London coronavirus: The East London lab where volunteers will be infected with virus to find a vaccine.They&#x27;ll reportedly be paid £3,500 for the risk.Brave volunteers can now sign up to take part in a clinical trial where they&#x27;ll be infected with a strain of coronavirus in a global effort to find a vaccine.According to reports, they&#x27;ll get paid £3,500 to spend two weeks in quarantine, which might sound tempting at first, but they won&#x27;t be allowed physical contact with the outside world.The unit, based in East London, will test up to 24 people at a time with the aim to find a vaccine by next winter, to help protect the elderly and those with underlying health problems in &#x27;flu season&#x27;.Volunteers will be kept in a unit at Queen Mary BioEnterprises Innovation Centre in Whitechapel after being infected with two common strains of coronavirus, 0C43 and 229E, which cause only a mild respiratory illness. These are different to the Covid-19 coronavirus which is currently sweeping the world.The idea is to allow researchers and pharmaceuticals firms to test the efficacy of new viruses and antiviral medications in a safe environment.The guinea pigs will feel the symptoms of a cough or a cold, which would model those of Covid-19, and it&#x27;s thought that any treatment used against these viruses successfully could work in the real world too. Before being selected volunteers will be quizzed on their medical history and undergo blood, urine and cardiac tests. Participants will visit the lab to be inoculated two weeks before going into isolation for 14 days.Nurses and doctors will enter the room for regular nasal swabs, blood tests and to collect any dirty tissues (which are later weighed to measure their “viral load”) and will be required to wear protective clothing and ventilators. During those two weeks, participants will be unable to exercise or have any physical contact with other people - even the food they eat will be tightly controlled.The most effective drugs and new or existing vaccines will then be fast-tracked into real-world testing against Covid-19.Those interested in joining the global fight can find out more on this website <a href="https://flucamp.com/" target="_blank">FluCamp.com.</a>

Coronavirus vaccine: Volunteers offered £3,500 to be infected with the bug

<h2>With the threat of disruption to workplaces in light of the Covid-19 situation, it’s an ever increasing possibility that more and more companies who can, may be required to ask employees to work from home.</h2>For example, Google instructed the majority of their 8,000 staff and contractors working for Google in Ireland to continue working from home today, as it’s understood that there may be concerns whether an employee who has been showing flu-like symptoms has Covid-19 or not. The company says it’s “not yet clear how long the &#x27;working from home&#x27; policy will remain in place. Twitter staff across the world have also been asked to work from home in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Online recruiter, Indeed, have also recently told their 1,000 staff not to come into the Dublin offices due to concerns that a staff member may have been exposed to the coronavirus. Though, working remotely is a reality for a lot of workers in Ireland regardless of the Covid-19 issue. One of the largest HR and employment surveys in Ireland (The Sigmar EY 2020 Talent Leader Pulse Survey) confirmed that the flexi-workforce now makes up 21 per cent of the total workforce and it’s a growing space that may affect all managers in the future.So what techniques work when managing remote workers?1. EngagementIt’s important that managers continue to connect with remote workers, as if they were in the building to ensure that they don’t feed disconnected or disadvantaged. Daily chats and general communications will help, and modern technology such as Skype and social networking apps will facilitate when it comes to checking in, updating and remaining connected with the wider team. 2. Team CollaborationRemote workers also need to feel a professional connection through team collaboration with their colleagues and organisation. It’s important that they are involved in brainstorming, official team meetings and where applicable, decision making. Again, this can be done via video link or conference calls. It’s important that all workers are involved in decision making that involves them and their team – not only is this good for moral and engagement, but it’s also important for the organisation - so they don’t miss out on valuable inputs. 3. ProductivityThere’s no doubt that flexible working can give more freedom to workers and it can also be extremely distracting. Boundaries between work and personal life can blur in this instance.There’s always going to be employees that will fully invest themselves when required to work from home, while others could find themselves in hot water if they are easily distracted or just take the piss. Having a clear understanding of what’s expected as in tasks and deadlines etc., will help. Being transparent about who’s doing what, when and with clear deadlines, can help keep things on track for everyone. A transparent team culture increases trust and will hopefully keep everybody engaged and focussed on their individual and team goals. A great manager will ensure that everyone pulls their weight with regular check-ins. HR backup may be required for those who step out of line. 4. Different EmployeesThere will be different personalities in the organisation and this should be taken into consideration when it comes to home working. Task oriented and introverted loners are believed to make excellent stay at home employees. But, it must also take into consideration that the chatty employees regularly spend a lot of time in the office doing non work related stuff, so if they are working from home there could also be less distractions and they may actually get more done.  5. Monitoring ResultsRemember, there’s a fine line between big brother and reasonable monitoring. If you&#x27;re a manager and you&#x27;re monitoring output – actual work done, targets achieved, results etc., this has to be a much healthier way of monitoring, rather than tracking every keystroke. There&#x27;s nothing more morale destroying than an employee feeling that you don’t trust them, particularly when they know they are putting the work in. 6. Health and SafetyAn employer has a duty of care towards all employees and this includes staff who are working from home. Strictly speaking this means that an employer should carry out a risk assessment of the employee’s home office space to ensure that it complies with duty of care. In the situation regarding Covid-19 I don’t think that companies will be held responsible, if they cannot do this for every employee right now, but it is something to remember none the less. A communication regarding health and safety may suffice. 7. Data ProtectionIt’s important that employers consider GDPR Regulations when it comes to employees working from home. Breaches can appear in various ways including loss of physical data in transit, accidental or deliberately leaking personal data. Employers can be held liable for the actions of its’ employees regardless of motive. It’s vital to remove the risks and also have a data protection policy in place with on-going training for staff.  So, with the current Covid-19 risk, employers may be forced to send workers home and require them to actually work remotely. It is therefore useful for employers to at least explore this option now and look at the possibilities of doing it, whilst reviewing how a forced closure would impact the business.Employers should also look at the value that working from home options may bring them in normal circumstances. For example flexible working options could help to retain staff, particularly for working parents or people who live in isolated locations. Employers should also be aware though, that if an employee works from home for an extended period, that the right to work from home could become an implied term of their contract of employment through custom and practice and they could have future rights in this regard. Stay safe everyone

So how are remote workers managed in the event of a forced closure?

McDonald&#x27;s employee with Down Syndrome retires after serving smiles and fries for 32 yearsFor 32 years, he spread smiles and joy to customers at a McDonald&#x27;s outlet and his retirement at the age of 50 marked the end of an era for his community.Among society&#x27;s many misconceptions about people born with Down Syndrome, the most prominent one is the belief that such individuals are unable to lead a fulfilling independent life. Thankfully, things are a lot better today with many setting the record straight on just how much they can achieve on their own. As with everything that challenges widespread beliefs, this wouldn&#x27;t have been possible without the pioneers who broke through the glass ceiling at a time when everyone told them it wasn&#x27;t possible. Russell O&#x27; Grady is one such pioneer who, with his determination to strike out on his own, became an inspiration to all.For 32 years, Russell spread smiles and joy to customers at a McDonald&#x27;s outlet in Sydney, Australia. Born with Down Syndrome, he first donned the chain&#x27;s uniform in 1986 as a zealous 18-year-old looking to rack up work experience. According to a report by the Independent, Russell came across the opportunity through Jobsupport — an Australian government initiative to help those with intellectual difficulties find paid jobs. His employers at the restaurant at Northmead, Greater Western Sydney, were so impressed by his commitment and work ethic that they soon offered him a permanent role at the establishment.Russell went on to spend a little over three decades at the restaurant, packing party boxes, cleaning, and serving customers, becoming one of the most iconic people at the outlet next to Ronald McDonald. Such was his presence the establishment that many would frequent the branch just to meet him. According to Daily Mail, he&#x27;s even been dubbed the &quot;best-known person in Northmead.&quot; Last December marked the end of an era as Russell hung up his uniform and officially retired from his post.&quot;We&#x27;ve got regular customers who come in to see Russell on Thursday and Friday, and the staff look after him, so we&#x27;re going to miss him,&quot; said McDonald&#x27;s supervisor Courtney Purcell. In an email to CTV News, the assistant manager of JobSupport, Wynn Visser said that Russell&#x27;s impact on his community has been exceptional. &quot;Everybody knows him and they really love him because he always stops to shake hands and say &#x27;Hi&#x27; to everyone he knows. He has only told me he will miss seeing his friends at work (who are mainly young girls who make a fuss of him), his boss and all the people who call in to see him,&quot; she said.Visser revealed that the 50-year-old&#x27;s decision to retire was mainly due to concerns regarding health concerns that come with his age. &quot;As his family, our objective is to find him new activities to keep him both healthy and active in his community,&quot; she said. Russell plans to spend his retirement socializing with friends at the gym, having dog therapy, and indulging in his favorite hobby of ten-pin bowling at the Northmead Bowling Club. &quot;Russell’s tenure is truly remarkable,&quot; Visser added.Russell&#x27;s brother Lindsey said that their family is incredibly proud of him for his dedication to work. &quot;He&#x27;s kind of blase about it but loves his work very much. He&#x27;s pretty cheeky sometimes. He&#x27;s my big brother and he keeps me in line,&quot; he said. The iconic McDonald&#x27;s employee&#x27;s father Geoff O&#x27;Grady previously revealed that his son would often get stopped for handshakes by people on the street. &quot;He&#x27;s very affectionate, dearly loved and appreciated, to such an extent that we just don&#x27;t believe it,&quot; he said. Mr. O&#x27;Grady also stated that having a job changed Russell&#x27;s outlook on life. &quot;Somebody said to him &#x27;are you handicapped?&#x27; and his answer was &#x27;I used to be when I went to school, but now I work at McDonald&#x27;s.&#x27;&quot;

McDonald's employee with Down Syndrome retires after 32 years

The upcoming Jobs Fair will see top local employers with a range of jobs on offer available to meet with and talk to job seekers about the vacancies they have on offer and what they are looking for in potential candidates, as well as how to apply.The event runs on Thursday 5th March from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Temperance Hall, Longford.This event is run as part of Local Enterprise Week and Jobs Week and is hosted by Longford Local Enterprise Office in association with Longford INTREO.<a href="https://bit.ly/2wSu36Y" target="_blank">Register for the jobs fair here.</a><a href="https://bit.ly/2wSu36Y" target="_blank"></a>We look forward to seeing you there!

Register today for the Longford Jobs Fair - Thursday 5th of March 2020

Increasing the number of followers on your LinkedIn Company Page is one of the most valuable steps you can take to build your company brand and bring in new business. Here are some quick actionable tips to help you quickly achieve a larger following:1. Company Page Set UpMake sure your company page has the following items completely filled out:<ul><li>Logo</li><li>Company description</li><li>Website URL</li><li>Company size</li><li>Industry</li><li>Company type</li><li>Location</li></ul>2. ContentPost content daily related to your industry.Content ideas:<ul><li>Top 10 tips</li><li>Industry News</li><li>Quotes</li><li>Infographics</li><li>Cheatsheets</li><li>Questions</li><li>Step by step guides</li><li>Slides/PowerPoint Presentation (Can be uploaded directly to LinkedIn)</li></ul>The LinkedIn algorithm favours content that keeps users on their platform. Images, tips and articles are all great ways to please the algorithm and boost your company’s presence.On each post add 3 – 5 relevant hashtags. Hashtag ideas for your industry can be found by scrolling down to the hashtags section <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/mynetwork/" target="_blank">here.</a> 3. Engagement Increase visibility by engaging!Increased engagement on LinkedIn results in the algorithm raising your profile – allowing you and your company to be found by potential customers/collaborators.<ul><li>Like and comment on posts that interest you. Try your best to write insightful comments rather than two or three words on a post</li><li>Game the LinkedIn algorithm by liking your own comment (and other people’s comments too!)</li><li>If the opportunity arises, tag relevant people/companies in your post</li></ul>Consistency is key. Spend a few minutes every day doing the above actions.Encourage your colleagues to engage with company posts immediately Research on the LinkedIn platform has found that the quicker people like and comment on a post that has just been published – the more important the content is in the eyes of the LinkedIn algorithm, which results in more visibility for your content! You could even make a game out of it. Give recognition to those employees you are particularly active on your company&#x27;s LinkedIn content. On each post It’s important that they LIKE, COMMENT &amp; SHARE, it’s a bonus if they have time to go back later and like other comments on the post, it will help to increase engagement and will please the algorithm. Encourage your Employees / Colleagues to update their Linkedin profiles in line with your company page  Each employee should include a tag line/job title that explains what they do at the company. In the work experience section of the employee profile, ensure that they include an intro that’s relevant to the company – along with details about their role at the company and a call to action at the end.  4. How to Maximise Your Company Page Following LinkedIn recently added a feature that allows users to invite their connections to follow their company page.This means that the more connections you have the more people you can invite to follow your company page. What you need to do is max out your new connections daily. Make meaningful new connections - people who are in your industry, potential customers or collaborators so that you will never run out of connections to invite.How to find these people to connect in with:<ul><li>Go to the LinkedIn search bar</li><li>Change the location filter to Ireland (If you are trading abroad you can select the country you wish to target)</li><li>On the connections filter, leave the 1st box unticked and tick the 2nd and 3rd boxes</li><li>In the search bar type in the job title of the person you would like to connect with – e.g. Director, Project Manager, etc., </li><li>Begin adding the relevant people to your network</li></ul>Next - Invite new connections to follow your pageLinkedIn allows you to invite 25 connections a day to follow your company page.How to send invites: Go to your company LinkedIn page and in the top right-hand corner you will see admin tools. Click here and within the dropdown menu, you will see the option to invite new connections. Bonus tip: The more admins you have assigned to your LinkedIn company page, the more invitations you can send out!

Quick Tips to Grow Your LinkedIn Company Page

Jobs Week 2020

If you&#x27;re an employer who&#x27;s not getting a return on your Job Advertising investment- what can you do about it?Bottom line is - it shouldn&#x27;t happen, but it does! Some employers are paying way over the odds to advertise job vacancies and a lot of the time, without even finding success?WHY? Well it could be because you’ve signed up to a yearly contract and you’re just uploading job ads on the same platform for the sake of it, hoping to get back something from your investment.Maybe you’re not really checking the analytics, you’ve a few Ads up on different platforms and you’re not really sure where the candidates are coming from? You could monitor the statistics and make sure that you spend your budget in places that bring you success.Then of course, it could be that your company has always used the same platforms for years. Old habits die hard and it can be difficult to implement changes if you’re new on the block or you have to go through a massive internal process to make a change on how budgets are spent.If you’re a business struggling with increasing costs though, you may be well aware of what job advertising is costing you and you may feel there’s no alternative. BUT THERE IS, you could be one of the savvy recruiters, who are trying out new platforms who are using the latest technology, who are monitoring results, saving money and filling vacancies quickly at the same time!So let’s look at the options and the cost of job advertising in Ireland. You could advertise on some of the jobs boards that have been around for quite a while, which according to US website www.betterteam.com will set you back between €765 and €1050 or you could try advertising with us, JobAlert.ie. While relatively new, we combine a jobs board with a location specific social media campaign for your job - you’ll pay just €149 for an Ad and if you are recruiting in volume you can get significant discounts. At JobAlert.ie, we’re helping businesses of all sizes to fill jobs quickly. Ads are hosted on our website and also shared across our social media platforms. We’re reaching both active and passive job seekers. By the latter term, we mean we are reaching out to candidates who may not actively be looking at job boards but if they see something in their Social Media news feeds they will apply.You just pay for Job Ads as you need them – we do the rest, we won’t tie you into unnecessary contracts – you just pay as you go.The model we use is simple. Like years ago, when employers used local newspaper classifieds to reach ‘readers’ with once off Ads, we do the same. Only difference is, we use online technology to reach future employees and their friends and family members who may tell them about the job. It really is that simple, but it works. We pride ourselves on the follow up service that we give our customers, once you try our service, you’ll come back over and over again. WHY? Because you&#x27;ll find that we care - we do everything we can to fill that job. Don’t just take our word for it – read some recent testimonials <a href="http://bit.ly/2GuZxBd" target="_blank">HERE</a> It&#x27;s a small investment for you to try our service - you’re very welcome to call our team on 00 353 1 8495003 to discuss your needs or to find out more and Advertise right away, <a href="http://bit.ly/2GtG5oy" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> We look forward to hearing from you.

Some employers are paying too much for Job Ads in Ireland without success

With talk of almost full employment and a Candidate-Driven job market in Ireland, what can you do to attract new hires?We’ve pulled together some tips to help you along the way.1. Sell your Company as a great place to work. If you focus on the benefits that you have to offer and highlight why your organisation is an excellent place to work, you will stand a much better chance of finding the right people. If you have any videos that give candidates an insight into your company or culture then include a link in your job spec. 2. Use Social Media to your Advantage. Even if you’re a small company, with a bit of creativity you could demonstrate and promote your friendly team atmosphere through nice group shots of nights out or just fun at work on your social media business pages. Candidates will find these shots when researching your organisation.3. Ensure that your job spec stands out from the crowd. Include as much relevant information as you can to attract as many good candidates as possible - benefits, salary, working hours, days, anything that will attract people to the role. Give the exact location of the job within your job advertisement. A generic location may result in candidates dropping off later in the hiring process. Also make sure that your Job Title makes sense. This sounds so obvious, but you’d be surprised how little some job ads contain.4. Have all your bases coveredYour job description should include the following elements:• Job title• Summary of role• Qualifications and skills required• Duties and responsibilities• Any special demands 5. Review flexible working options. Flexible working options are so attractive. Perhaps consider if two part-time workers could job share the role, look at start and finish times – is there any flexibility? Is there any work from home options, maybe even for some work duties? Are you just working the same hours and shifts because “it’s always been that way’ – maybe it’s time to change?6. Talk about the company’s futureInclude your plans for the future within your job description and how the role you’re recruiting for fits into them. Candidates want to know that they will be valued if they work at your company, so highlight the long term career development opportunities that are on the horizon. 7. Tighten up your recruitment process. You need to act fast. Having a professional and streamlined recruitment process will help. This is particularly important when in today’s market a great candidate will receive many offers. If you have two interviews or additional testing as part of your screening process, keep the candidate informed throughout.If you need help with making your job advertisement stand out from the crowd and attract the right candidates, the team at JobAlert.ie can help you. Here’s how we do it1) We provide full support with writing and reviewing a winning job specification2) We list your vacancy on our jobs board website - which receives half a million visits from job seekers every month. Your job will stay live on our website for up to 30 days.3) We share your job to our social media pages where we have 330,000+ active followers nationwide. We have social media job pages for every county in Ireland on Facebook &amp; Instagram.4) We assign a dedicated account manager to your recruitment campaign. The account manager will check-in with you on a weekly basis to see how each job is performing. If for any reason a job is underperforming with candidate applications, we have a number of measures in place to advance the exposure of your job to qualified candidates. We will ensure that everything is done to fill your job vacancy.To get started go <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/employers?utm_source=LeadsFebFacebook&amp;utm_medium=FacebookFeb&amp;utm_campaign=FBFeb" target="_blank">here</a>. If you have any questions give us a call on 01 849 5003 or drop us an email - <a href="mailto:info@jobalert.ie" target="_blank">info@jobalert.ie</a>. We are looking forward to helping you fill your job vacancy.

7 Ways to make your job advert stand out and attract the best people 

At Christmas, I was gifted the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. This book provided me with a practical framework for mastering the art of human relations. So I wanted to share the powerful teachings with you. What we cover:<ul><li>3 Fundamental Techniques in Handling People </li><li>6 Ways to Make People Like You </li><li>12 Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking</li><li>9 Ways to Be a Leader and Change People Without Giving Offence or Arousing Resentment</li></ul>-3 Fundamental Techniques in Handling People 1. Don’t criticise, condemn, or complain.“Criticism is futile because it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes him strive to justify himself. Criticism is dangerous because it wounds a person’s precious pride, hurts his sense of importance and arouses resentment.”Put as much time and space between emotion and action as possible. Empathise and forgive. Do not measure others by the standards you set for yourself.2. Give honest and sincere appreciation.“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” Be “hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.” but avoid hollow flattery. Instead, make your appreciation heartfelt, sincere and unselfish. Flattery is easily detected and universally condemned.3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.“The only way on earth to influence other people is to talk about what they want and show them how to get it… you may want to persuade somebody to do something. Before you speak, pause and ask yourself: ‘How can I make this person want to do it?&#x27;”6 Ways to Make People Like You1. Become genuinely interested in other people.“You can make more friends in two months by being interested in them, than in two years by making them interested in you… If we want to make friends, let’s put ourselves out to do things for other people – things that require time, energy, unselfishness and thoughtfulness”. Make it a priority to keep an eye out for things that might improve other people’s lives.A great practical tip from Carnegie is as simple as follows:<ul><li>Take the time to find out the birthday’s of friends and acquaintances. </li><li>Make a note of them in your calendar. </li><li>Take the time each year to send a physical card.</li></ul>2. Smile.“The expression one wears on one’s face is far more important than the clothes one wears on one’s back.” Smile in everything that you do. Smile sincerely, “An insincere grin… doesn’t fool anybody. We know it is mechanical and we resent it.”. Don’t feel like smiling? Consider Abraham Lincoln’s remark that “most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Still struggling? Fake it until you make it. Force yourself to smile and the mind will often follow.3. Remember that a person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.“The average person is more interested in their own name than in all the other names in the world put together.” Remembering a person’s name is a question of effort not ability. Ask a person’s name. Pay attention. Make sure you’ve heard it. Spell it out if need be. Repeat it several times. Build a mental picture. Write it down. Don’t then become the weirdo who thinks repeating the other person’s name after every sentence will make them like you. That’s not how it works, be cool.4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves. “Exclusive attention to the person who is speaking to you is very important. Nothing else is so flattering as that.”Doing so will soften and subdue even the most violent critic and you may also learn a thing or two. “To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that the other person will enjoy answering.” And remember: “A person’s toothache means more to [them] than a famine… which kills a million people.”5. Talk in terms of the other person’s interest.“The royal road to a person’s heart is to talk about the things he or she treasures most.” Take the time to understand or even research a topic you know is of interest to someone else. Ask them about their past: “Almost every successful person likes to reminisce about their early struggles.” Doing so will not only improve your relationship, it might enlarge your life.6. Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely.“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” Obey this golden rule “All the time, everywhere”. Use little phrases like “I’m sorry to trouble you,” “Would you be so kind as to – ?” “Would you mind?” and “Thank you.” “Almost all the people you meet feel superior to you in some way, and a sure way to their heats is to let them realise in some subtle way that you realise their importance and recognise it sincerely.”12 Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.“You can’t win an argument. You can’t because if you lost it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it.” because “A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still”. Instead try to:<ul><li>Welcome the disagreement: This might be an opportunity to avoid a serious mistake. </li><li>Watch out for and distrust your first instinct to be defensive. </li><li>Control your temper. </li><li>Listen first. </li><li>Look first for areas of agreement. </li><li>Be honest about and apologise for your mistakes. </li><li>Promise to think over your opponent’s ideas and study them carefully. </li><li>Thank the other person sincerely for their time and interest. </li><li>Postpone action to give both sides time to think through the problem.</li></ul>2. Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say “You’re wrong.” It’s “tantamount to saying: ‘I’m smarter than you are.&#x27;” Instead, consider that “you will never get into trouble by admitting that you may be wrong” and see the above point. Even if you know you are right, try something like: “I may be wrong. I frequently am. If I’m wrong I want to be put right. Let’s examine the facts.”3. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically. “By fighting you never get enough, but by yielding you get more than you expected.” Have the courage to admit your errors. Let the other person take the role of a collaborative and benevolent forgiver rather than an opponent.4. Begin in a friendly way. Friendliness begets friendliness. Glow with it. Overflow with it. Remember that “a drop of honey can catch more flies than a gallon of gall.” and see also Aesop’s fable “The Wind and the Sun”.5. Get the other person saying ‘yes, yes’ immediately.“Begin by emphasising – and keep emphasising – the things on which you agree… that you are both striving for the same end and that your only difference is one of method and not of purpose.” Try to begin with questions to which the only conceivable reply is “Yes”. This will help things get off on a collaborative foot. And remember, “he who treads softly goes far.”6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.“Let other people talk themselves out. They know more about their business and problems than you do. So ask the questions. Let them tell you a few things… Don’t [interrupt]… They won’t pay attention to you while they still have a lot of ideas of their own crying for expression”. Don’t waste air boasting about your own achievements: “If you want enemies, excel your friends; but if you want friends, let your friends excel you.”7. Let the other person feel the idea is his or hers.“You have much more faith in ideas that you discover for yourself than in ideas that are handed to you.” Allow others to design and become invested in their own solutions. Consult with them, collaborate on and influence a half finished idea rather than presenting a final solution. Avoid self-importance, instead remember “The reason why rivers and seas receive the home of a hundred mountain streams is that they keep below them.”8. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view. Take the time to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. If you can, sit down with a piece of paper and a pen. Set a timer for 10 minutes and begin with the words: “What X is probably feeling now is…” Keep writing from their perspective until the timer goes off.9. Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires. Begin always with “I don’t blame you one iota for feeling as you do. If I were you I would undoubtedly feel just as you do.” Be honest about your own flaws and idiosyncrasies. It will help you be more sympathetic with those of others. Remember “Three-fourths of the people you will ever meet are hungering and thirsting for sympathy. Give it to them, and they will love you”.10. Appeal to the nobler motives.“People are honest and want to discharge their obligations, the exceptions to that rule are comparatively few”. They “will in most cases react favourably if you make them feel that you consider them honest, upright and fair”.11. Dramatise your ideas. Present your ideas in an interesting, creative and dramatic way that captures attention. Think laterally; how can you present tabular data in a creative way that encourages interaction and engages more of the senses than just sight? Take your inspiration from television and advertising – they’ve been in this game a long time.12. Throw down a challenge.“The way to get things done is to stimulate competition. I do not mean in a sordid money-getting way, but in the desire to excel.” Pay is not enough to motivate people. Instead the work itself must be motivating and exciting. Make performance metrics public. Let people enjoy a challenge. “That is what every successful person loves: the game. The chance for self-expression. The chance to prove his or her worth, to excel, to win.”9 Ways to Be a Leader and Change People Without Giving Offence or Arousing ResentmentN.b., the judgement and skill behind the “How” in this section is more advanced and subtle. Carnegie illustrates them with some superb examples that are well worth reading in full.1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation.“Beginning with praise is like the dentist who begins with his work with Novocain. The patient still gets a drilling, but the Novocain is pain-killing.”2. Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly. A great tip given here is to use the word “and” whenever you feel like using the word “but”. This avoids devaluing the initial praise and move feedback to a “good to greater” mindset.3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticising the other person.“Admitting one’s own mistakes – even when one hasn’t corrected them – can help convince somebody to change his behaviour.” Call attention to or remember back to when you also struggled with whatever it is you are giving feedback on. Be open and specific with your examples. Talk about how you (wish you’d) worked through them instead of criticising directly.4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.“Asking questions not only makes an order more palatable; it often stimulates the creativity of the persons whom you ask.” N.B., this doesn’t work with obviously leading questions. Instead, see “Let the other person feel the idea is his or hers.”5. Let the other person save face. “I have no right to say or do anything that diminishes a man in his own eyes. What matters is not what I think of him, but what he thinks of himself. Hurting a man in his dignity is a crime.” It’s also a quick way to shutting down collaboration completely. Even if you must correct or criticise someone, never do it in front of someone else. “Even if we are right and the other person is definitely wrong, we only destroy ego by causing someone to lose face.”6. Praise every improvement.“Abilities wither under criticism; they blossom under encouragement.” Can you look back on your own life and see where a few words of praise have sharply changed your entire future? Be specific and sincere. Remember, “we all crave appreciation and recognition, and will do almost anything to get it. But nobody wants insincerity. Nobody wants flattery.”7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.“If you want to improve a person in a certain respect, act as though that particular trait were already one of his or her outstanding characteristics.”8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct. “Be liberal with your encouragement, make the thing seem easy to do, let the other person know that you have faith in his ability to do it, that he has an undeveloped flair for it – and he will practise until the dawn comes in the window in order to excel.”9. Make the other person (as) happy (as possible) about doing what you suggest. Even when the task is irreparably undesirable. Try the following approach:<ul><li>Be sincere. Do not promise anything you can’t deliver. Forget about yourself and concentrate on the benefits to the other person. </li><li>Be clear. Know exactly what you want the other person to do. </li><li>Be empathetic. Ask yourself what the other person really wants. </li><li>Consider the benefits the other person will receive from doing what you suggest. </li><li>Match those benefits to the other person’s wants. </li><li>Convey the request in a form that highlights those benefits.</li></ul>

How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie - Summary

How to Make Sure Your New Staff Stay for the Long Term

Finding ‘The One’, your ideal match, is really not that easy…..No we&#x27;re not talking about finding your dream partner on this Valentine’s Day. We&#x27;re talking about finding your IDEAL JOB. Work that you really love to wake up to every morning, that you’re passionate about, that truly makes you happy, excites you, lights up your heart and makes you feel content. So how can you tell when you’ve fallen totally out of love with your job and it’s time to move on? Are you feeling negative and tired all the time?Job unhappiness can affect your sleep, as your brain finds it hard to switch off. It’s a vicious circle though, as not getting enough rest can really affect your ability to see things clearly and may over emphasise your emotions. If you feel overwhelmed. Maybe you should talk to someone you trust, a professional career coach or a counsellor before you make any big decisions to move on. Constantly dreading work the next day?Life is too short to dread going to work every day. If it wasn’t always this way, maybe ask yourself what has changed? Have you just outgrown your role? If so, focussing on your own self-development may be the way forward. You could look at up-skilling, take up a part time course, or maybe have a chat with a Manager to see if you can work on a progression plan for yourself, that will help you move within the organisation. If this is not an option, it’s probably time to seek new pastures.  Are you making careless mistakes?Maybe your heart just isn’t in it? It could mean you’re disengaged and no longer committed to your position. Again you may need to review if progression within the organisation is an option, but you’ll have to buck up if you want to be considered for promotion, as making careless mistakes could get you in serious trouble and result in you missing out on future internal opportunities.  Are you working in a toxic environment?When you start a new job, it’s not always easy to research what the culture is really like unless it’s one of those award winning ‘Great Places to Work’. Taking on a new role regularly means taking chances, but if over time you realise you&#x27;re caught in a toxic environment or have a toxic boss, what can you do? This situation can make your working life unbearable. You must consider if it’s possible to explore all means of resolution available to you. If there&#x27;s a good HR team and processes in place to deal with these situations, it may be possible to escalate any concerns that you have and find a solution. You might find that you’re not the only affected person. If you try, but fail to resolve the issues, it’s probably time to move on. You are feeling physically (or mentally) unhealthyFrom time to time we all feel a bit overwhelmed or stressed. Even people who love their jobs can feel under pressure, particularly at busy times. However, if you feel that there’s a downward spiral in your overall health and your ability to concentrate, it could be far more serious. You should seek proper medical help or advice. You could also take time out and on your return to work maybe set smarter work / life boundaries. There’s no doubt about it, that like all relationships we go through the honeymoon period with work too. At the offset we may have been mis-lead or we could have misinterpreted things. Some interviewers paint a rosy picture when they’re trying to entice the ‘ideal’ candidate. Sometimes promises are made that just can’t be fulfilled? It’s also possible that you got caught on the rebound as you left your previous job and you didn’t fully research the new opportunity. Some would argue that you get from a job what you put in, so don’t throw the towel in too soon. Before you make any drastic changes you should really consider if it really is the job that’s to blame and not some other underlying issues that you’re just not dealing with. Let’s hope that you find true JOB LOVE really soon - if you&#x27;re totally unsure of what kind of role you would love to be in we&#x27;ve created the ultimate guide on how to find your passion and build a career around it, you can check it out <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/blog/how-to-find-your-passion-and-build-a-career-around-it" target="_blank">here</a>.Happy Valentines too!

Finding 'The One' True Job

Are you:Interested in exploring IT-based apprenticeships? Why not try:IN-VEST 2An accredited pre-apprenticeship programme. Explore new apprenticeship opportunities and experience creative learning that can open up a career path in technology and other sectors.IN-VEST 2 is a pre-apprenticeship programme providing an introduction to:<ul><li>Software Development </li><li>Network Engineering </li><li>Web and Graphic Design</li><li>Project Development</li><li>Communication and Presentation Skills</li></ul>4 Weeks work experience and career planning included. **PLEASE NOTE: Participants may be eligible to receive a training allowance**This 18-week course will be starting in Finglas, Dublin in April 2020.HOW TO REGISTER:Info &amp; registration in the Ballymun Job Centre, Civic Centre, Dublin 9.For further information please contact the Ballymun Job Centre on 01 866 7000.By email:Emily Nelson: <a href="mailto:nelsone@bmunjob.ie" target="_blank">nelsone@bmunjob.ie </a>orMandy Creevy: <a href="mailto:creevym@bmunjob.ie" target="_blank">creevym@bmunjob.ie</a>

I.T Pre-Apprenticeship course starting in April 2020 | IN-VEST 2 

If you’re thinking of asking your boss to reduce your hours it’s important that you develop a plan that takes your employer’s needs into consideration. This will allow for a productive discussion and help you to achieve a mutually agreeable arrangement. Open and honest discussionTry and be as open and honest as you can about why you need to change your working hours. It’s OK if you don’t want to get into too much detail – you can explain that it’s for personal reasons if you like.If it is something that you can discuss for example, you need the time to care for an a sick relative or to return to education etc., your boss may be more willing to help as they will have a clearer picture of your situation.Put yourself in your employer&#x27;s shoesConsider the needs of your employer and develop a plan to compensate for the lost hours. Remember that this could be the first time anyone has requested a flexible working arrangement at the company. Make sure that you find out what your employer&#x27;s particular concerns are, and try to suggest solutions which suit both of you.Important points to consider when putting your plan together: • Will your company need to hire more staff or can tasks be distributed to other colleagues? • Can you start earlier in the morning to compensate for the lost hours? • Does the business have peak and off-peak times? Perhaps offering to work during peak hours/days will help your case • Flexi-time: Could you work more days but less hours? • Is there an option to work from home? • Can you get your workload done in 30 hours instead of 40 hours? • Does your employer think your work cannot be done part-time? If possible - make a case for why it can be done with reduced working hours • Is this a temporary or permanent solution? Could you offer to work fewer hours for a trial period to prove that the new arrangement could work?• What is your timeline? Giving your boss an adequate amount of time to organise the new arrangement will help facilitate your request• What would your employer gain by agreeing to your request?For example:✅ A happier, less stressed employee ✅ A more productive team member✅ Higher morale✅ Retention of a skilled and experienced employeeSchedule a meeting Schedule a meeting with your manager once you have an explanation and contingency plan in place. Beforehand, it’s a good idea to email your boss regarding the matter so he/she has time to prepare. Being caught off guard may put your boss under stress and could increase the probability of a negative response. Be willing to negotiate with your boss to develop alternative solutions if he/she is unable to meet your initial request. A happy medium can be found through open and honest discussion. If you can present a solid argument to the company why working reduced hours would be a benefit to yourself and the company, you&#x27;re more likely to be successful with your request. All the best with your master plan for a better work-life balance!

Work life balance: How to negotiate working fewer hours

Job advertising that worksHarness the latest technologies to find your next hire with JobAlert.ie, Ireland&#x27;s #1 Irish owned jobs board. No contracts, no hidden fees.• Watch your jobs go viral on Facebook and Instagram • Reach over half a million monthly website visitors • Fill your jobs quickly so you can focus on your businessWith you all the way We work closely with you for the entire duration that your job vacancy is live with us. Your job won’t just sit on our website. We will partner you up with a dedicated account manager who will ensure every step is taken to get your vacancy filled. Reach an enormous online audience We have over 330,000+ followers on social media and over 500,000 monthly visitors to our website. Low cost, fast results We keep our prices low so that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to hire new staff.What&#x27;s included in our job advertising service:• Jobs can be posted anytime. There is no expiry date on when you can post them. • Posted jobs are live on our website for up to 30 days • Jobs are promoted to over 330,000 followers across Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin • Jobs are shared across our social media channels during peak traffic hours for maximum exposure • Jobs are included in alert emails sent to relevant job seekers • Candidate management system for managing and reviewing job applications • Dedicated account manager • Support with writing and reviewing your job specification • Custom image for social media promotionCustomer Testimonials We’ve worked with over 700 companies. Here&#x27;s what a few of them had to say about our job advertising service:&quot;We have found JobAlert to be very effective and efficient in filling the many positions that we have had on offer recently. The team have provided us with a personalised service and go above and beyond to ensure that our jobs reach our target audience and that we got the results we needed. I have found the service from JobAlert to be second to none and very easy to do business with.&quot; Jodie Mullen | City North Hotel&quot;JobAlert is an outstanding service with a rapidly growing reach across Ireland. Having used the service for some time now, my experience with the team and the company has always been exemplary – highly responsive, consultative and innovative with fantastic results every time. If you’re looking for high quality candidates in an instant, JobAlert is the place to go!&quot; Aidan McGrath, HR Manager | IBAT College Dublin&quot;I used Job Alert for the first time in August this year. The response that we received was amazing. That combined with the overall service level offering from Job Alert made for a very pleasant recruitment experience and one that I will definitely use again.&quot;Nuala O&#x27;Regan | Glanbia Cheese EU Check out more of our customer testimonials <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/employers?openTestimonies=true#testimonies" target="_blank">here.</a><h3>Frequently Asked Questions</h3><h3>How long will it take before my job is live?</h3>Once you have published your job it will be made live once a member of our team reviews it. Normally your job will be live within the hour but it can take up to 24 hours. Our team will then arrange to share your vacancy across our social media channels.<h3>How many people will see my job?</h3>Lots of people will see your job - visitors to our website, jobseekers who have signed up for alerts and also people who are following our pages on social media. Right now, we have over 330,000 social media followers and over 500,000 monthly visitors to our website. So your job will get plenty of exposure. You will reach both active and passive jobseekers. By passive, we mean people who are not actively looking for a job but will apply if they see the job on social media.<h3>How do I receive job applications?</h3>You can specify how you would like to receive job applications when uploading a job. You can request to receive applications by email or provide a link to your careers page or candidate management system – the choice is completely yours.<h3>Can I choose which county I want to target on Facebook?</h3>Yes, you can choose which county you’d like to share your job in when you post it. Right now we have specific social media pages targeting each county in Ireland and in the capital we have specific pages for Dublin North, South, West and the City Centre. We will share your job on the county page where the job is located and also on surrounding counties if the distance to the job location is commutable from those counties.<h3>Can I post a job in multiple counties if I have vacancies in different locations?</h3>Yes, you can share a job to multiple counties if you have vacancies in multiple locations. There is an additional charge for this service. Please contact us by email at info@jobalert.ie or telephone +353 1 849 5003 and we can discuss a cost-effective solution for you.<h3>Do you provide graphic design work for sharing my job on social media?</h3>Each job package comes with a standard graphic for use on social media. For custom graphics, get in touch.<h3>Can I keep my company name confidential?</h3>Yes, your company can be kept anonymous when posting jobs on JobAlert.ie.<h3>How do I pay?</h3>It’s very straightforward. Just select the the number of job credits that you want, continue through the checkout process and pay with your credit card. You can then use your job credits to post your jobs. Once payment has been completed a payment receipt will be sent immediately to your email address. No hidden fees or subscriptions. Just purchase more job credits as you require them.<h3>Can I be invoiced instead of paying by debit or credit card?</h3>Yes. If you are buying multiple job credits we can offer credit terms and we’ll also give you a discount for bulk orders. Call our sales department directly at +353 1 849 5003 to discuss further.<h3>Do you offer custom packages?</h3>Yes. We can build you a customized solution to fit your needs. If that means tailoring a package that includes unlimited job credits, multiple weekly shares on social media, or prioritizing jobs that needed to be filled yesterday, it can be done. Contact us at info@jobalert.ie or call us today to discuss on +353 1 849 5003.To advertise your job get started <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/post-job/packages" target="_blank">here.</a> We are looking forward to helping you fill your job vacancy.

Fill your job vacancies quickly with Ireland’s #1 Irish owned jobs board

If you don&#x27;t have an address it&#x27;s virtually impossible to find a job, or hold down a job. What if your landlord decides to sell and you can&#x27;t find an alternative place to live near enough to commute to your place of work, would you be able to hold down that job?Becoming homeless doesn&#x27;t just mean losing the roof over your head, it makes everything more difficult - including access to work, education, medical care and even voting.There&#x27;s no doubt that it&#x27;s extremely hard to rent a home without a deposit, a job or at the very least full housing assistance approval from the local authorities. This is the homeless trap, the vicious cycle faced by many people today in Ireland.Not all homeless people have mental issues, not all homeless people have addiction problems. According to Focus Ireland, the root cause of the homeless crisis in Ireland is the broken housing system and the fact that Ireland does not have a public housing system to meet the needs of today&#x27;s society. They also state that vulnerable young people are among the first victims of the housing crisis, with private landlords, social housing bodies and local authorities reluctant to rent to them. Youth homelessness doubled from June 2014 to February 2018, according to a Focus Ireland report. In February 2018, almost 1,000 young people aged between 18 and 24 years old, were homeless in Ireland.Shane Dunphy, head of social care in Waterford College of Further Education said that state care is one of the causes of youth homelessness. “We need to be looking at this as a major causation,” he says. “Homelessness is an incredibly complex issue. There are so many factors involved, but a history of state care is a significant one.”Every year, Tusla discharges hundreds of young people from its care. In 2017, for example, it discharged 534 when they turned 18, an annual review from the agency revealed at the time. Many of these young people are at serious risk of homelessness. But maybe we could learn from the authorities in Finland to find a solution to homelessness and in particular in addressing the issue of rough sleepers - people sleeping on the streets. In 2008 the Finnish government implemented a concept called &quot;Housing First&quot;. Basically the principle is that all homeless people are offered a permanent housing option of a self contained apartment or a flat in a housing block, with round the clock support. They receive benefits but pay rent and are entitled to support services. Ok, I know - everyone is saying we don&#x27;t have enough available apartments or flats, neither did the Finnish when they ventured on this concept. They got to work at quickly building as many units as they could and bought flats from the private market. They also converted existing hostels into self-contained apartment units, doing away with a lot of the hostel style accommodation facilities. Hostels are not homes, most of them make clients leave every morning and don&#x27;t let them return until the following evening and there&#x27;s no guarantee that you&#x27;d even get a bed there the next day - how can anyone live with that uncertainty? At the end of the day, having a place to call home is the most fundamental of all human rights. It makes massive changes to a person&#x27;s life and is the pathway to encourage people to participate normally in society. When a person has a permanent place to stay, it&#x27;s easier for support services to identify individual needs and provide the help and support needed.It all cost money, investment on the Governments part, but it saved more in the long run.There&#x27;s no doubt that the solution also eased the burden on other services such as the health system, the courts and prison services.Not everyone was happy with the concept in Finland when it was initially launched, but the results have been so positive that in the long term people have come around to the fact that it was a good idea.Can it be replicated across Europe?A study by Crisis, a UK homeless charity in the UK found that implementing a policy like the Finnish model could be more than five times as effective and nearly five times more cost effective than their existing services.There&#x27;s one thing for sure that what we&#x27;re doing in Ireland at the moment is not working and is totally inhumane - it&#x27;s time to change the status quo.What do you think?Further information on the Finnish model can be found<a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/02/how-finland-solved-homelessness/" target="_blank"> HERE</a>

It's a vicious circle, no address - no job!  

If so, maybe the only new year resolution you should be working on right now, is to take time out for yourself in 2020.The demands of modern day living can be overwhelming, leaving many people feeling physically and mentally drained. If you’re reading this and feel it’s been written about you – it’s important to take action now before you burn yourself out completely. What is burnout?Until recently burnout was described by the medical world as a stress syndrome, however the World Health Organisation recently updated its definition and refers to burnout as; a “syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”. They list the following symptoms;·      feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion·      increased mental distance from one’s job or feeling negative towards one’s career·      reduced professional productivityThe reality is burnout may leave you feeling overwhelmed, emotionally drained, hopeless, resentful, cynical and unable to meet constant demands.The negative effects of burnout can also spill over into every aspect of your life, including relationships and home life. It can make you vulnerable to illnesses such as common colds and flu’s, headaches, muscle pain or in the long run more serious health issues.Some people may find themselves withdrawing from responsibilities, isolating themselves, taking longer to get things done, taking their frustrations out on others and in a lot of cases using food, drugs or alcohol to cope.So what do you do?Firstly, take a deep breath, I mean it – Close your eyes, breathe slowly in out. Focus on the sound and when you have more time practice the 4, 7, 8 breathing technique, it involves breathing in for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds and then exhale for 8 seconds. This technique is proven to reduce anxiety and can also help with sleep and controlling and reducing anger responses.Now let’s think about the other positive steps and changes that you can take to deal with managing or preventing burnout.Who can you reach out to? Reaching out to people you trust can be one of the most effective ways of dealing with the issue, once you have recognised the problem and have acknowledged that you are burning out. Organise to meet up now and then for a coffee or a walk, don’t forget to ask how they are feeling these days too!Limit your contact with negative people. Hanging out with people who do nothing but complain can drag you down. If you have to work with negative people, limit the amount of time you spend together – separate at lunch and coffee breaks, take a walk rather than sit and listen to negativity in the canteen.Find new friends and balance in your life. It’s never too late to establish new friendships. Join a group, pursue a hobby or something that you always loved to do. Have a look on-line there’s lots of great options from book clubs to walking groups etc. You don’t have to just join up for sports these days. You could always connect with a cause or a community group that is personally meaningful to you, the interaction with like-minded people will really help and working for a cause can be very gratifying.Take time off if you need it. Use holidays to completely detach and that means also switching off emails or your phone all together for the duration of your break. You could always buy a new sim card to use instead of your usual phone during your holiday and only give the number to people who may need to contact you in the case of an emergencies only.Take a daily tech break. If you can’t take time off right now, at least take a daily break from technology. Set a time each day or evening when you completely disconnect. Switch off your phone, put away your laptop and stop checking emails or social media.Make ‘me’ time a priority. It may sound selfish, but in the long run you will feel better for it. If you feel better, your quality time with those around you will also improve when you are with them.Take some exercise. Even though it’s probably the last thing you want to hear…but yes, exercise is a powerful antidote to stress and burnout. Even a 10 minute walk can improve moods for up to 2 hours. Start with small goals and it will be easier to increase the amount of time you spend exercising when you start to see the positive results. Instead of focusing on your thoughts and moods try and focus on your body and how it functions. Feel the sensation of your feet hitting the ground, the cold wind against your face, the sound of your breathing etc when you take a walk.Review your diet. You may be craving comfort foods right now like sugary snacks, pasta and French fries, but sugary and high carb foods will quickly lead to crashes in mood and energy levels. Be aware of mood altering foods such as caffeine, trans fats, alcohol and foods with chemical preservatives and hormones. Replace them with fresh fruits, vegetables and more nutritious options where you can.Most importantly, be kind to yourself, be kind to your body. Set boundaries and set rules for yourself. Don’t overextend yourself, learn how to say ‘no’ when required! Saying ‘no’ allows you to say ‘yes’ to other activities that make you feel better about yourself. It’s not healthy to consistently function at a very high level – know your limits. None of us are super human so stop beating yourself up!If you feel you need to change your job in 2020 be sure to follow us on Social Media or sign up for Job Alerts to receive the latest jobs in your area. Get started <a href="https://www.jobalert.ie/create-account/jobseeker" target="_blank">here.</a>Best of Luck in 2020

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