”.</blockquote>The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe said:<blockquote>“The hospitality sector has been particularly badly hit as a result of the necessary public health restrictions put in place to tackle COVID-19.</blockquote><blockquote>The sector is vital to the Irish economy and accounts for over 10% of the country’s workforce. The purpose of the Stay and Spend scheme is to support this sector.</blockquote><blockquote>This measure is just one part of the Government’s July Jobs Stimulus, which also includes the wage subsidy schemes and the recent reduction in the VAT rate. This new tax credit will provide a much-needed boost to the hospitality sector through the autumn and winter months by encouraging people to spend whether through a staycation or eating out.</blockquote><blockquote>The scheme comes into effect on the 1st of October, but accommodation and food businesses can now register with the Revenue commissioners to participate.</blockquote><blockquote>I am confident that this measure will support the sector as it moves towards recovery.”</blockquote>Also commenting, Minister Catherine Martin welcomed the Stay and Spend Scheme. She said:<blockquote>“The Stay and Spend Scheme will offer a much-needed boost to the tourism sector during the shoulder and off season. To maximise the benefit to the sector, I have asked Fáilte Ireland to commence a national campaign across radio and press next week to inform the general public about the scheme and help them understand how they can avail of the tax credit. Fáilte will also be helping tourism businesses get the message out to potential customers that they have registered for the scheme.”</blockquote>The Stay and Spend Scheme is being supported by Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, who will both promote the scheme to consumers and encourage businesses to register to participate with a national radio and press campaign kicking off on Saturday, 5th September.The Stay and Spend Scheme runs from 1st October to the 30th April.To find out more, and view the list of participating businesses visit www.revenue.ie. You can download the new Revenue Receipts Tracker App in the Apple Store or Google Play Store.Registration to participate in the scheme is now open for tourism accommodation and food and beverage businesses through Revenue’s Online Service, ROS.Summary of Stay and Spend SchemeAt the level of individual taxpayer:<ul><li>Relief on accommodation and food, including soft drinks, but not including alcohol.</li><li>In the case of food, consumption on the premises is required.</li><li>A minimum spend of €25 per person per time/ Maximum spend limit of €625 (VAT inclusive) over life of scheme,</li><li>Refund of 20% of the vouched cost through income tax i.e. maximum tax credit of €125 per person. (For married couples who are jointly assessed, the maximum spend over the life of the scheme will €1,250).</li><li>Where an individual or jointly assessed tax-payer has insufficient income tax liability to fully benefit from the measure, they may still avail of the relief against their USC contributions.</li><li>Operated through downloadable easy-to-use Revenue mobile phone app.</li></ul>At the level of the business:<ul><li>VAT registered provider with current tax clearance.</li></ul>Duration:<ul><li>Scheme will run from 1 October 2020 – 30 April 2021, including over the Christmas period. The expiry date may be altered by order made by the Minister for Finance.</li></ul>Purpose of the schemeThe purpose of the scheme is to incentivise taxpayers to support registered/accredited providers of accommodation and/or food during the off-season, thus providing support to a particularly vulnerable sector.Qualification CriteriaBusinesses: In order to qualify for participation in the scheme, businesses will need to:<ul><li>be registered for VAT,</li><li>have a current tax clearance certificate,</li><li>be accredited/registered with relevant official bodies as appropriate (Fáilte Ireland and the HSE Environmental Health Service),</li><li>register with Revenue to participate, and</li><li>display appropriate signage indicating participation in the scheme.</li></ul>Individual taxpayers: To benefit from the scheme, an individual will need to:<ul><li>register for the scheme by downloading the app and provide his/her name and PPS Number in the course of using the app, and</li><li>have an income tax or USC liability against which the tax credit can be set.</li></ul>Operation of the schemeAn individual taxpayer must spend a minimum of €25 each time on qualifying expenditure (accommodation, food and non-alcoholic drinks) as verified by a receipt from the relevant establishment. The taxpayer will submit the receipt by taking a photograph of same using a mobile phone and submitting same to Revenue using the mobile app. The taxpayer may continue to submit receipts until the cap on expenditure of €625 is reached. Revenue will provide an income tax credit of up to €125 (€625 @20%) per taxpayer (up to €250 in the case of a married couple, jointly assessed) in end of year balancing statement. The taxpayer will get the benefit of the credit in the year after the expenditure is incurred.

Stay and Spend Scheme details to Support the Hospitality Sector

Airbnb are giving remaining Employees options that allow them to temporarily relocate and also flexibility to those who can&#x27;t work right now, if they&#x27;re caring for a family member due to illness or closure of a care facility etc......the move comes after nearly 1,900 employees from a global workforce of over 7,500 were made redundant back in May. 190 staff in Dublin were impacted by the redundancies at its European headquarters in Grand Canal Docks as a result of the massive decline in its online bookings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.At the start of the pandemic, Airbnb like many other businesses closed their offices immediately to protect the health and safety of their employees around the world. The extension to work remotely through to the end of August 2021 was rolled out to remaining staff. They said they are offering the remote working extension to give employees the ability to plan further ahead and make the choices they need around school calendars, being closer to family, caring for vulnerable family members, and other personal decisions. Co-Founder and CEO Brian Chesky, said in his statement last month that the company had been “hit hard” by the sudden downturn in business, with revenue this year forecasted to be less than half of what was made in 2019.He said “We are collectively living through the most harrowing crisis of our lifetime, and as it began to unfold, global travel came to a standstill.” The company raised $2 billion (about €1.8 billion) in capital and “dramatically cut costs” in response to the crisis. With such a difficult situation on his hands Chesky sent a transparent and vulnerable message outlining key protections for affected workers as the redundancies were announced. In the letter he said “For a company like us whose mission is centered around belonging, this is incredibly difficult to confront, and it will be even harder for those who have to leave Airbnb,” he went on to reveal exactly how and why the tough decision was made—which can give workers closure—and laid out the many ways the company was going to help those who’ve been terminated.Among those plans:<ul><li>Every US ex-employee will receive a generous severance of 14 weeks’ base pay, plus an additional week’s salary for every year the staffer has been at the company. Many companies give just a week or two per every year worked with no cushion.</li><li>Every departing US employee, even if they haven’t worked the previous minimum of one year, will have equity in the company.</li><li>The company will cover COBRA costs for 12 months, so every US ex-employee keeps their health insurance for another full year.</li><li>Much of the internal recruiting team will be redirected to help secure new external roles for former workers.</li><li>Terminated staffers can keep their company-issued laptops because “a computer is an important tool to find new work.”</li></ul>Besides those truly supportive actions, Brian shared poignant final words to those who were let go:“I am truly sorry. Please know this is not your fault. The world will never stop seeking the qualities and talents that you brought to Airbnb…that helped make Airbnb. I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for sharing them with us.” <a href="https://news.airbnb.com/work-from-anywhere-how-airbnb-guests-are-approaching-remote-working/" target="_blank">Source</a>

Temporary relocation and flexible options allowed for Airbnb Employees

Hickeys, one of the largest pharmacy chains in the Republic of Ireland who opened its first outlet in the Northside Shopping Centre in Dublin in 1995 are set to be taken over by Uniphar. Uniphar already operates 229 pharmacies across the country under the Allcare and Life brands and 36 Hickey&#x27;s pharmacies will bring that number to 335.The company&#x27;s revenue rose by 8.8 per cent in the first half of 2020, bringing it to €871.3 million. Pre-tax profit was also 9 per cent higher (€16.4 million).“We have delivered a strong set of results for H1 2020 in a difficult operating environment, achieving gross profit growth across all our divisions and 5 per cent organic gross profit growth at a group level, while maintaining a strong liquidity and net cash position at the end of the period,” said chief executive Ger Rabbitte. “Our investment in digital solutions combined with diversity in our product and services lines has helped mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on our business and positions us well into the future.”Hickeys which has outlets in Dublin, Cork, Meath, Louth, Kildare and Wexford will continue to trade under the Hickeys brand if the Uniphar deal is completed. The group recorded revenues of €27.2 million for the year ending February 28th, 2019, this included a profit of €2.4 million.Hickeys are currently hiring Pharmacy Healthcare Advisors, Support Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Store Manager and Relief Workers.Dublin;Support Pharmacist – O’Connell StreetSupervising Pharmacist, Henry Street, Dublin City CentrePharmacy Healthcare Advisor - CappaghPharmacy Healthcare Advisor – PhibsboroPharmacy Technician - PhibsboroSupport Pharmacist, OngarPharmacy Technician - OngarPharmacy Healthcare Advisor - NeilstownPharmacy Healthcare Advisor - TyrrelstownRelief Pharmacist – South Dublin Kildare:Pharmacy Healthcare Advisor - Maynooth Meath:Pharmacy Technician - NavanPharmacy Store Manager - Navan Shopping CentrePharmacy Healthcare Advisor - Johnstown, Co. Meath For more information on all these roles <a href="https://www.hickeyspharmacies.ie/current-vacancies/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE </a>

Hickeys pharmacy chain set to be taken over by Uniphar.  

Info on Calculated Grades & 1,250 additional college places announced

Why is this question asked? To determine if you will be a good fit for the company - and to discover if you will add value to the team. We demonstrate this in our interview answer by making it clear to the interviewer that our values and goals are similar to the hiring companies.In addition, this research exercise will only increase your chance of landing the job. Extensive knowledge of the company and the job you’re applying for will leave a long-lasting impression on the interviewer and give you the edge over other candidates. Here’s what your answer needs to include:1. How your personal and professional values align with the company’s values2. Information on your career goals and how they align with the company3. How your personal and professional values align with the company’s values<h2>1. Discover your own values</h2>*Values: What you believe to be important in the way you live and work.*Once we have your values defined, you can then match them with the company you’re applying for, which will shape your entire answer to this question. Ask yourself these questions to help identify what your core values are:<ul><li>What type of culture do you want to be a part of?</li><li>What gives you the most fulfillment at work?</li><li>What’s important to you?Core Value Examples</li></ul><ul><li>A commitment to helping those less fortunate than us</li><li>A commitment to sustainability and always acting in an environmentally friendly manner</li><li>Always acting with honesty and integrity</li><li>Helping Society: Contributing to the betterment of the world</li><li>Creative freedom: Allowing others to contribute with their own ideas</li><li>Working Conditions: Being in an environment that you&#x27;re comfortable with</li></ul>Next - research the company to discover their goals and valuesNow that we have your own values defined it’s time to match them with the hiring company’s values. Here’s how to discover their values:• Explore the company website - the ABOUT US and CAREER web pages• Understand their products and services• Learn about the management structure, departments and competitors• Review employee reviews/testimonials on Glassdoor/Indeed/Google• Review their social media accountsAs you explore the hiring company make notes of anything that strikes you as interesting or similar to your own core values. <h2>Questions and sample answers to put it all together</h2>After completing research on the company:How does the company&#x27;s values and mission align with your own? Are there parallels? If the company has a culture built on honesty or giving back to the community<ul><li>Why does this appeal to you? </li><li>Why would you want to be a part of this type of organisation?</li></ul>Employee reviews/testimonials<ul><li>What do their employees say about working there? </li><li>Why do their responses make working there attractive to you?</li><li>Do they promote an open, transparent working environment? Why does that appeal to you?</li></ul>Reviews from customers<ul><li>How does the company react to customer or user feedback? </li><li>Do they appear to put their clients first? </li><li>What did you like about their responses to feedback? </li><li>Why is customer satisfaction important to you?</li></ul>Social Media<ul><li>What excites you most about the content posted on their company social media accounts?</li><li>What impression do you get from the content posted on social media? </li><li>Do they appear to care about their staff and customers? Why is that important to you?</li></ul>Example answer: &quot;On your company website, I was taken back by the level of commitment your organisation has put into helping the local community. Giving back to others is a huge aspect of my own personal philosophy and I was overwhelmed with excitement when I saw a company that was equally as passionate about serving people in need. My mission is to work at a company where I can contribute with both my technical skills and my personal values, and your company is a place where that’s possible.&quot;Example answer 2:&quot;I have gathered from my own research that your company’s reputation is stellar. From reading employee reviews who currently work here it’s obvious that the company gives its staff the freedom to lead and contribute to the mission of the company. I want to be a part of an organisation that values their employees input and allows initiative to be taken. These liberties will allow me to achieve my own professional goals of striving to become an industry leader.&quot;<h2>2. Information on your career goals and how they align with the company</h2>First - Discover your career goalsAsk yourself these questions to help identify what your career goals are:<ul><li>What motivates you? </li><li>What skills do you want to further develop - personally and professionally?</li><li>What do you need to achieve your future objectives?</li><li>Where do you see yourself in five years?</li><li>What interests you most about your job/industry?</li></ul>Examples of career goals<ul><li>Becoming a manager within the next 6 - 12 months</li><li>Being part of a team to create a service that enriches people&#x27;s lives</li><li>Working with the most innovative products to deliver solutions in my industry</li><li>Personal &amp; professional development: Upskilling (earn a degree, certificate in my field) while continuing to develop professionally</li><li>Becoming an expert/leader in my field</li><li>Work as head of marketing for a multinational company</li><li>Being happy at work or Working on my passion</li></ul>Next - Discover the company&#x27;s goalsNow that we have your own career goals defined it’s time to match them with the hiring company’s goals. Here’s how to discover their goals:• Search for any public announcements (Awards, expansion, general news, etc.)• Review their mission statement (Usually found on the website ABOUT section)• Review their social media channels• Review their products and services• Read back over the job descriptionQuestions and sample answers to put it all together• Has the company won any prestigious awards? Why is that important?• Do they have high standards? • What are their long term goals and vision for the future? Does it align with your own?What better place to achieve your own professional goals than with a company that is aligned with your own ambitions. Any awards or positive press can highlight the company values and goals for the future. If working at a company that is striving for excellence, explain in your own words why that appeals to you.Review their products and servicesAre their products and services the most innovative on the market? Perhaps the opportunity to work with the latest technology is one you would cherish given your passion for the industry. Read back over the job descriptionThe interviewer needs to know that you have a very strong understanding of the role you are applying for and the duties it entails. Within the job description, you can also discover why this position will help you achieve your career goals. For example, if the job description details an opportunity to lead a team, you could explain in your interview answer that collaborating and leading others to achieve a common goal is when you’re most engaged at work. <h2>Putting it all together - Example answers:</h2>Example answer 1: &quot;Although the company is ‘X’ years old, it has never wavered from its mission of putting the clients&#x27; needs first. This is quite apparent given the recent prestigious awards XYZ Company has won coupled with the overwhelming number of positive customer reviews on Trustpilot. When I began my search for a new job I made it my objective to seek out organisations that are committed to innovation, integrity, and delivering the very best for their clients, and XYZ Company ranks at the very top of the list.&quot;Example answer 2: &quot;I came across a news feature last month about your company COO Peter Johnston and the company&#x27;s renewed focus on tech innovation. I’d consider myself an innovator and would love the opportunity to work for an industry-leading company.&quot;<h2>What to avoid</h2>Being Generic: Don’t give wishy-washy answers. For example - ‘I saw you were hiring and the company looks really good so I said I’d change my arm at applying’. Make your answer memorable, believable and full of enthusiasm.Salary and perks: Avoid mentioning the company perks or salary as the reason why you want to work at the company. The interviewer wants to hire a candidate that is looking to grow with the company - not just to show up for a paycheck. -We wish you the very best of luck with your job interview!Need help putting together your CV and Cover Letter? <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/how-to-write-a-cv-step-by-step-guide-template" target="_blank">Check out our step by step guides here</a> which include free templates to download and sample information for each and every section of your CV and cover letter.To receive daily alerts for jobs available in your area create a jobseeker account in just a couple of clicks. <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/create-account/jobseeker" target="_blank">Get started here.</a>

Answering the interview question: Why do you want to work for this company?

We are going to lay out a simple plan on how you can prepare for this question, as well as provide a script that you can use as a template to shape your answer.For the video version of this guide <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpMel6bs_CU" target="_blank">go here.</a>Why is this question asked?The recruitment process requires companies to make hard decisions when it comes to making a hire. Employers must review multiple candidates, even for a single job vacancy. To help them reach a decision on who to employ, the interviewer asks this question to discover what sets you apart from other applicants. This question gives you the perfect opportunity to stand out from the crowd and show your value, especially when the crowd appears very similar on paper. How to answer this questionTo prepare for this question you must discover why hiring you would benefit the company. Here’s how: 1. Get clear on what makes you unique2. Match your skills with the employer’s needs3. Explain how your skills will contribute to the companies success<h2>1. Get clear on what makes you unique</h2>Don’t get hung up on the word unique. All we’re trying to do with this exercise is to show the employer that we’re a great fit for the job and we can bring value to the business. So, let’s reframe this activity to ‘Discovering your biggest strengths’.First, make a list of all your strengths. Here are some questions to help you along:• What sets you apart from other candidates? What are you good at? • What do you enjoy the most about your job? Or - what do you love to do?• What comes naturally to you?• Do you have a particular passion for the industry?• What reasons do people come to you for advice or help with?Talk to family and friends: Learn how others see you as unique or valuable by asking friends and family what they think your strengths are.<h2>Review past achievements that demonstrate your skills</h2>Have a think about any success or accomplishments you’ve had during your work experience and ask yourself:“What skills or personality traits did I show that lead to these achievements?” An easy place to start is to remember a time when you solved a problem at work. To help you along, consider times in the past when you were given: • Praise or recognition • Additional responsibilities• A promotion• A salary raiseGet proof: It’s very important within your answer that you include accomplishments from your work experience that highlight your specific skill set. A very powerful answer will include achievements accompanied by data or measurable results. This will help demonstrate the value you can bring to the employer. Example answer: Suppose your unique skill is being dedicated. Instead of saying ‘I am uniquely dedicated to my job’, a better answer would include a time when you exercised this specific skill, backed up by data. MENTION SKILL: “I would describe myself as being very dedicated.”GIVE EVIDENCE: “My dedication to my previous job as a Warehouse Assistant allowed me to always be a week ahead of schedule with incoming stock orders. I then used the additional spare time to map out process improvements to our supply chain, which resulted in a 30% reduction in costs for the company in 2019.” <h2>2. Match your skills with the employer&#x27;s needs</h2>At this point, you have a very clear understanding of where your strengths lie. Now it’s time to learn about the employer&#x27;s needs so you can detail how you can fulfill them. You can do this by learning more about the requirements for the job.Review the job description and make notes of:• What skills does the company emphasise as must-haves?• Are there specific personality traits mentioned? E.g. motivated, strong communicator, leader, etc. • What level of experience is required for the job?• Are there any specific targets or objectives listed? • Do research on the company to learn about how your skills can benefit the organisation. By reviewing their social media pages, website, employee and customer reviews, you will get ideas for how you can contribute to the company’s success. For example, if you learn that the company has a vast interest in helping the community, discussing your volunteer experience connects you directly to the company&#x27;s mission.Example answer: After reviewing the job description you notice that the ability to learn quickly is high up on the employer&#x27;s requirements. It just so happens that this requirement matches with your own skills and experience. In this instance your answer may look something like: MENTION SKILL: “I would say what makes me unique is my ability to quickly adapt while learning on the job.”GIVE EVIDENCE: “Within my previous role as an administrator this skill came in handy. The company made the decision to move their recruitment process from a paper-based system to an online platform. This involved the implementation of an applicant tracking software system which I had never had experience with before.” “I quickly evaluated what I’d need to learn and spent my spare time building the skills in order to effectively use the new system. I picked the new system up quite quickly and was given the responsibility of training in our entire recruitment department, which I thoroughly enjoyed.&quot;BRING THE CONVERSATION BACK TO THE JOB: “After reviewing the requirements for this role, the ability to think on your feet is an absolute necessity, and it’s an environment where I feel very comfortable in.”<h2>3. Explain how your skills will contribute to the company&#x27;s success</h2>Once you’ve discussed your relevant unique skills and personality traits that led to past successes, it’s important that you bring the conversation back to the job you’re applying for. End your answer by referencing how your key skills and traits will allow you to achieve similar results for the company in the future. For example: Applying for a sales position and a key aspect of the job is developing new business. This could be a possible “What makes you unique” answer:MENTION SKILL: “What makes me unique is my natural ability to get along with people. I find I’m able to build strong relationships with clients almost immediately, as I empathise well with people.”GIVE EVIDENCE: “Within my previous job I consistently exceeded my quota for acquiring new clients, as I am quick to identify and understand the pain points of the customer.”BRING IT BACK TO THE JOB: “I am a thorough communicator, an excellent listener and I have a strong record for building long-term relationships, all skills which I know will fit well with this current sales position.”<h2>Final tips:</h2>Practice Write out your answer and say it out loud. The more you practice responding to this question the more natural it will become. If your changing careers - focus on your transferable skills i.e. the skills you have developed from your experience that can be used across a variety of roles and industries. Examples include:• Being a team player• Having leadership qualities• Strong communication skills - written and verbal• Problem solving• Research and analytical skillsWhat to avoid:Giving generic answers: The interviewer has already heard every cliche answer under the sun, so you need to go the extra mile in order to give a memorable answer. For example, rather than saying “I always go beyond what’s asked of me” you can say “I will always push myself to excel. Working on tasks that allow me to learn and grow is what I love most about my job.”Quirky answers: This is not the time and place to explain your unusual party tricks or odd habits. Remember, the interviewer wants to learn more about your skills and experience that qualify you for the job. Remember that when you&#x27;re asked the interview question What makes you unique?”, really the question you&#x27;re answering is &quot;Why are you the best applicant for this position?&quot;. So, go out there and make yourself stand out from the herd by showing what value you can bring to the company.We wish you the very best of luck with your job interview!Need help putting together your CV and Cover Letter? Check out our <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/how-to-write-a-cv-step-by-step-guide-template" target="_blank">step by step guides here</a> which include free templates to download and sample information for each and every section of your CV and cover letter.To receive daily alerts for jobs available in your area create a jobseeker account in just a couple of clicks. <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/create-account/jobseeker" target="_blank">Get started here.</a>

How to answer the interview question - "What makes you unique?"

This is usually one of the first questions asked during the interview - and a fantastic opportunity to make a great first impression. Why is this question asked? The interviewer wants to know how your experience is relevant to the job you are applying for.What we need to get across in our answer: Why we are qualified for the job and why we applied in the first place.<h2>Step 1 - Preparing your answer </h2>First - review the job description and make a note on why your experience and skills qualify you for the role. Identify your relevant expertise, strengths and the unique qualities you can bring to the hiring company.Then have a think of any success stories or situations where you excelled.Ask yourself • Why are you interested in applying for the role? How does it align with your career goals?• Why are you interested in the company or industry?• What gets you excited about working at the company?<h2>Step 2 - The structure of your answer</h2>Combining WHAT you are professionally, with WHO you are, and WHY you’re a great candidate for this role. What to include in your answer: • Mention your job title, responsibilities and projects that you&#x27;ve worked on recently• Discuss any recent accomplishments• Discuss relevant past experience that led to your current position• Highlight any new hard and transferable skills acquired (Especially if you’re moving into a different industry/role)• What you’re looking to do next and why you are interested in this roleWhat to avoid in your answer:• Regurgitating what’s written on your CV and Cover Letter• Telling your life story• Winging it - Instead, prepare your answer so you’re confident about discussing each of your key points during the interview• Mentioning highly personal information - religion, details about your family or partner, political affiliation, etc.• Mentioning your strengths and skills without any supporting evidence or examples<h2>Putting it all together - Sample answers</h2><h2>Management Role</h2>(CURRENT SITUATION &amp; CAREER BACKGROUND) “I’m an innovative ecommerce manager with over 5 years experience managing all aspects of an online business - from implementation to sales - for small and medium sized businesses.”(SKILLS &amp; ACCOMPLISHMENTS) “I have spent the past two years at [company name] where I was promoted to a senior role within 9 months. I love managing teams and delivering solutions for clients.”(BRING IT BACK TO THE JOB) “Although I’m enjoying my current job, I feel I’m ready for a more challenging role and this position very much excites me. The opportunity to lead such an innovative team is what motivated me to begin working within this industry.”<h2>Construction/Labour Role</h2>(CURRENT SITUATION &amp; CAREER BACKGROUND) “I am currently the team lead for XYZ Freight. During the past 3 years, I have been promoted several times, from a General Assistant, to Package Loader and Assistant Foreman.&quot;(SKILLS &amp; ACCOMPLISHMENTS) “During my time I have completed various Construction Skills Certifications including Scaffolding - basic and Scaffolding - advanced. I have also had the opportunity to work on a number of special projects which include the reconstruction of the radar tower at Dublin Airport. I really enjoy being an Assistant Foreman - it gives me great pleasure to empower my team and motivate them to strive for their best.”(BRING IT BACK TO THE JOB) “I believe that this experience and training have prepared me for the next step in my career which is why I have applied for the management role at your company. Your organisation has received a number of excellence awards in recent times, so to be part of an industry-leading team and to grow with the very best is what excites me most about this opportunity.”<h2>No Experience - Customer Service Role</h2>(CURRENT SITUATION &amp; CAREER BACKGROUND) “I’m a motivated recent graduate from the University of College Cork. I completed a BA in Communications this year, receiving a 2:1 degree.”(SKILLS &amp; ACCOMPLISHMENTS) “During my studies, I lead a team of 5 people for our final year project management module. I was responsible for the organisation and smooth running of group meetings as well as delivering a keynote presentation. Our team received an overall grade of 80%.”(BRING IT BACK TO THE JOB) “While I’m just starting my professional career, I feel I have the necessary skills for the role of Customer Assistant at your company. I have always strived in a team environment, and given that this role requires cooperation between a large team of over 15 people, I know I can bring value to working with others to reach the company’s objectives.”<h2>Marketing Role</h2>(CURRENT SITUATION &amp; CAREER BACKGROUND) &quot;I have been working in the marketing industry for 3 years, primarily working in technical and project executive positions.&quot;(SKILLS &amp; ACCOMPLISHMENTS) &quot;Most recently I worked as a senior marketing executive for a large multinational firm that involved working closely with senior management to implement international digital marketing campaigns. With this project coming to a close, I realised that I am looking for a new challenge. I feel that my industry experience of delivering solutions for senior managers will allow me to meet and exceed the expectations for this position.&quot;(BRING IT BACK TO THE JOB) &quot;When I saw your company was hiring for this role I applied immediately. I have been a long term admirer of your organisation&#x27;s corporate social responsibility campaigns, and being part of a company that gives back to the community is a huge motivating factor for where I want to work.&quot;<h2>Customer Service Role</h2>(CURRENT SITUATION &amp; CAREER BACKGROUND) “I’m currently working at XYZ Company as a Customer Service Manager. I have been in this role for 15 months.”(SKILLS &amp; ACCOMPLISHMENTS) “Recently I successfully led a project to reduce time spent on manual processes by implementing chatbox technology solutions that automate answers for customer queries. In addition to process improvement projects, I spend the majority of my time managing key client accounts, providing them with solutions for their eCommerce platform.”(BRING IT BACK TO THE JOB) “I now feel it’s the right time in my career for a new challenge. Only recently your company announced its expansion plans for the next 5 years, and I feel to reach my own professional objectives, It’s necessary for me to join a company that matches my own ambition.”-We wish you all the best with your job interview!Good luck with your interview!Need help putting together your CV and Cover Letter? Check out our <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/how-to-write-a-cv-step-by-step-guide-template" target="_blank">step by step guides here</a> which include free templates to download and sample information for each and every section of your CV and cover letter.To receive daily alerts for jobs available in your area create a jobseeker account in just a couple of clicks. Get started <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/create-account/jobseeker" target="_blank">here.</a>

How to answer the interview question - "Tell us about yourself?"

Why is this question asked?The interviewer wants to know:• How you perceive yourself• What skills do you possess• How will you fit into the company if you’re hiredTo answer this question we are going to take two different approaches.<h2>Option 1: Research your audience</h2>As the interviewer is trying to gauge if you’re a good match, in your answer discuss your personality traits that relate to the company. Learning about the company culture will help you describe yourself in a manner that’s attractive to the employer. How to do this: • Visit the company website - particularly focusing on their about us webpage• Check their social media channels and see what content is posted• See if they have any employee reviews online (Glassdoor, Indeed, etc.)• Search for client/customer feedback (Company website, Trustpilot, Google, etc.)How this research will help form your answer | Example: ‘Team Player’Let’s say that during your research you noticed that the company’s employees on LinkedIn regularly discuss how much they enjoy working with their colleagues.The structure of your answer: a) List a personality trait related to the companyb) Give a real example of when you demonstrated this traitc) Bring the conversation back to the jobYour answer could be:Example: ‘Team Player’a) List a personality trait related to the company: “I’d describe myself as being a team player. I believe that working together with a collaborative spirit is the backbone of any organisation&#x27;s success.”b) Give a real example of when you demonstrated this trait: “In my previous job I worked as part of a 10 person customer support team where ongoing internal communication was an absolute necessity in order to find solutions for clients. It was a very fast-paced and team-oriented environment, which I enjoyed immensely. This setting allowed me to develop my skills and become the department team leader just 6 months after starting the job.”c) Bring the conversation back to the job: “On LinkedIn I noticed many instances of your colleagues praising the great team spirit at this company, and I thought the culture here is a perfect match for me.”<h2>Option 2: Review the job description</h2>In a similar approach to Option 1, describing your personality traits that are directly related to the job is exactly what the interviewer wants to hear. To make your answer relevant to the job you’re applying for, take a look at the requirements and match them with your own personality traits.How to do this:• Run through the job description and highlight all descriptive keywords• Pick out the keywords that are most relevant to your skills and experienceKeyword examples:• Multitasker • Hardworking• Reliable• Committed• Creative• Driven• Energetic• Results-Orientated• Leader• Enthusiastic• Punctual• Ambitious• Passionate• Resourceful• Goal-Oriented• Strong Communicator• Proactive• Community-Focused• Conscientious• Responsible• Innovative• Collaborative• AttentiveHow this research will help form your answer - Example: ‘Detail-Orientated’For example, after reviewing the job description, you notice within the job specification that the successful candidate must have strong attention to detail. The structure of your answer: a) List a personality trait related to the job requirementsb) Give a real example of when you demonstrated this traitc) Bring the conversation back to the jobYour answer could be:Example: ‘Detail-Orientated’a) List a personality trait related to the company: “I would describe myself as a detail-orientated and focused individual.”b) Give a real example of when you demonstrated this trait: “Throughout my professional career, particular in my previous role as an Administrative Assistant, I have always demonstrated a strong attention to detail. I managed all travel arrangements and email requests for the Sales Manager at XYZ Company. As her role involved weekly trips across Europe on short notice, a very high level of accuracy and organisation was required on my part. Thankfully, there were never any airport mishaps!”c) Bring the conversation back to the job: “From researching this role I know just how important delivering accurate data is to the company. As I&#x27;m quite an orderly person who performs well in high-pressured environments, I feel this job suits my skill set perfectly.”-Good luck with your interview!Need help putting together your CV and Cover Letter? Check out our <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/how-to-write-a-cv-step-by-step-guide-template" target="_blank">step by step guides here</a> which include free templates to download and sample information for each and every section of your CV and cover letter.To receive daily alerts for jobs available in your area create a jobseeker account in just a couple of clicks. Get started <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/create-account/jobseeker" target="_blank">here.</a>

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